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PROLOGUE
"Happy birthday to YOU! Happy birthday to YOU! Happy BIRTHDAY, dear BROTHER! Happy birthday to YOUUUU!!!" I sang, clapping my hands together.
"Jewel, you don't need to add so much emphasis when you’re singing." Brother laughed, lifting me up into his arms. I giggled hysterically as he twirled me around before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Gabriel, you’re making her hyper." Mother turned to stare at us. I giggled even harder, and Gabriel sighed. "That or she found the hidden stash of Sour Patch Kids," he considered, giving me a look.
I gave him a wide grin and placed my little hands on his cheeks. "They were delicious," I whispered and giggled again as I squirmed in his hold.
Mother and Gabriel sighed. "It doesn't matter what spell I put on the cabinet. She still miraculously finds a way to unlock it. She takes after her father in that way," Mother mumbled, crossing her arms.
"Mom! Brother’s going to be late for school!' I shouted, throwing my hands in the air. Gabriel gave me another kiss on the cheek before setting me down. I started running around the table as fast as I could.
"She's so going to crash into something," Gabriel pointed out.
"Let her burn off the sugar rush," Mother dismissed, but she sounded amused. I paused for a moment to watch Gabriel hug Mother.
"Happy birthday, my dear son. May you have many more happy years ahead of you." Mother smiled fondly.
"Thank you, Mom," he replied.
I ran up to them and hugged Brother’s leg. "More years. More years! Mom? Can we give him the thingy?!" I asked eagerly.
"Thingy?" Gabriel asked curiously. Mother shook her head with a wide smile.
"Your sister isn't good at keeping secrets,” she pointed out.
I giggled. "You said you would give it to him before school," I defended.
"That I did," Mother acknowledged, walking from the kitchen to the living room. Brother picked me up and followed her. I wrapped my arms around his neck, giggling quietly in excitement. I was looking forward to seeing him open his gift. He was going to love it!
Mother returned with a bright blue box with a red ribbon wrapped around it. She presented it to Gabriel, who lowered me to the ground to accept his gift.
"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 were 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 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 Father 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 it 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."
