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The oldest of Timers I must be one of the oldest vampires in the world. I've met older, but not by too much; my vampiric father for one. I was born in 206AD in Ajanta, India. I also must be one of the world's first mutts. My father's parents were British and French. My mother's parents were Indian and Chinese. I look very oriental/Indian except for my ice-cold blue eyes. My hair is as straight and black like never drying calligrapher's ink running down glass at night. My thin structure could easily mistake me for a woman. I'm not a cross dresser, but regardless I still look feminine. Oh pardon my manners. My name is John. John DuKane. My life was filled with hells and with heavens. Living in India was maddening at best. I rarely ever saw my European father, Louis, as he traveled all over the lands. Doing what? I do not know. I can remember a total of four times where I saw him, for maybe a day or two, then he'd be gone the next day, having brought me and my mother presents. He stopped coming to see us when I was 10. and even though I knew little about him, as my mother did I still loved him with all my heart as he was a wonderful, caring, gentle man. I left home in search of a better life and a wife in my 18th year of age. Leaving my mother, Asakura Arpana with a family friend I traveled across the treterous terrain, down the Tapia River to the coast and northwest, slipping past the Aravalli Range. However, crossing through the Thar Desert was aided by some friendly travelers, and we covered 250 miles together. As soon as the rich fertile land in Pakistan was reached I was on my own once again. I found the Indus River and was told that the only way past the mountains was in the north, the Khyber Pass. Set on my mission, I started the 430 miles from Reti to Peshawar, where I rested and recuperated for a week. I made it into Afghanistan and took the road west through the country and through the mountains. I thought I was never going to make it, but even thought the time that had passed I knew that my journey in life was far from over, so persistent I pressed onward for 600 miles, give more than take and stopped in Eslam Qal'eh. While there I thought about my mother and my future, the future of my country. I thought about why I was going where I was; I took the hardest routes and going west. Why was I going west? Why not east? Or north? But west… it was like I was following the sun to see what it was that it was hiding from me. the path I'd been traveling just felt right, and I'm sure I would feel a tug to the west if I took any other route. On through Iran I took the road through many towns and cities while crossing the path of least resistance of mountains; through Neyshabur, Shahrud, Semnan, Tehran, Qazvin, Tabriz, and Maku. I passed into Turkey and made my slow way along the twisted and winding road until I gave it a rest in Trabzon where I thought my efforts were in vain. Tired and weary of my travels, unsuccessful in finding myself a wife I sadly walked down a secluded path when I was surrounded by thieves. It was after dusk and there seemed to be no hope for me. Then this black figure swooped out of the air and punished the thieves. He turned to me to make sure I was alright. "Are you alright?" he asked me in what I was to learn was a romanian accent. "Yes. Thank you for helping me." English was a common language for foreigners to speak to get around. "Follow me and be safe," I did so. Following this stranger with dark, thick, brown hair and brown eyes we came upon a boat and we crossed 600 miles on the Black Sea until we reached Romania. During that time we were together, I ate what food was on board and my savior, Count Draecore Dracule, and I talked of the area where we were, where we were going and my journeys to where our paths met. He was a very nice man with a hypnotizing face. We laughed as we had our fill of drinks and we swapped jokes. After landing on shore, Drac, as he asked me to call him, led me up to his humble abode nestled at the south end of the Carpathian Mountains atop a secluded mountain. As we neared the front door I spied a lovely young woman. Her hair was a golden brown and she had entrancing gray eyes. "Father, you have returned," she said as we walked in. "Who is this?" "My name is John. And you are, lovely one?" "LaUra. Very pleased to meet you," She offered her hand and I took it to kiss. "What a beautiful name for such a lovely woman." Her father stood by and watched, a strange smile on his face, then showed me to my room where I would be staying as their guest. "I trust you find this to your liking?" he asked me. "I couldn't ask for anything more. This is quite a palace compared to what I'm used to." "I'm sorry to hear that John. Please, settle in and I will have supper ready for you." "Thank you. