Immortal by Lacy Armendariz Read Free Book Online

threw her head back and cackled loudly throughout the forest.
    “What have you done?” Gabriel asked.
    “What have I done? I wouldn’t want to say so and spoil the fun. Go on through the village now, son.” She pointed to the other side of the village and smiled.
    “I’m not afraid of you!” Staysia told her before mounting Isis. The witch cackled again even louder.
    Staysia and Jasper stayed behind and let Gabriel go ahead of them. Staysia was behind the both of them when she felt someone jump on Isis behind her. She felt a hand wrap around her mouth. She moved her eyes to the side but couldn’t see who it was behind her. Whoever it was turned Isis around and headed back inside the darkness of the forest.
    When they had gone inside a good distance the hand was removed from her mouth and she began to scream, but she was unheard. She looked behind her to find it was the witch that had taken her deep into the forest.
    “Get off of my unicorn!” Staysia demanded. “Get away from me!” she screamed.
    “You may scream all you want. The man and the troll will not find you, no matter how much they may hunt,” said the witch. “Now, get on the ground where you will not be found.”
    Staysia was amazed at the witch’s might as she pulled her off of Isis and threw her into a shallow but large hole in the ground. Staysia tried to get up, but there was an invisible force that kept pulling her to the ground. The witch pet Isis’s mane and smiled wickedly at the unicorn.
    “You get away from her!” Staysia warned. Isis kicked her hooves into the air, but she could not move from where she stood either. The witch shook her head and said, “Now you are both stuck! I wish you both the best of luck!” She wrinkled her nose and smiled. She waved and with a twirl of her cane and a fog of smoke, she took the form of Staysia.
    “No!” Staysia screamed. “You can’t do this! You cannot!” But the witch was gone. Staysia saw the shadows in the corner of her eye. She opened her mouth to ask them to help her. Before she could get any words out, they began to run in the opposite direction.
    Isis kicked her hooves violently and neighed loudly. “Isis! Stop! It’s okay Isis, we will be okay.” A tear rolled down her cheek. She came to her feet and doubled her fist. She began pounding on the invisible wall that held her in the bubble, but it was useless. She sunk to her knees and put her head in her hands. She could see the vial of fairy dust around her neck and held it in her hands.
     
    * * *
    Gabriel turned to find Staysia was no longer behind him.
    “Jasper, where is she? Where is Staysia?”
    “What?” Jasper turned his head to find her gone. “She was just h-here. She’s gone!” Jasper replied.
    “We have to find her!” Gabriel said as he made a circle and surveyed the area.   
    “Staysia!” he yelled.
    “I’m here!” said a faint voice.
    Gabriel moved his head forward and set his eyes on what looked to be Staysia.  
    “Staysia?”
    The woman had a glow around her body. She smiled and beckoned Gabriel closer. She then ran into the forest. Gabriel and Jasper followed. Gabriel could see the back of the woman as she stood still looking off into the distance. “Staysia?” he called. She turned to face him. “Gabriel,” she chimed in a creepy, low voice.
    “Wait! I-I don’t think that’s Staysia,” Jasper told him.
    “Of course it is! Who else would it be, Jasper?” Gabriel asked.
    Jasper put a hand on his forehead and shook his head. “It’s not Staysia!” he said under his breath.
    The witch glared at Jasper without Gabriel noticing. She smiled at Gabriel. “I can’t find Isis!” she told him.
    Gabriel swung his leg around his horse and hopped to the ground. He put his hand on her back. “It’s okay Staysia, I will help you find her.”
    Jasper shook his head and looked off into the distance. He rubbed his eyes when he saw a shiny emerald glowing in the distance. It was hovering just above