Bride of Blood:: First Kiss (15 page)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her dark red hair.
 
The sweet perfume of her locks comforted him and every care and concern seemed to evaporate.
 
He always felt safe and secure in her arms.
 
She reminded him of a mother that he didn’t remember but dearly missed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bernadine ran her fingers through his long hair.
 
She closed her eyes and tried to put all the concerns of her own out of her mind.
 
There were many troubling things afoot, but she was always able to put up a brave front for one of her children.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She sent all the positive, loving energy she had to Alexander.
 
With each movement of her fingers, she could see could feel the worry and pain leave his body.
 
She closed her eyes and read his thoughts.
 
She would help him to break the chains around his heart.
 
He must be able to truly love, she thought.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A few moments later they were in bed together.
 
He was lying on his back with his eyes closed.
 
She lay next to him with her head on his shoulder.
 
She touched his eyelids and said softly, “Alexander, I want you to relax.
 
Free your mind and allow me to help you.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He put up no resistance as she touched his cheek with her long nails.
 
It was hidden memory, buried deep inside that was keeping him from loving Rachael.
 
She had to dig deep and find it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When Alexander was between waking and sleep, she touched his forehead.
 
Her fingers, now ghostlike, reached into his head.
 
Quickly and expertly she caught the rogue memory between her thumb and forefinger.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When she pulled it out, the memory appeared like a wisp of smoke.
 
It struggled to get free of her grasp and return to Alexander’s brain.
 
She spoke an incantation and the memory relaxed as she grabbed its loose end with the other hand.
 
She twisted her fingers quickly and blew.
 
The memory disappeared without a sound, gone forever.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She waved her right hand in front of Alexander’s head, closing his mind.
 
She said into his ear, “Wake and be free to love.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alexander opened his eyes and sat up.
 
His eyes were brighter and even happier than they ever been.
 
He smiled at her and she smiled back.
 
She put her hands on his face and kissed him.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She stood up and said, “I have one more surprise for you.”
 
She snapped her fingers and suddenly Rachael appeared out of the darkness.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upon seeing Alexander, Rachael smiled.
 
Alexander sprang from the bed and ran up to her.
 
They fell into each other’s arms.
 
Bernadine folded her arms across her chest.
 
Rachael looked over Alexander’s shoulder, still in his arms.
 
She mouthed the words, “Thank you.”
 
Bernadine nodded and began to fade into the shadows.
 
Before she left the room, she stole a glance back at the couple.
 
They were locked in a passionate kiss.
 
Bernadine nodded and departed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charlotte hung back in the shadows and watched Anton feed.
 
Anton was drinking from the newly dead mortal girl that Bernadine had presented him with soon after he woke.
 
She was careful to stay as far in the shadows of the room as she could.
 
She wanted to see Anton but didn’t dare let him see her.
 
She’d forgotten how beautiful he was.
 
Her body suddenly ached to be with him.
 
How badly she wanted to come out of the darkness and reveal herself.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suddenly a hand touched her right shoulder.
 
She spun around, almost in a rage over the intrusion.
 
She came face to face with Lady Bernadine, who had a disappointed look on her face.
 
Charlotte was overcome with a sense of shame at her moment of weakness.
 
She bowed to her mistress and quickly left the room.
 
She realized that she would not be punished this time, but surely would if she came into Anton’s presence again.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anton lifted his head from the girl’s neck.
 
He wiped his mouth and lay back on the pillow.
 
The Rush hit him especially hard since it had been so long since he’d fed.
 
In his brief moment of ecstasy, two handmaids quickly entered the room and removed the corpse.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After the Rush dissipated and Anton was feeling warm all over, he suddenly began to think about Charlotte.
 
It had been quite a while since he had seen her.
 
He pictured the beautiful, small Korean vampiress that he loved.
 
He could picture her small features and soft black hair.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He didn’t miss her, not like he did Velara.
 
She made her decision to become a handmaid and he supported her on that decision.
 
He began to wonder for a moment where she was in the compound.
 
What work did Lady Bernadine have her doing?
 
Had she seen him or Alexander since they arrived?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Bernadine emerged from the shadows.
 
As soon as her perfume began to tantalize his nostrils, Anton sat up.
 
He smiled at the sight of her.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The vampire queen was a striking sight. No matter how many times he saw her, it was still like the first.
 
She was what a mortal world would call a ginger:
 
she had ultra, long red hair that fell way past her waist and had very light colored skin.
 
Her eyes were green and had just a hint of an Asian slant to them.
 
She wasn’t very tall, but her very feminine frame filled out her red and white robes perfectly.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She sat on the bed next to Anton and opened her arms.
 
He obediently went to them and buried his hand in her hair.
 
“Tell me what troubles you, love?”
 
She asked him, stroking his hair.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He lifted his head and told her about his dreams and visions of Velara, the way he wasn’t able to function and how he was depressed over the whole affair.
 
Bernadine listened and nodded.
 
At times, Anton came close to tears, but always fought them back.
 
She could tell that he was becoming more relieved with each word because he had not been able to unburden himself to anyone.
 
Being able to let it out, was a step on the way to healing.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After he finished, she smiled and put a hand on his leg, “Velara is coming back to you,” she said quietly.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anton was about to jump to his feet, but restrained himself as she continued, “I don’t know when or where.
 
But she will return.
 
I can’t even tell you all the places she’s been or all that she’s done.
 
That will be up to her.
 
However, I can tell you that a reunion will be inevitable.” After she finished speaking, Bernadine suddenly grew sad.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anton noticed her sudden change and said, “There’s more isn’t there?”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bernadine nodded, “I’m afraid so.
 
Your reunion will be brief.”