Radiant - By Christina Daley Page 0,49

rule. And there are consequences to pay."

"Is being with me breaking one of them?" she asked.

"It's breaking a ton of them," he said. Then he smiled. "But I'm willing to face certain consequences."

She smiled as well.

"You're smiling," he said. "Does this mean that, after I've told you what I am, you're not afraid of me?"

She looked at him. "Well, I don't understand you. Not very well, at least. But no, I'm not afraid. Not anymore. Sorry for freaking out."

"It's all right," he said.

Mary tapped her fingers on her knee. "So, I guess you need to translate us if we're to get back home?"

He nodded. "If that is what you would like." He stood and dusted off his jeans.

Mary got to her feet, too. "But…we don't have to go home right away, do we? You can get around the world instantly, right?"

"Yes," he said. "Why?"

"Can we visit, like, Paris?" she asked. "Just for a bit?"

He wrinkled his brow. "I just told you that I'm occupying a human body without permission, and you want to travel?"

She shrugged. "I don't get out much."

He smiled. "Paris in France or in Texas?

"France, of course." She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Anywhere in particular?" he asked.

"How about the Eiffel Tower?" she said. "I hear it's a pretty big deal."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. The elevator feeling came back, and an instant later, they were standing at the base of the massive tower. But it was hard to see it in the dark.

"What do you think?" Phos asked.

"It's dark," she said. "I thought it lights up at night. At least that's what it does in the movies."

"It does until about one in the morning," he said. "It's almost four now."

"Hm," Mary said. "That's disappointing."

"Maybe it's better if you saw it from the top?" he asked.

"Okay," she said.

Back into the elevator.

"WHOA!" Mary screamed when they translated. She clung to Phos and squeezed her eyes shut.

"What is it?" he asked. One of his arms held her while the other clutched a steel beam.

"You didn't say we were going to the very top!" she cried. A cold blast of wind threatened to tear her away.

"What did you think I meant when I said 'top'?" he asked.

"Like the normal 'top,'" she said. "Where normal people go when they normally mean the 'top'!"

He spoke calmly. "I won't let you fall. Even if you did, I'd catch you and translate like I did at the Grand Canyon. Please open your eyes. You're missing a wonderful view."

She kept her eyes shut.

"Mary?" he said, rubbing her back comfortingly.

"Keep your hands still!" she snapped.

"Sorry," he said.

Mary took a deep breath. Then keeping her arms firmly around his neck, she opened her eyes.

He was right. The City of Lights was truly magnificent from this height. The different avenues looked like a web of electricity.

"See?" Phos said.

Mary sighed. "Fine. It's amazing."

He chuckled. "Would you like to see something else? Or would you rather stay up here?"

"Something else," she said quickly.

They translated to the top of something that Mary could handle a little better: L'Arc de Triomphe. They watched funny little cars, which were out even at this late hour, circle the monument for a moment before Phos took her to see Notre Dame Cathedral. It was much grander than that little church where Mary bought the holy water.

Soon, the sun began to rise on Paris. It colored the sky with amazing shades of blues and purples, followed by splashes of orange and vibrant pink.

"Ready to go?" Phos asked. "It's past midnight back at home."

"No," Mary said. "This is my first time here. I'm a quarter French, you know."

He chuckled. "We can come back. And we can visit other places, too."

Mary thought for a moment, then nodded and put her arms around him again. She hadn't finished blinking before they were on her roof again.

"We're here," Phos said.

But neither of them let go of each other right away. They stood like that for a while.

Mary finally had to pull away. "Thank you. For telling me the truth."

"Thank you for listening," Phos said. He looked skyward.

Mary followed his gaze. "Meteoroids?"

"Just some small ones," he said. "You won't be able to see them from here."

"Can I see you work?" she asked. "Up close?"

"It's dangerous," he said. "Your body isn't made for the temperatures at that altitude."

"But you take Carter's body up there," she said.

"That's because my energy is constantly regenerating it," he said.

Mary crossed her arms. "That's not fair."

"The next time you dream, we'll