Goblins Wear Suits

by K. M. Shea

  I screamed and tried to squash the invisible bugs, violently pounding on my clothing. In my panic I let go of Doggy’s leash and almost smacked Esmeralda in the face.

  “Morgan, stop. You’re feeding him!” Asahi shouted.

  Harrison grabbed my arms and helped Esmeralda hold them behind my back, but the feeling of spiders didn’t go away and I hopped in place, a scream tearing from my throat.

  Krad chuckled as I yelled. “My power increases with her terror,” he said.

  “Morgan, listen to me! You are fine,” Harrison said, making me look into his venom green eyes.

  “No I’m not!” I shouted.

  Dave tried to tackle Krad, and was thrown backwards like Madeline.

  Corn, Sage, Zinnia, and Oak repeated their vine attack. This time before the vine died the black lightning traveled the plant’s length and reached the quartet.

  They screamed and howled. Only Oak was able to keep standing. The three fairies dropped, splayed across the floor like dead butterflies.

  Krad hit Frank with a club of electricity on his skull, opening up a nasty looking wound that leaked blood—which sent Madeline to the back corner of the room, retching.

  Sacmis, Perseus, and Athena went for a combined tackle. Sacmis and Athena bounced off the shield, but Perseus fell at an odd angle and one of his horse legs gave out with a crunch.

  “Harrison, you have to use the time ghosts. He’s going to slaughter us,” Frey said, back in his human form.

  “I can’t leave her,” Harrison—still clamped to me—shouted.

  “You have to, or we aren’t going to make it out of here,” Frey said. “I’ll take her.”

  “Let me go! Make it stop!” I screamed, still plagued by hundreds of little legs crawling across my skin.

  “If she’s injured I will make you into a fur rug,” Harrison warned before he turned and strode towards Krad.

  The time ghosts stirred with his arrival. He shouted, his green eyes flashing, and the evil fairies closed in around Krad.

  Krad hit them with electricity, bouncing them—and Harrison—backwards.

  Past the time ghosts the museum hiccupped. Patrons and attendees moved for half a second.

  “Careful!” Kadri shouted.

  Harrison grimly beckoned at the time ghosts, who again drew near. The time ghosts held hands and stood in a wide ring around Krad, attempting to freeze him in time.

  The museum kept hiccupping, time releasing in half second increments.

  Doggy—unfettered—crawled under Krad’s shield and launched himself at the brat. He bit down on Krad’s thumb, drawing blood and shouts of rage. Krad tried shaking Doggy off his hand, but the little dragon beat his wings and held on with determination.

  Doggy’s valiance did not go unrewarded. The time ghosts were able to get the upper hand, although the museum kept hiccupping in time.

  Just when it appeared that Krad might be bested at the price of blowing open our cover, a squad of twelve magical beings wearing MBRC guard uniforms busted through the back exhibit.

  “Target sighted,” the wizard human leading the squad said before shooting Krad with a pillar of fire.

  “Stabilizing the area,” a team of two elves said as they set what looked like an egg timer that was roughly the size of a bowling ball on the ground and started winding it up.

  Two war centaurs galloped forward, wielding iron tipped spears. When the wizard pulled back his fire, the centaurs stabbed their weapons through Krad’s shield, narrowly missing the childish-looking dark elf.

  Krad shouted an oath that was totally inappropriate for his age, and blasted Harrison with electricity, making him lose his already shaky hold on the time ghosts. When the young dark elf snapped his fingers the spider feeling left me, and the time ghosts faded like dispersing smoke.

  As clever as ever, Doggy sensed it was time for his exit. He gave Krad one last good chomp and jumped from the dark elf just as Krad took off through the exhibit.

  Krad’s too-big-for-him jacket flapped behind him like a short cape as he scurried through the motionless humans to keep the wizard from taking another shot at him.

  The centaurs, wizard, a war-like fairy, and a hobgoblin ran after him, their faces grim.

  “Who needs medical attention?” asked a pinto unicorn, trotting over to my students.

