Chapter Text
*For as long as she could remember Moonstone has always lived in fear. Not of the boogeyman hiding underneath her bed. Not of the stories her father told her about people snatching bad children. Not of the monsters that has now come out into the open in masses. No. What she fears now is the very person who is supposed to protect her.. but instead threatens her with the lives of others. In this case the monsters he somehow abducts, collars and uses for his twisted attractions to the human public.*
*In the beginning they use to have a zoo where the animals would attract people, mainly children and teens. But all that gradually changed after the monsters came out of the shadows in many forms, colors and sizes. While some wandered alone, many forms packs for protection. Luckily for them the government acknowledged them as actual beings allowing them to coexist with the human population so they would not get illegally hunted or killed. Unfortunately not everyone agrees with that sentiment.*
*When the zoo went under her father was outraged and tried to kill all the animals since they no longer served a purpose. Thankfully she was able to save some but not without consequence. The beating she was given made her partially deaf and bedridden for three months so the bones he broke could heal. Despite the agony she would do it again if given the chance; cursed to be soft hearted towards the suffering.*
*Soon after she recovered Moonstone realized that they were now doing a similar yet completely different kind of Menagerie. Now instead of animals they have monsters in rectangle cages that is made from some kind of dense metal that even they cannot tear or rip open. Not to mention each one that is captured has a unique collar that weakens them but also sends a powerful electrical current if they don’t behave. Unfortunately not all of them are forced into compliance to which he takes them away and… disposes of them. Half has been with them since it all started after they realized that this human male can actually end their life.. even if they do not know how.*
*Naturally this is illegal so they move often around the country while finding the most darkened hearts to come and pay good money to watch these monsters perform. While some have actual acts there are a handful that are tied up and displayed for more.. wandering hands. While she understands in being curious about them she cannot watch as they are practically defiled. Because of this Moonstone makes sure to touch them as little as possible whenever she is supposed to give them a bath. Being the daughter of the Ringleader gives her special permission to look after the monsters which includes feeding them.*
*Naturally they despise her and call her all manners of names that are both in and not in English. It only makes sense that monsters have their own kind of language amongst them in the form of noises. While others think it is random and has no meaning Moonstone picked up a pattern and has more or less guessed their intentions. Oddly enough despite having a hard time hearing she is able to hear them when they do that a little more clearly than when people actually speak to her. Of course she keeps this to herself otherwise her father will force her to spy on them.*
*While it is easy to ignore the.. rather unpleasant nicknames the older ones call her what is hard is when she is forced to be strict or cruel to the newcomers. They always try to either sweet talk her into letting them go whether through charm, self pity, hypnosis or straight up threaten her which has lead to some.. incidents. Because of circumstances Moonstone is good at dodging attacks but there are times where she gets scratched. When her father finds out after failing to hide it he drugs the monster that did it- because they have no self preservation and admit to it with a grin- drags them before the rest and proceeds to whip the creature’s back thirty times. If they’re lucky it will be a normal whip but if not… well let’s just say they will have.. small pieces missing afterwards.*
*Afterwards they will be put on bedrest- if one considers a cage a bed- until they are healed which is of course in her hands. Not that she would want it in anyone else’s since the other workers are a little less if not just as devilish as her father. And while she does her best she can’t help but secretly weep afterwards while alone when they don’t always make it. Unfortunately that doesn’t deter her father from bringing in a new one anywhere between one to three days.*
*Moonstone is thankful that not all the elders- that’s what she’s decided to call the ones that have stayed in this hell the longest- treat her the way the rest do. They’re not necessarily kind but they don’t outright want to kill her either. There have been cases where they stood up for her when the others are on the verge of going into a riot. And despite the odd defense- it confuses her even more than it does them, not that she’ll complain- the others listen and calm down. Much to her relief; she loathes the day her father loses his mind again and starts killing them all. It happened years ago now but she still has nightmares about that god awful day.. among others.*
*Now that she is an adult her father has a new rule for her: she is not allowed to marry. Ever since she was a teenager he would make sure no males were alone with her in case they decided to become unruly enough to deflower her. While she is thankful that also leaves her.. to her own devices. Ones she had to secretly buy but she has an inkling that despite her effort he still knows about it. If she uses toys does that still make her a virgin? Not that she has anyone to ask since her father would give anyone she takes a liking to boy or girl a stern warning. In other words he would threaten them not to get close to his “treasure”.*
*The world has noticed people like her father not following the new protection acts for the monsters and has tried to send people here but he always manages to evade them. How you ask? The worst possible way.. in her opinion. Well.. one of. Somehow her father got ahold of a grimoire that is anything but nice or fake. Apparently the three months she spent recovering he was holed up in his room deciphering a text that is not English friendly. Yet he did it. From it he acquired dark magic that made him powerful, cruel and completely corrupt.*
*Using its dark magic he created the collars that would subdue the monsters as well as a drug that can knock them out. And when they need to run he… moves through a plane of another existence from one state into another within a week. It honestly depends on the distance which is between three days to a week. Because of this evil power everyone who works for him knows better than to raise his ire otherwise…. Unfortunately even she is not an exception though he won’t kill her.. just make her very scared and very hurt.*
*On her birthday her father excitedly called her over when midnight struck which can be either really good or really bad news. There’s never an in between with him. Mentally sighing Moonstone got up from her bed, yawned and sat down in front of the door to her trailer to slide her sneakers on before exiting in her two piece pajamas which is a teal tank top with cherry blossoms and matching shorts. Her father gave her a disapproving look but she only blankly stared at him despite wanting to roll her eyes. No human is awake at this time and even if someone is they know better than to touch her. Plus the monsters would rather tear her apart piece by piece than have that kind of relation with her so she sees no reason in bothering to dress decent at midnight. But since he knows this and she is wearing the pajamas he gave her last birthday he will let it slide.*
*Grabbing her arm he pulls her against him and gives her a tight hug. A tradition he started doing once their business got up and running again by using monsters for their new attractions. It still sickens her and makes her incredibly uncomfortable but at least she doesn’t cry or even tear up anymore thanks to him quite literally beating it out of her. Not wanting to displease him Moonstone lightly hugs him back before patting his back so she can breathe. Ever since he got this twisted magic it has made him stronger and.. smell.. different. So now he accidentally hurts her easily and clogs her lungs with that menacing scent.*
*Chuckling he eases up before wrapping an arm around her shoulders to pull her along. The gravel crunches under his heavy steps while hers is a little less noisy but only because she is putting a little more weight into it than she normally does. For some reason he hates how quiet she can be so she puts in effort to make more noise when he’s around. As he starts talking Moonstone notices that they are heading to where the caged monsters are kept. .. Oh no.*
Ringleader: My treasure you would not believe my luck tonight. I have found the most perfect thing for you my little jewel. This gift you will enjoy. I know things have been a little tough lately after the other monsters needed to be put to better use before the move but now I think the Dark One has flipped the table for us. Things will start looking up from now on I promise.
