Until the End of Time

PROLOGUE

Lorelei and Blaise

The Virgin Kiss

16 June 1812. Tuesday

Hurry, Lorelei, we have not a moment to waste, Blaise yelled back to his companion.

They were headed back to the Southern Oak Plantation on the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia, before his father arrived back from New York. Captain Atticus Kelly had told his young son he had better be there waiting for him inside the ancestral home, or he would get two lashings for disobeying his command.

But, Blaise, I cannot run any faster, Lorelei pleaded with him, as he dragged her by the hand.

The two were soaking wet from taking an afternoon dip in the plantation pond. They broke free from the brush, and entered the well-groomed lawn. Blaise stopped, putting his arm up to prevent Lorelei from forging ahead. They stood beneath the giant southern live oak tree on the side of the house. The Spanish moss tendrils swayed in the slight breeze.

We have to enter through the cellar. I do not want your mother catching us practically unclothed.

For only being fourteen, Lorelei was a mature young woman, filling out her pantaloons and chemise nicely. Blaise had always had feelings for her. After all, they had grown-up together. It had not mattered to him one iota that she was the maidservant’s daughter. Blaise was a refined young gentleman several years older than Lorelei, albeit a venturesome lad whose father owned a shipping fleet.

He turned around. He could not help but notice her standing there, flesh revealed through her damp clothing. I love you, My Lass, he then lifted her chin and kissed her lips.

Her body felt limp. His lips moist, foreign to her, but sweet tasting. She desperately wanted more, but they had never touched their lips together. It was her virgin kiss. They were falling in love, but she had to resist.

She became flustered and began to shake her head back and forth, No, Blaise, we cannot have anyone watching us.

She had some sort of propriety, and he knew he should not have kissed her so close to the house. I could not help it. I have wanted to kiss you for far too long, now, and you have become so beautiful, I could not deny fate a second longer. Besides, I want to give you a birthday kiss.

Fate? She shyly whispered.

Yes, Lorelei, fate. I proclaim this, for you and I are indeed eternally bound, and whether we are forbade or not, we are to be as one.

I am not a possession, Blaise.

Ah, My Lass. You are. You are MINE. Beneath this old oak tree, I declare, that you are mine for all eternity. You are the air that I breathe. Without you would be my demise.

Blaise, she looked down, her amber eyes beaming with excitement as she noticed the thinness of his breeches. She blushed, scanning his body as she met his piercing blue eyes.

He took his index finger and placed it on her lips. The simple touch sent shivers through his body as he whispered, Ssshhh, My Lass. Let us go and find some appropriate clothing before my father returns.

She felt comfort in his touch as he took her hand. They slowly crept back into the house unnoticed.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 1

Maria and Kelly

The Café

16 June 2002, Sunday

As he took a sip of his creamed coffee, he watched the mysteriously dark and sensuous woman sitting at the next table of the outdoor café. He gained interest while she sipped her chai and peered at her cell phone. Her long black hair fell forward concealing her eyes.

In the middle of June, the petite woman dressed casually wearing black leather combat boots, and looking snug in a black sweater to avert the cool morning chill that whipped down the barren ski slopes of the Astra Valley Resort in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It looked as though she was not a tourist, but possibly a resident.

The ruggedly handsome dark-haired man breathed in the crisp Rocky Mountain air, as he sighed.

Next to Kelly Baker Austen, sat his younger brother, Christopher, Kit, for short. On the other side sat their father. Kelly ignored his brother and father’s conversation as they talked about fishing on the Eagle River the next day. The trio was on a great American adventure, traveling from their hometown of Savannah, Georgia, to a remote location on the other side of the country.

Shoving Kelly’s forearm Kit asked, You gonna go introduce yourself, Bro?

In the town square, just outside of the outdoor café, a clock chimed at the top of the hour. The woman looked like she was getting ready to leave, so Kelly took one more deep breath, as the late spring breeze filled his nostrils.

Kit shoved his brother one more time towards the woman, as she slinked out of the black wrought iron chair. Kelly was mesmerized as she swayed, walking away.

Have I met her before? He thought, wondering where she was from.

She continued walking away towards the village shops down the quaint cobblestone pathway that surrounded the café.

He heard his brother say, There went your opportunity, Bro.

Kelly walked closer to the table she had been sitting at, and noticed that she had left her credit card and receipt in the black leather case that was wide open. He glanced down at the name on the credit card.

He whispered, Maria LaBella Santana, liking the exotic ring to her name.

