Bride of Blood:: First Kiss by Anthony E. Ventrello Page B

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.”
                              Anton nodded and the sadness returned to his face.  
                              “War is coming,” Bernadine said.
                              Anton gave her a quizzical look.   Had he understood right?   War?