*The Dark One. An entity of shadow, blood and death that is said to grant wishes in exchange for a sacrifice. The thing is depending on the wish will also depend on the sacrifice. If it is for simple things like wealth or a safe place from prying eyes then strangers will do. But if it is for power then you will need to sacrifice a beloved whether that be a close friend, family or lover. The closer the bond the more you will receive.*
*On the darkest night of the month he told her of this being and said that it will help them live properly again. Since then she would sometimes have nightmares about what he showed her and what she dreamed that night. It never stopped after that night. Time and again it would come back. Not every night thankfully but… just thinking about it sends chills through her. How she wished he never found it. How she wished he didn’t change so. How she wished for a different power to stop him. How she wished things ended differently between him and mother. Instead she is weak. Defenseless. Useless. But she will always hold on to one desperate wish out of them all. For things to be better.. someday.*
*Soon they are in the half circle of cages where the monsters are kept and thankfully asleep. The first six on the left are covered in a black cloth so she can’t see what is inside but on the right are the four Elders that has stayed with them since the first day this all started. Moonstone feels horrible whenever she thinks about all they have been through together but perhaps she is the only ones who feels a sense of camaraderie with them considering monsters have a more.. complex outlook and emotions- if any- when it comes to human standards. Though she is infinitely relieved to know that they know the consequences and try to keep the others alive along with her. Not that it ever works.. for long.*
*The one next to the covered cage is Onyx who is a green eyed panther with bat wings that has a surprising sweet side underneath all her claws and fangs, on her other side is Marble an eldritch whom has taken the form of a four legged mutant beast by having hooves for legs despite a fish tail protruding from behind while four long vines covered in thorns come out of his back and having a skull for a head that is in the shape of some kind of beast that has two horns as well as sharp teeth with feathers around his neck, then next to him is Citrine a manticore which is what they are usually depicted as for having a lions body with a man’s face and a scorpion tail however what they left out is that they also have two horns but despite being a gruff fellow he nonetheless has helped her when the others were being too noisy, and finally the last cage is actually a tank where Obsidian an aquatic monster is kept but his water is semi dark because his black form is sensitive to bright lights but father still wants him to be somewhat seen to show the people his large maw that has two rows of teeth but despite the inner ones being smaller the outer look similar to what an angler fish’s fangs look like while large spikes run down his spine until the base of his tail where it ends with three nearly translucent fins and though there are no visible eyes he has arms as well as deadly claws that naturally comes with webbing in between. (I’m currently stuck on whether his gills should be around his neck or underneath his ribs, future me will decide since I am still processing on what their relationship will be like with Moonstone since they have been working with her for years.)*
RL: I know we usually have seven cages but when I brought in these three another three soon followed in hopes of rescuing them. A surprise but thankfully after.. the last location I managed to acquire them too. Of course I had to hastily make the extra cages but you know me my treasure, I always come prepared. Honestly I was quite lucky to come across a group of them. Now we should be making even more money than before. We will have to ration food for a while with the extra mouths but we’ll get through it like we always do. Ah! But enough of that. One of them is a gift to you! Finally something a little more proper than an animal for you to converse with. Now my little moon won’t be so lonely when I am busy. Come come! See her for yourself. Oh and don’t forget to name them too. I imagine you will come up with wonderful names, like you did with the others! Ta-da!
*Moonstone thought he was going towards the cage that is next to Onyx but instead walks up to the cage that is beside that one. Confused she watches as he pulls down the cloth covering it which reveals a female monster lying asleep on the cage floor with a collar around her neck like the others. No doubt the new additions have already been collared too. Even though she is a little taller she is also pretty… and has a more human shape than the Elders. But that doesn’t mean she is one. Her naked body is completely white other than her hands and feet which are.. pink.. and pointy, which means her claws must be sharp too. Two little white horns protrude from her head that has pink hair sprawled under her head and back. Looking lower Moonstone can see little feather tufts around the outline of her cheek all the way down her neck. And from what she could see this female also has white feathered wings.*