Paris The Novels & Stories

But Amber’s heart fluttered even quicker in her chest and she gripped onto Leo excitedly when the Eiffel Tower came into view. It stood massive, like a shiny beacon of hope rising up in the now clear night sky. Paris had never fallen to the infected. The city had remained strong and sturdy as many other cities crumbled and collapsed thirty years ago. When Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease had ripped through the world killing billions and destroying thousands of years of what mankind had made within a decade. In turn, Paris symbolized so much more than love and light these days.

He shut the door and walked around to his side. Paris. I turned my head slowly to look at him. “Wait.” Nathan didn’t look at me. “What?” “You’re not joking about the Paris thing, are you?” “No.” “So we’re actually going to Paris. As in France. As in Eiffel Tower, croissants, people kissing on the street Paris.” “Yes, Aria. You’ve never been to Paris?” “Might be hard to believe, but yes, I’ve only been to about 3 countries my whole life,” I replied.

Charles and Fiona later strolled about the vibrant streets of Paris, the neon lights painting the cobblestone roads a colorful glow. The city had been turned into a shiny, romantic labyrinth, and there was an air of possibility of new experiences. They had been relishing the coziness of their quiet night, but now things had to be livened up.

I laughed. “Yes! I know so many of them. Private ones. And guess what? None of them are owned by Kieran so you don't have to be scared. You should mark your scent on a guy's bed.” I laughed harder. “Lana!” “I’m serious. You are in Paris. You can’t just stay in the hotel.” “I really have to go,” I said, smiling. “Okay, okay. But remember something.” “What?” “Paris is about love and sex. Don’t waste a single second.”

The possibilities are endless. ‘And then Paris, the city of love, I want to sit in a cafe, eat croissants, drink coffee, be like a tourist and just eat anything and everything, macarons, crepes, tiramisu. Oh, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.’ She hugged herself and twirled around, lost in her thoughts.

It makes me sad and I don't like that it does that to me. Munching on my waffle I shove it into my mouth to have a free hand to open the door. Opening the big back door I walk out into a beautiful big open field. A field that we train on, play on and have parties on. The field was as big as a football field reaching out until stopped by a wall of thick forest that every wolf in the pack enjoys running in. I take a deep breath enjoying the sun on my face still munching on my other waffles.

“We’re going to Paris.” Maxim stared at me with a straight face. “We’re going to fucking Paris???” I screamed in excitement. Paris had always been my dream country ever since I was a child. I had only seen it in the movies and always wished to visit it one day, but I knew it was wishful thinking because my parents never let me go anywhere. I wasn’t expecting him to take me there. “You mean we’re going to the city of love? Like I’m going to see the Eiffel Tower in real life?” I questioned. It was kind of surreal,

༺RAYNE༻ “And this, mes amis, is the iconic Eiffel Tower, the iron lady of Paris. Built for the World's Fair in 1889, she was meant to be temporary but she has become a permanent fixture in our city's skyline. And isn't she just breathtaking?”

I take a deep breath, adjust the straps of my sling bag as my eyes wander to the big and magnificent building before me. I had heard rumors about Paris being beautiful. I had heard so much from people all over the world that the city was known to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. And it is. The city is absolutely gorgeous, but I am not here to sightsee or to visit the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum. I am here for the only reason that anyone travels to Paris: for a lovely vacation. But what's so lovely about the vacation when I am all alone?

“But why? Where are we going?” A pause. Just long enough to make my breath hitch. And then, finally— “Paris.” The word drops like a stone, heavy, and final. I forget to breathe. Forget that he’s still on the line. I just stand there, the phone pressed to my ear, my mind struggling to process what he just said. Paris? Is he serious? Is this some kind of twisted joke?