James had set an almost impossible puzzle for her to solve. He wanted to keep her interested and give her small clues. If she worked things out herself she would believe and accept it easier.
However, James had the feeling that he was getting himself and her into trouble by doing this. Ally’s grandmother had likened her to a terrier when it came to solving a mystery. That persistence and thirst for the truth was what had made her a much sought after private investigator. James decided he needed to give her a clue to start her off on the right track.
Alessandra was lost in his eyes; he could feel the exact moment she surrendered to his will. She was his to command.
James slowly brought his hand up to her cheek and traced the line of her jaw moving his finger slowly over her neck and down over her décolletage.
With expert precision he lowered his mouth above hers and brushed her lips with his. James felt Ally shiver with anticipation. Desire spread through his body like wildfire at the shiver he felt run through Ally, she wanted him and that made him want her all the more.
Ally felt like she was on fire and it was all because of this man. This incredible, intelligent and mysterious man. The desire and need that he had sparked in her went all the way to her soul. She felt that her life from this moment on was going to be inexplicably and irrevocably changed, again. She hoped with all her soul that it would be changed for the better this time. Her life had already been turned upside down once before and she didn’t know if she could go through that again.
In that moment the world could have ended and neither would have known.
Ally suddenly became aware of something tugging at the edge of her consciousness again. Without warning her mind felt like it was exploding. Images were flashing across her mind’s eye so fast she could barely register them. It appeared she was seeing memories of James’ life and the most beautiful country she had ever seen. The land was calling to her but she had never been there and yet she had a vague impression that it was somewhere in Scotland.
In the images James was different somehow, more natural and less composed. The mask he wore had slipped and she was seeing him as he truly was for the first time.
Most of the images seemed perfectly normal except two. He was dressed in nobleman’s attire from the regency period in England in one memory and the other one pictured him with a man that looked a lot like Michelangelo during the renaissance period in Italy.
Her brain went into overdrive trying to put the pieces together. Were they memories from a fancy dress party? Ally wondered. Something about it seemed too authentic to be a fancy dress party. Could it be real? Her mind was racing with possibilities.
She leaned back from James unconsciously when the first image exploded in her mind.
James was watching with a clear fascination.
His words came back to haunt her. “What am I, Ally?” She remembered the feeling that accompanied that question. Ally was right, there was more to this man, than whether he was a bodyguard or not…a lot more if her instincts were correct.
He was still watching her, assessing her reaction when he spoke. “Are you alright, Alessandra?”
She didn’t know exactly what to reveal just yet and she was still feeling very unnerved and completely thrown.
“Yeah, I…” she trailed off without realizing.
Just how old are you if what I saw was real? Ally wondered trying not to react in case she was crazy. She had been experiencing some very unusual events in the last twenty four hours, so she decided not to dismiss anything out of hand, just in case it was a clue to the mystery that had been haunting her for so long.
“Ally,” he said as he touched her arm. James looked coy for a moment and then said, “I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds by almost kissing you then.”
She smiled at his sudden coyness. How was it that a man, no a god like him, could possibly be coy? “Do you want to know how I felt about it?” she asked with a sudden confidence that she didn’t know she possessed.
His nerves were clearly showing now. “Yes I do…I think.”
She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I have never felt anything like this before…” she leaned back and locked eyes with him, “I have been dreaming about you kissing me ever since I met you all those years ago.”
His smile could have lit up the blackest night. James was relieved to find that she felt that way about him. He was unsure if she pulled back because of the memories or because she didn’t feel anything for him.
Ally pressed her body closer to his and her mouth hovered over his lips for a few seconds. They were both lost in the moment, about to seal their attraction with a kiss, when a familiar voice interrupted them both.
“James? Ally?” Adele called out. She hated to interrupt them but this was literally a matter of life and death.
James and Ally shared a look of mutual irritation and mortification at being disturbed at such an intimate moment.
Shrugging Ally called out to her grandmother, “Over here Gran!”
Following the voice, Adele turned into their hidden alcove and was upon them in a moment. Seeing how close they were and realising that things had been going well she felt another wave of guilt wash over for interrupting but she was also overjoyed that the couple had been connecting.
“There you are.” Adele smiled.
Ally smirked despite being interrupted. She knew that something important must have come up for Adele to interrupt them.
“Is everything alright?” Ally asked.
Adele shifted uncomfortably trying to decide the best way of extracting James from the situation without raising any alarm bells with Ally. Her granddaughter was extremely clued in to everything that went on around her. There wasn’t much that escaped her. Adele loved that about her granddaughter, but at this very moment it was proving to be a disadvantage. Adele put on her best disarming smile. “Everything is fine but there is something that I think James will want to deal with.”
