Love Never Dies
Love Never Dies Book 1
Love Never Dies Book I Background from JointVentureLightning on Vimeo.
A Novel by
Geoffrey Zimmerman
PROLOGUE
“Kiss me again, my love,” Katia demanded, gently twisting his head and pulling his lips to hers. He turned his attention to her, and all other senses were removed, and he was drawn into her gaze. She moved toward him, knelt on the bottom of the boat, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Alexi slid off his seat, and sat on the boat’s bottom. Katia slid beside him, and nestled her head against his chest. He caressed her silky hair, tenderly held her hand, and entwined his fingers in hers. The two gazed across the lake. Its smooth water terminated at a small rocky shore and upward-striving, black and white granite cliffs.
They leaned in together, tilted their heads, and kissed softly, then more deeply, and then embraced, clutching, grasping, kneading. Then slowly, neither wanting to stop, their lips parted.
—-
The lone Cossack, like a snake in the grass, slowly, smoothly straightened his rifle beneath him. He lowered his eye to the rifle’s sight, blinked and stilled his head. Distracted by movement from the corner of his vision, he slowly turned just an inch and saw a long-haired woman rider exit the forest. She stopped and gazed for a long moment at the two people in the boat, and then turned away. She led her horse around the bloody battleground, keeping her eyes low, watching the bodies in the grass.
—-
“Alexi, do you remember rescuing me from the swamps?”
Alexi smiled, and blushed somewhat, for he had always felt responsible for Katia’s near death plunge into the freezing water.
“My love, I will never forget…I’m sorry I ever brought you out there.”
Katia brought a finger to his lips, and he stopped.
“I knew everywhere I went with you Alexi would be an adventure.”
He smiled.
“Do you remember me asking you what I would return to this world as if I had not come back up?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I know now what I will be, Alexi.”
His brow furrowed, and he looked into her adoring eyes.
“What?” he asked.
“Your wife,” she said, grinning. Alexi held her hand, squeezed it, and caressed her shoulder.
—-
Sergei and Ivan plowed through the forest, and finally began riding downward toward the small beach on the lake’s opposite bank. Peering through the Cliffside trees, Sergei saw that the small rowboat was just fifty yards from the edge. He felt a relief and expectation, for he knew that soon he would he would pull Alexi and Katia into his trembling arms.
—-
“Katia, do you remember when I carved our initials in that oak tree when we were six?”
“Of course I remember. You cut your finger with that knife you stole from your father.” She lifted his left hand, found the scar between his thumb and forefinger, and tenderly stroked pink flesh.
“Right here,” she said.
“Yes,” and he smiled, remembering. The two were silent for a moment, lost in the many memories that the two had shared through the years, and they turned to each other.
—-
The prone enemy, having lain still and flat while Ludmilla passed nearby again raised his eye to his gun sight. He had debated taking a shot at the woman, but knew that if the shot missed she would slash him in an instant. He instead opted for the two small figures wavering in the mist of distance across the lake.
—-
“Katia, how have we found ourselves here? What led us to this place?”
Katia looked off, lost in thought. “Destiny, my love. Destiny.”
“Alexi?”
“Yes, my darling…”
“If we don’t safely leave this water…” Alexi pulled Katia finger close to him.
“Hush.” She turned and gazed into his eyes.
“I’ll meet you at the oak tree,” she said.
“I’ll meet you at the oak tree,” he echoed.
The bullet flew through the calm, clean air, sharp, heavy, forceful…
—-
Within the forest is a legend
Of a wise old poet named Zygmund
Who uses magical words of power
To guide true lovers through their final hour
Some say of the finest mist he is made
And can stand the swipe of any man’s blade
For he’s been above to regions high
More lofty yet than eagles fly
Kashubian Folk song 1846
Testimonial
Love Never Dies…
I recently read the first version of Love Never dies, and I found it to be a timeless story, rich in discription which captivates the reader from the moment Alexi and Katia meet. Much like Romeo and Juliet, these star crossed lovers transend time, leaving the reader with the impression that they will find eternal love.
–by Patty Johnson
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Thanks and enjoy.
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PS: Remember, this is Book 1: The Parting. As a subscriber to Book 1 you will also get sneak previews of Books 2 and 3 currently in production. As a special offer to my fans who buy Love Never Dies, I’m offering special member only access where you can even influence the development of these future novels… as a “Thank You” bonus.
