Ever since Gai Regal was released from Scarlet’s trap, Castle Grey has been engulfed with anxiety. On Gai’s revelations, a small deployment of troops was sent out to find Scarlet based on her information.

She was not found.

At the same time, Talbert went missing. An investigation of his study revealed a confession letter sitting upon his desk detailing the role he played in the deaths of the women in the city and throughout his life.

The people close to Scarlet did not take the news well. Gai Regal blamed himself, getting angry. Remi felt used and was too exhausted to cry or blame anyone. Nigel was mortified. He was being strewn around by Talbert’s orders like everyone else. It kept him away from protecting and being around his friend, a fact he now knows was intentional. Alexander seemed the most unaffected of the bunch.

Talbert created an environment that slowly but surely isolated Scarlet to the point where she felt like she could only rely on herself. And it worked.

A sense of betrayal now hangs over the castle.

•

Baron Embers sits on his throne in the main room of the castle. His eyes are half-closed. Dark bags linger beneath them. His demeanor can only be accurately described as “tired.” Though he’s dressed as he usually does in gallant clothing and a silver circlet around his head, his entire body is haggard and weak.

The baron’s wife could not make herself presentable enough to attend without bursting into tears. Instead, she cares for her son Conrad as the news of her first child dwells in the air like a blackened cloud threatening to suffocate her. Regret coats her heart as she puts up a front for her child, perhaps the only one she has now.

Everyone of any importance now stands inside the throne room, both political figures and guards. Even maids listen on, worried. Chef Rumsley stands at the back with members of his staff as he listens for news of Scarlet. Clyde lingers beside him.

“It has been three days since my daughter was last seen,” begins the baron. His voice is softer than normal. “Initial searches have turned up no results. Time is of the essence. Because of the actions of Talbert, Scarlet was slowly isolated. Her trust in others diminished to the point where she felt she could only rely on herself. That is the inference provided to me by Remi in her report.” The baron gestures at the aforementioned girl. She stands before him in the front row of troops. “His every action was to trap her, driving her to kill him. Since neither of their bodies has been found, we can assume that my daughter was taken by Talbert. That is where things stand as of this moment.”

The room chills. Many emotions cross the faces of different people. Regret. Anxiety. Anger. Dismay. Betrayal. All are valid. All are present.

“As many of you are now aware, for the past year, a killer has been targeting women in Water’s Bastion. In response, Talbert was put in charge of leading the investigation. We made no progress, so more resources were poured into the effort. Still, nothing changed. Tensions rose. It was all intentional. Talbert was leading the investigation into himself, after all. An investigation into…himself. I…never saw it coming. Forgive me.” Baron Embers’s voice tappers off. “I’ve known the man for a long time. He was my second during the rebellion. I…I never knew…he was like…this. I don’t think anyone did.”

The emotional ambiance drops even further.

“From what we know, Talbert tortures the women before he mutilates and kills them,” Baron Embers says bluntly. The words harden his face further. Little gasps erupt from the crowd. “My daughter is currently in his hands.”

Silence grips the room. Even the little muttering that usually accompanies such events ceases.

“We must change tactics. Think outside the box.” Baron Embers’s voice calms somewhat. “Please—” He stands, head dipping slightly forward. “—find Scarlet.”

Shocked, the silence continues. Then, a war cry. The souls of everyone resonate with each other. Those wishing to save Scarlet. Those who love Baron Embers. Those who recognize the betrayal of Talbert. Those connected merely by employment. All shout together as one.

People begin moving in and out of the room. Only a few remain, a line of four standing before Baron Embers.

Baron Embers walks towards them. “You all care for my daughter the most. I grant you the autonomy to act on your own. Do what you must. You have my backing. Think outside the box. Act as a second team to us.” He walks toward Captain Van Gallan. “Use whoever or whatever you can to find my daughter.”

The group of four huddles together.

“Let’s go over what we know,” begins Remi, determined.

Nigel nods while Alexander stares at the group, a bored expression on his face.

“Fuck,” Gai mutters. “Why haven’t we found her yet, dammit?!”

“Calm down,” eases Nigel.

Gai gets in his face. Anger alights his eyes. “How can I?!”

Alexander separates the two of them. “Now, now, Calm down kiddos.”

