Hey guys, thank you for your patience and understanding in waiting a little longer for this chapter! My residency applications are in and now I'm just waiting for interview offers. As promised, here's the first of the two Paris chapters. Read on to find out what adventures await Alexei in Paris!
Gonna reply to reviews on the previous chapter, thanks so much for the love and to everyone who reviewed!
Guest: Thank you! It definitely was a bit painful to write Dominic's side of things but I really enjoyed exploring his character. I'm also glad you enjoyed getting to see more of Jamie and Alexei's friendship since those are super fun scenes to write. Stay tuned for more of those, coming much, much later!
Tessa Jane: Thank you, I'm glad you're excited for the Paris chapters and thank you for your patience with waiting for them to be posted! I really enjoyed writing them so I hope you will enjoy reading them too. You're also bang on about Alexei running into someone he knows (although perhaps not in the way you might expect), read on to find out who…
Guest: I wasn't too sure about the makeover scene (since I wasn't sure if it'd be too cringe or anything) but I'm glad you thought it was funny. Probably cause Alexei seems way too serious to ever do that sort of thing haha
Guest: Hmm, you bring up a good point that hasn't crossed my mind. I can see how that makes sense, since the box and the rest of Grace's mother's belongings are what lead the squad to Dubrovnia. You have a point about how they probably would have gone right back to Adria otherwise cause idk what else they could have done after reuniting in Paris ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Disclaimer: I do not own the Embassy Row series and all the characters (except for Tanner and Jordan and Alexei's Moscow friends, who are my own creations). They belong to Ally Carter. I am merely using her characters and plotline to create this fanfiction. I have no intention of profiting off the Embassy Row series in any way. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and would not exist without Ally Carter's wonderful works.
The events that happen in this fanfiction are not meant to be representative of real life. Any similarities to any real-life events or fictional works is purely coincidental and not intentional (with the exception of the original Embassy Row books by Ally Carter since this fanfiction is literally Take the Key and Lock Her Up but from Alexei's, not Grace's, perspective). The character's actions may not always reflect my own opinions or views. Based on what happens in this chapter (spoiler alert), I do not condone faking one's identity.
Content warning: none to mild
This fanfiction is rated T, for suggestive themes, language, and violence. This chapter contains mentions of death. Please read at your own discretion.
Chapter Eight: Midnight in Paris
The ride to the airport in the old car was relatively uneventful. Dominic kept his eyes on the road, not trying to make conversation. I was pretty grateful for that as it allowed me to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to do. Ride a plane in disguise, go to a large, foreign city on my own, and find the girl I love. If I succeeded, then Grace would be back in my arms. If not, then one or both of us would end up dead. And if I didn't bring Grace back alive, then Jamie was definitely going to kill me. Maybe Dominic too. So yeah, a lot was riding on my ability to find Grace, which wasn't going to be easy, considering I didn't have many leads besides the fact she was currently in Paris. Hopefully, I'd be able to find her quickly and get her back on a plane to Mexico. Otherwise, I could very well end up wandering the streets of Paris, fruitlessly trying to find her.
The sun had just set when Dominic pulled into the drop-off zone at Mexico City's Benito Juarez airport. He killed the engine, taking a small slip of paper out of his pocket and handing it to me. "This is the address of the Society's headquarters in Paris. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening. Your plane should make it to Paris in the afternoon, giving you a few hours to get there and find Grace."
"Thank you." I slid the piece of paper into the small envelope with the cash and Dominic's phone numbers.
"Take care out there, okay?" Dominic said, looking straight ahead.
"Thank you. I'll do my best to find Grace and bring her back as soon as possible." Dominic just nodded, although he made no motion to get out of the car.
"It should be me going to Paris to find Grace, not you," Dominic said quietly. His gaze stayed straight ahead. "I made a promise to Caroline many years ago that I would look after her children. Even after her death, I vowed to uphold that promise. James and Grace meant the world to her. She loved them dearly and always sent me pictures and letters. I grew to love them as my own too.
