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Dane

"Only in emergencies are you permitted to contact us. Your clan leaders know the protocols if your under attack..."

I tuned Quin out as he spoke. These gatherings are always redundant once Felix gets through with telling the clans of any updates. Im bored, my clan mates are bored, and the clans are bored. I almost want to let them go early, seeing as Quin gives the same exact speech every gathering. I can recite it from memory.

Yelling snapped me out of my relaxed state quickly. Quin stopped speaking as we observed as Zion shouted at a confused new vampire.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Zion stood up, four large gashes on his forearm. His blood slowly trickled down his arm, quickly healing.

I narrowed my eyes at the young vampire, a look of terror on his face as he shrunk in his seat. Of course, all the other vampires were quick to speak, and the room was suddenly filled with voices.

"What's the issue?" Quin snapped, clearly unamused and irritate at the loud interruptions.

Zion gestured to the man, "He attacked me," he accused, clearly passed off.

While sitting down? I sighed. It's a scratch, if I had to sit next to Zion for the past three days I'd do much more than that. Good for the kid.

The young vampire widened his eyes, looking up at us like we were going to punish him. "I-I don't know what you're talking about? I didn't touch you-"

"What are you playing at? Everyone can see what you did," Zion got in his face.

"That's enough!" Quin shouted. "Sit down, Zion. We've heard enough from you," he ordered.

Zion spent a few seconds looking around the room, like he was waiting for someone to say something. I narrowed my eyes at him, catching a small smirk before he sat down.

"Is there any update on Gavin?" I asked. The two of them causing scenes back to back can't be a coincidence. Gavin leaving has the clans on edge, now his right hand man does this?

Theo and I made eye contact. "Nothing yet," he answered.

Quin slowly started speaking again, after he made sure Zion was done.

My gaze fell on the young vampire again. If he attacked Zion, where's the blood on his hands? I sat up straighter, looking closer at the two. Catching a glimpse of blood under Zions fingernails, I tensed. Why would he do that to himself...

To cause a scene.

A distraction.

Elora is safe with Lucifer, making my loud thoughts ease some. But I can't hear her breath or her heartbeat.

"Lucifer are you in the red room?" I questioned, just to be sure. I'm sure that's where they are, but it'll bring me piece of mind.

...

Quin stopped talking, turning to look at us. The same confused expression on his face. Lucifer didn't answer.

"Nobody leaves this room," Felix ordered, his face a concerned glare. He ran out of the room and I was quick to follow. Duke, Quin, and Eugene came with us upstairs, leaving Theo in charge of the clans.

We sped through the upstairs, checking every room in record time. Worry filled my chest as I heard Felix ask the one question I dreaded. "Where's Elora?"

Following his voice, I found myself in Elora's room.

On her bed, looking weak, and half dead was one of the strongest men I've ever known, and my dearest friend. His eyes were the only part of him that moved

"Lucifer," I quickly went to his side, my eyes roaming his face. I've seen this before; the stillness, his body tense and cramping. "He's poisoned," I diagnosed quickly.

Duke and Eugene are long gone. The second they found out Elora wasn't in the house, they raced out to find her.

"I'm freaking out down here, what the fuck is going on?" Theo stressed through the mind link.

Quin picked up Lucifer's pocket knife, his eyes fixated on the blood on the blade. Elora's blood. Instead of lashing out like I expected him to, he gave Felix and I a worried look, "Lucifer must have drank from her. Silphium isn't a threat to humans, it must have been in her system," he thought.

"Silphium went extinct thousands of years ago, how would someone have injected her?" Felix responded quickly, heading to the window.

They're both right. The only thing that could have immobilized Lucifer like this is that herb. I've been racking my mind over why Jason would have been growling at Duke. The scene hasn't left my mind since it happened, but now I understand. Anton was standing behind Duke. Anton is the only person alive that could have grown Silphium. I clenched my jaw, feeling betrayed. "She wasn't injected, she ate it right in front of us," I confirmed.

Both their faces dropped, probably feeling the same as I am. He fooled everyone single one of us. Anton fucking poisoned our girl and we thought it was cute.

