Circle Quartet: 48

Chapter 48

“Surprise! Happy Birthday!” Everyone shouts in excitement and they clap joyfully.

I just can’t believe my eyes. One minute Jeff’s spirit has gone, the next Jeff is standing right in front of me beaming with excitement and his arms are wide open, ready for the bear hug. Oh, I really missed his bear hug.

“Tada! I’m back!” Jeff flails his arms excitedly. “Did you miss me, little buddy?”

I can’t utter a word but hug him as tight as I can. I can’t even hold my tears anymore.

“Alice…can’t breathe…!” I nearly choke Jeff to death. I let him go at once but he’s just laugh out loud. I scowl at him.

“Aww, don’t be sad, Alice,” Uncle Vlad pats my back gently. “It’s your birthday present from all of us!”

My eyes widen as I hear the news and look around to everyone. They’re all smiling happily. Mom and Dad nod to confirm what Uncle Vlad has said just now.

“Jeff is my birthday present?” I ask them in disbelieving.

“Yup!” Jeff ruffles my hair. “Those trio brothers have brought me to life.”

“Wow! This is…this is unbelievable! This is the best present I ever received! Thanks everyone!”

“Oh yes, I almost forgot about your present, Stefan,” says Jeff and looks over his shoulder. “Come out, boy. They’re waiting for you.”

A little boy appears from the door shyly. He has gruffly blond hair and a pair of blue eyes. I think I’ve seen this little boy before. He walks closer towards Jeff and clings to Jeff’s trousers.

“Stefan, this is your birthday present,” says Jeff while patting on the little boy’s head. “Say hello to the little guy.”

That little boy raises his head and stares at Stefan.

“Cody, is that you?” asks Stefan gently.

Cody? That little boy is Cody?

Cody nods slowly.

“You…you’re alive,” Stefan gasps.

“You better handle him with care, Steffy boy. This one is super fragile,” says Jeff in a low voice.

“You’re alive! Oh, God! You’re alive!” Stefan picks him up and raises him up to the air. He looks very happy to see Cody to come back alive again.

Cody’s eyes begin to water. Then, he starts to cry.

“Don’t do that, Stefan. You scared him!” I scold Stefan.

Stefan quickly put him back on the ground.

“I’m sorry,” he says in a low voice and his tears suddenly flow on his cheek. “I have done something really bad. I put our family at stake. I’m so sorry!” Cody cries bitterly.

“See? I told you that he’s super fragile,” says Jeff, pointing to the crying Cody.

Stefan kneels down and hugs him. That’s the sweetest thing that Stefan ever did.

“Hey, don’t cry, Cody. Everyone has already forgiven you.”

“He’s right, Cody. Welcome to the family back,” says Aunt Amethyst and hugs him.

Everyone from the Silver family hugs Cody and welcomes him warmly.

I hug him too. And I can’t help pinching his fluffy cheeks.

“How come he’s become so small?” asks Uncle Azure.

“He had sold his soul to Alse but he already repents before he died. That’s why he’s become a little boy so that he could purify his soul,” explains Alan.

But it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re going to live as a happy family again. No more fight. No more conflict. And no more secrets.

It’s been two years since the tragedy happened. The Academy is fully re-build, thanks to The Necromancer Trio – they helped a lot and now they’re back to their ‘unfinished business’. I don’t know what kind of business they run but they love to travel.

I continue my ‘un-finish’ study with Abbie, Stefan and the rest of my classmates. Jeff gets his position back but he wants to share it with Zayne. Uncle Vlad is nominated as the Main Head of the Council which makes him very, very happy. And he wants all of us to call him Uncle rather than Great Master. He really wants to feel young, I think.

I have finally graduated after successfully accomplished the tasks. I’m now officially an assassin and Stefan and I are given the title Heroes because we saved the whole clan. I think The Necromancer Trio were the ones who killed Alse. But, never mind.

During the Graduation Ceremony, Stefan and I were asked to give speech. Uncle Vlad was the one who have been talking longer than expected. He just loves to tell the stories when he was young, his experience fighting with some monsters – I don’t know whether they are true or not.

And today is the day where everyone has been waiting for a long time; my wedding day.

But it’s only my wedding day, actually. There are three more brides are in the Brides Room with me. Beatrice, Raina and Dafne are going to get married on the same day as I am. Raina is the most excited one because she really longed to wear a wedding gown – she’s wearing dashing pink which she claims the colour is very gorgeous. I hope that no one will hurt their eyes seeing that kind of wedding gown.

I wear light blue gown embroidered with silver laces. Mom is the one who made this special gown for me. Raven does my hair but since I cut it short, it won’t take too much time. Then someone knock on the door. It’s Mom, Aunt Ada and Aunt Ramona. They want to see the four of us before anyone else does.

When we’re fully ready, we gracefully walk to the Great Hall ushered by our beloved fathers. My Dad doesn’t stop saying that I look beautiful that day. Jeff announces our arrival and everyone turn their heads towards us and they are not even blink. We walk along the aisle in line – I’m in the first line. The Silver Brothers are patiently waiting for us. Stefan looks handsome in his tuxedo!

Uncle Vlad is crying happily, repeatedly saying that today is the most joyous day of his life and he wishes that he can get married too. Alex is calming him down by patting on his back. Granddaddy Saba is the priest today. Ace plays the organ while my little cousins are the flower girls. They wear nice little gown with little wings on the back. Cody joins the flower girls too.

The vow doesn’t take too long because everyone can’t wait to see us kiss. I can’t wait for this special moment too.

“Before we proceed with the kissing part, may I have the rings, Sable Black?” asks Granddaddy Saba to Sable. He’s supposed to hold our rings.

 “Oh, okay,” Sable smiles and delves his hands inside his pocket.

Suddenly, his face turns pale.

“What’s wrong, Sable?” asks Granddaddy Saba.

I have a bad feeling about this.

“I…uhm…the rings…,” Sable stammers.

“Where’s the ring, Sable?” I ask him in a very serious tone.

“I accidentally put the rings in other trousers,” Sable gulps. “And those trousers are in the washing machine.”

Beatrice, Raina, Dafne and I scowl at Sable. “I’m sorry,” says Sable timidly.

“You’ve ruined our precious moment!” Raina shrieks. Everyone nearly turn deaf because of that.

Sable screams and runs. Four of us chase him from behind.

“Give back our rings!”

-End of Book 1-