Before he picked up the credit card and receipt, he took the pen left in the case, and wrote down his cell phone number and first initial on the receipt. He then drew a heart in front of the K.

With the credit card and receipt in his right hand, he walked swiftly to catch up to the mysterious woman who intrigued him. He found the closer in proximity he was to her, the more accelerated his steps became. Unbeknownst to Kelly, Kit picked up a camera as Kelly reached for Maria and took a snapshot of the two holding hands. As Kelly pulled her towards him, he accidentally collided with her as she turned around in that instance. The force of their motion sent them stumbling into one another.

Their lips touched briefly, as the woman fell forward into Kelly’s arms. The spine-tingling sensation mimicked a vortex overpowering them, suctioning their bodies into a vacuum the maelstrom created, shooting a kaleidoscopic extravaganza of colored stars straight up into the sky. It was similar to the fireworks on the Fourth of July.

What was that? Maria asked, looking into his piercing blue eyes, surprised, pushing back after all kineticism ceased.

I don’t know. Do I know you? Kelly asked the woman, breathless.

The woman looked like she had just gone through a tornado. Her hair was messed and her lipstick smeared. She stared at him with her amber eyes as if she were just meeting him for the first time. Then…her eyes opened wide and recognition washed over her face.

High school? Savannah, Georgia?

He smiled. She was the girl who used to sit behind him in computer class. He noticed her back then, but did not take the initiative to get to know her better. Maria was a quiet girl who didn’t say much, and Kelly was a little too shy to approach her all those years ago.

Sure, I remember you. Maria Santana, he said, smiling. He gave her the credit card and receipt, happy he actually was acquainted with her.

Kelly Baker Austen. I used to wonder why you had three names. Usually people who go around killing people are the only ones with three names, she giggled, making a joke.

He smirked and thought he had missed ten years of his life without this perky, lovely woman with his kind of sense of humor.

I use my mother’s maiden name of Baker to honor her.

Is she dead?

No.

Maria smiled at him, loving his sense of humor.

They walked over to an empty patio table and sat to talk further.

What are you doing in Colorado? Kelly asked the woman, looking into her eyes.

I live here, now, in River Park. I’m the deputy coroner for Astra County.

He was instantly fascinated, and wanted to ask her more about her occupation, but she interrupted his train of thought.

What are you doing in Colorado? Maria asked the man who had spent many a night in her dreams when she was younger, unbeknownst to him.

I’m on a fishing expedition with my brother and father. He gestured toward where his brother and father were sitting.

Kit raised his hand, while their father, Retired Naval Captain Rhett Austen, sat back with a grin on his face. He enjoyed watching his oldest son engaging the woman in conversation, trying to land himself a wife. With Kit, it was a daily occurrence to dangle his fishing line, but with Kelly…with Kelly, it would be a once in a lifetime event.

I was just on my way to work. I have a case I’m working on at the ski resort, Maria told him, looking down at her watch. Her supervisor would be waiting on her.

I’d like to talk some more. Could we meet for dinner? Kelly was anxious to get to know her better. I’ll be in town another three days, he said, as he handed over the credit card and receipt to her.

Okay, I’ll be leaving tomorrow. The town where I live and work is about thirty minutes from here. I’m staying at the Astra Valley Lodge. She took her wallet from her sweater pocket, inserted her credit card and receipt, and then found a business card to hand to him. My cell phone is listed on the card.

Kelly responded, Okay, I’ll text you the details for dinner, later. He then added, My cell phone number is on the receipt.

Maria retrieved the receipt, looked at it and then smiled. She thought the heart was a cute gesture. She nodded and then quickly walked away, stuffing the wallet back in her pocket.

Kit moved towards his brother. He stopped right behind Kelly and placed a hand on his shoulder. There goes the love of MY, oops, YOUR life, Kit smirked.

Kelly lightheartedly elbowed his younger brother in the stomach. Kit was a ladies’ man and was forever trying to catch a little fish on his hook.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 2

Lorelei and Blaise

River Street

2 March 1816, Saturday

It was only by providence that Lorelei Genevieve Sainte-Marie was even sailing to Europe with her lover, soon-to-be husband, shipping heir and first mate, Blaise Bertram Kelly. He had persuaded Lorelei to elope with him. Determined to marry her on her eighteenth birthday, the 16th of June.

