Dark Memories (The Phantom Diaries, #2) (8 page)

“I’m pleased to see you enjoy it.
 
I imagine New York doesn’t offer home cooked meals like you're used to here.”

She seemed to be a bottomless pit of hunger and as she reached for another helping of mashed potatoes and gravy, I thought the night would never end.

“We’re going to try to catch a flight back tonight,” I finally announced.

Kristine glared at me and for a moment she appeared ready to flick her fork load of mashed potatoes at me.

“It’s Christmas Eve,” Luis reminded me. “It’s going to be murder getting a flight back.”

“That’s right,” Kristine said. “Listen to Daddy. We’ll just end up spending the night at the airport.
 
Might as well stay here.”

Michelle’s eyes widened with fear and her lips parted to argue.

I reached for Kristine’s hand and held her gaze. “I’ll get us a flight back,” I said in a firm tone that left no room for argument.

After sopping up every drop of gravy with a crust of bread, tasting the cherry and mincemeat pies and drinking two cups of tea, Kristine was finally ready to rise from the table.

Michelle began clearing the dishes, obviously anxious to have her possessed daughter on her way to being cured.

“We’ll go up and get our bags,” I said, gesturing to Kristine to follow me up.

Instead of coming to me, she turned to hug Michelle.
 
“I’ll never forget this dinner.
 
I’ll never forget tonight.”
 
She kissed her on one cheek, then the other and back to the first.
 
“I love you,
Maman
.”

Michelle’s eyes glistened with tears.
 
Though she had no idea who Kristine really was, Michelle gathered her in her arms and squeezed tightly.
 
Whether meant for Annette, Kristine or both of these women lost in their own hell, Michelle exuded love, warmth and a desire to sooth away whatever pain her daughter’s body was going through.

“I love you, too.
 
I hope you can come back again soon for a real visit.”
 
She pulled back, cupped her daughter’s cheeks and kissed her forehead.
 
“Now go gather your things before you really do miss the last flight.”

Kristine nodded, obediently and demurely; so unlike the Kristine I’d always known.

But the moment she exited the kitchen and came towards me, the wicked glare I’d come to know so well, returned.

Chapter 5

Annette

I could feel Kristine’s fury building up inside me and there was nothing I could do.
 
Every rejection Eric handed her only infuriated her more. Her agitation crushed me more and more, leaving me weaker and discouraged.
 
The frustration alone was killing me and I feared that every moment she possessed my body she gained that much more control.

Kristine sang with Eric throughout Christmas Day, but I feared her control of my voice wasn’t as it should be. My every attempt to aid her had been ignored as she insisted on doing this her way, but her lack of emotion was startling and she couldn’t find it in her to be convincing in her portrayal of Adelle. We would resumed performances tomorrow and only time will tell if she’ll be able to maintain my public’s adoration.

“You’re getting better, but we need more time.” Eric’s dismay was evident as he stared blankly at the music sheet. For all the hours we’d been in the music room, little had come of it. Kristine was scant better than she had been to begin with.

“I’m sorry, but Annette’s pulling at me from every side. It’s exhausting just keeping her down. Every time I try to hit a note, she’s poking me in the ribs, as it were. I think she’s deliberately trying to sabotage by attempt to gain the stage.”

Eric scratched his head and rubbed his eyes. I could see how exasperated he was becoming.
 
The perfection he’d spent so many months working on was on the verge of being ruined.

“You talk to Annette, if you really want this to work,” Kristine said.
 

She put her hands on my waist in the way she had a habit of doing. It felt prissy and arrogant, and I wanted to fight her into a more suitable stance.

“Tell her to stop fighting me,” she went on.
 
“If she could relax and let me get through this, I’m sure I could make the show a greater success than it is.”

His eyes bore through mine and I knew he was reaching in for me. Tender and concerned, his gaze lacked the harshness he usually reserved for Kristine.

I’m here, Eric. Don’t give up on me. I’m fighting as hard as I can.

“She’s fighting for her life, Kristine.
 
I can’t very well tell her to give up. She’d never listen to me, as she shouldn’t.”

My heart rate increased and I knew Kristine was getting riled up again. I could feel her anger course through me and the more I fought it the more heated it became.

“She’s winning, Eric,” she said in agitated frustration. She reached for the sofa, letting her hand pass over the fabric as though longing to recline. “Damn
it,
stop looking at her like that.
 
She’s winning. I can barely stand it anymore.
 
She’s taking over.”

What?
 
I am?

He held his gaze steady, searing through Kristine’s façade and looking directly at me.

My hand reached up to touch his cheek and it was by my will. Kristine no longer had control.
 
I smiled with giddiness, elated with my victory.

