that stands between us and extinction.”
Alessandra was staring at her grandmother in shock and confusion. She pulled out of James arms and felt suddenly bereft. “I think there has been a mistake. I can’t possibly be that girl.”
Please, oh, please tell me this is a mistake.
Hot tears fell from her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. “This is too much. My life has already been turned inside out. I just can’t handle this sort of turmoil again!”
Adele grabbed her and looked right into her bright glistening green eyes. “Yes, you can! You were chosen for this role because you can do this. There is no choice baby girl…there never was. But I have faith in you.” Adele wiped Ally’s tears away with her thumb. “Alessandra, you’re not alone in this. There are people that will stand by you every step of the way. Two of us are right here with you, James and myself.”
Alessandra looked back at her grandmother and seemed to draw strength from her words. She had to believe what her grandmother was saying. If she didn’t have faith, then this whole situation would be doomed to fail from the start. Ally remembered Madame Isabella’s words, ‘No matter what, do not lose hope. If you lose hope, then you have already lost, and you will die.’ She mustn’t lose hope…at least not yet.
Ally turned her head to the side to look at James, their eyes locked and the world melted away.
Oh Alessandra, have the courage to stay and fight, he silently prayed.
Adele spoke, and the trance was broken. “Ally, we will help you through this.”
Intellectually, none of this made much sense to her. Things like this just don’t happen but at the same time her soul was crying out with joy. The pieces slid into place, and she no longer felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. She had a place, a very important place in the world.
Finally, I belong somewhere, she thought, as she felt her heart soar for one blissful moment, and she breathed a sigh of relief amidst the fear she felt.
Before Ally even noticed, the fear had taken control again. She found herself speaking without thought, “I will go along with this for now, Gran, but I’m not happy about leaving Melbourne and I intend to return home as soon as possible.”
That simple statement sent James over the edge. “For God’s sake Alessandra, you’re not going home!” he snapped. “Didn’t you hear a word Adele said? Your destiny is here in this country, with your people…with me. No matter what you think, you can’t run from this. Vincent will find you wherever you go, and he will kill you. Make no mistake Alessandra, the only reason you are alive now is because I found you just in time. You can kick and scream all you want, but you will do what you are destined to do!” With that, he got up and stalked toward the cockpit. He needed a breather. The tension between them was driving him insane. All he wanted was to love her and comfort her, but he knew she wouldn’t accept it yet. He hadn’t meant to yell, but it was too much when he saw how determined and stubborn she could be!
I should never have lost my temper, but God help me, she would drive a saint to crack, he thought as he stormed off.
Ally was stunned into silence at James’ outburst. She knew she was being temperamental about the whole matter, but her entire life had been turned inside out. A murderous rage came over her as the shock of his words wore off.
How dare he! She thought. I have every damn reason to be acting like this. James has no idea what this feels like. He has known who and what he was since the day he was born.
Adele reached out to her, and Ally came back to reality. “Don’t worry about James, sweetie. He’s just terrified that Vincent will find you.”
“I understand that, but this news is a huge amount to absorb, and I need more time,” Ally paused. “I believe what you have told me, but…”
“I know, sweetie. I know. I should’ve told you a long time ago,” Adele sighed.
“Why didn’t Mum and Dad tell me?”
“They were going to on the morning that you found James in the kitchen. He was –” she stopped short realizing she was about to say too much.
“Gran…” Ally said giving her a look that said, Tell me now or else!
“Well, he