James had been watching Ally and not taking much notice of Adele’s interruption but once she mentioned it was something to do with him he started to pay attention. He looked to Adele for the first time and noticed her body was rigid with tension and her eyes held a fear that made him suddenly very nervous.
“What’s going on?” he asked intently.
Still attempting to appear relaxed, “It’s about that guy you met last night… ” Adele didn’t want to say his name because Ally had uttered it this morning. Being the natural detective that she was, Adele knew that she would start putting the pieces together.
Ally felt every muscle in James’ body go rigid with tension at the mention of this guy from last night. Without looking away or breaking eye contact he asked, “What has happened?”
Making a valiant attempt to stay calm so Ally wouldn’t catch on, Adele casually replied, “Nothing yet, but he has been hovering around.”
“Where?”
“In the ranges on Mount Dandenong.”
He said clearly puzzled, “I don’t understand?” He looked at Ally for a moment, “After last night he should still be in recovery not scampering about the ranges.”
Adele looked at her granddaughter with sadness in her eyes. “Recovery or not he won’t let this business rest until it is completed.”
James’ gaze settled on Alessandra. She felt that sense of dread slither through her again. Ally shuddered involuntarily. What the hell is going on? She wondered.
Before she knew what had happened she felt her mind thrust her back to the night of Madame Isabella’s reading. The words came back to haunt her, the unknown man is looking for you, could that unknown man be Vincent? Whoever Vincent was and could he be the man they are speaking of?
Coming back to reality Ally was uncomfortably aware that they were both looking at her. “Why do you both keep looking at me?” Ally asked them both, feeling more than a little self-conscious that they were both staring at her.
She also had the feeling that something was being
kept from her. Instinct told her that her grandmother knew more than she was letting on.
James and Adele shared a look that was so quick she wasn’t even sure if it had happened.
James took her hand catching her full attention. “I’m looking at you because this business is going to drag me away from your intoxicating company and I would much prefer to stay here with you.” He said with an obvious sadness in his eyes.
Ally felt a pang in her heart at the thought of him leaving. “Do you have to go?” She asked him.
James brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “I’m sorry but I do have to go Alessandra. Only something this important would drag me away.”
“Ally.” She smiled. “Call me Ally.”
He breathed the word, “Ally…”
James looked to Adele and she nodded. “I will take care of her, James.”
“I can take care of myself,” Ally said indignantly.
“Of course you can sweetheart,” Adele said smirking at her.
James got to his feet in one fluid motion. He turned back to Ally and held his hand out to help her up. She took it, amazed that a man with chivalry still existed in this day and age. That, in itself, was enough to make a girl swoon. Chivalry combined with everything else he was, could become lethal to a girl’s heart.
“Leave it with me Adele. It will be taken care of by night’s end.”
She nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave the two alone to say farewell.
James and Ally turned to face each other. He drew her in again, she felt her knees start to buckle. “I’m so sorry Ally. I really wish I could stay and spend the rest of the night getting to know you better.”
She sighed. “I wish you could too.”
“I will make it up to you.” He said, as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I promise.”
She beamed at him. “You want to see me again?” Ally asked shyly.
He couldn’t help but laugh at her surprise that he wanted to see her again. They had almost shared a kiss, she set his body on fire and they confessed their mutual attraction but then he remembered these times were different to his. It meant nothing to some people but as she was about to discover, he was nothing like most people.
“Yes Piccolo, I want to see you again.” He smiled outwardly but he was seething with rage at Vincent inside. Slowly he looked into her eyes one last time. It was literally painful to drag himself away from her.
“Until we meet again,” he said and turned to leave.
“James,” She called out.
He stopped and turned around.
“What does Piccolo mean?” she asked.
His face softened and his eyes lit up. “It means little one in Italian.”
“Of course he speaks Italian,” she muttered to herself and shook her head in exasperation.
“Good night Ally.” He said, full of amusement.
“Good night James.” She said her heart almost bursting with joy.
Tonight had been beyond anything she had ever dreamed of and there was more to come. She felt like twirling around in a circle just for the fun of it. Her heart and soul felt light once more. The darkness had been drained away for a little while at least. A waiter walked by just at that moment and offered her champagne. She took it gladly then decided to sit back down and watch the stars for a while. It had been too long since she had just sat and let her mind wander. James consumed her thoughts.
Ally had been sitting there for what felt like hours, when she decided it was time to go find out how Kat was going with Chase. She felt like she was floating on air as she started back to the house. Nothing could penetrate her bubble of happiness…
Then she heard the twig snap behind her.
Chapter Seven
“ADELE, WHERE ARE YOU?” JAMES SNAPPED as he entered the empty house. It seemed all the party guests had congregated outside. He could hardly blame them, it was enchanting out there. James was tempted to say to hell with Vincent. He had waited long enough for Ally, but he knew that in order to keep her, he needed to deal with Vincent.
