Focussing on the black grand piano in the corner, she became lost in her own thoughts for a moment. So much for hating the country, the house and the servants, Ally sighed inwardly. She became intensely aware of the fact the she loved this wild untamed magical country. The house was incredible, Sophie and Henry seemed very nice and worst of all, the attraction she felt towards James, was increasing by the minute!
Suddenly Ally realised that Sophie was speaking to her, but she only half heard what was said. James was watching her, his emerald eyes sparkling, his face intent but soft, with a little concern thrown in.
Oh why couldn’t he have been horrible? Everything is a mess, she thought.
“Ally it only feels that way. I’m honoured that you love my house, friends and country.”
“What the hell?” she muttered, looking at James with a burning question in her eyes.
Did I hear that or am I going mad again. Oh that’s right I wasn’t mad the first time it was all real! She thought sarcastically.
“Perhaps this is a discussion for another time,” he said quietly to Ally, obviously concerned.
“Get out of my head James!” she said quietly frustrated.
It was an invasion of privacy that Ally was not happy about and wanted to make very clear to James. However she didn’t want to do that by causing a scene in front of his friends. Ally just needed an hour of normality. Her life had been thrown into chaos and too much information was running around in her head.
Unfortunately Sophie was a rather perceptive woman, and she noticed the quiet tension between the two. Looking in the direction of the couple to be, Sophie heard what Ally had tried to convey quietly and understood what had transpired.
Sophie appeared to be a mother figure to James, which became more apparent when she began to scold him the way a mother would. Lovingly but firmly she said, “James leave the poor girl alone. She obviously has a lot to process and if I know you at all, it wouldn’t have been put delicately.” Sophie directed the next question to Ally, “Am I right in assuming that you weren’t given a choice in coming here?”
Ally looked at her with respect and gratitude. “Yes but…” she paused. “They had a good reason to do so. Vincent nearly killed me.”
“I see. Choice or no choice it is a lot to process.” Sophie’s words conveyed her sympathy. She was obviously well acquainted with James and knew what he could be like at times.
“Clearly I’m out numbered here,” James said with a hint of annoyance. “I will leave you ladies to tear my character to pieces.” With a glance back towards Ally he said, “Alessandra, I know this is hard for you. Just know that I did what I had to, to protect you. I had only the best intentions from the start. I hope you can one day forgive me.” With eyes full of sorrow and concern, James left the room.
Ally watched him leave, regretting every miserable word she had said to him. She knew that he was trying to do the right thing by her. Tears threatened behind her eyes. Ally had hurt him, it was the last thing she wanted to do.
Despite being far from ready to accept everything that she had been told, Ally felt that she had to do something. James deserved better than this. She ran from the room in the direction that he had gone.
Adele called after her, “Sweetie, are you ok?”
“Yes, there is just something I need to fix,” Ally yelled back without stopping.
Sophie turned to Adele, “I think they may be very good for each other, but there is so much for the poor darling to take in.”
“I know…I know,” she said, watching Ally run from the room.
Ally didn’t know where James had gone, but she figured he couldn’t have gotten too far. “James wait,” she called out breathless from running.
When she didn’t hear a response, Ally decided to do something crazy. She attempted throwing him a mental command to stop. Ally had no idea exactly how to do it or if it would work, but she had to try. She turned the corner and there he was, looking bemused and relieved.
“Ally, what did you just do?” he asked with a sly smile. All the evidence of hurt and annoyance was gone from his face, replaced with humour at what she had just done.
“I think I made you stop,” she said with great satisfaction. It had obviously worked.
He chuckled, “I should have known you would use that against me eventually. I have to say I’m impressed.”
“Thank you…I just wanted to…well apologise.” She was looking down at the floor as she spoke. It was mortifying enough apologising, without having to look directly at him.
“You don’t have to apologise, Ally. I realise how much I have asked you to take on faith and that this has turned your life upside down again.” He reached out and tilted her chin up to look him in the eyes. “Ally, never feel like you can’t say what you’re thinking to me. I want us to be honest with each other about everything.”
Again Ally was struck by his eyes. Was he doing that, or was it something between them. The whole soulmate thing still confused her, but she did want to be honest with him.
“I don’t mean to be prickly, it’s just that there is a lot to process and everything I have ever known wasn’t right, I guess you could say. I know that you only have the best intentions towards me and that you had no choice. Because you were the one who took me away, I lashed out at you, but that’s not fair. It will just take me some time to adjust to everything.” She smiled shyly at him.
Ally felt like she was sixteen years old again. “I still remember the first time I ever saw you like it was yesterday. I thought you were the most handsome man I had ever seen and I felt a connection with you instantly.” Ally was trying to will away the heat she could feel increasing in her cheeks. Blushing was hardly becoming on a twenty one year old she thought whilst internally cringing.
