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Elora is 9

Elora

"Give it back!" I jumped up, knowing it's no use. Theo is a tree taller than me. Also, he's a superhuman who is faster and stronger than literally everyone else. Maybe not Felix. I crossed my arms.

Theo gave me a pointed look, "You may have your book back once you finish your homework," he bargained.

"I don't like doing the numbers," I pouted. I always get frustrated, and I feel like crying. My fourth grade teacher says math is good, that we'll use it a lot in our lives. I have never used math, and I never plan to. "Please, Theo?" I widened my eyes, sticking my lower lip out.

He put his hands on his knees, copying my look, "That only works on Duke, sweetheart," he smirked, pointing to the living room where my school work is. "Go."

I stomped away, walking to the living room. "Math is stupid. Division is dumb, why can't numbers just stay the same-" I stopped muttering, seeing Felix exit his office.

I tensed, seeing his angry face. Uh oh. He glared down at me, "Is there a reason you're being so loud?" He asked.

I folded my hands in front of me and looked at my shoes, "Um- no..." I whispered. Felix doesn't like me very much, but I love him. I love them all. Felix does scare me to no end. He's like a mountain, big and scary.

"Then stop stomping and stop muttering. Do what your told, Elora."

I nodded, "Sorry, Felix," I rushed away to the living room. I kneeled at the coffee table and started doing my equations.

Every few months, three of them leave. The longest any of them have been away is a year, it was Felix, Eugene, and Lucifer. Unfortunately for me, the last two weeks Duke, Dane, and Quin have been gone. But they're coming back today at some point. I miss Duke, he's my best friend. He's also easier on me than everyone else.

I did the equations with little to no problems. Eugene helps me with homework a lot, he says it's fun. And he always teaches me the best way to do it.

The front door opened and Duke, Dane, and Quin walked in carrying their luggage. I shot up, running over to them, "You're back!" I hugged them all.

"Hey kiddo," Quin patted my back, walking away.

Duke picked my up, setting me on his hip, "How were they?" He asked. He told me to keep an eye on everyone while he was gone.

I smiled, "Nothing to report. Theo stole my book, can you get it back?" I asked.

Duke walked alongside Dane to the kitchen. "Why would he do that?" He gave me a pointed look.

I looked away, "I have no idea, maybe he's crazy?" I lied.

Duke rolled his eyes, "Uhu." We walked into the kitchen and Duke set me down on a kitchen stool. Theo gave me a pointed look, "Maybe I'm crazy?" He repeated.

Oops. Vampire super hearing. Always my downfall. I rested my head on my fist, "It was just an observation. Who steals a book from a child?" I opened my mouth.

Theo leaned on the counter across from me, "Someone who doesn't want you to grow up stupid. You'll thank me one day."

I gasped and pointed at him, "Name calling!"

Theo smirked, "Wait till you're older, I'll teach you the really fun words-"

"Enough!" Duke looked between the two of us. "Theo, you're arguing with a nine year old for gods sake why did you take the book?" He asked.

Theo straightened, "She wasn't doing her homework," he told on me.

I looked at Duke, who was already giving me a stern look. "It's done now! I finished it," I said quickly.

"School is important, Elora. You can't procrastinate like that. You'll form bad habits," Duke scolded.

"I don't even know what that means," I shrugged.

Theo smirked, "See, it's already happening. She's growing up stupid," he teased.

"I'm not stupid!"

Duke glared at Theo, who looked way too happy with himself. "No, you're not stupid. Ignore Theo, he's sick in the head-"

"Told you he's crazy," I grinned, hopping off the chair to make cereal. I grabbed the milk, box, bowl, and opened the drawer for a spoon. I stared at the cluttered drawer filled with all kinds of silver wear, but no spoon in sight.

"Fine, I'll give you you're book back," Theo gave. "And procrastination is putting something off till the last minute," he explained.

I dug through the drawer, wondering how it's possible we have no spoons. I know there's one in here! "So Duke procrastinated coming home so I'd be stuck with you to take care of me?" I looked over my shoulder, ready for Duke to scold me and tell me I'm wrong. Sometimes it's fun getting on his nerves.

My hand hit something sharp and I yanked my hand back, the knife slicing a deep cut in my palm. I winced, my eyes welling with tears. "Ouch!" I cried.

I've never been good around blood, it makes me queasy. I stared at the deep gash in my palm, blood oozing from it like a fountain.

Noticing how quiet it is, I turned around. I was shocked and slightly scared to see everyone in the kitchen. I didn't even hear them come in, but they've always been sneaky.

I tensed, seeing Lucifers eyes bright red, with his fangs poking out. I looked at everyone else, seeing they were the same, except Dane. Duke looked at war with himself, like he was in pain.

In a flash, Dane was at my side, ushering me to the sink. He turned the tap on cold and held my hand under it. I winced, watching the blood run down the drain. "Hold your hand there, you're going to need stitches," he said, but made no move to let go of my hand as he looked behind us.

I know they're vampires and they drink blood. But I know they'll never hurt me. Dane works at a hospital, so he's better than the rest are around blood. I've never seen them act this way before, it's very scary.

"You should be more careful, Elora," Lucifer said as he walked out of the kitchen. I widened my eyes, shocked. He never speaks, especially not to me. He says maybe one sentence to me a month. That's the first time he's ever called my by my name.

I watched the blood immediately disappear from my gash and wash down the drain. It really hurts... It's not like I meant to cut myself.

Duke stood next to me, looking normal now. "It's okay, accidents happen," he rubbed my arm.

Dane stared at Duke for what felt like minutes before he left to grab something. "Don't let her move her hand from the faucet, I'll be right back."

