I

was sitting on the bed in his room, gazing at a picture of his family. The technology to take pictures via camera had not been available in the land, so they had artists draw portraits of people like they did in the old days. A month before he became the general of the East lands, Iérti had a portrait made of him and his family. That portrait was the only picture he had of his family.

Tears stained the paper as Iérti traced his finger on the image of his wife, running his hand down her hair and resting on his daughter's shoulder. Katlyn was leaning lovingly towards Iérti, red ribbons flowing through her long dark brown hair. Olivia was nestled in between them, holding her parents' hands.

He remembered the day he left the fortress. Katlyn was dressed in an outfit befitting the wife of a general: a cream white long sleeve undershirt with a neat trim underneath a dark olive green bodice with black leather trim and laces, with a dark brown skirt and matching dark brown shoes.

She had a black leather holster at her thigh, hidden underneath her skirt, holding several wooden stakes. She had decorative black lace-up arm guards gleaming with garlic oil. Her long dark brown hair flowed almost to her waist, her husband's red ribbons braided within her hair in a beautiful crisscross pattern. She wore a black choker with a silver garlic knot emblem in the center.

Iérti was in his dark red and black general outfit with a cream white garlic knot emblem. His long black hair was loose, his dark brown eyes searching for her amid the center of the crowd. Olivia had run up to Iérti and he had taken her from the ground and up on the horse, holding her close one last time and kissing her cheek.

Olivia was dressed in a cream white and light brown outfit with red embroidered flowers on them. Her dark hair was long and loose, with red ribbons woven in just like her mother's hair.

Iérti remembered kissing Katlyn for the last time before he had to leave the fortress. He remembered turning his horse towards the gate, glancing back at his wife and daughter just before the gate closed behind him. Iérti remembered meeting up with the other generals of the land, remembered talking together around a campfire, remembered Norwan getting annoyed with Theose's jokes and complaining when Eluro drank all the apple cider. He remembered all the fun and laughter, all the training, all the times he spent with his fellow countrymen, only to see them die the next day.

A quiet sound broke Iérti of his memory reverie. He looked up to see Sable walk into the room. She looked quite lovely in a light blue dress with a high collar and lace details. Iérti quickly dried his tears, gently setting the picture back in the drawer on the bedside table. Sable retreated, saying apologetically, "I do apologize, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"No no, you're fine," said quickly. "Do come in."

Sable cautiously walked in, going over to sit beside Iérti on the bed. Her back was straight and her stance was formal, but her eyes spoke a different story. "Iérti, I heard news of what happened to your kind. I'm sorry you didn't get to become human like you wanted."

"I want to go to Iredescent," said Iérti, his tone decisive. "I want to set course for planet Iredescent as soon as possible. But Mallen took command, forcing everyone to comply with his orders. I can feel he wants to avoid going to Iredescent as much as possible. But we'll have to go there eventually. Just wish it was sooner than later."

"When are you leaving? And where to?" Sable asked.

"Not sure," said Iérti. "Wherever that is, it's definitely not Iredescent. It would be wherever Mallen decides to go."

They both heard somebody's heels down the hallway and looked up to see Romena stepping into the room. Her heels clacked to a stop when she saw Sable in the room with Iérti. Something flashed in her eyes before she abruptly turned and walked back in the same direction she came from, her mood huffy.

What is it with men rejecting me or already with someone else? Romena thought irritably. She ran smack into Mallen, who was on his way to speak with Iérti. She glared at him before storming off, Mallen's eyes widening for a moment before he persisted in going toward Iérti's room.

sighed when he saw Mallen, thinking, What is it with people wanting to see me today? First Sable, then Romena, now Mallen.

Mallen stayed by the door, not inviting himself in like Sable intended to. "Hey Iérti, just wanted to let you know we're headed to planet Earth. We're leaving tonight."

"So soon?" Sable asked, a touch of disappointment in her voice. She rose from the bed, Iérti rising as well.

Mallen nodded. "Yeah."

Sable turned to . "What do you intend to do until then?"

Drown in my sorrows, maybe drink, if I'm still able to. "I would like to speak with the Ileín one last time. I have a lot of questions for him."

A thread of fear snagged at Mallen even though he knew the Ileín wouldn't reveal the dark truth to Iérti. He hung back, standing just outside the door.

