His eyes became wide. It couldn't possibly be… He narrowed his eyes and frowned at her. At sixteen Cole had grown taller and muscular due to all the rugby sessions. He towered above her at five feet ten inches, and Dawn knew that at this rate the boy would be over six and a half feet by the time he reached twenty.

"I don't understand what you are trying to tell me Dawn. I am looking for a lot of things in my life," he said. Quetz was the priority.

​​

"I know," she nodded. "So better start looking for them."

"Which room's key is this?" Neal asked as he helped himself with another slice of cake.

Dawn turned her face to him. "You keep eating, Neal. It's a surprise for Cole."

"There are so many rooms in this property," Daryn said, turning his dagger-gaze away from his father. "Poor Cole will be running throughout the night to find a keyhole for that." Daryn broke into a fit of laughter. "You are so— so�� funny!"

"Geez Daryn!" Sometimes I wonder who the hell made you the CEO of The Silver House?" Dawn said in a bewildered tone.

Gayle winced and focused on the cake. Why was his son dense at times?

"Obviously he will be opening only those doors that are locked! Why would he try to fit it into every damn lock?" she shook her head and raised an eyebrow at Daryn. Daryn's laughter died soon and he too focused on the cake. Dawn's gaze darted to her wristwatch. "You better hurry Cole. The gift is going to disappear before midnight."

Just a few inches away from her sister's face and he was wondering what was there in the room that deserved all this mystery. He stared at Dawn as if she was no more than a radio. Her words bounced around his mind.

"Quick!" she goaded him. "Don't stare at me like an idiot!"

Cole stepped back a little clutching the red velvet box to his heart, which was palpitating at a high speed. Suddenly he broke into a run and dashed out of the room. The first thing that Daryn and Neal did as soon as Cole was out of the room was to jump for his gaming console. The two growled at each other and charged for it. After a few fists into each other's face, Daryn finally managed to get the console.

Dawn had started cleaning the room. "This boy…" she shook her head, completely disregarding the small cut under Daryn's eye. It would heal in an hour.

Cole ran outside. He checked the time. It was 6:30PM. Until midnight she'd said. He was already breathless. The Silver Mansion was constructed on a huge area. He had to start from the ones in the house. He closed his eyes and visualized the map in his head. The rooms on the right were inspected first. It took him a good half an hour to inspect the locked room in the manor but the key didn't fit any of them. He was now panting with frustration. Why couldn't she just be clear? Irritated, he called her.

"Sorry Cole, I can't reveal your surprise," she said nonchalantly and disconnected.

He gritted his teeth. He didn't even know as to why he was chasing for this surprise. For all he knew it could be a stupid dress or new books or a new set of games. Dang! Anger boiled in his body and he wanted to fling the red velvet box in the river. All the rage came out faster than hot lava from the volcano. He ran out of the house towards the river. Yes, he would toss it in the river where it could settle down on its bed for eternity and he didn't care. He just needed a peaceful night, a peaceful time and a time where he could rest. Tomorrow he would split heads of the new recruitments in the team. He wanted to snap their necks, as he wanted to break the velvet box. The anger wasn't with his life, it was with his sister, directed at his sister. He clenched his jaw and when he reached the riverbank, he roared, he screamed out of frustration. He kneeled on the sand and fisted his hair after keeping the box on the ground.

He looked up at the sky and tears came unbridled. "Please God, set me free." He shook his head with dejection when from the corner of his eyes he saw dim lights flickering in the cabin built on a small hilly terrain. That cabin was also a part of the property. Cole picked up the box, clutched it tightly and rose to his feet. As if like a magnet, like Icarus to the sun, like a moth to the flame, he started to walk in its direction. The cabin's dim lights seemed to flicker with every gust of chilly wind that swept over the land. His hair was all mussed up and his shirt and pants were dirty. At first he sauntered and then soon his legs broke into a sprint. He climbed up the stairs three at a time. When he reached the door, he heard soft music flowing out of the cabin. Grabbing its handle he tried to open it but it was locked. Was the key for this door?

With shaky hands, Cole opened the box and took the key out. He inserted it into the keyhole. It fitted. His heart started thudding against his ribcage. What was inside that Dawn held as a surprise? And why was he desperate? He wanted happiness. This key was an answer to that bliss. Or not? Cole's breath hitched. He opened the door slowly and peaked inside. The room was empty. He stepped in and closed the door behind him quietly.

"Is anybody there?" he croaked.

A boy with emerald green hair came out holding a tray of sizzling chorizo, potato and piquillo with smoked chicken. "Hello Cole," Quetz said with a plain face. "Happy Birthday." He kept the plate on the table and looked at him with his deep blue eyes.

Cole stared at Quetz as if he was dreaming. Key to happiness – that's what Dawn had said. Did she know? His skin tingled with excitement, with crazy emotions, with love and fluttering feel in his stomach. He had been in denial and acceptance phase for so long that at the moment he had euphoria. He lost awareness of the surroundings as his point of interest blinked eyes. All the pent up frustrations evaporated.

"Key to happiness," he murmured. Could his sixteenth birthday become any better?

"What?" Quetz asked.

"Your hair looks greener than usual," said Cole as he sat down on the table wiping those tears from his face. A smile wormed on his lips and mentally he thanked Dawn. 'I love your surprise Dawn, but how did you know and how did you contact him?' Did she plan this surprise with him?

"And you could use the bath!" Quetz commented scrunching his nose.

"Where were you all these days?"

"Busy," he shrugged. With Whispering Eobens and some rogues in the land. "Eat." He pointed at the food. He had to plead Brantley for granting him one day of human form ever since Dawn had forced him.

"How did you know it was my birthday?"

"I didn't. Dawn told me and asked me to wait here for you."

A relief washed over Cole. He smiled and suddenly felt hungry like a pig.