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality." Drac smiled and shut my chamber doors. Never in my day had I seen such luxuries. Only in myth have there been such sheets and carpets, such fine furniture and furnishings. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that my appearance in this palace was less that acceptable. I went to bathe and found a suit of silk on my bed for me. I smiled with such gratitude and adorned it proudly then went down to eat. There were three of them, the father, the daughter and another woman that sat between the two. Drac spoke, "This is my wife Fauna, and you've already met LaUra. Won't you care to dine with us?" "Yes, thank you. Hello Madam. My name is John DuKane. Thank you for having me here in this wonderful home." I said to Fauna. She seemed to blush at my honesty. Curious as the fact that even though LaUra seemed about my age…so did her parents… I brushed aside the thought and sat to dine with them. The food as exquisite and I let them know it. They smiled and laughed with pleasure or amusement. We talked of my journeys and of how Drac and I met. "John? Ever hear about vampires?" Drac asked me forthright. I looked at him perplexed. "What…is a vampire?" I asked truly honestly. The family eyed each other unbleieved that I didn't know. Fauna spoke, "A vampire is a night being that takes the blood of non vampire people." "Blood?" "Yes John," Drac said. "Vampires, as I can tell you. Are not well liked. They mean death upon the living, much like wolves on a deer." "there are tales, where I am from, about ogresses luring unsuspecting stranded sailors to their death and drinking their blood. And Shiva's wife, Shakti; she too drank blood." Fauna commented, "Those tales are not so far off, John." "Why, Drac, do you bring this up?" "Because John…we three are…" I sat there staring at them; these kind people with beautiful faces who saved me from certain death. I could not help but feel confused and rather uneasy. If the tales were true, then what did I do to deserve to die? Nothing was the answer I came up with. Had I been lured here? Possibly. I would not be allowed to be punished for deeds that were not bad, so what had I to fear? What if these...vampires were just lonely for my attention, as I was for that of a wife? I looked at LaUra and she worriedly looked back, hoping for not another rejection of a handsome young man, like myself. I looked into their eyes deep, and saw their emotions; they wanted nothing but love. It was at that point I could not help but mentally shrug off what they said and only saw what I have seen of them. "An answer, John?" "I have only to say that your kindness is true enough for me to see." The smiled at my answer, relieved, and I smiled back at them. After residing to the library for tea and reading I yawned with fatigue and they knew my journey as catching up with me. "Come now John. You should go rest now. In the morn you may venture into town. We will be resting during the daylight hours, but come dusk we will greet you." "Sleep well, my friends," I said and headed up to my room for a much-needed sleep. So in the morning that is what I did. I headed to town for dinner, having woke up very late in the day, and I heard rumors and stories from the town's folk about my hosts. None of them were pleasant and all of them were very scary and gory. But nothing could deceive my eyes like their stories, for I survived the night and was even saved by the infamous vampire, Drac Dracule. That night I greeted the vampire family with their meal. I had persuaded some children to come play in the castle where they would meet their end at the hands of the vampires. I watched them feed, curious. It looked like the vampires were rather wrapped up in bliss as they sucked the life out of the young ones. The three thanked me and properly disposed of the bodies. It was only after the stench of burning flesh ceased that I asked the vampires, "Why don't you just take a little, not killing your prey and go feed off another to complete the meal?" They looked at each other and then back at me and smiled sweetly. "John, you are very cleaver. The thought never crossed our minds because we have no reason to hide." "Maybe you don't yet…" my comment disturbed not only them but myself as well. The thought of one day vampires, these kind creatures, being killed off in numbers and left for extinction haunting my conscious and I could weep with sorrow if my friends were lost for all eternity because of man. Drac hugged me suddenly, seeing the pain I was thinking. LaUra