Read Online Bride of Blood:: First Kiss by Anthony E. Ventrello - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anthony E. Ventrello
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He went back to cleaning beer glasses.
As time went on, more people became to come out of the darkness. First, an older black man with long white hair wearing a porter’s uniform came in and sat two seats down from him. Then, two beautiful and elegant black women came in and sat on the other side of the bar. He recognized one as Vercie, a deceased mortal woman who considered herself to be the keeper of Velara’s family legacy. Lastly, an older gentleman wearing all black came in and sat down right next to Anton.
The new patrons sat quietly for several moments not speaking. JR put a glass in front of the women and poured brandy for them. The old black man was given a cup of coffee, too. And finally the man next to Anton was served a shot of whiskey. Still no words were exchanged.
The old man just stared ahead with a sad expression on his face that didn’t seem to change at all. Anton looked closely at the face: he saw deep age lines; lines of sadness and despair. The eyes that were smack-dab in the middle of those lines were also sad, but yet still carried a sense of acceptance and contentment. The man’s hair matched his clothes in their blackness. The hands that held the whiskey glass were hard and weathered. He saw Anton staring at him and toasted him before taking one last swig of the coffee. JR dutifully refilled the glass without a blink. After a few moments Anton was able to recognize him. He’d not known the man in life, but he’d often heard of him and his music.
The beautiful black women stared at Anton and Vercie smiled at him in recognition. He raised his glass to her. She was a descendent of Velara, probably her great, great, great-granddaughter to be exact. Many of Velara’s qualities had been passed down to her, although she was more of an elegant beauty with high cheek bones. She was dressed in a beautiful, yet conservative, green gown. She lit a cigarette and smoked it since The Way Station was the only place the dead could do such a “living thing”. Her companion smiled at Anton and giggled out loud. Somehow she looked familiar. She was pretty, though she lacked the poise and overall effect that only Vercie could have. Vercie had piercing eyes that met Anton’s. But most of all he was taken with her smooth and flawless skin like brushed ebony velvet, and her shapely body that reminded him of Dorothy Dandridge. Her companion quietly she lit a cigarette and then got up and came over to Anton’s side of the bar. As she approached, he could smell her sweet and very fragrant perfume. She sat down on the other side of Anton and signaled to JR for another drink.
As he studied her from a closer proximity, he was really taken in by her overall effect. She was even more beautiful than he first thought she was. Her eyes met his again and he smiled at her. It was a smile that he usually reserved for Velara, but somehow it seemed alright to show it to her.
“I’ll bet you’ve seen a lot in your life,” said the old man in black, pulling Anton from his gaze. He lifted the cup of coffee to his lips and took a swig.
“Excuse me?” said Anton, slightly annoyed about being pulled away from the beautiful woman.
“I know what it’s like to be old,” the man said, not looking at Anton. JR quickly refilled the man’s cup. “Time seems to pass slowly at times, and then at other times it passes quickly. But not quickly enough.”
All Anton could do was nod his head.
“Yessir…I think that I lived much longer than anyone
As time went on, more people became to come out of the darkness. First, an older black man with long white hair wearing a porter’s uniform came in and sat two seats down from him. Then, two beautiful and elegant black women came in and sat on the other side of the bar. He recognized one as Vercie, a deceased mortal woman who considered herself to be the keeper of Velara’s family legacy. Lastly, an older gentleman wearing all black came in and sat down right next to Anton.
The new patrons sat quietly for several moments not speaking. JR put a glass in front of the women and poured brandy for them. The old black man was given a cup of coffee, too. And finally the man next to Anton was served a shot of whiskey. Still no words were exchanged.
The old man just stared ahead with a sad expression on his face that didn’t seem to change at all. Anton looked closely at the face: he saw deep age lines; lines of sadness and despair. The eyes that were smack-dab in the middle of those lines were also sad, but yet still carried a sense of acceptance and contentment. The man’s hair matched his clothes in their blackness. The hands that held the whiskey glass were hard and weathered. He saw Anton staring at him and toasted him before taking one last swig of the coffee. JR dutifully refilled the glass without a blink. After a few moments Anton was able to recognize him. He’d not known the man in life, but he’d often heard of him and his music.
The beautiful black women stared at Anton and Vercie smiled at him in recognition. He raised his glass to her. She was a descendent of Velara, probably her great, great, great-granddaughter to be exact. Many of Velara’s qualities had been passed down to her, although she was more of an elegant beauty with high cheek bones. She was dressed in a beautiful, yet conservative, green gown. She lit a cigarette and smoked it since The Way Station was the only place the dead could do such a “living thing”. Her companion smiled at Anton and giggled out loud. Somehow she looked familiar. She was pretty, though she lacked the poise and overall effect that only Vercie could have. Vercie had piercing eyes that met Anton’s. But most of all he was taken with her smooth and flawless skin like brushed ebony velvet, and her shapely body that reminded him of Dorothy Dandridge. Her companion quietly she lit a cigarette and then got up and came over to Anton’s side of the bar. As she approached, he could smell her sweet and very fragrant perfume. She sat down on the other side of Anton and signaled to JR for another drink.
As he studied her from a closer proximity, he was really taken in by her overall effect. She was even more beautiful than he first thought she was. Her eyes met his again and he smiled at her. It was a smile that he usually reserved for Velara, but somehow it seemed alright to show it to her.
“I’ll bet you’ve seen a lot in your life,” said the old man in black, pulling Anton from his gaze. He lifted the cup of coffee to his lips and took a swig.
“Excuse me?” said Anton, slightly annoyed about being pulled away from the beautiful woman.
“I know what it’s like to be old,” the man said, not looking at Anton. JR quickly refilled the man’s cup. “Time seems to pass slowly at times, and then at other times it passes quickly. But not quickly enough.”
All Anton could do was nod his head.
“Yessir…I think that I lived much longer than anyone
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