“That is because we are soulmates Ally, I felt it then too and it was even stronger last night. Remember everything you feel, the connection, the pull, the desire…” he let the words hang in the air as he moved closer and drew her in, “I feel it too. You’re not alone in this Ally. I have never had a soulmate before either, so I think we both need time to adjust.” He smiled teasingly.
“I know. I guess I’m just processing. It will take me some time James. You can’t push me in this.” Ally was hoping he would understand and give her the time she needed.
Ally saw the desire and serious intent wash over his face as James began to speak with that whisky tipped voice that she was coming to adore. “I want you to want me the way I want you. Love me the way I love you. I will never force that Ally. I will tip the scales in my favour, but the choice about me is always yours.”
Ally found herself again drowning in his green eyes. She could see the emotion dancing in them. He was telling her the truth, she knew that instinctively. His words and honesty made her gravitate toward him even more. She was falling under his spell. James was leaning closer. His desire clouded eyes seemed to be moving closer to hers. Ally became abruptly aware that they were no longer speaking but gravitating towards each other. Her mouth went dry. Her body was moving and reacting without any conscious thought towards him. He snaked his hand around her waist and drew her in. She felt weak from desire. No-one had ever stirred her body this way. She could feel his breath on her lips. The anticipation surged through her with a force that almost took her breath away.
James lowered his mouth upon hers slowly and softly at first. Her knees buckled and he caught her never breaking the kiss. He tasted of whisky; smooth, dark and dangerous in large amounts. It was him.
She felt the passion pass from his lips to hers. She heard him growl in an almost animalistic possessive sound. The sound that escaped his lips seemed to surge her higher and make her aware that she not alone in this haze of desire. His hand moved down the small of her back. James moved her against the wall so slowly she barely registered what was happening. It was the single sexiest moment of her existence. His hands were moving over her body reverently. Ally knew they had to stop soon b
efore they were carried away on a torrent of passion and desire. James must have realised that too, because he slowly broke away and looked deep into her eyes.
“Ally,” he murmured.
“I wasn’t planning on that happening,” she said, coming back to her senses.
“Neither was I, but I’m glad it did.” His voice was husky from passion.
“I need to go.” She was starting to panic about what had just passed between them. “Sophie and Gran will be wondering what happened to me.”
“Go, do what you need to. I will be here when you need me Ally,” he said with sincerity.
Ally turned back the way she came to find Sophie and Adele. What happened was about to send her over the edge.
As she was walking back into the lounge room to join Sophie and Adele, she felt a fluttering at the edge of her mind and heard James whisper softly “I will think of that moment for a long time to come.”
Ally couldn’t help the big smile that swept across her face.
She entered the lounge at that same moment, where Sophie and Adele were having tea out on the balcony. Adele and Sophie shared a look that suggested they knew what had just transpired. Ally was mortified but glad that neither mentioned their suspicions.
“Ally, come over and join us sweetheart,” Adele motioned her over with a wave of her hand. “The view from here is incredible.”
She headed out to the balcony and then stopped dead in her tracks. As she looked up she was thinking that incredible didn’t even come close to what the view was like out there. She had never seen anything so gorgeous in her life.
The white snow-capped mountains stretched as far as the eye could see. The trees were so tall they appeared to kiss the grey sky above. It was a mix of white and green and with the dark backdrop of the storm approaching, it looked so beautiful she could feel all the tension melting away. The world seemed to disappear for a moment. She wished she could have sat there and stared for eternity.
“It’s something else,” Sophie said in awe as well. “I thought I would stop appreciating its beauty but I haven’t. Every day I come out here and soak it all up.”
“It’s the immortal land. Their power is still in the earth. That is why it is so captivating and entrancing. They may have left, but their imprint never did,” Adele said.
“I can feel it,” Ally replied without thinking.
“It’s magical isn’t it.”
Sophie decided it was a good time for her to excuse herself and give them some privacy to talk. “I had best go check my cookies,” she said with a smile towards Ally leaving them to talk.
Ally was fixated on the vast wild lands before her. She could feel it calling to her soul. This was her place in the world. She had come home. Ally knew it with everything that she was, but she wanted to keep that to herself for the moment. It was a secret that she and this inspiring place kept.
“I had forgotten what it was like here,” Adele said. “There is no place like it. The peace and calm I feel here…”Adele trailed off.
“It is very special Gran.”
She looked at her granddaughter. “I know there’s lot to take in Ally. Just give yourself time to adjust. I know that the mountains are calling to you. I can feel them rejoicing that you have come here.”
Ally wondered how she knew that. No point in keeping it a secret now. “I can feel them calling me but I don’t know what they want?”
“You will restore the peace and harmony in this land and it will be filled with the immortals again. They are calling to you because they know you are the chosen one.”
“The chosen one, Gran? Does it have to be so cliché,” Ally chuckled.
“Fair point, but having said that, it is true. You are the chosen one, the prophecy girl. Whatever you want to call it, this is your destiny.”
“I know.” Ally paused, “But why me?”
