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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781452070438 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 11/05/2010 |
| Pages: | 308 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d) |
Read an Excerpt
Love Eternal
By Lynn Marie Penedo
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Lynn Marie PenedoAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-7043-8
Chapter One
I wasn't always immortal. It hasn't always been an easy life but each new day is a new adventure.I was 21 and living in Key West. Ironically, it was originally called the Island of Bones (Cayo Hueso) by the Spanish. Times were quite different then than they are now. The island was not such a tourist spot as it was just a shrimping town, full of fisherman and dreamers. If the founding fathers could see what Key West has become, they would be quite surprised.
I lived on my own, my parents had both died a year apart and I was supporting myself with a few odd jobs. I lived with a few of my friends in a small cigar cottage that had belonged to my parents before their death. On the night of my rebirth, I was getting ready to go out with my friends to the dance hall on Duval Street. It was our weekly night out where we hoped to meet our own local James Dean or Rock Hudson.
"Angelique are you ready yet? We have to get going or we are going to get the worst picks in the man department ever at the dance hall." Michelle yelled through the door of the bathroom. I was just putting on my makeup and making sure that my long dark hair was smooth neat resting on my shoulders against my white cardigan sweater. My skirt was red and the crinoline felt scratchy against my bare legs as I moved to open the door.
"I'm ready. Do I look ok?" I asked.
"You look great. Now let's go. I'm looking to find a hunk tonight if it is the last thing that I do. I'm tired of the same old people." Sherry stated as she reached over and grabbed my wrist and began to lead me from the apartment.
"God, Angelique you know you look great. You always do. And don't forget, it is usually you that gets all the dance requests. We should be the ones spending the most time primping in front of the mirror not you." Charlene said laughing.
"I do not," I replied blushing a bit even though I knew she was right. My nights out were usually filled with many dancing partners though none of them interested me enough to pursue anything further.
Michelle turned and pushing up her voluptuous breasts said, "Well I'm planning on not just dancing. I want to dance but in the back seat of a sedan, if you know what I mean. I want a bit more action than just getting sweaty on the dance floor."
"Michelle you are unreal. How can you do that?" I asked.
"Angelique it's so easy. You just have to let go. I'm not a tease so if I get a guy excited I'll gladly finish the job and enjoy it." She laughed low and throaty.
We walked out of the apartment building laughing at Michelle's risqué remark. It was a typical summer evening the kind where the humidity hung in the air as a fine mist. We went to a popular dance hall on Duval Street. It was crowded with a variety of men and women the air had the slight odor of sea spray and fish from the fishermen that were surrounding the bar telling tales of the "one that got away." The floor was full of dancing couples and the music was pulsating combining with the heat seemed quite sensual.
"Let's go stand over there so we can keep an eye on the new arrivals." Michelle said pointing to an open area diagonally across from the front door.
We moved across the dance floor through the crowd. As we walked I felt someone's hand casually touch me and cup my ass. I turned to see who it was but the crowd surrounded us and I didn't know the direction the hand had come from. Turning back, I rushed after my friends and stood with my back against the wall.
"Someone just grabbed me." I gasped.
"Oh Angelique stop being so prudish. You know you enjoyed it." Michelle said as she stared at me a smirk on her face.
"I did not." I answered although I could feel my face starting to blush because in actuality, it did turn me on.
"Hey, check out this guy." Sherry said as she motioned over to the front door.
We all turned and watched a tall man with dark brown hair and blue eyes enter the room. He was wearing dark pants and a white T-shirt, his muscular arms bulging. It seemed as if time stood still while he moved. He turned and tapped a mousy looking girl on the shoulder and together they moved on the dance floor.
"Oh my God" I said. My pulse was racing just watching him move on the dance floor with the mousy girl who was totally captivated by his presence.
"Isn't he wonderful?" My friend Charlene asked me as she motioned to him when he moved on the dance floor.
"He's Adonis come to life." Julie said breathlessly her eyes wide as she watched him.
"He's beautiful." I answered unable to take my eyes off him.
It was as if he heard me, he turned and looked over in my direction. Our eyes locked and I felt as if he looked into my soul and read my thoughts. He kissed the hand of the woman he was dancing with then advanced towards us.
"He's coming this way." I said as I nervously smoothed my skirt and touched my hair.
"Relax Angelique. It isn't like you haven't done this before. Play it cool." Michelle answered as she shifted her body towards him as he advanced pushing her chest out as far as it could go to draw more attention to her cleavage.
"Would you care to dance?" He asked me extending his right hand towards me.
"Sure, but I really can't dance very well." I answered blushing as I placed my hand in his.
"Don't worry. I'll lead but I'm sure you are a beautiful dancer." He said as he led me on the dance floor.
I glanced over and spotted the mousy looking girl standing near the door again. She stared at us her face a mixture of admiration and slight anger.
