Lilly II

by Tiya Rayne

  “Never call me little.” Hemrock threatens as he stands over me.

  He lifts his hand to strike me again, which only proves what I said before about him being a coward.

  “Do. Not. Hit. Her.” The quiet elf growls through clenched teeth.

  Hemrock looks over to him and sneers. “What will you do, Elf? You are too close to death as it is.” The goblin holding the chains to the elf yanks his chains sending him stumbling forward. When the elf collapses to his knees the other goblins laugh. I’ve had about enough of these assholes laughing at us.

  While his back is to me I kick the back of Hemrock’s knees and send him flying face first into the ground. The captives all laugh, even the shorter goblin and the giant laugh. I push to my feet standing before Hemrock gets to his feet.

  “You are going to pay for that, girl!” Hemrock growls at me as he stands and immediately rushes towards me. My best defense at defeating this creature was to treat him like Mrs. Judy’s little dog.

  Mrs. Judy was a neighbor on the trailer park that liked to use racial slurs whenever she saw me alone. One summer she let her little scrawny dog attack me. I fought the dog off for five minutes before Mama and Uncle Buddy came and got the dog off me. Mrs. Judy swore to mama that she didn’t know I was being attacked, but I told mama how she was screaming at the dog to kill the little nigger bitch. Without a second thought, Uncle Buddy rushed out of the trailer with his small revolver. He knocked on Mrs. Judy’s door and as soon as she opened it, he shot at the dog missing it by an inch. He told Judy that only because he loves animals he didn’t put an end to that dog’s life, but if either her or that dog came anywhere near his niece again, he would shoot and repent later. She moved away a week later.

  I brace myself for Hemrock’s attack, but it never came.

  “No hit girl.” Mogo’s broken English says in front of me. The giant is protecting me? Hemrock is as shocked by Mogo’s stand against him as I am. The goblin leader took an immediate step back.

  “You stupid giant!” he shouts. “I should have killed you the day my sister found out she was pregnant.” Hemrock pulls a whip from one of the loops on his waist.

  “Hemrock, Please don’t. He is just protecting the girl.” The shorter goblin pleads.

  “And you, Bevel, you are supposed to be keeping this abomination in check. I should have left you back there to die when you were wounded.”

  “Brother, Please! He is only a child.” Bevel continues to plead.

  Whatever was about to happen Bevel was terrified over it and Mogo was trembling in front of me.

  “Mogo?” I question softly behind him. He turns towards me with his big sad eyes.

  “Mogo protect.” He answers right before the sound of the whip cracks across his back and a scream erupts from his mouth.

  Before my mind could even register what is happening, another crack of the whip and another pain filled shout from Mogo.

  “Stop it!” I demand. Hemrock cracks the whip against Mogo’s back again. “You’re hurting him.” I scream.

  “Serves him right, he will think twice before he sides with slaves over his own flesh and blood.” Another crack of the whip followed by another cry from Mogo.

  I look over to Bevel who is standing quietly by watching this. I can see the pain it is causing the small goblin to see his nephew being beaten like this.

  “Mogo protect.” Mogo cries out as another crack sounds across his back.

  My heart breaks for the gentle giant and I do something that is not wise. I jump in front of the next lash and take the whip across my jaw and chest. The Pain is so excruciating I scream into the night sky.

  “No!!” I hear Miriam shout.

  “Stupid girl!” Hemrock reprimands. “For that, you deserve another.” Hemrock swings the whip back again.

  “Brother,” Bevel calls. “You have done enough damage to her. If the goblin king sees your abuse and she is the one he chooses, it is you that will pay.”

  This seems to cause Hemrock to pause. He looks down at me as if he’s debating if it will be worth getting one more good hit in. He spits on the ground near me and begins to wrap the whip back up. Thank God! I didn’t think I could take another strike from that whip. I’ve experienced some bad beatings in my life from my step-father, but one lash of that whip and I’m starting to think Billy Ray was soft on me.

