"It was once your Father's. Jewel and I went and got it polished up. I hope you cherish it just like he did," Mother whispered.
They shared a sad look and I frowned, wishing Daddy was here to see Gabriel and me. He died during a magic expedition last year. Mommy said they never found his body so they had to use an empty casket during the funeral. It made me sad when we talked about it and I didn't want Brother to be sad on his birthday.
"BE HAPPY!" I demanded, throwing my hands in the air. Mother and brother both looked down at me and I gave my best wide smile. Gabriel laughed, reaching out to stroke my brown hair.
"I'm very happy. Wanna help me open it, Jewel? You can keep the ribbon," Gabriel offered.
"YES!" I cheered and he knelt down so we both could open the gift. I helped tug open the ribbon and Brother opened the box, revealing Father's precious possession: a magic circle necklace.
Mother said he'd left it behind before the expedition, fearing he'd lose it. Mother said it had been passed down from son to son for many generations and contained very old magic. It was now Brother’s turn to have it.
"Mom... Jewel..." Gabriel whispered, staring down at the necklace in wonder. He removed it from the box; the gold chain swayed from side to side as it dangled. The magic circle was gold and had different colored jewels placed evenly around the outer edge of the circle part of the necklace. There was a sun symbol in the middle and a small moon at the top; miniature stars decorated the lower section.
Mother said the power inside had been gathered from generation to generation, each male inputting a small fragment of their power inside before handing it down. I asked Mother if girls could get one too, and she said it was possible but since Brother was the older child, he got to claim it first.
"Do you like it?! Are you going to wear it now?" I asked, jumping up and down in anticipation.
"I can't wear it to school, but afterward I can. You want to wear for me Jewel until I get home?" Gabriel suggested.
"YES! Can I? Mommy, can I please? I'll keep it safe, I promise!" I begged. She glanced at us and smiled warmly. "Sure, but just for today because you're keeping it safe for Gabriel. Understood?"
"Understood!" We said in unison and I squealed. Gabriel laughed. "Stop moving so I can put it on, my hyper Princess."
I stayed perfectly still and mother helped lift up my long hair so brother could hook the necklace around my neck. I felt a weird tingle go through me and giggled.
"This thing tickles," I spoke through laughter.
"I guess the magic likes you," Mother replied.
Gabriel got to his feet and picked me up, walking us over to the standing mirror near the front door. I stared at my reflection, admiring the necklace, before staring up at Brother in the mirror.
His short hair was styled nicely for school and his gold eyes twinkled with happiness. He wore his school uniform, which was a navy blue with gold trim and a gold tie. He went to a school called Brighten Magic Academy. It was the same place where Mom worked as a professor and magic councillor.
"You like it, brother?" I asked him.
He nodded, "I love it. Especially when my baby sister is wearing it so proudly."
"I'll protect it and make sure no evil monsters take it from me," I declared solemnly. This was brother's possession and I would protect it at all cost.
"I'm sure you'll do an amazing job, Princess Jewel. Now, it’s time for me to go to school. I'll see you tonight. We’ll eat cake."
"Strawberry cheesecake!" I agreed gleefully.
He laughed, leaning in to rub his nose against mine. "Of course. Be a good girl for Mom and make sure Alice doesn't steal any shiny jewels from the neighbor."
I giggled, squirming in his hold, wanting to be set down. He lowered me to the ground and I ran to Mom who was approaching us.
"Alice has a mind of her own. WEEE!" I sang, circling around Mommy who shook her head in dismay. "She's gonna let Alice take twice as many jewels now," Mother chided.
"Alice acts like a raven more than an owl," Gabriel commented.
"HOOT!"
I stopped in my tracks when I saw my little owl familiar fly into the room. She landed on my shoulder and I squealed.
"Alice says ‘happy birthday,’ Brother!" I cheered.
"Thank you, Alice," Brother spoke soothingly to my familiar.
"Hoot!" she replied, fluttering her white feathers.
Mother clapped her hands. "You're going to be really late if you don't leave now, Gabriel. I may teach there, but I'm not covering for you," she grumbled and Gabriel gave her a pout.
"Mom! It's my birthday. Be nice."
"I'll be at the school at lunch for a meeting. Meet me after, alright?" she asked.
"Will do, Mom. I'm off. See ya, Jewel and Alice. Love you all," Gabriel smirked, standing from where he was putting on his shoes and waved goodbye.
"LOVE YOU!" I declared loudly.
"HOOT!" Alice followed my lead.
"I love you, sweetheart. Have fun," Mother encouraged. I noticed a change in Brother’s expression, making me tilt my head, but in a flash it was replaced with a wide smile.
"Bye," He called, leaving the house and closing the door softly behind him.
"Mommy?" I walked up to her and looked up to meet her bright gold eyes. They were totally different than my ruby ones that I inherited from Father.
"What's the matter, Jewel?" Mother knelt down to talk to me.
"Brother looked scared a second ago. Didn't you see?"
My brother never looked afraid unless he had to kill a spider. He didn't like those. I thought they were awesome.
"He's probably just nervous. Exams are coming up for him. He wants to do really well like Father and I once did. He struggles with certain types of magic," Mother explained.
"He needs to learn from a pro like ME!" I declared.
Mother grinned. "I agree, my little prodigy. Just don't set the house on fire again, okay?"
"Hoot!" Alice nuzzled her head against my face as I let out a nervous giggle. "That was an accident," I admitted shyly.
Mother smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I know. Now, are you going to have a bath and change into your nice dress brother bought you?"
"YES! I'm going with you to school to take brother home early, right?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yup. He really wants to go to the magic show that just opened. We'll go there first and then have a nice fancy dinner."
"And a movie?!"
"Sure," Mother laughed at my excitement. "Brother is going to be so happy, Mommy! I’ll go bath!" I announced, making my way to the stairs but then paused, turning around to run back to Mother who looked confused. Alice flew up and hovered in the air, watching us.
I lifted my arms. "I want a hug before I go," I announced. Her face softened and she pulled me into a hug. "What's this for?" she wondered.
"I know you miss Daddy. I miss him too. But he loves you, me, brother and Alice! And I love you," I whispered, giving mommy a kiss on the nose. She blinked, looking shocked by my sudden words.
"Thank you, Jewel. Father would be very proud of his mini prodigy. I love you too," she replied in a choked voice, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Let's get your bath running," she whispered. I nodded happily and began to sing the bath song as I always did before having a bath.
I couldn't wait to see Brother's happy face when we picked him up from school.
"Mommy, does Logan get to come over tomorrow?" I asked, tightening my hand in hers as we walked past the school entrance gates which were a shiny gold.
"Do you want to play with Logan?" Mom questioned.
"Yes. I miss him." I hadn't seen him since my sixth birthday, which was last month and his parents were too busy to bring him over.
"I'll talk with Logan's parents after this and see if we can go pick him up. He can come with us and stay the night. I'm sure neither of his parents would mind," Mother reassured me.