"No,” I glanced at a dark pile of
... something just beyond us. “You think the stories are
true?"
"I don't know.” He laughed uncomfortably. “I'm not sure I buy a man-eating monster in the basement of the Brimstone Syndicate. Just seems...” He paused and straightened up. Skittering to a stop, I turned and stared at the Werewolf. My senses were very attuned, but his were well beyond anything I could hope to achieve. I waited. "Thought I caught something's scent,” he explained after a moment. “It was there then just gone. The ventilation system is moving the air down here, but not that fast...” His words trailed off. “Sort of smelled like,” a smile flashed on his face, “Goblin." I shook my head and hoped his nose was wrong for once. We didn't have time for one of those nasty little beasts. I had no idea why Toby liked Goblins so much. He said they amused him, but I personally thought they were disgusting. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there were actually a Goblin living down here. Seemed like the perfect place for one. I caught the flickering scent of a Goblin as well. I understood what it was doing. Using a common cloaking spell, the little beast was trying to mask its scent in order to remain hidden. Fortunately Goblins have a very distinct, easily identifiable aroma. Unfortunately, they tend to smell like rotten eggs. It, or they, was very near. I saw a service elevator on the far wall. I assumed—hoped, rather—that it would take us up just beyond the detention area. From there it would be a simple matter of getting past the guards, through the guard barracks, and to the cells. Seemed easy enough, or utterly impossible. But I was being Ms. Positive tonight. I turned and started toward it. "Wait,” Toby said in a hushed tone.
I turned and looked at the wolf. It hit me. I felt the hair rise on the back of my neck.This wasn't his plan, was it? Please, don't let this be his plan. “Toby,” I said warily, “you didn't..."
Toby looked past me with a grin on his face. “Karl!" Karl?I turned and saw him in dismay.Karl the Goblin? Scarcely over a foot in height, his flesh was an
olive shade of green. Deep-set emerald eyes were expressive and spoke volumes of his age and knowledge. His black hair was slicked back to his head exposing his tall, pointed ears. Dressed in a miniature pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, he looked like an alien version of the Fonz. He was laying suggestively on several crates with his hand propping up his head. This was just getting weird. "You can't be serious,” I said, turning back to Toby. “I am not working with a Goblin." "You got a problem with Goblins, lady?” came Karl's shrill reply. His voice sounded as if he were constantly breathing helium. He hopped off the crates and marched toward me. "Karl's a good guy,” Toby defended himself. “He's offered to help us get into the detention area." "He's aGoblin ,” I argued, pointing at the little green man standing next to me. “He steals babies.” I turned and scowled at him. “Then does who knows what with them." "Yeah, like you're a saint, honey,” Karl spat. “You're a bloodsucking Vampire. Youkill people. And by the way,” he said spitefully, “that's a myth. Goblins don't steal babies,” he lowered his voice and turned away from me, “anymore."
"I don't know.” He laughed uncomfortably. “I'm not sure I buy a man-eating monster in the basement of the Brimstone Syndicate. Just seems...” He paused and straightened up. Skittering to a stop, I turned and stared at the Werewolf. My senses were very attuned, but his were well beyond anything I could hope to achieve. I waited. "Thought I caught something's scent,” he explained after a moment. “It was there then just gone. The ventilation system is moving the air down here, but not that fast...” His words trailed off. “Sort of smelled like,” a smile flashed on his face, “Goblin." I shook my head and hoped his nose was wrong for once. We didn't have time for one of those nasty little beasts. I had no idea why Toby liked Goblins so much. He said they amused him, but I personally thought they were disgusting. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there were actually a Goblin living down here. Seemed like the perfect place for one. I caught the flickering scent of a Goblin as well. I understood what it was doing. Using a common cloaking spell, the little beast was trying to mask its scent in order to remain hidden. Fortunately Goblins have a very distinct, easily identifiable aroma. Unfortunately, they tend to smell like rotten eggs. It, or they, was very near. I saw a service elevator on the far wall. I assumed—hoped, rather—that it would take us up just beyond the detention area. From there it would be a simple matter of getting past the guards, through the guard barracks, and to the cells. Seemed easy enough, or utterly impossible. But I was being Ms. Positive tonight. I turned and started toward it. "Wait,” Toby said in a hushed tone.
I turned and looked at the wolf. It hit me. I felt the hair rise on the back of my neck.This wasn't his plan, was it? Please, don't let this be his plan. “Toby,” I said warily, “you didn't..."
Toby looked past me with a grin on his face. “Karl!" Karl?I turned and saw him in dismay.Karl the Goblin? Scarcely over a foot in height, his flesh was an
olive shade of green. Deep-set emerald eyes were expressive and spoke volumes of his age and knowledge. His black hair was slicked back to his head exposing his tall, pointed ears. Dressed in a miniature pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, he looked like an alien version of the Fonz. He was laying suggestively on several crates with his hand propping up his head. This was just getting weird. "You can't be serious,” I said, turning back to Toby. “I am not working with a Goblin." "You got a problem with Goblins, lady?” came Karl's shrill reply. His voice sounded as if he were constantly breathing helium. He hopped off the crates and marched toward me. "Karl's a good guy,” Toby defended himself. “He's offered to help us get into the detention area." "He's aGoblin ,” I argued, pointing at the little green man standing next to me. “He steals babies.” I turned and scowled at him. “Then does who knows what with them." "Yeah, like you're a saint, honey,” Karl spat. “You're a bloodsucking Vampire. Youkill people. And by the way,” he said spitefully, “that's a myth. Goblins don't steal babies,” he lowered his voice and turned away from me, “anymore."