Lorelei’s Italian mother, Sancha Sainte-Marie, was the Kelly family’s beloved housekeeper in Savannah, Georgia. Sancha hauntingly called to her daughter from the grand French doors of the home plantation in Italian, Vieni a casa, il mio piccolo. Come home, little one, come home, little one.

Blaise pulled Lorelei by the hand towards the hired carriage set to travel to the Savannah River. He had been pulling on her hand to follow him since he could remember. He implored her to sail the Atlantic with him. He promised her love and adventure. She was hesitant to leave her mother; but Blaise assured her that they would come back to America as husband and wife. She would no longer be just his childhood playmate and the maidservant’s daughter; she would finally be his tacit treasure forevermore.

Lorelei was also excited to visit the home of her ancestors in France. Her father, Etienne Sainte-Marie, was born in the town of Besançon. He lost his life as the Captain of the Lorelei off the shores of Jamaica as a heavy gust crashed the ship into the rocky boulders on the South shore one dark misty night in 1809.

Twenty minutes later, at their first destination, a ship’s horn sounded against the mortared brick buildings lining the cobblestone street of Savannah. Lorelei and Blaise embraced at the river’s edge with their lips attached as silver metallic sparks ostensibly shot straight up into the sky.

Father wants us to hurry, Blaise, a blond young man yelled to his older brother from the wooden dinghy awaiting their return to their second destination to the maiden ship Atticus, docked six miles down the Savannah River, off Hutchinson Island. They would then have to continue twelve more miles down the river before the Atticus met the Atlantic Ocean.

Yes, Atlas, Blaise acknowledged his younger brother.

Blaise then whispered to his love, the dark-haired Lorelei, bending down to kiss her tenderly on the lips, ‘Tis time we embark on our journey, My Lass. He then took her hand to whisk her away to Europe, where they were to be espoused by Captain Atticus Kelly, his commander, chief and father.

Captain Kelly was on his way to retiring, and decided his only task in the future would be to handle the financial aspects of his business. He was on his last voyage. Atticus Kelly owned a shipping fleet of sailing vessels known as the Savannah Shipping Company, predicated in his home port of Savannah. Atticus hired another very qualified seafarer, Geoffrey Taggart, to co-captain his company’s first Trans-Atlantic voyage from New York City to Southampton, England, and then onto Calais, France, which would open an international commerce he could scarcely ignore.

Captain Kelly was a widower of ten years. His wife, Margaret Dolancourt Kelly, died in a carriage accident in 1806. She went by the shorter name of Molly. Molly’s mother was a full-blooded Cherokee who died giving birth to Margaret.

For quite some time, Blaise had celebrated the thought that his father was furtively in love with Lorelei’s mother, a widow for the last seven years. Blaise was certain they would all become one astronomically blissful family and enjoy all the time spent as such.

Set sail, Atlas, Blaise said. It was time to ship out to sea.

Sitting at the bow, Blaise turned to look into Lorelei’s soft and tender eyes. He brought his hand up to her cheek and verbally expressed, I once told you, Lorelei, you will be mine forever. I am determined to keep that promise.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 3

Maria and Kelly

Chez Magnifique

16 June 2002, Sunday

She stood in the foyer at the front of Chez Magnifique Restaurant. He relished the way she looked. She wore an ebony-colored dress that just brushed the floor, wearing the same combat boots he had seen her wear earlier in the day. She was a dark seductress that Kelly could not resist.

The maitre d’ escorted Maria to the table. Kelly got up from his seat, as she sat down. He smiled as he searched her amber eyes, then he handed her a dethorned single pink swirl rose. Kelly wanted to treat Maria to a special evening, so he reserved a quiet table for two overlooking the snow-capped mountains in Astra Valley.

She thought Kelly looked HOT dressed in all black. The dark knight. Maria blushed. Thank you. So formal, Mr. Austen, Maria shook her head, wondering where Kelly got the money for his fishing adventure and the expensive restaurant. He must have done well for himself, Maria thought. How can you afford all this?

My grandmother died earlier this year and left me and Kit a substantial inheritance. I enjoy spending my money wisely.

Her eyebrows lifted, Kit? She asked, not realizing who Kit was.

My brother, Christopher.

I remember Chris. He was in my class.

He goes by ‘Kit’, now. My father’s mother is the one who died, just recently.

My grandparents died quite a while ago, Maria, told him.

Are your parents still alive? Kelly wondered.

My mother still lives in Savannah. My father died when I was 20.

Why didn’t your mom join you on your adventure?

"She prefers staying