CREEPY

CHAPTER 62: THIS PLACE IS CREEPY
~Gabriel’s POV~

“You’re lucky I love you, Gabe. If I were a normal Gamma, I would have said NO the moment you wanted me to trudge into a freaking swamp with water up to my damn thighs!”
“No, you wouldn’t. You have always been right there with me Kai. You wouldn’t let me go without you.” I looked back at him.
“You're right, I let you get me into all kinds of shit situations.” I grinned at him.
“No, you are mistaken for Tanner.” He nodded his head.
“Yeah, I guess.” I don’t blame him for complaining. This is a shit situation. We left my truck on a back road. We have been walking for over a day now through a swamp, going off only my instinct. It is starting to get dark again, so I turn to look for a raised part of the swamp where we can find dry land.
“Over here!”

I follow Kai to an area big enough for the two of us to rest for the night. We have been living off the canned food and water we brought with us in our backpacks. It’s a good thing that we came prepared.
“This place is creepy.” Kai drug out the word creepy. I have to agree with him. Neither of us got any rest last night. We kept hearing strange sounds. Moaning and screams from things we have never experienced before. We saw a faceless spirit looking thing last night. I believe they are called a Hupia, although I can’t be certain that’s what it really was. It didn’t bother us, but this place seems to be filled with them. Something else that we have come across is a Morko. It is an elemental Ooze type creature. They are freaky as hell but the only way they could hurt you is to love you to death. We have also crossed paths with a few dangerous creatures, it wasn’t anything that we couldn’t handle though.
“I hope we find the Kraken.” I accidentally spit my food when Kai said that.
“The Kraken?” He nodded at me. Was he serious?
“Yeah, they live in water.” He said to me, continuing to eat his food. “I bet it would make for great calamari.” He really is serious.
“Are you sure you’re not Tanner’s brother?” I asked him. He shook his head. “You do know that the Kraken is supposed to live in the ocean, right? It is a saltwater dweller.” He looked at me.
“No shit?” I laughed at him.
“They sink ships and all that stuff. Do you think a ship could sail in this place? I mean really, do you have to look around to answer that question?” Suddenly Kai busted out laughing. He smacked his leg.
“I was just pulling your leg man. Someone has got to lighten the mood around here.” I shook my head at him.
“I swear you are somehow related to Tanner. I just know it. You guys are two of a kind.” I am thankful for my Beta and Gamma. I really don’t tell them enough. We finished our food and undressed to shift. Mika laid down next to Shadow who is Kai’s wolf. He is charcoal gray in color, he is impressive in size, and I know I can count on him if something happens. We shut our eyes and attempt to sleep.

I was awakened to a thrashing and crashing sound that echoed all around us. I jolted up to see trees falling over and splashing down into the swampy water below. Thank Goddess it was already daybreak. Kai was still snoring; I kicked his wolf’s shoulder to get his attention.
“What was that for?” he moaned.
“Wake the fuck up! There’s something big coming toward us!” He pounced up on all fours. Mika was standing on two feet. We were ready for whatever it was. We heard more thrashing and crashing sounds and something walking through the water. Kai’s wolf Shadow growled next to me, anticipating a good fight. I watched as a huge ax came flying into a tree chopping the top off it where it hit. I let out a loud growl, as a huge bull type creature with horns came thrashing towards us. It looked angry, well so was I. My claws extended as it stomped the water with its hoof. It let out a loud bellowing sound, then lowered its head to charge at me. I was tired of waiting on it, so I met it in the middle. I jumped and landed behind the bull-like creature. I swiped at the back of its neck with my claws as it made another loud bellowing sound.
“Don’t you belong in a labyrinth or maze somewhere?” I growled out. As it turned toward me swinging its large ax, I quickly ducked. Kai landed on its back, and bit into Its right shoulder. While he was distracted, I extended my hand again and swiped his abdomen leaving deep gashes that caused its organs to fall out into the water. It stopped fighting and stared at me. Kai jumped off it’s back before it fell into the water landing on its side. It was huge! Almost as big as me.
“That’s a fucking minotaur!” Exclaimed Kai.
“Not anymore.” I said. Kai reached out his fist and I bumped it.
“Another one bites the dust… er water.” He said.

The sun was already beginning to set again. We had been trudging through this water for hours.
“Gabe, Man, are you sure you know where you're going? I trust you but a green puff of smoke, really?” I stepped onto a bank relieved to be out of the water for a little while. Kai shook off and we both shifted back into our human forms. We were able to dry off and get redressed in our clothes. We started walking again. It wasn’t long before I walked through some trees, and I saw what seemed to be a reflective barrier.
“I have a feeling we are in the right place.” I slowly reached out my hand and it passed through the barrier and disappeared. I looked back at Kai.
“After you, I guess.” He shrugged his shoulders at me.
“Gee, thanks.” I joked with him. I reluctantly passed my head through to look around. I passed my hand back through and motioned for Kai to follow me. As I stepped all the way in, I saw an old brown rickety shack. It was covered in fog and dead things. Nothing was living here.
“Well, she took the whole being the original witch thing seriously, didn’t she?” Kai said.
“You can say that again.” I said back to him. We walked up to the old shack stopping at a boiling pot right outside the door.
“You killed my minotaur.” A voice echoed over the swampy area.
“It tried to kill us!” I said back. This voice sounded young. Hmmm… I watched as a young woman passed through the tree line to the left of us. Her body seemed perfect. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a green dress that fit tight around her breast and waist but flowed with the wind at the bottom. Her skin tone was fair, and her cheeks were pink. She was beautiful, but not Harper. She smiled at me, overlooking Kai.
“I have been waiting for you, Gabriel.” My heart rate sped up. What was this feeling? She walked up to me and rolled her hands over my chest. I quickly but gently grabbed her hand and moved it away from me.
“So handsome.” She spoke. My mouth went dry. I backed up. Mika growled. She smiled at me. “Don’t be shy… I’m not.” She winked; I didn’t say a word. I shook my head trying to focus on the reason I was here. “I see why Harper likes you so much. You are delicious.” She said while seductively licking her lips. Kai shifted beside me…
“Uh… he has a mate, but I don’t.” Kai said, trying to draw her attention away from me. She ignored him as if he wasn’t even there. I felt a little jealous of my gamma for a moment. What the fuck is happening?
“Snap out of it, Gabriel!” Mika boomed in my head. “She is a witch. They are good at getting what they want. You are here for one thing only.” Thank the Goddess for Mika, he brought me back to reality.
“You know why I am here, Iris. Tell me how to defeat Thane and I will be on my way.” She poked out her bottom lip as if she was sad.
“So quick to leave, I thought we could get to know each other a little better.” She walked around me. I felt her eyes travel the length of my body, and I had to fight the urge to look at her. She reached out to stroke my arm with her fingers.
“Don’t touch me!” Mika growled out. “Not unless you want your arm taken off. Only my mate touches me like that.” She pulled her hand back but did not seem turned off by it. Being the original witch, I am sure not much scared her anymore.
“It seems your Lycan has come out to play, It’s a pity really.” She spoke. “I am sure you will warm up to me soon. You can’t blame me for trying to seduce such a handsome Lycan King.” I turned my head away from her. Looking at her only made me want her. This is not me feeling this way. Only Harper can do this to me. “You're right I do know why you are here. Have a seat.” She motioned towards a chair near the boiling pot. Kai followed me as I sat. He raised his eyebrows and gave me a look.