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600 years later

Third

The world around them had changed. It's nothing that was new to them, they've seen it change for centuries. Felix and his clan of vampires unofficially reigned over the other clans. Their strength and speed is unmatched, making them invincible.

Duke, Lucifer, and Theo dropped their bags at the front door, comforted by the smell of their home. They've been on hundreds of missions to help other clans with whatever they needed. This mission lasted five years. Five years since they've been home. Five years since they've seen their clan. It goes without saying, they were happy to be back.

"What a greeting," Theo rolled his eyes, seeing as none of their friends came to greet them.

Duke smiled, "Maybe next time, we can give them more of a warning. That way they can have balloons and confetti in the entry way for you," he teased, walking straight to the kitchen.

"A simple 'welcome back, we've missed you' would suffice," Theo followed. Lucifer was already long gone, probably to his room. He liked to be alone.

Duke pulled out a blood bag from the refrigerator, Dane works at the hospital, and he has access to the blood. He keeps the fridge well stocked.

Duke handed a bag to Theo, but they both paused, hearing a woman moan from upstairs. It was then that they realized the repeating slapping sound, surely as one of their friends thrusted into her.

Theo smirked at Duke, "Any guesses?" He asked.

Duke sighed, "You're here with me, so I'd have to assume Felix."

Theo is quite the womanizer, and it's no secret. They're all charming, vampires are naturally beautiful creatures, tall and muscular, almost impossible to resist.

Theo laughed, drinking from the bag. The woman's moans soon turned to screams of terror, and the warm scent of blood filled the air. "Do you think Felix will ever fuck a woman without killing her?" He asked casually.

"That's the best part," Eugene smirked, entering the kitchen. "Their blood always tastes so sweet as they cum. It's impossible not to indulge when they're so willing to give themselves to us," he shrugged.

Duke hated this about vampires, himself included. Once they start, it's almost impossible to stop. Sex and blood are vampires favorite things. Learning how to stop drinking, takes several hundred years.

Duke rolled his eyes, "Must you be so crude?" He asked. Duke is stuck in his old fashioned ways, and talking about women so indecently irritates him.

Theo smirked, "Duke, we've all heard you during sex, don't act so innocent," he nudged Eugene.

Duke rolled his eyes again, "You hear because you can't mind your business," he straightened, not wanting to talk about his sex life.

Eugene chuckled, "We hear because you're so annoyingly talkative. 'Oh my darling! Look how perfect you are! You take my cock so well-'" he mocked in a high pitched voice.

Duke threw a kitchen towel at him, "Enough, Eugene."

Dane came into the kitchen, a small grin on his face. "Is Duke home?" He joked, hearing Eugene's mockery of him.

Dane hugged Duke and Theo, welcoming them hime.

They spent a few minutes talking and matching up.

Felix and Quin walked into the kitchen, greeting the two with half hugs. "How was it?" Felix asked.

"I was about to ask you the same," Theo gave him a knowing look.

"Nothing special," Felix dismissed.

"It wasn't packs this time, it was rogue werewolf's. More of a challenge, but we helped the clan rest assured," Duke answered.

"Of course you three get the fun missions. I'd do anything to fuck up rogues," Quin crossed his arms, leaning against the counter.

"Shall we celebrate your return with dinner?" Dane raised his eyebrows.

Theo held up the blood bag in his hand.

Dane rolled his eyes, "Actual food, there's a restaurant half an hour away that serves wonderful steak."

~•~

The seven vampires walked down the sidewalk as the sun slowly set. They've lived in the same town for hundreds of years, and they were always surprised at how fast things evolve. Where a woman once stood selling silk and apples stood a four star restaurant. Everything around them changed, except them.

Duke feared that another couple hundred years would pass and he would still be the same. He craved something more. Meaning beyond fighting, beyond thirsting after blood. He wanted normal. Unfortunately, normal and vampires don't mix well.

Vampires and werewolves are only males. Females cannot contain the vampiric or werewolf gene. Several have tried to change them, but none have succeeded.

"You're right, that was delicious," Theo complimented.

"Am I ever wrong?" Dane smirked.

"We should discuss who the next three are to go when the time comes," Felix said, always planning and organizing. He wasn't one for surprises or not having a plan. He liked things his way.

"Eugene and I will go," Quin quickly answered.

Felix raised his eyebrows at his friend. Usually the three of them go together, but Felix isn't feeling up for a fight. Maybe it was his evenings conquest that drained him from the need to dominate. Perhaps he will feel differently tomorrow. "We'll choose the third some other time," he dismissed.

The faint sound of teeth chattering together reached their ears easily. It was small, but their ears could hear a butterfly's wing flap from a mile away.

Felix, Eugene, Quin, and Lucifer didn't pay any attention to the sound. They figured it was a homeless person, most likely begging for money. They continued walking.

