He hopped back down to the stream and hid behind a tree, watching the creeper drink from the stream. He hopped toward it and jumped onto its back. The creeper swung its head around and threw Jasper off.
“You aren’t a pig at all! You are a creeper!”
“Yes I am!”
“Are you going to eat me?” Jasper asked.
“No master, I will not eat you.” The creeper replied.
“Master?” He put his hand across his chest. “M-Me? I am your master?”
“Well, are you or aren’t you?” the creeper snapped.
“Yes!” Jasper held his chest out and smiled broadly. “I am Jasper the Great Beast Tamer!” he said. “Oh no! Where is Gabriel?” The poison from the emerald was now wearing off, and Jasper was coming to his senses.
He got inside his buggy and called the creeper to join him. “Creeper!” he called. “Come along with me and we will find Gabriel together. We must find him soon. He must be in a heap of trouble, going after that which who tricked him into thinking she was Staysia. I knew it wasn’t Staysia. I mean, it was plain to me. Did you know it wasn’t Staysia as well? It was quite obvious, wasn’t it?”
The creeper did not reply.
“Creeper?” he said. He looked back to make sure the creeper was still following him. He certainly was. But, he still said nothing.
“I hope he is okay; he and Staysia both. Don’t you, creeper?” Jasper asked.
The creeper said nothing.
“You are the only company I have at the moment, creeper. A reply would be nice.”
“Yes master,” the creeper said finally. “I hope they are alright as well.”
“You were quite easy to train, creeper.” Jasper laughed when he said this. “You know that? You were certainly easy. Hee! Hee!”
“Grr,” the creeper growled.
“Hee! Hee!” Jasper laughed again. “You certainly were! Must’ve been that vine wrapped around your mouth!”
“Or maybe I felt sorry for you!” the creeper replied.
“Now we are having a conversation! See, it’s not so hard to have a conversation, is it?”
Jasper saw in the distance a beautiful troll, beautiful to him at least. She had golden hair and wore a green dress; the color of an emerald.
“It’s my Emerald!” Jasper cried. “Do you see her there? Sitting all alone on the rock? Let’s go keep her company, shall we?”
“That is not Emerald, you fool! It is another trick the witches have brewed. Can’t you see? Just as they have fooled Gabriel, they are trying to fool you!”
Jasper shook his head. “No, you see, that was certainly not Staysia back there.” He pointed to the female troll. “That is certainly my Emerald sitting upon that rock up ahead. I would know my Emerald anywhere. And that is my Emerald.”
The creeper shook his head hopelessly. “That is not Emerald. It is certainly not Emerald.”
But Jasper wouldn’t listen to the creeper’s warnings. He was mesmerized just as Gabriel had been mesmerized. He was in love.
“Come now, creeper! Let’s go speak to my Emerald.
The creeper shook his head again and followed him. “I’m glad I’m not in love as you and Gabriel.”
Jasper turned his head without moving his eyes off of who he thought was Emerald. “What did you say?” he asked.
“Have it your way,” the creeper grumbled. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Uh-huh,” Jasper replied without really hearing what the creeper had said. When they got closer to the witch who was disguised as Emerald, Jasper got out of the buggy and walked up to her.
“Emerald?” he said. When she looked up at him he could see that she had been crying. “What is it, Emerald? Why are you crying?”
“Jasper!” she exclaimed. “Is it really you? It really is you, isn’t it?”
“Here we go,” said the creeper as he shook his head.
“Oh my!” The witch who posed as Emerald put her hand over her mouth. “You have brought a beast along with you! I am quite frightened of him, Jasper. Could you please not bring him near me?”
“Who? Him?” Jasper asked as he pointed to the creeper.
“Yes, please! Get him away from me. From us!” She smiled and batted her eyes.
“He isn’t going to hurt you, ya see, I am his master!” Jasper stuck out his chest. “Let me show you!” Jasper turned to the creeper. “Roll over!” he commanded. The creeper rolled his eyes and did what he was told. “Hee! Hee!” Jasper laughed. “See, I truly am his master. He will not hurt you if he knows best for him!” Jasper shook his finger at the creeper and turned back to the witch. When he turned the creeper growled at him. “Hee! Hee!” Jasper laughed. “He’s just playing around!”
The witch stood up and threw her arms around Jasper’s neck. “I have missed you, Jasper! I was crying for you!”
“For me? Why in the world would you be crying for me?” Jasper asked her.
“I have been looking for you for so very long. I have been looking absolutely everywhere. I am so happy to have found you!”
“It’s not Emerald!” the creeper warned.
The witch kicked the creeper and tried to shush him.
“Jasper! It really isn’t her. You must believe me!”
“Please! I am really uncomfortable with that beast staring at us. Do something with him, will you?”
“Scram creeper! Emerald and I have a lot of catching up to do and we needn’t be pestered with the likes of you!”
The creeper put his head down and crept along the grass and lay down under a tree.
* * *
Gabriel looked into the eyes of the witch who looked like Staysia.
“You know I have loved you from the time I was conceived.” He stroked her hair with his fingers and looked into her eyes.
