Dark Memories (The Phantom Diaries, #2) (7 page)

Kristine accepted the gift with skepticism. Her eyes narrowed far more than she should have allowed them to and her suspicion was thick, filling the room. “Thank you. I wasn’t really expecting any gifts.”

Luis and Michelle exchanged a concerned look.

A childish giddiness took over as Kristine slowly tugged on the ribbon. Her anticipation overtook her suspicions and she smiled.

I nudged closer to peer into the box as she pulled up the lid. A beautiful red cross encrusted with rubies lay on a cushion of satin.
 
No sooner was the box open and she’d glimpse the cross that she dropped it. I discreetly glanced at her fingers to assure they’d not been
burned,
her reaction to the sight of the cross was so strong.

Realizing she had no intention of picking it up, Joana quickly swooped down to pick up the offending article.

“It is truly beautiful, Joana,” I said, knowing as the words came out that it was a futile attempt to cover up Kristine’s inexcusable reaction. “New York could never offer such an exquisite piece.”

Joana nodded, but her eyes remained on Kristine. “I know how much you loved the one I gave you last year and I thought you would like this one as well. It’s infused with holy water.”

The tension that took over Kristine was surely visible from across the room. Her hands clenched and she bit her lip repeatedly. Again her parents exchanged odd glances.

“Dinner will be ready in an hour,” Michelle said following a discreet wink from Joana.
 
“Annette, I was hoping you would help me with the festive pies for the neighbors. I know how much you love making them and I’ve waited for you to be here before starting.”

“Oh, of course, Maman.”
Kristine glanced at me and I tried to convey with my eyes her need to let Annette out during this time. If she noticed, she did a good job of ignoring it.

“I hear she’s well-loved in
New York
,” Joana said the moment Kristine was out of the room.

“Yes, incredibly so.
Her public can’t get enough of her. She has an unforgettable voice and a stage presence that is rarely seen in someone so young and inexperienced.”

“She always had a charming way about her; an ability to draw people in.” She glanced at the doorway through which Kristine and Michelle had disappeared and brought her gaze slowly back to me.

“Evenings in
New Orleans
are always a treat. Have you had a tour of the grounds? Luis puts special effort into making it a wonderland well worth strolling through.”

Her tone was just firm enough to indicate that this was an invitation I was not to refuse.

“Have you known Annette long, Eric?” Joana asked the moment we were outdoors.

“From the very first day she arrived.” I followed her as she took a path that led to a small pond at the far end of the property.

She stopped walking suddenly and turned to look at me. Her eyes scrutinized every inch of my face and I felt she could see my soul. “I know men, young man, and I know how men can play with the heart of a young woman, especially someone like Annette. As strong and intelligent as she is, her youth leaves her with much to learn about the ruthlessness of men.”

“I assure you I have only the…”

“I have no doubt of your intentions.
 
I can see the love in your eyes and I feel the depth of anguish you now feel for her. I only hope that your love is not simply for her beauty, but for the heart of the woman she really is.”

“She has touched my heart in a way I’d never thought possible.”

“Then surely you realize that it is not Annette in there rolling out pie crusts with Michelle.”

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes widened far more than I would have wanted.

“Yes, it’s obvious, Eric. I’ve no doubt that’s why you brought Annette here to begin with.
 
You knew her parents would see the change in their daughter, and believe me, it didn’t take them long to notice.”

“Forgive my surprise. You are all far more astute than I had expected, and I’m deeply grateful for that.
 
Telling her mother and father what had happened to her was not something I was looking forward to.”

“Annette needs to wear this necklace. Whatever or whoever has taken over her, she must ward it off and this cross will help her. The reaction she had to it was greater than I’d anticipated.” She pulled the box out of her pocket. “I don’t understand what happened to the one she had.
 
She wore it constantly. It soothed and comforted her and with the uncertainties of her new life in
New York
, I knew she kept it preciously on her person at all times.”

She held it out to me and I felt the weight of importance this piece of jewelry had. “You have to find a way to get her to wear it.”

Relieved to have found a way of helping Annette, I reached out for the
red cross
, but recoiled the moment my fingers touched it. Joana’s hopeful gaze instantly became one of suspicion; almost fear.

“Our father who art in heaven,” she muttered.

I was confounded by my body’s reaction to the cross.

“Hallowed be thy name.”

All my life I’d entered cathedrals without mishap.

“Thy kingdom come.”

Religious items had never been a problem.

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

And now I felt the fear I’d seen in Joana’s eyes. What was happening to me? How was Kristine’s presence here affecting me? “Perhaps it would be better to leave it in the box.”

