Ally snorted. “They have got a funny way of showing it!”
Chase stopped pacing and sat down again next to Kathryn. She had been sitting quietly trying to absorb all the information and be there as moral support for her friend. Kat looked at Ally and then to Chase. She could hardly believe it, but it all made sense, and she felt relieved to know that Chase was a good man after all. He was trying to protect Ally, which made Kat like him all the more.
Ally seemed to be collecting her thoughts when she asked him the question she feared the most, “This prophecy, and all of the other stuff…I have no say in it?”
Chase locked eyes with her and she felt like he was staring into her soul. “It’s your destiny.”
Something in her rebelled at the thought. She stood abruptly and started for the verandah. She needed some fresh air. This room was beginning to suffocate her. She stopped and looking over her shoulder said, “That’s where you’re wrong, our destiny is what we make of it, nothing is predetermined.”
“Your destiny is set Ally, whether you like it or not. The only thing that isn’t set in stone is the outcome. Fight it all you want but you cannot run from your destiny.”
Without another word she stepped outside.
Chapter Ten
“WHERE IS SHE? WHAT HAS HAPPENED?” James asked without any patience.
Adele pulled herself together. “She was in the garden where you left her for a while. I went to check on her and I smelt him. Not Vincent, but a minion.”
“Go on,” he said as his heart jumped into his throat.
“I could sense her fear and knew she was alive. So I ran straight to her. She was with Kathryn. They both seemed disturbed by something in the bushes, so I got them back inside as quickly as I could without raising too many suspicions.”
His body was as tightly strung as a violin. Fear was threatening to paralyse him. “Is she ok?”
“Yes, but if I hadn’t gotten there when I did…” Adele’s voice trailed off softly.
“Where is she?”
“She is with Kathryn and Chase in the sitting room.”
He sighed with pure relief, Ally was alright. James could take his anger out on the vampire that tried to hurt her. “Where is the vampire in question?”
“Sorry James.” She sighed, sounding disappointed. “I had to make a choice. I chased him as far as I could but I didn’t dare stray too far from Ally.”
“I’m glad you chose Ally.”
Adele wandered over to the counter and leaned against it, letting a sigh fill the room. “I don’t think the creature is hanging around out there but I don’t know for sure.”
“He will be long gone by now.” James replied absently
“I thought she was safe here, at the house at least,” Adele said quietly.
“I am beginning to think that nowhere is safe,” he replied with a heavy heart.
They both sat down at the table to form a plan for the oncoming night.
“We need to get her into a deep sleep in order to get her on the plane,” James said.
“I will take care of that, you just stay out of sight.” With that, Adele got up from the table and went in search of Ally.
He nodded his consent and went to make himself a coffee. It was going to be a long night.
Whilst searching for Ally, Adele met Kathryn and Chase who were leaving.
“Where is she?” Adele asked, as she looked frantically around the room.
Kathryn put her hand on Adele’s arm gently, “She is on the verandah.”
Chase and Kathryn shared a look.
“She needed some air.” Chase remarked, the guilt was showing all over his face.
Adele looked from one to the other and raised her hand to rest on her hip. “Why would she need some air?”
Chase knew he was about to be in a whole lot of trouble. He started to say something but Kathryn cut him off. “She knows part of it, Adele.”
Adele looked at her with sheer disbelief, which then quickly turned to anger. She turned to Chase, “And how would she know anything Chase?” She was annoyed and scared. They had a plan Ally was to be told by them, not Chase.
She could feel him squirming. “Well, I’m waiting!”
“She caught me off guard, Addie.” It was weak but it was the best he had and it was the truth. She had taken him by surprise.
Adele was not pleased. “Surprised or not, you shouldn’t have told her.”
“Adele, she needed to know one way or another,” Kathryn said gently. “Perhaps Chase just helped you get started.”
She looked at Kat and was about to snap at her but thought better of it. Her nerves were frayed and she was panicking. None of this was Kathryn’s fault and she was right, Ally needed to know one way or another and now things have been forced into the light.
“What does she know?” Adele asked trying to ascertain how much Chase had revealed.
“Not much and only really basic information. I didn’t go into great detail,” Chase replied. “But she knows about Vincent, removing memories and that there is a prophecy.”
Adele took a calming breath. “Right, so there is still a lot to tell.”
Chase hung his head, the guilt weighing heavily upon him but he still stood by his decision. If he were in that situation, he would have done the same thing as Ally. She was tough and he liked her.
“I need to take Kathryn home, Addie,” he looked at Kat and smiled warmly. “We have a lot to discuss.”
As Adele watched Kathryn and Chase staring dreamily into each other’s eyes, she felt a pang deep in her heart. She was happy for them, but it reminded her of a time long ago…
“Kat, Chase will tell you who we are and what we are doing,” she paused. “It will be very dangerous and I cannot guarantee your safety if you do come, but you are like another granddaughter to me and a sister to Ally, so you have as much right to be there as any of us but…” she trailed off, not knowing the right words to say.