"But where has that gotten me? One of them was nearly stabbed to death and is having a complicated recovery. The other has disappeared to the other side of the world, potentially walking right into their death. Caroline wanted her children to have a happy, peaceful life, free from the danger that comes from knowing Adria's dark secrets. And what have I done?" He paused, a pained look on his face. He blinked, tears brimming in his eyes.
"I led them right into that danger, bringing death and destruction to their lives, instead of keeping them away from it. Now, they're being hunted by the same people that killed Caroline for discovering the truth. She would never want this for her children.
"I've let her down so much. I should have tried harder to keep James and Grace safe, to keep Grace from digging too much and discovering the truth. I hope she can forgive me, wherever her soul rests." A single tear rolled down his cheek. I placed my hand over his on the shift stick.
"Hey, it's not your fault. You did your best. You did everything you could to keep Jamie and Grace safe. Grace choosing to dig was a result of her own actions and decisions, not yours."
Dominic sadly shook his head. "I should have tried harder. I should have told them years ago, like Caroline and I wanted to, so it wouldn't have ended up like this."
"Then we're going to fix it," I replied, my resolve strong. "I'm going to find Grace and bring her back to Mexico. Then, we can figure out how to stop the Society." Dominic gave me a wary look.
"It's not that easy. The Society cannot be taken down. Caroline tried for many years and looked how that turned out for her. One wrong move and we'll be on our death beds. We need to plan every move wisely."
"We'll have plenty of time for that once I find Grace. She arguably knows the Society better than any of us."
Dominic looked at me, his face weary and tired. "Alexei, can I ask you something?" I nodded.
"Can you promise me that you'll do whatever it takes to find Grace?"
"Of course." I gave Dominic a quizzical look. Hadn't I already proven that by getting a makeover and now hopping on a plane halfway across the world to a foreign city?
"I know you've been saying it. I really hope you mean it. If you come back without Grace, then James and I are going to be severely disappointed." Dominic eyed me carefully.
"I expect nothing less. I won't let you down." I nodded, sure of myself. I would do anything for Grace, going to the ends of the Earth to protect her.
"Then I trust that I'll see you in a few days time with Grace in tow." Dominic took the keys out of the ignition and opened the car door. I followed suit, our conversation clearly over. I walked to the trunk of the car, where Dominic had taken out my backpack and duffel bag.
"Good luck and take care," Dominic said, handing me my belongings.
"Thank you." Dominic nodded, before heading back into the car. I turned, taking in the large airport and the scale of the mission I was about to embark on. I took a deep breath, walking inside to the Air France counter to check in for my flight. I didn't bother checking in either my backpack or my duffel bag, opting to carry them on. I couldn't risk losing them or waiting around at the baggage carousel. Every second was precious and I didn't want to waste any time.
Next, I headed over to international security, which had a long line, even at this hour. I placed my bags on the conveyer belt and waited my turn to walk through the scanner. Much to my surprise, I made it through fine, the scanner remaining quiet. Unfortunately, the backpack containing Grace's mother's belongings didn't. It was funneled over to the airport security personnel, who promptly opened it up and started digging through it. The box that Grace so dearly cherished particularly caught their eye. Thankfully, they didn't think much of it, shoving everything back inside and handing me the backpack again.
Luckily, everything after that was uneventful. No one paid any attention to me at the gate as I waited to board the plane. The flight attendants didn't give me a second look as they scanned my boarding pass and checked my passport.
It was almost midnight by the time the plane took off. I was settled in an aisle seat at the back of the plane. Throughout the flight, I slept, ate the in-flight meals, and watched movies on the in-flight entertainment system. Again, no one paid any attention to me. I didn't engage in conversation with those seated next to me. Thankfully, my seatmates kept to themselves. I couldn't imagine how much lying and dodging I'd have to do if I was seated next to someone chatty.