Felix seethed, turning to Quin, "Let's go, he's only ahead of us by a few seconds," he ordered. Quin was gone, and Felix gave me a look of concern.

"I'll catch up," I nodded, not wanting to waste another second. Time is of the essence and each second that she's not with us, is an eternity of dread.

Felix gave Lucifer a quick once over before he left.

I pushed my eyebrows together, picking up Lucifer, "I've got you, buddy," I assured. Seeing him like this breaks my heart, because there is no way to stop the excruciating pain he's in. I can only hope he didn't drink too much, or he'll be this way for hours.

I ran to the red room, quickly laying him on the bed. "You'll be safe here," I comforted. If someone wanted to kill him right now, it would be too easy. We're very lucky that Anton was stupid enough to leave him alive.

He stared at me, then looked at the door, gesturing for me to leave. "We'll find her," I promised, running out of the room, being sure to lock him inside.

Knowing Theo is probably confused and deeply concerned, I stopped on the ballroom.

"What the fuck?" Theo asked quickly, standing on the edge of the stage, anxiety clear on his face. "Tell me you know where she is."

"Dimitri, you're in charge," I gave him a pointed look. I can trust him to look after the clans while we hunt Anton and Elora down. But we need Theo. This isn't something that can be taken lightly, and every asset we have, we need. "Ramsey, Clarence, Sebastian, if anyone tries to leave this room, kill them," I ordered, my mind on overdrive. My eyes landed on Zion, his smug grin making my blood boil. He thinks he got away with this? "Theo, take the trash out," I spat.

I didn't wast any time getting out of the manor. Hearing Zions scream was music to my ears.

I ran as fast as my legs would carry me.I body felt numb, the seriousness of the situation falling on my chest like a boulder. I hope to all the gods that she's okay, I don't know what I'll do if she isn't.

I followed her scent for miles, eventually catching up with Felix, and Theo caught up with me. Quin, Eugene, and Duke are ahead of us.

"It's rogues," Eugene deadpanned through the mind link.

The backs of Duke, Eugene, and Quin came into sight and I slowed, coming to a stop once I was next to them.

My gaze immediately landed on Elora, fury raging through me. Tears were streaming down her face as a man- a rouge- had her back pressed to his front, his hand pulling her hair, and a sharp knife pressed against her throat.

The rogue was shirtless, in ripped jeans. His hair was long, brown, and in a thousand knots. He clearly spends most of his time in his other form.

The white skirt she wore was dirty, and her knees were scraped, like she was thrown to the ground. She stared at us, her expression terrified. Her breathing was rapid, and her body was shaking horribly.

"Elora, you'll be okay, baby. I promise," Duke said, his voice filled with worry.

The man holding her tightened his grip on her hair, making her whimper, "Stay back or I'll kill her," he warned.

Anton and Gavin were at his sides, surrounded by other rogues in their wold forms. There's probably a hundred of them, waiting for their leader, the man holding Elora, to give orders.

This is where Gavin went. Him, Zion, and Anton were the ones collaborating with the rouges.

"What do you want?" Felix's voice boomed as he stared the rogue down. We can't get to her, not with that knife so firmly pressed against her throat.

He slowly looked between the seven of us, a demented look of success on his face. "I want you to feel the pain that we have. You've slaughtered my brothers for thousands of years, and have never known loss. That ends today," he threatened.

He's not bargaining, he's not asking for anything. "We need to get her away from him," I stressed. His only goal is to kill her in front of us.

"We can't get close enough. The second we make a move he'll cut her throat," Theo responded.

"He knows we'll kill him the second we can. Bargain with him," Eugene thought.

Felix put his hands up in surrender, "I understand," he said calmly. "Perhaps we can come to an agreement," he started.

"There's nothing you leeches could offer me that would bring more satisfaction than this," he looked down at Elora, his lip turning up in a snarl.

"Duke..." she cried out, flinching away from him.

"Quiet!" He yelled at her, making her cry harder. I'm going to kill him.

Felix was looking around the area, probably making a note of the rouges slowly surrounding us. He pointed at Gavin and Anton, "What's in it for them?" He asked. They're just as much vampires as the rest of us, the rogues should hate them he same.