Kat smiled warmly. “I don’t know half of what is going on but if Ally needs me then I will be by her side, come hell or high water. You can count on me Adele.” She embraced Adele saying, “And I love you too.”
Adele felt a tear well in her eye but held herself in check. “Thank you, my dear girl.”
“Let’s go,” Chase said with a final look to Adele.
“Remember what I said Chase, I shall hold you responsible.” Adele warned him with a sincerity that vibrated throughout the room.
“I know Adele.” He all but growled. Adele loved Kathryn, he knew that, but Kat was his to protect now and no one else’s. He would not tolerate interference from anyone.
“This is getting out of hand already,” she grumbled as she watched them leave. Adele turned to find Ally. It was time they told her everything.
“Ally,” Adele said as she walked out onto the verandah.
Ally was leaning against the railing staring out into space. She was visibly startled when she heard her name called. She turned her head around.
“Oh, hi Gran,” she said without any emotion. She appeared to still be absorbed in her own thoughts.
Adele could feel the hurt and confusion radiating out of her granddaughter.
“What’s wrong darling?” Adele asked as she sidled up next to Ally and looked out into the garden.
“Just looking at the stars…”
“They are beautiful,” she answered warily. This was going somewhere, Adele could feel it.
“Do you think our destinies are written in them?”
And here it is, Adele thought to herself. Fighting back a mental groan, she forced herself to answer. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. They had a plan and Chase had compromised it. Adele continued looking at the stars, “Sometimes, yes they are.”
Ally turned her head to study her grandmother for a moment then turned back to the stars. “You see, I always believed we made our own destinies, nothing was foretold or preordained…things just happened.”
&
nbsp; “You can’t hide from destiny,” Adele said softly.
“No I suppose not.”
Adele pushed off the railing and looked at Ally. “We need to talk.”
Ally didn’t even flinch or turn around. She had wanted to know and now that she had been given a taste of the knowledge she craved, Ally wasn’t so sure that she wanted it now.
“Do we have to?” Ally said feeling so overwhelmed that she didn’t even feel angry or betrayed any more. All she felt was numb.
“There are things you need to know,” Adele said as she quietly pressed the issue.
She unwillingly turned to her grandmother, “I don’t think I want to know anymore.”
Adele was surprised. This wasn’t like her granddaughter at all. Ally had spirit and courage. She wasn’t a shell. The girl standing in front of her was a stranger.
“Ally come sit down.” She led Ally to a nearby rattan outdoor sofa and sat down on it. “What’s going on? This isn’t the girl we all know and love.”
“I don’t even know who I am.” Ally was clearly distressed about this evening’s revelations.
“You are Alessandra DeCosta! One of the strongest, most loyal and loving women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.” Adele spoke with passion and conviction for the second time tonight.
Ally looked at her grandmother dubiously. “Apparently I’m also some sort of prophecy girl.”
Adele took a deep breath. “That is one of the things we need to discuss with you.”
“We?” she asked.
“James and I. He plays an important part in this too.”
“Right,” she said noncommittally. “The soulmate.”
“Ally, you need to listen to this,” Adele was starting to get frustrated. If this attitude kept up then she was doomed. “Sometimes in life, our choices are taken away from us, for the greater good. It’s not always about what we want. There is a reason that you have been given this destiny.”
“To ruin my life a little bit more?” she asked sarcastically.
“Alessandra, I have never been disappointed in you in my life, by god don’t make me start now. Not when our entire race is on the line.” She was intentionally harsh on Ally, hoping that a bit of shock treatment might bring her out of the desolation she was in.
Ally snapped her head around to look at her grandmother, “How dare you Gran! You betrayed me and then you have the gall to sit there and lecture me on being a disappointment. I lost my parents, you have betrayed me and James, my supposed soulmate has betrayed me as well. My life has been taken out of my hands, and I don’t even know what I’m getting into yet, but if the Fortune Teller is anything to go by it won’t be good. How much can one person possibly be expected to take?” her voice had risen with every word as she felt the blood pumping through her veins. She felt angry, hurt and betrayed but it also felt good to vent. Anything felt better than that dark place where she had been. She hadn’t felt that low since her parents had died.
Adele was openly smiling, her expression one of delight and pride. “That’s more like it. I was beginning to worry.”
Ally stared at her gob-smacked. “You baited me?”
“Yes, and it worked didn’t it.”
“I love you but you have issues.”
Adele laughed. Relief flooded through her as Ally had returned before her very eyes. She just had to hit the right nerve.
“You’re not off the hook Gran, you have some serious explaining to do before I decide if your deception was warranted or not,” she said with a sigh.
“I would expect nothing less,” Adele said.
“Can we discuss this in the morning by any chance?” she asked with a yawn. “I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Adele wasn’t expecting that. Normally she was like a dog with a bone. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I think after a good night’s sleep I will be better equipped to deal with all this.”
Adele nodded in acknowledgement.
