Read Online Chills & Thrills Paranormal Boxed Set by Connie Flynn - Free Book Online

skinned knee. You're lucky to have me
along."
    A bit exasperated by his cockiness, she said, "It's not
like we're boating around the world. I appreciate your offer, but how much
distance could my father have covered in that small boat?"
    "Enough, cher ." The teasing smile vanished.
"Enough. He knows what he's doing."
    He climbed into the boat, stowed the crate in one of the
storage bins, then went to the pilot's seat. A moment later, the motor
sputtered to life. He reached for the shift lever, then paused, looking her
over rather critically.
    "Those clothes," he said, "you'll
roast."
    She was getting warm. She'd stripped off her raincoat while
cleaning up the kitchen, but now found herself tugging repeatedly at the neck
of the speckled sweater.
    "Yeah," she said. "But I— Wait, my mother
said she kept most of my old clothes."
    She rushed back to the house, climbing the outside stairs to
the second floor, and rummaged through her parents' closet until she found a
trunk near the back. A short while later, she pulled on a cap-sleeved cotton
top, then stepped into a pair of overall-type shorts with tons of pockets that
might come in handy. On her way out, she went to the kitchen for her coat, in
case they were still out when the sun set.
    She snatched it up hurriedly, impatient with this small
delay, and as she passed the sideboard, she noticed the envelope she'd taken
from Maddie. Despite her impatience, she picked it up and slipped out the
journal, taking in her mother's familiar script that, typically, was part
French and part English. She flipped through the pages and when she neared the
end, she noticed an entry made on the day her mother died.
    The sun sets soon on Port Chatre. Nights get warm now and
bring sweet   smells. Other afternoons, I
sit out on this galerie to watch that big bright ball   shine red on the water and am filled with
peace. But tonight bring a different   sunset.
    With it comes le fantome noir and my night of
reckoning.
    I must safekeep the fire opal. If it falls in his hands,
he will use it to walk the   land like
humans. But inhuman is his soul, and like the locust he will go forth,   eating all who cross his path.
    All my life I prepared for this night, like Maman and her maman before her.   All the
way back to time begins, our women have borne this curse to guard the   fire opal against Ankouer.
    When I wonder about those who die to give him strength to
seek the stone, I   feel a heavy sadness.
I tremble, too. I tremble and am afraid.
    Most folks no more believe in le fantome . Even
Frank don't really believe. Ankouer be smart to make the world think this, so
none prepare for him no more. Except for me.
    Will I be strong enough? Will my heart stay pure? Will I
defeat the evil one?   This I do not know
until the hour come. My dear Frank, he is not ready to   defend me, and if he fails, I stand alone.
Who can defeat Ankouer alone? Not   Maman ,
and her heart were pure as any angel.
    If I die tonight, my sweet fille will hear the
call to take my place. She is the last   guardian. No other stands to take her place. Triumph, she must, so
darkness   does not fall upon the world.
    Yet she be so unprepared. She turned from it so long ago.
If I die like Maman,   duty will look for
her. Run no more can she.
    I pray for my Izzy on this my night of reckoning.

 
    Oh, Mama, Liz thought, what horrific events you imagined on
your last day of life, and how sweet it was to touch your face one last time.
Tears lodged behind her eyes, and she was more than willing to let them flow,
but they immediately faded. She hadn't cried since the night she left the
bayou, and the unrelieved sorrow was nearly unbearable. The recall of the
moment she'd stroked Maddie's face only added to its weight. Listening to her
mother's voice and believing, oh, believing,   made Liz wonder if her mind was slipping like her father's.
    She set the journal down. Perhaps madness did run through
her family, a madness that reading