"I think your first dance partner is a bit upset." I said looking up into his eyes.
"She will be fine. Some other man will ask her to dance." He said as he led me closer to the center of the floor.
We were magic. The floor cleared and everyone just stopped to watch us as we took over the space like Fred and Ginger. I could still feel the mousy woman's eyes boring into me as we danced though I did not see her. I was weightless in his arms. I felt so safe and secure, a feeling I had never felt before as we whirled around the floor.
"I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name?" He asked looking down into my eyes. I felt my heart skip a beat.
"Well you didn't ask, but it is Angelique and your name?" I said coyly looking up at him from lowered lashes.
"It's Christian and my, you are a spunky one," he whispered into my ear causing me to falter and gasp for breath.
"Angelique, are you ok?" He asked me as he stared deep into my eyes.
"Yes. I just tripped." I answered my mind swirling.
"Such a beautiful name for such a beautiful woman it has been such a long time since I have seen such beauty. So natural and effervescent like your name sake, you truly are an angel to behold." He said.
"Thank you, but I'm really not an angel." I said trying to brush off the praise. I felt my face grow hot as the blush swept across my cheeks.
"Beauty is fleeting but yours will last forever. Would you believe me if I told you that I know the secret to agelessness, the key to the fountain of youth?" He asked.
"What fountain of youth?" I asked as my curiosity piqued.
"I mean, for all time, to never grow old, or get wrinkled or gray. Just stay as youthful and beautiful as you are now," he answered staring into my blue eyes.
"How do you do this?" I questioned getting more interested while being drawn into the depths of his eyes.
"Well you must make some sacrifices to stay young. Can you do that?" He asked as he dipped me and I felt my hair brush the dance floor.
"I can but what sacrifices must I make for this?" I queried getting a bit worried.
"Well, first you would lose your friends. Could you stand by and watch them grow old and die?" He asked.
"Why? Can't they have the fountain of youth too?"
"No my darling, I can only offer this gift to you. I want to spend my life with you. I've been alone for so long and your energy and your beauty have awakened me. Would you believe me if I told you that I'm over two hundred years old?" He queried.
"No you can't be." I answered.
"Well I am. I can prove it but only if you want to be with me as my partner forever. I can give you anything you want. We can travel the world together wherever you want to go, just you and I." He said.
I glanced over at my friends who were giggling at me from the edge of the dance floor. I've always felt different never quite fitting in, trying to be like them but I wasn't. I was afraid of growing old and afraid of being alone. I never really considered myself beautiful and yet this wonderful handsome man picked me out of everyone in the room. I thought about being young and I thought about him. Christian, this worldly man, wanted me to be with him forever. He dressed very well so I knew he had to wealthy. He offered me anything my heart desired just as long as I wanted to be with him. My heart told me he wasn't lying and my head didn't argue. I turned back towards him looking him straight in the eyes.
"I don't want to grow old. I want to be with you forever." I said in total honesty.
"Are you positive? This cannot be reversed." He said.
"Yes, I'm positive," I answered staring into his sky blue eyes, "just being with you will satisfy me."
"Well, so be it." He said as we moved across the floor two bodies as one.
I could not feel the floor beneath my feet. It felt as if I were floating above it. Christian held my gaze captive in his eyes as my heart hammered in my chest.
Together, we moved across the floor and as we neared the crowd did not slow down but increased our speed. The crowd of people surrounding the dance floor parted as we came upon them and we danced out of the room into the balmy night amidst thundering applause. Reaching the sidewalk, we stopped but continued to hold each other tightly. We moved out of the light into the shadows of an alley across the street. Deep in the darkness of the alley we stopped but I felt no fear.
"Angelique, my beauty when I give you this gift we can travel and see the world together. The night will be ours forever. Together you and I will be one." He said.
"Together." I repeated dreamily enraptured by his touch and closeness to me.
"The only thing you must answer before I give this gift to you is this question. Will you be my partner forever?" Christian asked as he gently stroked my cheek as he stared into my eyes.
"Yes."
"Yes what?" He asked me his blue eyes shining slightly.
"Yes I will be your partner forever." I replied staring up at him as I held onto his arms for support.
"Angelique, my queen, my beautiful angel. Together everything will be ours. The nights are forever ours," he whispered, "but the daylight is not our time. We shall sleep by day and play by night. Can you give up the sunlight for me?"
"Yes my dear." I answered. "I can give up the sun to be with you. By the light of the moon."
"Angelique, I'm forever yours." He whispered as he lowered his head towards mine. His lips finding mine open and waiting, his tongue darted into my mouth. My tongue slipped into his mouth and I shuddered as he lightly bit down on it. He then nibbled on my lips, and then moved down my jaw to my neck. He bit me but I felt no pain. Infinite pleasure surged through my body as he drank my life's fluid.
