Delilah washed off the dirt from her stand. The streets were quiet. Hours ago the air was filled with cries from the townsfolk. Where is the boy!?! They growled. Don't you dare touch him! I will claim the reward. Cried another. Delilah cursed all of them. The boy was not some prize for others to collect and profit off from. He was nothing but a boy. She knew that from the moment she saw his eyes.

The boy's brown eyes were not filled with greed. Even though he was stealing from the baron who had harassed her all these weeks she could see his eyes were that of a desperate child. Who did not know if tomorrow would come with a warm meal, or a bed to comfortably lie upon. To her the boy was forgotten by everyone. All that remained in their memory was the money that was promised by the king for his capture.

Nothing but an animal. Delilah thought.

Delilah continued wiping down her table until the four brother moon's light reflected off it. She felt a hypnotic trance fall upon her as she glanced upon the four silver giants. The wind that bristled through her hair as she whispered a prayer that only the four brothers could hear. Their warped faces on the surface of the moon that looked more menacing than comforting. Yet she prayed to them. Not because she was a devoted believer. But because unlike the other gods and religion practiced in Nuevo Paraiso, the four brothers she could see. They had physical form.

The followers of the great wall believed their deity was the wall, their savior from the mysterious creatures that roamed the earth and supposedly brought humanity down to near extinction. But Delilah had seen the wall. It was nothing special. If it truly were a deity like the old geezers would have them believe then she wondered why it didn't save them seven years ago.

The smell of burnt wood and acidic smoke was still fresh in her mind. The metallic taste of blood that spilled from the victims around her. The screams of horror as their stomachs were slashed opened releasing an odor of excrements. Yet the wall did nothing but stand tall as it always had. It helped keep out monsters that didn't look human. But it failed to keep the monsters, disguised as humans, out.

Delilah felt a jolt rush through her body. A metallic bang erupted from behind her. She reached for the blade wrapped around her waist as she faced the intruder. When Delilah's eyes focused on the shadow she saw not an intruder, but her sister.

"I'm sorry sis. I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't see the pot there." Said Delilah's sister. Delilah noticed her sister's eyes. They were on the verge of tearing up.

Delilah smiled. "It's ok Zahra-joon. No need to cry. Just pick up whatever fruits are still fresh and dump the rest." Said Delilah with a soft voice.

Her sister limped through the mess and picked up what she could. Delilah saw how slow her sister moved. Even the simplest of movements like squatting to reach the metal bucket she kicked earlier took a toll on her body. Delilah felt a blade cut through her heart. She gave Zahra the best smile she could muster as her sister went back inside the house before letting the first tear run down her face.

She looked up towards the brother moons as she sobbed in silence. Her chest inflated and deflated countless times as she continued her silent prayers. When she dried up her tears her skin was left red. Delilah brushed her hair behind her ears. She glanced at the four moons one last time, waiting for an answer.

Some gods

When Delilah lowered her gaze the silence of the night was broken by a loud scream. Delilah grabbed her dagger and held her free hand in front of her as if to tell the shadowy man to stay where he stood. To her surprise the creature chuckled before taking small steps towards her.

"Forgive me for startling you young lady. I mean you no harm.” Said the man.

“Who are you? State your business here stranger.” Said Delilah as she stood as tall as she could. Easily dwarfed by the man's tall stature.

“I was just on a lovely night stroll. The moons are beautiful this time of night. Wouldn't you agree? What was your name again, Delilah?”

Delilah squinted her eyes as she tried to see through the darkness. “How…”

How do you know my name? They both said in unison.

“You call me a stranger but I know you very well my dear. Believe it or not you know me as well.” Said the man. His voice seemed to be on the verge of laughing.

Delilah could feel herself tense up. The grip on her daggers handle has never been tighter. She was tired of the stranger's games. “I'll ask you once more. Who the hell are you?”

The man didn't say a word. To Delilah each second felt like an eternity as she waited for an answer. She was halfway through releasing her dagger before she heard the man's boots as he walked up towards her.

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“My dear sweet lady. Who else could it be but I?” Said the man as he walked into the moonlight with a smile on his face.

Delilah recognized the man instantly. “Ephidel?” She gasped the words out.