“Is that so?” The witch covered her mouth and giggled. “And I have loved you from that moment as well.” She said the words convincingly, but she was utterly appalled at the idea. “Come with me, Gabriel.”
“Where are we going?”
“There is an abandoned hut down the road.”
“The dark ladies hut?”
“It doesn’t matter, silly. It is abandoned.”
“What about Isis?” he asked.
“Isis is an intelligent beast!” she said the words with disgust but managed to soften her face again. “She will find her way.”
Gabriel looked right and left for the unicorn. “If you are sure.”
“Of course I’m sure.”
Gabriel held hands with the witch as they made their way down the road to the abandoned hut. When they entered the hut, the room was dim. There was a candle lit meal that had been prepared for them. There was a red velvet rug that was laid out in front of a fireplace. Candles burned and soft music played.
“This place doesn’t look abandoned, Staysia. Are you sure this is okay?”
“Of course I am sure. You don’t think I would get you into any trouble, do you? I trust you. Don’t you trust me?”
Gabriel smiled at the thought of Staysia finally trusting him. “I trust you.” He took a seat at the table and the witch took her place across from him.
“This is our first meal together.” The witch poured them each a glass of red wine and held her glass up for a toast. “To us!” the witch said, wickedly.
“T-To us,” he said as he toasted her.
“Where are we going, Gabriel?”
“You know where we are going, Staysia.”
“Tell me again where we are going please, if you will.” She smiled at him and stared dreamily into his eyes.
A mesmerized Gabriel answered her. “We are going to find the killer of your father and you mother, Staysia.
“Don’t tell me you are going to start this again!”
“Start what?” she asked.
“Never mind.” Gabriel stared into the fire as he began eating his meal. He spit the bite out into his plate.
“You don’t l
ike it?” she asked as she rubbed her ankle against his leg.
“What is it?” He wiped his tongue with the napkin and took a long drink of his wine.
“Snake! You do not like the way I cooked the snake?” She frowned and put her head down.
“Yes.” Gabriel put his hand on hers. “I like anything that you make for me, Staysia.
“Good!” She smiled. “Eat up then!”
Gabriel didn’t chew the snake meat, but he swallowed it. When they were through, the witch took his hand. “Let’s go lie down on the rug together and get to know each other a little better!”
“Sure!” The two of them cuddled together gazing into one another’s eyes until the witch spoke.
“Let’s just stay here, Gabriel! Let’s just stay here forever.”
“But Staysia, I thought it meant everything to you to get revenge for your parents.”
“I would rather stay here with you. I love you, don’t you see. Nothing else means anything to me, nothing but you!”
“What about Jasper? Where is he? What will he do? He cannot get to Gnome Hills on his own. The idea is absurd!” Gabriel asked.
“I have already spoken to Jasper. He was afraid, he went home.”
“Are you serious?” Gabriel stood up and looked out the window. “He left! Just like that! What about the creeper?”
“The creeper was released. Gabriel please, I thought I meant more to you than this! You do not care for me. All you care about is this preposterous beast taming.”
“Preposterous? Is that really what you think of my beast taming? Well, I had no idea you felt that way.”
“I didn’t mean preposterous.”
“Well, that is the exact word you used, Staysia!”
“I just feel like you care more about it than you care for me is all. I didn’t mean that. I think it is great that you do such a thing. You are very courageous. I just wish you cared for me as you care for you beast taming. But, you don’t and I guess you never will.” The witch put her head down and frowned. Gabriel kneeled beside her and put his arms around her. “Now Staysia, I care more for you than that.”
The witch smiled wickedly to herself and turned to face him. “Let’s do it then! Stay here with me! Just you and I! Isn’t that enough for you?”
“Of course it is.” Gabriel sat down beside her and held the evil witch whom looked like his love in his arms tightly.
* * *
Jasper and the witch whom he thought had been Emerald held hands and skipped down a trail with flowers on each side. It was romantic indeed. Too bad she was a witch. Jasper was quite taken by the witch. She was good at pretending and acting just like Emerald. But, he still had Staysia and Gabriel on his mind.
He stopped and turned to her and held her hands. “I have some friends that I need to find, Emerald, would you mind helping me find them?”
“Who are they? Where are you and your friends headed?” she asked. The witches were good at sticking their noses in others business and ruining things for them. They had nothing better to do but ruin people’s lives and plans.
Jasper, of course, spoke freely to her as he was convinced that she certainly was Emerald. “We are headed to Gnome Hills. A friend of mine’s parents were murdered and she is looking for the one who killed them. “Say, could you help me find them?”
“Of course, Jasper. Anything for you!” She clasped her hands together and smiled and batted her eyes at him. “Is that all you are doing?”
“Well, of course I was also looking for you, my love. I have never forgotten about you!”
“Is that it?” she asked roughly, in her witch’s voice. “I-I mean, is that all?” she asked in her sweet voice.
“Yes, that is all.” Jasper replied. The witch realized that she had no use for him. She stopped and looked at him. “So, that is it?” she asked again with her hands on her hips.
“Yes, that is all. What is the problem, Emerald?”
“I’m not Emerald, you fool!”
“Of course you are. Who else would you be?”