After eleven long hours, the pilot announced our descent into Paris. I quickly glanced out the closest window, taking in the Parisian skyline. I had been to Paris a few times before, on school trips or with my father on official business, and always enjoyed my visits. However, it was different touching down in the City of Love now that I had a girl on my mind. Although I had never seen the romantic appeal of Paris, I now couldn't stop myself from thinking about all the romantic possibilities, like leisurely strolls through the city, meals shared at small cafés, and sweet conversations in French. It took everything in me to avoid getting sucked into fantasies of doing those things with Grace. I had to focus on the main task at hand, finding her and bringing her back to Mexico.
Once the plane officially touched down and rolled to a stop, I booked it off as fast as possible, making my way straight to international customs. Luckily, the customs officer didn't question me, stamping my fake passport without any second thoughts and sending me on my way. I walked as fast as I could to the RER train station in the airport, which would bring me closer to the city centre. In the city proper, I transferred onto the Metro, to go to the address Dominic had given me for the Society headquarters. It was early evening and the trains were crowded with rush hour commuters. I tried my best to be patient, although that didn't stop my mind from racing or my body from shaking as the train slowly rolled along.
When the train finally reached my stop, I booked it off, taking the stairs two at a time instead of waiting behind hoards of people on the escalators. I didn't think about where I was going; all I had on my mind was getting to the Society building so I could find Grace. However, something made me stop when I made it outside and breathed in the Parisian air. The air was much cleaner at the military base we had stayed at, smelling like nothing. Here, there was a faint odor to the air, indicative of all the pollution. It reminded me of being in Moscow, with its poor air quality. And in that instant, I knew I was back where I belonged, in Europe.
After being in North America for seven weeks, it felt good to be back on European soil. After all, it was where I grew up and it was the culture I was raised in. I loved being somewhere where the streets were narrow and full of people, where the buildings showed their history and screamed culture. Compared to America, where the roads were so wide and everything was only accessible by car, where the buildings were ultra-modern, trying to be the best and the brightest. As great as America was, it wasn't for me. Not with the sense of homecoming and ease that washed over me as I stood here, breathing in the Parisian air and taking in the distinctly European surroundings. And it was here, in Europe, that my next task awaited me.
I walked onto the street, my mind shifting back into focus. Find Grace and get on the next plane back to Mexico. I carefully navigated the streets using the directions Dominic had given me, reaching a modest-sized church on a relatively quiet, derelict street. The church looked to be about four or five hundred years old, standing three stories tall with large stained-glass windows. I tried the door, pulling at the hard wood with all my strength. However, it was locked. I then noticed a small sign written in French, taped to the door. I easily translated it, grateful I had chosen to take French in school. La messe en cours. Mass in progress. I checked the time on my burner cell. 7:00 p.m. Some mass that was going on. The Society meeting should be in full swing right now. Was Grace in there, getting torn apart by various Society members?
I wandered around the building's perimeter, looking for alternate entrances. Unfortunately, they were all locked, just like the main doors. The Society likely didn't want to take any chances and have lost churchgoers wandering inside during one of their meetings. I looked for any signs of secret entrances but came up emptyhanded. However, I did see the Society's emblem woven into one of the stained-glass windows, marking this building as one of their own. It was quite subtle and I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been looking for it.
As I loitered outside the building, looking for any ways to get in and debating punching my way in through one of the stained-glass windows, the sky gradually darkened. I had a decent view of the sun setting over the Parisian skyline, casting the sky in vibrant colours. By the time the sun had set, there were still no obvious signs of activity within the building. I was tempted to call it a day. After all, I was tired and jet-lagged, feeling uncomfortable in my own skin thanks to the disguise. But I couldn't quit yet. Not with the possibility of someone slipping out of the building, allowing me to enter. I figured I'd give it a few more hours before calling it a night.
