Shine of the Dark Moon

Chapter 8

Esmeray entered the portal that her dad had conjured, and as she stepped onto the sandy grounds of the Wrath ring, she felt the coarse texture beneath her feet. Her dad's firm grip on her shoulders conveyed his excitement as he gazed at the bustling scene before them. "I'm looking forward to spending the next few days in Wrath with you," Stolas exclaimed, his eyes filled with anticipation. They watched as children darted around, imps prepared for the annual "pain games" – a fierce competition to determine the roughest, toughest imp in Wrath – and locals tended to their farm tasks.

"When exactly is the Harvest Moon Festival?" Esmeray asked, trying her best not to raise suspicion.

"Hm, someone's eager for the pain games but you're still not competing," Stolas said, a bit stern.

Esmeray crossed her arms and huffed. "I'm old enough to compete this year, why can't I?" Esmeray whined.

"You're just like your Father you both get too competitive and it results in someone getting hurt," Stolas said, he could practically feel a migraine coming at the very thought of their previous 'family game nights'. Stolas noticed Esmeray's pout that strangely reminded him of Blitz but to be fair lately everything had been reminding him of Blitz. "Look, Implet, I'll let you compete in the pain games when I know you can handle it but for now let's go see if there's anything fun to do in Wrath," Stolas suggested a weak smile appearing on his beak.

Esmeray let out an exasperated sigh, she decided to humor her dad it was the least she could do and right now she needed a breather. "Yeah, but first could we head to Molly's house? Since Aunt Sallie Mae doesn't know where Uncle Moxxie and Aunt Millie are Molly's been staying with her, Grandma Lynn, and Grandpa Joe." Esmeray asked, using her puppy eyes as her Uncle Fizzarolli taught her.

"Oh, um, Sure we can visit your friend if that's what you want-" a burning sensation cut off Stolas in his hand, Stolas hissed in pain. "What's wrong?" Esmeray asked, panic begging to rise in her voice. Esmeray checked his hand to see a droplet that seemed to burn through Stolas's glove and straight to his feathers. Esmeray noticed another droplet fall from the sky and hit the ground steam came from the droplet the moment it made contact with the dirt. Another droplet fell and then another that's when Esmeray heard someone in the distance with a bell yell "Acid rain!" repeatedly while ringing the bell "Acid rain! Acid rain!". Kids who were once playing, locals who worked on theircrops, and Imps who helped set up for the pain games stopped what they were doing and ran for shelter.

Esmeray grabbed her dad's arm and flew them to the nearest house. Esmeray banged on the door and her Aunt Sallie Mae answered the door or someone she considered her Aunt. When Sallie Mae answered the door she was surprised to see Esmeray and Stolas out when the forecast called for Acid rain till dawn. "What the hell are you two doing out here? Only a couple of dumbasses would go out during boiling rain." Sallie Mae scolded, she took a look at the two who had several burns from the rain. Sallie Mae rolled her eyes and stepped out of their way so they could get inside. "Hurry up and get the hell in here before I change my mind." Sallie Mae threatened, Stolas and Esmeray crouched down and entered the house.

When Esmeray entered the house she saw Molly, Grandma Lynn, and Grandpa Joe in the kitchen around a small table talking about something but was interrupted when Sallie Mae cleared her throat and gestured towards Esmeray and Stolas. Molly got up from the table and ran to Esmeray. "Esme! I'm so glad you're here!" Molly exclaimed, pulling Esmeray into a tight hug. Molly pulled away from Esmeray and looked her in the eyes. "What are you doing here? And in the middle of Acid rain no less." Molly asked, glancing at Stolas, who seemed taller than the last time the two encountered.

"Questions later, right now you need to take your friend upstairs and wash up for dinner," Lynn said, Molly nodded her head and led Esmeray upstairs. As Esmeray walked upstairs she heard her dad and her Aunt Sallie Mae start talking, the creeks of the floorboards made their words muffled and incoherent, and out of all of the things they said the only words Esmeray could make out were "I.M.P" and "Missing".

Later that night...

Once they were finished with dinner Esmeray got up and looked out the window and saw how much worse the rain had gotten. Esmeray saw a man running in the rain and in less than a second the skin completely melted off his body until all that was left was his skeleton. Esmeray finally pried her eyes away from the horrific scene when Grandpa Joe stood up from the table. "I'm guessing y'all are staying the night?" Grandpa Joe asked.

"I wouldn't want to burden any of you with our presence," Stolas said, politely declining their offer.

"It's not like either of you two can go out there anytime soon. Acid rain can melt the flesh right off a hog, imagine what it could do to a couple of blue-bloods like you." Sallie Mae chimed in.

"The smartest decision you both can make is spending the night here, we have a couple of spare bedrooms if you like you two could spend the next few nights here till the harvest moon festival since I'm guessing that's the reason a couple of city-folk with no place to stay and no one to stay with would come to Wrath." Sallie Mae said.

Esmeray's eyes lit up the very thought of getting to spend quality time with her best friend in all of hell for the next few days was like a dream come true, Esmeray looked at her dad waiting for his response. "If it's not too much trouble-" Stolas said before he was interrupted by Esmeray's squeal and hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, dad!" Esmeray exclaimed as she let go of her dad and went upstairs with Molly to check out her room for the next few days.

Molly led Esmeray upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms. Once they got to the room Molly opened the door and a loud creak accompanied it. "This was my mom's old room but I don't think my Grandma would mind you staying in it for the next few days, you could even borrow a few of my clothes while you're here." Molly offered, Esmeray went up to the bed and laid down. The bed was a bit firm but comfortable nonetheless. "I'll be sure to take you up on that offer but if you don't mind," Esmeray let out a yawn. "I have some much-needed sleep I need to catch up on," Esmeray said, Molly nodded and walked away but paused in the doorway.

"Remember, you need to be up when the rooster crows. If you and your dad are gonna stay here it doesn't mean either of you get an exception when it comes to morning chores." warned Molly, Esmeray flashed Molly a smile but the idea of waking up when "The rooster crows" sounded far from appealing. "Got it, night," Esmeray said before Molly closed the door.

Esmeray let out another yawn before reaching for the lamp, the only source of light, on the bedside table, and turning it off. A wave of darkness filled the room and if it weren't for the moon Esmeray would have been in complete darkness. Esmeray looked out the window next to the bed and saw that the acid rain had only continued to get worse but amidst the pouring rain was the moon at its fullest, it was mesmerizing, hypnotic almost like Esmeray had just stared at it, and lose herself in her thoughts without fear of interruption and maybe the would have happened if it wasn't for the crash of thunder that startled Esmeray from her thoughts and had her crash land back to reality. Esmeray shook her head and lay down once her head hit the pillow her eyelids became heavy and soon she drifted off to sleep.