She smiled, though tentatively. “I fear for that young woman, Eric, and
I’m trusting
you – Michelle and Luis are trusting you – to do everything you can to get her to wear this cross.
 
She’ll need it in order to battle this entity and return to herself. She must be able to guard herself from the evil that has taken over. Right now she’s too vulnerable to it.”

“I understand.” I held out my hand and she laid the small box in my palm. Though tolerable, it still felt uncomfortable having it with me.

“Whoever has taken over Annette seems to have some attachment to you.
 
I won’t question you on this attachment, but will only tell you how vital it is you send the present caretaker of Annette’s body to whence it came.”

“Yes. Thank you. I was hoping I would find help here; from her family; the people who know her best and care for her the most.”

“You did right, Eric. I hope you’ll continue to do what’s best for Annette… and that may not necessarily be what’s best for you.”

Chapter 4

“Annette, what’s gotten into you? This has always been one of your favorite things to do for the holidays,” Michelle said with a titter.

I entered the kitchen to find the pair in the midst of balls of pie dough, cherry filling and the makings for sugar cookies.

“It is. I’m just feeling so clumsy. I’ve barely cooked since I’ve been in New York and I haven’t baked at all.”

Though she fumbled with the ball of pie dough instead of properly rolling it out, Kristine smiled and seemed to be enjoying herself more than I’d ever seen.

“Here,” Michelle said as she sprinkled additional flour on the counter. “This should help you.”

“This is fun,” Kristine said as she rolled out the pie dough and it began to take shape.
 
“I needed this. Just to relax, have fun and get away from the constant pressure of New York.”
 
Baking was bringing out the festive side of her and she began singing.
 
“
C’est Noel, C’est Noel
…”

“Well, I’m certainly happy to supply it, dear, but if you don’t stop rolling that poor dough, it’ll be too thin to do much with it.”

“Oh, sorry.
I’ll start again.” She resumed her song and gathered her thinly rolled out dough to pack it back into a tight ball.

“Annette,” I said, cutting into her fun.
 
“I’m happy to see you’re enjoying yourself, but I was hoping you’d come outside with me. It’s a beautiful evening.”

“Go ahead,” Michelle was quick to offer. “I’ll take it from here.”

“But I wanted…”

I reached for her hand and led her outside.

“Eric! What are you doing? For once in a hundred years I was having fun and you have to come in and drag me out here?”

“I think this wasn’t a good idea after all.”

“Of course it was a good idea. I’m bonding with
Maman
. I think we get along fabulously.”
 
She smiled sweetly, but mischief played in her eyes.

“Don’t get too cozy. After dinner we’re leaving.”

“What? We just got here. That’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t like the way things are going.
 
Besides, I heard you singing in there and I fear the lack of practice is beginning to show already.
 
Your voice is getting lazy.”

“It’s not lazy. It’s on holiday. I wasn’t really singing.
 
I was just… it’s silly kitchen singing.
 
For crying out loud, I’m not going to belt out a little Christmas song with my operatic voice.”

“That’s no excuse. Don’t underestimate how high Annette has set the bar. Her public expects little less than pure perfection. We need to return to New York and get back to work.”

“You're exaggerating and you're being paranoid. My voice is fine and it will be fine when I return to New York.”

“Look, I’m just trying to help.
 
You're the one who’s going to look the fool when you get on that stage and can’t hit the notes as Annette has always done.”

Kristine kicked at the ground in frustration and turned her angry eyes to me.
 
“Fine,” she shouted.
“Fine.
 
I can’t believe that I’m here with you all these years later and you're still ruining my fun.
 
Do you just enjoy breaking my plans and seeing me miserable?”

I grabbed her by the elbow and guided her back inside. Judging by the relieved expression on their faces, Joana had had a chance to tell the Binoches of our earlier discussion. With their suspicions confirmed, they looked to me to remedy the situation.
 
Michelle smiled, her eyes silently thanking me. Luis’ gaze held heavier skepticism and I couldn’t really blame him.

To see his daughter in this state and have to trust me to bring her back couldn’t be easy for a man so accustomed to controlling each situation.

“I rolled out the dough, Annette,” Michelle said, doing a convincing job of treating Kristine as she had moments earlier. “All you have to do now is pour in the cherry filling.

Kristine clapped her hands and skipped into the kitchen leaving Michelle to gaze at me with an additional plea to help her daughter.

I nodded then sat facing Luis to bide my time until dinner was ready.

It was tense as we all sat at the table and I feared Kristine would come to realize the difference in the way Annette’s parents were treating her.

“I can’t remember the last time I ate such a sumptuous feast,” Kristine mumbled as she took a firm hold of a turkey drumstick and ripped a surprisingly large chunk from it.