Duke replaced Danes hand, firmly holding my hand under the water. "I can hold it there myself, you know," I mumbled.

"I know you can," Duke answered, but still held my wrist. I pushed my eyebrows together, realizing why they're so insistent on this. They want my blood to disappear down the drain as soon as possible.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, feeling tears collect on my eyelashes. I feel guilty. I should have been more careful like Lucifer said.

Duke sighed, "It's okay, I wish you didn't hurt yourself though," he glanced at me. "You're going to have a scar on your hand now," he looked upset. But not at me- he probably blames himself.

I heard commotion behind me, and tried to turn my head to look. Dukes other hand quickly grabbed my head and stopped it from looking, keeping me facing the sink. "Wha-"

"Just- look how your flowers are growing, pretty, huh?" He pointed to the flowers I put in a pot on the windowsill.

I nodded, noticing how they've gotten bigger. I glanced up, looking in the reflection of the window. I felt my heart sink at what was happening behind us.

The knife that cut my hand, the knife that had my blood all over it, was clean and on the counter. Felix and Eugene were holding Quin back, dragging him out of the room. He looked mad, completely insane. His eyes are bright red, and he looks murderous.

Eugene has his hand firmly placed over Quin's mouth, muffling anything he's trying to say. And Felix is restraining him, hugging his arms down to his sides. That's all I saw before they left the kitchen.

I looked down at my palm, seeing the blood still pouring out. My vision pulsed, I don't know if it was from fear or seeing the blood. "I don't feel so good, Duke," I blinked slowly, staring as the blood drained down the sink.

Duke wrapped his arm around my ribs, holding me tightly. "Don't look at the blood, look at the flowers," he said.

I tried to lift my eyes, but the swirling blood caught me in a trance. My vision became blurry, and I felt my weight in Dukes arms before I fell asleep.

Felix

"Quin, get it together!" Eugene yelled, pinning him to the ground in my study. I stood at the door, ready to block him if he gets away.

This is exactly why I didn't want a human in this house. A clumsy child who doesn't realize how serious a cut can be. If Quin got to her, he'd kill her. What if Dane and Duke weren't home? Dane was the only one with enough self control to help Elora.

I'm ashamed of myself, for even thinking about hurting that little girl. The second I smelt blood, my mind was clouded by it. Five years, no accidents. I'm shocked she hasn't hurt herself sooner, but her blood smelt so sweet, it was tempting.

I can't blame Quin for licking the knife, but I also know he knows better. He knew it would drive him insane. Now that he's had a taste of her blood, he'll likely always crave it again.

Quin stopped thrashing, and took several deep breaths. His fangs retracted and his eyes darkened. Eugene got off him, sitting on the floor next to him.

I sighed, leaning against the wall. I pondered what will happen now. Duke didn't allow her to see Quin, probably because she'd be scared of him. A good idea on his part. He's always been the caring nurturing one for her. That's why I was so shocked to see, that even he, was so drawn to her blood. He caught it with everything in him, but if he had the chance, he'd drink from her too.

Quin slammed his fist on the floor, "Fuck!" He raged, rubbing his hands over his face. Now the guilt sets in.

"Don't do that to yourself," Eugene tried to comfort him. He reached out to touch his shoulder, but Quin pushed it away.

"I fucked up, that's all there is to it," he stood up, running his hand through his hair.

"It could have been much worse. But it wasn't. Take it as a victory," I dismissed, walking out of the room. I don't hear much coming from the kitchen. I know Dane was hesitant to leave Duke with her as he got the supplies.

I walked into the kitchen, seeing Duke hood Elora up as she sat on the counter. The water was still running over her hand as Dane stitched her up. "Did she lose too much blood?" I asked.

Duke blinked up at me, then looked back at her hand that's being fixed. "No. She's always been uncomfortable around blood, you know that," he answered.

I forgot that about her. When she was in first grade, a kid cut his knee on the playground, and she threw up at the sight of it. Duke had to bring her home for the day. I suppose it's good she just passed out.

"How's Quin?" Dane asked.

"Beating himself up," I said like it was obvious.

Duke looked at her face, looking like a hurt puppy. I rolled my eyes. That girl has him wrapped around her little finger. "It should have never happened. I should have seen it coming. When she runs, I stop her before she trips over a rock. She climbs a tree, I catch her when she inevitably slips. She wasn't allowed to go down the stairs by herself until she was seven. I don't even let her cut her own food," he thought out loud, guilt all over his face.

"This isn't your fault," Dane said firmly. "She's a kid, Duke. Freak accidents like this happen more than you'd think. You've babied her, that's the only reason she hasn't been hurt sooner. Kids are clumsy. You said it yourself, accidents happen," Dane gave him a small smile, finishing up the stitches.

Duke shook his head, "I could have hurt her. When it happened, I didn't see Elora, I just saw a blood bag," his upper lip shook as he snarled, angry with himself. "I should have booked it like Theo did the second she cut herself," he vented.

I glanced around the kitchen, noticing Theo isn't anywhere to be seen. He must have left after Dane washed the blood away.

I want to tell everyone how right I was. How much of a bad idea it is to have a fragile human in the house. But it won't help. We can't send her away now, everyone's too attached. It would be too cruel for her. She's only here until she's eighteen anyways. Years go by fast when you don't age. I leaned against the counter, "Duke, she's okay. You didn't hurt her, no one did. Quin didn't even get close to her. When this happens again, and it will, we'll know how to handle it."

Dane wrapped her hand in gauze, expertly securing her wound. "Good as new," he winked at Duke, patting him on his back as he left the room.

I watched as Duke scooped her up and carried her to her room.