and Fauna joined and I knew that this was what I had been missing for my twenty years of life. "John?" "Yes?" "Would you like to be one of the family?" "I…I would be so honored…" I said misty eyed. It was then that Drac kissed me. it wasn't quite a man-to-man kiss, but more of a lover's kiss. And I didn't stop him… it was upstairs in my room where the transformation took place. Drac let my hair free from its arrangement and they found me to be quite irresistible. My bisep length, inky black hair enticed them to remove my shirt and lay the four of us on the bed where they could drain me of my blood. The children had fear and hate, but I felt quite blissful. Their fangs bore down past my flesh into muscle and veins. Their hands holding me comfortingly and caressing. The touch of Drac's face on my neck was so heavenly that I thought I would surely pass out from pleasure. As I felt myself grow weaker, I slid my arm up Drac's velvet coat to play with his hair, and he in turn played with mine. The unpleasant part was when I felt dizzy and short of breath and I knew that my body was dying. I was on the verge of loosing consciousness and my life when they withdrew their fangs and Drac offered me to drink the gash in his wrist he just made then. "It will be alright John. This feeling will pass after you take my blood and then you will be with us for all eternity." Weakly I reached to take his wrist. He helped me and all I had to do was drink his blood. I took my first sip and felt a little better, another and my strength was returning and third and then I felt ravenously hungry. I was then that I bit in and started taking in his blood in gulps. After about two or three gulps he took away his wrist. Then the pain began. "Your body is dying John. That's all that it is. Your mind will be preserved as well as your physical form, but your organs, for the most part, will cease to function. Your body is adjusting it's self accordingly." The pain overwhelming, I slipped into unconsciousness. For how long, I could not say, only that when I finally opened my eyes I found my new beloved family awaiting me, dressed lavishly. "Come, dearest John," Drac spoke softly. "It is time for your first feeding…" LaUra and Fauna presented me with my very own suit and I was helped up and dressed. On our hunt for our meal, the couple Drac and Fauna walked in front as LaUra and myself lagged behind to talk. Well, not much talking went on. she took my arm in hers and laid her head upon my shoulder. It was then that I heard her thoughts. "John?" her echoing voice said in my head. "Yes?" I responded. "You gave up what you believed in for me. you are very brave." "I had to be to make the journey that I did to meet your father… he is a good man with a caring heart… For you? What do you mean?" She was silent for longer than I thought was necessary, but perhaps she was talking mentally with her parents at that point. I let the matter be as LaUra increasingly became closer to me. it was then that I smelled what wasn't there, this overpowering, sensation that made my blood boiling hot and my passions aroused. I stopped to look at LaUra and she looked back, into my eyes. Meanwhile, Drac and Fauna kept walking into the foggy night. I heard him whisper to his wife, "let them be, my love," as if he wanted to let me know that this action between his daughter and myself was well acceptable and encouraged. Not more than a second longer as we gazed into each other's eyes that we embraced each other and kissed. I had not known her for more than three days, and yet there was a strong attachment to this new family of mine… family…my mother! I hoped that she was alright. I knew she'd be worried sick if I did not return soon. "LaUra, I have to know if my mother is alright. Let's find your parents." "Alright. What of your mortal father?" "He lives elsewhere. I rarely ever see him in any case. In fact the last time I did see him, I was ten years old!" "Oh," I reminisced for a moment, remembering the last time I saw my father. He unexpectedly came in to our humbled shack with his suitcase and he dropped it to run to my mother to great her with affections. He then turned to me and out of his pocket, he gave me a stone upon which had a painting of himself on, so I would always remember him. It wasn't too difficult, he was so different than most people I'd ever seen; his long, light brown hair and cold blue eyes, like mine. It was because of my eyes that I was thought to be possessed, because my people don't ever have blue eyes. But my father was European, and they are different than us south Asians. We sat down for supper and he told us of his adventures and my mother and I listened eagerly. Afterwards, my