Fun fact if you didn't already know, but Kevin has two sisters in the comics. Denise & Patty Keller. I was thinking about adding them into the story, but decided not to so that I could focus on the romance

Tom had returned to the estate in a matter of moments. Like he could stay away from his child for long. Tom walked into the large blandford house. He was met with two of the older servants that had started working for him and his son when his wife had passed. One of them helped Tom pull of his furred cloak. "Thank you." he said to him with a smile. "Has my son returned?"

"Yes." the servant replied with a smile as he handed the cloak to the other servant and watched her walk away. "He's out on the patio I believe."

"Thank you. You're both dismissed for the evening." Tom walked down the main foyer of his room and made his way into the main room of his house. There was a warm fire lighting in the hearth of the fireplace. The sofa was neatly made with the pillows nice and fluffed up. Kevin's doing. Kevin was always one to help the servants when it came to cleaning. And he always dismissed them when it came to cooking. His son was kind hearted like that. Tom walked over towards the patio that was just behind their sofa and saw his child sitting on one of the stone benches, a book in his hands. Tom smiled. His son's love for reading was always from his mother.

His late wife Kathy would always read to him when he was still a newborn and into the toddler stages, before she passed away tragically. Tom always saw Kathy when he looked at Kevin. From his love for reading to his bright eyes to his pure heart. Tom walked over to the glass doors that led to the patio and opened one of the doors. Kevin didn't even budge. He smiled and lightly knocked on the glass. Kevin looked up at his father.

"How about you come on inside? It's still snowing and I don't want you sick." Tom said.

Kevin closed his book, placing his thumb in between his page so that he could keep reading once he got inside of the room. "Sick physically or sick of this house." he said as he walked right past his father.

"Come on know, don't be like that." Tom said, turning around and closing the door. "You know how I feel about you outside."

"It's a small town father. Please, may God strike us down if I twist my ankle while walking down the road."

"That's not what I mean. I'm talking about you and your fascination to explore. I know how much you want to go out and explore the outside world. And if you could while I was away hunting, you'd run off looking for some adventure."

"But isn't that my choice? I'm old enough to make my own decisions father. And if I get hurt that's on me. The least you could do is teach me how to defend myself if something does happen."

"Nothing will happen because you won't be getting hurt. I won't be allowing you to leave the estate until-"

"Until I get married." Kevin rolled his eyes and slumped back down on the sofa, creasing the pillows that he had spent a couple of minutes fluffing up. Tom sighed and sat down on the sofa next to his son.

"No, no, no, no. That's not what I'm saying at all." Tom said to him. "I'm just saying that I worry about you. After your mother-"

"Father."

"After losing your mother I don't want to lose you." Tom continued. Kevin gave a small smile and me moved closer to his dad.

"Can you tell me at least one more thing about her?" Kevin asked. "Please… I know that it hurts."

Tom smiled. "Your mother was… kind and pure of heart." he said, cupping his son's chin and moving his head up to see his smile. "Just like you."

Kevin moved forward and rested his head against his father's legs. Tom smiled and rubbed his son's hair. They stayed like for a couple of moments before Tom moved. The two stood and Kevin helped his father get his cloak and ax back on for his hunt. Tom smiled as Kevin tied his cloak tightly around his shoulders.

"Should I bring you something from the wood?" he asked.

"Dad… you know how I feel about hunting animals." Kevin said.

"Yes I know, but it doesn't have to be animals. What would you like? Anything at all. How about a rabbit to keep you company here at the estate?"

Kevin thought for a second before smiling. "What about... a cyclamen?"

"A cyclamen?" Tom asked.

"It's a beautiful flower that's able to grow in the winter. Plus… it was mom's favorite flower. She painted them all over my nursey when I was still a baby."

"I know. I remember. The whole estate smelled of paint. She spent a whole night on it." Tom smiled, cupping his son's face and pressing a kiss onto his forehead. "Then a cyclamen you shall get. I shall be back by tomorrow afternoon. If you shall require anything, just ask the servants."

"You know that I will dismiss them." Kevin said, grinning as he walked with his son over to the foyer of their home. He turned his father and smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow with the cyclamen." Tom said, opening the door to exit the room. "I love you son."

"I love you more." Kevin said as Tom closed the door behind him. Kevin smiled and he walked back inside of his home.

Tom had made his way into the woods after he had left his son. Tom didn't like leaving his child every so often to go out into the woods. But he did want to provide for his son. He had to. He wanted to make sure that his son would be happy. Tom walked down the wood, his boots crunching against the snow. He looked around the forest to find the edge of the forest that would lead him towards the animals. But he didn't see it at all. Tom looked back. Had he missed the turn he was supposed to take that would lead him to where the deer and the rabbits hide. Tom turned back in front of him and slowly crept down the path.