  “Get everyone to their feet.” Hemrock says, turning his back to me.

  “We need to rest.” I say defiantly. Stubborn as a blind mule, my Uncle Buddy’s voice resounds in my ears. That was one of his favorite sayings for me.

  “You don’t learn do you?” Hemrock turns back to me.

  Despite the pain I was in and the complete fear that he would take that whip back out, we still needed rest and food.

  “Look around you, Hemrock. You caught us for a reason. If you keep pushing us to walk without water, or food, or even tending to the wounded we won’t make it back to your goblin king. And, if the slave trade is anything like the old days, you get paid by the heads you return, correct?” I say out of breath. The cut the whip left on my jaw stings every time I speak, but what Bevel said earlier gave me an idea. Obviously we needed to get back to the goblin king and I can only imagine he would want us alive.

  “She’s right.” Mork pleads.

  “I know.” Hemrock growls at Mork.

  Hemrock looks down at me and takes a step towards me. My first instinct was to shrink away from him, but I refuse to show him any fear.

  “What is your name, non-magical?”

  “Sarafine.” Miriam answers hastily.

  Hemrock and I both look at her puzzled.

  “I wasn’t asking you elf. I asked her.”

  The look in Miriam’s eyes is a desperate plea to go with the lie. I knew why she wanted me to lie. Just in case this evil goblin had heard of me and decides he would rather sell me to the Dark King for a larger reward. Miriam said she didn’t think the goblins knew about me or the Dark King’s desire for me, but we couldn’t take chances. However, could she not have given me any other name?

  “Sarafine.” I say through gritted teeth.

  “Well Sarafine, since you are so worried about everyone’s safety, I will leave you in charge of making sure everyone gets what they need. And if anyone runs away, I will take it out of your skin.” Hemrock turns his back to me and starts barking out orders for the other goblins.

  Miriam collapses beside me and immediately looks at my face.

  “You are the bravest and most daft person I know. He could have killed you.” I wince when her hand comes into contact with my swollen and bleeding jaw.

  “Thank you!” The young non-magical girl says as she helps her grandfather over to me.

  “You’re welcome.” Her grandfather grabs my hand and lowers his fore head to the back of my hand. When he lifts his head his eyes are glistening with unshed tears. He then stands and is ushered away by his granddaughter.

  “Who are you?” The beautiful Nix asks.

  “I’m Sarafine.” I say, cutting my eyes at Miriam who had the right mind to look apologetic.

  “You are braver than any non-magical or immortal I know.” The nix says with a slight nod of her head then walks off to join the older man.

  I notice the quiet elf coming towards us and the sudden intake of Miriam’s breath. The flushed look on her face was adorable. I can’t be too sure, but it looks as if Miriam may like this quiet elf.

  “My name is Hyland, it is an honor to be captured with you, Sarafine.” He bows slightly towards me and then Miriam. He then clutches his wounded arm and winces.

  “Why haven’t you healed?” I ask.

  “It is the chains. They are witch chains. They block all magic. It is why I cannot trace away and why Mora cannot shift to snake form.” Hyland says nodding to the Nix. So that’s her name.

  “It is also why your giant friend is useless against that whip.” I look over to Mogo and notice that he has silver cuffs attached to both his
wrist. “It keeps us weak, so that we are unable to fight back.”

  “Well then, we need to mend that shoulder the best we can.” I say.

  For the next hour or so, I mend the wounded with the help of Miriam. We were like a well-oiled team. She knew a lot of the plants to look for that helped with different pains. I started with Hyland, pretending that I was in too much pain to rub the ointment on his chest, I assigned that job to a very eager Miriam. I did take over the stitching up of the wound. Already his color had returned. I left him and Miriam alone as I helped the elderly gentlemen with his aching feet. Occasionally, I stole glances at Miriam and Hyland watching them interact. Miriam was adorable when she blushed, and I hadn’t heard Hyland talk this much since he introduced his self. Mora started a fire that felt like heaven to my chilled bones. The nix was actually very nice and helpful. I expected someone that beautiful to be stuck up, but like mama always says, don’t judge a book by its cover.

