Into the Triangle (6 page)

"They steal our people, and heaven only knows the evil those monsters inflict once they have them within their grasp." His icy gaze seemed to cut right through Gabe when Father Willis turned to look back at him, his eyes landing on Gabe's pearl.

"You might want to think long and hard about answering the call of the mer who wants to claim you. Chances are if you are found unworthy, those devils will leave you just like they did poor, sweet Mary here." The priest grinned, exposing a set of rotting teeth. "Or worse, you'll never be seen or heard from again."

Gabe's gut was screaming at him.
Run
!
Quick
!
Get away from the crazy dude before it's too late
! He didn't like the way Father Willis touched the quiet woman, Mary. He was caressing her hair and back with an indifferent look on his face, almost as if she were a favored pet instead of a human being. But most disturbing of all was the look in his eyes when he got to talking about the Merfolk. There was a deep and true hatred there, one that struck Gabe as completely unjustifiable.

Why would a mer choose someone as their mate, only to discard them in the end
? It seemed wrong to Gabe. He stopped and thought about the two encounters with his own merman, remembering the rush of heat that came along with those cool lipped kisses, and the gleam in those storm-cloud eyes every time they gazed at him.
No, something horrible happened to Mary, but I can't believe one of the Merfolk did it to her.
His heart was denying Paxton would ever hurt him that way.

Something hinky was going on in the village and Gabe suspected most of it stemmed from Father Willis.

What the hell did I walk into
? Gabe couldn't help but wonder.

"Father, pardon the intrusion, but Gabriel has had a very trying day. I think it would be best if I took him to get something to eat then back to my hut to rest. Night will be falling soon, and perhaps you can speak with him more tomorrow?" Aaron stepped up next to Gabe, and wrapping a hand around his arm, began to tug him away.

Gabe immediately went along with the idea, grateful to be getting away from the priest and his weird vibes.

"I think that's a great idea," Gabe replied, faking a yawn. "I'm about dead on my feet. Do you mind if we talk more tomorrow sometime?" he asked.

For a moment, Father Willis looked like he might refuse, but then he smiled a tight-lipped smile. "Of course, of course, my dear boy. How very rude of me to keep you from resting. We'll talk more in the morning. Until then!" He turned around and began stomping back toward his large hut, his two meatheads following behind him. "Mary, come!"

Mary made no move to leave, instead looking right at Gabe with those big, blue eyes. She stared right at him, almost as if she was trying to say something but couldn't get her lips to form the words.

Her blank gaze cleared and for a moment Gabe saw pure terror reflected in those crystal orbs.

"Mary, I said come!" Father Willis snapped. The veil fell and once again Mary's face smoothed out into an expressionless mask, sightless eyes staring right through Gabe before she whirled around and hurried after the priest.

Gabe had to stop himself from calling out after her, needing to know what could be so terrifying it could break through her catatonic state for even a split second.

But then again, he suspected he already knew.

"Come on. Let's get you something to eat. Father Willis won't bother you again until tomorrow," Aaron whispered, as he led Gabe away.

Burning eyes followed him the whole time, and an icy thread of fear skittered down Gabe's spine.

* * * *

Later that night, as he lay on the rush-filled mattress, listening to Aaron sleep on the mat beside him, Gabe decided he needed to go back to the lagoon the next morning and see Paxton.

Something strange and dangerous appeared to be going on in the village, and although Gabe wasn't sure if the mer could be trusted, he still felt like he'd be safer with him than he was here.

Maybe I can figure out a way to talk to him.
Gabe closed his eyes and settled down deeper into the bedding.
Then I can ask him if what Father Willis said was true about Mary and what happens when a mer rejects their chosen ones
…
and maybe I can get another kiss or two
…

Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to lay his thoughts to rest. He'd worry about everything tomorrow. For now, he desperately needed to get some sleep. It wasn't long before he was drifting off.

Gabe was just closing his eyes when he thought he spotted something. A pair of what looked like hulking shadows slipped through the reed-covered doorway of the small hut, moving carefully across the floor toward the two sleeping men.

Gabe didn't get a chance to scream before a hot, heavy hand covered his mouth and he was jerked up from the safety of his bed.

Chapter 7

Gabe's eyes shot wide open the moment he felt the strange hand cover his mouth, but it was too dark without lights to see who was grabbing him. All he could see was a dark shape and shadows.

Roughly pulled from his bed, Gabe began to struggle and fight the arms holding him, screams muffled. There seemed to be too many arms and hands trying to subdue him, so he quickly guessed there was more than one attacker. Kicking like a wild man, Gabe wanted to cheer when his foot connected with a solid object, causing one of the shadows to fall back with a grunt, knocking into Aaron's mat.

Jolting up, Aaron's eyes widened when he saw what was happening in his hut.

"What the hell?" he gasped, eyes still heavy with sleep. Still, Gabe was relieved when his new friend immediately hopped out of his little bed and jumped on the back of one of his attackers, leaving Gabe to only deal with the one still covering his mouth.

Using what few weapons he had in his arsenal, Gabe elbowed back into the stomach of the shadow behind him, biting down onto the fleshy hand covering his mouth at the same time. The shadow howled, and Gabe managed to wriggle free, turning around to face the intruder.

The sound of a flint being struck sounded, and a soft glow filled the room as something was lit. Finally, Gabe was able to see his attacker.

"You?" He couldn't believe his eyes when he found himself looking at Horace, one of Father Willis's meatheads, holding an old-fashioned lantern up to illuminate the room.

