Chapter 35

  "Magic was mostly removed from your world several hundred years ago. However, some practitioners managed to hold on to very small pieces of power, hidden away or passed down by tradition,” the Salesman explained.

  His face had lost its genial smile, but his tone remained friendly. "While this is my first official trip to your world, I have had dealings with your kind for many, many years. I assure you, Hector, I do not acquire pieces through underhanded or deceptive practices. Every item I hold in my collection was acquired and sourced from knowing and willing participants."

  He let his gaze trail down to the accusing finger for the first time, and one of his perfectly shaped eyebrows rose, slow and deliberate.

  Hector slowly lowered his finger, his eyes bright with tears. Adam felt the man's pain like a physical force, pressing in on the space around him. He had no idea who Hector was talking about, but a nagging part of his mind whispered he SHOULD know, but the memory evaded him.

  The Salesman placed the small object in Hector's palm, nodding once, sharply, before turning away.

  "Samantha, have you had enough time to consider the authenticity of the item I have shown you?"

  He waved his hand again, and the lights over the display dimmed and went dark.

  Samantha tore her eyes away from the pages with visible effort, meeting The Salesman's gaze. "I believe so."

  She swallowed and Adam could see her hands shaking slightly.

  "I can't say I understand much of what I've read so far, but it feels legitimate. It feels alive, in a way I can't explain.

  "Hector, can you confirm that that piece of bone belonged to your grandfather, your abuelo?" The Salesman asked.

  Adam's memory snapped into place, remembering Hector's mention of his grandfather at their first meeting.

  "Yes,” Hector said, his voice coming out as little more than a whisper.

  "Very good. While Hector considers, it is time we discuss price."

  The Salesman retrieved a small ledger from seemingly nowhere, a pen appearing in his left hand. He flipped through the pages until he came to a stop, trailing his finger down until he found his place.

  Adam watched him glance between the ledger and Samantha several times, his expression growing contemplative.

  "Ahh, yes. I have it."

  The Salesman's smile returned, friendly and unsettling as ever. "This item will require the color of your left eye."

  Natalie stepped in front of Samantha, creating a barrier between them. "What do you mean you want the color of her left eye?" Natalie's voice was hard, protective, and full of threat.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Adam was struck by how intensely, almost obsessively, protective Natalie was of her wife. There has to be a story there, he thought.

  "Exactly what I said," The Salesman replied. "The price for the tome is the color of her left eye."

  The Salesman's eyes drifted over Adam's shoulder and down the aisle. "Ahh, apologies. It appears we have guests."

  Adam spun, startled by the sudden appearance of the approaching pack of goblins. They brandished various weapons as they marched forward, tiny eyes full of purpose.

  A dozen questions scrolled through his mind. How did they get inside? How did they find them? Where could they run?

  The thoughts collided and compressed into a panicked jumble as Adam rubbernecked, scanning for an escape, or a weapon for a last stand.

  "Excuse me for one moment,” The Salesman said, walking briskly toward the oncoming horde.

  The goblins paused, exchanging glances, clearly unused to their prey approaching them.

  "Hello, I am currently with other customers. If you are here to discuss business, I will be with you shortly,” he explained.

  The largest goblin raised a club nearly as big as it was, pointing it at Adam.

  "Want them!" it demanded, giggling with that same psychotic glee, its maggot-like tongue flicking across its lips in a way that made Adam feel like he needed a shower.

  A sudden, horrible thought struck him. What if the goblins could purchase them from The Salesman?

  What if being in this place made them inventory, no different than anything else in the display cases?

  "You would like to purchase them?" The Salesman asked, turning and pointing in Adam's direction, seeming to confirm his fears.

  "I am afraid they are not for sale. However, I have other wares that may interest you."

  "Don't care. Want them!"

  The goblin raised its club again, this time pointing it at The Salesman.

  "Give, give! Or we eat you too!"

  The goblins cheered in unison, their screeching voices rising into a chant.

  "Eat, eat, eat!"

  The Salesman turned to Adam, raised his hands in a helpless shrug, and frowned. The expression seemed to say I tried.

  "And does she speak for all of you?"

  Adam had no idea how he could tell the difference between the goblin genders.

  Maybe the females were bigger?

  The goblins erupted in a cheer and resumed their chanting, leaning forward and readying to charge.

  "If you insist, then I have no choice," The Salesman said, sounding almost regretful.

  Adam swallowed and shut his eyes tightly, hoping being ripped apart by goblins would at least be quick.

  A sharp chemical scent smashed into Adam's nose, mingling with the roadkill stench of rotting flesh.

  His eyes flew open, and he froze, slack-jawed, as the goblins began to melt.

  Skin boiled away from their skulls, running down the sides of their faces in thick rivulets, their horrified expressions sloughing off with the rest of the flesh beneath.

  They clawed at their cheeks as the tips of their fingers detached, dropping into the growing puddles at their feet with wet plops.

  Teeth fell out one by one, clattering to the ground like grotesque snowflakes.

  Then their eyes deflated, sliding down their cheeks in viscous strings, merging with the rest of their liquefying bodies.

  They collapsed almost in unison, a chorus of wet slapping sounds, as they dissolved into a thick, bubbling soup that slowly spread across the floor.

  The Salesman stood calmly, smoothing his suit jacket. He shook his head once, then returned to his place in front of the display cabinet.

  "I apologize for the interruption. I truly dislike being interrupted."

  Adam could swear he saw The Salesman's eyes flick briefly to Natalie, then to Hector.

  "But I suppose this will serve as a demonstration. If I meant to harm you, I could harm you.

  The last statement didn't sound like a threat. But Adam wasn't sure it wasn't, either.