Immortal Darkness (Phantom Diaries #3) Read Online Free Page A

Aaron’s lips. Instinctively I reached for the crucifix at my neck.
    Aaron pulled me into his arms. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this would freak you out.  I didn’t bring it here to scare you.  I can take it back if you want.”
    “No, that’s okay. I want to read it.” I pulled back to look up at him. “I really appreciate you thinking of me as you found this. I think it’ll help me understand a lot about everything; about myself and about Kristine. I can’t help but feel there’s so much more to her story.” I paused suddenly feeling an intense need to open Kristine’s journal and finding out why she haunted Eric and what she wanted with Aaron and I. “I’m more curious to find out what that is more than you could possibly know.”
    I shivered again and this time he seemed to feel the cold that I felt.
    “Is it just me or is it a freezer in here?”
    “I must’ve turned off the heat when I left for Paris. I just got in and didn’t get around to turning it back on.”
    He left me to find the thermostat.  “This thing is reading just over seventy degrees.” Shaking his head he turned to look at the windows. “But it’s freezing.  Did you leave a window open?”
    While he went to the window in the living room, I went to check the window in my bedroom.  “Everything is shut tight.”
    “Look, something is obviously wrong with the heating system… or something.” Walking past me, he grabbed the suitcase I’d set by the door, then opened my hall closet and pulled out a warm coat, hat and scarf. “Here, put this on before you get sick. The stage awaits you and I can’t have you going on there with a cold.”
    “Aaron, I’m sure it’ll warm up in a minute.  The system is probably just a little slow to warm up.”
    “I can’t take that chance. I can’t leave you here to freeze all night.” He opened the door. “Come on.”
    “Come on?  Where?”
    “You need to be in a place that is safe and warm. I think it’s best if you come back to my place.”
    I chuckled and shook my head.  “Aaron… I can’t possibly do that. I have a lot to do here.  I want to unpack, do my laundry, answer my messages and get things ready for the week to come.  Besides, don’t you think it’s a little awkward for me to be spending the night at your place when I’ve just refused your marriage proposal?”
    “Absolutely not. Just because you don’t want to get married doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. It doesn’t mean I don’t still care for you and want what’s best for you.  It doesn’t mean I won’t do all I can to make sure you're well taken care of.”  He reached for my hand and threaded his fingers through mine, his eyes soft and filled with affection.  “Despite everything, I can’t help but believe you still have feelings for me… even just a little.” 
    His grin, shy and boyish, held such hope.
    I nodded.  “Of course I still feel something for you, Aaron.”  What that was I wasn’t exactly sure, but I certainly held great affection for him.
    “Look. I’m not doing this to make some moves on you.  Admit it, this isn’t just a matter of a faulty thermostat or open window. It’s spooky in here. You can almost feel the ghosts leaking in through the walls. If you won’t come to my place, let me at least take you somewhere safe.  How ‘bout for starters, I take you somewhere for some good coffee.  It’ll warm you up and we can decide there where you go after that.”
    “Aaron, please…”
    “Annette.”  He licked his dry lips and looked around the room before bringing his tired and heartbroken gaze back to me. “Listen, I understand your innocence. You're young and naïve… inexperienced, and I by no means say that in derogatory terms, just frank honesty. I think your inexperience might leave you unaware just how heartbroken you left me. I brought you to France, to meet my family, to propose, and you ran off.  You literally ran off and left the country