Page 16 of Meet Me in Paris

“Very well.” Hunter led us beyond the door, and I soon forgot about the musty smell as I stepped into a whole new albeit strangely creepy world. I hadn’t added this place to the list for a reason. Jillian’s claustrophobia, for one thing, but also because it seemed the opposite of romantic.

“Whoa,” I breathed a second later. An entire wall of human bones greeted us with skulls creating an eye-catching border. It held back a massive pile of other bones, moresporadic in their placement. There had to be hundreds, maybe thousands of skeletons in this one room alone.

Hunter’s eyes met mine before I could hide my interest. I saw a victorious glint I instantly resented. “Early in the city’s history, they dumped corpses into mass graves, but they soon ran out of space in the cemetery. They had nowhere to bury their dead. There was even a storm that flooded the city, sending bodies floating along the streets. That was the last straw, so they decided to use what remained of the old limestone quarries as a new burial site. They relocated them here under cover of night, and some, shall we say, more creative individuals decided to arrange them like this.”

“How many bodies are we talking?” I asked.

“Paris has over two million residents. Experts estimate there are three times that down here.”

“Sixmillionskeletons?” Jillian repeated in horror.

“Yes, although they aren’t exactly intact.”

For once, Alexis looked completely engaged. “Imagine how many ghosts are hanging out down here. It’s a haunted playground.”

I nodded. “Empire of death, indeed.” Not romantic, per se, but charming in a morbid sort of way.

We followed Hunter through narrow corridors and wide, dully lit hallways as we examined the artistic creations of people who lived centuries ago. As we walked deeper into the underground corridors, I couldn’t help but gaze upward at the rock overhead. It looked all too precarious. Good thing I wasn’t claustrophobic. Jillian, on the other hand, looked as pale as a corpse. After twenty minutes, I hung back to walk with her and let the others go on ahead.

“You doing okay?” I asked. “That’s a silly question, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and no, I’m not okay. But I’m seeing this through. Don’t worry about me.” Her pale skin couldn’t hide her determined expression. I was proud of her.

Hunter materialized next to me. “Jillian, Alexis told me about your claustrophobia. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have sprung this on you like that.” He offered an arm. “I’ll stay by your side the rest of the tour.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got her,” I said.

He pursed his lips. “Even so, I’ll stay nearby in case she needs me.”

“There’s nothing you can do for her that I can’t as hersister,” I pointed out. “Besides, I’m a little tired of hearing promises from you that you don’t intend to keep.”

Hunter looked me deeper in the eye than he had in a long time. “I swore to show you the best parts of Paris, Kennedy. I’m keeping that promise.”

I’ll make sure you see all of it, Neddie. I swear it.A promise from another lifetime.

It spilled out before I could stop it. “You also swore to be there for me, and we both know how that turned out.”

“Guys,” Jillian moaned. “Do you seriously have to do this now?”

“Yes,” I said at the same time that Hunter said, “No.”

I sighed, letting some of the steam fizzle away. Maybe this discussion should take place later, away from Jillian’s ears. In case he talked about other things that happened between us. I changed tactics. “I’m sure you mean well, Hunter. It’s just that we have limited time here, and I want to make sure we get all the most important parts in.”

“That’s right. I forgot how you were for a second.”

Oh, it was on. “How I am? What do you mean by that?”

“I only meant,” Hunter said, “that you have to controleverything. It’s your way or the highway, and anyone who diverges from your plan is morally lacking. I bet your sisters wanted me to show them around so they’d actually have a say.”

“He isn’t wrong,” Jillian said.

I stopped and whirled on him. “I don’t have to control anything. As a former travel agent, I have access to more information than most. That’s all.”

His expression was infuriatingly calm. “Have you even asked your sisters what they wanted to see?”

“Nope,” Jillian replied. When I turned on her, she shrugged. “I’m going on ahead. You two work this out and meet me when you’re done.”

Hunter lifted his hand as she left, as if to say, “Point made.”

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