Dark Memories (The Phantom Diaries, #2) (13 page)

Chapter 11

I headed straight for my dressing room barely aware of the people I passed. The walls of the Met were a blur and the sounds around me an incoherent buzz.
 
I walked right by Judy and didn’t even notice her until she shouted out.

“Hey, are you going to give me the cold shoulder again?” she called out in a reproachful tone.

I turned to her and the moment she saw the tears glistening in my eyes, her sarcastic eyes softened.
 
She followed me into my dressing room and closed the door. “Are you all right?”

“No.” It was a harsh response that echoed just how angry I was with myself.
 
I grabbed a hairbrush from my make-up table and violently set to brushing out my hair.
 
With each stroke, my chest ached until I couldn’t bear it any longer. I leaned one hand onto the table and sobbed.

“Let it out, Annette.
 
Whatever it is that’s eating you up, just let it pour out.”
 
Judy passed her hands over my shoulders in a soothing motion as she guided me into my chair.

I stared at my glum reflection for a long moment, just watching the tears flow over my reddened cheeks.
 
My eyes were soon puffy and I looked a mess, but after a while, I’d cried all the tears I had and felt calmer.

“Being out here is so difficult, Judy.
 
Everything.
 
I’m far from home, from my mom and dad. I’ve embarked on a career I’d not really anticipated, and it’s so much more demanding than I would have ever thought.
 
New people are all around me, and I don’t know which way to turn.”

“You mean new men.” Never one to mince words, she got straight to the heart of the matter. “I suppose Chace finally got up the courage to talk to you.”

I looked up at her reflection in the mirror.
 
“You knew about this?” I don’t know why I was surprised.
 
He and Judy were such good friends.

“Everyone knows, Annette.” While her tone wasn’t quite accusatory, it held a note of resentment. “He’s been moping around here trying to act like nothing’s bothering him, but every night you go out with that
Aragon
, another little piece of him dies.”

“Aaron is my boss,” I said, ignoring her use of his surname and not pointing out that he was her boss as well. “He knows what’s best for my career; what’s best for the show. I can’t very well refuse his invitations. We’re out with important people in society; people who can do wondrous things for my career.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?
 
You know perfectly well that all those outings with Aragon aren’t strictly
business
. Even the papers and magazines are talking about your romance with him.
 
Do you have any idea what that is doing to Chace?”

I stared blankly at her while my fingers played with the Tiffany charm bracelet Chace had given me.

“Chace is a sweet boy who has only the best of intentions. He’d do anything for you.”

“I know that, Judy,” I said, feeling a little defensive. My fingers clung to the silver music note that hung on my bracelet and I could clearly see the expression on Chace’s face as he’d given me the congratulatory gift.
 
“He gave me this when I got the part of Adelle.”

“I know,” she said in a tone that was flat and displeased. “He was so happy for you. Then again, he didn’t know what your success would do to your relationship. I don’t think he even really knew the existence of Aragon, nor what his presence would ultimately do to you.”

“Is it just me or there’s an accusation in there somewhere?”

“Dinner with important people is one thing.
 
Rumor of a romance is one thing. Being found in Aragon’s arms… in a passionate, if not downright vulgar embrace…”

“Did Chace tell you that?”

“Are you saying it’s untrue?”

I couldn’t, and I didn’t have the foggiest idea how to explain myself. “Aaron is a very persuasive man,” I finally said.
 

“Of that I’ve no doubt,” she said. Her sarcasm was grating. “But how do you explain the director, stagehand and any other man who got within a hundred feet of you?
 
What was your reason for giving them
all the
eye? Just testing out your star power?”

“Are you calling me a slut?”

Judy didn’t bat an eye. “You certainly learned how to dress like one.”

My fists were balled so tight, I could feel my nails digging into my palms.
 
How dare she?
 
How could she? “You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

“You're right. I don’t. As a lowly second-rate dancer I don’t really have many opportunities to deal with paparazzi, hungry men and fawning fans.”

“Perhaps not, but stage hands and hangers-on sure seem to interest you,” I snapped back.
“You with a new date every night.
Aren’t you a little too tarnished to be throwing stones at me?”

“Sweetie, I’m on the up and up with any man I date. I never lead him
on,
tear his heart out with my innocent smile only to trample it with my stilettos before I kick it aside for a new man.”

What an awful thing to say. I could feel the rage growing in my chest and I wanted to scream. I bolted out of my chair and faced her. “You're making it sound as thought I’d deliberately set out to hurt Chace. I’m new to this, remember? I’m new to the city, new to men, new to dating. Chace was my first real kiss, for crying out loud. And you expect me to know the
ins
and out of relationships and how I should feel and how I should act?”