“Ha! You fell for it just as did your foolish friend!” She became a witch again. Her hair was gray and stringy. A number of her teeth were missing and she had a huge wart on her chin.
“You really aren’t my Emerald!” said Jasper.
“Told ya so!” said the creeper who came up behind him. “Can we get on with this and find Staysia and Gabriel now?”
“I’m sorry, creeper! I’m such a fool.” He put his hand on his forehead.
“Yes, you sure are!” said the creeper.
“What?” Jasper asked in shock.
“Shouldn’t we be looking for your friends now?”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said Jasper. They didn’t get far down the road before Jasper asked. “You didn’t mean that about me being a fool. Did you?”
“Yes I did! I told you she was a witch!”
“You aren’t very nice!” said Jasper.
“Of course I am not very nice. I am a blood thirsting beast!” the creeper replied.
“Gabriel!” Jasper called. “Gabriel, where are you!” The creeper even called for him. Jasper looked down at the beast and patted his head. He stuck his chest out. “Good boy!” he said.
They continued through the forest in search for Gabriel, until they came upon Staysia. She was asleep on the ground beside Isis, each of them in their separate bubbles.
“Staysia!” Jasper exclaimed. He hopped out of his buggy and ran towards her, but he was thrown backwards onto the ground when he ran into the bubble.
“Jasper!” Staysia came to her feet. She hit her hands on the bubble. “Jasper, I’m afraid I’m stuck in here. Where is Gabriel?” Before Jasper could answer, the ground began to flood with water. The bubble popped, and Staysia, Jasper, the creeper and Isis were all taken away by the current and down a hill.
The water evaporated and they found themselves on dry land. “We must go back!” Staysia told Jasper. “We must go and get Gabriel!”
“Yes! Let’s go get him.” They rose to their feet and tried to walk back to the village, but they could not. The same force that held Staysia and Isis in their places before would not let them return to the village.
“What now? We cannot continue without Gabriel,” Jasper sighed.
“Can’t? Of course we can. If there’s no other way than we must go on without him.” Staysia felt of the invisible wall with her hands and turned. She pointed at a road that was ahead of her. “We must go.”
“Gabriel is in trouble, Staysia!”
“What are we supposed to do, Jasper? I care too, I care an awful lot, but it’s no use! Gabriel is strong and he is smart. He will make it out on his own, I’m sure.” It was true. Staysia cared a lot about Gabriel, even more than she was willing to admit aloud. She would have done anything to go back to the village and take Gabriel along with them. There was no way around the invisible wall and she had to continue her journey with or without Gabriel.
“If you are sure,” he mumbled. “If you are absolutely sure, then let’s be on our way without him.” He shook his head and stared at nothing, deep in thought, as he waited for Staysia to mount Isis.
“Jasper! Have you tamed this wild beast?” she asked, pointing at the creeper.
“I have!” Jasper smiled broadly.
“That is quite impressive, Gabriel would be thrilled. Will be, he will be thrilled.”
“Will be.” Jasper put his head down.
Few words were said as they continued their journey without Gabriel. Next, they would be paying a visit to the Ogre of Death’s Grip. The word death made Staysia cringe inside. The ogre’s title made her fear turn into anger. Death wouldn’t have a grip on her much longer. She felt once she had her revenge the pain would subside and she could go on with her life.
She didn’t feel as if she needed Gabriel to get past the ogre, but she missed him. She trusted that Gabriel would be fine. After all, he was Gabriel the Great Beast Tamer. But, she was not entirely convi
nced.
Her main concern was protecting Jasper. He was just a troll. It was Gabriel’s job to protect him. She felt angry when this thought crossed her mind. She hadn’t had the brilliant idea to bring him along. It was Gabriel’s idea and now she was the one who was left with the responsibility of caring for him. As she looked down at the troll inside his tiny lizard buggy she realized just how much she cared for him. Perhaps that was why she felt overwhelmed with the thought of looking after him alone.
“Jasper,” she said. “Jasper, you stay behind when we come upon Death’s Grip. I will deal with the ogre.”
“No, Staysia, I am going to stay by your side the entire time. You cannot convince me otherwise Staysia, you cannot.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so,” Jasper said, strongly.
“Have it your way.” Staysia nudged Isis in her side and began to gallop down the road.
“Staysia, wait for me!” Jasper called.
“If you must confront the ogre alongside me, you must keep up!” she called.
“Staysia!” his call echoed throughout the forest.
It didn’t take long before Staysia felt bad for the troll. She stopped and waited for him. She watched him hurrying down the road in his buggy. He was hitting rocks and bouncing up and down.
Staysia laughed to herself. “Jasper, slow down!” she called.
“Staysia!” he called again.
He pulled up beside her and glared at her.
“I’m sorry Jasper, but you have to stay back once we get there. I am trying to protect you.”
“My master is not afraid Staysia, might you give him a chance?” the creeper asked.
“You really think I should?” Staysia asked him.
“I absolutely do!” the creeper replied.
“I might.”
“You will!” Jasper told her.
A Story Between Friends
As they got closer to Death’s Grip, Staysia looked over her shoulder at the creeper and Jasper. “Do you have a name, creeper?”
Immortal Page 5