Then Kelpie shuffled toward Lucien, his pale cheeks flushed pink. He held out a little box tied with a soft seaweed string.
"For you," he mumbled shyly, his voice so soft that everyone had to lean closer to hear.
Boo floated up dramatically, squinting. "Wait, wait, wait... did you bring fish as gift?? Because if Lucien opens that box and a dead fish jumps out, Boo will faint right here!!"
Kelpie’s eyes widened. "No!! Not fish!!" he said quickly, his voice rising with panic. He opened the box himself to prove it.
Inside lay a neat pile of shimring treasures—tiny pearls in pastel colors, a few sparkling sea-gems that glowed faintly like they’d been kissed by moonlight under the ocean, and a small, smooth shell shaped like a heart.
"Wooooooow," Drake gasped, his eyes shining greedily. "Those are shiny!! Can I have one too??"
Kelpie hugged the box protectively to his chest. "No! They’re for Lucien!!" he said firmly, cheeks still red.
Lucien reached out, carefully picking up the shell and turning it in his fingers. "I like it," he said softly, his crimson eyes bright.
Kelpie nearly lted on the spot.
"Ugh, unfair," Boo muttered, flopping dramatically in midair. "Lucien is going to drown in gifts. Boo should have brought a haunted chandelier instead!"
"Don’t be dramatic, Boo," Alina said, chuckling. She smiled at Kelpie. "This is very thoughtful. Good job, sweetheart."
Kelpie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly sat back down, trying not to look too proud but his tiny grin gave him away.
After Kelpie ca back to where he was standing, he nearly jumped out of his skin when a sudden shadow lood in front of him.
"Kelpieeee~"
"AH!" Kelpie squeaked. Drake had popped up out of nowhere, practically nose-to-nose with him. His big amber eyes sparkled like twin suns, unblinking, way too close for comfort.
"Drake??" Kelpie stamred, leaning back as far as he could, his watery hair dripping nervously. He tried to push Drake’s chubby cheeks away, but the dragon boy only leaned closer, grin spreading wide.
"Kelpie, you’re so shiny!!" Drake whispered like it was a sacred secret. "Even your gift was shiny! Why didn’t you tell you had treasure hidden at ho?? We’re supposed to be best friends! Best friends share treasure!!"
Kelpie’s pale cheeks flushed pink. "I-It was for Lucien’s birthday! Not for you!"
Drake gasped, clutching his chest as if Kelpie had stabbed him. "Not for ?? How could you betray like this??" he wailed dramatically, almost falling onto the floor.
"Stop it!!" Kelpie splashed water at him in frustration, little droplets flying everywhere.
Boo floated by, shaking his head. "Oh no... Drake is jealous of Lucien now. Boo slls dramaaa."
"Boo, stop gossiping!!" Drake snapped, then turned back to Kelpie, grabbing his hands. "Next ti, promise you’ll give shiny things too!!"
Kelpie’s eyes went wide, his face red as he tried to wriggle free. "You’re crazy!!" he muttered, but deep down, he wasn’t sure if Drake would ever let him off the hook again.
Alina, watching from the side, covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laugh. These babies really did turn even a birthday gift into a soap opera.
And Vlad Jr.’s lips tightened as he watched Drake’s sparkling eyes glued on Kelpie, his little dragon friend laughing too brightly. Sothing in his chest twisted, and the baby vampire lowered his gaze, sighing softly. Without another word, he shuffled toward Lucien, his steps graceful but unusually quiet.
"Lucien," he said in his gentle, proper tone, holding out a small box.
Lucien accepted it with curiosity, carefully opening the lid. Inside, nestled on dark velvet, was a beautiful brooch shaped like a bat, its silver surface catching the light.
Lucien’s crimson eyes widened. "It’s beautiful," he murmured, his voice full of surprise. Then he lifted his gaze to Vlad Jr. and gave a small but genuine smile. "I like it."
For a brief mont, Vlad Jr.’s shoulders relaxed, his chest easing as relief washed through him. He nodded, trying to appear calm and princely, but his pale ears betrayed him by turning pink.
Behind them, Boo floated dramatically, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear, "Oooooohhh, fancy shiny gift! Vlad Jr. is trying to steal the spotlight from Drake’s pearls!!"
Drake whipped his head around, cheeks puffing. "Nooo! Mine was better!!!"
"Shhh!" Luna snapped, crossing her arms. "Both are good gifts! Don’t ruin Lucien’s birthday!"
Then it was finally Sable’s turn. He shuffled forward slowly, clutching a folded piece of paper in his tiny hands. His knuckles were white from gripping it too hard, and when he stopped in front of Lucien his eyes were already glistening with gathered tears.
"Here..." he whispered, voice trembling, as he held it out.
Lucien blinked and carefully took the paper, unfolding it. Inside was a birthday wish card Sable had made himself. The letters were uneven and shaky, written in bold purple crayon:
HAAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCIAN!
Around the words, he had drawn little cakes in every corner, each one decorated with a different color—lopsided, ssy, but filled with effort.
For a mont, the room went still. Then Sable’s lip trembled, and suddenly he broke down, hot tears spilling down his cheeks.
"What’s wrong, Sable??" Alina gasped, hurrying to his side. Even Dante’s head snapped toward the sound, his sharp eyes narrowing in concern as he stepped forward.
Alina crouched to his level, but Sable shook his head, fists rubbing at his wet eyes. His small body shuddered, and it broke her heart to see him cry like that. Without a second thought, she lifted him into her arms, holding him close and rocking him gently.
"Shhh, sweetheart, tell teacher what’s wrong," she coaxed softly, brushing his hair back from his damp face.
Sable sniffled, voice cracking as he buried his face against her shoulder. "Mine... mine isn’t good as the others..." he whispered, tears dripping down his cheeks. "It looks ugly..."
Alina felt her throat tighten as she hugged him tighter, her own eyes stinging. "Oh, Sable," she murmured, her voice filled with warmth, "yours is the most beautiful of all—because you made it with all your heart. That’s what makes it special."
Reviews
All reviews (0)