Lavinia blushed at the light, tight-fitting leathers that covered her head to toe. It covered her whole body but it was so tight, showing off her body. Shoving her embarrassment down, she wrapped a cloak about her person, marveling at the soft velvet-like material. 

Tarquin had assigned a maidservant to help and accompany her at all times, after grilling her with question after question on her realm. How odd it was that she didn’t miss it. She guessed she had been obsessed with this one that she had forgotten it was fiction. Until now. 

Kellie, the one they were looking for. Lavinia knew the forest, and the cities, kingdoms. She knew everything about this world. If anything, it was unsettling. She didn’t know if she liked the fact that she knew so much or not.

Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door. It was Max. She enjoyed Max’s company these past few days. Though she had written him as a charming and pleasing young man, she hadn’t thought it would affect her too. She gave him a tight-lipped smile. 

Neala, her maidservant, excused herself quietly. Max came into the room and placed a leather belt full of loops and pockets on the bed. He motioned for her to come closer and he knelt in front of her. Lavinia flushed as he looked up at her. 

“Even with us around, you can’t leave this palace unarmed. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t have to use it.” Max tightened the belt on her waist, then the straps on her thighs. His hands held the back of her thighs. “We won’t be there long, Fantasy.”

----------

Tarquin watched Fantasy riding beside Max. Max trusted her too much, Tarquin thought. He still couldn’t believe the spell worked, that Fantasy was a true being, not just something out of a book. How pretty she was too. Though he doubted she would like him very much. 

She was riding well, meaning she had experience on horseback. She was cultured, staring at wonderment at everything. She quietly asked Max questions and Max, ever the gentleman, Answered diligently. 

Silas was watching her too. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, Tarquin knew. To be disappointed. It was scary, to hope and still lose Val. 

“Her cottage should be around here. The trees are thickest near her cottage.” She was right, the trees were so thick that there was little light here. 

“What’s her name again?” Silas asked.

“Kellice. Kellice Huntsman.” Fantasy replied. 

“Huntsman? That’s a common name, so is Kellice. We need more.” Silas said.

“Blonde, petite, tan. Flowers in her plait.” Fantasy rolled her eyes.

“Excellent.”

“You are more than welcome to try and find her yourself.” Fantasy said. 

Silas scoffed but slowed down as they saw a cottage. “I think- ah- I think I found here.” Silas stuttered, riding ahead. Tarquin followed, looking ahead for the blonde girl. Fantasy and Max had gotten off their horses, the horses couldn’t walk on those passages. They walked off side by side, looking for her.

A sudden piercing scream that both Silas and Tarquin rushing to the sound. Max was staring at something, horrified. Fantasy had her face hidden in his back. Tarquin stared ahead at the mutilated body of Kellice Huntsman. She had been tied to a tree, her blue blood had made a puddle beneath her. 

“Max! Get Fantasy out of her!” Tarquin yelled.

Max snapped out of his spell of horror and carefully turned around, so Fantasy couldn’t see the body. “Come. Let’s go back.” He gently but firmly took her back to their horses and rode off. 

Tarquin cursed. “Silas let’s get her down first.”

They slowly brought the girl’s body down. She had been stabbed multiple times, but the wounds were burned at the corners. It was Cythia, most definitely. She was known for stabbing with her enchanted sword. 

“We should bury her,” Silas said. “It’ll be disrespectful not to.”

“It would,” Tarquin shrugged his cloak off. “Let’s start.”