“Ah, well, that is something we will never know I suppose, but Ally you have all the talents at your disposal to do this. It will be hard, but you will succeed.”
“How can you be so sure?” Ally asked.
“Faith.”
“Faith? That’s what you’re going on?” Ally wished that she had her confidence.
“Alessandra,” she placed her hand on her granddaughter’s and looked into her eyes. “Without faith, there is no hope, and without hope there is no chance of victory.” She looked to the mountains. “There is a saying that from the greatest tragedy comes the greatest triumph. You have suffered a great tragedy sweetie, make your parents proud and turn it into your biggest triumph.”
Ally gazed off into the distance. What her Gran had said was true, but she needed some time to let things sink in.
“I’m going to see if Sophie needs any help with those cookies,” Adele said. “Just sit here and listen to the land before you. Some of our greatest immortals walked this land. Their imprints are still here, and perhaps they will be an inspiration to you.”
Alessandra glanced at her Gran and gave her what she hoped was a sincere looking smile. Her mind was being pulled in so many directions, she felt her head might explode, but the mountains seemed to calm her. She decided to move to the rattan day bed and look out at the view. Maybe some wise ancestor would speak to her. Crazier things than that have happened today, she thought.
When she lay down she was happy to find that it was as soft and comfortable as it had appeared. The tension seemed to flow out of her and her eye lids felt so heavy. Maybe a sleep will do me good, she thought.
She pulled the warm feather doona at the end of the day bed over her. It was so snug and comfortable. It also happened to be the very same shade of purple from her bedroom back home. Perhaps James had done that, or it might have been just a coincidence. Her mind began to wander as she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep filled with dreams.
Chapter Fourteen
“COME QUICKLY, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK,” an unknown immortal yelled to his warriors that were assembled in front of him. “The vampires have descended upon us. We must defeat them. Follow me.”
He was obviously the leader of the group.
“Hurrah!” they all cried and surged forward behind the leader. One hundred immortal warriors had answered the call for help that the leader had sent out.
Late at night as the moon was sitting high in the sky, the vampire army had taken the form of a light grey fog and had descended upon the land of the immortals and began their slaughter.
“Damian, come quickly. We cannot defeat them. Something has happened to make them our equal in strength. There are too many.” James communicated to his brother Damian with urgency and confusion.
“What has happened brother? It is not possible that they are as strong as us.”
“I don’t know but it’s true…our only chance of survival is with an army of immortal men but even then I don’t know if we can defeat them…they have already taken half the village.”
“We are coming from the south and will be there in five minutes. Do what you can little brother.”
What has happened? Damian wondered.
Five minutes later they emerged into the chaos. The scene before him sent a chill through his very soul. Blood was spilled everywhere. The lifeless corpses of men, women and children were scattered on the ground. The earth was crying out in pain, he could feel it.
I must warn her to take cover where she is, he thought. I couldn’t bear it if she was destroyed.
He sent her the news the way of their kind. “Our village is under attack from the vampires. You must stay where you are. Take cover and let no one find you. I could not bear it if I lost you my love.”
His unknown love replied, “I will my love, please come back to me when you can.”
“I promise you that I will come back,” Damian promised then broke the connection. She curled into a ball beside the fire that he had built for his love in their house before leaving.
It lay within the mountains and was well concealed from the world. She wo
uld be safe but she couldn’t shake the feeling her warrior would not come back to her as promised.
Back in the midst of the chaos, Damian screamed to his men, “Attack.”
His heart was breaking at the loss he felt. He would make the vampires would pay for this.
Damian steered his trusty steed into the throng and he began beheading as many vampires as he could. They could burn the corpses later. This would be enough to stop them for the time being.
There were so many of them and James was right, they were stronger than usual. It wasn’t making sense, something had happened.
The Immortals had taken it for granted that they could keep the vampires under control and had grown complacent. Now the evil ones had turned it against them.
He surged forward when he caught sight of his brother in the middle of a vampire circle. He was surrounded with no way out. Damian blocked out the screams of terror from the immortals, the sound of metal against metal and the laughter of pure evil and victory from the vampires. James was the only person in his focus.
He held his sword high in the air as he galloped forward and took out one of the vampires to make a hole in the circle, then threw his other sword towards James at a speed that the vampires couldn’t even see. In less than a second James had caught the sword and sliced a vampire’s head off. Together they fought off every vampire. They had always made a great team on and off the battlefield.
The air was filled with the smell of evil and death. It hurt his nose to breath, he needed fresh clean air but he had to help his men.
Damian took in the sight before him again. His men had killed all but a few remaining vampires, but as with any battle, a few good men of his own had been lost, but they died with honour.
Damian had been blessed with an analytical mind that made him a brilliant leader. He could make battle plans in a second and revise them just as quickly. His natural charm and charisma also inspired his men.
“What the hell happened tonight? Why are they as strong as us and how did they get past?” he asked James who was still mounted on his magnificent black Arabian stallion.
Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 13
