Week 11 Story: The Goblin Island

Everyone knows that there are goblins but did you know that there are she-goblins? Well, there are. They are just like other goblins, but they possess the magic to transform into beautiful women so that they can lure human men into falling in love with them so that it would be easier to eat them. On an island, a large group of only she-goblins was able to flourish by luring sailors into the town because of their magical beauty. And since no one ever escaped the island, the she-goblins were able to continue attracting sailors to the island and feast on their flesh. But one she-goblin would change everything.

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It had been about a week since the she-goblins had gotten to eat. They were starving and ready for a ship to sail close enough to the island to lure the men in. Just at that moment, a ship began to sail by close enough to the island. The head of the she-goblins, Vanessa, turned to the others and said, "Ladies let's look our best. This time we must try and ration the sailors better. So, each night we will select only a couple to eat that way we be sustained longer till the next ship comes along."

All of the other she-goblins were excited and very hungry for flesh except, Tracey. She did not seem to like the taste of human flesh and always felt terrible that they killed all of the sailors. But that was the way she was raised. Not wanting to cause trouble or not be like the rest she continued eating the sailors as she was ordered by Vanessa. Tracey did not know that this boat of sailors would change her way of life.

As usual, the she-goblins were paired with the sailors and used their magic to make the men fall in love with them. However, because of Vanessa rationing of the men, Tracey began to get to know her sailor husband. It did not take long for Tracey to realize that she was actually in love with her human husband. But what could she do? Vanessa would never let him live, and there was no way off the island. Not even a she-goblin could leave the island.

In the middle of the night, Tracey snuck out of her house and went down to the sea. That day Vanessa had told her that they would be eating her sailor for dinner in two days. Tracey went to the sea hoping to discover an answer, sitting down on a rock by the ocean she kept going over her options of how to save her husband. She could try to tell him that they were goblins but he would never listen because of the magic. She could try to fight the other she-goblins, but there were so many of them. She would end up dead, and then they would eat him or worst they would eat him in front of her then kill her.

A sea fairy was not far away listening to Tracey go over an impossible puzzle of how to save her husband that she appeared in front of her. At first, the sea fairy was scared; the she-goblin magic did not work on the sea fairy, so she saw Tracey as her true self. Very timidly she told Tracy, "I can help save your sailor. But you will have to stay on the island; I cannot help evil creatures."

With tears in her eyes, Tracey knew that this would be her only hope of saving her sailor's life. So, she agreed to help the sea fairy. That night when Tracey returned home, she made a bunch of noise then called over some of the other she-goblins. When they arrived Tracey let them know that she had missed out on the meal that night and wondered if there were any left-overs?

The others she-goblins crackled telling her of course not, they devoured those sailors within minutes. But not to worry she would get the first bite the next day since they would be eating her sailor soon. Trying to keep the ruse going, Tracey smiled then started to chant their eating verse,

"Man's meat, man's meat,
That's what goblins like to eat!"

The other she-goblins joined in, and after a few minutes, Tracey felt that enough noise had been made. Tracey shushed the she-goblins and let them out so they could get some rest. Then she went off to bed, hoping that the sea fairy had kept her end of the promise and finish the rest of the plan to save her beloved sailor.

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Author's Notes: This story comes from a combination of two tales, one called The Goblin Town by Noor Inayat and the other called, The Goblin City by W. H. D. Rouse. Both of the stories are about a town/city of she-goblins that lure sailors into their town/city so that they can eat them. One night a sailor is woken up after hearing some noise realizes that the women are all she-goblins. In the tale of The Goblin City, the man’s meat chant is what gives it away that they woman are all goblins. Then the stories split the design on how the sailors are rescued. The Goblin City sailors have a fairy that helps them, while The Goblin Town sailors have a mysterious voice that save them. Either way both groups of sailors are saved by a flying horse that takes them home. I wanted to change up who helped the sailors and changed the story to a forbidden love. Even though Tracey cannot save herself from being evil, she can save the man she has fallen in love with from being eaten. I decided to still keep the story morbid which is why Tracey is still stuck on the island and will never be able to leave. I also added the man’s meat chant to make it obvious that she is trying to get her husband to figure out that they are she-goblins and try to get off the island. I hope you have enjoyed my story and would love to hear feedback!

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Image: The picture of the flying horse from The Goblin Town book. Source:  Twenty Jataka Tales by H. Willebeek Le Mair