Immortal Destiny (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 10
“What is going on?” Adele asked, and sat down on one of the chair.
Ally sat herself down next to Adele and wrung her hands together. “She claims to be the sister and the story she told sounded like it was true, but…”
“But what?”
“I just felt like she wasn’t telling the whole story or she was lying about something…” She looked at Adele and the worry showed in her eyes. “I don’t trust her.”
“Keep an eye on her, Ally.” Adele sighed. “For James’ sake I hope you’re wrong, but you normally know when someone is not being entirely truthful.”
“I’ve never seen James so shocked…She managed to bring him to his knees with one sentence. It was hard to watch.”
“It would’ve been.” Adele said. “Damian was talking to him, making sure that he was alright. He out of everyone knows how James has struggled with it.”
Ally nodded.
“So much has happened in the last few days!” Adele said, and gave her a quick pat on the knee. “You must be exhausted, sweetie.”
“I admit that I am feeling a little drained, but I have to keep going for James.”
Adele agreed. “He’ll need you more than ever right now.”
“I know. Maybe I should go check on him.”
“Probably a good idea. Your grandfather can get a little bit carried away at times.”
“So I took him after then,” Ally joked.
“You certainly did!”
Ally got up and went back inside to find James. She walked into the room, but he wasn’t there anymore.
“James?”
“I’m in our room little one.”
“Do you want some company?”
“Just yours.”
“I’ll be up in a minute.”
Ally found Sophie in the mass of people and pulled her to one side. “Could you organise a room for Caleb as well? But put him in the cottage with Logan. I think he’d be more comfortable there.”
“Of course, Ally,” Sophie said. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“There is one more thing actually. I need to make sure that James is alright, but I feel rude leaving everyone.”
“Say no more!” she said with a wave of her hands in the direction of the stairs. “Go and take care of him. He needs you. I’ll take care of everything down here.”
“Thank you, Sophie,” Ally said and gave the housekeeper a hug. Then she dashed upstairs to her new room that she would be sharing with James.
She opened the door and walked in, quietly shutting the door behind her. James sat on the couch opposite the fireplace with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
She sat next to him and curled her legs underneath her, then patted his arm. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”
He put his hand on hers and stared at her. “I am now that you’re here.”
She smiled. “I’m trying to think of something wise and wonderful to say, but I haven’t got a clue.”
“Makes two of us,” he said. “I just don’t know how I feel about all this. I discover that my mother loved me so much and that I have a sister, but I have no idea who my father was other than someone awful and the mother that loved me is dead…” He stared into the flames. “I mean, what do you do with that?”
“I wish I had the answers for you.”
The gratitude shone in his eyes. “I don’t expect you to have the answers, but it helps that I have you here.”
“I’ll always be here for you.” Ally wrapped her arms around him, then pulled back. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“We’re getting out of here.”
Chapter Fifteen
“We need to jump off the balcony for a start,” she instructed.
James drew his eyebrows together. “Seriously?”
“Yep! We’re breaking out.”
James felt his body tingle at the idea of escaping for a while. “But what about everyone downstairs?”
“I’ve got Sophie covering that,” she said as she walked out onto the balcony. “Now are you coming or what?”
“I’m coming,” he replied and scooped her up into his arms before jumping off the balcony.
They landed with a soft thud and he set her down on the grass.
“This way,” she said, and motioned for him to follow her towards the stables. “You and I are going for a ride. It’ll clear your head.”
“Ok, wait here. I’ll be back with the horses in two minutes,” he said.
As promised, he was back and they took off at a gallop towards the fence. Ally cleared it first with James following behind. She turned around and saw the smile that lit up his face, and she knew she’d been right to suggest this.
“Do you have a destination in mind?” James called out.
“Not really,” she confessed.
An idea struck him. “Then follow me.”
He took the lead on Cooper and she followed behind on Destiny both horses going at breakneck pace, weaving through the trees and jumping over fallen logs. Ally’s mind ticked over the afternoon’s revelations as they rode on. There was something about Isabella that she couldn’t put her finger on. She was inclined to believe that she was James’ half-sister but burning the diary was what had bothered her.
“The diary,” she muttered aloud. “She’s lying about the diary.”
“What?” James called back.
Damn it.
“Nothing, just thinking aloud.”
“It’s not far now,” he said. “I used to come here sometimes when I wanted to think or get away from it all.”
They rode up a small hill and James pulled his horse to a stop. “Down there,” he said and pointed to the hidden paradise.
Ally drew in a deep breath and the noise of rushing and crashing water filled her ears. “It’s gorgeous,” she said as her eyes took in the waterfall and the small river flowing from it.
“Come on,” he said kicking his horse into a slow walk.
Ally eagerly followed him down the hill.
