A small smile curled her lips, coated in a reddish-orange color. "Go right in, sir."
I followed her glance and walked to the door, opening it.
A stout human male sat within, and witchy power in the room tried to clamp around me. I frowned and shrugged it off, flexing my own magic against it like a slap.
The short human flinched as he rose in greeting and raised his hand to his nose. As it started to bleed, he snatched white tissue from a small square box and waved a hand.
“So sorry, I’m prone to nosebleeds.”
Liar. This man was of a strong witch blood, one of the lineage who siphoned fortune away from others. I had never liked that kindred, though those I had met had never tried to steal quite so aggressively as this man. The few I’d interacted with had at least tried to hide their theft so as not to anger anyone, but perhaps this man was not used to his prey being able to feel his magic. Whatever the reason, this was clearly not the first time he had done this.
No wonder his company was successful. I would use the tool that Reynard had given him. If I had to, I would deal with a thief and despoiler.
The other man rose and approached with hand extended. He wore clothing similar to what Reynard had affected, that I had copied. "Mr. Smith! Happy to meet you. I’m Franklin Grady."
I merely bowed slightly, despite the movement going against current custom. I had no intention of taking that hand and having the little man attempt to siphon off what luck I had.
Grady didn't miss a beat at the snub, gesturing toward a chair as he settled back behind his desk. "How can we help you?
I now understood why Reynard wore this type of clothing. It seemed that it was some kind of status display. "Reynard Jones has already spoken with you, and you have already signed the contract and this non-disclosure agreement and messaged it back to him. Correct?"
Grady nodded, his smile fixed in place like a star. "Yes. Though he wasn't particular on the details, other than it was for a well-funded principle. We do need to knowhowwe can help you or the client." His voice was smooth and charismatic, his expression sincere. His power wrapped around me again, and I permitted it, though it annoyed me. I wanted to know if this was a conscious behavior or not.
"Are there cameras in this room?” Reynard and I had discussed this issue and decided how to deal with it.
"Yes, for security purposes."
"Before we speak further, I request they be turned off."
A pause. Reynard had said greed and curiosity would allow for a brief pause in monitoring.
My friend was correct. His brow furrowed, Grady made a brief call. "They're off for the next five minutes."
I dropped the illusion of humanity. The other man gasped.
The illusion was superficial in most respects. It concealed the sweeping points at the tips of my ears, the fact that my teeth were those of a predator, thinner and sharper than human. Each of my fingers had an extra joint, tipped with a short but functional claw. My true skin tone was more ashy than fair, though my pale hair color was the same. Without the illusion, there was no mistaking me for human. Not even this fool could look at me and not realize that I was not of the same kind as him, something I was glad of at this moment.
"I am a goblin. I am here representing others who are coming back to the lands humanity inhabits. We have noticed that we have a reputation problem in human memory and story. We wish to be perceived in the same light as the good so-called fair folk.” Reynard had taught me to crook the tips of my fingers to indicate sarcasm when the words were spoken, made more emphatic by the additional joints on my fingers. “You have been recommended in the highest terms. How quickly can you do this?"
Words finished, I pulled the illusion around me again like a cloak.
“How did you do that?” He blinked rapidly, clearly troubled. I had no time for his theatrics.
“Magic. Please answer the question.” It was tiresome to have to play this game, but I had no desire to cause a panic. Before I came here, Reynard had shown me newspapers with photographs of persons whose appearance was other than human and the hysteria among humans that ensued. Often those people were hurt or persecuted for their strangeness, and while I was certain that I could dispose of anyone who tried, I would prefer not to subject my people to it if it could be avoided.
Greed and speculation in his eyes, Grady nodded and tapped his pen on paper thoughtfully. "You'll need our very best."
"And that probably costs dearly. Yes. We understand that. How quickly can you do it?"
"We will need more information… But we can start work immediately. Luckily none of you have actually done anything boneheaded on social media of which I'm aware—are you aware of anything?"
"No." Whatever social media was.
"Good. I'll contact my best employee." Grady rose but did not offer his hand. Clearly he had learned his lesson the first time, which would at least avoid the strange awkward gesture being repeated.
"Your services are appreciated." I smiled at him insincerely, then left. The meeting left a foul taste in my mouth.
I met the same attractive young female at the elevator again. She eyed me subtly, and I smiled back at her, intrigued. Her slightly flustered expression made my smile warmer, then the door opened and she hurried forward.
