"So, you think the dream corresponded to the way you couldn't breath?" Arthur asked.

"Yes." Antonio said. "She was choking me." Arthur nodded.

"Ok. Dimas, when you came in about all the bleeding... Did you have a strange dream?" Arthur asked.

"I... Think?" Dimas said slowly. Arthur nodded and pointed his wand at him. Suddenly Dimas gave a small scream. "Fuck, what did you- that's horrifying!"

"That, was your dream... You were bit by a man pretending to be a mermaid. And right where he bit you was the mark." Arthur said. Suddenly it became very apparent to him. "You killed the man in your dream, right?"

"Yes. Somewhat recently."

"And Antonio killed his mother... Or what was left of her. The ghosts are haunting your dreams."

"How do we stop them?" Lovino asked.

"Well..." Arthur said. "I have two friends. IF I can bring them in, the three of us may be able to banish the spirits and help you."

"Why can't you do it?" Lovino asked

"Because I'm a healing warlock." He said "I work with the living and alter their bodies. Like I did with your baby and how I turned Francis into a frog. Lukas is an expert in all things of the mind. While Vladimir is an expert with the dead. The three of us will be able to handle the problem."

"Wait, will Lovino have the dreams?" Antonio asked

"It's possible." Arthur said with a sigh. "I would, for the time being change your schedules. Take two hour naps, with someone watching you. Hopefully, these attacks are few and far inbetween. Because of the power it takes to cause them." He said "I'll write my friends, in the mean time you three figure out how you're going to make this work."

000

A week went by without incident. They were all taking naps, with guards watching over them. They passed the nights by reading and playing small card games along with their short naps (and other, activities.). They were reaching a sort of normalcy.

"I'm a little sleepy." Lovino said leaning on Antonio's shoulder, his legs in Dimas' lap. The brothers were playing a game of chess.

"Take a nap. We'll stay up and the guards are right outside." Antonio said. Lovino nodded and laid out on the soft rug and grabbed a pillow and blanket. He put the pillow between them and got comfortable. Antonio stroked his hair lovingly until he fell asleep.

Lovino was in the castle, but it was different. He didn't wear his hood and he didn't have a baby in his belly. The castle was cold... So he liked to spend his time outside. There was a wall around the castle. Not a very high one, mostly serving as a fence. Lovino liked to walk around it, imagining what it would be like to leave it's walls. He let his hand rub against the smooth brick as he walked.

"Oof!" Lovino could hardly believe his eyes. A boy had jumped over the fence and landed in his butt. He was very handsome and not much older than Lovino. He stood up and made sure his hat was secured on his head. It was a blue hat with a long red feather. The boy was dressed nicely- though he was a bit torn up.

"Who are you?" Lovino asked. The boy looked up. Lovino blushed darkly for he had the most beautiful eyes, a lovely green. His hair was dark and complemented his eyes. He was rather pale, and had long hair. Lovino thought he might look better tan. But the thought was brushed away.

"My apologies miss." He said standing and dusting himself off. He was rather tall given how young and thin he was. "I am Prince Anthony of the next Kingdom." He said and bowed to her. Lovino bit his lip, not bothering to correct him.

"Why are you here in my castle?" Lovino asked stepping closer.

"Ah, you see- I'm 16 now. And I'm to rule my Kingdom. And I've heard rumor of a princess who is blooming into a lovely young lady. I've come to see her and ask for her hand in marriage."

"You just break into her castle and expect the princess to say yes to a complete stranger?" Lovino asked turning away from the prince "it's not very Princely. Most princes have horses and knights and don't sneak over walls!" Lovino huffed.

"Well..." Anthony said blushing "I've written her mother. So has my father and mother... But she says the princess is not to meet any Prince. Or leave the castle. So I've come to see her anyway." He said this part proudly. Lovino blushed.

"I suppose that's Princely." He said "But still. How can she love you if she doesn't know you?" Lovino asked.

"I want to know her." Anthony said "She's supposed to be kind and as funny as she is beautiful. Caring and even a little stubborn. They say she has hair as black as cole." Anthony said getting a look at Lovino. His eyes went to his lips. "Lips as red as a rose." He took Lovino's hand. "Skin as white as snow."

"Well..." He took his hand away. "She does."

"So do you."

"So do I."

"What's your name?" Anthony asked. Lovino told him his name. "That's a beautiful name. A strange name but very fitting."

"It's a little on the nose, don't you think?" Lovino asked with a smile. "I have no idea what my mother was thinking."

"I bet she was thinking my goodness my little girl is pale."

"Well... My step mother says... My real mother was sewing and pricked her finger and her blood hit the snow. And she knew she would die having me."

"I'm sorry." Anthony said.

"No no... I never knew her. You cannot miss what you have never had." Lovino said. But this was false.

"But surely your stepmother treats you well." Anthony said.

"No. Not really." Lovino said "I'm a reminder of what she can never have. My stepmother is infertile. And all she has ever wanted was a baby."

"But she has you."

"I'm not enough. She doesn't love me." Lovino sighed. "Maybe marrying a prince would be just the way to show her."

"I have to go..." Anthony said as the sun began to set.

"Will you come back?" Lovino asked

"For you. I think I would do anything." Anthony said and climbed up the wall.

"Good bye Anthony."

"Good bye. Snow White." And Anthony jumped over the fence.