Luna Rising

TWELVE

With the other hand, I pinch its tiny shirt and lift it at eye level. It was yelling and screaming like mad, swinging tiny fists at me.

"Let me go, you human!" the Imp squirmed.

I study the little thing—my first to see an Imp up close. It has the size of a toddler, stubby in size, whole almond black eyes with no iris or pupil. The Imp has red skin, two little horns sticking out from the top of his hairless head. He resembles the cartoon character where your subconscious sits on one shoulder while an angel occupies the other.

The twins told me how naughty they are; pranking others is what they love to do. They can mimic voices and try to lure you away from the crowd, making your head go crazy. And this did a good job getting irritated messing with my head.

I don't know how long he's going to keep wailing his fists at thin air, but I find him adorable. "I said let me go! How can a human catch me?"

"Hey, do I seem human to you?" I ask.

The Imp stopped swinging his little arms and stared at me - blankly. "Aren't you?"

"Well, I am, but I'm also a demon," I state.

He pokes his nose in the air towards me and inhales, taking my scent into him. His eyes widened. "You smell like Pretty Lady but also smell like my lord, and master - Lord Ruvik."

That name got my attention. "You know Ruvik."

"How dare you!" he pinched my skin; I let out a hiss as he dropped down to the ground, unharmed. "You should never say Lord Ruvik's name so casually as if you know him. He is my savior, and anyone who defiles his name will feel my wrath."

I hear how much respect this Imp has for Ruvik. I hold my hands up in surrender, not because of his threat but because he's adorable. "I'm sorry. My name is Lippy, by the way," then I crouch down, hugging my knees. "Why is an imp doing here? Especially in a castle full of mystical beings who will kill a demon on sight."

"Same goes for you, halfling. What are you doing here?" Retorting my question.

"I'm here on business." That part is genuine. However, I knew the risk of coming here. I can't miss this chance to see the Oracle. "Anyways, imp, you didn't answer my question."

"It's not Imp. I have a name, it's Jippis, and to answer your question...I..." Jippis close his mouth, uncomfortable to say, but he's fighting the urge. "I was hoping to see Pretty Lady again."

"Pretty Lady? The one you said I have a similar scent."

"Yes!" The Imp fumbles his tiny hands. "There is no doubt you two share that alluring fragrance, the same scent as these flowers here. Sweet and beautiful. She was nice and always smiled. She promised to teach me how to make a flower crown, but she never came."

"How long have you waited?" I ask.

"Twenty years."

My eyes shot up. "Twenty years? And you've been staying here waiting for her? Alone? Aren't you worried if anyone from Brotherhood of Lucia will find you here?"

"That's nothing to be worried about," he fists his hands and pins them onto his waist, seeing the confidence on his face. "My Lord created this place for Pretty Lady. A place not from this world. They are the only ones who can enter."

I rose and looked around again to see if things inside were changing. "So, I'm in another dimension?"

"Exactly," Jippis exclaims as he sprouts his tiny wings, flying. "And I'm the gatekeeper to this realm. Lord Ruvik entrusted me to protect this realm with my life."