All this week, the castle had been buzzing. My birthday was tomorrow now and all the preparations were complete. I'd chosen everything I'd wanted specifically and then left the rest to everyone else.

Jaiden had been back this week, but something was different about him. He fought for longer. He seemed to be stronger. It also took a lot longer for me to fend him off. When I did, he didn't immediately go either. I'd found that I'd had to back him up to the window until he was almost falling out before he'd jump out.

Even then, he'd been coming back in at times for a second round. It was making me nervous just how much he trying now.

I'd asked Drew to guard in my room at night just so I could sleep, but every time Jaiden came back, I found myself awake again.

Drew was tired in the day though. He wasn't allowed to sleep on duty though. If he was found asleep in his room, he'd get in trouble. So to make up for having him stay up all night, I let him sleep on my bed in my rom during the day while May and I did quiet activities.

"Listen to him snore," May said.

I looked up from my stitching and then inhaled sharply as I pricked my finger.

"Ouch," I mumbled, putting my finger in my mouth.

Drew did snore. It was rather loudly, but there wasn't much I could do about that. He really did deserve a rest. No one could stay awake all day and night for so long.

"It's not that bad," I said, "It's like a clock. If you think about it, it gets worse, but if you don't focus on it then it's not so bad."

May snorted.

"He is not like a ticking clock," she said.

"I said just think of him like a clock," I said.

I groaned as I once again poked my finger through the stitching. I rubbed my finger, which had been pricked several times already. My fingers hurt and I was becoming bored of this.

"May, this hurts," I complained, "I've had enough."

"To be honest, I was bored hours ago," she said.

"Why didn't you say so?" I asked, throwing the sewing kit into the box, "Let's find something else to do."

"I think we should wake Drew and go outside," May said.

"No, let him sleep," I said.

May stood up and walked towards Drew. I jumped up, ready to stop her from waking him, but she just watched him. Her head tilted to the side slightly.

"He needs to sleep a little more elegantly," May said eventually.

I laughed.

Drew's mouth was wide open. I was surprised he wasn't drooling. Actually, I was surprised he was comfortable at all because he really didn't look it. He was on his stomach. his arms were both crushed underneath his body and his legs were spread out. His head was tilted to the side. It didn't look comfy.

"Well, you tell him that," I said, "I'm sure he'll make a conscious effort to change how he sleeps."

I think the sarcasm of my comment went over May's head because she just nodded.

Kitala apparently wanted to see what we were looking at and she jumped up on the bed. It only took a moment before she crouched down and pounced on Drew, pulling his T-shirt with her small teeth.

"No, Kitala," I hissed, "Leave Drew alone. He's not playing."

She ignored me and continued to wrestle with Drew.

"Wow, he's a pretty heavy sleeper," May said.

Kitala jumped over Drew's body as I nodded. She looked at Drew for a moment, her head titled before she licked the side of his face.

"Kitala, don't do that!" I exclaimed.

Drew groaned and swatted Kitala away. Kitala yelped excitedly though and wrestled with his hand, nipping lightly on his finger tips.

Drew yelped and rolled over, almost crushing Kitala. He sat upright and blinked, blearily looking around.

"Look what you've done Kitala," I said sternly, "You've woken Drew."

Kitala just ignored my reprimand and happily pounced around him, occasionally darting forwards to nip at him.

Drew rubbed his eyes sleepily and finally patted Kitala on the head, getting her to stop.

"I'm sorry Drew," I said, "Kitala wanted to play with you."

He yawned and then laughed.

"I guess that's ok," he said.

"I really wanted to let you sleep though," I said.

He laughed.

"It's alright," he said, "I'm hungry now anyway."

"How about I go get lunch for us all?" May asked, "It's about lunch time now."

I nodded and May scurried away. As soon as the door shut, I turned to Drew.

"Please, ask her out already," I said, "you're so adorable it's painful."

Drew stared at me like I head three heads.

"I'm not going to do anything like that," he said.

I'd been trying to get Drew to make a move on May this whole week. He'd been declining several times. I think he'd given up denying it though because he didn't do that anymore. He simply refused to ask her out.

"It'll make you both happy," I said, "You guys totally have a thing for each other."

Drew shook his head.

"I'm not going to," he said.

"If you're embarrassed I'll do it for you," I offered, "I mean, it's definitely not as authentic, but I can help out."

Drew shook his head stubbornly.

"I'm not going to," he repeated.

I sighed as May came back in with a plate of sandwiches. If Drew kept saying no, then I couldn't do anything. I wasn't going to be the one to mess up their relationship. Drew had to ask her by himself.

"Helen already had these ready," May said, "For not understanding English, she sure knows what we want."

I'd seen Helen a few times. She helped me pick things. My dress had been finished and my shoes picked. Tomorrow she was going to help me with it and she was going to try to make me look beautiful. As beautiful as you could get a tomboy princess to look that is.

