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Back to my tale.

Inka loved only me. Free love was not frowned upon. You might have as many lovers as you wished, and no one batted an eyelid. There were no sexual diseases to consider. We’d cured them aeons ago. However, many Kaltons preferred a committed relationship.

Inka and I didn’t desire another lover. We had each other and needed nobody else. Luckily, our parents were neighbours, so we could see each other daily. Inka’s mother and father were fruit farmers, and we used to court each other under her father’s apple trees.

Honestly, kissing was not the only activity in the orchards that I engaged in, but it is too personal for me to disclose to you.This is not a sex or romance book! Well, there might be some intercourse later. Depends on if I’m in a sharing mood.

Only Inka and one other made me feel like that, and few individuals have even brought me close.

In matters of love, I could be classed as fickle. But when I can count on one hand the people who have moved me to strong emotion, I wouldn’t say I am capricious. Present-day fellows don’t have the same values we did. And sadly, most men are simply male whores, yet they judge women for being loose! Honestly, I will admit that, throughout my life, I’ve not had a high number of lovers.

I’ve enjoyed many attractions, but few merit the term ‘loved.’I’m talking about the female of your species, not the males.

Over time, I have adored both sexes. Love for a man differs from that of a woman. A man’s love is darker, rougher, and certainly passionate. However, once more, I digress.

Inka and I had several close friends.

Maurick was a staid young fella who rarely got excited about anything in life. He was one year younger than me and was tall, dark, and definitely handsome. Maurick had women throwing themselves at his feet and honestly never noticed.However, wave a test tube under his nose, and he would perk up immediately. Maurick was a child genius, and he became the youngest scientist ever.

He was part of a team called the Core, and these were the best brains in their fields. They were the leaders of our science community, and it was a distinct honour for Maurick to be part of them. All of us in our little group were so proud of him. Even when he rattled off things, we didn’t have a hope in hell of understanding. Maurick was the reason I became involved in the Great Experiment.

“What’s that?” you ask.That is what made us Vam’pirs, I answer.

The revelation will come soon!

There was Tobais, my best friend. He was tall like me, I was six feet three inches, and Tobais was about an inch or two taller than me. He was blond, where I am dark. Tobias had blue eyes where mine are green, and he owned a mischievous smile. However, I’d say Tobias had more depth than me.

Tobias remains sensitive and reflective and is always analysing something. Not as in experimentation, but overthinking.

Tobias likes to have thoughts and ideas clarified. He doesn’t like confusion, whereas I revel in it. The more mayhem and havoc I can cause, the better. I tend to go off the rails and often take stuff at face value. Tobais was the one everyone wished to emulate. He was gorgeous, in personality and looks. Despite millennia passing, Tobias still wears a constant smile and never grows weary of life. Tobias finds fresh things to study and enjoy, even though he has witnessed countless new nights. I myself grow tired, and as you read on, my effort to alleviate that boredom will show itself.

I must ask, though…Tobais, will it be you the Elders’ send to chastise and punish me? Will you be able to eliminate melike they’ll demand?I do hope it’s not you, because that’ll surely destroy your merry nature.

Beware, whoever comes, I’m one of the most powerful beings you’ll ever come across. Taking me down won’t be an easy prospect.

You shall not kill me because I will, in all likelihood, slay you first. You have my warning. If it is somebody that I love, be warned, I’ll spare you no mercy. But in kindness, I will guarantee you a quick death. Then again, if it’s a person I hate, I award you an ending that even a horror writer would cringe at.

Before I fall into melancholy, which I can be prone to do when remembering, let me tell you about Mera. A bubbly tiny girl with short, blond curly hair. Mera’s blue eyes sparkled with her endless laughter.

I believe Mera was the thinker out of us, although she could cause just as much trouble as anyone. But Mera pondered a lot. She reckoned the past still had lessons we could learn from.

Now, I guess we should have listened to her.

Mera often contemplated what was ahead of us. We all lived day to day, but Mera tried to plan ahead. She may not have been able to plan far into the future because I admit we upset her plans, but she did try.

I do know one thing she didn’t plan, and that was to fall in love with Pal.

Pal (short for Palin) was not like any of us, and yet he fit. Pal was not that tall, most Kalton men were above six feet, Pal was five foot nine. Which was fine for Mera, who was small herself at five foot six. (Most Kalton women were over five foot eight). Pal’s hair was dark brown, and it had what we called a ‘warriors lock’ of pure white hair that flapped over his eyes.

That had gotten its name from one of our last wars. A great general had worried so much that the front section of his hair turned white, and so it became known as the warrior’s lock.

Pal’s eyes were a brooding brown, and his mouth appeared evil and yet sensuous. I must admit to wondering if there was a cruel, sensual streak in him, although I never witnessed it in those early days.

Later on, I did, but to us, he never changed. Pal was the epitome of kindness to our people. He’d help anyone. The elderly, who needed support, would often rely on him. Pregnant women and young parents knew where to turn for help. During the Great Experiment, Pal was twenty-six. I believe that what happened made Pal more responsible than he was previously.

Pal became even more sensitive to criticism. Sadly, I’m aware I hurt Pal, for which I carry a significant deal of guilt that I can never rid myself of.

Generally, I don’t allow things to get under my skin, but how I behaved towards Pal and Mera certainly does give me nightmares now and then. They’d said they forgave me, but my acts were so unspeakably savage I shudder whenever I recall them.