The Goblin, The Witch, and the Single Girl

“Trick or treat!” Voices rang out loud and excited. Niles wanted to drop his pillowcase and cover his ears with both hands. His ears hurt from the thunderous, chaotic youngsters. Why in the world did he think he needed to hide in the middle of these kids? He stood silent in the midst of the growing anticipation that erupted all about him. They make too much noise!

“Oh, most definitely treats!” she exclaimed, giggles bubbling over.

She reached for the bowl, bringing it back to hold at their level for each to grab a handful. One after another repeated a ‘thank you’ or ‘thanks’, took their treat, and made room for the others to claim their sugary treats.

Niles lingered until last, smiling, and grasped a piece of the candy to place in his pillowcase.

“Oh no, little goblin,” the happiness in her voice evident. “Take a handful. I doubt I’ll have that many more visitors tonight. That’s a wonderful costume. What’s your name?”

She grabbed a handful of the candies and dropped them in his bag.

“I’m Niles. I’m really not a goblin,” he answered, his palms sweating. “A witch put a curse on me many years ago.”

She chuckled. “Well, what will it take to break the mean old witch’s curse?”

“A woman to fall in love with him and kiss him,” came the raspy voice behind him.

Niles whirled around to face Vinzella flashing her a glare that he hoped relayed how angered he was at her appearance.

“Oh that’s so sweet,” Caitlin said, smiling at the witch that had walked up onto her porch. Her gaze fell back on Niles as he pivoted back around to face her. “Well, Niles, I certainly hope you find your love and that she will see past your current flaws to the wonderful person that lies beneath the exterior.”

“All in good time, I’m sure,” Vinzella interrupted, her smile sardonic. “Come along, Niles. There are other homes to visit. I’m sure this young lady has other things to do.”

Niles grudgingly went along with Vinzella. He had no other choice. He knew Caitlin had assumed the witch was his mother. Once out of earshot, Niles spun around and sent a chilly glare at Vinzella. He tossed his bag full of candies onto the ground at his feet.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Irritated didn’t even begin to describe how he felt at the moment, he thought. She could have messed up the entire evening with her busybody self. Vinzella appeared to have a knack for always butting in where she wasn’t needed and definitely not wanted.

“I was just following up with you. Besides, tonight is the one night we can prowl the streets among humans and not be ostracized or feared. Oh please don’t tell me you’ve never done this before?”

“Leave, Vinzella. Before I really lose my temper and resort to goblin tactics. Because the urge to do just that is stronger at this moment than it’s ever been in the past one-hundred years.”

Niles did a sudden pivot and stomped across the yard to the back of the house. Vinzella followed in silence, her footsteps crunching close behind in the fallen leaves. Upon reaching the vine-covered lattice, he began the tedious ascent to the attic window above.

“Don’t you want your treats?” Vinzella asked holding out the pillowcase. Her voice dripped with a smugness that pervaded the last of his remaining patience. “One more cavity in that rotten mouth of yours shouldn’t hurt.”

“Go to hell, Vinzella.” Niles spit the words out at her, swung backwards, and snatched the bag from her hand before continuing his climb.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * END * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Niles’ voice was strong and hard. His command momentarily stunned her captor, and Caitlin wrestled free, leaping towards the front door. Reaching for the knob, she jerked her hand back to safety as streaks of blue and white electricity zapped the metal. She stumbled back against the wall to find her captor hovering in front of her. His fingers snaked around her arm.

Jerked violently around, her back molded to his chest, facing the stairway and Niles. Caitlin shook her head in silence when Niles stepped down from the landing, taking each step with confidence and purpose.

“Don’t be a fool, warlock. You know I will destroy you if you harm her. Release her now!”

“Destroy me? You?” Peals of crusty laughter emanated around them. “You have no powers, goblin.”

“Are you sure?”

Caitlin felt the hesitation at Niles’ spoken words stiffen her captor’s body.

Niles continued his downward trek, stopping only when he reached the bottom of the stair. His eyes glowed a bright, neon green, and his ears stood straight up. Caitlin watched the unwavering glare directed at the warlock who stood against her back.

“Quite.”

In the blink of an eye, darkness enveloped her as the warlock’s cape swung up and around them. Caitlin felt a thousand shards of glass and fire consume her body. An inferno seemed to melt her very soul.
* * *
She stumbled, falling to the ground, and her hands came in contact with damp weeds and moist dirt. She glanced up, and rain pelted her face. Caitlin scrambled to her feet. Her unsteady legs barely supported her weight as she searched around her. Where am I? Where is Niles? She reached out to brace herself against a stone column. Where is the warlock?

A huge hand wrapped around her forearm, and Caitlin screamed at the top of her lungs, jerking away.

“No need to struggle, girl.” His dark voice pierced the ebony night air. “You are mine.”

Caitlin raised her foot, slamming it down on top of her attacker’s, and he cried out in an unnatural howl. His hand did not relinquish her from its iron-fisted grasp.

“You will pay for that,” he growled.

Dragging her behind him, the warlock pulled her into the cavernous building. She struggled, digging her heels into the mud, but he continued to drag her along as if she were an unruly child.

“Release her or die!” Niles’ voice echoed through the building, bouncing off the vast emptiness of the interior.

The warlock spun around, his cape flying out behind him, and he shoved Caitlin to the ground at his feet. “You will die,” he yelled in agitation. “I will not play these games.”
* * * * * * * * * * * END * * * * * * * * * * *