“Indeed. At your service my lady. Again, I apologize for scaring you.” Said Ephidel as he bowed and tipped his hat.

“What are you doing here milord?” Delilah asked.

Ephidel looked to the side with a surprised look that was clearly fake. “Why, I believe I said I was on a nightly stroll.”

“Forgive me. Yes you did say that. I'm just surprised you—” The truth was she didn't know what to say. Each attempt to ask him why he came to see her would come off sounding disrespectful. This was the same man who even Captain Love listened to.

“Are you enjoying your walk, milord?” Delilah finally said.

“Indeed I am. I was walking through the city enjoying the moonlight when I couldn't help but hear a cry in the air.” Said Ephidel.

“A cry milord?”

“Indeed. To be honest it sounded more like a prayer. A prayer for help.” Ephidel said smiling.

Delilah couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was sure that her prayer was silent and said in her head. How could he have heard her earlier she wondered.

“I..I didn't hear anything milord.” She said with her eyes facing the ground.

“Delilah?” A voice came out from behind Delilah.

She turned to see her sister halfway through the door as she looked up towards them. Zahra glanced at Ephidel before turning her gaze back at Delilah. Delilah could tell she was curious about the man. She felt uncomfortable having her sister this close to the man who she knew very little about.

“Go back inside Zahra. I'll be there soon ok?”

Zahra nodded as she turned back into the house and closed the door. Delilah smiled. Her sister knew how to read the room.

“Tsk tsk. You have such a heavy burden my dear lady. Such a tragedy for a girl so young and to be inflicted with such a terrible disease. My condolences.” Ephidel said.

Delilah felt a rage build up inside of her but knew she couldn't risk angering the noble.

“Thank you milord. Have you had any luck finding the boy from the incident this afternoon?”

Ephidel gave Delilah a crooked smile. “Don't you worry about him my dear. I have Captain Love and his men looking for him as we speak. It shouldn't take long for him to find the boy. Then again the whole city is looking for him. I guarantee you that one of them is sure to find him in no time and claim the reward.”

Delilah mustered up a well composed smile.

“That's good to hear! I wish you luck milord. If you excuse me I must hurry up and put my sister to bed. We have an early morning tomorrow.”

"Curious isn't it? Unable to afford the medicine needed to heal your precious little sister. Yet a mountain of gold seemed to have landed mere feets away from this very stand and yet you did not seize the opportunity. One can not help but wonder, why?”

Delilah didn't say a word. She lowered her head and hoped he wouldn't pry for an answer.

“You know. A lot of people had forgotten the law regarding people like the boy you encountered.”

“What would that be milord?” Delilah said in a soft tone. Hoping to not sound snobbish towards him.

“My citizens believe money is the only reward they could receive by bringing in this zapojin. They had forgotten that the law clearly states that any desired reward would be given to any who brings in such a being.” The man smiled.

“Any reward?” Delilah asked.

Ephidel smiled at her.

She thought of Zahra. Could she ask for such a miracle? Surely the crown couldn't produce a cure for her sister. Could they? Even the healers and priests said it was impossible. Could it? She glanced at Ephidel who was no longer shone by the moonlights. All she could see were his red eyes that glowed in the darkness.

“Any prize. Guaranteed.”

Delilah stood silent as she thought about his words. She continued to stare into the darkness but saw nothing but the scarlet eyes. How could he guarantee to heal his sister? It was a disease not an illness that could be cured with regular medicine. She tried to think what the king could do to perform such a miracle. Perhaps he meant something like the royal healers that possibly lived behind the royal walls.

No one who crossed the golden gates and came out could remember what was behind them. That in itself was miraculous. If someone were to try to hide a secret it could be the king. Delilah could feel the hand of temptation around her heart. It felt warm like a lover squeezing one's breast. Her heart began to race and she could feel a cold sweat emerging.

She thought about the boy from this afternoon. The eyes he displayed today were just like hers. What would he do if the roles were reversed, she wondered. The longer she stared at the darkness the more she could feel the sinister smile creeping through. Time slowed and all she could do was think.

Sacrifice the boy. Or sacrifice Zahra.

Then she remembered a story her father once told her as a child. About a musician who met the devil at a crossroad.

A deal with the devil. Under the pale moonlight.