The sound of smashing glass rang throughout the quiet night, as shards of stained glass rained down next to me seconds later. I looked up, trying to pinpoint the broken window as my heart quickened, my mind and body on full alert. Moments later, a small figure climbed onto the windowsill. Was that? No, it couldn't be. But sure enough, the figure launched itself from the window, a blur of blonde hair trailing behind them as they soared through the air. I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared transfixed at the sky. Grace, my Gracie, flying through the night sky like a fallen angel. In a cruelly ironic way, she almost was one, considering she had just escaped the Society's meeting.
"Grace!" I shouted, waving my arms to get her attention. However, she slid down out of sight, towards the street behind the church. I immediately bolted into action, running down the side of the church yard, in hopes of reaching that street before Grace. There was a loud bang, as one of the church's side doors opened, with women streaming out, frantically running around.
"Someone get her!" "Where did she go?" "She ruined everything!" The desperate cries all around me were in various languages but the meaning was the same. Grace had run when she wasn't supposed to and now these women were going to get her back, no matter the cost.
The women swarmed me, like a hive sharing a collective mindset, preventing me from reaching Grace. I silently cursed, trying my best to push my way through them.
"Excuse me, have you seen a short, blonde girl?" I turned towards the voice that addressed me. The face of Ms. Chancellor stared back at me. Although she had looked at me sternly many times before, I had never once seen concern and worry on her face, until now.
"Have we met?" Ms. Chancellor's face suddenly morphed into curiosity. I must have made a funny face when I realized it was her. I internally kicked myself for being so stupid.
"Um, no, I don't think we have," I replied. She looked at me in alarm, making me wonder what else I possibly could have done wrong. It was then I remembered I was supposed to be speaking with a British accent. The gravity of what I had just done hit me hard. Now, my Russian accent was bound to give me away, despite the disguise.
"Are you sure? There's something about you that seems awfully familiar but I just can't place it," Ms. Chancellor mused. She cocked her head to the side, scrutinizing me closely. It took everything I had in me not to balk under her gaze.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. You must be mistaken." I tried my best to sound apologetic, like I was completely innocent, even though I was far from it. Ms. Chancellor motioned for me to follow her, as she walked back to the exit she had come from. She stopped a short distance from the door.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm visiting a friend who's studying here."
"I see. But why are you here? Surely, tourists don't find themselves in this run-down area of Paris." I panicked, trying to think of a lie as I retraced my steps to get here.
"My friend works at a café a few blocks down. They told me to meet them there so we could grab some drinks. However, their shift hadn't finished when I arrived so they said I could explore the area until they were done." Ms. Chancellor nodded, a neutral look on her face. I wasn't sure if she had bought my story but with her, it was always impossible to tell.
"This is a lovely church," I said, desperate to say something, anything to keep the conversation off me and my fake persona.
Ms. Chancellor just shrugged. "It serves its purpose." Yes, I was sure that church served as an excellent secret meeting place for the Society. However, she didn't know that I knew that.
"Where are you from?" Ms. Chancellor asked, eyeing me closely.
"London. I'm currently studying there and popped over here to see my friend before the start of the university semester." I was lucky that the timing worked out well, with most UK universities starting school in late September or early October.
"I see. I won't keep you from meeting your friend. Best of luck with your studies, young man," Ms. Chancellor said.
"Thank you," I replied, with a polite nod. Ms. Chancellor just gave me one last odd look before heading off to join the rest of the Society members. I turned around, running back towards the street I had come from. I followed it to the intersection, where I turned onto the street behind the church. Even though Grace was probably long gone by now, this was the only lead I had.
I ran down the street at a moderate pace, looking for any signs of my beautiful, broken angel. Unsurprisingly, the street was empty. I randomly turned onto another street, not thinking about where I was going, the thought of finding Grace dominating my mind. I probably looked like a lunatic, chasing after nothing, but I didn't care. All I needed to do was find Grace.
