Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) (29 page)

I knew he was trouble but no one would listen to me of course, James thought to himself.

At that moment Chase caught his gaze and he looked away again with a decidedly guilty expression. James would need to get to the bottom of this before anything happened. He had noticed that Mackenzie appeared to have a soft spot for Chase but he had thought it was purely one sided. After tonight he wasn’t so sure.

James decided to speak with Chase when the chance presented itself, in the meantime he would be keeping a close eye on them both.

Ally looked up from her thoughts. James felt her gaze and quickly held it before she worked out what he was looking at. She would work it out before long on her own if this kept up without him tipping her off. He had a feeling it would be difficult to keep anything from her once she caught a sniff of it.

She had a gleam in her eye that he was beginning to recognize as trouble. “What caught your attention?” she asked innocently.

“Just staring into space,” he said without looking at her. He couldn’t look her in the eyes and lie.

She studied him for a minute and he started to squirm, but decided it wasn’t important enough to follow for she changed the subject. “Where can we go tonight to talk? I don’t want to be interrupted.”

His mind was instantly filled with all manner of images that took place in many of the different secluded spots he knew of on the property, but she wasn’t referring to that. He inwardly groaned, she wanted to discuss the conversion and the vampires.

Damn it Chase! Why did he have to stick his nose in, they could have been relaxed and getting to know each other without the drama that was unfolding before his eyes, which only seemed to worsen by the minute he thought as he noticed yet another sly look in Mackenzie’s direction from Chase.

To his credit the man did look torn and like something was seriously disturbing him.

Ally nudged him. “Do you think Chase is doing ok? He seems even worse since dinner started.”

“He will be fine. The man is just scared and worried about his soulmate.” He put emphasis on the last word knowing that Chase was able to hear him. It seemed to do the trick for the guilt and shame was written all over his face.

Ally shrugged and went back into her own little world that involved any number of plots and schemes to get Kathryn back. She was trying to feel hopeful that they would get her back but despite trying as hard as she might, Ally just felt down.

“Dinner was delicious Sophie,” Adele said. “Thank you.”

Sophie lit up at the compliment.

“Our Sophie has quite a talent in the kitchen.” Henry said, his voice full of pride for his wife. She smiled widely at him; you could feel the love between them. They were the human version of soulmates, true love.

Adele looked at the immortals before her. “You need to be off to bed, you are rising early and will need your strength.”

Chase agreed and thanked Sophie for the meal. He needed some time alone to process things. He excused himself and went up the stairs heading for the third floor where his bedroom was located.

Adele, Ally and Mackenzie occupied the second floor, with James in the master on the first and Sophie and Marcus in the servant’s rooms on the lower ground floor.

They were far from the traditional servant’s room, having every accommodation known to man in there. James treated them as family so they were accommodated as such. Logan normally slept in the stable master’s cottage that was detached from the house, but given the situation, he was currently staying in the room opposite Chase on the top floor.

As he was walking up the stairs he heard Mackenzie call out his name. He stopped and turned.

She really was a vision he thought unconsciously.

“Do you need anything else before you go up to bed?” she asked innocently.

Suddenly images flashed across his mind of the two of them locked in a passionate embrace. Another more detailed image stole his breath away.

“No thank you,” he managed to choke out.

She smiled at him and said, “Good night Chase.”

“Good night Mackenzie.” She turned and walked out of sight. He caught his breath and started making his way up the stairs again.

“Why he doesn’t have an elevator installed I’ll never know,” he grumbled aloud.

“You’re an immortal, you shouldn’t need one,” a cheeky voice called from behind. James was now coming to take a piece of him. Great he thought sarcastically.

“Even immortals get tired James, you know that.”

He laughed quietly. “There is something I think we need to discuss.”

Chase decided to feign innocence. He didn’t feel like talking right now, all he wanted to do was sleep. “What about?”

“Mackenzie.”

Oh crap, Chase thought before asking. “What about her?”

“What’s going on Chase? You have a soulmate; these things don’t happen when you have one.”

Chase snapped, “You think I don’t know that? I have no bloody idea what’s going on James and its tearing me up. I have a soulmate in the hands of vampires and I’m haunted by thoughts and feelings for another.”

James was concerned, his initial feeling was right, something was definitely wrong he just didn’t know what it was. He decided to leave it for tonight, “Get some sleep Chase we can talk about it tomorrow, things might be clearer then.”

Chase felt grateful, he knew James had never forgiven him for the prank but he was a good man and despite his feelings towards Chase he was being fair and reasonable, maybe even willing to help.

“Thank you.” With that he turned again and decided he wouldn’t stop until he reached the bedroom, he was done talking for one night. He needed a few scotches and a warm soft bed, preferably with Ally in it.

James watched him climb the stairs and turn the corner, he had never witnessed this before. He didn’t know what to think about it, maybe Kathryn wasn’t his soulmate and they had made a mistake.

It was something that needed to be dealt with but first he had business of his own to handle. Ally was waiting for him in the lounge room. He found that he was bursting with excitement at the thought of spending some time alone with her.

He walked into the room quietly and found her sitting at the black grand piano; she was running her hands lightly over the ivory keys reverently as though they were precious and a thing of beauty.

