over my ears, I try to block out the sound. My heart thumps wildly to the sound of it. Everything spins, and it feels like the ground beneath me is shaking.
“Rafe.” My cry is a plea. Claustrophobia closes in. I can’t breathe. The air in my lungs clogs in my throat.
Silence.
It cuts through my senses as sharp as a knife. The sudden empty hush. Dragging in a ragged breath, I search frantically around.
Rafe steps from the shadows, a dark presence with gleaming odd eyes. “Don’t be frightened. I’m here.”
His arms open in welcome as I hurry into their safety, wrapping my own around his well-built waist in relief. “Where did you go? Why did you leave me?”
His lips press softly against my forehead in a soothing gesture. “I heard a noise too and went to check for others. Someone probably thought it would be fun to mess around and scare you. People sneak down here, through manholes, to party. Cults come to perform rituals. There’s a whole secret community that uses this place.”
It sounds logical. Still, my heart races, my nerves jumpy. Images of hooded monks and ravenous ghosts dance fancifully through my head. Burrowing closer, my gloved hands clutch at his shirt, the sides of his coat enclosing me in needed warmth.
“You’re shaking.” Drawing my chin up, Rafe kisses me quickly. A brief peck on the lips that leaves my mouth tingling. “You stood among tomb stones in the cemetery. An angel surrounded by the dead. You light up the world so brightly that I could not resist basking in its beauty. Don’t let these old bones frighten you now.”
“You promise not to disappear on me again?” I ask, tone edged with beseeching.
“Never,” he promises, his strong arms hugging me tightly in return. “Your nose is bleeding.”
Raising my hand, it comes away streaked with blood staining the wool. “Damn it. I’m not sure why this keeps happening. It’s the second time in the last few days. Maybe it’s the cold weather?”
A crisp, clean, white cotton handkerchief appears before me. Thanking Rafe with a grateful smile, I hold it to my nose, trying to stem the flow of red.
“The exit is this way,” he tells me solemnly with a gesture in the direction. “Let’s go and gets some air.”
I agree quickly, happy to be away from the catacombs. Moving faster than we entered, we hurry out into the rain-washed street. The day is still gloomy, but I’m thankful for the light.
Rafe retrieves his torch from my hand, hiding it away in his coat pocket. Rescuing me from a one-handed struggle with the umbrella, he clicks it up to safeguard us from the falling rain.
Dabbing at my nose, I find the nosebleed subsiding as quickly as it had started. “I’m sorry I’ve ruined your handkerchief.”
Mismatched eyes gaze down at the crimson discolouring the fabric before he takes it stuffing it into one of his pockets. “I have plenty more.”
Pressed together under the umbrella, we walk with brisk steps along the street. Thunder rumbles over head, and the storm doesn’t look like it will let up any time soon, lightening streaking through the silver-streaked, gray sky.
“I was planning to take you to Manoir de Paris. I don’t think that’s a good idea today. Perhaps something less frightening?” Rafe suggests, hailing us a taxi. Bundling into the back, we sit with our knees touching, listening to the music blaring from the cab driver’s radio.
The Eiffel tower soon comes into view. Well-practiced French flows from Rafe’s lips as he pays the cab driver. Umbrella keeping us from being soaked, we walk through the Trocadero Gardens to the Aquarium de Paris.
“It houses the largest collection of jelly fish in Europe,” Rafe informs me as we join the small water-logged queue. “A little less frightening than a horror attraction.”
“Your really into spooky things, aren’t you?” I laugh, glad we’re here instead of the other place he planned. After the catacombs, I’m not sure I could take another fright.
Rafe stares at me for a moment, thoughts swirling behind his eyes. “Nothing scares me anymore.”
With the rainy weather, it’s kept many people indoors. I’m grateful we don’t have to wait long to enter the underground Aquarium. I feel like an eager child again. Bouncing on my toes, I give a little squeal of excitement after we pay for our tickets.
“It also has cinemas and a stage for shows.” Rafe’s voice is low and wreathed in amusement at my behaviour. Hand in hand, we begin to explore, his fingers