I slowed my pace to a brisk walk. Running around randomly wasn't going to help. I needed a strategy. Paris was arranged in a series of districts, or arrondissements, that extended in a spiral from the centre of the city. Grace was more likely to end up there, with all the famous landmarks and great abundance of hostels and cafés to attract tourists. I could start my search there and work my way out. Of course, it wasn't a foolproof plan but it was better than nothing.
I traced my way back to the city centre, using the Seine River and various street maps as my guide. Eventually, I found myself in the eighth arrondissement, containing the Arc de Triomphe, lit up by the surrounding streetlights. Despite the dark night sky, the roads around it were still bustling with traffic, as the night was only just getting started in the City of Lights. All throughout the streets, numerous bars were in full swing, handling the pre-dinner drinks from the working crowd. And the restaurants were just starting to open up for the dinner rush, waiters writing the night's dinner menu on chalkboard signs outside the storefronts. The smell of freshly baked baguettes and pastries from the various patisseries was heavenly, making my mouth water. Buskers occupied street corners, adding to the ambient night atmosphere of glasses clinking and cutlery scraping against plates amidst snippets of lively conversation in French.
I worked my way throughout the city centre, taking in the famous landmarks of Paris that I had seen many times. I walked down Avenue des Champs-Élysées, still filled with tourists and locals alike, peeking into the windows of all the high-end boutiques. I marvelled at the Eiffel Tower, cast aglow with tons of tiny, sparkling lights. I gazed at the temporary structures holding up the walls of Cathédrale Notre-Dame, wondering when the great beauty would be restored to its former glory.
It was almost funny how I was chasing the girl I loved through arguably the most romantic city in the world. Would I find her here, reigniting my love for her, or would I lose her forever, letting my love die? No, I wasn't going to lose Grace forever, not after catching sight of her. I was going to find her.
However, the further I got from the city centre, the more I started to lose hope. All around me were many couples in various stages of life. Teenagers shyly holding hands, college-aged youth making out with reckless abandon against buildings and in hidden alleys, middle-aged folks in professional business attire walking side-by-side as they talked about their days, elderly citizens helping each other across the busy streets. But one thing remained the same; they were all deeply and madly in love. Would I ever get to look at Grace like that, to hold her close to me and kiss her all over? Or would I be doomed to walk these streets alone, cursed by the circumstances that prevented Grace and I from being together?
The bells of a nearby church started ringing. I stopped and listened, counting the number of times the bells sounded. Twelve. How was it already midnight? It didn't feel like I had been wandering around for that long. However, now that I had stopped for a brief moment, the exhaustion suddenly caught up with me. I was extremely tired and jet-lagged. My eyes were stinging from having the contacts in for far too long and my face was itchy from all the makeup. I was beyond hungry and dehydrated. As much as I didn't want to stop, my body was telling me otherwise.
Giving in, I walked over to a map of the area, plotting the quickest route to one of Dominic's safe houses. He had given me addresses to several of his safe houses, to use as needed. As much as I hadn't wanted to use them, I didn't have much of a choice now. A quick scan of the map told me there was a safe house a few streets away.
It was 12:30 a.m. when I reached the safe house. Dominic had given me strict instructions, to make sure no one saw me entering or exiting. The street had been pretty quiet as I walked down it. Hopefully, no one would still be awake at this late hour. Nonetheless, I did a quick sweep of my surroundings before unlocking the door.
It was a small, simply furnished townhouse, more than enough to suit my needs. I locked the door and drew the blinds, just as Dominic instructed. I placed my duffel bag and backpack in one of the bedrooms. I immediately headed into the adjoining bathroom, taking my sweet time in there. I found some makeup remover, using it to take off all the makeup. I washed my face twice, scrubbing it clean. I took out the contacts, managing not to stab myself in the eye. I took a long, hot shower, watching as light brown water washed down the drain. By the time I finished towelling off, I finally felt like myself again.