She gingerly touched one and hearing the ping she smiled softly to herself. Her posture straightened and her hands hovered above the keys, she silently let them rest upon the keys. Ally appeared lost to this world. All that existed was the piano and the harmonious sounds that she made. James hadn’t known that she could play. He had noticed a keyboard at her house but assumed it was Adele’s.

James stayed silent and didn’t move a muscle, he wanted to watch her play and listen to the music that she chose. He was rewarded a moment later when Ally positioned her fingers and began to play the haunting classic, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. He felt goose bumps run over his skin.

Ally played with a beauty and skill that he hadn’t seen for a long time, she was a natural. He watched her with an intense gaze from just outside the room. She played the first movement and then smiled as she finished and ran her hands over the keys once more.

Ally looked up to find that James was watching her. “How long have you been there?” she asked embarrassed.

“Long enough,” he replied with a smile.

She was glad that she hadn’t faulted in her playing, it was still something that she was learning but she felt a love for the piano. She had always wanted to learn it and finally she stopped procrastinating and started learning. Moonlight Sonata was her favourite piece and so far the only one she had accomplished playing the whole way through. James looked pleased and she couldn’t help but feel excited that he had enjoyed it.

“How long have you been playing?” he asked.

“Not long, it’s more of a self-taught hobby. I have always wanted to play so I finally got up the courage to try and now I can play a few tunes but Moonlight Sonata is my best piece,” she laughed self-consciously.

“You played beautifully Ally. I’m glad I caught you doing it.”

She blushed at the compliment. “Do you play?” she asked.

“I do, it’s something I love to do,” he said.

She smirked. “So you play piano, speak Italian, ride a horse perfectly and look like you just stepped off Mount Olympus. Is there anything about you that isn’t perfect?” she asked jokingly.

He smiled broadly. “I hate to spoil the image that you have going but I’m far from perfect little one. I have a short temper and I have a tendency to be controlling and dominating,” he smiled and then added, “But I am also fluent in French and Spanish if that helps.”

She laughed at him, “Of course you are!”

“I hope that you will come to love me in spite of my flaws,” he whispered provocatively.

“I like flaws in people it’s what makes character.” She said leaning closer.

“That’s an interesting way of looking at things,” he said, as he cocked his head to the side.

“It’s true. If we were perfect we would never learn anything or experience situations that challenge us. It’s the situations in life that we have to strive and achieve things in spite of our flaws, that build character and in turn shapes us into the people we are.”

He was blown away by the woman sitting in front of him! She was wise beyond her years and looked at the world in a different way to most people.

“That is very wise Ally. I believe that I and most of the people wandering the earth could learn a lot from you.”

She blushed again. Great quality in a leader Ally, she chided herself.

He took her hand and helped her up, “So you wanted to talk.”

She nodded.

“Then come with me,” he said with a gleam in his eye.

What are you up to? She wondered.

He led her out of the lounge room and up the circular staircase that lead to the first floor.

This floor of the house was his alone, the master bedroom suite and study were all that occupied it.

He led Ally to the door of his room and opened it. She saw where he had taken her and she suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

“Why are we going into your bedroom?” she asked.

He smirked and then put her mind at ease by saying, “This is the only room in the house that we won’t be disturbed.”

“How convenient,” she quipped.

James laughed and nudged her through the door.

She took in the room and turned in a small circle, it was huge. She turned to James. “This isn’t a room this is half a house.”

“Do you like it?” he asked.

Ally looked at James like he had two heads. “Do I like it? Of course I do, it’s beautiful,” she said in awe. “I thought I loved my room but I have changed my mind. I want this one.” She laughed.

He smiled, “You can have it anytime you want it.”

A wicked grin spread across her face. “Oh that’s so sweet. You would move into my room and give me this one.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said as he drew her into his arms, “and you know it.”

She smiled up at him and he leaned down and kissed her softly.

She felt bereft when he pulled away and fought the urge to pull him back.

He kept her hand in his and said, “Come with me.”

He led her over to the white couch that was in front of the fire. The room was in an L shape so she hadn’t noticed the balcony till she reached the couch.

“You have a balcony too,” she said her eyes wide. “Now I definitely want to switch rooms.”

He smirked and said, “You know how you can gain access to this room.”

“That’s called coercion.”

James smiled lazily. “Perhaps, but I’m not above it to get what I want.”

She studied him. “I don’t think there is much that you wouldn’t resort too to achieve what you want.”

He wasn’t entirely sure if that was an insult or a compliment. “That sounds like an insult.”

She looked surprised. “No not at all. I admire you greatly for it.” She got up and wandered over to the french doors leading onto the private balcony. “You know what you want and you won’t let anything stand in your way. You won’t accept defeat and show no fear. I envy that.” She sighed.

He walked over and picked up two glasses and the decanter of whisky on the side-board. He gestured to Ally with an empty glass.

“Whiskey?” she asked.

“Scottish whiskey, sixteen years old pure malt and one of the best in the world,” he said, as he admired the glass before him.

“Sounds like you know what you’re talking about.”

“I have been around a long time and you tend to learn a lot, but I am fond of whiskey and currently trying to produce one that is better than this.” He said, as he walked over and handed Ally the glass.

She liked that he had ambitions other than destroying the vampires. He was a man of substance and had seemingly used his many years on earth to better himself. It was a noble.