Bride of Blood:: First Kiss by Anthony E. Ventrello Read Free Book Online

Soon, somehow he would be able to tell her.
                              He closed his eyes and almost immediately fell asleep.   Rachael’s soft breath on his neck stayed with him and gave him peaceful dreams.  
                              Anton sat on the roof, still staring at the stars.     He started to think back to the last time he’d seen the Duke.   He was getting ready to sail for the New World.   It was 1770 and The Duke felt that there would be much for him to do and learn there.
                              The only way for vampires to travel at that time was in the cargo hold of a merchant ship.   The Duke had been in contact with an old friend of his that owned a Dutch shipping company that was bound for the New World.   There was money to be made in places like Cuba and the other islands.   The main source of income in those days was in sugar and of course, slavery.   The Duke had taught Anton to abhor this evil practice and to do what he could to end it in the New World.
                              As Anton was about to climb into a large crate, The Duke held him close and said, “My friend, the Colonies will be a good chance for you to learn to use your powers and to help rid the world of some of these depraved bastards!”
                              Anton laughed and hugged his mentor.   He would miss The Duke and tried to find the words to thank him for all that he’d done.   But words didn’t seem to be sufficient.   He knew that the only way he could repay him was to do what he asked.  
                              “Will I ever see you again?” Anton asked.
                              “Who knows?   You will one day become a Master Vampire yourself and will have your own offspring.   Teach them well and be patient.   Remember that we are not monsters.   We have free will and great powers.   It is the choice that we make on how to use those powers that determine whether we are a blessing or a curse to this world.”   Then the lid was shut and it was the last time Anton would see his mentor.
    Anton sighed as he remembered The Duke.   He sometimes wondered whatever happened to him. Several times he returned to Europe, but none of his vampire friends knew what became of him.   Lady Bernadine wouldn’t give him a straight answer when he asked.   She never did anyway.   With one more sigh, he decided that it was time to come in and go to sleep.   So he jumped off the room and went inside, locking the door behind him.  
                              As he lay down in his coffin, he felt a strange feeling come over him.   All of his senses reacted at once and what small bit of energy he had left, was pulled or ripped from him.   Emotions and memories he long buried opened up like flood gates and overcame him.   In the last few moments before he lost consciousness, he knew that she had returned.
                              Not only had she returned to the Colonies, but she was looking for him.   She was calling to him.   He could feel it.   He knew it.   He whispered her name once, “Velara.”   And then, everything went black.

Chapter 3 The Legend of Velara
     
                              The hour was late.   Alexander had gone to bed about an hour before.   Anton sat in his office and stared into space.   The dark blanket was covering the window stopping any daylight that could possibly sneak in; he could already feel the warmth of the early morning daylight.   A part of him wanted to go to bed, but he couldn’t.   For the past few weeks all that he could think of was Velara, and how much he missed her.   They hadn’t laid eyes on each other in more than 130 years, and he had mostly compartmentalized his feelings for her, thanks in large part to Lady Bernadine, the queen of vampires.   But since he heard her call out his name in his sleep, he