Moonlight

Here

Sophia awoke, expecting Luna's arms to be wrapped around her. Instead, she was greeted by darkness and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. But then a thought lifted her spirits. Today. Luna was rescuing her today. She'd promised. Sophia smiled, a beaming smile, the first bit of real happiness she had felt in days. Then the door was flung open. Malcolm stormed in, flanked by two aggressive looking men. Instead of speaking, Malcolm flung his foot into Sophia's face. She screamed in pain. A scream that echoed through the building. Panting heavily, she spat the blood out. Putting a hand up gingerly to her face, she felt the blood trickle down her fingers. "YOU VERMIN!" He screeched furiously, massive face red in anger, fists clenched. "What the hell did I do now?" Sophia asked, dazed from the pain. "Those disgusting werewolves killed Topaz!" He spat in her face. "And that's my fault because...?" She deadpanned, beyond remorse and completely and utterly over everything that Malcolm had put her through. In response, he howled in fury and punched her in the stomach. He continued pounding his fists into every part of her body as she screamed for mercy. Tears streamed down her face as her pain increased with each punch. He screamed every insult he could think of, filled with pure rage. Eventually, he seemed satisfied and, panting, stood up. Soon, she recovered her breath. "Why the hell do you care so much?" She asked, blinking back the tears of pain "Wasn't she just another pawn in your plan?" Malcolm snarled and kicked her leg. "Shut up, scum!" He screamed. Sophia tried to think of the connection between the two. Then, she studied Malcolm. Every detail. Before she gasped in shock. Because despite the fact that Malcolm had long chestnut brown hair and Topaz had a mane of ginger hair, despite the fact that he was tall and massive and she was petite, their faces were identical. The same oval face shape, same pouting lips, same striking hazel-shaped eyes. "She was your daughter" Sophia uttered, barely able to believe it "But... how?" For the first time since Sophia had met him, Malcolm showed an emotion that wasn't pure hatred. Regret. "I didn't know I'd got her mother, Rose, pregnant. Rose never told me. I only found out when she gave birth and identified me as the father with her dying breath. I was left with Topaz. I couldn't take care of her. So I ran over to the edge of the border with her and just... left her there. I hoped she'd be safe. She would be with my enemies but she'd be safe" Malcolm hung his head and Sophia saw him for who he really was. Not an evil man. A man who made mistakes. Made bad choices. Because they can change a person. No matter how good. "Did she...?" Sophia questioned, hating herself for feeling sympathy for him. "No, she didn't know that I was her father. I realised when she told me her name. But I didn't tell her. I was hoping to when she got here..." the heartbreak in Malcolm's voice was evident. Sophia grappled with the overwhelming feelings of pity and guilt as she tried to form words. "But she never got here. Because that traitor Luna murdered her!" Malcolm vibrated rage as he approached Sophia. She backed into the corner frantically and tried to shield herself, to no avail. He kicked, punched and scratched at every inch of her skin. Eventually, he left her, broken and bleeding. She allowed the tears to drip down her face as she screamed in pain, in anger, in sadness. The wave of emotions that hit her felt as if it would never cease. But it did. Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself. Today.

