The Moon Lies in Wait: February Progress Report

Wow, this month…is gone, huh?

I usually pride myself on setting realistic expectations when it comes to my work. Publishing a couple of pieces, reading a few books, doing the things I love in a month—pretty reasonable.

But I’ll be honest—this month has been a shitshow. Not in a bad way—not all the time, at least. There have been a lot of changes, advances, and shortcomings in my life lately (including a brief but annoying hospitalization for what turned out to be nothing more than a well-scratched cornea, which left me unable to see for almost a week). 

While I’ve managed to fit writing in where possible, it hasn’t been anywhere close to the levels I had set for myself earlier this month. And for that, dear reader, I apologize.

However. The month’s not over yet. And I am proud to say that I’ve finally gotten a few presents for those of you patient enough to stick by me all this time. 

To start: let’s talk about The Moon Lies in Wait.

It is with great pleasure that I inform you all that the second draft of The Moon Lies in Wait is officially ⅓ of the way done!

I completed Chapter 10 earlier this month—and I have the tattered remains of my draft notebook to prove it.

My goal for this book has been to tell my protagonist Emily’s story in 3 distinct acts, with each making up approximately ten chapters (this may change during revisions, but we’ll worry about that later). As of now, I can say with certainty that Act 1 is finally finished, and I have moved on to Act 2.

In this first act, we are introduced to Emily as a character, given some minimal insight into her history, and met by the major players in her life. Some of these characters you may already recognize from my “Characters” tab, including Luci Cross and her younger sister Luna.

Others…well, we’ll see them in due time.

Act 1 sets the stage and tone for the rest of the story. Its purpose is to show readers exactly the kind of fucked up experience they are in for, and believe me when I say it does not hold back. 

As work on Act 2 commences, I’m also hoping to start commissioning more illustrations of various characters to add to the blog. This includes the story’s ‘monsters,’ though these will likely take more time as I reach out to artists with greater experience handling non-human creatures. I look forward to sharing these with you as soon as I’m able.

And that’s pretty much all for now! Progress on Act 2 is already in motion, so keep an eye out for updates on chapters 11-20. 

In the meantime, enjoy an excerpt from Act 1 to tide you over for now.

* * *

Luci led her wordlessly down the hall. As they passed, candles crackled to life in their sconces, revealing the countless hallways that diverged off the main corridor. Some were narrow, with no windows and sharp, winding turns. Others had high ceilings and stretched for what felt like miles, only to end in nothing. No two were the same, and Emily was half-convinced they shifted locations from time to time, without any rhyme or reason. This place was like the forest in that way—an endless, maddening maze. She couldn’t decide which was more unsettling. 

Finally, Luci turned a corner and stopped. Ahead of them stood another door, this one solid black iron with handles that glinted in the shifting firelight. Emily knew better than to touch it. The metal was forged with fragments of crushed jewels taken from Tolvá’s personal horde. Just brushing her hand against it would leave a nasty burn—anything more and she’d be lucky to pull back bone. 

As if sensing her hesitation, Luci grabbed both handles and threw open the doors to a lofty stone room. Emily swallowed as six pairs of eyes fell on her, and averted her own. 

“Enter.” 

She didn’t have to look—Caedēs’ voice was unmistakable, velvet soft and razor sharp. Without lifting her head Emily did as she was told. Luci brushed past her, undoubtedly to take her place with the rest of them, leaving her to the wolves as usual. 

“You can look at us, you know,” Tolvá’s chided her. To her right, someone snickered. Emily bit her lip.

“Yes, my lord.” She shifted her gaze. Seated beside one another, perched high on a raised stone dais, were The Adonai. 

Caedēs. Tolvá. Enok. Vristele. Galis. Dúil. Long black candles flickered on either side of their pedestals and between each of their distinctive thrones, casting twisted shadows across their beautifully horrific faces. 

The six lords, plus Luci, were the sole authority in a world devoid of light and law, the gods of a fallen empire built on fire and brimstone. There was no word in any human language that came close to describing them. Only their kind could decipher their language, though Luci’s younger sister had done her best to translate their official title for Emily years ago. The result had been The Adonai, the lords and masters of all that dwelled within this hellish wasteland. Emily preferred to call them what they really were.

Monsters.

* * *

Thank you for your time and patience, dear readers. I hope you enjoyed.

Until next time~

L.K.