long-lost love.
Damian saw her and stood on his own. She threw her arms around him. Tears began rolling down both their faces. “I thought you were dead, Damian! I can’t believe you’re alive, after all this time.”
“I’m so sorry, Adele, for putting you through everything. I tried to escape, but I was too weak.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” she said pulling back to look at her soul mate and lose herself in those eyes she never thought she would see again.
Damian kissed her as Henry, James and Ally watched, smiling in the background.
The day had ended with two souls reuniting as one, whilst another was torn apart and the remaining couple had been brought closer together.
James wrapped his arms around Ally. “I thought I was going to lose you today.”
“I thought you were too.” She paused and then told him, “I had a dream last night that I died today while saving Kathryn and Damian.”
“You what!?” he exclaimed.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I knew you would never let me come,” she said.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have,” he said sternly.
“I survived.” She looked over to the body of her best friend one last time. “But perhaps that was because Kathryn didn’t.” Ally shivered involuntarily and turned back to watch Adele and Damian.
Damian and Adele came over slowly. “I’m taking him back to the house. He will need lots of care and recuperation and there is a lot we need to catch up on,” Adele said with the brightest smile Ally had ever seen.
Damian looked to Ally. “You were very brave Granddaughter. I’m proud of you.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
Everyone turned away and walked back to the car that would transport Adele, Damian and Henry back to the house. Damian and Adele got in the backseat, and before long the car was speeding back towards Carlisle Manor.
Ally and James watched until the car disappeared from sight then went to find the horses and make their way back to Carlisle Manor also.
James was the first to speak once they were left alone. “Today has made me realize there is much to do before you take on Vincent and fulfil this prophecy Ally. And I intend for you to be fully prepared. I think we need to start with the conversion as soon as possible.”
“Perhaps.” Ally wasn’t sure if she was ready for that yet.
“What about Chase?” she asked changing the subject.
“He’ll come back when he is ready,” James answered.
“I can’t just leave her, James,” Ally said in despair. She looked around and saw a lone crimson flower standing tall against the desolate background. Without a word, she walked over and picked the flower. It was bright and vibrant as Kathryn had once been. Turning back to her fallen friend, Ally walked back to where she lay. Kneeling down, she placed Kathryn’s hands together over her chest and placed the flower between her snow-white hands. James came up behind her silently and placed a white blanket over Kathryn up to her hands. Ally smiled gratefully at James for understanding that she needed to do something for her best friend. As Ally stood to leave, she looked back down one last time as a river of tears flowed down her cheeks and she said, “Good-bye Kathryn.”
Consumed by her grief but grateful that she was alive and that James was by her side, she turned to her soul mate and looked deep into his emerald eyes.
“Losing Kat has made me realize something, too. Life is too short to be worrying about what may or may not happen. We belong together, and I’m not going to run from this anymore.”
James pulled her into a deep embrace, and she felt so loved. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I love you, Alessandra.” He lowered his mouth down upon hers and kissed her with all the love and passion that he felt for her.
She returned his kiss with equal fervor.
After a moment, they broke away. Ally leaned into him then began to look towards the forest, suddenly very eager to be away from this place.
“Will the forest grow back now?”
James looked around at the rotting vegetation and smiled, “Within a month, things will start to flourish again and within a year, there will be no trace of what you see now.”
She nodded hoping that she would be like the forest and overcome the ugliness that she was feeling at the moment.
Turning back to James, she said, “Let’s go.”
James embraced Ally and bent down to bestow