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“Our only request has been to live our lives without interference. We continue to work and help support our communities. We are moderately happy and wish to be left alone. That is all,” Julius stated, staring at those who stood close by.

I caught sight of someone still filming this. People would be watching.

“But Julius, were we not meant to dance naked under the stars committing blood sacrifices?” Inka continued. “Where are the blood sacrifices? Where are the bodily remains? The missing public. Kaltos’ population is not big enough for people to disappear without a trace. Someone would notice they are gone.”

“Don’t forget, we snatch innocent babies during daylight. I’d like to meet the people whose infants we have kidnapped. Could anyone here tell me whose children we took?” Eduardo interrupted. “Can you name the children?

“No, I thought not. We would die if we came out during sunlight. That is a proven medical fact. So, no actual missing babies, but hey, you believe what you want to believe. You always have, despite lacking clear thinking and lack of evidence. Eating children, blood sacrifices. These are the things your son is afraid of, Petra? Where are the missing babies or adults? Grow up and stop believing in bullshit lies.”

“But us? We have been wronged countless times. Feared without cause, falsely accused. You claim you suffer, not you personally, but as a nation. You suffer your horror of us, and yet do you not realise that we are suffering too? No, why should you? How many times do you think that we have notcontemplated suicide, ending this farce we are living? It has crossed all our minds at least once. But, we continue to struggle to cope, simply because we are Kaltons,” Curtan said softly, his words touching a sore spot in all the Vam’pirs.

Suicide had crossed all our minds at one point. Face the sun as she rose and forget what we have become.

“Family and friends have deserted us. Every one of us has had one personal loss of one kind or another. Instead of persecuting the monsters that made us like this, you tried and condemned us for refusing to curl up and die.

“Well, I’ve news for you, we are dead. But I have no intention of destroying my body and soul, so you can live without your petty fears. We are entitled to our existence just like you are,” Ana continued. “Yes, our circumstances are different, and it’s something that none of us are used to. But we have adapted in the past, and I can’t see why we cannot adapt now. Our sole wish, as Julius mentioned, is to live in peace. Not in fear that someone in our family has been hurt or killed. Is that too much to ask for?” Ana took Petra’s hand and looked her in the eye.

Petra sighed. We could all sense the struggle inside her. Finally, she looked up and wiped her eyes dry.

“I understand. Everyone is guilty of harbouring fear, and perhaps you are right. We have been punishing the wrong people. Along with the majority of the public here, I willingly listened to lies. Believed them, again, because abominations like you shouldn’t exist. I know I was in the wrong.

“It was me that taught Gideo how to fear and hate because I didn’t understand or even want to. Maryn will always carry a scar because of this, but please, on behalf of my son, he isn’t really a bad person…”

“No Petra. If we ask for leniency, then we leave ourselves and our families open for this to happen again,” Diana replied softly.

“I understand, and if it was me, I would feel the same. But now you must understand something. Diana, for a moment, seeing through your eyes, I grasp a fraction of your daily reality. Public dissention is growing. Look to the lands across the seas where only savages and barbarians dwell. Leave Kaltos and start over.

“Your inaction over this matter did you more harm than good. You are now seen as weak and indecisive. The council’s punishment will probably discourage any immediate attacks, though this may happen again in the future,” Petra said.

Julius began, “Petra, if you, of all people, can see our true selves, if you would speak on behalf of us—”

“No, I’m truly sorry not to help you, but my place is with my son and my family. I’ll be leaving with them.”

“Safe journey then,” Diana said, and taking Petra by the hands, she kissed her cheek gently.

Petra returned the gesture and then left.

The crowd that had gathered slowly melted away, too.

So much for a night of celebration. Our mood sank like a ship in a storm. We all knew that Petra spoke the truth. Our willingness to prove ourselves non-violent and friendly to Kaltos had indeed gone against us.

Li’zel huffed an ‘I told you so’ before disappearing.

The decision to establish Mora as the Vam’pir’s residence was made during that night.

Chapter Seven.

The building of Mora began in total secrecy. At first, only the necessary individuals were informed. And that, put simply, were the Vam’pirs, my father and Taran. We divided into two groups: one in favour of leaving Kaltos and the other opposed.

Father argued quite reasonably that we were Kaltons and shouldn’t have to leave our homeland. True, but our families were under threat, and we were not prepared to risk them. Although we were born and raised here, it is clear that we are not welcomed, especially now. Mera, Tobais, Kait, Antonio, and Pal all sided with him.

As much as it hurt to disagree with Father, I led the other faction with the bulk of the Vam’pirs behind me. I can’t say that they all backed me for the right reason. Li’zel, for example, had more enough derision to last a thousand lifetimes. The fact remained I had the majority and when we voted, I won.

Mora began to be built on the largest landmass east of Kaltos. During this time, another of our abilities manifested itself. It was Julia who first showed us it and completely by mistake.

Raymone had been carrying an extremely large boulder with Ana when she tripped and lost her hold on it. Julia had beenthree hundred yards away and witnessed Ana fall. Before anyone blinked, she was there, catching Ana’s side of the stone before it crushed Ana and seriously injured Raymone. They wouldn’t have died, of course, but it would have been a horrific injury to both. Ana would have been very uncomfortable lying under a two-ton block!

We stood there open-mouthed. None of us had seen her move, and yet, somehow, she had.