  By far the worse wounds belonged to Mogo. As I washed his back and saw the damage inflicted by the whip, my heart went out to him even more. His back was a crisscross mess of new and old wounds. As I cleaned his back, I did to him what my mom often did to me when I was hurt; I hummed him a soft lullaby that put him to sleep. Shortly after, Bevel brought us food and water. Miriam and I handed it out to the ones that needed it the most.

  “You should eat.” Miriam says, sitting beside me and handing me the last of the small round fruit she called a pike fruit. It looked like a blueberry, but was the size of a plum.

  “Have you eaten?” I ask as I wrap shredded pieces of my dress around my swollen feet and ankles.

  “No, but you need it more than I do. You have to feed the ki….babies.” Our small group grew silent.

  “You are with child?” Hyland asks.

  I nod. “Yes, twins.”

  He looks down at my feet and then to my face and the look on his face is deadly. “He will pay for what he did to you.” I hold up my hand to stop him.

  “I’m fine. The twins are fine.” I say. “But thanks for your concern.”

  “You are a strong woman, Sarafine.” The young girl whose name is Laya says in awe.

  “Yes, she is.” Miriam agrees with a smile handing me the pike fruit. I take a bite out of it and hand it back to her. She stares at it for a moment and then finally takes it from me and bite down. I notice her bite wasn’t as big as mine and when she tries to hand it back I raise one eyebrow at her and look back at the fruit. She sighs reluctantly and takes another normal size bite before I take it and bite into it again.

  “Where is the father? I know he must be worried sick by now.” Hyland ask.

  I wonder does Rykan know and if he is pacing the floor hoping that I and his sons are being taking care of. Is he worried that he will never see us again? I wonder if I don’t return will he continue with his plans to wed Sarafine? Not until this moment have I thought of him, mostly my mind goes back to our little group and Assassin. Just the mention of Assassin makes me miss him. I don’t know why, I hardly know him. I just know that when I think I may never see Assassin again, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that seems to make it hard to breath. If he were here, I would be much braver than what I have been. He brings out my strength and my courage. Just the thought of him earlier coming to save me gave me the courage to stand up to Hemrock. I wasn’t sure what Rykan was feeling, but I know without a doubt Assassin was worried about me and that he would come for me.

  “Yes,” I say to Hyland. “He must be.”

  ***************

  The forest is quiet now, the goblins are taking turns resting while the others stand watch. Laya, Mora, and Hugan (the elderly man) were sound asleep. Hyland and Miriam are off in the corner talking in low whispers. Miriam looks like a teenager finally talking to her crush. She is smiling so much I wonder does her elf cheeks hurt. Hyland says something and Miriam laughs, the look he gives her when she looks down lets me know Miriam isn’t the only one smitten.

  Suddenly, Mogo whimpers in his sleep and it draws my attention to him.

  “He has nightmares.” Bevel appears beside me.

  I thought I was the only one still woke besides Miriam and Hyland.

  I don’t respond at first. I wasn’t sure if he was starting up conversation or just trying to keep me from freaking out.

  “That was really nice what you did for him back there. Hemrock can be cruel to him. You would think Mogo wasn’t his nephew.” Bevel says softly.

  “How is Mogo his nephew?” It seems a little strange that goblins, who are no taller than my waist, have a 7 and a half foot giant nephew.

  “He is half giant and half goblin. His mother was my baby sister.”

  “Was?” I ask cautiously, not wanting to stir up hurtful memories.

  “Although giants are much smaller than they once were, my sister’s small frame could not take the birth of Mogo. She died shortly after he was born.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that. Did she not expect that outcome when she met Mogo’s father?”

