Daughter Of Darkness

~2~

A howl echoed in the distance as I turn around to see who had spoken. It was a girl about my age. She had a curly black pixie cut with some of the strands darkish blue. Her skin was a deep brown and she had blue eyes. She wore a dark purple tunic and black pants, almost similar to mine except my tunic was black.

She had five silver stars around the right side of her face that curved around her eye. She was stunning. She cleared her throat and spoke again, " You said your question out loud. I don't know what you're referring to but whatever it is, it can't be that much". She comes and sits next to me on the bench.

She holds out her hand, "I'm Vespera Morgan Lumiere. Vesper for short. I'm from Lunalux. Happy birthday Moonlight". She smiled at me. I reach out and shake her hand when the last word she said begins to dawn on me. "Moonlight?" I ask her.

She nods her head and smiles, "yeah it's your new nickname now because of the strands in your hair... they're as silver as pale moonlight" she says with a soft voice. I blush and clear my throat, "thank you Vesper. Why aren't you in the ballroom with the rest of the party?".

She raises an eyebrow and smirks at me, "Shouldn't I be asking you that question Moonlight?". I swear her smirk grows wider...

I stick my tongue out at her and she laughs. "I don't like parties that much. I prefer the wilderness to being indoors. Now...answer my question Moonlight". She smirks at me.

I sigh, "I don't like people or parties that much either. Whenever my mom hosts one of these things, I come out here and..." I trail off, not meaning to let that part slip out. Vesper raises an eyebrow at me, "and....?" she presses, leaning in closer to me.

She smells like the forest, earthy and fresh. I clear my throat and get up. I walk over to a hedge that to the right of us. I reach an arm in and pull out two swords hidden in their sheathes.

I can hear Vesper inhale in surprise. I return to her side with them. I take off the black sheath off of one of them show her Shadow, my sword. With it's onyx back blade and silver hilt, it's an accurate name. The blade glints in the moonlight.

"I come out here to practice swordfighting. I purchased this sword from a vendor in the market. It just...called to me". I place it back in it's sheath and clip it to my side.

I pick up the other sword and present it to Vesper. "I heard it was your 16th birthday as well just a few weeks ago and I knew my Mom would invite you and your family to the ball so...here". I can feel myself blushing as she takes it and removed the sheath.

Her blade is a light grey color with a black hilt. She slices it through the air and let's out a whistle, "this is a beauty....thank you Runa. Which reminds me, I have a gift for you too". She puts the sword back in it's sheath and straps it at her waist like I did.

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small, black, rectangular box. She hands it to me and I take it. Opening it, I see that inside is a silver necklace in the shape of a hollow wolf head.

Vesper takes the necklace out and leans forward to put her arms around my neck. Such warm hands...I gently shake my head. Bad brain!

Vesper pulls back and looks at me worriedly, "what's wrong?" she asks. I smile at her reassuringly, "nothing, everything's fine". I reach down to examine the necklace more.

The head is the size of my index and thumb together. It's cool to the touch and the craftsmanship is impeccable. I grab it and rub it with two fingers. The action is quite calming.

Wolf head...wolves....This reminds me of a rumor I've heard about one of the princesses of Lunalux....I turn my gaze at Vesper and examine her more carefully.

Now that I know what to look for I see it: sharper nails and teeth, pointed ears...woodsy smell....and now the necklace. I voice my thoughts, "are you...are you a werewolf?"

She smirks at me and her blue eyes glow for a second before turning back to normal. She lets out a laugh, "well it took you long enough Moonlight, yes I am. See this necklace?". She pulls a chain from underneath her shirt.

It's silver with a dark blue gem in an oval shape wrapped with black vines. It's very beautiful. She lets it fall against her shirt. "It allows me to change safely into my true form...if it got broken...I don't know what I'd do". She smiles at me, revealing her sharp teeth. I furrow my brow, "Is your sister a werewolf too?" I ask.

Her smile drops a bit and she looks away before responding, "No. Araceli is normal...she's also our parents actual daughter. Mama always says that Araceli found me in the woods one day except...she found a wolf pup. They didn't know I was a werewolf until I changed back into my human form. I was about four back then while 'Celi was a year older. We've been close ever since.

The funny thing is....she also has a streak in her hair. He hair is blonde and the streak is rose gold so it doesn't stand out as much as mine". She reaches out and takes a curly strand of my silver hair between her fingers. "Or yours", she says before falling silent.

The look in her eyes....it reminds me of the calm the waves and sky have before the...."storm" I say, finishing my thought aloud. She stops fiddling with my hair and looks at me. "What?" she breathes out.

I clear my throat, "you gave me a nickname so it's only fair that I return the favor...the look you have in your eyes right now...it's like the calm before the storm. It's very...intense. As if you have more to say but you're holding yourself back".

She tilts her head at me and smirks playfully. She seems to smirk a lot, I realize. "Now Moonlight...I don't think it's very princess like or you to one up on the gifts".

I laugh, feeling warm inside. I want to savor this moment. I tilt my head a little, copying her previous action. "Oh yeah? Well then, I guess you'll have to one up someday Storm". My lips tingle at the sound of he nickname leaving my lips.

I like saying it, I realize. I also like the fact someone cared enough to give me a nickname. It's....nice. Very nice. Vesper let's go of my hair for a second, "By the way....you never responded to my first question so I'll ask again... What's so much to ask for Moonlight?" she smirks at me.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Nacasa, I thought she forgot about that.....I'll guess I'll tell her...

I open my mouth to answer her when I see her facial expression change from curiosity to confusion. She lifts a hand towards my face and wipes a thumb against my cheek. She pulls it away and shows me it.

On her thumb is a gray smudge. I furrow my brow in confusion. Where did that come from?. I look and see that gray things are falling from the air, like snow. One lands on my palm and I swipe at it with my thumb.

Hmm...I look up at Vesper, "It looks...it looks like ash" I tell her. Now it's Vesper's turn to look confused. "Ash? Why would ash be-" she's interrupted by someone's voice, a female voice.

"Oh look, a party...why wasn't I invited?"