“In here, James.” Adele called out. It seemed as though it was coming from the kitchen. He stomped across the lounge and went in to find out all he could.
“Things seemed to be going well with you and Ally,” Adele said, her eyes and smile conflicting. She was smiling at James and appeared to be happy, but her eyes told another story. Terror was swimming in the violet pools looking back at him.
James looked at her and sighed softly. “I was having the most wonderful night of my life. Finally I was with her.” He raked his hands through his hair in frustration, “and now I have to leave to deal with that creature!”
Adele felt sorry for him, she really did, but she also knew, like him, that if he didn’t keep Ally safe from Vincent then there would never be nights like this again, for any of them.
“You know as well as I do that we have to keep her safe.” She stated calmly.
“I know that Adele.” He shot back, “I have been doing that for the last twenty one years haven’t I?” He was pacing around the room. Fear and frustration was getting the better of him. Her heart broke for him. Adele walked over to where he stood and laid her hand on his arm to comfort him. “Everything will be fine. She will be fine.”
“We don’t know that Adele,” James said helplessly.
“No we don’t but you have to have faith.”
“Do you?” he asked, wondering how she managed to appear so calm amongst all this turmoil and danger. Her granddaughter’s life was literally in danger.
“I do,” Adele answered without hesitation. “Do you know why I believe and have faith that Ally will survive this?”
“Enlighten me,” he said with a sad laugh.
“Because she has you!” She said this with such conviction, he had no choice but to believe what she said. “I know you James Carlisle and I wouldn’t put Alessandra’s life in the hands of just anyone. Prophecy be damned!” she stated as she threw her hands in the air. “If it had been anyone but you, I would have told them to go to hell and taken her into hiding.”
He was so taken aback by her passionate declaration that he didn’t know what to say. He felt humbled and honoured that she thought so much of him and trusted him so much.
“Thank you Adele.” James looked at her and smiled.
She came over and gave him a hug. “You big oaf, go out there and save our girl.”
He collected himself and found out the necessary information he needed. Then he set out on his journey to find Vincent and send him on his way. It was only a stalling tactic but he needed time, more than he knew he would get, Ally wasn’t ready yet. His love didn’t even know who or what she was yet.
He rolled his eyes at the thought and felt a headache taking hold.
Things are going to get bad and fast, he thought to himself. God help us all when we tell Ally what is going on he thought, as he stalked out to his black Mercedes and got in.
All human pretence had dropped. No one was around to see him walking faster and with more grace than any normal human could. His foot hit the accelerator and he floored it. Adele had information that Vincent had been seen loitering around the Dandenong Ranges National Park about twenty minutes from Ally’s house. That was far too close for comfort.
Speeding through the winding roads, he was overtaking anyone that was in front of him. It was no time for a leisurely drive. He had to find Vincent and stop him. Ally’s life depended on it.
James pulled into the car park and threw the car into park and got out. He stood tall, throwing his senses out trying to locate Vincent and any potential traps or decoys.
Something was not right, but James just didn’t know what. “Why would he lure me out here?” he wondered aloud.
Sensing no immediate danger he started towards to the forest that lay before him.
James quietly entered the clump of trees that stood tall and proud before him. He didn’t want to go in too far. H
e suspected Vincent wouldn’t be hanging around near the car park. Walking till he couldn’t see the road behind him anymore, he stopped and looked around. James could feel something watching him and he could smell the evil around him.
“I know you are in there, Vincent.” He bellowed, hoping to draw his enemy out. “Come out and face me you coward.” His eyesight was much better than any humans. He could see in the dark as well as he could in the sunlight.
High pitched laughter rang out through the trees.
James was taken aback. “No, what is she doing here?” he said softly. He was right, something was very, very wrong.
“It’s so nice to see you again, James.” The delicate voice stung his ears. He tried to locate her, by following her voice, but it seemed to be coming from all different directions. She was intentionally throwing him off her scent.
“What is going on?” he roared. “Why are you wasting my time?”
“I just wanted to see you James.” Her voice was whispering all around him.
“Cut the crap, Natalia.” James growled.
“Oh how sweet, you remember me.” She laughed.
Natalia floated out from between two trees not far from where James was standing. The foul creature before him appeared to be breathtaking. Her long blonde hair fell down to her waist. Her tiny figure was clad in a skin-tight black dress that left nothing to the imagination. As well she had big blue eyes that gave the misleading appearance of innocence.
What was on the inside however, was another story. Natalia had a black heart and was evil to the core, a true narcissist, which wasn’t appealing to James at all. She hadn’t always been that way though. Vincent had made her one of them. James had failed to save her, it would be a stain on his soul for eternity.
“What’s the matter James?” she asked feigning innocence. “I don’t bite.”
James looked at her and cocked his head on the side. “Well actually you do.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “I always loved your sense of humour, James.”
Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 7
