Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) (10 page)

“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

“
A
DELE, WHERE ARE YOU?”
J
AMES 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. He 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.”

“What do you want?” James asked with an edge to his voice. He was sick of the conversation already.

“Oh lots of things…” She was toying with him.

“Natalia!” He growled in warning.

“Not in the mood for games?” She asked with a pouting smile. “What a shame. I always love a good game.”

“Where is he?”

“Where is who?” Natalia asked attempting to appear confused.

“You know damn well,” James said losing what little patience he had. “I’m talking about Vincent.”

“Oh Vincent, of course,” she replied, openly smirking now. “He is taking care of Alessandra.”

James turned red with rage. “And you’re the distraction.”

“Clever boy.” Natalia smirked wickedly, thoroughly enjoying the game.

“You won’t get her!” He raged.

It had been so obvious. What the hell was wrong with him that he couldn’t see what was staring him in the face?

She lost the façade of being friendly in an instant. Her voice became raspy and her eyes started to glow an eerie red. The mask was gone and she was showing her true evil self. “Make no mistake James. He has found her and will destroy her. The prophecy will never be fulfilled and you will wander the earth lost and lonely pining for your beloved Alessandra for eternity.”

“Not going to happen, Natalia.” James said as he drew a fireball in his hand and threw it straight at her heart. She jumped at the last minute but didn’t manage to avoid it completely.

The fireball struck her arm and she screamed in fury. “You will pay for that James.” She hissed at him with a promise of vengeance in her eyes.

Without further warning she turned and ran, letting out a scream of pure loathing that filled the night sky and the surrounding forest.

James turned and ran to his car, hoping that Vincent hadn’t found Ally yet. At the same time feeling that it was only a matter of time before he did.

He phoned Adele. She needed to get Ally inside and keep her under close watch till he returned, if she hadn’t been abducted already. His nerves were strung tighter than piano wire.

Adele answered almost instantly. “James, what is wrong?”

“It was a decoy! Get Ally inside now!” He said with a voice of pure terror.

In an instant she had slammed the phone down on the bench and ran to get Ally before something happened.

James put his foot to the floor, there was no time to waste. He could be back at Adele’s house in ten minutes but that was far too long at this point in time. He should have known, but he had been so caught up, it had slapped him in the face without him even considering a trap and now it might be too late. James lost himself in his thoughts as he sped back to his one true love, Ally.

Chapter Eight

A
LLY WHIPPED AROUND TO SEE HER
best friend walking towards her. “Kat, you gave me a fright.”

“Sorry,” she smiled. “I was just coming to see how you were getting along with James.”

“What a coincidence, I was just coming to find you.” Ally replied.

Both girls stopped talking when they thought they heard a twig snap and looked in the direction from where the sound came.

“What was that?” Kat whispered.

Ally looked at her friend, concern written all over her face. “I don’t know. I heard it before but I assumed it was you approaching.”

“No, I don’t think so,” Kat replied.

They both looked into the surrounding trees trying to distinguish what had made the sound.

“A rabbit maybe?” Kat said.

Ally raised her eyebrows in reply.

“Ok it was just a thought.”

“Something isn’t right.” Ally now became aware of a smell, which was distinct but subtle. “Can you smell that?”

“Smell what?” Kat replied.

Ally knew that something was wrong but couldn’t put her finger on it. Every fibre of her being was screaming at her to run but she thought perhaps she was just overreacting.

“Never mind, I think my mind is playing tricks on me.” She scanned the area with her eyes once more. “Maybe we should head back inside.”

“Are you ok, Ally?” Kathryn asked, concerned.

“Yeah I’m fine. I just…” she replied as her voice trailed off.

“Ally?” Kat asked trying to draw her friend back from wherever she had gone.

Ally snapped back to reality and looked towards Kat. “There is something bad going on around here and I think it has something to do with this secret,” Ally confessed.

“Whatever it is Ally, we will work it out.” Kat put her arm around Ally. “Come on let’s go get another drink and you can tell me about James.”

“Yeah,” she answered distractedly.

Deep within the trees there was something watching them. The prophecy girl was standing before him, with nothing to stop him from taking her. He could do away with her little friend and take her before either of them had even registered what was happening. He would be well rewarded for taking this prize back to his master. The creature’s eyes were glowing red with evil purpose and delight. It was just too easy.

As he was about to make his move, the creature felt the very air around him change. The vibrations radiating off someone approaching, made him think twice about attacking. “So you aren’t unguarded then, my pretty.” It rasped the sound barely audible. “Who is the one guarding you I wonder?” He watched as the guardian came running across the yard towards Ally and he withdrew further into the bushes. Her power radiated off her in waves. This was not one he wanted to fight, even for the prophecy girl, he knew without a doubt he would lose. The guardian was much stronger than he.

“Isn’t that Adele running over here like a mad woman?” Kat laughed at the sight before her.