Sable said to Iérti, "I was hoping to spend the evening with you."

A touch of a smile touched Iérti's features. He touched Sable's cheek for a brief moment before saying, "As you wish, Sable. But know that I don't consider going any further into our relationship. You and I are just friends, nothing more."

A thought nudged at , unaware it was part of Mallen's influence as he tried to persuade him to have a good time. Why not be more than friends? It's been so long since you spent time with a woman.

I love Katlyn, Iérti mentally whispered to himself, feeling tears start to prick his eyes. No woman can ever replace her.

Mallen fell silent, dropping all hints of persuasion before he could catch himself admitting he felt the same for Katlyn. Though he loved Írásom as a passionate lover and husband, he felt a different kind of love for Katlyn, the woman who completely changed his life. He knew Iérti would be furious if he learned Mallen was in love with his wife.

Iérti sighed quietly, seeing the light flicker from Sable's eyes. He knew she liked him and wanted to learn more about him, but even after so many years, Iérti couldn't stop thinking of Katlyn. He loved her with every minute of his life.

Sable's eyes fell from him. She nodded, stepping back. "Of course," she said, her response very formal and automatic. "I should get going." Mallen stepped into the shadows as Sable walked out of the room and left the ship, Mallen hiding out of sight while listening in to Iérti's actions.

Iérti walked over to the window, stepping fully into the afternoon sunlight. He closed his eyes as he felt the sunlight on his face, breathing deeply as he savored its warmth. He liked being a Csa much better than being a vampire, though he still wanted to be human again.

He remained there for such a long time, Mallen was beginning to wonder if Iérti was alright. He started to step into the room when he suddenly groaned, feeling a change shift through his body as he started to feel a certain need pull at him. Iérti groaned at the same time, bending slightly as he gripped at his throat, feeling a severe dehydration for some reason.

All the Csa in the ship and surrounding city were in the exact same pain, clutching their throats as their eyes darkened. They all heard a mental voice reach out, saying, It has begun. Your first feed. You will need to 'feed' once every month or you will grow weak and in a state of near death. If you do not feed, you will die while reverting back to your former form. There is no other option: either you feed or you die and leave the earth. This is the curse I bestowed upon you.

Iérti instantly recognized the Ileín's voice. He was tempted to die, very much wanting to leave the earth and join his family in the afterlife, but his brotherly bond with Mallen prevented him from carrying out what he wanted most. Iérti reluctantly drew his sword and carefully cut his palm with it. He expected to draw blood, but instead he felt a feeling drawn out from the action. His gnawing hunger vanished as the blissful feeling came over him, the same feeling as a human biting into a fresh sandwich or enjoying a pizza straight out of the oven, cooled to warm perfection.

Mallen cut his own palm in the same manner, staring at it in astonishment when he saw there was no blood; instead the cut appeared, the very act reviving him, making him feel alive again. There were sparkles in the cut, indicating their blood had been replaced by a yellow dust/n-r element derived type of substance that glittered white rather than red.

It was a beautiful, mesmerizing color, like the pure whiteness of sunlight hitting water on a water faucet and giving it a brilliant white magnificence.

Iérti was relieved he no longer felt hungry, but Mallen was aghast at being forced to cut himself in order to drive away the sudden painful hunger that was to come once every month. Mallen angrily sheathed his sword in place, watching his cut heal itself, the sparkles sealing within his skin as it resumed its original perfection. He sighed, muttering, "I wish we never arrived on this planet."

"I don't share the same sentiment," said , straightening as he slid his sword back in his sheath. "I'm glad I don't have to drink blood anymore."

"So you're saying self-mutilation is better?" Mallen scoffed. "I prefer being a vampire more than anything."

"I prefer being a human more than anything."

"Well none of us got what we prefer, now, didn't we, Iérti," Mallen said in annoyance. "We've got a life none of us prefer."

"How's that for compromise?" Iérti couldn't help saying.

Mallen scowled. "Highly unsatisfactory."

"Yet relieving."

Another glare followed before Mallen arranged to take his leave, saying, "If you would excuse me, there is something I need to take care of before we leave this planet and never come here again."

Iérti sighed quietly, watching Mallen stride purposely out of his room.

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Music:

"High Grasses Cuddles"
by Koka Media

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