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Pal’s room adjoined theirs. Again, though quite small, it had floor-to-ceiling windows to allow maximum moonlight. He hadcandles on all available surfaces, which gave the area a romantic medieval atmosphere. Pal was a potter, which I have already told you, and had all necessary equipment, kiln, wheel, etcetera.

Pal wasn’t nowhere near the best at what he did, but he put heart and soul into his work. He tended to stick to the more practical side of things: plates, urns, and jugs. He never decorated them, preferring simple lines and ideas.

Unusual for such a complex man.

And yet, for all the churning of emotions underneath, he loved simplicity. I wonder where he went wrong with Mera! Mera, the lady who was the epitome of a woman’s mysteriousness.

Pari never had a room to himself. He was a chocolatier, and, along with Ricardus, they shared a large kitchen. Pari would create sweets, exotic ones at that, and Ricardus would make special and difficult meals. These would be put in the fridge to be delivered during the day. Usually my father or someone else we would trust would pick these up.

Sometimes, there was nothing we required, so the meals would be used to gain credit. Whenever we desired an item, we would request it without the need to consider the cost. Ricardus often did catering for parties or similar events. Initially, only family members hired him; however, his food was popular, and orders began flooding in. Good thing, too, as Ricardus was the best chef in all of Kaltos, in my personal opinion.

Pari’s sweets, along with many of his other concoctions, were always sought after. This sometimes led to jealousy between the two men, especially when Ricardus had nothing to do. He was twice Pari’s age and often thought he could tell the younger man what to do.

Eduardo split them up a couple of times when things hit boiling point. And after they nearly came to blows, we suggested that another kitchen be built. Both then decided that we wereinterfering and ignored us. They refused the suggestion on the grounds of saying they’d argue over who got the area with its new equipment.

Peace filled the kitchen except during someone’s creative bursts, which were near enough once a week. In the end, we adapted to the persistent banging and crashing emanating from the back of the villa. Once, though, their creativity overwhelmed them…

After a series of yelling and cursing, we found them both slumped in opposite corners, crying with laughter. Flour, gravy, and the Creator alone knows what else coated them. But they’d finally learned to respect each other.

The whole of the left wing of the Coven belonged to Curtan and Raymone, who were weavers; Suzan, who was a dyer; and Ana, a tailor. We designed the building to ensure ample space for them and any apprentices. Ana had taken on Diana, as Diana had been a meat farmer. Ana was very patient with her apprentice, and they got on well as they were both the same age, which incidentally was twenty-seven.

Diana had a daughter, Maryn, aged eleven and a son, Stefan, five. They were both blue-eyed and had blond curly hair. Maryn had long legs that would make many women jealous over the years. Their father had left them at the Coven, refusing to have anything to do with them or their mother. This cut Diana deep, but she refused to talk to anyone about it. The failure belonged to her and not their father, in her belief.

Father took Maryn and Stefan in, and Diana was very grateful. An orphan herself, I believe Diana began to see my parents as the ones she had never had.

Indeed, her offspring called my parent’s grandmother and grandfather. I once overheard Father say once that these two adopted youngsters meant almost as much to him as Mihal. I’mpleased Maryn and Stefan had ‘human’ grandparents to love them.

All Vam’pir children were loved by everyone, including any grandbabies. (Some of us had older children who had their own infants.) They embodied the reason for our sacrifices. The chance for them to have their children when they desired. While they might not be our blood, but they were ours. They not only belonged to their parents but to all of us.

On hearing this from me, Diana was overcome with tears. She explained she didn’t think that she would ever have a family with brothers and sisters.

Admittedly, my throat became a bit tight, too.

Ana didn’t have children. Although she never said, we all knew that Ana regretted it. She was amazing with the Vam’pir’s children, and I know without doubt she would have been a wonderful mother. Ana doted especially on Cleo, Emil, and Pari’s girl and would call her an honorary niece. Indeed, Ana acted as an auntie to all Vam’pir kids.

Curtan was thirty-eight years old, and his son was twenty at the time of the experiment. It didn’t change the relationship between them at all. Anton adored his father, and Curtan doted him. Anton counted as one of the few mortals we trusted. He grew into a wise old man, always willing to listen to advice and give it out.

When the Reckoning arrived, Anton helped influence people to move.What is the Reckoning, you ask? Wait and find out.

Suzan and Raymone had become involved since the change. It had started when they began working together, and with glee, we watched the relationship grow. We encouraged them in different ways. When they announced their Joining, there was much celebration. Diana and Ami swelled with pride; they had orchestrated the matchmaking.

They had noticed what was happening and recruited the rest of us. Then, we had all conspired to leave them alone or to throw them together when possible. Suzan and Raymone finally realised their mutual attraction and decided to take action too. Luckily, there was a priest prepared to join them.

Raymone had taken on Nathan as an apprentice, and the youngster at the time idolised him. At just seventeen, he was the youngest among us when he changed, and he coped better than anyone else.

Reflecting, I question Nathan’s acceptance. Nathan had been far too immature. Everyone says the young are adaptable.Listen to me speaking, the old man.

Or is that the cynical tiredness talking? Who cares? Certainly not me anymore.

Back to Nathan.

Nathan had been due to start training as an apple farmer, but like Diana, that was no longer an option for him. Instead, he had decided to learn the cloth trade. Raymone was impressed with Nathan’s resilience and his quick mind and believed that to praise Nathan often was a good thing.

I think that it just swelled his ego.

Now, Nathan was what would be called today a Dark Angel.

Nathan was simply perfect and knew it. Women continued to flock to him, the change being an added challenge. (One that they all intended to beat but never did.) He was tanned with the deepest blue eyes that had a continual sparkle. Nathan had jet-black, shoulder-length hair. He often left it hanging loose, and the fairer sex longed to run their fingers through the silky mass. His mouth was full and generous and, as a young beauty said,very kissable.