The rogue glanced at the two, "We promised them safety once we overthrow you," he explained.

Cowards.

Felix took a hesitant step forward, quickly stopping as the rogue pressed the knife far enough into her skin to draw blood. "You know that if you kill her, none of you live," Felix said slowly. "You have seen what we can do, you said it yourself," Felix reasoned. "Kill her, and you and all your little friends die. Or let her go, and I'll let you live," he bargained.

"And let you get away with the murder you've committed?" The man scoffed. "Assuming you're telling the truth, you walk away happy!" He yelled.

"I'll give you my crown." Felix offered, and we all gave him a look of surprise. "If you let her live, you'll never hear from me or my clan ever again," he tried.

"Felix..." Quin exclaimed.

"I can't lose her, no matter what it costs us."

The rouge looked down at Elora again, as is he was contemplating it. He slowly looked up at all of us, a dark look in his eyes. "You're lying. You'd come after us eventually. You can't lose, you don't think I know that? Even if you mean it now, in the future you'll come after us," he responded.

No, we're killing him the second he loosens his grip on Elora.

Felix turned, looking back at us. A look of sadness crossed his features, making me knot my eyebrows together. The look was replaced with a hard, sincere one as he looked at the rogue again.

"Spare her life, let her leave with Duke, who doesn't want the crown, and will never come after you. If you let the two of them go, you can kill the rest of us-"

"Felix-" Elora gasped, but quickly stopped talking as the rogue pulled her closer to him.

If Elora gets to live, I'll let them kill me without a second thought. Her life is mine, and I can't live without her. Years ago when Elora was young, we all agreed that if anything were to happen, Elora would go with Duke. He'll always keep her safe. I'd forgotten about that conversation until now.

The rogues don't know that Lucifer is still alive, either. Not only would she leave with Duke, but she'd have Lucifer watching over her as well.

I don't have to look at my friends to know that they all agree. If they love her as much as I do, and I know they do, they'd rather have her live too.

The rouges face relaxed as he stared at each one of us, realization washing over him. It looks like Felix found something he wanted after all.

"Please," Dukes voice was soft as he pleaded. He reached his arm out towards Elora, "If you give her to me now, we'll leave," he assured.

I saw Theo give her a small smile, silently telling her that everything will be okay. She sniffled, trying to push his hand away from her throat, "You don't have to do this," she pleaded, sadness in her voice.

I clenched my jaw, knowing that she wasn't pleading for her life anymore, she was pleading for ours. The sun was setting, making her beautiful face glow in the golden sunlight. She'll be okay. She'll have Duke and Lucifer to look after her. She'll love a long and happy life, and that's all I've ever wanted for her.

The rogue blinked at Felix, "All is you really do love her, don't you?" He asked. "You're willing to die... for her," he said slowly.

"A million times over," Quin answered.

He looked at all of us again before his gaze landed on Duke. "You can have her," he whispered.

It happened so fast that I barely saw it.

The rogue pushed Elora into Dukes arms, and he caught her stumbling body. I stared at her body, hoping and praying that my eyes were playing tricks on me. But when I smelt the blood, I knew.

She slowly lifted her head, and I saw the deep gash in her neck. Her crimson blood spilled out of her neck, staining her skin and her shirt.

I couldn't move. The rogue did it.

Elora slowly looked down, seeing her own blood. She probably didn't feel it at first, the adrenaline overpowering her scenes. She slowly reached her hand up and touched the blood. She stared at it for a second before looking up at Duke, "I don't want this on me," she said softly.

Duke was shaking his head, looking down at the gash on her neck. "No... no no, please no," he mumbled to himself. He fell to his knees with her in his arms.

"Now you'll understand what it's like to lose everything," the rogue announced.

Felix started shaking, is eyes turning bright red in anger as he eyed the man. In fury, Felix ran at him, tearing his head off easily.

Screaming and hell broke loose all around us. Rogues we're running at us, Eugene, Quin, and Theo we're tearing them apart, vengeance on their mind.

I still couldn't move. My eyes stayed locked on the growing pool of blood around my worlds body. Is this a dream? She can't be dying. We would have never let this happen, this can't be real.

