| |
James rolled his eyes. He would’ve been better off not saying anything at all. He’d wanted to save her the terror of seeing what was chasing them.
The vampire in pursuit appeared human, apart from the fact he was running ridiculously fast. James didn’t recognize him or have any idea how the creature learned Ally’s location. That was something to figure out later. He manifested a fireball in his hand and threw it behind him at the vampire to slow him down. The creature dodged, but the fireball hit him on the shoulder, throwing him off balance. He righted himself in a second and was back in pursuit.
James looked forward to Ally. She stared at him open-mouthed and wide eyed.
He focused back on the task at hand. James threw another fireball behind him and this time, he scored a direct hit to the heart. It wouldn’t kill him, but it was enough to make him back right off and give them the chance to make it back to the manor. James had no idea how many there might be, or if they had already made it to the manor and doubled back, finding them by mistake. Part of him didn’t want to find out.
The idea of anyone at home being hurt made him physically ill. When these people came to him as servants and friends, he vowed to protect them and keep them safe from harm no matter what. They had to get back quickly to get Ally to safety and make sure everyone else was alright.
Ally blocked everything out once she saw James hit the vampire in the heart. Things were serious. She was terrified, but she forced herself to look back a few times. This was a good chance to see what she would be up against. Meeting Vincent was one thing, seeing a vampire in action was something else entirely. Vincent was a hell of a lot more dangerous than this vampire chasing them, but she hadn’t seen Vincent displaying his full potential. He’d only been toying with her. As she replayed that night back over in her mind, she understood why James had snapped at her on the plane. He understood what she was up against and until this moment it hadn’t been clear to her.
She accepted the betrayal by James and her grandmother. It made perfect sense now. Who’d want to tell someone they loved this was their future? She couldn’t stand there and say she would’ve done it differently because she wouldn’t have. She’d protect those she loved with her dying breath and looking at the vampire once more she realized that it might be just that, her dying breath.
It was time to stop playing around and working things out in her head. She needed to work with James and learn how to fight them, it was more important than their relationship right now. James would agree with her. They both understood the importance of her role.
Ally hated that she was seeing this, but no-one could have asked for a better introduction in dealing with a vampire. It was a lesson she’d desperately needed.
Now, she felt focused and determined. Her path in life was right in front of her, and she was jumping on it. These vile creatures needed to be removed from this earth. Humans wouldn’t stand a chance against them without the immortals guarding them. She acknowledged her anger at the immortals that had fled Scotland. It may not be fair, but she couldn’t help it. They had a role to fill as well and damn it all, if she had to hold up her end of the bargain, then they bloody would too. She would contact each one personally if she had to. Surely being the prophecy girl had pull with these people.
They’d pushed the horses hard and fast for half an hour and finally Ally could see the fences surrounding Carlisle Manor coming into view. She glanced back again to see James was just behind her. The vampire had disappeared.
“Come on!” he yelled. “We have to jump. I won’t stop to open the gate. Can you do it?”
“I can!” she shouted over her shoulder.
“Let Destiny do all the work, just hang on,” he recommended.
“I know what I’m doing, James,” she snapped and urged Destiny to go faster. The gate was upon them. She let Destiny have her head again. The horse knew what to do. Ally trusted her implicitly.
James watched in terror as Destiny and Ally approached the gate. His heart caught in his throat as Destiny jumped. “Thank god,” he said when they’d landed safely on the other side. He’d backed off to give her room, now he urged his own horse faster and let him jump the gate.
He called to Ally to keep going. “Don’t stop until you see Logan or the stables.”
She nodded back to him.
Logan came running around the corner of the house. His relief was visible upon seeing Ally and James. He heard two horses thundering towards the house and people yelling. Logan wasn’t sure what to make of it, but it couldn’t be good.
Ally stopped when she reached him and jumped off Destiny. She handed over the reins and waited for James to catch up to her and do the same.
“Is everyone alright?” James asked breathlessly once he’d dismounted.
“Aye, what’s happened?” Logan asked, his eyes wide with concern.
James sighed with relief. “We had an uninvited guest on our ride.”
“A vampire?” Logan asked shocked.
“Aye, a vampire.”
Logan scratched his head. “How would they know where you live, let alone where you were?”
“I’m not sure but I intend to find out,” he said not hiding the fact he was visibly shaken and concerned for everyone’s well-being.
“Hold on,” Ally said, as something obvious occurred to her. “It’s daylight.”
James and Logan both looked at her and said, “Aye.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “Aye," she mocked. “What is a vampire doing running around in the daylight, or is that a myth?”
James looked at her. He’d been so focused on the vampire that was chasing them, he hadn’t even noticed that crucial point. “No little one, that’s not a myth. They shouldn’t be ‘running around in daylight’.”
“So, why were they?” she asked.
“Remember your dream, they descended upon the village in a fog, today it was a thunder cloud. What had they done to become our equals?”
She replayed the dream, and it dawned on her. “The immortal blood.”
“Aye, back then they only would’ve known about a few things it would grant them. That was fifty years ago.”
“So, you think now they’ve had fifty years to experiment and perfect things they discovered they can get about in daylight?”
He grimaced. “That is exactly what I’m thinking.”
“Hmmm, that’s not a good thing,” Logan said with obvious worry.
“Don’t worry, Logan. We’ll deal with it.” James said and slapped him on the back. “Just don’t go too far from the grounds for now, just in case.”
“Aye, James,” he said as he led the horses to the stables to tend them.
She took his hand and held it in hers, pulling him in the direction of the house. “Let’s go find Gran and tell her what’s happened. She might have some ideas that will help us.”
He stopped and looked at her. “Are you alright? You seem very calm, and although I’m impressed with how you handled things out there, it worries me.”
