Maybe.
Possibly.
Down the hall, a mother and her child turned the corner and headed in their direction. The small girl bounced on the balls of her feet, carrying what looked like some sort of sucker.
“Mama, can we please go to the tower again?”
“Soon, honey,” the mother answered.
Alexia looked back at the woman and offered a cordial smile. “Have a nice day.” She closed the hotel door behind her and started down the hall.
Baby steps. She could eat in the hotel dining area. Maybe venture out to the nearest bakery. There were tons in Paris. She hated having to look over her shoulder every second of the day, but right now, it was necessary. Until the paperwork was signed and sealed, she was still the property of Aubin.
The thought churned the emptiness in her stomach.
Property.
Nothing more than a living doll kept in the attic to collect dust.
Taking the elevator down, her heart sped when the doors opened. Not sure what she might run into, the emptiness of the hotel entry was certainly not expected.
It was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
She glanced at the time on her phone. It was later in the afternoon, but not sunset. A young man behind the guest counter glanced at her and smiled.
She returned it, then with a sigh, approached the desk and placed her hands folded atop it. “Excuse me, but where is the closest place to grab something to eat? Walking distance?”
He cleared his throat as if having to think of what he wanted to say. Maybe English was new to him.
Who knew?
“Oui, just down the road about two blocks. You’ll find a chocolat bakery.”
“Thank you,” she offered.
“Merci,” he said with a smile.
“Oh yes, forgive me. Merci,” she repeated.
“De rien.”
“That means you’re welcome?”
He nodded. “To ask for a bathroom, say, ‘la salle de bain.’”
“La salle de bain,” she repeated. “Merci, again.”
“De rien.”
Not that I’ll need to go to the bathroom, but good to know.
She headed out of the hotel and the afternoon air filled her lungs. It was refreshing, yet, fearful. Aubin could be around any corner at any moment.
Did he find out where The Covenant put her up?
Would he attempt to find her, against any rulings they gave him?
Knowing Aubin, anything was possible.
She slipped her sunglasses onto her face, not that she necessarily needed them, but if it helped disguise her, then she was all for it.
After all, simple glasses disguised Superman when he was Clark Kent, so why not?
She crossed the road to the second intersection. Just on the other side was the bakery les divines pâtisseries. She stepped inside and the aroma of sugar and chocolate almost overwhelmed her. There were a few patrons inside, but it wasn’t crowded. The place was small, but not quaint. Black and white pictures of Paris hung on the walls, as did small decor items and wall sconces.
She smiled; she couldn’t help herself. The place was perfect, a nice getaway from the everyday mundane.
A woman behind the counter, tall and slender, met Alexia’s gaze and offered a friendly smile.
“Bon jour, madame,” the woman stated.
“Umm, parles-vous anglais?” Alexia asked if the woman spoke English.
Her smile faltered slightly and she offered a curt nod. “Yes, most of us do.”
Alexia let a sigh of relief escape.
I really need to learn to speak the language here.
She bent down to the glass case of decadent desserts and considered buying one of everything. Having gone without for so long, being starved to the point of madness, everything that was in sight that looked edible caused her mouth to salivate. Then there was a ball shape of flaky dough and in the middle, it was filled with chocolate cream. She pointed to the treat and asked, “May I have half dozen, please?”
The woman opened a bag and using tongs, pulled six small balls and dropped them into it.
“I’ll also have hot chocolate, if you have it?”
“Of course, madame.”
After watching the steam of the milk lift in the air, the woman mixed melted chocolate into the cup. It wasn’t the powder many Americans used, no, it was the real deal. Real hot chocolate. She couldn’t remember a time of ever having something like that.
The lady handed it over and asked for payment. Alexia pulled out twenty euros and handed it over. After accepting her change, she headed for the door and immediately sipped the hot drink. It was like a piece of heaven exploded in her mouth, caressing her tongue, and warming her from the inside out.
It was divine.
As much as she wanted to head out about town and experience the sights, she also felt the need to head back to the hotel. Anxiety plus the knowledge she was being guarded, to an extent, brought about ill feelings of dread.
Popping one of the chocolate-filled balls into her mouth, she groaned at the unexpected pleasure of the sweetness. She could eat these daily, assuming she didn’t fall into a sugar coma.
Then again, would that be so bad?
She smiled to herself as she paced back to her hotel. She expected to hear news soon of the nullified contract to Aubin. She had decisions to make; go on her own and become a donor, or subject herself to another vampire in hopes of a different life. She wasn’t over the torment Aubin put her through, and who knew how long that would actually take.
Before she was paired, she’d read stories of women in abusive relationships. The cycle the man would put the woman through, from honeymoon periods to endless threats of violence. She never thought that would be her life, and she honestly didn’t see it coming. Men, or rather vampires, like Aubin Leclair, were sociopathic narcissists. Cold and callous behind closed doors, but in front of others, a kind gentlemen who would long for the praise and admiration of those around him. And Aubin believed it was all deserved, that he was God’s gift to everything.
And what was worse?
He would use the connections he made to attempt to climb to the top of whatever goal he was seeking, just to step on those who helped him get there.
Popping another decadent morsel in her mouth, she crossed the second block and made her way back to her hotel. The doorman nodded to her and opened the door as she passed through. She offered him thanks and pulled the sunglasses from her face as she entered the foyer.
At the welcome desk stood a man in a dress suit who casually chatted with the woman behind the desk. He glanced Alexia’s way and the softness of his gaze grew worrisome. She halted in her step as dread settled over her chest, squeezing at her heart.
Was he here for her?
Maybe Aubin?
Was he sent to fetch and bring her back to the vampire?
Fuck.
The man cleared his throat and pulled an envelope out of his jacket. “Miss Daucourt?”
“Depends on who’s asking,” she answered.
He smiled and took a few steps toward her. “I have word from The Covenant.” He handed over an envelope with the seal of The Covenant imprinted across the flap.
She stared at the sleeve in his hand for a long moment and when he turned the casing over, she read her name written across the top of it. With a shaky hand, she reached out her hand and met the man’s gaze. “Please, tell me it’s good news,” she whispered, not expecting an answer.