The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
Daughter of the Moon
by A.F. Stewart
“Blood moon, red moon, moon of magic.”
Stretched out on the cold grass, Grace stared at the night sky and sighed. She wanted away from her life.
I have to get out somehow. Maybe if I wish on the moon.
So she closed her eyes and whispered, “Take me away from this place.”
Mama wouldn’t like me wishing. Especially on this moon.
According to her morally strict mother, evil things happened under this moon. She called it the Devil’s Moon.
Mama thinks everything is evil. She’d have a fit if she knew I was out here instead of in bed. I’d get a beating for sure.
“She’d best not find out then.”
The voice seemed to echo out of the trees and Grace scrambled to her feet, scared and poised to flee. “Who are you? If I scream, my Daddy will come running!” Her father might not be good for much, but he’d take a shotgun to anyone trespassing on his land.
“But then everyone would know you snuck out.”
“Better that, then something worse.” Grace slowly backed away, hoping to make a break for the house. Her mind swirled with all the thoughts of predatory men her mother had whispered in her ear.
“Now, now. I’m not after that. Not at all.”
Crimson-coloured mist swirled out of the trees and a suave dark-haired man materialized in front of Grace. Green eyes glittered in the moonlight and his smile made her heart flutter. Only the small horns on each side of his forehead gave her any trepidation.
“Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lucifer. And I’m here to make you an offer, Grace. You want away from your parents. You want a life of sin. I can give you that.”
“What’s the catch? My soul or something?” Despite the impossibility, despite her mother’s warnings, Grace was intrigued.
“Not your soul. We don’t bother with that nonsense anymore. The catch is you must wish to destroy your old life. Burn it all down.” Lucifer stepped closer and caressed her cheek. Grace shivered. “But you will receive everything your sweet, dark heart desires, I promise.”
Grace glanced back at the home where she grew up. Devil or no, this was her chance. “Do it.”
Lucifer snapped his fingers and the farmhouse burst into flames.
Smiling as her parents burned, Grace snuggled into Lucifer’s embrace.
.
Fiction © Copyright A.F. Stewart
Image courtesy of Rie Sheridan Rose.
More from A.F. Stewart:

Visions and Nightmares
Tragedy spares no one… and takes no prisoners.
In the twilight shadows, secrets are revealed past the whispers of madness.
Wander into the realm of the old gods with Elenora, where humanity and marriage are a prison.
Step through a looking glass of dark horrors with an Alice you never knew.
Join with Zenna to seek the truth as her death by magic grows closer.
Journey with Olivia as she crosses paths with a monster of the forest and runs for her life.
Watch Isobel summon the faerie to solve her problem of an unwanted husband.
Shiver as Doctor Killbride experiments with corpses to create life from death.
All that and more await within the pages.
Ten stories. Ten women.
Who will survive? Who will fall? And who will succumb to their inner evil?
Find out in Visions and Nightmares.
Warning: This book contains disturbing scenes that may be upsetting to some readers.

I always wanted to read a story about the Devil’s temptations, ending like this with a touch of diabolical romance! Good one!
Glad you enjoyed reading it.
Love it!
Thanks.
Ooh that was so wicked – I wasn’t sure which way she was going to turn, but the ending was strangely delicious. 🙂
I always love reading your work. As usual you have delivered a dark and satisfying piece of writing. Love it!