  “Start with Frank,” Frey said, wading through our friends to pull out Frank—still in wolf form and bleeding from his head wound.

  I sat down hard and shook, fear and panic twisting in my stomach.

  I was numb with fear.

  I couldn’t even explain why. It wasn’t like seeing Krad had terrified me to my core, but I still felt infected with fright. It was like I had an oppressive cloud of fear wrapped around me. My heart pounded in my throat even though the dark elf was gone.

  “Are you okay, sweetie?” a naiad asked me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

  I was shaking so bad I couldn’t respond.

  “Uh-oh. We have a spelled one over here,” the naiad said. “Couldn’t you persuade her?” she asked Harrison, who was forcing himself to stand dutifully near me.

  “She’s immune,” Harrison said.

  “Oh dear,” the naiad said. “Whisper, I need you next here when you’re finished with the head wound. This one is spelled,” the naiad said before wrapping a gauzy blanket around me.

  The material was soft and slinky—like fairy wings—but was surprisingly warm. Underneath it I still shivered, mindless terror and panic clawing me.

  Harrison talked over his goblin mic, but kept his eyes glued to me even though he was stiff with pain.

  I was vaguely aware of the rest of my students taking inventory of their injuries, of Doggy climbing onto my lap, and of the fairies mending and patching the blackened walls and ruined floors.

  Light finally pierced my panic when something warm stood in front of me.

  “Morgan Fae, isn’t it?”

  I looked up at the pinto unicorn. She wore a horsey grin, and the black patches splayed over her sparkling white hide gleamed in the fluorescent light.

  “This will only take a moment,” she said before placing the point of her horn to my heart and pushing.

  I screamed in the pain, but after a moment the panic fled, and my mind was flooded with warmth and tranquility.

  I slumped backwards, but Harrison caught me to keep my head from cracking on the floor.

  The unicorn’s pleased smile was the last thing I saw before I drifted off to sleep.

  When I woke up I knew I was in the MBRC because of two things. First of all, the decorations in the room were typical for the MBRC—outrageously beautiful and breathtaking. But what really assured me was the high elf sitting in the room: Aysel.

  Aysel sat in a chair across from the couch I was laid out on, looking generally unhappy and unpleased. “Finally,” he said when he saw I was awake. “I was beginning to think you might sleep all evening.”

  “What happened?” I asked massaging my temples as a massive headache hit me.

  “You were attacked while on an outing with your students,” Aysel said.

  “The Museum of Science and Industry,” I said, my brain restarting.

  Aysel nodded. “You were attacked by a Dökkàlfar. Krad Temero, a captain of Fidem.”

  “Ahh yes, the ten-year-old,” I said, closing my eyes as flashes of the fight replayed in my mind. “No one thought to tell me that one of Fidem’s masterminds belongs in elementary school.”

  “Krad’s physical appearance does not match his age due to a curse placed upon him by a Fairy Council soldier. He is much older than you, and is quite capable,” Aysel said.

  “Yeah, I noticed,” I said, remembering the way he defended himself against my friends and students.

  “Although you were not physically injured, Krad used his powers to enhance and feed off your fear, making his magic more potent.”

  “He what?”

  Aysel ignored me and continued with the summary
. “As you are immune to goblin persuasion techniques, your bodyguard was unable to abolish your panic. Why no one thought to knock you unconscious is beyond me.”

  “Wait, back up. This Krad kid uses my fear to make himself more powerful?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can all elves do that?”

  “No. That is a trait that runs only in the veins of Dökkàlfar—dark elves. Even still, it is a rare kind of magic among their race. It allows its wielder to use a human’s emotions to prey upon them,” Aysel said, studying a painting on the wall, as if he was bored with the situation. “The check to the power is that the wielder cannot force a feeling on a human—unlike goblins. It is a reactive power. It can only react to whatever feeling the human displays. Naturally, in such a situation, you were feeling panic,” Aysel said, making it clear he found it unforgivable that I had been frightened. “Krad can make you experience things that are not reality, spiking your level of fear.”

