Prologue
Gregorian Year, 1936
“The night was once empty and cold,
Darkness was all it could have known.
Because when the sun went away,
No one was left to laugh, sing, or play.
The night was left all alone.
It begged for a friend, anyone.
A wish made mourning its dear sun.
First came one, then two and then four.
And from there followed many, many more.
Until the night could not claim it saw none.
Twinkling lights came near and far.
They smiled and called themselves stars.
Then was the brightest, coming soon,
Big, bold, brilliant, called the moon.
They all appeared like it wasn’t that hard.
And so, as the stars sang, come play,
And the bright moon laughed, waxed and waned,
The night no longer cried for its sun.
For it had others whole with fun.
The night was full of friends, joy, and bliss.
Allthanks to a wish.”
Six year old Jackson Nocturne rubs a tiny, pale fist against his sleepy eye. “How does the night make a wish? Makes no sense…” He fights a yawn, nuzzling into Brenda’s pajama sleeve.
Brenda, seventeen years old as of last month, shakes her head in a laugh, closing the picture book in her lap. “Since when do story books have to make sense? Does that mean you didn’t like it?”
Jackson grumbles, looking up at her teasing smirk in a pout. “It was fine, I guess. I just have questions. All the grown ups say magic has rules.”
Brenda hums thoughtfully. “So inquisitive at such a young age.” She peeks out of the corner of her eye, grinning when she notices Jackson wide, green eyes focused in on her. She leans in, speaking in a conspiring whisper, “Wishes have a rule that make anything possible.”
Blankets fall off Jackson’s grand bed as he scrambles, wide awake now, to sit up on his knees, dressed in his own cozy pajamas. “Tell me, tell me, tell me!”
She laughs, wrapping Jackson in her arms, tickling the tiny elf. “Is that how we ask for something we want, O’ Winter’s tiny lord?” Jackson squeals in delight. “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you,” she teases, continuing her onslaught of tickles on his sides.
“Please tell me! Pretty please!” Jackson shouts. He pants out a breath, cheeks flushes, mouth spread in a wide smile that brings out the dimples in his chubby cheeks. The young elf flops on to his back, staring up at Brenda. “May I please know the secret rule of wishes?”