"Actually you two," I said, picking up a chicken and cheese sandwich, "I'm going to see if my uncle wants to say anything. You two just stay here."

I didn't wait for an answer. I winked at Drew and walked out. Maybe he'd have the courage to confess.

I didn't know whether I actually wanted to see my uncle or not. I wandered aimlessly around for a while before I decided that maybe I would go see my uncle.

I walked to his study and knocked on his door.

"Come in," he said.

I walked in carefully and made my way to him.

"Carmina, what are you doing?" he asked, "I haven't called for you."

I needed an excuse.

"I know uncle," I said, "I've come to ask you a question."

He looked at me.

"What is it?" he asked.

Think Mina, what can you ask? All that was going through my head was Drew and May's romance.

"Do you think I'll find someone who loves me?" I blurted out.

My uncle chuckled.

"Maybe," he said, "love is a difficult thing. Love can crush a person if they're not careful."

"What do you mean uncle?" I asked.

How could love crush a person?

"Love can be dangerous," he said, "It happened to me. You love a person so much, but then they take everything from you and betray you."

"Uncle, who betrayed you?" I asked.

Maybe that was why he was so bitter.

He shook his head.

"It doesn't matter," he said, "Love crushed your father too, when your mother passed away."

"Does it always hurt?" I asked.

I didn't understand what he meant.

"Love will always betray you, Carmina," he said, "But you won't have to worry about that now."

I nodded.

"Thank you for answering my question uncle," I said softly, "I'll go back to my room now."

How could love hurt? I didn't understand. Why did love always betray you. What would happen to Drew and May then.

I tossed and turned. Drew had told me to go to sleep, but I just couldn't. I couldn't get what my uncle had said out of my head. If I were to fall in love, what I be hurt? What kind of pain? I didn't understand.

"Sleep, Mina," Drew said sternly.

"I can't," I whined.

"Do you want me to help?" May asked.

"It's ok," I said, "I'll stay awake anyway."

There was a thump and I heard Jaiden land in my room. Drew held up his sword at Jaiden. Jaiden scanned the room, his eyes looking darker tonight.

"I don't have time for this," Jaiden said, "I've got to get the princess out of here."

With a swift moment Jaiden grabbed Drew's wrist, then his elbow and then with a flick of his hand he hit Drew's neck.

Drew fell down, unconscious and May ran over to him.

My eyes went wide.

"What was that?" I asked fearfully.

"A 3 pressure point knock out," Jaiden said.

He bent to May's level.

"Look out May!" I cried out.

May looked up and Jaiden blew a powder into her face.

I ran and grabbed my sword. Fear was taking over my body. Jaiden had never done that before. Now May and Drew were both unconscious in a heap.

Kitala jumped at Jaiden.

"No Kitala," I exclaimed.

Jaiden bent down to Kitala and I could only watch as he blew the powder into her face.

Kitala sneezed at the powder, but then curled up on the ground, asleep.

I backed away from Jaiden.

"Jaiden, you're scaring me," I said.

I swung my sword around and tried to hit him. I had to fight him.

He blocked.

How could I do this? Jaiden was a lot stronger for some reason.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

My eyes darted to Drew and May. How could he hurt my friends.

"I have to take you away," Jaiden said, "They were hindering me."

I felt tears slid down my face. I felt like I'd have to knock him out to stop him now. Only I didn't know how to do what Jaiden had done.

A moment of distraction was all it took for my sword arm to be twisted behind my back. I gasped, feeling the flat of my blade pressing against my spine. His other arm wrapped behind my body. I was crushed against him, my right arm trapped between us. I was stuck and I was getting very scared.

"Jaiden, you're scaring me," I said, "Please, let me go."

He stayed quiet and looked away slightly.

"Please Jaiden," I begged, "You've been kind to me."

I felt a tear down my cheek. Still he remained quiet.

I let out a shaky sob.

"Jaiden, please, you don't have to do this," I said, "Jaiden, you're not a bad guy."

He looked up, his eyes burning with anger. I didn't know what it was at or who it was a, but there was definitely anger there.

"You're right, I'm not the bad guy," he said.

His head tilted and his lips came crashing down onto mine.

I squeaked in surprise. My knees buckled under me. My jaw went slack as my lips parted. My eyes slowly started to close and I felt myself falling into his embrace.

Me: And there you have it. The last chapter of Mina's side. Tomorrow will be the first chapter of Jaiden's side.

Jaiden: Tomorrow's your birthday isn't it?

Me: yes it is, I actually planned Mina's side like this so that it would finish the night before her birthday, just like it's the night before my birthday. I just thought it would be kinda cool you know?

Drew: Does this mean we won't appear?

Me: Not for a while no, Jaiden's side will probably focus more on the other characters I have.

So yeah, now I'm up to the switch. I'm very excited!