Maybe he was just imagining things. Maybe he hadn't lost his way and he was just going insane. He wasn't even that far into the woods. He should be fine. Tom paid extra close attention to where he was walking this time. He looked at the trees and bushes and noticed that the snow seemed to start leaving them. How long that it been since it snowed? Maybe it was just warmer down in this part of the forest. Tom kept walking and walking down the wood. He held a dip as he jumped off of a fallen tree trunk. He looked back.

Okay.

Now he was lost.

Tom never had gotten lost before. He certainly missed a turn. Tom moved to start walking back to try and figure out where he was, when he heard something from behind. The older huntsman grabbed his ax and threw it as fast as he could. Feeling that he was in danger. The ax hit the trunk of a thick tree. Just the tree. No one was there. Tom walked over to grab his ax back from the tree when he started to hear more rustling. Tom moved his hand away from his ax and started to slowly walk closer to the sound. Was someone following him? Was someone watching him? Tom felt himself dipping lower and lower into a deep part of the wood.

As he kept walking he heard the sound of… music? Soft music. He could hear a harp and a violin in the background of whatever or whoever he was following? Tom wasn't paying much attention to the wood around him. He didn't notice that he was no longer stepping in the snow. He didn't notice as the trees were earning back their bright green leaves and fruit. He stopped to reach for one of his hidden daggers when he noticed it. He looked around and saw that the winter woods had gone. It looked almost as if it was summer. And the heat started to make the older hunter sweat. Tom moved over and pulled off his fur cloak in hopes to not overheat himself. He continued walking down the wood until he looked down and saw a thicket covered in vines. Tom raised his eyebrow, confused as the why there were some many vines here. He moved to touch one and yanked his hand back as they magically moved away. Tom would have fainted if he still wasn't so curious. He slowly crept into the entrance that the vines that created. The vines were pretty thick, but they moved around for him. He moved into the wood and his eyes widen. The music had gotten louder as he moved into the entrance that the vines had made him.

He looked around and saw that there was a small village laid out in front of him. It was shoved deep into the woods, hidden by the vine wall. There were small cottages and shops and homes as far as they eye can see. It almost reminded him of Riverdale. He crept a bit closer, hiding behind a small cottage to look out at the town square. There was a beautiful well in the middle of the town square, and surrounding the well was a group of people. They were spinning around and dancing. Smiles on their faces.

Who were these people? As far as Tom knew, this town never existed. The next town from Riverdale was a two day walk, one day ride from Riverdale. Where did this vine hidden village come from? Tom stayed behind the cottage and watched as the people turned and laughed with the sound of the music, coming from a small band right near the well. This was so fascinating yet confusing. What was going on? Tom turned his head to leave but was met with the face of a young girl. Tom jumped a bit, shocked as to how he allowed someone to sneak up on him. He was a hunter. He was used to hearing things come from behind and in front of him. Hence why he threw the axe earlier.

Tom gripped the edge of his shirt near his heart and looked over at the girl. She had a wide smile on her face. Why was she smiling? "An outsider! You're… you're an outsider!" she said.

An outsider? What?

"I'm so sorry." Tom said. "I didn't mean to trespass. I lost my way in the forest. I was hunting and-"

"Jughead! Jughead!" the girl cried out to the town square. Tom instantly reached for the dagger that he kept concealed in his pocket. A young man, with black hair covered by a dark grey hood, looked out at Tom and the girl and raised his eyebrow. He released the shoulders a blonde woman about his age and started to walk over. Everyone then stopped their dancing and festivities. This Jughead walked up towards the two.

"Jellybean, what are…" Jughead grabbed her by pulled her behind him. "Who are you? Who did you get in here?"

"I mean no harm." Tom said, taking a step back and outstretching his hand to the man. "I just lost my tracks in the woods. I stumbled here by accident."

"There is no accident." said another man who was approaching Jughead from behind. This one had a tanner skin tone and there was a marking on his neck. It was in the shape of a snake that was making an S. "No one can find this place. The vines ensure that."

"The vines opened up when I reached to touch them. I swear. I didn't mean to intrude." Tom said. "I will leave."

"No, not at all!" the other man yelled. "You need to tell us who you are and how you found this place!"

"Jughead, Sweet Pea! Leave the poor man alone." called the blonde woman that Jughead had apparently been dancing with. She climbed up to them, holding the skirts of her pale pink dress. She approached Tom, but he moved back with caution.