I changed into a clean t-shirt and pair of jeans, before heading into the kitchen. I downed two glasses of cold water straight from the sink. I wolfed down the sandwich I had purchased from a nearby convenience store, not really tasting it. I sent Dominic a short text to let him know I had made it to the safe house, waiting a few minutes before deleting it from the burner cell.
My body was physically exhausted when I climbed into bed, ready to settle in for the night. However, my mind was racing, wondering where Grace could possibly be. I tossed and turned, my brain imagining a gazillion different ways I would find Grace. In the middle of a busy street, aboard the Metro, or worse, her body washed up along the banks of the Seine River. I tried not to let my mind dwell on that last possibility.
The minutes crept by as my mind refused to shut up. Eventually, it gradually settled down, allowing me to drift into a state of semi-consciousness. It was almost 4 a.m. and I had almost fallen asleep when I got the text from Dominic. 12 noon. Pont Alexandre III.
Song Inspo:
There were two songs that inspired this chapter, one that always fit the Paris chapters in my mind and another that recently came along. If you enjoy contemporary classical and soundtrack songs, then feel free to take a listen!
1) RIOPY – 'Drive'
Genre/ Subgenre: Classical/ Contemporary Classical
This is a new song I had gotten obsessed with, after it came up on one of my YouTube Music mixes. The entire song has a desperate, frantic tone pushing you along faster and faster that had fit with what was going on in my life throughout January (frantically finishing up residency applications while working long hours in the hospital and dealing with the personal things that had happened in my life) and ended up being the song I listened to on repeat throughout the entire month. Then I realized it also fit with the desperation that Alexei feels in the first two thirds of the chapter, in trying to find Grace before it's too late. And as a bonus, the composer is French!
2) Yann Tiersen – 'La Valse D'Amélie (original version)' (from the Amélie soundtrack)
Genre/ Subgenre: Soundtrack/ Bal-musette
I love all the music from the Amélie soundtrack, since it embodies the vibes of Paris well and makes it feel like you're really there. I feel like the entire soundtrack fits with the Paris chapters but this song in particular really fits, in creating the atmosphere of feeling like you're truly in Paris, experiencing all the sights, sounds, and culture, which is what I tried to do in the last third of this chapter, when Alexei is wandering through the streets of Paris, looking for Grace. There's also an orchestra and solo piano version of this song but I feel like the original version, with the funky accordion beats, really captures the unique vibe of Paris.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm aiming to get the next chapter up between Feb. 20 and Feb. 28 (since residency interviews are from Feb. 28 to Mar. 20). I really don't want to push it til after residency interviews finish but we'll see how busy the next few weeks are for me, with working on two scholarly projects (an educational project and a research one) and prepping for residency interviews.
I'm sure you can all guess what's coming up in the next chapter ;)
Update (Feb. 25): I'm going to have to delay the next chapter until Mar. 6 to Mar. 14. My educational project finished up today (and I'm still slightly recovering from that) and residency interviews start shortly on Feb. 28. My interview schedule has been finalized and I have 4 of my 8 interviews the week of Feb. 28 so I'm really going to have to focus on prepping for interviews over the next little while. I really didn't want to delay this next chapter but residency interviews are way more important to me at this point, since they're essentially going to dictate what area of medicine I'll be practicing in for the rest of my medical career and where I'll be doing my training for the next few years. And with what's happening in the next chapter, I really want to make sure I do it justice and ensure it's well written for you (instead of putting out a chapter on time but have it be something that I'm not happy with). So thank you for your patience and understanding and I'll be back soon with the next chapter!
I've also realized that my IG account isn't letting me post stories or feed posts (and it's an issue with the account itself since it's fine on my personal). As annoying as it is, it's honestly low on my list of stuff to deal with, between residency interviews (arguably the most important time of my medical career) and my poor old car dying yesterday. So please bear with me on that, I'm hoping it'll just quietly sort itself out if I don't do anything on that account for the next few days. But I'll do my best to keep you all posted through the author's notes.