Chapter 18
S imon took me to Notre Dame next, even though the inside was closed for repairs. He said seeing the massive cathedral was a part of the quintessential Paris experience. I asked him to take my picture in front of it anyway.
When he showed me the picture for my approval, I frowned at it. I stood in front of the fence with one arm on my hip and the other hanging at my side. My smile, though, appeared forced, and it didn’t reach my eyes.
Simon looked at the picture over my shoulder, humming. “We’ll work on that.”
“Can I try again?” I handed him the phone.
He agreed. This time, I tried to smile wider. I tried to feel the joy of being in Paris. Simon held the phone out once the picture was taken, and I darted toward him to look at it. The second picture was even worse—my smile was comically large and a horrible contrast to the darkness in my eyes.
“Fuck,” I huffed, sinking onto one of the benches.
Simon sat next to me. “The day isn't over, Lucinda. Don’t give up on this yet.”
I looked into his endless green eyes, sucking in a deep breath. To my surprise, he placed one finger beneath my chin, tilting it up in encouragement. I straightened my back and nodded, giving him a close-lipped smile.
Next, he took me down into an archeological crypt beneath Notre Dame. Every step beneath the ground took me further and further back in time as I peered at a city long forgotten— two thousand years of history. Stairs people used to walk on. Fireplaces. Doorways.
I absorbed as much of it as I could, stopping to read every plaque and poster on the walls. I leaned over the railing and stared at the city that once was, imagining children laughing as they raced down the streets and adults cooking dinner over the fires.
All the while, Simon was one step behind me. He didn’t say much, instead allowing me to gush about the information I learned and how excited I was.
“All these people are missing out,” I said when we emerged from the crypt. I motioned to the crowd standing around and taking pictures of Notre Dame, most oblivious to the city beneath them.
“Indeed,” Simon replied, offering me his arm again.
I took it with a smile. We walked across the street to get lunch at a café next to the Shakespeare & Company bookstore. I was starving after only eating a croissant for breakfast four hours ago, so I ordered a cheeseburger—it didn’t matter that it was only eleven in the morning. Simon ordered us both a glass of wine, but no food of his own.
I sat back while we waited for my lunch. “Can you still eat food?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. As he spoke, I remembered seeing Addie and her friends eat several times. “Human food is equally as enjoyable, perhaps even more so since my senses are more potent than a human’s. It simply doesn’t offer any nutrients for me.”
I nodded, pouring myself a glass of water, then one for Simon. He murmured his thanks, lifting his cup to take a sip. I gulped my first glass down in two swallows. He poured me another.
My lunch came a few minutes later, and I didn’t hesitate to dig into it.
“It’s fascinating that we’re in a city with wonderful food, and you chose a cheeseburger,” he commented.
I shrugged, shoving a french fry in my mouth. “Cheeseburgers are awesome.”
Simon smiled. “As long as you’re happy.”
“Why do you care about my happiness so much?” I frowned.
Simon opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by the server returning with two glasses of wine. He waited until they were gone to answer. “Because forever is a long time to live when you’re miserable.”
“Do you speak from experience?” I asked skeptically.
He only shrugged.
I was quiet for the rest of my meal while I replenished my energy. Simon alternated between surveying our surroundings and watching me so intently I blushed.
If Simon were a toxic guy I found on a dating app, I would have already taken him home and seen him naked. I was sure his profile would say something about how he’s French and sensitive because he likes to draw. I smiled to myself at the thought.
The idea of a vampire on a dating app seemed absurd, but I supposed it was possible. The vampires I knew were just… people.
Addie was a freelance marketer. Willa had a candle business. Sophie owned a Grand Prix showjumper.
None of them slept in coffins or hid in the dark. They had reflections, and instead of lurking, they danced.
They all drank human blood.
They all killed people.
I sucked in a breath at the last thought, lowering my glass of wine. I’d dedicated my life to helping save lives. I took care of people when they were at their worst. I held the hands of people who were alone in their last moments. I stole the best days away from others with heartbreaking news. How was I supposed to go from that to being the one who did the killing?
“Are you alright?” Simon asked. “You look ill.”
I took a large drink of water and forced a smile. “I’m fine.” I didn’t want him to know about the second thoughts roaming around in my head. I was becoming a vampire. End of story. “So, what’s next?” I asked.
Simon watched me for a moment longer, but didn’t press my answer. “There’s a stunning chapel around the corner that I’d like you to see. After that, we’ll see where the day takes us.”
“Great,” I chirped.
“After we’re finished, you’re going to call your sister.”
I grimaced.
“Spending time with your sister was a part of the deal, Lucinda.”
“I know,” I grumbled.
Simon clucked his tongue and tried to hide a smile. “Spend the evening with your sister, then meet me at the café tomorrow morning to tell me all about it.”
I beamed at him, feeling warmth spread over my cheeks. “Deal.”
Of all the wondrous things I’d seen so far, the Sainte-Chapelle outranked them all. The moment I stepped onto the final step of the thin staircase, my eyes went wide. I took in rows and rows of stained glass that arched up to meet the domed ceiling. The pictures in the glass told stories of conquest and religion, each of them intricately crafted. Sunlight streamed through the glass, lighting the room in a million colors.
Overwhelmed, I sank into one of the empty chairs placed at the edge of the room.
For a while, I tried to study every panel of painted glass, wondering if I could decipher the tales immortalized within them. When that became impossible, I decided to bask in the quiet sunlight.
Tourists came and went, but I stayed right where I was.
“It's easy to forget that there’s a life outside of work,” I said when Simon finally sat beside me. “It breaks my heart to think that there’s a life like this I’ve been missing all along.”
“With any luck, you’ll have the rest of eternity to appreciate places like this,” Simon responded.
“Do you?” I turned my head toward him slowly, afraid that looking away from the glowing glass would make it disappear. “Appreciate places like this after four hundred years?”
Simon licked his lips. “Yes.”
I pursed my lips. “I’ve told you all about my trauma. Tell me something about you. Are you actually from France?”
The corner of Simon’s lip turned up in an almost smile. “Yes. I was born in Marseille and spent most of my childhood there with the ocean.”
“Pretty,” I hummed.
“I believe it to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, though it has been decades since I’ve been back,” Simon continued.
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Maybe someday soon.”
“Perhaps,” he allowed.
I looked around the Sainte-Chapelle again, drawing in a deep breath. “Can we stay for a while?” I asked.
“As long as you’d like.”