  Bevel shakes his head. “Giants do not always ask permission when they meet a woman. My sister was not asked.” Oh!..... Oh God! “She would have loved Mogo.” Bevel went on to say. “She held him for five minutes before she died. He has no memory of her. Everyone he meets, other than me, either fears him or mistreats him. No one has ever been nice to him the way you were. Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome.” Hearing Mogo’s story softens my heart even more to the big guy. I will not lie, my first impression of him was to run away screaming, but he is a gentle giant. Truly. Even though Mogo had two uncles, I could see that it was Bevel that really cared for Mogo. If anything ever happened to Bevel, Mogo would be lost.

  “How old is he?” I ask, looking back at the sleeping giant. I remember the childlike look in his eyes when I first saw them. He looks like a grown man, but it’s more because he is so tall and not his look which if you paid attention to, could see he had more boyish features. Though misshapen, his head was round with soft edges like a small boy.

  “Ten.”

  “Ten?” To say I was shocked was an understatement.

  Bevel laughs. “They grow up fast. He is shorter than most giants his age because he is half goblin, but he is very strong. We goblins are stronger than normal.”

  “Tell me about it.” I say, touching my aching jaw. Even if I didn’t bruise easily I would still have been black and blue after that assault.

  Remorse fills Bevel’s eyes. “I am sorry about my brother. Had I known you were with child I would have thought of a way to stop him sooner.” I don’t think there was a way to stop Hemrock. He seems to be one of those people that enjoy hurting others.

  “It’s ok. I did call him a little coward.”

  Bevel laughs and it makes me laugh.

  “The more I talk to you, the more I think you aren’t from here.” His comment stops me dead in my tracks. My laughter dies out in my throat.

  “W…What makes Y...you say that?” I stutter out my question.

  “Just something about you. You’re not like any non-magical I ever met. They rarely care about any breed other than theirs. And you are too kind and selfless to be an immortal. There is also the fact you seem to know nothing about the Locke.” He says the last sentence with a laugh that crinkles his eyes.

  I had all the reason not to trust this goblin, but something deep inside me, something that made me scream my lungs out whenever I was being held by a hateful nurse, told me I could.

  “What if I wasn’t from the Locke? What if I was being hunted down by the worse the Locke had to offer? What would you do then?”

  Bevel looks at me long and hard, his eyes searching me for answers and truths.

  “What is your name?” he asks me in a whisper.

  Again it comes across my mind that I should not trust him, he is with the people that is holding me captive and refused to feed me, but in my heart I felt I could.

  “Lilly, and I
am not a non-magical or Immortal.”

  Recognition lights up his eyes and he looks horrified. Maybe my heart was wrong to trust him.

  Bevel grabs my arm, I just know he is about to march me over to his brother and tell him the truth.

  “You tell no one else this, do you understand me? Anyone else will deliver you straight to the Dark King.” I nod, frightened by his action. “When we return to the goblin kingdom, I will send word to the Elf Queen. Do not trust anyone else with this information, Li…..Sarafine.” he corrects his self. He releases me and walks away, back through the woods. My heart is racing inside my chest. I thought for a moment that Bevel was going to turn me in, but the horrified look on his face was out of fear for me. He knows how deadly this information could be in the wrong hands, like his brother’s. I am still glad I had confided in him.

  I finally settle down on the ground underneath the tall trees in hopes of getting rest. My stomach is still hollow and empty, but most importantly I had water. I ignore the grumbling of my empty stomach and apologize to my boys for lack of food, when a commotion by the edge of our little campsite catches my eye. A new goblin appears and he is immediately greeted by Hemrock. I try to listen in to what is being said, but they are just too far away.

  “What’s going on?” Miriam and Hyland ask as they approach me.

  “I don’t know.” I reply, standing to my feet. All thought of sleep vanishes as I try to decipher what is being said by the new goblin.

  The goblins shout a cheer and it startles the others into waking.

  “What is this ruckus?” Mora asks as she sits up.

  Hemrock and the other goblins walk over to us joining our group.

  “A celebration is due.” Hemrock says, looking directly at me. “Bevel, get our guest something to drink.”