LITMIR.BIZ

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Nightwing’s smile deepened. “Nugratz has been living amongst the humans for nearly the past twenty years. I believe that in your realm he goes by the unfortunate name of Leslie Horowitz – a name with which we have already established your acquaintance.”

      I was so shocked the fruit flinger could have knocked me over with a rotten strawberry. I’d always considered D.J.D.’s owner to be inhumanly nasty, but I’d never suspected just how accurate an assessment that was.

      “Close your mouth, dear, before the imps attempt to use it for target practice.”

      My teeth came together with a click.

      “Judging by your reaction, I presume that you were unaware of your employer’s dual identity. Well, he has fooled those less naive than you. I have seen the wretch, and although he still carries faint goblin characteristics, the djinn’s curse did a remarkable job of making him appear human.” Her laughter was like the tinkle of shattering icicles.

      “In truth, it was ingeniously cruel. Nugratz was driven from the goblin territories, for to his people, his human appearance was an abomination. And due to his unfortunate history, he had long been unwelcome by both Unseelie and Seelie societies. His weakness for gambling prevented him from living his days out in isolation, and I suppose he was unwilling to end his miserable life – so the only choice left to him was to join the reviled humans.” Lady Nightwing’s eyes sparkled with spiteful amusement.

      “But … he’s still a goblin underneath, right?” I asked, unable to hide my grimace.

      “Oh, yes. Although the djinn’s curse altered his appearance, it could not change him into something he is not.”

      “But he married a human - and had a child with her.” The disgust in my voice was unmistakable.

      Lady Nightwing shrugged. “Nugratz is nothing if not a survivor. He was wily enough to realize that the appearance of having a normal human family would aid him in your world. I believe he befriended the man who sired his human wife, a drunken gambler like himself, then wormed his way into their lives and made their riches his own. As for the child, it must have been begotten some other way. A goblin and a human cannot breed.”

      Thank Goddess for small favors. At least I didn’t have to walk around carrying the knowledge that Mickey was unaware of his goblin parentage. But poor Cindy. How did you tell someone that their husband of almost twenty years wasn’t just an abusive asshole, but quite literally an evil goblin? And would it really do any good to try?

      “But I grow tired of discussing Nugratz,” she said in a bored tone. “Let us return to the far more interesting subject of why a human would invite herself to one of our nightly soirees. I must admit, it is something of a curiosity. I find that humans generally do not enjoy their time spent with us.”

      The imps cackled and Hob’s blue eyes glowed with an eagerness that sent prickles down my spine.

      “I can barely remember the last time a human willingly sought us out. In my experience, such an act is always rooted in desperation. You claim to be searching for a goblin bearing the tattoo of an infinity symbol on his palm. What desperation, Sydney, drives you into my domain to look for such a creature?” Lady Nightwing’s eyes glittered with anticipation.

      She was right, of course. I was desperate. But I trembled with the knowledge that giving her the truth would be like handing her a weapon crafted specifically for my destruction. My mind whirled with half-truths, as I searched for an explanation that wouldn’t reveal too much.

      “He cheated someone close to me while the two of them were gambling,” I said finally.

      “Fie!” she exclaimed with an impatient snort. “You will have to do better than that, Sydney. Such things are an everyday occurrence in this realm. What did this goblin take that holds a high enough value for a human to risk searching the Hell Ride for it?” Her lips twisted in an eager smile as she awaited my reply. Even the imps had gone eerily quiet.

      I was suddenly glad that I wasn’t looking for something the goblin had stolen. For in that moment, I had no doubt that it would be Lady Nightwing’s greatest pleasure to make sure I never recovered it.

      “It was not what the goblin took,” I answered with feigned composure, “but the quality of what he gave as payment that is the problem.”

      Lady Nightwing glided closer and I had to force myself not to retreat. Her expression conveyed annoyance, but the emotion seemed at war with avid interest. I prayed her interest would win out.

      “You deliberately lead me on with your vagaries, Sydney. And while I can appreciate the rare human that does not dissolve into a gibbering heap at my mere presence, my tolerance only extends so far. What did the goblin give, then, that was of such importance that you would come here looking for him?”

      The imps chittered softly and Hob’s stance made it clear that nothing but sheer will held him back from striking at me.

      I bowed my head, trying not to give into the sudden weakness in my knees. “Your pardon, Lady Nightwing. I have no desire to offend.”

      I could do this. If there was anything I’d learned from my daily conversations with Cindy, it was how to direct attention away from the things I didn’t want to discuss. I took a deep breath, hoping against hope that my next words wouldn’t be a mistake.

      “The goblin lost a bet to a death djinn and gave a soul in payment. The soul turned out to have far less worth than it had first appeared, and this has caused a great deal of trouble for the death djinn. The djinn wants revenge.”

      I forced all expression from my face as I awaited Lady Nightwing’s response.

      The upturned sickle moon upon her forehead grew bright with a corrosive light. I gasped as a fiery pain shot into my chest, like acid burning a hole straight through me. The sensation abruptly ceased, and I was once more pinned solely by her piercing gaze.

      “Revenge I can well understand. But the question remains - why would a human with an intact soul be seeking revenge for a death djinn?”

      “We have an … arrangement,” I said haltingly, still trying to catch my breath after her painful probing. “He was unable to come himself, and I have sworn not to reveal certain details that he entrusted to me.”

      Nightwing’s poisonous lavender eyes narrowed upon me as if she was trying to detect a lie. My heartbeat crashed through my ears in the waiting silence.

      Finally she spoke.

      “You fear this death djinn more than you fear the Hell Ride.” It was said with a grudging respect – not for me, but for the one who wielded such power over me.

      She tilted her head and gave me a considering look. Then she seemed to come to a decision.

      “Many goblins pass through the Hell Ride. I do not recall having seen one with the mark you describe, but I rarely concern myself with such creatures. I do, however, know of another being who has such a mark, and perhaps this one will be able to lead you to your goblin. I will give you a choice, Sydney.

      “I will grant you passage home now, safe, but having failed in your quest. Or you may choose to stay, and we will have a little wager, you and I. If you win, I will send you to the one who bears the mark of infinity without further delay. However, if I win,” she paused to moisten the curve of her upper lip with her tongue, as if savoring the thought. “Well, I am not an ungenerous host. I will still send you to the one who bears the mark. But you must first remain my guest for the night.”

      The voices of the imps rose in an excited crescendo, evil howls of laughter ringing out around me. But the smile that spread across Hob’s bark-roughened countenance was what really made me shiver.

      “Enough.” Lady

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