Ally 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, concerned. “I don’t know. I heard it before, but I assumed it was you.”
“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.
“Ok it was just a thought.”
“Something isn’t right,” Ally said and sniffed the air. “Can you smell that?” The odor was subtle, but distinct.
“Smell what?” Kat asked.
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 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?” Kat asked.
“Yeah I’m fine. I just…” Her voice trailed off.
“Ally?”
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’ll 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 an evil purpose and delight. It was just too easy.
As he was about to make his move, suddenly the air changed. The vibrations radiating off someone approaching made him think twice about attacking. “So, you aren’t unguarded then, my pretty,” the creature rasped out, the sound barely audible. “Who is the one guarding you, I wonder?” 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.
Ally whipped her head up and saw that it was indeed her grandmother running towards them. She looked as if the hounds of hell where on her tail.
“Gran?”
“Girls, why don’t you come back inside?” Adele asked once she had reached them.
“Adele, is everything alright?” Kat asked.
“Yes, fine. It’s just getting cold.” Adele replied.
Well, that was a tragic excuse, Ally thought.
“Chase was looking for you Kathryn,” Adele added.
“Well he can keep looking,” Kat replied defiantly. “My friend needs me.”
Adele looked at Ally. “Why? What’s wrong darling?”
You know more than you say, don’t you Grandma? It was far too coincidental that she felt something was wrong, then Gran came running to find her. Ally didn’t even know her grandmother could move that fast. Something was definitely up, and she intended to find out what.
“Nothing is wrong, Gran. I just thought I heard something.” Ally hoped she sounded convincing, but was well aware what a terrible liar she was.
Adele smelled the evil and knew it was somewhere close. She sensed its presence and knew that it was here for Ally. If she didn’t remove the vile creature from this existence, it would report their location to Vincent. The repercussions of that could be catastrophic. They weren’t ready yet.
“Probably just a rabbit, noisy little creatures.” Adele hoped that Ally would accept that explanation without question.
Ally and Kat shared a look. It seemed Kat was thinking the same as Ally. Adele was holding back.
“You girls go inside. I will be there in a minute,” Adele said.
Ally looked out towards the trees once more. She still saw nothing, but uneasy. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she became aware that she was being watched.
Adele glanced back at the trees. Once the girls were safely inside she would take care of it.
He wouldn’t make it back to his master…not if she could help it.
She turned to both girls and gave them a gentle nudge in the right direction. “Off you go, I’ll be inside shortly.”
Ally assessed her Gran with a look, and then decided to go back inside. This place was freaking her out.
The girls walked back towards the house. Adele watched until they were back inside then turned around to go and deal with the evil lurking in her backyard.
The air was so potent with its stench, that she felt like she might choke on it.
“Come out, creature,” she commanded as she slowly stalked toward the bushes in which it lay. “Surrender and I will make this quick.”
The bushes rustled, and the wind picked up around them. Adele knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but she had to try. As a general rule, vampires were cowards against the immortals, but they didn’t just hand themselves over to die.
At least, there is another Immortal on the property if I need help, she thought to herself. Adele looked around to make sure no-one was watching. Everyone had moved to the tent for dancing or had wandered back to the house.
She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that Ally and James picked a secluded place for their interlude. Adele didn’t want all the guests watching, and she didn’t think she had the strength to make them all forget what they saw.
On top of that, she didn’t like the idea of altering the memory of every guest present. It was always a last resort and done for their own safety. If they knew what was really going on, there would be mass hysteria. It was better for everyone that they stay unaware, as long as the immortals could protect them.
Adele eyed the bush, deciding on her next move. It would have to be quick and effective. She didn’t have time to waste.
“Times up,” she said to the bush that concealed the evil one.
Without any warning, it jumped up out of the bushes and ran for the road at the edge of the property, in the opposite direction to Adele.
“Why do they always run?” She let out a sigh, then took off after him. She ran so fast she would appear to be a blur to anyone who saw her.
The creature was getting away.
He turned to look back at her with a victorious smile. He knew he was going to get away. Adele was just as fast as the creature and stronger, but she had the disadvantage. She couldn’t stray too far from Ally. He knew it and the gloating shone back at her through his eyes.
“I will find you and destroy you,” Adele vowed as she began to slow down. He would get away this time but the next time she saw him, he would not.
Adele had a duty to protect Ally. She needed to get back and keep her safe before the evil vampire found Vincent, and gave away their location. Ally was not ready to face Vincent again.
Adele decided to run back to the house, find her immortal guest and ask him to search the perimeter of the property, while she stayed with Ally and Kathryn. Once James returned then they could make the arrangements to leave tonight, with Ally. There was no other choice now.
If they stayed, Vincent would find her and kill Alessandra before they had even begun.
Chapter Nine