I stare at her deep blue eyes, just like mine, glittering, even in the dark. She looks at me with love and I know I could never live without her. 
I must only be ten or so that time. I smile and start playing with her silky, black hair. She takes my hand in hers and smiles like I'm her world.

"Today, I'm going to give you something very important to me, and you must take care of it no matter what," she tells me, her voice strict but caring.

"What is it, mommy?" I ask her, worried at how firm her voice was.

She turns around and takes something out of the white bag behind her. 

It's a beautiful, golden ring with delicately carved designs on it. I am mesmerized by the sight of it. It's hypnotizing.

She pulls her hand away before I can reach for it. "This belonged to my father, was given down to me, and now it is time it goes to you. This is a very special ring, and it is said it can protect you. You must always protect it and never lose it."

"What if I lose it?" I ask her out of curiosity.

"It is said if you lose it to someone bad, way worse than the people of the Bad Souls people, the ring will release a curse, and no one knows what the curse is, because no one has lost it yet, but we don't want to find out now, do we?"

"No. But don't worry mommy, even if I do lose it, which I swear I won't, I can just stop the curse with my own curse and protect you. It is my power," I say proudly.

She laughs and strokes my hair, "I know you will."

She puts the ring on my finger and I flinch at its cool touch. 
"You'll get used to it," she says.

Just as I pull my hand away a strong wind envelopes us and I scream. My mom is being pulled away into the darkness with the hands of the wind and I yell for it to stop. My mom keeps on muttering, "What have you done Drake?" but I keep on reaching for her. My body is glued to the one spot as I see the darkness eat her. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save her again. 

"At least you were able to save me," a soft, and very familiar voice says from behind me. 

I  quickly turn around but before I can see her face, I'm pushed into a pit of darkness, falling.

...

I wake up and feel myself sweating. 
A nightmare. 
This isn't a good sign.

I rub my hands, hoping to feel the coolness of the ring on it, but it's empty. 
The dream goes over and over in my mind and I'm having trouble breathing.

I quickly get out of bed, put on my robe, and call for Camara. It's five in the morning. Didn't need an alarm today...

It's been a week since Analia left and since then everything has slowly shifted to normal. The princess made up an excuse for her father as to why she will not marry me, although she still isn't telling anyone the real reason. 
And as for Analia... I have been telling Andrew to keep checking on her, and I hope she is fine. 

Camara is soon at my door and we both start walking together to the library. 
"Did you find my ring?" I ask her.
"No, not yet, your highness. We are looking everywhere in the castle, but so far, no news. Perhaps you lost it when you last went horse riding with Analia."
"Perhaps... Get some guards to also check the areas we went to."
"Yes. Sir, wouldn't you like to take a bath first before you start working?"

We enter the library and I breathe in the smell of books. So comforting...
I give a sigh and sit down on my chair. This library... this is the first place I met Analia properly...

"I need to check something then I will get ready. Where's Andrew?"

"Prince Andrew said he needed to go somewhere for work and that you might know about it. Also, princess Liferia and the King are inviting you to their kingdom to celebrate the coming of summer. It is a good chance for you to discuss your plans."

I nod and open a book on the history of The Good and Bad Souls Kingdom. 
It should be in here...

I look up and see Camara looking at me in confusion. 
"I know our history, I just needed some information."

She bows, the confusion clear in her face, and leaves the room. She too doesn't want to argue with me now.
I flip through the pages of the book. Everything is in here, everything on the history of our world, yet there is not a single chapter or sentence on why two people, one from the mortal world and one from the Good or Bad Souls kingdom, could look alike. 

I close the book and sigh, my hands rubbing my face.
I feel so tired. My body feels stiff and the fatigue is spreading everywhere.This is all so confusing. Yet I know my ring disappearing has something to do with Analia coming here.

It's already half past 8. I've been in the library for 3 and a half hours. Time flies...

It's time to relax and take a bath now. The prince can't be roaming around unbathed.

I get up from my chair and make my way towards the door.
These guards who I never even paid attention to were some of the good friends of Analia, made her feel comfortable in this new world. Laurence and Marton. She'd talk to me about them. She would-

The doors open and my face goes blank.
My breath hitches and I am shocked.
I wasn't expecting to see anyone standing there... especially not her...

It's Princess Liferia.

Her head  and hand is bleeding as it holds a knife and there is a cut on her head. Her clothes are ragged, and she is bending, clutching her stomach. 
I am shocked by the state the Princess is in. 

It fills me with horror looking at her.

I look into her deep brown eyes and my head feels a bit dizzy.
One look in the eye and I can tell the difference.
This- This isn't Princess-

The word "Drake" softly leaves her mouth, barely a whisper, and she falls into my arms, unconscious. 

I clutch waist with one hand and arm with the other. So light and so small...
I feel anger coursing through me for the person who did this to her.
Rage is burning in me.

Who did this to her and why is she here again?