Day 1
Out of all the seasons, spring was absolutely my least favorite. I get allergies every year, with all the pollen. Plus, that's when my studies get really intense. But even though spring is my least favorite, it does have its redeeming qualities. The trees in our garden bloom in the most incredible colors, and the weather can be nice.
Oh, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Amira. I live in Egypt with my father, the Ambassador. I'm fourteen, but I don't go to school. Instead, I have a private tutor who teaches me from home. My father is a very busy person. He travels often, but he allows me to go with him one trip per month, to expand my knowledge.
Later today we leave for our next trip: Paris. I've never been to France, but I'm eager to see what I'll find. My French wasn't perfect, but I think I know enough to get by. Normally, my tutor would come with us, but her cousin is getting married, so instead, I'm going to have to go to school there. I'm not sure if I'll like it, but I know there's no hope arguing with my father about it. It's an excuse to get out everyday and go sightseeing, after school of course.
I'm almost done packing everything when a familiar voice calls out to me. "Amira, did you remember to pack sunflower seeds? I don't want to go all the way to Paris and not like the ones they have there."
I chuckle. "Don't worry Saqqr, I have loads in my backpack. You don't have to worry about a thing." Saqqr dives into my luggage bag to confirm. She was very serious when it came to her seeds. I had packed them first just to be sure I wouldn't forget.
Saqqr was one of my only friends, and I couldn't tell anyone about her. They'd think I was crazy and get me checked. No one has ever heard of kwami's or anything of the sort. But I didn't mind the secrecy. Saqqr was a good friend, and it didn't matter if she was a mythical being that defied everything anyone knows about the universe. She was mine and mine alone, and she was fine with that too.
I notice Saqqr try to open one of the bags of sunflower seed and snatch it from her. "You can't open any yet! They're only for when we're in Paris!" I put the seeds back into my luggage bag. "I have an open bag in my drawer."
"Humph, fine." Saqqr phased through the top drawer and came back out with the bag of seeds and begins snacking.
After going through my packing checklist I zip my luggage bag shut. "One week in Paris... do you think I'll meet Ladybug and Chat Noir while I'm there?"
"Possibly," Saqqr says between seeds. "But you can't reveal your identity to them. I think it's best you stay out of their way while we're in France."
"But what if I don't get another chance to meet superheroes? I've caught bad guys before, I can handle myself."
Saqqr shakes her head. "There's a much larger threat in Paris. Those attacks are organized by a mastermind. I've already told you about Hawkmoth. You aren't ready to face such a threat." Saqqr pokes around in the bag for any last seeds and tosses it in the trash. "Trust me on this one."
"I do trust you." I plop down on my bed. "Fine, I won't try to help them with Hawk Moth. But I still get to meet them!"
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious of the 'Heroes of Paris' as well. I haven't seen another superhero in a while." Saqqr lays down on my lap and begins sleeping.
"Snacked on too many seed, huh?" I gentle put Saqqr in my backpack and put it on. I hear my father call out to me to hurry down to eat before we leave. "Coming, Baba!" I call back.
The flight wasn't long, roughly five hours, but I still felt exhausted when we landed. Still, I was excited to see what Paris looked like. The hotel we were staying in was supposedly the best in all of Paris, but all I hoped for was nice food. Saqqr still slept soundly in my bag. She hated flying in airplanes, which is quite ironic considering she's a falcon.
After another commute through car we arrive at the hotel we'll be staying at for the next week: Le Grand Paris. My father opens the door for me and we make our way to the door. Inside, we are greeted by a large man with gray in a suit wearing a sash of red, white, and blue. Beside him is a girl my age with blonde hair tied up in a ponytail.
The older man speaks first: "Welcome to Le Grand Paris. I am the mayor, André Bourgeois, and this is my daughter, Chloé. I hope you will enjoy your stay at my prestigious hotel."
"Thank you for your hospitality. My daughter Amira and I are looking forward to our stay in Paris," my father says. He and the mayor exchange a hand shake and I politely bow my head slightly.
"Picking my father's hotel was the best choice you could make Ambassador. This is the finest establishment in all of Paris." Chloé is eager to brag. The accents were throwing me off a little, but I understood each word.
My father responds curtly, "Of course. Only the best is suitable." My father doesn't think that way, but we know that agreeing with self brags is easier, and quicker than arguing with them.
Chloé approaches me and smiles a smile that seemed less than genuine. "We are going to become best friends!" She gives me a huge hug and holds onto my arm. I remain still.
"Ah, Chloé, I don't think…" My father tries to cut in.
"Please let go of me," I try to say clearly and calmly. Chloé releases her hold on my arm and stares at me quizzically.
"Right," Chloé looks at me unapologetically. "I'll show you to your rooms." We begin walking. To the elevator. "So, do you always wear that thing on your head, or…?"
I decided I don't like Chloé.
My father and I were in separate rooms connected by a door. Saqqr had already claimed the armchair as her own and I prepared her blanket in a nest-like matter for her to sleep. Right now she was settled in the seat, munching on seeds.
"What are the odds you're in the same class as that Chloé Bourgeois girl?" Saqqr asks.
"With my luck, most definitely." I sigh. "Don't you think you've had enough seeds today? We haven't even transformed today," I tease.
"Very funny. I've been asleep all five hours of flight, of course I'm hungry." She eats another seed.
"I'm only teasing." I check the time: 10:00. "I'm about to sleep." Time is different here in France, it's an hour behind. I turn off the lights. "Goodnight Saqqr. Let's hope school is a breeze."