father let me see his new sword. I remember falling asleep in his arms and the next morning I heard him and my mother whispering to each other. As I jumped out of bed, I saw him leave. I ran after him to bid him farewell, but he ignored me, hoped upon his steed and took off. I ran after his to the edge of down and watched him disappear behind the mountains, tears in my eyes. I then grieved over my lost father, but regained my composure to take LaUra with me as we ran to find Drac. Into the mist we followed, but it was much too thick too see anything! It was then that Drac grabbed me from behind and hugged me, lovingly. Perhaps this was what I had missed my entire life. He snuggled my back for a second longer before Fauna reminded him that they needed to teach me how to feed. "Of course, my dear! I wouldn't deprive John. Come now, my son and I will teach you how to survive!" he draped an arm over my shoulders and showed me the edge of a quaint town in the valley below. The first hunt went very well. It was basically a demonstration. The next night they said that I could make my own kill. I asked him not to call it that, that I would take some from a few, but never actually kill. They were fine with this, as long as I was never caught. I agreed and we went back home. During our walk, I went to talk with Drac as the women lagged behind to talk. "Drac?" I asked. "You have a matter that troubles you," he surmised. "My mother…back home in India. May she come to stay with us?" he looked at me out of the corner of his eye with a grin, but his eyes betrayed his real emotion on the matter. "We don't have to tell her what we are…" I argued in her defense. "John, it's not that…how are you going to get there? The same way you came? As a vampire, you are endowed with a gift of swiftness, but I doubt your mother could keep up. And if you fly her here, then she shall surely know. And you could not travel by day, for you shal surely perish. Do you see what I mean?" "yes. But…I think there is another reason why you are hesitant." "How perceptive you are. Yes there is. I'm considering my family. I don't think they'd appreciate another woman in the household, John." This disappointed me, but the he added, "but, I am not the typical traditional vampire. Most vampires, once made are to sever all ties they had in their lives; they now dead to the world. But you John, are fortunate to be among us. I do not know who made me the way I am, so I retained most of my humanity. Other vampires would be loners after having learned all they could from their parent. I like to dwell in company of family. I made Fauna a vampire, and bore LaUra with her. Typical vampires do not procreate in that fashion; they usually just exchange blood instead of taking the time to create family bonds." "I…I had no idea," "Well…let's discuss this when we return home with the girls, shall we?" "Yes, lets…" "Somehting else troubles you?" "eh…yes… what did LaUra mean by giving up my beliefs for her?" "ah. You gave up your religion to be a vampire, John. That and the plain, simple fact is that I wanted to make you like us…for her. For her 230th birthday." I stopped dead in my tracks. And looked shocked at him. he stopped a few paces ahead and turned back to look at me. "You didn't think we were as old as you, did you? Though I have no idea how old I am, my mate, Fuana, however, I changed…oh…910 years ago, back when she was 22! Come now, John! You must be famished!" The women caught up and LaUra took my arm as her mother took Drac's. So it was decided that Fauna would accompany me to India to retrieve my mother after I learned a few more skills my powers gave me. winter was approaching in the Carpathian Mountains by the time I was ready to leave. Fauna and I traveled on the winds as we headed east towards my home country. I found the Tapia River that was near my home and we landed and approached my hometown. Sensing danger, I rushed home to find my mother being overpowered by a gang of brutes. I tore the one attacking my mother away from her and then turned my attention on the brute holding my mother. Fauna took care of the man I tossed to her. Seeing my mother safe, I then went to rid my home of the other two with aid from Fauna. As the cowardly dogs ran in fear I went to help my mother pack. "John?" my mother said worriedly. She took my hands and looked at my black claws. She looked up at me with surprise and I looked back at her. "It's alright, mother. I'm going to take you away from here. I'm going to take you to my new home in Romania, west of here." "Who is this?" my mother asked about Fauna. I answered, "This is my…wife's mother, Fauna." The women looked at each other as I finished packing my mother's