Gai curses, clearing his throat. His eyes focus on the floor. “I’ll leave my rage for Talbert.”

Remi smiles creepily. Her voice trembles as she speaks, “I’m gonna pull his stomach out through his throat.”

“We’re all in a consensus on that point,” agrees Nigel. “We have to find him first. Nothing we’ve done so far has helped. Forces have been scouring the city and surrounding territories for days now. What do you all propose?”

“Captain Van Gallan will continue sweeping all available territories around and within Water’s Bastion, but that’s too much to look over when time is of the essence. It’ll take weeks to find him if he doesn’t…finish by then. We need to be more deliberate with our search than the others,” says Remi. “The main team has to be broad, so it gives us the freedom to concentrate on specific places.”

“Going into the city seems like, and has been, a waste of time,” says Gai blandly. “It’s what Talbert suggested you all do, so we should probably do the opposite if we want to find her.”

“Then let’s stick to the area where Scarlet was captured. He used that place for a reason. Maybe it was circumstantial or merely a staging ground for the attack, but it is our only lead,” summarizes Nigel. He stares at the ground as he speaks, his mind clearly in deep thought.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without the information Scarlet left us,” realizes Gai. “Talbert confessed, but it’s not like he wants to be caught. His note seemed to mock us like we won’t find him until it is too late.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” says Remi. “Scarlet has always been clever. Hell, she’s the smartest person I know.” Her face darkens. “I should have trusted her more.”

Gai turns away. “We all should have. We let Talbert silently manipulate us. Everyone played right into his hands. He put the thoughts in your head about Scarlet’s motivation to kill, didn’t he?”

Remi nods sadly. “Then I did the same to you. Who knew it would lead to this?”

“He knew.”

The group grows silent.

“We’ll stick to our plan. Reevaluate the marsh, look for evidence, and create potential paths Talbert could or would have taken from there. He’d have to carry a body through the night by himself, but he’s also an Eater. He’d have no trouble carrying and hauling a body for miles without stopping,” interjects Nigel.

“Depending on his injuries,” adds Remi. “We found a lot of blood.”

“Could all be Scarlet’s,” mewls Alexander.

Gai glares at him.

Alexander puts up his hands defensively. “Sorry, but this whole situation is her fault.” He taps his temple thoughtfully. “She can’t kill? Never made any sense given how much of an asshole she is. What? She’ll beat people into a coma or cripple them, but not kill them? Half her life has been spent learning how to stab people. She’s crude, violent, and depressing. Normally someone like her would bath in blood for fun. Instead, she’s whiny and feeble. What a waste.”

“How could you say something like this?! Now?!” hisses Remi.

Gai bawls his hands into fists.

“Why not now? It’s helpful information to think about. If she attacked to kill, then Talbert wouldn’t be able to go that far because his body would be repairing live-ending injuries. If she went to capture him, then he’s probably in a different city already. Assessing something like that will be important for our search, no?”

Remi winces while Gai grits his teeth.

“Uncertainty about the self has a downstream effect,” states Nigel blandly.

“You mean how she’s confusing, contradictory, and crazy?” ponders Alexander playfully. “Again, usually, those people are happy killing others. Life isn’t that valuable. I don’t know why she’s so fussy.”

Gai grabs Alexander’s shirt collar. “I need you to stop talking.”

“Fine, fine!” Alexander raises his hands defensively again. “I yield.”

Gai lets him go.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“She was always obsessed with others while putting herself down,” mutters Remi. “Maybe that’s why. I wouldn’t call her the kindest person. You’re right; she’s more selfish than she thinks she is. But…I don’t know.”

There’s silence.

“Well…regardless, standing around here won’t help,” says Alexander awkwardly. “I’ll go with Nigel. We’ll find her. You two go do your thing.” Alexander puts an arm around Nigel and begins dragging him away. “Care to make it a competition?” he asks of the two behind him.

Remi and Gai stare at the blonde man, appalled.

“Stay in contact with the larger group and us. Report anything suspicious or important,” Nigel tells Remi as he leaves.

“Same to you,” she replies, still shocked by Alexander.

Gai and Remi are soon left alone.

“I almost hit him,” says Gai with a bark of morbid laughter. He punches the nearest wall, cracking it. “It’s all getting to me. Terrible parents. Traitor teacher. His stupid words.” He peers at the castle. “I’m going to destroy this place if she’s dead.”

