Chapter 10 - The Moon Eater
1262 Words
The fortress shook violently.
Stone rained from the ceiling as the enormous creature emerged from the darkness.
Its body was covered in black mist, as though shadows themselves had taken the shape of a beast. Violet eyes burned through the smoke.
Luna couldn't move.
She had never seen anything like it.
Even the Bloodfang warriors were terrified.
Darius stared upward.
“The Moon Eater...”
The creature opened its jaws.
A deep growl rolled through the chamber.
Then it spoke.
Not with a human voice.
Not even with a wolf's voice.
It sounded like hundreds of voices speaking at once.
“Moonfang.”
Luna felt the pendant around her neck grow hot.
Selene grabbed her hand.
“Don't answer it.”
“Why?”
“It feeds on Moonfang power.”
The creature suddenly lunged.
Kael stepped between it and Luna.
“Run!”
He swung his silver sword.
The blade struck the creature's chest.
BOOM!
Kael was thrown backward.
“Kael!”
He crashed against the stone wall.
Luna ran toward him.
“Stay away!” he shouted.
The Moon Eater turned toward her.
Its violet eyes brightened.
Luna felt something pulling at her.
Her strength began disappearing.
She dropped to one knee.
“Luna!”
Selene rushed toward her.
“Don't fight it!”
“How do I stop it?”
“You can't!”
The creature moved closer.
“Your blood...”
Its voice echoed through the chamber.
“...belongs to us.”
Luna's eyes began glowing silver.
“No.”
The creature stopped.
Luna slowly stood.
“My blood belongs to me.”
Silver light erupted from her body.
The Moon Eater recoiled.
Everyone stared.
Selene whispered:
“The Moonfang power.”
---
Kael forced himself to stand.
Blood ran down the side of his face.
He looked at Luna.
Her silver eyes were brighter than ever.
“Luna!”
She turned.
“I'm fine.”
“You're not.”
The Moon Eater roared.
Kael ran toward her.
He grabbed her hand.
“Don't let it control you.”
“I don't know how.”
“Then listen to me.”
He looked directly into her glowing eyes.
“Remember who you are.”
Luna stared at him.
“I don't know who I am anymore.”
“You're Luna.”
He stepped closer.
“Not a weapon.”
“Not a prophecy.”
“Not a queen.”
“Just Luna.”
The silver light around her began to stabilize.
Her breathing slowed.
Kael smiled.
“That's it.”
Luna squeezed his hand.
“Thank you.”
The Moon Eater attacked again.
This time, Luna raised her other hand.
A giant silver barrier appeared.
The creature slammed into it.
The entire fortress shook.
Kael stared.
“You're getting stronger.”
Luna looked at him.
“So are you.”
“I've always been strong.”
She smiled.
“Of course you have.”
---
Darius suddenly shouted.
“There's another way!”
Everyone turned.
Darius pointed toward the ancient chamber beneath the fortress.
“The Moon Crystal!”
Selene's expression changed.
“No.”
Darius looked at her.
“If Luna awakens the crystal, she can destroy it.”
Selene shook her head.
“She could die.”
Luna looked at her mother.
“What are you talking about?”
Selene stepped toward her.
“The Moon Crystal was created by the first Moonfang queen. It contains enough power to destroy the Moon Eaters.”
“Then I'll use it.”
“Luna, no.”
“Mother, you spent eighteen years trapped here.”
Luna looked at the creature.
“You were waiting for me.”
Selene's eyes filled with tears.
“I was waiting for my daughter.”
Luna smiled.
“Then let me save you.”
Selene hugged her.
For a moment, Luna felt like a child again.
Then Kael spoke.
“We don't have much time.”
Luna nodded.
“Show me the crystal.”
---
They ran through the collapsing fortress.
Darius led them.
Kael remained beside Luna.
Selene followed closely behind.
The Moon Eater pursued them.
Its roar shook the corridors.
Walls collapsed behind them.
Finally, they reached an enormous underground chamber.
At its center floated a glowing crystal.
It was enormous.
Silver and blue light pulsed inside it like a living heart.
Luna stopped.
“The Moon Crystal.”
Selene nodded.
“This is what your father wanted.”
Luna approached it.
The crystal reacted immediately.
Silver light surrounded her.
A voice echoed through the chamber.
Heir of Moonfang.
Luna closed her eyes.
“I am Luna Moonfang.”
Will you accept the crown?
Luna hesitated.
She thought of her childhood.
Her father.
Her mother.
Lunaris.
The werewolves waiting for her.
Kael.
She opened her eyes.
“Yes.”
The crystal exploded with light.
A shockwave swept through the chamber.
The Moon Eater screamed.
Its body began breaking apart.
“No!”
The creature rushed toward Luna.
Kael stepped in front of her.
The Moon Eater struck.
Kael was thrown aside.
“Kael!”
Luna screamed.
The crystal responded.
A massive beam of silver light erupted from Luna's body.
It struck the Moon Eater directly.
The creature screamed as its dark body began dissolving.
“NOOOOO!”
The fortress shook.
The Moon Eater vanished into thousands of particles of black smoke.
Silence followed.
Luna collapsed.
Kael rushed toward her.
He caught her before she hit the ground.
“Luna!”
Her eyes slowly opened.
“Did we win?”
Kael smiled.
“For now.”
Luna looked at him.
“You're hurt.”
“So are you.”
She laughed weakly.
“Then we're even.”
Kael gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“You scared me.”
Luna looked at him.
“I thought you weren't afraid of anything.”
Kael's expression became serious.
“I'm afraid of losing you.”
Luna's heart stopped.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Luna slowly placed her hand over his.
“I don't plan on going anywhere.”
Kael smiled.
“Good.”
Their faces drew closer.
But before anything could happen, Selene called out.
“Luna.”
They separated.
Luna looked toward her mother.
Selene was staring at the Moon Crystal.
Its light had changed.
The crystal was now completely black.
Luna stood.
“What happened?”
Selene's expression was filled with fear.
“The Moon Eater wasn't destroyed.”
Luna froze.
“What?”
Selene pointed toward the crystal.
“It was sealed.”
A crack appeared across the surface.
CRACK.
Kael drew his sword.
“Everyone move.”
Another crack appeared.
Then another.
Luna stared at the crystal.
A pair of violet eyes appeared inside it.
The Moon Eater's voice whispered through the chamber.
“You cannot destroy what was born from your blood.”
Luna's eyes widened.
“My blood?”
Selene looked horrified.
“Luna...”
“What?”
Selene took a trembling breath.
“There is something I never told you.”
“What?”
Selene looked at the Moon Crystal.
“The first Moon Eater was not created by magic.”
Silence.
“It was created by a Moonfang.”
Luna stared at her.
“A Moonfang?”
Selene nodded.
“Your ancestor.”
Luna's heart sank.
And then the crystal cracked completely.
A dark hand emerged.
The Moon Eater was returning.
But this time, it wasn't coming for the kingdom.
It was coming for Luna.
And somewhere inside the collapsing fortress, a hidden traitor smiled.
The battle for Lunaris had only begun.
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