Raya took a seat on the center bench facing the tapestries.
The vivid colors filled her vision. She removed her wand from her hair and set it in her lap, folding her hands over it as she concentrated on the tapestry panels.
The same woman appeared in each scene. Raya imagined herself in the woman’s place, surrounded by the sumptuous details worked into each tapestry. In her mind, she touched the horn of the unicorn. She selected candies from a delicate serving dish and fed them to the parakeet that perched on her finger. The flowers in the lady’s wreath were her own, filling her senses with their sweet scent.
Raya shuddered in ecstasy as the creative magic of centuries past trickled through her.
The final tapestry, and the most mysterious, featured the words “À Mon Seul Désir” written on the lady’s tent, under which she held a jeweled necklace as she either removed it from its box—or put it away.
Raya took hold of her wand and stood, a little wobbly at first, to examine the tapestry closer. She read the plaque just off to the side.
According to the plaque, the meaning of the words remained a subject of debate.
To My SoleDesire.
What did she desire?
Was it the sparkling jewels she held in her hand? Or did “desire” refer to an unseen love?
Raya sought the truth of the tapestry from the magic it radiated, but as she coaxed the enchantment to reveal itself, it slipped away—leaving behind only the faint and silvery sound of a woman’s laughter.
8
Raya stood in the plaza in front of the Eiffel Tower. The crowd swirled around her as she pivoted to each cardinal direction in search of Phoenix.
Where was he?
Late, of course. She regretted resolving to tell him about her upcoming field trip. It wasn’t like he needed to know, anyway. But considering she didn’t know a single soul in France, it probably wasn’t a good idea to take off into the woods without letting someone know where she was going.
The Eiffel Tower loomed over her, taller and more massive than it appeared in photos.
She could almost feel the weight of it in her bones, a weight with its own gravitational pull.
“Well met, Your Witchiness,” Phoenix murmured behind her.
She jumped. “Damn it, Phoenix. Stop sneaking up on me!”
“But it’s so much fun.”
“And you didn’t even apologize for being late.”
“You’re right. I didn’t.”
She waited.
He crossed his arms and regarded her, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.
“You’re infuriating, you know that? I don’t know why I let you follow me to Paris.” She started walking, forcing him to jog to catch up, then rounding on him as he drew near. “For that matter, why did you follow me here?”
He put his hands in his jacket pockets and shrugged. “Because I was bored.”
“You were bored? That’s all?”
Phoenix stared at the Eiffel Tower. “Forever is a long time. You have to find amusement where you can get it.” His gaze turned to her. “I suppose it’s the same for you, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but my forever isn’t as long as yours.” Her hands clenched and released. She made a conscious effort to still them.
“I bet you won’t be bored if I do this.” He grabbed her by the hand and waist, then swept her into a mad waltz across the plaza.