“Stop it,” Remi orders the man.

“I can’t help it. I’m angry, this whole thing is my fault, and that shit didn’t make me feel any better.” Gai furiously motions his fingers through his hair. His eyes are distraught. “I knew what Scarlet was trying to do to me, and I still let my damn guard down.”

Remi stares at Gai. “She seduced you, correct?”

Gai walks away. His eyes droop slightly. “Yeah.”

“No wonder she won.”

Gai crinkles his nose. “Why do you say that?”

“No reason.”

The pair move into the courtyard outside. It’s empty. No one is training. Even the birds seem absent today. Out in the open, the tension is not much better. It appears even the air itself is standing on edge as the tragic events begin to unfold.

“Her damn dad is pissing me off,” murmurs Gain in a curt tone. “Everyone is, but him especially.”

“Is he now?”

Gai eyes Remi. “Don’t you find it funny that he’s so miserable about someone he’s been trying to sell off for years? I’m surprised I haven’t gotten a long talk about compensation for my troubles. Asshole.”

“Funny words coming from the buyer.”

“Screw you. You know it’s not like that.”

“You’re being too harsh on the baron,” says Remi.

“Am I really? You’re Scarlet’s friend. You know what she’s been through. You’ve known about it longer than me. There’s no love there. He doesn’t see her as a person. I’m surprised he’s even going this far.”

“Shut up.”

Gai’s eyes narrow. “What?”

“You’re biased. So is Scarlet. She only sees what she wants to see because it affects her directly. For such a smart girl, she is so foolish when it comes to objective common sense.”

“The hell are you talking about?”

“She’s his daughter. That will never change regardless of politics or whatever intentions he has for her life,” Remi explains in earnest.

“He never acted like that’s mattered until now.” Gai frowns. “You know what her dad said to her after the ploy she put up with that Astra guy, don’t you? She must have told you. He said she should have let him rape her.”

Remi looks away. The pair continue walking towards the castle gate. “Scarlet was always a gifted child. She hungered for knowledge, wanted to learn how to fight, to eat a Divine Treat. It would shock me if her own father, a man from a non-noble background, didn’t feel conflicted about how to handle her. Yet, he had other aspects he needed to balance. I don’t know. I know he’s done horrible things, and I get why Scarlet feels how she does, but it also feels like we’re missing something. I work for him. He’s not a monster. The people love him. And Scarlet’s willfully disconnected herself from most of her family. When have you actively seen her reach out to them? To her mother? Father? Have you seen her with her brother even once since arriving?”

Gai’s frown deepens.

“If the baron didn’t care about Scarlet, he wouldn’t have educated her, trained her in the sword, given her a Divine Treat, or allowed her the little freedoms she had. Nor would she have had any choice in who she married. Nor would she be married to you. Can you honestly say you’re a better choice than Prince Christopher on a political level? He never needed someone who could swing a sword, but someone to solidify his power. Yet he allowed the duel, he ignored your rudeness, and accepted your lacking capacity as a runaway baron’s son.”

“It’s because I can write a damn good letter,” says Gai.

“That only convinced your family that the marriage was profitable and that you were at least willing to pretend to forgive them.”

“You read them, huh?”

“No, I just guessed. Thanks for the validation.”

Gai tsks.

“I don’t intend to pry.” Remi pauses. “That letter and its reply weren’t what earned you Lord Baron’s favor. You know when I think you convinced him?”

“When?”

“I object!” Remi mocks. “What father wouldn’t want someone so confident for his daughter? And then you were able to back it up. I bet that little relief made his decision to give Scarlet away to you made his life easier. Cause he knew she’d be loved.”

Gai says nothing. His gaze doesn’t meet Remi’s. He stares at the ground in thought, absorbing her words.

Remi suddenly smiles. “You’re different now. It’s kind of nice.”

“Different?”

“Did you think you’d grow to like Scarlet as much as you do?”

“She was always interesting, so yeah.”

“You probably love her, Gai.”

Gai stops walking. He stares after Remi. The words stun him into silence.