In my mind I saw my life pass before my eyes. I could see my first boyfriend when I was six years old. His name was Bobby with his dark hair and eyes. I saw my dog Puppy who grew up with me and was my best friend and guardian. I could feel pain remembering the day he had to be put to sleep. I relived walking up to the podium and getting my diploma at my high school graduation. I felt the scratchiness of the graduation gown and felt the sweat running down my back from the heat and stress. Dear God, what am I doing?
When he stopped I had no strength to stand, my body slumped against him as he supported me. He reached up using the dragon ring he wore to cut his neck and then pushed my face towards it.
"Drink my little one." He said. "Angelique, drink and become one with me."
As my lips touched his neck the metallic taste of blood was very repelling and strong. I tried to pull away but Christian held my head so I could not budge. The more I drank the more my thirst and hunger grew. I was sucking hard trying to drink more blood as it coursed into my waiting mouth.
"Angelique, that's enough." He said but I didn't want to stop and continued to suck at his neck.
"Enough." He said this time pushing me away. I was still weak and my legs started to give in. He held me but kept me away from the cut on his neck that healed without a mark as I stared at it. I touched my neck and pulled my hand away quickly when my fingers brushed the tender open wound. I looked up into Christian's eyes questioningly.
"It's fine Angelique. You will heal but your body needs to go through a few changes first. You need to physically die then you will heal. It's ok. I'll take care of you." He said as he gently picked me up and took me back down the alley to his two-door convertible. Placing me in the passenger seat he rushed around to the driver's side, got in and started the car.
"Don't worry my beautiful darling. I'll take care of you. There's no need to be afraid." He said softly as he pulled the car away from the curb and gently touched my cheek. "I have a man who works for me. He takes care of my things during the day and he's at the house now. His name is Jeffrey. Now, my love he will take care of both of us."
"I'm not afraid." I whispered my body still caught in the heat of the thrall. All of a sudden a sharp pain radiated from my chest outward. I could feel it in every bone of my body. It was a pain I had never felt before, so strong it left me numb. I cringed involuntarily caught in the grip of the pain.
"Aaah." I cried.
Christian reached over and touched my hand bringing it to his lips. He kissed it as he drove heading west. The pain was so severe and numbing I could not feel his lips touching my skin at all.
"It will pass my darling. The pain is bad but it will go away." He whispered into my hand as he covered it with kisses.
"To become immortal you must have some pain, it cannot be all roses and glory." He stated as he turned down a street and pulled into a short driveway putting the car in park. I didn't know where we were as I had my eyes clenched shut with every wave of pain that coursed through my body. My nerve endings felt as if they were on fire. My chest was heavy and it was so hard to breathe.
Shutting off the engine, he got out of the car and rushed to the passenger side. Gently he picked me up, my body was in the fetal position as I rocked slightly to try and ease the pain. He carried me up the walkway and knocked on the door. A young thin man with wire-rimmed glasses opened the door.
"Jeffrey, go to the master bedroom and get it ready for us. Angelique will be living with us from now on." Christian said.
Jeffrey looked at me his face blank. But his eyes looked past me to Christian. He turned away and walked down the corridor up the stairs. I heard doors or drawers being slammed from somewhere upstairs.
Christian closed the front door and walked into a bathroom just off the living room. Once inside he sat me on the closed toilet and reached for my shirt starting to unbutton it. I pulled away my mind reeling with what I had just done. The reality hit me when I realized I would never see my friends again. Tears started to stream from my eyes. I brought my hands up to hold my shirt together wishing to reverse everything I had just done.
"Angel, honey, I need to take your clothes off to help you with the change. Don't be afraid of me. I would never hurt you." He said.
At that moment my stomach lurched I could feel it twisting inside me. I lunged forward. Christian grabbed me and tore off my skirt and underwear. He opened the toilet and sat me down on it. It felt as if all my internal organs were leaving my body. I broke out in a cold sweat as each spasm passed and more fluid poured out of me. Christian got a cold wet face cloth and gently patted my face and forehead.
"It's ok darling. This is just your human body functions passing. When people die this happens. It must happen to you also in order for you to live forever with me." He said.
My chest heaved I gasped trying to breathe. It felt as if chest was made of stone and I could not get a decent intake of air into my lungs. The pain increased radiating from my chest outward in such a strong grip and I felt my heart flutter in my chest before it stopped. My body began to fall forward and Christian grabbed me and held me steady. My eyes clouded over then cleared but I could not feel my heart or was able to take a breath of air.
"Angel relax stop struggling. Don't panic you don't need to worry we don't need to breathe that is over it is a mortal function." Christian said looking into my eyes.
Staring into his eyes I tried to relax. My mind swirled as the knowledge that I no longer needed air to live. My body felt heavy at first as if I were fighting gravity but with each moment, it lessened until I could not feel the pull anymore.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Love Eternal by Lynn Marie Penedo Copyright © 2010 by Lynn Marie Penedo. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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