James pulled up his horse and dismounted on the wild green grass beside the fast flowing stream. Ally did the same. She walked closer to see the waterfall up close and ran her hand over the mossy boulders surrounding it.
She peered into the water and saw the pebbles at the bottom. She’d never seen water so pure before. A tree hung out from the rapidly descending water catching her attention. “How can a tree possibly thrive in that situation?”
“It’s one tough little tree, that’s for sure,” he replied. “It’s strange that caught your attention, because I’ve always wondered the same thing.”
She turned back to the water and gazed at her reflection, until a second face appeared beside her. She couldn’t help but smile at the image of her and James.
“When I met you the second time, you reminded me of that little tree.”
“Why is that?” she asked as she sat on the boulder and looked at him.
“You were thriving against the odds, when a waterfall of despair, chaos and destiny were crashing down on you.”
Ally looked at the tree again. “You know, I feel a bond with that little tree now.”
“I’ll make sure you come and visit often then.”
She smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”
James stepped back and went to sit down in the long grass. She followed him and picked a blade of grass that she began to play with absently.
She knew that if James wanted to talk he would, but if he wanted to sit in silence, she could do that too. The magic of the place held her captive and all her troubles melted away momentarily.
Eventually James began to speak. “There is a legend about the waterfalls up here.”
“What is it?” She asked eagerly.
“According to legend, a female creature, known as the Caoineag will be hear
d wailing at a waterfall the night before a calamity befalls her clan. She is invisible to the human eye, and only her heart-stopping wails let you know she is nearby.”
“Creepy,” Ally said as a cold shiver ran through her.
“Very,” he agreed. “It is also said that one should avoid her, because she will lash out with her wet washing if you get too close.”
Ally couldn’t help but laugh. “Wet washing? Really?”
“Yes, but not just regular laundry,” he said, his voice taking on a sinister tone. “She is washing the blood out of the clothes of the dead.”
Ally shivered again and goose bumps rose up on her arms. “Is it real?”
“Maybe…” he answered mysteriously. “Apparently she cried the night of the infamous MacDonald slaughter. Some of the clan members heeded her warning and ran off into the night, lessening the slaughter, but who knows really.”
Ally’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, if immortals and vampires exist, then why can’t the wailing women?”
James gave her a small smile and stared out at the late afternoon sun in the sky. “I don’t know what it is about this place, but it seems to bring clarity to my mind every time I come here.”
“And what has it clarified today?”
“That even though I want to believe Isabella with all my heart, the fact is that she could be lying. I mean your dealings with her in the past haven’t been wonderful.”
“Well, no they haven’t,” Ally agreed. “But as much as I hate to admit it, she was right to tell the truth that day, even if it wasn’t pleasant.”
James agreed.
“I won’t lie to you and say I trust her completely because I don’t. There was something she wasn’t telling us today.”
“I was too stunned to really take much notice of anything,” sighed James.
She put her arm around him. “That’s to be expected, sweetheart. You weren’t prepared for anything like this.”
“No,” he said shaking his head. “I’d given up on ever learning the truth of my heritage. And now I know some of it, but there are still blanks that I’ll never know. Like who my father is for example.”
“By the sounds of it, you probably don’t want to know.”
“But that’s just it, Ally. I’m half of this horrible person. What if I end up like him? That’s why I wanted to know who he was and what he did so I had some idea of the amount of crappy DNA I had floating about in me.”
“James,” she said grabbing his face with her hands. “Listen to me very carefully. You are not your father, whoever he was so it’s irrelevant. You are your own man with your own faults and flaws and brilliant qualities. DNA might play a role in a person’s personality, but I think it also depends on your upbringing too, and by all accounts it was pretty awesome.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m dismissing your concerns or worries off hand, but I want you to understand and know in your heart that you are a good man regardless of who your father is.”
“Thank you, little one.”
“I love you, James.”
“I love you too, Ally,” he said in return and kissed her passionately beside the waterfall.
He pulled back. “I think I’m ready to go home now.”
“Okay,” she said and stood up. “Home, James.”
“Quoting movies now?” he said with a laugh.
“I’ve been waiting years to use that one.” Her voice was carefree and relaxed. James loved seeing her like this.
If he’d known it wasn’t going to last much longer, he would’ve taken more time to enjoy it…
Chapter Sixteen
Two days later, everyone gathered on the grass out the back of the manor for a training session with Damian.
“I love watching this,” Mackenzie said excitedly to her mother, sitting beside her. “They really are amazing.”
“When you can see them,” Sophie joked.
Henry joined in the conversation. “How about we just tell them to slow down then so we can watch the show?”
Damian chuckled from the front of the group. “Your wish is my command, Henry.”
Henry tipped his hat. “See, women. That’s how it’s done.”
Sophie and Mackenzie rolled their eyes and watched the immortals intently.