  “So he enhanced it and used it to power himself like a battery,” I said.

  “Exactly,” Aysel said.

  “Okay. Did you know he had these powers?”

  “To a certain extent. Members in the upper crust of the magical community were aware, but it was thought that those particular powers were sealed when he was cursed. It is…unexpected that he can still access that particular magic skill set,” Aysel said. He was extremely blank faced, which is actually his annoyed face. This meant he probably hadn’t known, although others—most likely his dad—did.

  “I’m feeling generous, so I’ll buy that. But why are you explaining it to me?” I asked.

  Aysel looked bored. “The Pooka wished to explain it to you, but at the moment he is…unsettled.”

  “He’s throwing a fit?”

  Aysel scowled. “He broke my office chair.”

  I winced. “I see. Has anyone told Hunter?”

  “I believe your bodyguard passed along the word.”

  “And there’s no news from him?” I asked, perking up in hope.

  “None,” Aysel said.

  I relaxed. “Good. How are my students?”

  “Everyone has been cared for and treated. The smaller werewolf suffered a traumatic brain injury. Whispersoft was able close the wound and a team of three unicorns undid the damage. He will make a full recovery,” Aysel said.

  “Good,” I said, slumping back into the couch. “How did you guys know to come?”

  “We received several texts from two of your students, and Asahi set off his tracking necklace.”

  “Tracking necklace?”

  “He removed one of his necklaces, which set off the tracking spell attached to it. It led our retrieval team straight to you,” Aysel said.

  “Wow, that’s handy,” I said.

  “And necessary,” Aysel grunted.

  “So what now?” I asked.

  “You return home. A team of MBRC guards will escort you back.”

  “And what about Krad?”

  Aysel scowled.

  “That bad is it?” I asked.

  “While the MBRC has guards and fighters at its disposal, it is first and foremost a rehabilitation facility. Our proactive measures are limited. Mostly we must react and mop up after the fight,” Aysel said.

  “So you’re not going after Krad.”

  “We haven’t the man power.”

  “What about the Fairy Council?”

  “They can do very little as well. Krad was already blacklisted before this attack, as was Fidem. The Fairy Council does have troops, but Krad issued warnings to the council as well. Most fear he will attack there next.”

  “So we’re on our own.”

  “Yes. But additional…measures are being taken,” Aysel said.

  I sat up on my couch. “He’s going to get away with this, isn’t he?”

  “This?”

  “Severely injuring Frank and hitting us with his magic.”

  “He may evade us for a time, but rest assured. Krad Temero will pay for what he has done,” Aysel said, his voice hardening. “In the meantime you must be careful, Morgan.”

  “Why?”

  “Krad did not happen upon you by accident.”

  “I thought you said everyone thinks he’s going to go after the Fairy Council next?”

  Aysel drummed his fingers on the wooden arms of his chair. “Perhaps, but he seems to hold the MBRC in uncommonly powerful hatred.”

  “What would that have to do with me? I’m not the only human in the MBRC,” I said.

  Aysel studied me with narrowed eyes as he sucked in air. After holding my gaze for a few moments he pulled a pamphlet out of his robe and handed it to me.

  It was a promotional pamphlet of the MBRC—similar in style to the poster Devin had shown me. I opened the pamphlet and saw a picture of me. It was another shot of me teaching a class, but it was zoomed in so I could much more easily make out my features.

  “The MBRC’s PR department used my photo again without my permission. So?” I said.

  “You are the only human depicted in the pamphlet.”

  “Yeah? Well it’s not like promotional material represents the MBRC’s agenda,” I said.

  “Krad will not see it that way,” Aysel said.

  “You’re just guessing,” I said, on a hunch. “No one else—least of all your father—thinks he’s coming after me.”

  Aysel pinched his lips together.

  “What is it? What makes you think he’s targeting me?”

