Chapter 3: A Late Christmas Present
"T-the Goblin King?" Mabrey dumbly repeated. She stood up and leaned forward, taking back her hand from his to understand the situation better. Mabrey placed her trembling fingers on Marak's face. Yes, that was real. In fact, the smoothness of his face rivaled her own. Mabrey resisted the urge to puff out her cheeks in irritation, and urged her hands further to test out Marak's ears. She had to stand on the tips of her toes for this, but it was worth it. Whoever did this guy's makeup must be brilliant. I can't even feel where they glued on the tips of Mark's ears. After all of her tests were passed, Mabrey sat back down. Only one thing was left to be determined. "All right, I see that you take your job seriously to acquire such measures to fool me. The least you can do is to take out your so called contacts. Those cat eyes creep me out."
"Whatever delights you, little cat." Marak smirked. Probably glued in those cat fangs as well. Marak plucked the contacts out and placed them on the table before her. Mabrey hurriedly examined the flabby slips, and to her dismay, they were completely clear. Marak claimed the contacts once more and placed the items in his contact case. That was when fear gripped at Mabrey's heart, completely stopping the muscle from pumping life into her. "You see, my dear, goblins never lie. I did not want to be the first one to start trying." Marak's golden cat eye gaze met Mabrey's yellow-green.
"So you are…" Mabrey started, but shook her head. He already proved to her that he was truly a goblin. It would be insensible to continue babbling like an idiot. Instead, she took another approach. "Never mind. So you never lie, hmn? Then explain why you are tormenting me."
"You never fail to misread the situation completely, Mabrey." When he lightly said her name, Mabrey shuddered and backed away as much as she could in her seat.
"I'm not misreading the situation. I'm merely deducing that scaring me on the bus, and placing me in this soundless bubble is your kind of trick to pass the time at my expense."
"Well, you got me there. You are quite fascinating when you try to wriggle away from me, but the game is sadly drawing to an end. I'm almost done with some business matters, and then you're time is up."
"Business matters? What business does a goblin have?" Mabrey asked, well aware that Marak had not answered her question, but still very curious. Marak cupped his face with his clawed hand and rested on the tip of his elbow, almost how bored teenagers during class would prop their bored faces up.
"Ah yes, my favorite topic. You see, some of my goblins were sent here for items and goods for the Kingdom, but unfortunately, they did not return for many months. The scene had become so serious, that I needed to leave in order to fetch the fools. I found them here a couple months ago. Them and their human brides. Now I have to wait until those brides give birth in order for the babes to be healthy. Stress is never good to a woman in labor."
"What do you mean, stress? What are you going to do to those girls?" Marak straightened at this.
"Take them to the Kingdom, of course. The spells my goblins cast upon themselves made them seem like regular humans, but if those women knew what they married and where they were going to end up while they were pregnant…" Marak shrugged and let Mabrey deduce the rest. He was staring at Mabrey strangely by this time, creating an uneasy aura around her. Marak licked his lips before continuing. "I came to collect the goblins who've found themselves in America, but who would have thought I would bring back a King's Bride as well. Don't you find that enchanting?"
"Not in the least bit."
"Now, to us goblins, that's good enough." Mabrey prepared herself to get away from this crazy goblin. Now she knew why Marak was following and scaring the living daylights from her. He was going to take her and those poor unsuspecting women to his horrible Kingdom. This, she would not allow. She had a future in the world she was in now. There was college, and a job after college, and hopefully a human husband with human children after she situated herself in a large position at a company. Marak had no right to take her away. Marak noted the defiance on his consort's face and smiled.
"Now, now, you'll be fine. You might like being a King's Wife. All goblins adore their high status Queen. Also, since the treaties with the elves and multiple pretty King's Wives, I might be the first appealing Goblin King in my race. You should be thanking your lucky stars." Mabrey still wasn't convinced, and Marak sighed, knowing that his remark wouldn't have helped anyway. "Little cat, I'm going to leave now. Those human wives still have not had their children. You may languish upon yourself as much of the human life has to offer until they give birth. But once those wives are ready, it's off to my underground Kingdom for you." Marak gave her his best smile, replaced his contacts, wrapped his face up with the forgotten scarf, put on his gloves, and popped the black hat back on.
"You stupid, rude, overbearing, evil goblin!" Mabrey shouted at him. He only produced sunglasses from nowhere and placed them on, waving with his other hand while doing so. Before Mabrey knew it, he was gone.
"Miss, are you all right? Was there someone bothering you? People heard a shout from here and…" Mabrey blocked the rest of what the cranky old librarian said from her mind. That little, he removed the bubble thing while I was shouting on purpose!
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm just studying about mythology in my class, and I cannot find anything on goblins. Could you please help me?" Mabrey asked with a polite air. The librarian ceased in midsentence to glare at Mabrey. Mabrey glared back with equal ferocity.
"You can find mythology in the non-fiction section, or you could search for the term in an encyclopedia. I'll write down a few books that could be of use to you as well."
"Thank you. This really is a big help." Mabrey replied. I'll teach that guy how messing with me is a very large mistake. And with her oath freshly made, Mabrey set off with the librarian, leaving the still open chemistry book on the table behind her.