002– Birthday Morn and Presents

[~♠CORAL♠~]

-Age 18-

I stir awake to a warm feeling in my chest and a smile on my face. Sitting up, I stretch, humming as my body comes alive as the sun hits my skin through the open window.

Today's my eighteenth birthday and most likely the day I get mated. I'm so ecstatic that it's nerve wracking. I wonder who it'd be, what he'd be like. Was he as excited as I am?

I hurry downstairs, my tousled red hair flying behind me as I step into the landing and take the flight of stairs till I'm at the bottom. I giggle, feeling the excitement of today. I'll know when the moon comes up.

My hair brushes my face as I hop onto the landing and skittle down the hallway, into the dining room for breakfast. The house is surprisingly quiet as I walk through, I don't see a single person, not even the maids but I hear the whispers of distorted voices as I approach the dining.

Coloured papers rained down on me with a loud pop when I pushed the wooden double door open, then bright lights from the morning sun clouds my gaze for a moment then applause and cheers filled my ears.

“Happy birthday!”

Their familiar voices chorus. I pry my eyes back open to see my parents and my best friend standing in front of me over the lightly but cutely decorated room. At the far end of the dining, just over the fire place are colourful paper cut letters with ‘Happy eighteenth birthday Coral’ hanging from a connecting hanging rope that ran the long ends of the room.

A wide smile pulls my lips apart till my sets were showing and my best friend rushes to place a crown of white lilies on my head.

“Look who finally turned eighteen!” She hoots, giggling as she hugs me. “Happy birthday, Coco.”

“Thank you, Kiara.” I respond right before she pulls away and starts to drag me towards the table where the cake is laid out with several other items.

“Happy birthday pearl.” I hear my father's deep voice. His hunky form towers over everyone in this room and I smile up at him.

“You're finally eighteen now,” Mother says warmly as she reaches out to me. Her smile is warm and gentle as always. It's always comforting being blessed by her smile. “I know you're going to get your biggest wish, tonight.”

“Thanks, mother,” I smile.

Mother pulls me into her, holding my hands up between us. She wraps them with hers. “I can't believe my little flower's all grown up now.” She says softly, her eyes glistening with caged tears.

I chuckled. “I’m just eighteen mother, not getting married.” She chuckles softly.

“I know, but still…” She says, sighing then kisses my forehead before pulling me into another warm hug again.

“Err, not be the mood spoiler but can we open the presents already?” Kiara intones behind us and we both laugh, pulling out of each other's embrace. I hear my father's deep chuckle before he comes up behind my mother, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her away to his side. She looks so fragile in his arms but mother’s the strongest woman I know.

“Alright! Present time.” Kiara sing-songs.

“Before that,” I speak out, noticing the absence of my brothers. Their absence was odd because they've never missed this moment. Sometimes they're up before me and disrupting my sleep to sing me a birthday song even before the sun sets.

“Where are they?” I ask plainly, feeling perturbed and solely referring to the three missing pieces of my family.

“Your brothers headed out early this morning, they said there was something they wanted to attend to.” My father explained and I raised a brow at him.

“What could be so important?” I frown at my father and at the thought of their sudden actions. My brothers had always prioritized my birthday mornings more than anything else. It was odd they'd leave so early in the morning and with no indication to where they were headed too.

All three of them, at the same time.

My parents exchanged worried glances, “We found it odd as well sweetie but they didn't exactly spare any details about what they wanted to do.” Mother explained.

“I’m sure they'll be back soon, honey.” My father tries to reassure me. He knew how much my brothers’ presence mean to me at times like these; they all knew. And they knew too well that they'd never miss it, not for anything in the world.

My face is crestfallen but I nod silently and the sudden quiet in the room was enough to tell me how sour the room had become.

A box is pushed into me and I hear my best friend's chirpy voice. “Well who cares about them,” she huffs with a pout on her face. “You’re going to open my present with or without them and I'm sure there's a good explanation to all this, so, no sad faces. It’s your freaking birthday for goddess’s sake.”

I start to say something but she cuts me off with a pointed look, her arms folding across her chest. “Okay?”

I couldn't help the chuckle that escapes me, Kiara has the cutest face when she's vexed and nothing beats that. I perked up instantly, smiling and nodding. “Okay.”

“I worked really hard on that, you know.” She whines like a child, I could see the steam puffing off her head as she fuzzed.

I laughed. “I know, I’m sorry.”

She smiles. “Don’t be, just open it already.”

I nod and she pulls out a chair for me to sit on. The box is lightweight and wooden with intricate spiral design carved around the edges and tied with a soft pink ribbon that forms a flower shape at the center.

I pull at the string and it comes undone, looking up to watch Kiara’s face beaming down at me, she nods enthusiastically, gesturing for me to go ahead and I open the box. The smoothest, softest looking faux fur greets my eyes.

I pick it up and the fur unfolds, falling onto my lap, exposing its true form—a deep green, strapless dress. The top is covered in faux fur and the skirt is long and a slit that ran down the sides of the dress with a golden rope attached in a crisscross pattern along the openings on the sides.

A soft gasps pries my mouth open. “It’s…”

“Sexy? I know right! It's my masterpiece. Do you like it?” Kiara rambles with a proud smile on her face.

“Of course, I love it. It's very beautiful Kiara, thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.” She says warmly.

I return her warm smile, momentarily forgetting the absence of my three brothers. “I love everything you make.”

“I know, I'm awesome, right?” Her laugh is contagious and mine rolls out, unrestrained.

“Yes, you are.”

“Next up, it's mama’s turn.” My mother says in a melodious singsong tone and swoops in with another box in hand, it's smaller in comparison to Kiara’s but it's just as beautifully designed.

“What is it?” I question, excitedly. She drops the box in front of me and chuckles softly.

“Open it.” I do just that, lifting the lid of the box to reveal the item sitting inside dark red velvet.

I gasp at its beauty, the circlet is a whitish-grey colour that's twined with strong twigs and adorned with an onyx stone at the center. The opaque nature makes it look as though there's a million stars gathered in it.

“Do you like it?”

I don't know how long I've remained speechless, just staring down on it.

“Mother… of course, I love it… so much.” I tell her earnestly. Picking it up, I replace the flower crown on my head and mother pushes a mirror into my hand.

It's set perfectly on my head and blends well with the flame red of my hair, the black stone rest on my forehead. I awe at my reflection in the mirror. “Thank you, mother.” I say, looking up at her and I meet her warm, proud smile.

Another gift is presented to me and it's the smallest of them all but covered in red velvet. “And this is for you, pearl.” My father hands me the box. I open it and my eyes beam when they see what it holds inside.

A crystal pentagon shaped pendant. It's a pale purple on the top half that turns into a deep amethyst purple at the bottom half. “It’s so pretty.” I pick it up from the box, gushing over it as it twirls from the rope. “Can I wear it now?”

My father chuckles, “Of course sunshine, it’s yours.”

“Oh thank you.” I giggled, slipping the pendant over my head, the cool gemstone sits right above the swell of my bosom. The stone catches the sunlight and the glow pricked my brain and reminded me of my brother, Rune’s eyes. The ever glowing ring of light in his purple eyes.