Free Immortal by Lacy Armendariz

to my warning is your choice. However, I do believe you would like to stick around just a little longer to see him once more, wouldn’t you?”
    Staysia stopped in her tracks and searched the forest for the immortal’s hellish face. “Where are you?” she asked.
    “Now you are willing to speak! It is just as I had imagined. You young lovers are all the same. It matters not where I am. What matters is that you bring me the map that leads to the Sea Child. When you do I will give you forever life. We all live happily ever after.”
    “I do not wish to be a part of this!”
    “Staysia, you haven’t a choice! Bring me the map!” His voice trailed off and just as it did, a gust of wind whirled around in a circle in front of her and a tree caught fire. Staysia blocked her eyes from the embers. After the wind subsided, she called for him. He was gone.
    Staysia knew her life was at stake; that was apparent. She also knew she could not bring him the map. She knew all too well how things would turn upside down if she did just as he had asked. There must be another way around it, she thought to herself. It wouldn’t be easy as the immortal was keeping such a close eye on her. She had to admit, the thought of the Sea Child had intrigued her.
    As for now, she would gather wood, build a fire, and dine with Jasper. As for now, she would forget the encounter and go on with her journey.
    Once she had gathered an armful of wood, she made her way back to the lake. Jasper was sitting beside the lake with his back turned to her. He was sitting on a rock. He didn’t see her, so she laid the wood down quietly on the ground and snuck up behind him.
    She hunched down and put her arms out in front of her. When she was close enough to touch him, she grabbed his shoulders and said, “RAH!”
    Jasper bounced off of the rock, and when he realized it was her, he shook his finger at her. “Staysia!” he screamed.
    “Ha! Ha!” Staysia laughed and wiggled her hand around in his hair.
    “That was not funny!” he bellowed.
    Staysia sat down beside him. “Any luck?” she asked.
    “Not yet.”
    “Let me try!” She put her hand out for the tiny pole. He placed it in her hand. “Maybe my swimming scared them all away!”
    “Gabriel would be able to catch us a fish, I wish he were here.”
    “Jasper, we do not need Gabriel to catch a fish or for anything. Whatever it is that he can do, we can do ourselves. We can catch this fish and we can get past the ogre. Have faith in yourself!”
    “I hope he is okay.” Jasper stared at the water.
    “He is fine! He can handle a couple of ugly witches.”
    “Yes, but can he handle a witch that looks exactly like you?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “The witch that took him away Staysia, she wasn’t ugly at all. He thinks he is with you,” he told her.
    “That actually makes sense, I watched her take on my form when she trapped me in the bubble. So, he thinks he is there with me.” Her eyes widened. She stared at nothing and smiled.
    “Staysia!” Jasper broke her stare.
    “I’m sorry. He will be fine. It’s just the thought of him—never mind. He will be fine.” Staysia said he would be fine, but inside, she was just as unsure as Jasper.
    “I hope you are right,” Jasper replied.
    The pole began to wiggle. “I think I have something!” Staysia pulled the line out of the water. A fish wriggled at the end of the line. “Hey! Look at that! I caught us a fish.” She looked closely at Jasper. “Without the help of Gabriel.”
    “You did! Well, let’s build a fire and cook him up!” Jasper said as he stood up.
    “Not so fast Jasper!” She handed him the pole. “I will build the fire while you catch another!”
    “Do I have to?”
    “Absolutely!” Staysia turned, and left Jasper at the lake to catch his own fish. She began preparing the fire. She lit the fire by rubbing two sticks together. When she was through, she went to get Isis, and Jasper’s lizard and buggy from