Remi, realizing this, stops as well. She cranes her head back at him. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

Gai’s gaze adverts downward. Memories of his time with Scarlet over the past few months stream through his head like a calm river. The good times. The bad. Fun memories and sad. The touch of her skin. The scathing burn of her sarcastic wit. The sad look in her eyes every time they’d kiss. Then the feeling of their last interaction. It’s haunting beauty. The sense of genuine passion Gai felt for the second time since meeting Scarlet.

Gai clicks his tongue as he begins walking again. “I feel responsible.”

“It’s okay to love her.”

Gai’s eyes twitch, but he remains silent.

“We should go,” Remi realizes upon seeing the reaction.

Gai clenches his teeth. “Yeah.”

They exit the castle and begin jogging as soon as they’re out on the open road. Their overall speed and stamina are better than the average person’s because of their Divine Treat abilities. The feat is easy. They’ll make it to their search location in minutes.

“If something happens to her, it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life,” Gai says into the wind that wooshes past their ears. “If she’s dead… I’ll…”

“I feel the same way. I drove her to act alone.”

“I did, too.”

“The real question is, will you still be there for her if she’s still alive?” Remi ponders. Her tone grows cold. Her implications are sinister.

Gai faces forward. His face hardens.

•

Nigel and Alexander run from the front gates down the main street toward Water’s Bastion. They veer right halfway down the road at jogging speeds equivalent to world-record-breaking sprint times on Earth. They could keep the pace up for hours thanks to the effects of their Divine Treats.

“Did you have to say all that?” wonders Nigel.

“Say all what?” replies Alexander blandly.

“About Scarlet.”

“Oh. Right. Probably not, but I did.”

Nigel frowns. “It wasn’t the time even if you believed it all.”

“Sorry. It’s her fault we’re having to do this. It’s annoying me.”

“Even so.”

“I could kill anyone if my life was on the line, and I have. She’s pathetic.”

Nigel glances at his friend out of his peripheral. He watches as Alexander’s cheery mask fades as the blonde man allows the coldness hiding with him, something only Nigel has seen glimpses of, flow forth unabated.

“Not all people are like that.”

“All people are like that,” dismisses Alexander. “Life or death situations bring out the cruelty in everyone.” He dodges around a tree, lightly hopping over an extended root, before continuing his break-neck pace. His eyes scan the surroundings as he does. “The fact that she can’t means something’s wrong with her.”

“We already know there is.”

“I guess that’s true,” affirms Alexander. “It doesn’t make her any less annoying though. If she weren’t the kid of my boss, I’d probably never talk to her.”

Nigel clenches his jaws as he hears Alexander say things he’s never heard him utter before. Yet it doesn’t surprise Nigel either.

“Then why do it at all?”

“It’s advantageous to have close relationships with people who can potentially benefit your life,” replies Alexander. “It’s why you all stay with her. If she weren’t a noble, we wouldn’t listen to her complaints. She can’t kill, she can’t leave, she can’t do what she wants, she hates her body. Insufferable. All of it.”

“I don’t stay around her because of that.”

“Then why.”

“She’s…She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.”

“Weird. I think of her as a soul-sucking anti-happiness bomb that kills the light of every room she enters.”

“Alexander, you—”

“I’m getting tired of this place. The castle and the city.” A sigh leaves the blonde man. “Maybe I should move on again.”

Nigel narrows his eyes. “What do you mean? You’re a knight.”

A cheery smile fills Alexander’s face. “Obligation is death by another name. I’ve felt like going for a while, but this might be a sign. Things were stagnant. I’m always bored. If Scarlet dies, the baron will lose the faith of his people. It’ll be the final nail in the coffin. The knight will be disgraced for their inability to save the child of their leader. I can’t imagine the nobles above the Baron will let this sort of incompetence go. He’ll be let go. So will the staff. It’s best to accept failure and be surprised by success.”

Nigel says nothing to this.

“If this place doesn’t make me better, there’s no point in staying,” concludes Alexander.

“That’s pathetic.”

“Call it what you wish. You can stay back to pick up the pieces.” Alexander frowns. He looks up in thought for a moment. “I’ll probably head North.”

“Alexander—”

“You’re helpful. Tag along if you want. I wouldn’t hate that.”

Nigel says nothing for the longest time. “Let’s just find her.”

“Sir,” mocks Alexander. He chuckles slightly as they continue racing through the forest.