Luna stood in front of the border of the dark wolves territory, all of camp pine and the vampires behind her, each one armed with a lethal weapon. She raised her fist and Vincent stepped forward. He began chanting unintelligible words and swaying his hand over the borderline. His voice increased in volume, losing it's usually soothing tone, as his hand moved faster. His robes billowed as the vampire's eyes turned milky. Suddenly, a blinding grey light flashed, followed by a flash of red. "Charge!" Luna screamed as the army ran across the border to the dark wolves territory. The border that was now useless due to the ancient vampire spell. They had only discovered it when they where searching for a way to cross the border. Since the border had been used to keep the dark wolves in their land, the vampires were able to destroy it, which their enemies never could have. Now, they ran, their fury and hatred of the dark wolves fuelling them. Luna was powered by the feeling of her comrades running beside her, tearing up the rough ground beneath their feet. She began howling, a chilling battle cry. Everyone joined her, even the vampires who couldn't howl and instead let out bloodcurdling screeches. She knew nothing could stop them. Today would be the end of the dark wolves. Suddenly, a loud cry stopped her in her tracks. The wailing sound of a young child filled her ears. Everyone, after barrelling in to each other, stared at the tree from which the noise came from. Luna and Vincent gingerly stepped forward and looked behind the ebony tree. There sat a tiny girl, barely two years old, curled in a ball and barely able to breath. Tears filled her eyes as she clenched her fists and tried to calm herself down. Vincent sat down gently beside the child and pulled her onto his lap. He rubbed her back in soothing circles and she eventually calmed. Her violet eyes were framed by long, blonde hair. Despite her ratty clothing and scruffy appearance, her hair remained golden and flowing, wavy and elegant. And despite her obvious struggles, an air of elegance and glamour hung about the girl. She opened her mouth to breathe and her white fangs flashed in the dark sunlight. She was a vampire. So why on earth was she in the dark wolves territory? Vincent clearly had the thoughts as Luna, as he asked "What are you doing here, little one? Did they kidnap you?" The little girl nodded, clinging onto Vincent for comfort. "What's your name?" Luna asked gently. The child rasped out an answer: "Eliza Gold" Vincent and all the other vampires gasped. "Her parents were killed by dark wolves in the neutral zone. They just went for a walk. We always assumed the baby was killed too" Vincent whispered to Luna. "Come with us, darling" Harry exclaimed and lifted Eliza onto his shoulders. "Ok, this changes things. Vincent and Luke, you'll sit aside with Eliza and tend to the wounded" Luna announced. Vincent nodded, while Luke groaned. "Problem?" Luna snapped. "Nope. Keep your fur on" Luke growled. Luna rolled her eyes and turned away. "Continue!" She yelled and the advance commenced. Soon, the dark wolves' camp came into view. A dark, gloomy stone building was centred in the middle of the camp. Instantly, she knew that Sophia was inside. "Camp Pine! Vampires! This is the plan: we will charge at the dark wolves, killing as many as possible. This will prove as distraction, while I go and get Sophia. Then, we will fight them all!" Luna screamed her plan. Cheers of approval sounded, while others began a more technical plan. She turned around and saw a line of dark wolves forming. They were all transformed, red eyes staring menacingly, sharp teeth glinting, jaws panting and slobbering. Its over she thought as silence crept into the clearing. She glanced around her. All these people...was it worth their lives? Suddenly, she realised it was. Because their freedom and happiness was worth everything. Because children like Eliza were worth it. And Sophia was worth everything. At the top of her lungs, she screamed "CHARGE!"

Sophia heard the bell sounding. What was happening? Rushed footsteps passed by the door. She crawled over to it and pressed her ear against the key hole. Cries of "They're here!" and "Commence attack formation!" stood out to her. She brought her eye up to the tiny gap of light. She saw dark wolves transforming and Malcolm barking orders as he ran his hands through his greasy hair in panic and fury. She backed away from the door, confused. Who was here? Then it hit her. Luna. She had come to rescue Sophia. The thought brought tears to the blonde vampire's shimmering violet eyes. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice scream "CHARGE!".
"Luna!" She screamed "I'm in here!" Clashes of metal on metal sounded outside. Howls and screeches of pain sounded as people barked orders. Sophia paused for a second. She swore she could hear a child crying. Shaking herself from her thoughts, she attempted to jump up to the window. Despite knowing it was pointless and would probably result in broken bones, she tried anyway. Somehow, through pure luck, she managed to grab one of the metallic bars. It cut her hand and, looking at it's rustiness, probably gave her an infection. But no matter. Infections meant nothing to vampires. Using all her enhanced strength, she pulled herself onto the ledge. She could feel herself slipping almost immediately. But she ignored that as she screamed "Luna! Luna! I'm in here!" She felt herself slip and turned round. Instead of falling straight onto the ground, she landed smoothly on the ground with a forward roll. Sophia stood and listened for sounds outside. A loud bang caught her off guard and she fell to the ground. She pushed herself off the ground and continued to listen. Cries and howls of pain sounded as someone yelled, clearly breaking through all the dark wolves indoor defences. Sophia hoped desperately that it was her werewolf. Then it occurred to her that Luna didn't know where she was, despite her screams. She began pounding on the door with her fists. "Luna!" She cried, hoping the raven-haired werewolf would hear her. The loud bangs and cries of pain seemed to get louder and nearer. A fist hit the door. "Quiet, scum!" The guard yelled. Suddenly, he began screaming. "Never call her that again!" A voice yelled from outside as the guard howled in pain. Sophia backed away from the door just in time for it to swing open. The tanned, raven-haired werewolf with golden eyes charged into the doorway, holding a sword out as a challenge to anyone who dared to accept it. "Luna?!" Sophia cried.