After sitting for a bit half the group went on the Tilt-A-Whirl which was one of Megan's all time favorite rides. She always told her friends that could just hang out on the ride for a couple of hours. It was a light gravity ride that spun at high speed, but she could still move around. She found it to be a peaceful ride. Most went on there to get scared by the fast spinning. Megan told Gabriel that when she spun fast like that it felt like standing still. He looked at her strangely, but Megan just chalked it up to him thinking she was weird.
On the Gravitron Gabriel and Afton realized they could still move around relatively easily while the others were plastered to the walls. Luckily, they realized it and were able to fake it so the person in the center running the machine didn't get a scare of his life when the two of them would have sat up looking around. The two men laughed about it afterward. Gabriel told Megan about it and she concocted scenarios that had the two man laughing loud enough to get the attention of people passing by.
They were heading into the fun house. Afton was walking with Chloe and Nicole. Gabriel and Megan were bringing up the rear of the group behind the trio when a man called out to them.
A deep voice rumbled across the walkway. "Gabriel, a moment of your time if you please?"
Megan had been walking beside Gabriel closer to the speaker but found herself turned around and behind Gabriel in an instant. She put her hands on his back trying to catch her equilibrium and she could feel the rumbling in his chest then hear the low growl he was emitting. Megan glanced to Afton finding him keeping both her mother and sister behind him. Gabriel grabbed her hand and keeping her behind him walked her to Afton.
"Take them inside, now" Gabriel hissed at his friend. Afton nodded and began pulling and pushing the three women toward the fun house.
Gabriel watched until they were all inside and then crossed the walkway and the two men walked to the edge of the tree line before stopping. Gabriel stared at the other man. He was wearing khaki pants, a Hawaiian shirt, and a fedora over shoulder length black hair.
"Is this a regular suit for you or a one night only deal?" Gabriel asked disgusted.
"I use this one from time to time. I like his flair. It's not exactly come as you are around here Gabriel." The man grinned at him.
Gabriel looked at the black eyes and sharply glinting teeth. Can't hide those, though.
"I see you found your mate. That's good news and not a moment too soon. Too bad though, now there won't be any more victims for the pit." The man laughed sounding like a four-hundred-year-old chain smoker.
"Cut the shit, Eleazar. What are you on about?" Gabriel hissed.
"Damn son, that is no way to talk to your father when I have come all this way to do you a solid." Eleazar t'sked with humor.
"Then get to it." Gabriel warned with a growl. He was not about to acknowledge this thing as his father. Eleazar rolled his eyes.
"I was simply saying you should get on with the claim now that you have found your mate. Then you will be at full power. Everyone will be better off with you at full power and keeping peace between the dark realms and the light realms." Eleazar said in a strange melodic voice.
"Okay, you came all this way to say that?" Gabriel was starting to get pissed not knowing what this evil bastard was up to.
"No, I came all this way to tell you to get your business concluded and get your ass home while there still is a home to go to. South has sprung the pit, and your brother is coming straight for you. He wants into the light realms, and he must go through you which you know." Eleazar told Gabriel his jovial veneer slipping dramatically.
"When did he get out?" Gabriel asked.
"Two days ago. It won't take him long." Eleazar snapped.
"I still have a couple of weeks before the door will open." Gabriel sighed, not sure how to deal with this. He had hoped this would never happen.
"What are you talking about? At full power you can open the realm doors as you please. She is your mate, claim her. Can you not see it. Is that what the turns have been about? Can't your angel see the soul bond? Tell me, what benefit would there be for me to tell you this and it not be true?" Eleazar threw his hands in the air starting to pace.
"Why aren't you working with South?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"South's an idiot that just causes trouble for everyone. No good will come from him dismantling the gate between worlds. You risk much by being stuck in the human world. That's why I agreed with the Brothers to come and warn you. Apparently, they have been trying to get a hold you, but your stone must be broken." Eleazar answered scowling at Gabriel.
Gabriel thought about it and knew he had put the stone in a drawer to make sure Megan didn't see it light up. Had it been so long since he checked it?
"I will try to call them when we get home." Gabriel assured Eleazar.
"Fantastic. Now take your mate, go back to Tetra, and do your job." The man disappeared leaving Gabriel standing there reeling and trying to figure out what truth there was in that statement. He needed to talk to Afton and the Brothers as soon as possible.
Gabriel walked over to the fun house exit where he found his group milling around. Megan threw her arms around Gabriel; she had been worried about the encounter the entire time since leaving his side. The group slowly meandered toward a secluded beach area. Afton gave Gabriel a look and Gabriel mouth later to his friend. This was something they needed to deal with immediately, but he wouldn't ruin the group's evening by bringing it up now.