"Dane!" Duke screamed at me, snapping me out of it. Tears were running down his face as he cradled her body in his arms. "Help her," he pleaded.

I ran over, my hands shaking as I looked down at her. The cut was deep, and she was losing too much blood. Her eyes were slowly shutting, fading fast.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Put pressure on her neck," I instructed. Duke quickly covered her neck with his hands, covering them in her blood.

I can't save her. I'm a doctor, I know I can't. She's already lost too much blood. Not even stitches could heal that big of a wound. Even if I ran, by the time I could get her to the hospital, she'd be dead.

"Elora, look at me," my voice shook as I looked down at the love of my life. "Baby," I said louder, and her beautiful blue eyes met mine. "You're going to be okay," I lied.

She opened to mouth to talk, but coughed and choked on blood. "L-Lucifer?" She questioned.

I tried by best times give her a small smile, "He's perfectly fine," I assured her.

She looked relieved, her eyes starting to close again. I grabbed her hand, "I love you, Elora. We love you so much."

I heard her heart slow, and started doing chest compressions. The only thing this will do is keep her heart beating, I know that. I can't let her go.

Duke looked between Elora and I, "Baby?" He looked between her eyes. "Elora," he said again, but got no response from her. "Please, please don't go. I need you. Don't leave me, " he pleased, his body wracking with sobs.

I kept doing the compressions, in denial myself. Around us, a war had started. More rogues appeared, and the clans joined in on the fight. Blood was being spilled all over the forest floor, and I only cared about hers.

Quin fell onto his knees by her head, looking down at her in horror. "Can you save her?" He asked me.

I could only glance at him before looking back down. I'm trying.

He glared down at her, "God damnit, Dane! Why are you acting like she's dying, you can save her, can't you?" He screamed at me.

My eyebrows knitted together, watching her head fall limply to the size. Her eyes softly open, void of all life.

Take me instead. Anything but this. Anyone but her.

Duke grabbed her face, "Baby." He paused for a few seconds before he looked at me, "Her heart isn't beating," he cried.

Her heart hasn't been beating for a few minutes... And yet here I am, pushing on her chest, hoping for a miracle.

Theo ran over to us, he stood at her feet looking down at her. He covered his mouth with a fist as he stared at her, "She's not- she can't be." He started shaking his head quickly, "She'll be okay, won't she?" He asked, a gleam of hope in his eyes.

Eugene threw himself over my shoulders, pulling me away from her. I panicked, pushing him away. If I stop she'll die. Eugene grabbed my shoulders and pulled me again, "Dane..." he said lowly.

Tears poured out of my eyes as I looked down at her lifeless body, "Shes not dead!" I told him. She can't be. "She isn't dead," I repeated to myself in a whisper.

Eugene squeezed my shoulders, "Shes been dead for five minutes. You have to stop," his voice cracked, and I could tell how hard he's trying to keep it together.

I finally looked up, the world moving in slow motion around me. Felix had tears on his face as he slaughtered rogues. He was long gone, deep in an endless fit of rage. Even with a dozen rouges around him, he tore through them.

Theo was standing over Gavin's body, his head completely off his shoulders.

The other vampires weren't doing so great. Rouges outnumbered us thirty to one. They've been planning this, growing their numbers for years.

I heard a twig snap, and looked over at Lucifer. His eyes have deep dark circles around them as he stared at Elora. He slowly looked ahead onto the mess of vampires and rogues. "Anton!" He called.

I watched as Lucifer stalked up to Anton, fury in his bright red eyes.

Anton backed away from him, "I- I had to. They promised me safety. Please-"

Lucifer grabbed him by the throat, slamming him against a large tree. "That was a nice trick you pulled," he complimented darkly. "My turn."

Lucifer suddenly slammed his fist into Anton's chest, squeezing his heart, "Let me into your mind, Anton," he whispered.

Anton was screaming in agony, "Please don't kill me," he cried. Anton has survived all these years by laying low and being a coward. Now that he makes a move, it backfires on him. He can't even own up to his choices.

Lucifer chuckled, "Kill you? And give you the easy way out?" He narrowed his eyes at him. "Your fate is worse than death, I'll make sure of that," he promised.