Forever Young The Beginning (92 page)

Later in the afternoon, all was in
readiness. The captain had done a walk-around and had seen to the
cargo being lashed into place. Double-checking the provisions he
had checked that his entire crew was present as well. He gave the
command and the crew swarmed aloft to ready the sails. Workers on
the pier stood by, ready to free the lines from their moorings.
Twelve crewmen stood by with poles ready to shove off from the
pier.

Thomas Lawrence, his adopted
son, and his new bride, the former Caryn Rochelle of Paris stood on
the pier watching. He had just finished a skilled carpentry job on
the guest cabin of the ship two days prior to her loading. It was a
duplicate of a job he’d done in London on the galleon
New Hope
some six weeks
earlier. This ship was larger, being around 600 tons, but the job
he had recently finished was exactly the same dimensions as the one
he’d done on the
New
Hope
. He had no idea why he’d been
hired to do the modification, but he knew the people well who’d
hired him, and had never asked. They were good friends and had they
wanted him to know more, he would have been told. They were there
too, a superbly dressed group watching the final preparations. A
little girl with wavy hair like spun gold and a face like an angel
was with them, and two of the women carried babies in their arms.
The two women and their babies were the only ones not wearing sun
glasses.

The captain made his way
toward the aft deck, having done a final inspection. As he walked
he looked up at the aft deck at the woman standing there and
thought
six years hibernating under a pile
of hearth and chimney stones and she still looks like she did the
first time I ever saw her! And if someone hadn’t needed those
stones for a foundation for a new building, she’d still be sitting
under that pile of rubble hibernating. No wonder that no one
believes in vampires!

He made his way up the steep steps to
the aft deck and walked toward the helm. She turned from the aft
rail, a beautiful young lady above medium height, with wavy hair
the color of light honey with pale golden highlights. Gracefully
she walked to stand beside the tall lean captain at the helm. She
had a wide-brimmed hat that hung down behind her on a blue ribbon.
Wearing sun glasses, exquisitely made long gloves and carrying a
folded oversized parasol, she stood out drastically against what
would normally be a masculine backdrop.

The captain gave one last
look around and then shouted “Cast off! Unfurl sails! The lines
were loosed as the sails dropped with a series of ‘whump’ sounds.
The westerly wind caught them with a series of snapping sounds as
each sail filled.
Elsie’s Cloud
began to move majestically to the east, away from
the pier and out into the Firth of Forth toward the North Sea. The
lady standing next to the captain waved toward the receding pier.
The entire well-dressed group walked to the end of it, waving back
at her. The little blonde girl could be seen jumping up and down
waving.

Cosette turned to Angus McCloud and
said “I wish that they all could come with us.”

Angus turned to Cosette and said “Now
lassie that would be quite a feat. And just where would we keep all
of the goats needed for that bunch?”

Cosette looked out to sea and laughing
her marvelous laugh, she linked her arm through his and said “Then
it is onward to America, Captain McCloud.”

The End

Dear reader,

Thank you for taking the
time to read
‘
Forever Young The Beginning’
.
This is the first novel I’ve ever written. It is
my hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing
it.

If so, please do use the links below
to write a short review and tell why you like it.

http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Young-The-Beginning-ebook/dp/B008PKQH3Q/ref=sr_1_1?=digital-text&ie=UTF8&gid=1344894396&sr=1-1&keywords=forever+young+the+beginning

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19247283-forever-young-the-beginning

My second book explores the
life and adventures of Ian McCloud as he arrives in America when
war with Great Britain is starting. He will continue to cut a wide
swath as he forges ahead and becomes drawn into the American fight
for independence in my already-published novel
‘Forever Young Birth of a Nation’
.
For a look at this vampire clan in the 20
^th
century, read already
published
‘Forever Young Irina’.
Don’t hesitate to write to me if you know of any
way I could have improved your reading experience. I’m a work in
progress.

Gerald Simpkins

[email protected]

These books are available in print at
Amazon books, and as e books at all vendors.

Glossary of
characters

Aimee:
6 year old girl rescued from coven of vampires.

Alandra Vasquez:
17 year old girl taken prisoner by
pirates.

Aldric Moreau:
Villainous Inquisitor, adept vampire.

Alyssa:
20 year old woman, friend and protégé of Marie
Lafayette.

Andre Amsler:
12 year old boy, younger brother of Liridona
Amsler.

Andrew Norris:
Captain of merchantman New Hope.

Angus McCloud:
Ian’s uncle, captain of merchantman Elsie’s
Cloud.

Annaliese (Anna)
Fellman:
40 year old widow of Swiss
banker.

Armando:
Portuguese navigator aboard merchantman Elsie’s
Cloud.

Arnaud Moreau:
Vampire. Self-serving, villainous younger brother
of Aldric Moreau.

Aurelio Vasquez:
Uncle of Alandra Vasquez, killed by
pirates.

Adolfo Vasquez:
Uncle of Alandra Vasquez and high official in
Spanish Government.

Babette:
Little girl kidnapped from Angel’s Care
Orphanage.

Carlos Chavez:
Villain. Evil master swordsman and son of Spanish
Crown prosecutor.

Caryn Rochelle:
Parisian fashion designer and aunt of Celeste
Rochelle.

Celeste Rochelle:
12 year old girl kidnapped from streets of
Marseille.

Celita:
17 year old Maidservant and childhood friend of
Alandra Vasquez.

Charles Bourbon
III:
King Charles III of Spain.

Claude LeBlanc:
Villainous kidnapper and brother of Erin
LeBlanc.

Claude Rousseau:
Inspector of King’s Gendarmes of
Marseille.

Charlotte of
Mecklenburg:
Queen Charlotte, wife of King
George of England.