“Even an innocent knows better than to pit one man against another, especially when that other man is a powerhouse like
Aragon
.
 
Chace didn’t stand a chance, but you let him believe he did. That’s worst than a slut, Annette.”

I burst out crying again.
 
To hear a friend make such accusations was devastating.
 
All the guilt and the pain flowed from me and I crumpled onto my sofa, bringing a cushion to my chest. “It wasn’t me, Judy,” I finally managed to blurt out.
 
“It wasn’t me.”

“I know.
New York
has a way of bringing out the wanton in the most virginal girl, but come on,
take
an ounce of responsibility, Annette. You knew Chace was falling for you, didn’t you? For crying out loud, he introduced you to his parents. What does that tell you?”

“No. That’s not what I mean. It really wasn’t me, Judy.” I reached up to grab her hand and pull her onto the sofa beside me. “I had no control. I was possessed.”

“What do you mean? You were taking drugs or what?”

I knew it would sound crazy and I knew she wouldn’t believe me. As the words spun around on my tongue, I knew they didn’t make sense. I took a firm hold of her hands to keep her at my side. “I was possessed, Judy.”

“Is that your defense?
 
Possessed?
 
Honestly, Annette.
 
You're not in the bayou anymore.
 
There’s no voodoo out here. Can’t you come up with something better than that?
 
I mean, I think the drug thing would be a little more believable, though it would hurt your career.”

“Judy, listen to me.
 
The Phantom.
 
All the hauntings here at the Met.
The noises and the strange happenings.
 
Remember when I first left for New Orleans? Remember how the Met seemed to go mad in my absence? Remember the singers who were almost killed for trying to replace me?”

Her eyes lost a touch of cynicism and I knew I was getting through to her.
“Oh, my God.”

“That phantom wanted me, Judy.”

She blanched and her lips parted while her eyes took on the same horror she’d felt that night. “He’d scribbled ‘only Annette’ on the mirror… in blood red. He’d had everyone here running in terror.”

“Yes, that’s it. That’s the phantom who took over me. But it wasn’t a
he
.
 
It was a
she
.
A
she
who was wanton and seemed intent on ruining everything.
Do you remember my performances after that? You all looked at me as though I’d lost my mind, my voice, and my ability to conduct myself in a proper manner.”

“You saw all this?”

“I was still in there and I saw everything that phantom did. And I fought hard to beat her.
 
With every move she made I knew that she was causing irreparable harm to my career and reputation.”

Judy’s hands softened in mine and it was now her holding me and trying to console me. “We didn’t know what to make of you. The change was so radical; so overnight.
 
You were bright and sweet one day, then arrogant and obnoxious the next. Many assumed it was simply the fame that’d made a quick way to your head. Those of us who knew you a bit more were really baffled.”

“Chace, too, right?”

Her head seemed heavy as she nodded and I saw the complete understanding in her eyes.
“More than anyone.”

I inhaled deeply, relieved to have the secret out there. Just talking it out with someone felt wonderful and to know that she believed me made it all the more soothing. But how was I going to get Chace to believe such a story?
 
“I need to tell Chace. I need to make him understand.”

“He’s aware of the hauntings here. And now that I think of it, the Met went quiet and back to normal just when you started acting weird. Surely he’ll realize that.” Horror remained in her eyes as she looked at me.
 
“How awful it must be to be in your own body and not have control.”

“You can’t imagine.”

She patted my hand with tender affection.
 
“Chace doesn’t really want to go.
 
We all know it.
 
But the sight of you with
Aragon
is too painful.
 
He’d jump at the chance not to leave
New York
if you explain what really happened.
 
Better yet, let me tell him what happened.
 
He remembers how horrified I was when that chandelier collapsed on stage. He’ll believe me.”

“Yeah, either that or he’ll think I’m really crazy.”

We both laughed but it was a dry, almost sad laugh.

“I’d better get going. I’ve got a hot lunch date.”

Our eyes met, hers with the anticipation of a biting remark, mine with teasing playfulness.
 
“Have a good time,” I said, patting her on the behind as she stood to walk out.

“Oh, I will.” She winked and was gone.

I went to sit before the mirror, eyeing my reflection with a new eye.
 
How these past months have changed me.
 
I’d
arrived
the sweet girl from
New Orleans
and had met Chace, as kind and generous as a boy could be, and we’d instantly connected. How could we not? We were virtually raised with the same values.

The musical note on my bracelet glistened in the light and I was again touched by Chace’s thoughtfulness.
 
We’d been on such a great path together.

Then Eric, Aaron and Kristine had swept in to turn everything upside down.
 
What was it about them that had me straying from the one man who could truly make me happy? For all of Aaron’s worldliness, power, and money; I didn’t truly feel that strong connection to him.
And Eric…