  “Very few beings knew of your field trip, and it is rare for you to come to the MBRC on a Saturday. Krad was watching the MBRC for you, or he has someone on the inside. Either scenario indicates he was watching specifically for activity from you.”

  “That can’t be true,” I pitifully argued.

  “He could have attacked you on your way to and from the MBRC. He’s doubtlessly been trailing you, but he chose to attack when you had a plethora of magical beings with you. Today was a warning. Next time he won’t be so forthcoming,” Aysel said.

  “So what am I supposed to do?” I asked, my heart beating faster as I thought about Krad following me home.

  Aysel stood. “You carry on—without fear. The more you fear Krad the more you empower him.”

  “And what am I supposed to do about that?” I asked.

  “Additional arrangements are being made for your protection—as well as all other non-magical humans employed by the MBRC. You will have a security detail when you are outside of the MBRC.”

  “I already have a bodyguard,” I said.

  “Harrison the Undaunted is not an MBRC guard. We take care of our own, Morgan,” Aysel said, heading for the door. “You will have additional security guards whether you want it or not,” he added before making a quick exit.

  I barely had enough time to stand up and fix my twisted jeans before the door popped open again.

  “Morgan,” Devin said. He was across the room in an instant, his pale, yellow eyes taking careful inventory of me. “You weren’t hurt?”

  “No,” I said. “I’m probably in the best shape out of everyone.”

  Devin’s eyes briefly narrowed. “I doubt that. A Dökkàlfar feeding off you is no easy burden.”

  “Devin—,” before I could finish, Devin swept me up in a hug. “Devin! What are you doing?” I squawked.

  Devin didn’t answer and squeezed me tighter.

  I returned the hug for a few moments before I wriggled out of his tight grasp. “Alright. I’m ready. What restrictions are you going to put on me?”

  Devin cocked a black eyebrow, his confidence returned. “Restrictions?”

  “Aysel has informed me the MBRC will assign guards to follow me around, and I can bet Harrison is going to get some serious backup from Weller Goblin Enterprises. What about you?”

  Devin slid a hand under my chin. “Nothing,” he said.

  Surprised by this unexpected answer, I gaped. “Nothing?”

  “Nothing,” Devin repeated. “What can
you tell me of the battle? What happened when Krad used his powers on you?”

  I shivered. “It felt like a million tiny spiders crawling on me.”

  “How close was he?” Devin asked. When I cocked my head, confused, he added, “I would like to learn as much about his powers as possible. Dökkàlfar powers come in different levels of power. Krad used to be considered a master, but with the curse in effect I’m hoping it dampened his magic, even if it failed to entirely seal it. If we are lucky he now has a low level.”

  “He was over twenty feet away,” I said, running a hand through my messy hair. “He didn’t point at me or anything. He just looked.”

  “He didn’t have to touch you?”

  “No.”

  Devin swore under his breath. “That indicates at least a moderate level,” he said.

  “Great.”

  Devin folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head to look up at the ceiling as he thought. “I’ll reach out to some of my contacts and see if we can find any weaknesses in that brand of magic,” he said.

  “Thanks.”

  Devin returned his gaze to me. “Will you be alright this evening?”

  “Aysel said I’m getting an escort home.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  I smiled fondly at the Pooka. He was a flirt, but whenever I was in trouble, he was the first to cover me. “I’ll be fine. I can’t wait to get home and see my parents and brothers,” I said. “Being home will make me feel better.”

  Devin bobbed his head like a horse. “I see. Excellent. Until next week, then,” he said leaning in to nuzzle me. He laughed when I pushed him away.

  “Goodbye, Devin,” I said.

  Devin winked before he also left.

  I shook the wrinkles out of my shirt before I followed him, pushing the door open. I almost tripped over the remains of what looked like an armchair.

  Devin, above all, was a terrific liar.

  7

  Love, Elves, and Dwarves

  “Wow, Morgan. You look terrible,” Fran said to me Monday morning when she met me at my locker.

  “I’m going to add salt and pepper to the banana muffins we make in cooking class today.”