Into the Triangle by Amylea Lyn Read Free Book Online

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