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Elora is 14

Duke

"The rogue attacks are getting out of hand. Almost ten clans have been attacked in the past year alone," Felix explained, anger laced in his tone.

I looked down at the table, shaking my head in thought. I know the attacks have escalated, and many have died because of it. In the past, we'd all step in, each of us would go to a different state and help where we could. But Elora is my life now, I can't leave her.

I listened to her breathing as she slept upstairs. It's calming, listening to her even breathing and her fragile heartbeat during the night.

"Are you suggesting that more than three of us go?" Dane asked.

I leaned back in my chair, watching Felix. As much as I don't like the idea, I know the seriousness of the situation. If we let the werewolves continue to rampage our clans, vampires will become endangered- more so than we already are.

Felix looked between all of us, "Duke, Lucifer, and I have the most experience in war strategies and fighting werewolves-"

"I will not leave Elora. We all know this mission will take years. I said I would be her sole caregiver, and I refuse," I said sternly.

When I found her all those years ago, I didn't know I'd become as attached to her like I am. My plan was to raise her and give her a better life, not to love her. I couldn't do that to her, I'm her best friend. Not seeing her smiling face every day isn't something I want to do.

Felix narrowed his eyes at me, "They need you and your expertise. Not even I know battle tactics as well as you, Duke. Like it or not, we have a responsibility to stop events like this," he said sternly.

"Felix is right," Eugene looked between Lucifer and I. "Between the three of you, you'll make quick work of things. Quin, Theo, Dane, and I are strong fighters, but when it comes to negotiation we cannot compete."

I ran my hand through my hair, knitting my eyebrows. The longest I've ever been away from her was three weeks.

Dane grabbed my shoulder, "Believe it or not, we are capable of looking after Elora."

They shouldn't have to, though. She's my responsibility, caring for her was my doing. Over the years they've all come to love her too, but she's mine. I can't bare the thought of missing even a second of her life, let alone years.

I narrowed my eyes at Felix, "Do I have a choice in this?" I cut to the chase. Felix looks like his mind is already made up.

Felix softened his eyes, "I'm sorry, Duke. We need you. You know I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't necessary," he spoke softly.

Melancholy filled me, and my mind was clouded with dread. Elora would be under the care of Theo, who is a horrible influence. He's no authority figure, but he does make her laugh and have fun. Eugene isn't a good fit either, he teased her much like Theo does. I worry about her self esteem with those two. Quin can be cruel- never to her, but underneath his skin he is a monster. If she gets hurt, he wouldn't hesitate to drink from her. He's tasted her blood, the craving for it will never leave him. Dane is my only hope that someone will be there for her when she needs it. He is kind and nurturing, but he is too easy going. If she asks him for anything, he doesn't question her.

Felix, Lucifer, and I have been the only ones to give her any kind of authority or punishment. And we're leaving. I'm leaving her in the care of four unfit vampires.

Lucifer stood up, "We'll leave on Monday. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get back," he said in his usual whisper. He gave me a glance before he left to his room.

I stood as well, leaving the table. My feet carried me up the stairs, down several halls to Eloras bedroom door. I slowly opened it, seeing her peacefully sleeping. Her king sized bed swallowed her, making the smallest smile play at my lips.

I've always gone a bit overboard with spoiling her, but I'm happy with my decision to do so. She's the only person who sleeps, so I bought her the best bed I could find. Seeing her in it always makes me smile, she's always been a tiny little thing.

I sat down on her bed, holding her little had in mine. How will I tell her? She won't take it well, she won't let me leave. She's never liked it when I've left before.

Have I made a mistake, spoiling her and coddling her. In this moment, watching her little nose twitch as she slept- I feel like I've failed her. She's depended on me for her whole life, and I've always been there. She's attached herself to me since the moment I met her. Now, I won't be there for her.

I leaned down, placing a small kiss on her hair, "Forgive me," I whispered. I let go of her hand, walking out of her room.

"Duke?" She tiredly mumbled.

I turned to look at her, just as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. She squinted at me, looking confused. I felt guilty for waking her, she's always been an incredible tired person, and she's made it very clear she likes her sleep. Theo and her go back and forth about her sleeping habits at least three times a year. He doesn't understand humans, and she doesn't understand vampires. It's always quite amusing.

"Go back to sleep," I said. She finished middle school two weeks ago, and she's on summer vacation. But I've always kept a strict bedtime for her. Not that she ever needed one, she's always been asleep by eight naturally.

She yawned, nodding her head. "Can you grab my water?" She pointed to her dresser.

I walked over, grabbing a half empty bottle of water off of the dresser. I sat on the side of her bed, handing her the water. "I didn't mean to wake you," I apologized.

She shrugged, ungracefully chugging what was left of her water. I chucked, shaking my head at her.

Elora held out the empty trash to me, "I need to stay hydrated, I plan to be on the track team, tennis team, and soccer team next year," she groggily muttered.

I rolled my eyes, taking the piece of plastic from her. I have spoiled her. She wouldn't have handed it to anyone else like that, she knows I'll do anything for her though. I nodded, "That's a lot for freshman year."

