"She is on an Undercover mission. Do you really expect her to mingle with Above in clothes she usually wears?" Zenon did not seem to lose an ounce of his calmness, not even when the conversation turned into barely more than a shouting match.

But what good did it to him when the mood was so irrevocably ruined? The silence between him and Sarah stretched and he couldn't even come up with anything light-hearted to say. There was concern in back of his mind about Adelmar, but not nearly as great as it should be. (As she deserved, small voice unhelpfully supplied and Zenon wondered since when had he gotten a conscience, especially regarding his bride.)

"I suppose we will have to take a rain check on the party." He finally admitted with a sigh, sudden weariness in his voice that sounded alien to his usually smooth tone. Yet, he still did not seem to take no for answer. Standing up, the man raked hand through hair as if trying to piece together future course of action and then it all snapped in place.

"Wait here for a moment, please." Minutes later, young Hadar returned with small, blue box with elegant pattern imprinted that shone in many colors. "Happy birthday, Sarah," he said, sitting down by her and offering it to her. If she refused, he would insist in somehow solemn tone until she took it.

Inside there was a silver chain, intricate enough to look beautiful, but somehow sturdy. In middle of it hung a dark blue crystal in shape of teardrop, safely clasped by a silver claw. Deep inside, white sparkles seemed to dance within as the light shone on it.

"If you hold it in your hand, it will start giving off soft light - enough to guide you in darkness. And should you lose all hope, warmed up as such it can turn into small explosive if thrown hard enough. I figured, you would like a gift that is more than pretty bauble."

A gift that is like you, he thought. Beautiful and lighting way for others, yet also dangerous.