The sounds of scuffling from behind him suddenly stopped, and Gabe whirled around to find that Simon—the other attacking shadow he could now identify as Father Willis's other minion—had managed to subdue Aaron, and was holding what looked like a very large, very sharp blade to his throat.

Everyone froze. Gabe's heart was beating a mile a minute, and Aaron's eyes were wide with fear.

Finally, Horace spoke, moving around from behind Gabe to the stand next to Simon. "The Father wants to see you… I suggest you come with us if you want your friend here not to be hurt."

"O-okay, but please, don't hurt Aaron," Gabe replied, trying not to let his voice shake and betray his mounting fear. "Whatever is going on, he had nothing to do with it. Can't you let him go?"

If they let Aaron go, maybe he can wake the other villagers and warn them about Father Willis
…
Maybe he can even get to the ocean
—
no, that's stupid
!
How would my mer help
?
Flop up onto the beach and to the rescue. Yeah, stupid idea
…
but if Aaron can get away, he might be able to do something
…

Gabe's hopes were quickly dashed however, when Horace looked over at Simon, and the large redhead shook his head. "No, we'll take them both. Father Willis can decide what he wants to do with this one," he said, nodding his head down at the young man he held a knife to.

After that, there was little discussion. Gabe found himself marched out of the hut, following Horace, with Aaron and Simon bringing up the rear. He couldn't say he was surprised that instead of leading them toward the big hut in the center of the village where Father Willis resided, Horace led them toward the woods. The whole time they tromped through the dense foliage, Gabe thought about escaping, but fear for his friend held him back. Simon still held that big knife, and honestly, Gabe didn't know his way around the island well enough to make a clean getaway. He could try to make it to the lagoon and the possible safety he'd find there, but with his luck he'd most likely trip over something and break a leg, then he'd really be screwed once found.

No, he chose to stay, and bide his time for a better moment for both he and Aaron to escape.

It seemed like they were walking forever, but in actuality it was probably only ten minutes or so.
It's funny how fear played on the senses, making everything from a person's hearing to a simple touch sharper, and yet time seemed to slow down to a snail's pace
…

He shook his head, banishing the panic filling his mind and the racing thoughts that came with it. Gabe suspected he needed to stay focused and on top of his game if he wanted to survive whatever was waiting for them at the end of this desolate hike through the dark.

Finally, a glow could be seen through the trees, and Gabe and Aaron were ushered into a clearing. A small wooden hut sat in its center, and the glow filling the clearing came from the small windows, signaling someone was home.

A sinking sensation began in Gabe's gut, and for some odd reason, his pearl started to give off a low hum.

He'd just opened his mouth to ask the two meatheads what now, when the hut door ripped open, and the imposing shape of Father Willis in his pitch black robes filled the doorway.

"It's about time you got here! What took you so long… and what's he doing here?" the priest asked, pointing at Aaron with an angry look darkening his skeletal features.

Horace and Simon immediately began to explain and grovel, talking over each other in their rush to explain.

"Sorry, Father…"

"So sorry!"

"But the one you requested put up a fight. For such a skinny guy, he's pretty scrappy…"

"Simon said to bring them both and let you decide what to do with the other…"

"We couldn't just leave him in the village…"

"Please, we did as you asked…"

"Did we do good, Father?"

The two men pleaded like whipped dogs begging their master for a treat, and Gabe was disgusted by the display. What was is about Father Willis that inspired so much reverence and fear in these men? Ignorance no doubt played a huge role, and he wouldn't have been surprised to find both Horace and Simon came from a time when priests could do no wrong, and the average man was unworthy to do anything but worship them and their god.

"Enough!" Father Willis finally snarled, patience waning as his two minions continued to fawn over him. "Just get them both in here. We don't have much time and I want that pearl before the bond sets too deeply."

Gabe's eyes widened and his hand immediately flew to the pearl imbedded in his forehead. It was warm and thrumming under his fingertips, almost as if it was reacting to something he couldn't yet see.
This kidnapping is all about my pearl
?
Good god, what does Father Willis want with it
?

A hard shove had Gabe moving forward, and he found himself ushered into the little hut and right into a scene from his worst nightmares.

The small hut was a single room, fifteen by fifteen feet on the inside, with a small hearth containing a roaring fire located along one wall, filling the room with a soft light. Shadows played upon the many tools and torture devices hanging on the walls, hinting at their various nefarious uses. In the center of the room was a large table with what appeared to be leather straps attached in various places, no doubt to hold the person lying down on it in place.

Bile rose in his throat when Gabe spotted the dried blood staining the wood table at one end.

Something horrific and evil had happened here, and he had the sneaking suspicion that if they didn't escape soon, Gabe was going to find out exactly what it was.

A soft whimper distracted him from his dark thoughts, and Gabe glanced over to the far corner of the hut, surprised to see the small, mute woman, Mary, huddled down there, shivering and rocking herself back and forth. Her eyes seemed trained on the table, unable to tear her haunted gaze away.

He heard Aaron gasp from behind him then warmth ran down his back as the other man moved closer, possibly seeking comfort. Gabe knew from the way Aaron had spoken about Father Willis every time the priest was mentioned he truly feared the evil man, and now Gabe knew he'd had a very good reason too.

What is going on here
?

"What is this about, Willis?" Gabe asked, dropping the honorific title of
father
as he felt the priest no longer deserved it. He'd seen his father do the same thing many times during business meetings when things had started to go downhill, so Gabe did his best to emulate the same tone and look in the hopes of intimidating the other man.