Esmeray was woken up to the sound of voices coming from downstairs. Esmeray checked the window to see it was still dark outside, unfortunately for her her dad still had her phone so she couldn't check what time it was even if she wanted to. Esmeray, who was unable to go back to sleep, left the guest bedroom and went downstairs to investigate the voices. Esmeray paused when she got to the staircase she heard her dad and her Aunt Sallie Mae talking.
"Listen, what I said wasn't something that was intended to insult you. It's just..." Stolas trailed off before he could continue.
"It's just what? It's just easier to blame the country bumpkins for your husband and step-daughter's disappearance," Sallie Mae said, Esmeray could hear the defensiveness in her voice.
"Millie's my sister. Why would me and my parents kidnap her, her co-workers, and her boss?" Sallie Mae asked as she took a swig of her vodka.
"I never said you did, but maybe... maybe you know something, something I might be missing." Stolas expressed, his expression seemed exhausted, his eyes were a dull red, and his overall appearance was disheveled.
Sallie Mae looked at Stolas and could tell the disappearance of I.M.P. was taking a massive toll on him more than it should've, as Stolas's movements remained dormant with the occasional grip tightening on his hat or his beak twitches Stolas's feathers were scattered across the floor beneath him it was clear that the stress of his husband, step-daughter, and their co-workers going missing and keeping up the facade of "holding it together" was too much for Stolas to handle to the point he started molting like crazy it wasn't noticeable, yet.
Sallie Mae let out a guilty sigh as if somehow this was her fault, of course she knew it wasn't but her getting upset and arguing with Stolas obviously wasn't helping. Sallie Mae put a hand on Stolas's shoulder and gave Stolas a sympathetic look. "Their turn up eventually I can feel it," Sallie Mae reassured Stolas, the two heard a creak coming from the stairs and when they turned around and saw bright red eyes with yellow irises staring at them. Stolas's expression hardened as he saw Esmeray spying on their 'private' conversation.
"Esmeray Goetia, you march right back to bed this instant, young lady!" Stolas said, raising his voice causing Esmeray to fly back to the guest bedroom.
Esmeray flew under the sheets the adrenaline of getting caught slowly wore off as her heart pounded in her chest
After a few minutes Esmeray's tiredness caught up with her, her eyelids felt heavy and eventually she drifted off...
"Esmeray..." A voice said it sounded far away.
"Esmeray..." The voice said again this time it sounded closer, like Esmeray could reach her hand out and touch it.
"Esmeray, wake up!" The voice shouted, causing Esmeray to jolt awake only to see Molly at the foot of the bed, a grin plastered on her face.
"Raise and shine, sleeping beauty!" Mollie exclaimed, Esmeray rubbed her eyes and yawned while looking outside to see the sun glaring at her. Esmeray could hear a rooster crow in the distance as Molly stood up.
"C'mon, can't have you sleep the day away when there's chores to be done!" Molly said as she yanked Esmeray's blanket off the bed and pulled Esmeray out of bed. "Chores? Shouldn't I shower first?" Esmeray said while yawning and stretching her arms. Molly chuckled as she looked at Esmeray. "Shower? If you want a shower you're gonna have to earn it, besides nothing feels better than a shower after working up a sweat, come on." Molly said, tugging Esmeray's arm and leading her downstairs to where her Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Joe were waiting for her.
"You city folk just expect everything to be done by the time you wake up, huh? Well that's not how we do it here in Wrath, You wanna stay, you gotta earn your keep." Grandpa Joe stated, Molly nudged Esmeray's shoulder and Esmeray straightened her back and puffed out her chest. "Yes, sir." Esmeray said Grandpa Joe nodded approvingly and cleared the way for Molly and Esmeray to head outside.
Esmeray and Molly headed outside as the melting Wrath Sun beat down on them, Esmeray was already beginning to work a sweat while Molly seemed unfazed. "How can you do that?" Esmeray asked, Molly looked at Esmeray, a confused expression spread across Molly's face as one of her eyebrows arched.
"Do...What?" Molly asked. "Not even break a sweat while the sun is blazing?" Esmeray asked as the two walked towards the barn. "I was practically raised here, Esme. I spend so much time in Wrath that I guess I'm used to it." Molly said, the two grew closer toward the barn until they were right in front of the doors. Molly swung the barn doors open and Esmeray was hit with the stench of maneuver. "Last one to milk the cows has to collect hog semen!" Molly exclaimed before making a dash towards the cows.
"Wait, that's a part of your chores?!" Esmeray asked before tailing Molly who happened to make it to the cows first. Esmeray tripped and landed face first into cow shit right before she could make it to the cows. Molly stared at Esmeray for a few seconds before bursting out in hysterical laughter, Molly gasped for air as Esmeray used her arms to push herself back up. Esmeray glared at Molly. "Don't laugh!" Esmeray barked, eventually Molly's laughter died down before she offered Esmeray her hand. "I'm sorry it was just too funny." Molly apologized, Esmeray could hear a few muffled laughs in the back of Molly's throat. "C'mon, Esme. Why don't we get you cleaned up?" Molly asked, Esmeray unconsciously let a smile appear on her beak before letting Molly lead her to a water bucket to clean Esmeray's face.
A few hours later...
Esmeray and Molly walked around the stage that a few Wrath had spent most of the morning on for the Harvest Moon Festival. Esmeray noticed something sticking out from under the cushion of the chair her Dad usually sat on during the Festival, Esmeray reached out and grabbed it only to become frozen in place. Molly noticed Esmeray's fear plastered all over her face. "Esme, what's wrong?" Molly's concern filled her voice.
Esmeray stayed silent her mouth opened but no sound came out she was completely petrified. Molly's eyes darted towards what looked to be a photo and a note in Esmeray's hands only for Molly to freeze in place as well, in Esmeray's hands was a photo of Blitz, Millie, Moxxie, and Loona tied up and gagged with an imp with piercing green eyes, a red bandana around his neck, and a grin plastered on his face standing above theme while holding a blessed knife pressed tightly against Blitz's neck.
Molly glanced at the napkin in Esmeray's hand that had rushed handwriting on it. "If you ever want to see your Dad again, I suggest you bring your blue-blooded bag of feathers with you to the old abandoned train track south of the festival, you have until 6:00 P.M.
S."
Molly clenched her fists and gripped onto her shirt. Molly grabbed Esmeray's arm and started to drag her into the direction they were told to go in. "Molly what are you doing?!" Esmeray asked, yanking her arm away from Molly. "Do you want to get your dad back or not?" Molly barked. Esmeray hesitated to answer when she saw the pure vengeance in Molly's eyes that blocked her better judgment.
Esmeray put her hands on Molly's shoulders and remained calm. "Molly, i want my dad back as much as you want your parents back but we can't just go rushing into battle without a plan and we sure as hell can't do this alone so if we're gonna get our family back we're gonna need help." Esmeray said as she saw Molly's vengeance begin to fade. "You're right...so what's the plan?" Molly asked.
YOU ARE READING
Shine of the Dark Moon
FanfictionHello! This a co-written story, so therefore there might be different styles of writing. I only take half credit, the other half goes to my partner! We obviously don't own Helluva Boss, we only own our OCs. With that being said, here is the descript...