Man Destroyer

Part 6

Chapter 11: Paris

"Do I really need to stay here tonight?" Sabrina whined.

The witches, demon baby, and now-mortal had landed in Paris three days prior, wandered around in a jet lagged haze for two days and had just come back to their apartment in Hotel Villa d'Estree from a tour at Sorbonne University. Zelda breezed past her niece with a heavy sigh and sharp eye roll, pulling open the double doors in Sabrina's bedroom leading out onto a beautiful balcony. Motioning to the view below, on the left was the Louvre Museum, the Seine flowed in front of the hotel, and to the right the spires of Notre Dame Cathedral could be seen.

"I would hardly say you're without anything to do, Sabrina. The streets are full of life, so different from our sleepy Greendale, enjoy your time watching them...and your cousin." Zelda turned back to face the room.

Sabrina's jaw dropped, "I have to stay here AND I have to babysit?!"

"Yes." Zelda's tone was firm and full of finality. Sabrina's mouth opened and closed like a beached fish gasping for air, the angle of Zelda's raised eyebrow and her crossed arms signaled there was no point in arguing.

Sabrina sighed and picked up Deianeira, "Well, it's just you and me then."

Zelda nodded her approval and snapped her fingers, her trousers and blouse traded in for a beautiful black velvet coat, buttoned at the neck with a sweet keyhole peek-a-boo detail revealing the lace of a corset beneath it coupled with near-shoulder length leather gloves and a wide brimmed felt hat. Lilith joined her at the door in a beautiful black suit, a red silk Hermes scarf pulled up over her hair, giving her a very Parisian look. Threading her arm through her Queen's, Zelda guided them out of the room and into the night, eager to experience Paris as if for the first time through Lilith's eyes.

Walking along the cobblestones as the daylight gave way to the magical glow of twilight, Zelda's first stop on her tour of the Latin Quarter, was Notre Dame Cathedral. Lilith hesitated at the steps to the cathedral and raised a brow quizzically, rolling her eyes Zelda pulled Lilith into the church and sat her down at the pew closest to the exit. Lilith grimaced to be surrounded by the Christian god who was the Being she understood to have vilified her so effectively but Zelda squeezed her hand and pointed to the awe-inspiring stained glass windows lasting from the 12th century until now. As the choir began to sing hymns in Latin, one of Lilith's old tongues, she lost herself in the shimmering and broken rainbow of light that the setting sun cast through the windows. A kaleidoscope of colours rained down on her, blessing her with the beauty of what humanity is capable of, and she felt moved.

"Maybe they are worth keeping around after all?" Zelda muttered, meaning the humans and referring to Danu's desires to rid the Earth of them. "If only for the beauty they can create."

"It's entirely possible witches or some other being created those windows, my love." Lilith was careful with her words, knowing that Zelda would be considering Sabrina's mortality and if Danu called upon them soon after Lucifer's demise to join forces against mortals, Sabrina would be included in that group.

The pair walked along the Seine in silence, taking in the buskers as they packed up their portraits, caricatures, flowers, knicknacks, musical instruments, and coffee carts. Releasing Lilith's hand, Zelda jogged over to a flower cart and spoke rapidly in perfect french, buying a single black rose before the seller walked away from his post. As Lilith caught up to her, Zelda shyly held out the rose with a grin then snuggled into Lilith's embrace as the demoness accepted it. Pulling her consort close, Lilith felt a tug that led to an ache deep within the cavity of her chest, a reminder that love could be painful; a pain she welcomed with open arms.