Chapter 17: What Did You Do With Maximus?

The gods have got to be kidding him! Issac cursed out as soon as he returned to the spot where he had left Maximus and he was nowhere to be seen. 

"Oh, no, no, no," Issac began to panic, pacing up and down while occasionally running his hand through his blonde hair that touched down to his nape. 

This cannot be happening, where was Maximus? He knew he should not have left that horse alone! Issac could swear Maximus hated him and was doing this to torment him. Wait a minute, what if this was the test? Was he supposed to find the horse? 

What happens if he isn't able to find him? How would he be able to find Prince Aldric and give him the crown prince's response then? Would the cruel prince kill him if the message comes late? 

Issac did not need a god to tell him the answer to that question. That crazy prince would probably play around with him for a while before ending his pathetic life. After all, he took delight in tormenting people. 

"Maximus," He called out gently at first, hoping that the horse was asleep somewhere or something and would return to the sound of his voice. 

Well, who was he kidding? 

"Maximus!" He yelled this time, his voice echoing across the woods. There was no response and his heart rate spiked as another thought came into his mind. What if humans had stumbled upon the horse in his absence and captured him? 

No, the damned horse was a fighter and if he could fight off a herd by himself, humans were no match for him. Moreover, he could not see signs of struggle in the dirt. If anything it seems Maximus had vanished into thin air because he was unable to find his track anymore, instead the trail was replaced by two feet which didn't make any sense. 

"Maximus!" He called out once more and there was a sudden rustle in the forest and he turned to the source abruptly.

Issac had no idea what he was expecting but none of them came close to the woman that stepped out to meet him. His mind short-circuited and all he could think was that she was beautiful. Issac did not know how but his legs were already moving to go meet her. 

She was dark-skinned and had hair that touched down to her butt and seemed oddly familiar. Unlike Prince Aldric's hair which had a bluish hue thanks to his winter Fae heritage, the woman's hair was jet black and her blue eyes were so beautiful he wanted to stare and get lost in it. 

The woman stood rooted at that spot confidently with a beguiling smile while Issac walked towards her like a mindless zombie. He could not control his body and there seemed to be a haze that clouded his mind anytime he wanted to think. But even as mindless as he was, there was a nagging feeling inside of Issac that he needed to find someone. 

His feet led her to the woman and he stood right in front of her as the eerie feeling passed through him. The hairs on his body stood on edge and he was filled with the desperation to remember as if finally recognizing that he was in danger. 

"What a disappointment," The woman said, "I thought you would be different from the others." She lifted her hand and was just about to cup his cheek when he moved, quicker than the eye could see.

Issac managed to break out of the spell and now had his sword that had materialized out of thin air pointed at her neck. 

"Who are you and what have you done with Maximus?" His voice was stern and Issac was on high alert as he watched. 

There were lines of markings with small, thin black ink on the woman's face and while such traits were peculiar to witches, dark Fae possesses similar features as well like prince the prince and his runes. Issac's defense was high and his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. 

"Fascinating, you successfully fought my hypnosis," The woman murmured, her eyes wide and bright as she looked at Issac like a highly sought prize. 

Even with the wicked pointed sword at her neck, she took a step forward while Issac took one back. 

"Don't," He warned her, the sword cutting her and drawing a line of blood across her slender neck. 

She stopped but her grin twisted into a smile that looked predatory and hungry and made Issac extremely wary of her. She almost reminded him of a certain prince. 

"What did you do with Maximus?" He repeated, his tone forceful while he forced his body into a fighting stance. 

"What did I do with Maximus? I'm Maximus." She giggled. 

"What?" Issac did not hear that right. 

The woman lifted her skirt and twirled around, "Ta-da! I'm Maximus! At least the she version of him." She found the situation hilarious. 

What the hell was she saying? Issac was extremely confused now. No, this must be a ploy to pull down his defenses and strike him when he least expects it. 

He stepped forward threateningly, "Listen to me, witch…." He tightened his grip on the sword, "I would cut you down if you don't tell me what you have -" She cut him off with a dramatic yawn. 

"Tsk, Men, so predictable." She rolled her eyes upward, " Fine then." Her eyes were bright again, "Then I'll show you then." 

It all happened so quickly but in a swirl of black smoke, the strange woman in front of him was gone and replaced by a majestic yet familiar black stallion. 

However, the horse was larger than the woman once standing in its place hence Maximus hauled up to a stop and reared on its back legs with a neigh. The sudden mess startled Issac, but it was enough warning for him to create enough space between, almost stumbling back. 

But then, he was left with one question, 

WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS JUST HAPPENED?