Scourge: A Grim Doyle Adventure

Chapter 21

The hand that had grabbed Grim placed him down and the door slammed shut behind him. It belonged to a Troll and his hand and arm was as thick as the rest of him.

“What’s a human boy doing in these parts?” he asked. His voice was low.

Grim stuttered, looking up at the size of the creature. His head nearly touched the ceiling.

“I’m looking for the Green Fairy,” he replied.

There was some faint chuckling among the crowd. Grim looked around the dimly lit place. It was a pub with a smattering of characters: Pixies, Sylphs, Kobolds, and Trolls. They all had sinth parts to them. Then Grim put on his goggles.

The room was packed with the Unseen: Sprights, Dryads, Mewts in addition to the others.

They all turned back to whatever they had been doing and a low hum of chatter and activity filled the place.

“Well, you found it,” the Troll said. “Bit young for a pint, aren’t ya? And a little bit too human for this place, if you know what I mean.”

Grim shrugged. “I’m looking for Arabus.”

“Hmm,” said the Troll. “You’re not likely to find him here.”

Grim sighed. He was getting desperate. How was he going to save the others?

“But I was told I could find him at the Green Fairy.”

“Like I said, boy, you won’t find him here, but I think if you talk to that Spright over there, she might be able to help. Her name is Mistra and she knows a little about whom you seek.”

Grim looked to the Troll’s pointing finger. It aimed towards a woman whose presence shimmered in the distance. She hovered over the floor, much like Madam Phoebe, except Mistra didn’t seem to have any sinth parts.

“Thanks,” Grim said and walked in her direction.

He slipped through the crowds, worming his way through the Unseen. Some shoved him as he walked through and muttered something about human garbage.

The Spright sat down at a table and motioned for Grim to join her. She’d been watching him approach.

“Good evening,” she said. Her voice was soft and musical. “I saw Gorg pointing you towards me. How may I be of service?”

“I need to find Arabus,” he said.

She chuckled. “Well you won’t find him here.”

“Why not?” he asked. “I was told to come here.”

“Who told you to come here?” she asked.

“Not who. What. It was this,” he said, holding up the figurine.

She snatched the device and hid it below the table, checking to make sure no one had seen it.

She leaned closer and whispered. “Does anyone know you are here?”

“My friend Quinn, and probably my sister and Aunt Patrice by now,” he replied.

At the mention of his Aunt’s name the Spright’s eyes widened. The folks at the table beside him suddenly silenced.

Her lips pressed right up against his ear. “Patrice is alive?” she asked.

Grim nodded. “You know her?”

“Patrice is a common enough human name, but a Patrice that is connected with this device is rare. Do not play tricks with me boy.”

Grim shook his head. “I’m not.”