“I’m winning, Eric.” I said in a voice that was soft and joyful; a tone Kristine could never simulate.
 
“I’m beating her.”

A smile came to his lips while a long, slow breath seeped through his lips. “Annette,” he murmured with uncertainty.

“I can beat her, Eric, so long as you're there to help me.”
 

“I’ll never stop fighting for you, Annette. I brought this on you. It’s me she wishes to destroy.”

“I won’t let her ruin you or me.”

He brought my fingers to his lips and tenderly kissed each digit.

“Every ounce of energy is being used to keep her from beating me and I’m feeling so fatigued. What a strong-willed woman she is.” I looked longingly at him, eager to taste his lips and fill the crush of his chest against mine. I leaned in closer.

“Forgive my suspicion, Annette,” he said, his fingers gripping my hand and halting my approach. “I want to be sure it’s really you.
 
Beyond a doubt.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Sing. Sing as only Annette can truly sing.”

Smiling with the sense of assured victory, I plucked a sheet of music at random and set it in front of him. Just hearing the first few introductory notes heightened my senses and I was suddenly filled with the pain and betrayal the song needed. I sang.

“Yes,” Eric moaned with relief. With his eyes closed and his lips curved into a smile, he mouthed the lyrics that emanated from my throat.

After only one verse, he abruptly left the piano and pulled me into his arms. “It is really you, Annette.” For the longest moment he looked into my eyes, drinking in the undeniable truth. I was back.
 
He kissed me and I felt the softness and complete tenderness of his embrace. As though kissing a delicate flower, his lips barely brushed against mine and his hold of me was gentle and tentative. “How I’ve missed you.”

I clung to him, enraptured by the sensations of his arms, his chest and his hands.
 
The warmth of his skin left me drunk with desire and I knew how badly I wanted him. “Now, Eric.
 
Take me now.”

My hands reached for his pants and prepared to eagerly rid him of the garment that kept us apart. For a moment my breath caught in my throat and I stiffened in Eric’s embrace. As hungry as I was for him, that move had not been my own. My fingers fumbled with the button of his jeans then yanked at the zipper.

He guided me into his bedchamber, his hands never leaving my body, his lips never far away. His breath swept across my cheeks and I could hear the struggle with every intake of air as he tried to maintain a degree of control over his passion.
 

My senses were overloaded with pleasure and I just wanted to get closer to him still. But confusion began to weigh on me as a fog rolled
in,
leaving me unsure which move was mine. My hands had a mind of their own as they roamed over his body. It’s the pure desire I have for him, I told myself. The desperate need to touch him has me losing control of my actions.

His fingers combed through my hair and gripped the nape of my neck, bringing me in as his lips captured mine.

“You’ve no idea how I feared for you, Annette,” he said between kisses. “How I longed to have you back.”

He stopped suddenly and held my gaze, his eyes solemn and filled with remorse. “I’ll never let anything happen to you, my love.” His lips traveled down my neck as he began to unbutton my shirt.

My breath caught high in my throat and my eyes widened with surprise at the shock of sensation as his lips brushed over the swell of my breasts.
 
He pulled my shirt off and brought his strong hands to the small of my back, pushing me to arch my chest up to him.
 
Burying his face between my breasts, he sighed and uttered my name repeatedly.

I tried to remain on my feet, but the exhaustion and overwhelming sensations made it virtually impossible to remain upright. If we could lie down, I’d feel better. I’d regain control of my failing limbs. But he kept a strong hold of me as he worked to rid me of my jeans.

Every moment left me dizzier and every sensation from his hands more confused. My hands went to his jeans and pried them down.
 
He chuckled and kicked free of his boots before leaving his pants in a pile on the floor. With one quick motion, he pulled his shirt over his head and flung it across the room, revealing his broad muscular chest that tapered down to a strong washboard stomach. He was breathtakingly beautiful.

“I’ve waited for this moment, my sweet.
To take you in my arms.
To take you completely.”
 
His fingers traced over the lace of my bra and my skin responded instantly.

My lips parted and my eyes hooded with hunger.

He pushed me back onto the bed, rolling with me until he had me straddling him.

“
Tu est magnifique
.”
I heard myself say as my hands played over every muscle of his chest.

In the heat of his passion, he ignored the words that weren’t mine and simply smiled as he wrapped his hands around my waist and pressed me closer to him.

I wanted to scream, but my voice was choked. I wanted to run, but my limbs no longer responded to my command. I wanted to slap Eric out of his lustful haze, but my hands simply roamed over his chest bringing forth additional hunger and longing.
 

Battling for control, I became lightheaded and the room darkened until I was enshrouded with unbearable gloom.

Dizzy, spent and exhausted, I collapsed over Eric.

Chapter 6