SURFACES - APAKOHN SAGA - BOOK ONE

Bregovic

Living forever has many advantages and, at the same time, cruel periods of boredom and monotony. Even so, complaining about such a gift is sacrilege. However, the immortals in this story do not care at all about profanity, including their precious eternity.

On a beautiful and chilly morning, Caleb Anthony, patriarch of the Bregovic family, was not expecting good news. Not that he was a pessimistic man; he just knew that after so much time, feeling deeply anguished by the calm routine, something had to happen.

Mornings like that made Caleb daydream, but never enough to miss the approach of his beautiful wife. Her steps, soft yet swift, indicated that Annabelle Rhistofen, or Mrs. Bregovic, was heading to her husband's office for another of their morning conversations.

After a gentle knock on the door, Annabelle entered without waiting for permission. She was the kind of woman who didn't need permission to do what she wanted, never went unnoticed, and was truly elegant, as if she belonged to the noblest groups of society (and indeed she did). Her red hair flowed gracefully down to her waist, her blue eyes illuminated her face, and her voice was very pleasant, though it carried an undertone of authority.

In no way could Annabelle be thought of as a manipulative woman; she didn't need to use any tricks in her dealings, much less with her husband. Unlike many women, Mrs. Bregovic knew Mr. Bregovic deeply enough to know what to say, how to say it, and most importantly, when to say it. Caleb also knew his wife just as deeply, although he didn't need to be as cautious with her; the most fascinating thing was seeing these two immortal beings never tiring of each other.

"Good morning, Caleb," Annabelle greeted cheerfully.

In Mrs. Bregovic's hands was a letter, which she discreetly placed on the table. She kissed her husband and sat in her comfortable, feminine armchair by the fireplace.

Caleb Bregovic made a point of keeping his wife's armchair in a visible spot in all his workrooms. Besides adding a feminine touch to the place, he liked having something accessible for Annabelle. The armchair also served as a kind of clock; in a spot impossible to ignore. Finding it empty after a brief glance meant it was time for Mr. Bregovic to take a break and go find his wife for a walk.

Annabelle was an open book, so Caleb often remained silent, analyzing his wife's state of mind. For her, it was impossible not to show what she was thinking or feeling. After a few minutes, Mr. Bregovic decided to stop analyzing and listen to what was happening.

"You seem very excited today, my dear. Is this"—he pointed to the letter—"the reason for such joy and restlessness?"

Annabelle smiled, satisfied.

"It's wonderful news, Caleb, so marvelous that I thought it would never come. Please, read the letter."

The letter was addressed to Mrs. Bregovic, and the sender was a man named Devan Scheiff.

"My friend Annabelle,

I know we haven't seen each other for 17 years, and thinking about this time away from you, Caleb, and the boys only motivates me to give you great news. Next month, my daughters and I will be near you and the whole clan. I regret if it took me a long time to understand and especially accept their fate, but I finally feel that as tempting as the idea of living forever is, it no longer awakens desire in me without Heidi's company.

If you could ask Caleb to inform the clan at a meeting, I would appreciate it. See you soon!

Sincerely,

Devan Scheiff"

Caleb's dark eyes softened as he read the letter; it was undoubtedly spectacular news!