She smiled and said, “I came to a few conclusions on the ride back home.”
“Tell me later.”
“I will.” They turned and walked up the stairs to the terrace and inside to the kitchen.
Sophie walked into the room, just as they were arriving. “Back already?”
“We had an unwelcome guest,” Ally said.
Sophie looked to James, who confirmed it by nodding his head.
“What? They don’t even know where the house is? And how could they know where you were?” she asked, confused and concerned.
“Logan asked me the same questions, and I don’t have any answers.”
“This is very troubling indeed.” She sat down and put her hand to her cheek. “What are we going to do?”
James considered telling Sophie he had no idea, and that they were all doomed but he had to at least try to inspire some hope. “We need to speak with Adele. The three of us will work something out.”
Ally reached out and took his hand again to comfort him. He looked down at their joined hands then into her eyes. He hoped the gratitude was conveyed in them. James didn’t want to worry Sophie, but this was serious and Ally seemed to understand that without being told.
“Everyone here is ok?” he asked, appearing calm.
It was only a mask that was being held in place by a thin thread. If she didn’t get him out of here soon, it was in danger of slipping. And she knew he didn’t want to upset Sophie any more than he had to.
“I think so,” Sophie said. “I saw Henry and Mackenzie not fifteen minutes ago.”
“Good, then everyone is fine.” James said.
Sophie was fidgeting so Ally gave her a small task to keep her busy. “Would it be too much trouble to ask you for some coffee?”
Sophie smiled. “Not at all my dear.” She got up and fussed about in the kitchen making a pot of coffee.
James smiled at Ally. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“Now we just need to find Gran,” Ally whispered back.
Adele popped her head in the kitchen with a big bright smile and said, “Did I hear my name mentioned?” She saw James and Ally holding hands and smiled, then she looked at their faces and her smile dropped. “What’s happened?”
“A vampire,” Ally said.
“In broad daylight?” Adele exclaimed.
“So it would seem,” James replied.
“You’re both alright?”
“Fine, but we figured it was best to tell you what happened,” Ally replied.
Adele noticed how calm Ally was and looked to James for more information. He just shrugged his shoulders and looked down at Ally lovingly.
Sophie brought over a pot of coffee and four cups. Ally served while James relayed what had happened, in detail, except for the part where they’d lost control.
Adele couldn’t seem to make heads or tails out of it either. “This is a big problem.”
“But what’s the solution? That’s the bigger problem,” James said with a growing frustration. He felt helpless, and it was not something he liked. Ally, Adele, Sophie, Henry and their family were all in danger. At least, Adele was an immortal and Ally was half immortal, but the rest of them were only human. If they were attacked when he wasn’t there, they wouldn’t stand a chance and depending on how many creatures attacked, they may not stand a chance even with him present. He wiped his hand over his face to remove some of the frustration. It seemed he was always running at a disadvantage these days, be it with the vampires or Ally. They needed to find a solution and fast.
Ally spoke up and grabbed their attention. “It’s time I learnt to hold my own against these guys.”
Adele nodded in approval of Ally’s idea.
They both turned to James. His expression made it obvious that he was reluctant to agree with the plan. “You’re only half immortal, Ally,” he pointed out. “I don’t want you anywhere near the vampires yet.”
She fixed him with a stare. “I don’t want to be anywhere near them either and I don’t intend on seeking them out, but the reality is that one found us today. I need to know what I am capable of as a half immortal and what I can do to defend myself should the need arise.”
He studied both women sitting opposite him. Seeing their determined faces, he concluded he’d lose this argument. He agreed Ally should be prepared, but he didn’t know what she was capable of at this point, and he didn’t want to tempt the fates by teaching her yet.
However, logic won the day. He had to teach her, she was the prophecy girl. They were only delaying the inevitable by keeping her in the dark. He nodded in agreement. “I’ll teach you, but promise me you won’t take on too much in a battle until you’ve become a full immortal.”
“I promise.”
“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” he muttered to himself.
Ally and Adele chuckled at him.
“When do we start?” Ally asked.
“We might as well start this afternoon, but I need to make a few inquiries beforehand about the latest information. Another immortal might’ve come across this before.”
“I’ll do the same,” Adele said.
James was grateful for the help. “Thank you.”
“Have you heard from Kat?” Adele asked Ally.
“No, I haven’t, actually.”
Adele appeared surprised. Fear slithered through Ally’s body. “Chase is an immortal, right?”
“Aye, he doesn’t act like one though,” James answered with a voice full of annoyance.
“Don’t you like Chase?” Ally inquired.
“He needs to grow up,” he replied.
Adele rolled her eyes at him. “Chase is a fine young man.”
James snorted. “He’s an idiot.”
“Why is he an idiot?” Ally asked.
“He never grew up and takes nothing seriously.”
“And you take everything too seriously,” Adele retorted.
James’ face became indignant. “I do not.”
Ally laughed at his expression.
“I told you he was a bit serious,” Adele winked at Ally.
“Obviously,” Ally said joining in the fun, glad to have a moment to be normal again.
James glared at them both, then something important dawned on him, Chase knew the location of the house and that they’d taken Ally there.
“I’ll kill him,” he growled as he jumped to conclusions.
Ally and Adele looked at him confused.
“Kill him for not taking things seriously? That seems a bit extreme,” Ally said.
“No, not that. It’s possible he gave away our location.”
It was Adele’s turn to be indignant now. “He would never.”
“Are you sure? If they threatened him with something important enough, he might give away our location,” James said.
Soulmates could be used as pawns in this game of life and death with the vampires. He had no clue what the circumstances may have been, but he was certain that something had happened.