Read Into the Triangle for Free Online Page B

or benevolent as they seemed, but it wasn't until Miss Mary here was discarded so cruelly that they finally believed me. Still, it seems like every day more and more of our people fall prey to those creature's charms and disappear into the sea, never to be seen again. Why, ask Aaron about his hut-mate, Douglas, if you don't believe me. He just up and vanished one night, without even saying goodbye." Father Willis shook his head as if he was upset, but something about the move rang false to Gabe.
    "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