She laid back down, "If I'm going to be varsity by junior year, I need to start putting in the work now," she blinked up at me.

I smiled, proud of her ambition. She's always been athletic. Track, swim, and softball are the sports shes done over the years. She's not the most competitive person, and trips over her own feet more than any other human I know. But she gives it her all, and we've always supported her in her triumphs and losses. "There's not a doubt in my mind you'll make varsity by then, or sooner," I said honestly.

And I won't be here to see it. My mind filled with birthdays, milestones, sports events and games, everything that I'll miss. In a perfect world, I wouldn't be gone longer than a year- and that would still be too long.

She eyed me, her eyebrows pulling together, "You look sad."

I sighed, "I am sad." Being honest has always been something I've shown through example. Even when it's hard, I've always told her the truth. Because of it, she never lies. She feels comfortable enough to tell me anything.

She tilted her head, her eyes widening. She's always been an empath, too kind for this world. "What's wrong?"

I didn't want to tell her this way. I wanted to take her out for ice cream before I gave her the bad news, not wake her up and wreck her evening. "Felix, Lucifer, and I are going away for a while."

She nodded, "You've been gone before? Do you not like where you're going?" She didn't understand. Elora knows what we do when we're gone, we made it clear to her as soon as we could that were different from other vampires.

I shook my head, "It's different this time, sweetheart. We'll be gone for a long time," I explained, feeling a pain in my chest.

She sat up, looking worried, "You're just leaving me for a month again, are you? You said you wouldn't be gone that long ever again, remember? You promised," she pointed a finger at my chest.

I heard shuffling downstairs, "I can't listen to this, I'm going to get ice cream," Eugene said sadly, walking out of the house.

My chest ached, seeing the sad look in her big blue eyes. I never thought I would have to leave again. When I found her, we agreed I wouldn't go on a mission that lasted more than a month. I sighed, grabbing her hand in mine, "I don't have a choice, Elora," I explained softly. "Dane and the others will be here, and I'll be back before you know it," I tried to comfort her.

She didn't look away from me, and I heard her heart hammering in her chest. "How long?" She asked, knowing I'm avoiding the answer.

I dropped my shoulders, hating that I'm causing her to be sad. "Years."

Her mouth dropped open, and she instantly started shaking her head, "No, you can't do that!" She rejected, her eyes welling with tears. "I won't let you- you can't leave me for that long!" She got up on her knees, matching my height. "Send Quin or Eugene, they love going on missions," she thought frantically, the slightest big of hope coming through her tone.

If I had a beating heart, it would break. Seeing her like this hurts me. I shook my head, "I'm sorry, Elora," I whispered.

Her breathing got heavy, and I knew if she didn't calm down she'd have a panic attack. She gets them every so often, she tends to stress about the little things. At first, the only thing that could stop them was mine control- which I hated doing to her. We all agreed never to compel her- unless it's to stop a panic attack. But over the past year Dane has shown her tricks on how to get her breathing back to normal. I always aim to stop them before they happen.

She shook her head, "No, they can't make you! I don't want you to go," she sobbed, her body wracking as she cried.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my lap as she cried, "Please stop, Elora," I begged. This is out of my power, and I can't do anything, even if she cries- which I always cave in when she cries. I can't bare to see her sad.

She buried her head in my chest, soaking my shirt with her tears. "I hate Felix," she whispered suddenly. I pushed my eyebrows together, looking down at her. She doesn't mean that, she's just angry and blames him. She took a shaky breath, pulling her head away from me and towards the door, "I know you can hear me and I hate you!" She sobbed.

I pulled her back to me, subbing her hair, "Shh, it's okay," I closed my eyes, hating myself for doing this to her. But she needs to understand that this isn't Felix's fault. He is making me go- but it's his duty. He must do his, and I must do mine. If she's going to be angry at anyone, it should be me. My next words were poison as they left my lips, "This isn't his fault, Elora. I asked to go," I lied.

She lifted her head, staring up at me. Her doe eyes crushed my heart as tears poured out of them. "W-what?" She mumbled. "You're leaving me?" She repeated again.

I shook my head, "I have to. The other clans need us. If there was another way, I would stay, you know that."

Her lip wobbled, "I need you," she cried.

In my thousands of years, I've never felt this much pain.

"I'll still be here, I'll get you a phone before I leave on Monday. I'll call you every day," I tried to make it better somehow.

She gasped, "You're leaving in two days?"

I nodded. "I'll send you packages of those shiny agates you like whenever I find them," I kept trying.

She rested her head against my chest again, silently crying. She hugged me as tight as her little arms could, like I'd she let go I'd leave.

A few minutes later, she calmed down. Her tears were dried, staining her cheeks. Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes fanning against her chubby cheeks.

As she fell asleep, I squeezed my eyes shut, holding her tighter. Leaving her is the last thing I want to do. And I'm a horrible vampire, clan mate, and leader for thinking this, but I'd let the rogues take over if it meant not leaving her. She's my whole world, and I'm leaving her.