The others slowed, quickly pinpointing where the chattering was coming from.

Theo gave the child a harsh look, studying her. None of them like kids, but Theo has a particular distaste for them. Humans are disgusting, especially the little ones who cause messes.

Dane and Duke stilled, their cold hearts hurting for the girl.

She was curled up under a cardboard box, damp from the earlier rain. She trembled, pushing herself as far into the corner as she could. The girl was tiny, even for kid, it concerned Duke. Where is her mother?

She wore a large t-shirt, it covered her whole body, leaving her bare toes to stick out from under it. Her hair was blond, long, and knotted.

"Is there an issue?" Felix asked the two men, noticing their fixation on the child.

"It's very sad, don't you think?" Dane said in a whisper, still eyeing the child.

Felix rolled his eyes, "I think it's disgusting. Humans can't fend for themselves at all. She'll probably die of hypothermia or starvation. What a pathetic species," he spat as he glared at the girl.

For the first time, Duke looked away from the girl and glared at Felix. "Compassion must not be in your vocabulary, Felix."

Without another word, Duke slowly approached the child. He didn't want to scare her, he knows he looks different from other men she's seen. He's much taller, and if she looks hard enough, she'll notice his eyes aren't brown, but dark red.

"Duke! What the hell are you doing?" Quin whispered, not wanting to bring attention to them. There wasn't many people around... none actually. Just them and the little girl.

Duke ignored his friends and kneeled a foot away from the child.

She slowly looked up, her big blue eyes eyed him from his black boots to his shiny brown hair. She'd never seen a man who looked so fancy before, and she was scared. She curled further into a ball, pushing herself to feel the cement wall on her back, through the flimsy box she sat in.

Duke was sad, but he smiled at the girl, "Hello, my name is Duke. What's yours?" He asked gently, hoping not to scare her more.

The girl looked around everywhere, her eyes briefly landing on the other men who were all watching the interaction several yards away. They scared her. She's seen bad men before. They rode on motorcycles and punched each other. She always hid from them. She's good at hiding.

But these men didn't look like the others, they were huge. And they looked threatening, but the way Duke spoke brought her comfort.

She looked up at Duke, her eyelashes having tears on them, hanging like dewdrops. He looks... nice, she thought. She was freezing, and when her voice came out, it was small and quivering. "E-Elora," she answered.

Duke nodded, "It's nice to meet you, Elora. Are you here alone?" He asked. He had a sneaking suspicion she was. She clearly hasn't eaten or bathed in far too long. He hoped any parent or caretaker would put a child's needs before their own.

Elora nodded, "Mommy told me to stay here and someone will h- help me," she explained. It's been so long since she's seen her mom. Elora didn't know any better, but it was obvious to Duke that her mother wasn't coming back.

Duke sighed, turning to look at Felix. The question was clear in his eyes, he didn't need to ask. This little girl, finding her, this was his purpose. Duke wanted to help people, this was his chance. He was more than capable of raising a child and had more money than he knew what to do with. In his mind, he would give her a good life, send her to college, and watch her grow old, knowing he did his duty to help where he could.

Felix tensed, shaking his head. "Are you mad?" He asked dumbfounded. Duke was insane for even thinking of taking in a human girl. Their life was abnormal and she'd be in danger. "Absolutely not, Duke," he gave him a pointed look.

Dukes mind was already made up. "I can't leave her," he held his stare on Felix. "She'll be my responsibility, Felix."

Quin scoffed, "So we're taking in strays now?" He eyed Elora, already finding a hundred things about her that annoy him.

Duke ignored their comment, and turned back to the girl. "Would you like to come with me? My house is warm, and we have food," he tried, not sure how to talk to her. He didn't know how to relate to a human, let alone a child. The last thing he wanted was to come off as a creep, or to scare her more.

Elora thought about his question for several seconds. She couldn't think of a reason not to. Her mom told her someone would come help, and Dukes invitation was warm. She was hungry and cold, and the thought of not being alone warmed her stomach. "Cookies?" She asked. She hasn't had cookies in so long.

Duke chuckled, "Yes, we have a few sweets Lucifer keeps hidden." He held his large hand out to her, "Ready to go, Elora?"

She slowly grabbed his hand, her whole hand only covering his thumb. She stood up, the shirt she wore fell just below her ankles. Duke stood up, towering over her, making her scared. She liked him much more when he was her height. And his friends looking at her made her more scared.

She reached her arms up to Duke, letting go of his hand. Duke smiled, scooping the child in his arms. Elora was surprised at how warm he was. She didn't know it was possible for a person to be anything but cold. She pressed her little hands against his chest, fascinated at the heat coming from him. Her hands were warm... she was warm.