“There is one other thing though…”
“What?”
“Tell James, I want my memories back.” She said, deadly serious.
“I think that can be arranged,” Adele laughed.
“Good. ”Ally rose to go to bed. She could barely stand from the exhaustion beating at her.
“Till the morning then,” Adele smiled.
After Ally had left the room, she went in search of James again. They could still compel her into a deep sleep and get her on a plane. Ally would be angry, but they couldn’t wait till morning. Her life was in danger. Adele just hoped that Ally would see reason when she woke up on a plane with them.
James was sitting at the kitchen table when Adele walked back in.
“Coffee?” he asked.
She smiled gratefully, “Yes thank you.” Adele sat down at the table and put her head in her hands.
“What’s wrong?’ he asked as he handed her a cup.
She looked up. “Things haven’t gone to plan, thanks to our dear friend Chase.”
“Oh, for the love of god, what has the imp done now?”
She laughed out loud. Chase and James had always had a rocky relationship.
James being older than Chase was only the start of the problem. Things had been cozy between them as children until a prank that went horribly wrong and James had never really forgiven Chase.
“Well, Ally somehow figured out enough to put him on the spot and he told her a few things.”
James laughed. “I should have seen that coming. She will stop at nothing to learn the truth of things from what I have observed over the years. But what set her off?”
Adele shook her head. “I really don’t know… There are so many questions in that aspect.”
“I would suggest we aren’t the only ones who have questions. Do you want me to speak with her?” James asked.
Adele took a sip of her coffee. “Ally wasn’t herself when I found her and she doesn’t want to talk about anything until tomorrow, so it’s probably best if you wait.”
“Should we be concerned, do you think?” he asked a little worried about how much this was all really affecting her.
Adele thought about her answer for a moment. “I don’t think so, she said that she was tired and that she needed a good night’s sleep before she could deal with everything she needs to hear.”
James raised his eyebrows. “That is all well and good but we don’t have time to waste.”
“I know James. I plan on putting her into a deep slumber still. I just hope she will forgive one last betrayal,” Adele sighed.
“It’s for her safety. I’m sure she would do nothing less if she was in your position.”
Looking around the room, but not really seeing anything, Adele replied, “I hope you’re right James, I really do.”
James sat up straight in his chair and took a deep breath bracing himself for what knew would be turbulent times ahead. “No time to waste then, we leave within the hour. Pack what you both need and I will command her to sleep. It should keep her that way till we are in the air. I want to tell her everything before we reach Scotland. She can’t run away on a plane.” With that, he stood up and started towards Alessandra’s room.
“One more thing James.”
He stopped and turned back, “What?”
“She wants her memories back,” she said trying to keep the smirk from her face.
“So be it,” he turned back and continued his path to Ally’s room.
Chapter Eleven
ADELE STARTED TO PACK THE THINGS she and Alessandra would need. She decided it was best to pack light and get anything they needed once safely settled at James’s house. She began to think of the couple she had witnessed tonight. Alessandra and James were made for each other and her heart filled with love for them, but inevitably she felt it break for herself.
Damian… she thought, allowing herself to indulge in a moment of nostalgia.
Adele could still remember every exquisite detail about him. The
man was perfection personified. His eyes had locked with hers and she found herself captured in their dark chocolate depths. He was a tall muscular man with golden brown hair. They had spent many years together in a constant state of pure bliss before he was called into battle against Vincent. Her soulmate never returned. She was left broken-hearted. There was nothing to do but go on.
She met her husband a few months later and decided to marry him, since the man she was supposed to be with had died and she was with child. Adele had loved Jonathon dearly and he had raised Vivian as his own but he was not her beloved soulmate as Damian had been.
She mentally shook off the thoughts. It was still heartbreaking to think of Damian after all this time.
Adele knew that nothing remained in Melbourne for her now. It was time to return to the immortal way of life. She could help her granddaughter take down the evil vampire that had destroyed her life and taken Damian from her.
* * *
James went upstairs to Alessandra’s room. Coco, her ever-faithful dog was there beside her. She looked up at him expectantly. He gave her a pat and then sat down by Ally’s bedside and watched for a moment. She was perfect.
His heart broke at the thought of losing her but it might come to that if she couldn’t defeat Vincent. It was her destiny to fight him, but the outcome wasn’t written in the stars. That part was up to her, and her alone. James would stand by her till his last breath, if that was what it took, but it must be by her hand. He wiped his hand over his eyes, fighting off the despair.
James got control of his emotions. There was no time for that now, he had to get Ally to fall into a deep sleep and then get her out of here.
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “Sleep my little one.” She let out a deep breath and James felt her succumb. It was time to go. James scooped her up off the bed and went in search of Adele.
She was waiting for them near the front door, looking around as if to say goodbye. “I love this house,” she sighed.
“You will return here Adele.”
“No, I think it is time for me to return to the immortal way of life in my homeland and Alessandra will need me in Scotland.”
Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 10