25 The Life-Saving Item (1/2)

I peel my eyes away from Marigold and keep looking at the armor. It was a masterfully crafted work of art, without a doubt. It was an amazing gift.

”Marigold, I didn't realize that you had a Brother,” my mother comments.

”He's estranged from the rest of my family and doesn't go out much. I normally don't bring him up, because I rarely see him,” she says with a far off look in her eyes.

”It's a shame, I'd love to meet him,” my mother says.

Marigold just gives a small resigned smile. It would appear that it was a touché subject, but it seems they still had contact if she made me armor out of his scales and her own.

”Well if you're done, then I would like to give my gift to Hollis. It seems that it's only logical that I'm next since I'm the third oldest,” Salem says dryly as he stands up.

Salem was without a doubt a little ticked off. I don't know what made him so angry, but I wanted to know!

This almost impassive brother of mine was starting to show emotions that I'd never seen him produce. Of course, this was an epic development for him.

He stands up from his position next to my mother and walks over towards me and kneels down. His dirty blond hair slightly curly, his emerald eyes are still stern and closed but something about that was comforting.

With all the new people that I was meeting, it was nice to know that I still had Salem. I've been around him since I was born into this world. It was safe to say that he was one of the closet people to me.

He pulls out a small box from the pocket of his jacket and holds it in his hand. The box was little, about the size of a jewelry box. It was a simple black felt box, but he held it very carefully as if it would shatter if he wasn't vigilant.

”Hollis, I know that these are small, but they're for you, to keep you safe,” he says peeling open the black felt box.

Inside the box, are two shiny rainbow-colored baby hop earrings. They look like someone captured a rainbow and put them into these tiny earrings.

They're simply… beautiful.

”They're beautiful, Salem. Can I wear them?” I ask him, looking up into his eyes.

I saw, even if only for a moment, a small twinkle in his eyes.

”Of course, let me help you put them in,” he says matter of factly, as he plucks them from their confines in the box.

He pockets the box but holds the earrings in his hand.

I remember that I don't have my ears pierced.

”Salem, I don't have my ears pierced,” I tell him quickly feeling a little annoyed now that I remembered.

A small smirk appears on his lips.

”Don't worry about it,” he says as he moves towards my right ear. Before, I could even ask what he meant. A small burst of pair lights up my ear but vanishes just as suddenly as it came.

He does the same to the other ear. The process was the same, and I raise a hand up to touch my ear and sure enough, they're in my ears.

”How?” I ask.

”They're a magical item, they're protect you four times from a killing blow. Of course, it'll only activate if needed,” he says with a smile.

I nod my head and rub my finger along the earrings.