"Not at all. I'm sure I had it on when I escaped from the prison, but why is it gone now? Did I drop it?"

Vione touched her neck several times, then stood up. She searched her body as thoroughly as she could, checking every inch of her clothing, but she still couldn't find it.

"My necklace," Vione whispered, her voice shaking. Her face grew pale and a shiver ran through her body—fear of loss. "I must find it."

Panic began to creep into Vione's mind. The possibility that she had lost the half-moon pendant necklace made her heart ache. She couldn't imagine if the necklace was really gone. It...