Elisha

There is two misconceptions in our world. The first is that the gods are dead. The second is that vampires have no feelings. If that was true this whole situation would not feel so out of whack. Alexander his dear friend had betrayed the Black House in some way about two months ago. And now the starving clan members were following my lead and listening to my advice. Words he only half said when listening to Henry complain. Henry had to be the leader of their little fallen coven but he always came to him when things got to hard to handle. I do not want to be the head of the coven. Last time I was a leader of anything it lead to a years worth of torture.

"Elisha why do you look so worried?" asked Claire "Did we lose someone?"

"No. Every things fine Claire."

I couldn't tell from her expression if she was relieved or not. But, Claire was one of the more emotionally recluse than the other vampires. Well vampire feelings were much more muted than other species to begin with . It was an automatic response that most vampires use to protect their soul. His father called it the Glass Syndrome. He's also stated that it doesn't always mute emotions, that sometimes it amplifies them past normal reactions. Older vampires tend to grow out of it or vampires who have found their heartbeat.

"Say Claire, City Demise or Wolf's Bane for dinner tonight?"

"Didn't we have a failed feeding in the city last time."

"I see."

Henery opened the makeshift door with out knocking. It was a curtain after all no way to really knock.

"Elisha we've got a problem."

I almost wanted to pretend I didn't hear that. But that strategy never worked on Hebert. So I leaned back in my chair as I looked toward him. It was quite fascinating seeing someone in pin-stripped formal attire bunkering in a cave. His murky red hair was in disarray in contrary to his outfit.

"Well hello sweetie." I said. He just stared at me so I decided to throw in a wink too.

His face was red "This is serious Elisha. Were holding it together because were following your lead."

"My lead?" A chill swept down my spine at the thought.

"To have the older vampires feed the younger. It makes sense. They're stronger need less blood. But now th—"

"Henery I've never told anyone to do that."

"You feed Claire."

"She's my ward"

"Elisha you saved—"

"I'm not the leader Henery." I refuse to be in such a position ever again.

Claire shifted in her seat as she watched them. Perhaps she was making herself more comfortable.

"Why are you here Henery?"

"Because you sav—"

"No. Why are you here right now?"

Henery let out a long unneeded breath. I narrowed my eyes at him daring him to state any other reason besides the one I knew he was here for. He crossed his arms as he was trying to deflect my glare. I could tell he was going to start tapping his foot soon.

"The coven is starving we need to feed and do it now. Especially with the failed attempt last time."

"Why are you asking me? Let's just do what we did last time. Same rules."

Henery's tapping foot sounded a lot like a metronome.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Maybe I should just take Claire and leave. My eyes looked to Claire who was now staring at me and shaking her head. It almost felt like she could read my mind.

"That's only going to buy us some time! We're cornered. Mountains to the back of us to dangerous to cross for our kind. In front of us the Black House chases us out of Coralweed and the surrounding wolves seem to all be suffering from Rougnox."

"Not all of them the young Alpha is fine."

Henery shook his head as if to tell off a child. His red hair resembled a flickering flame. In hindsight though he didn't look like he had much control over the sick pack. I'm sure I have a book around here on werewolf degradation.

"That's not the point and you know it. We need you to be our leader. You are our leader."

I glanced back to Claire who had managed to disappear at some point during our conversation. If I actually breathed I would have sighed. How many times do I have to deny the position?

"Henry my dear. If I was a leader we wouldn't be in this situation. Alexander would never have let it get this far." Of course Alexander was also the reason we were band from the city. Last time I saw him his soul looked a little weird.

Henery threw his hands up into the air "Alexander is the reason it got this far."

In a way Henery was right they couldn't go to the city to feed because Alexander their former cover leader did something or caused something. With his disappearance there was no way to no for sure what happened. They were banned from Coralweed and any other township under the Black House until Alexander makes an appearance. The Black House is the largest coven of vampires. They are the law when it comes to creating your own houses and choosing your feeding grounds.

"He's a dear friend of mine. I'm sure he had his reasons."

Henery turned his back to him and smashed the curtain to the cave wall. If it was an actual door I was sure it would of expressed his anger better.

"Then your the only one."

I knew what little faith the coven had in Alexander. Alexander was trying his best before things went south. Maybe he was just going through a hard time. Besides Henery needs to focus on the bigger issues at hand. Like where will we be feeding.

After all the venue options were slowly being crossed off the list.

Who cares if we have a leader or not. Maybe Claire could be the leader. If we include past lives she has had plenty of practice.