Clifford Edwards:
Pervert, wealthy senior partner of Robert
Milliken

and older brother of Miles
Edwards.

Corinne:
Tavern Wench at Blue Oyster Inn at Marseille.
Lorn’s girlfriend

Cosette Bouchard:
20 year old Vampire woman who saves Ian’s
life.

Damien Girard:
Suitor who courts Alyssa.

Donatien Francoise:
The Marquis de Sade, brother of Marcel Francoise
the Satanist.

Eduardo Vasquez:
Father of Alandra Vasquez, Spanish ambassador to
France.

Elsa Von Brandt:
Vampire and wife of Karl Von Brandt of
Liechtenstein.

Elsie McCloud:
Ian’s mother and namesake of Elsie’s Cloud
merchantman ship.

Emile:
Villainous vampire who lost a foot fighting Ian at the
Francoise mansion.

Enrique Chavez:
Father of Carlos, and villainous Spanish Crown
prosecutor.

Erin LeBlanc:
Villainous owner of Red Dolphin Inn and
kidnapper.

Ernesto Chavez:
Uncle of Carlos and brother of Enrique
Chavez.

Esmeralda Bourbon:
Widower and daughter of King Charles III of
Spain.

Esmeralda Vasquez:
Mother of Alandra Vasquez.

Geraldo Perez:
Florist and cemetery caretaker of Barcelona,
Spain.

Henri Lafayette:
Vampire Adept, banker and entrepreneur and husband
of Marie.

Henrique Pronovost:
Proprietor and owner of Blue Oyster Inn of
Marseille.

Heinrich (Heini) Von
Steuben:
Vampire, judge of Supreme
Council.

Ian McCloud:
23 year old seaman, adventurer, first mate aboard
Elsie’s Cloud.

Jan Vandenoever:
Grandfather of Ian McCloud and wealthy Dutch
Trader.

Jean Pelleau:
Villainous blacksmith of Paris and
kidnapper.

Jennifer Stewart:
20 year old tavern wench at Hungry Eye Inn. Kidnap
victim.

James Barrows:
20 year old Adept Vampire employed by Robert
Milliken.

Julian DeRoche:
Wealthy pervert in Paris.

Liridona (Liri)
Amsler:
Swiss maid employed by Anna and
older sister of Andre.

Leon (Gunny)
MacLamb
: Gunnery/cannon expert aboard
Elsie’s Cloud.

Li Hong:
Chinese Kung Fu expert and cook aboard Elsie’s
Cloud.

Lorn Barnes:
Crewman aboard Elsie’s Cloud who speaks
French.

Louis Bouchard:
Cosette’s younger brother.

Marcel Francoise:
Older brother of the Marquis de Sade, Donatien
Francoise.

Margaret Milliken:
Vampire and wife of Robert Milliken of
London.

Marie Lafayette:
Vampire and wife of Henri Lafayette of
Marseille.

Mark MacCarr:
Shipwright and officer of Elsie’s
Cloud.

Mary McCloud:
Ian’s aunt from Scotland.

Mauritarius:
Villainous vampire in Paris who courted
Alyssa.

Michelle:
Little girl kidnapped by vampire from Angel’s Care
Orphanage.

Miles Edwards:
Villain and rapist who is younger brother of
Clifford Edwards.

Mimi:
Little girl at Angel’s Care orphanage of Marseille.

Nikola (Niki)
Saigat
: Vampire and Supreme Council
judge.

Philippe’
Rodriguez:
Suitor who hopes to become
Alandra’s husband.

Renaud LeClerc:
Vampire and villainous kidnapper and
murderer.

Ricardo:
Portuguese banker in Lisbon.

Rob Woolsey:
Crewman aboard Elsie’s Cloud.

Robert Milliken:
Vampire and judge on Supreme Council and banker in
London.

Roberto Rodriquez:
Father of Philippe’’ Rodriquez and Spanish
banker.

Pierre:
Carriage driver.

Rosita:
Sick little girl at Barcelona House in Barcelona,
Spain.

Serge Fellman:
Swiss son of Annaliese Fellman.

Sophia:
Courtesan and companion of Li Hong.

Stefan Devrie:
Vampire who lost his forearm at the battle at the
Francoise mansion.

Stu:
Crewman of Elsie’s Cloud.

Stuart McCloud:
Ian’s younger brother.

Thomas Lawrence:
Friend of Jennifer Stewart.

Vassily:
Vampire and judge of Supreme Council.

Wilhelm (Willy)
Hoffmeister:
Vampire and judge of Supreme
Council.

Yvonne Devrie:
Red-headed vampire badly burned at the Francoise
mansion.

Glossary of
terminology

Adept:
A vampire so trained and imprinted as to be able to tolerate
indirect sunlight, human food, and lack of blood for short periods,
and mastering human mannerisms in such a way as to be able to blend
with human society and not be detected.

Adjust hearing:
The ability for a properly mentored vampire to
adjust the acuity of their hearing so as to hear extremely well in
near silent conditions, and also to reduce hearing sensitivity in
noisy conditions. This is necessary for any successful Adept
vampire who desires to mix in human company in cities.

Banque de Lafayette:
Bank owned by vampire Henri Lafayette of France
who is also a judge on Supreme Council.

Blood fast:
The length of time a candidate can do without
blood. This is best achieved by denying blood during the imprinting
process. It forever makes the candidate less dependent on blood and
more able to tolerate being without it and able to not lose control
when smelling it. The associated pain when denying during
imprinting also enhances the candidate’s ability to tolerate pain.
Only well-imprinted Adepts do a blood fast when imprinting. Many do
not even know to imprint that characteristic.