"Hey, easy. I'm not like these two." she said. "You must he starving. Why are you so cold?"

"Betty get away." Jughead said as she looped her hand through Tom's arm. Jellybean moved over from behind Jughead and took Tom's other arm. Betty walked Tom down to the town square and sat him down against the well. Betty tapped her head and checked to see if he had a temperature or if he was sick. Jughead and Sweet Pea walked down from where Tom had been and met the two in the middle of this village.

"Look at him Bets." Jellybean said. "He looks so spooked."

"Forgive me… I don't understand what's going on." Tom said honestly.

"Let me get you a cup of tea." Betty said to him, turning and grabbing a kettle that was underneath a small fire right near a shop. She walked with the kettle and poured the hot liquid into a wooden cup. Tom took it gratefully.

"I don't trust this. We should throw him out before he notices that something's going on." Sweet Pea said.

"Oh hush up." Jellybean snapped before turning back to Tom and Betty. "Don't you see that this is a chance to actually break the curse."

"A stranger found his way into The Southside. How in the hell is this a good thing? What if he heard the rumors and came here to kill him?" Jughead retorted. "Go back home little sis, now!"

"Wait, who's he? What are you talking about?" Tom asked, still scared as to what was happening around him.

"Ignore him." Betty told him, rubbing his shoulder and smiling at him. She looked back up at Jughead. "Come on Juggy. Don't you have any hope? If he was able to find his way inside, this is a sign that someone is going to break the spell."

"Spell?!" Tom cried, standing up and taking cautious steps backwards. The other people slowly started to move out of the way of the stranger. "Listen… I don't know what's going on. But I just got lost. I need to return home to my son and my village."

"Easy we won't hurt you." Jellybean said.

"Jellybean, leave! Now!" Jughead yelled before turning to Tom. "You leave as well!"

"Jughead!" Betty cried.

"No, he's right! I'm leaving, right now." Tom started to walk away. He moved away from the group and started walking up towards where he had entered from the vine wall. He moved his hand to open them, like they had when he had first discovered this place, but an arrow impaled his hand and stuck it against the vine. Tom screamed as the pain shoot through his arm. He fell down to his knees, his hand still outstretched from the arrow connecting him into the vine wall. Betty and Jellybean gasped while Sweet Pea, Jughead and everyone else in the town hall turned in shock. Tom screamed as blood dripped from the arrow in his palm. He turned over, vision blurring from pain and saw someone approaching him. He at first believed that it was Jughead or Sweet Pea that had shot him, but this person he hadn't seen before. Tom couldn't even really see the person.

He was dressed in all black, a hood covering his face and a tightly strung bow in his hands. He moved closer to Tom. "Who are you?!" he growled, his voice coarse like he hasn't used it in hours. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'm sorry, please." Tom cried out. "Just let me go."

"How did you find this place?!" the hooded archer boomed in an angry roar "Did you come to see if the stories are true!?"

"What stories?" Tom asked. "Please, you don't understand. I merely-"

"You merely came to look at the man under the curse! To laugh at my pain? Well you saw here here, first! Hilarious right?!"

"No I-"

The man cut him off again. He pulled the arrow free from his hand and Tom let out a loud and pained screech as he brought his hand against his chest. The hooded archer turned away from Tom and looked over at the vast majority of people. Tom couldn't see what he must have done, but they all shook with fear. Tom moved to try and escape while he was still breathing, but the back of his neck was grabbed rather harshly. The wind was knocked out of him as he was slammed down onto the grass. The hooded archer kept his hand tightly wrapped around Tom's neck.

"Joaquin, he'll suffocate." called out what Tom recognized as Sweet Pea.

"He's lucky that I don't kill him." Joaquin replied, pressing his boot against his head and pressing Tom's head deeper onto the ground. "Set up a tent and tie him up in there."

"Joaquin." Jellybean gasped.

"Please!" Tom cried out, keeping his hands out in front of him. "Please, let me go! I won't hurt any of you, I'll go back to my village and never hunt again."

"So what, you can tell your son about what you saw? I don't buy it." Joaquin growled. "Sweet Pea, Jughead, take him now!"

"Joaquin this is a bit much." Betty pleaded. "Just let the poor man-"

"I SAID NOW!" Joaquin growled at Betty, making her step back into Jughead's arms. Jughead rubbed her shoulders before walking over to Tom. He and Sweet Pea bent down and grabbed the older hunter by his arms before starting to drag him off. Tom fought weakly due to his bleeding hand.

"Please... please let me go." he cried as he was dragged off. Betty and Jellybean looked over at Joaquin. Joaquin swung his bow over his shoulder and walked away with a second glance at them.