Dawn of the Elements - Book 5: The Children of The Moth

Chapter Ten: Tauntings of The Moth

Melody stood in the clearing again, in the exact same place she started the last time she was there. She had been there several times in her dreams by this point, each time being similar to the last: Tao Ren addressing her, and the shadowy figure appearing at the end of her time there.

This time however, things were different. At the centre of the clearing, a large overgrown altar sat. Behind it was a large statue made of branches, twigs, burlap, and rags. It was made to represent The Mothman, even having glowing red orbs in its head for eyes.

As she approached the altar, a voice came to her, in a haunting tone. "How long must we do this dance, Princess?" Turning, she saw the same creature that was present in every one of her dreams, only this time, she could make out more of its features.

It stood close to seven feet tall, and appeared to be completely hairless. Its smooth, leathery black skin appeared to be wrapped tightly around its slender frame, showing little to no muscle mass underneath. Its wings, if you could call them that seemed to be wrapped around itself, giving the appearance of it wearing a long trench coat similar to the ones that she and her father are so known for wearing. Its hands ended in long fingers adorned by claws that measured roughly two inches in length, as did the toes on its feet. It had two glowing red eyes, that were sunken into unblinking eye sockets, and its mouth appeared lipless, leaving its glistening fangs shining bright.

Before her stood The Mothman. He was real, or as real as her dreams allowed him to be. "I haven't spoken to anyone as much as I have spoken to you in quite some time, Princess. You must feel honoured to have drawn my attention like this. I presume you know exactly why I'm here."

"Honoured!?" Melody shouted, addressing the tyrannical creature. "Why would anyone feel honoured to be in your presence!?" Then she remembered. In the teaching material she and Serena had gone through, she remembered reading something about someone called The Listener, someone The Mothman would speak to directly, spreading his word. "Am I The Listener legend speaks of?"

"By Discord no, child." The Mothman said, his fanged mouth twisting into a wicked grin. "I have someone else in mind for that. I keep coming back to you, because you are the one I wanted to keep under my influence, the one who is supposed to help me finally rid this world of your father."

"My father..." Melody whispered to herself. "What do you possibly have against my father!? He's done nothing to you!" This outburst was responded to with an earth shattering cackle.

"Ever hear the saying: Like a Moth to a Flame?" The Mothman asked. "Back before the Elemental Deities took corporeal form, the flames of man were all that kept me away. Moths are typically drawn to flame impulsively. Myself, I'm the opposite. I know the danger that flames present to me, so I would stay clear of them. This of course became harder to do once Tao Ren rose, and he began training your ancestor."

"The plan was to have you by my side, and to kill your father so that I could rule over all uncontested." He continued. "But it would appear that that plan will have to change now won't it, Princess?"

"Yeah, you will have to!" Melody shouted. "Because I'll never help you kill my father, and as far as I'm concerned, you may as well give up now! Because my father isn't going anywhere, and he is going to put an end to your evil!"

The Mothman chuckled a bit under his breath. "Evil? I think you misunderstand. I am not evil. I am a force of nature, Discord's way of bringing chaos to this world. As for my plans, events are already set in motion, Little Dragon." He said, his haunting voice sending chills up Melody's spine. "By setting you free from my influence, everything has begun to fall neatly into place. It won't be long now, Princess. Soon I will return, and your father will be dead. And to sweeten the deal, there is nothing you can do to save him."