Page 20 of Even Angels fall
“Is there any chance I could go to the restroom?” I ask as if nothing was amiss.
I can be polite. I had lessons for that.
He grunts before finally turning his face in my direction.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s definitely not the loathing that I can see there.
Well, this mission got a lot harder and my freedom doesn’t feel so close anymore.
“Brice, get her to her room,” he says to the man at the door of the tower on my left.
Brice just nods and turns to open the door. Without a word, he motions me to follow him.
Brice doesn’t look like he’s as pissed off as Elhyor, but I could be mistaken. He hasn’t said a word since Elhyor brought us to Notre Dame’s roof.
He looks stern and is probably ten to fifteen years older than Elhyor in human years. I’m not completely sure what type of shifter he is, so I can’t be sure. Most shifters live twice as long as humans, so if I’m not wrong, he should be something like ninety and look every bit like the silver foxes from Léandre’s secret collection of dirty books. I like the age gap, but twenty to thirty years is already enough for me.
If he didn’t look at me like I was gum stuck under his shoe, I’d say Elhyor is the perfect age for me.
Brice is too old for me, but I’m pretty sure, with his looks, he could get almost anyone.
He’s got dark green eyes and black hair, graying at the temple, that gives him a serious look. His beard is trimmed short and has some gray in it, too, but it doesn’t take away from the plush lips that he has now in a straight line, as if he’s preventing himself from saying anything.
Even from behind him in the stairs, I can see it clearly.
He’s built similarly to Elhyor from what I can see, but nothing is certain because Brice has the decency to wear a shirt, and it’s almost as loose as mine.
We finally arrive down the three flights of stairs and I realize that the rose window I’ve seen outside is softly illuminating the room we entered and what a sight this room is.
I knew for a fact that Notre Dame was a cathedral and that it used to be a worship place, but I didn’t realize everything would still look as if every Sunday people gathered here to pray.
Stopping in the middle of the church, I’m transfixed by everything, the windows, the statues, the golden crosses, the wooden pews that look like they survived centuries of prayers.
I can’t believe it’s so well preserved.
Brice is far ahead of me when he realizes I’m not following him anymore.
I don’t care.
My head is tilted to the ceiling, and I’m in awe of everything. The arches are wonderful and make me feel so small, and I can’t help but wonder what is behind the doors on the second floor.
“They still come to pray here. You’ll see tomorrow morning,” Brice says as he approaches me again.
His voice is deep and soft. Soothing.
“Can I stay here?” I answer without thinking.
With all those years with my father, I should know better, but I’m surprised by his answer.
“I gathered that you didn’t really want to use the restroom, but don’t you want to see your room and settle? We can come back here after.”
Settle.This word feels so strange to me. I don’t want to settle. I was supposed to be here only for one day, nothing more, and now I realize that I have nothing tosettlewith me.
“A shower would be nice,” I answer truthfully.
I don’t feel like I smell to the point I’d be unbearable for shifters, but I did walk for eighteen kilometers, and if I could put on new underwear and a shirt, it would be nice.
“They didn’t let you fly here?” he asks genuinely.