“Now we need to assess everyone’s skill level,” Damian said addressing the group assembled before him. “Caleb, would you mind going first?”
“Not at all,” Caleb said stepping forward.
“James,” Damian called. “See if you can take him out.”
James moved to the front of the group and took his place in front of Caleb.
Caleb winked at James. “I’ll try not to hurt you.”
James smirked back. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”
“Move back from each other,” Damian instructed. When both immortals were ready, he yelled out, “Go!”
The immortals ran at each other. Ally tried to watch but they were more a blur of tumbling colour than anything else. James ducked as Caleb tried to grab him, and twisted to kick his legs out from under him. Caleb went down, and James went for the kill.
At the last second, Caleb rolled leaving James to grab thin air. He’d gotten behind James and held his head in a death grip with his arms. James struggled and kicked but couldn’t get free no matter what he did!
“Bravo!” Damian cried.
Caleb let James go and shook his hand. “Better luck next time,” he said with a grin.
James laughed. “I almost pity the vampire that fights you.”
Caleb chuckled and walked back to his place in the group. Ally reached out to James when he came to stand by her side. “Ego feeling bruised?”
“Only slightly.”
She shook her head and looked forward to Damian. “Next up, Adele and Isabella.”
The girls stood in the same place as Caleb and James. Damian again called, “Go!”
Ally focused on Adele and bit her lip as they began. “She won’t hurt herself, will she?”
“I wish she’d heard that,” James replied. “No, she won’t hurt herself. Adele is younger than me, remember?”
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
Isabella grabbed Adele and flipped her over, but Ally looked away and clutched her stomach. It rolled in protest, and she was certain that any minute she was going to be sick.
No, no, no! I hate throwing up and with an audience. Yuk!
Her face turned a shade of white and a clammy sweat gathered on her face.
To make matters worse, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She knew what that meant… She looked around everywhere trying to figure out if something was there.
She studied the trees, the bushes, even the roof of the manor but nothing was there…that she could see anyway. She bit her lip again and took deep breaths to calm the storm of nausea that had taken up residence in her body. She stepped away from James cautiously, not wanting to raise the alarm if it was just coincidence that she felt this way.
Since when do you believe in coincidence? And why am I the only one feeling this way? Maybe my mind has snapped and I’m hallucinating….
Adele talking broke into her thoughts and brought her back to reality. “Better luck next time Isabella,” she called.
“Well, I think I have a good idea of everyone’s skill level now,” Damian said. “So we’ll take a break and come back in an hour, when I’ve come up with a way to integrate everything into a workable training program.”
The group broke up and went their separate ways.
The nausea had calmed down but Ally continued looking around to find the source of her unease. She felt certain that someone had been watching them or her. Unsure of herself, she brushed aside her unfounded fears and decided to ignore it. Surely if someone had been around, one of the immortals with her would have felt the disturbance.
James came up beside her. “What’s caught your attention?”
Ally started at his whispered words then shoo
k her head. “Nothing,” she replied casually.
Looking at her with a question in his eyes, James wasn’t certain that she wasn’t telling the truth, but decided not to push it hoping that she would come to fully trust him soon enough.
Tristan watched them training, hidden amongst the dense trees and fauna that surrounded the house. He couldn’t believe that not one of the immortals had picked up his scent, yet the prophecy girl, Alessandra had managed to feel his presence. “Amazing…” he whispered to himself.
Maybe the Carlisles aren’t the almighty force everyone makes them out to be…Wouldn’t Vincent find that interesting. Not that I will be giving that piece of information away though, it might come in handy.
With his predatory gaze fixed on Ally, he watched her walk away with James. Deciding that he’d gathered enough information for the day, he sank back into the trees and slunk away. He wanted to see Kathryn. As Tristan began his journey back to the mines, his thoughts were not on the flame haired beauty that had captured his attentions, but on the prophecy girl. Her ability to sense his presence every time he was near had impressed him. With a quiet chuckle to himself, he thought perhaps this time Vincent had bitten off more than he could chew. This young girl had the power to end him, but only if she stayed strong and true. Feeling excitement sliding throughout his body at the thought of the battle to come, Tristan almost felt hope that he hadn’t felt in a long time…perhaps he would get all he had sought after all.
Chapter Seventeen
Ally watched Isabella walk back to the house. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she said to James and followed her inside to her bedroom.
“I need to talk to you,” Ally told Isabella when they were alone in the room.
Isabella looked at her innocently. “What about?”
Ally held back a groan. “I don’t believe you were telling us everything the other day.”
“I told you everything I know,” Isabella replied.
“No, you didn’t. You were keeping something from James, and I think it has something to do with the diary.”
Isabella looked down and for a moment, Ally thought she saw defeat flash on her face. “Why do you think that?”