things. "Come now, Mother. I have a feeling those brutes will return with help!" It was then that I tossed the bundle of packed things to Fauna and I hefted my mother into my arms and we took off flying for the west. My mother was very surprised, but I consoled her. Halfway through our flight, my mother had fallen asleep, her head on my shoulder. I felt as if now I was the parent taking care of young. When we landed, the snow was shin high and the winds were merciless. LaUra admitted us indorrs emediately and I went to put my mother down in one of many bedrooms. There, I waited until she awoke. "John…" "Hello, Mother." She looked around the room and gasped as she had never thought of such beauties and luxuries ever. I touched her face and she received a shock. "John! You hands are like ice!" It was then that Drac walked in. "I see you have woken. Care for a meal?" he said to my mother. "John?" she turned to me unsurely. "It's alright, Mother. This is Count Draecore Dracule, my…father-in-law." "John. Maybe you should tell her, if she is to be staying with us." "Very well. Mother…you are in no danger here, with us, but I need to tell you…we here, are vampires. Drac, my mate LaUra, her mother Fauna, myself…" "John. What are you saying?!" "we feed off the blood of the living. And we will live forever with such power that made it possible to return home to easily and bring you here by flight." "Oh John…" my mother started to tear up. She leaned against my chest and said, "you're dead?" Drac corrected, "Undead, madam. Now, would you like to eat, you must be starved. Look how thin you are," My mother whispered to me, "will I be killed to be fed off from?" "No mother. You're here to live with us." It made her feel better so I could get up and escort her to the dining hall where my family ate their fill. We lived happily together, my mother cooking sometimes; we all took turns cooking. But the one day a year later anxiety was high as LaUra gave birth to our son, Herraldo Genkin DuKane in 232AD. I should have known the future consequences when I first held him. he punched me in the face and flailed wildly, screaming and crying. He followed suit all throughout his young life when I requested a hug or any attention from him at all; he would hit me and run screaming. Herraldo was never close to anyone. Not his mother, surely not I, not his grandparents. He was so very much a loner that we didn't know what to do about him. we all tried talking to him, but it never worked. Drac even tried a rather unethical method, but even that didn't work. It was after he turned 14 that he and I had a disagreement over something so major…that he ran away from home. It pains me even now to remember… I Don't remember what the argument was about, but I remember wanting to give him a hug and he bolted from my open arms and to the door. I and the family, chased after him. As I raced after Herraldo as he headed into town, I heard Drac stop my mother from following and left her in the care of Fauna. It was then that Drac and LaUra came to aid me. Herraldo made a commotion to get the villiagers attention as I shaced him, ever gaining. Seeing me and hearing the commotion, the villiagers came out of their buildings armed and surrounded me, letting Herraldo, my only son slip through like a siv admitting him and leaving me behind. Thinking I was just another heartless vampire chasing youth for fun they cornered me and as I sprung away one of them hit me in the back…over my heart…with a bow…and crucifix. I fell hard and couched up blood, but I knew that they missed my heart. However…Herraldo is the one who got my heart… and he was gone now. I saw his shadow on the horizon as it disappeared into the forest down off the mountain. As I cried my red tears the villiagers surrounded me and were preparing for the final blow and decapitation. It was then that Drac and LaUra came to my rescue. I felt the silver of the crucifix burn in my back and break and splinter as the villiagers moved it as they rushed past. One of them breaking it off and kicking it into the shadows. However the wound was still there as was a large splinter. I rolled onto my back and propped myself up with my elbows as my family came up to me. I was too ashamed to show them how weak I was by letting the viliagers do that to me. How weak hearted I was and foolish like a child!! Now In this day and age, us vampires are embraced and explored by mortals. We are free to admit what we are and we will be praised! I once in the nineties had a heavy metal band, Hells Devils. Now I make motorcycles and host an animal sanctuary. I live in a city with my mate, my children, my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren. |