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Prague was a city from a story, a city that demanded stories to be written about it. Against the cold gray sky, the old and angular houses clawed like remnants from the past that were determined to survive the present and live well into the future. Cobblestones dominated, and so did crisscrossing alleyways that allowed no cars through. At the Old Town Square, where the Astronomical Clock foretold the heavens, you could take a horse-drawn carriage ride though.
“Do you want to get on?” Auris asked when he caught me staring at a pretty roan horse in front of a shiny black carriage.
I shook my head, pulling the zipper of my jacket up as far as it would go. “Maybe another time. Let’s walk around today, okay?”
He reached for my hand. “Certainly. Explore as you want.”
The wind pulled a strand of my hair from my bun, so I pushed it back behind my ear and just went where my mood took me, Auris at my side. You could tell it was an old city—its bridges, its houses, even the cobblestoned streets had that feel to them. There was a castle on a hill, a touristy street that had been home to alchemists of the past, and lots of museums.
In addition to all those captivating sights, there were a lot of high-end stores to choose from, and Auris happily dragged me into one after letting me follow alleys and cross bridges at will and take photos of what I saw, of him with the city as a perfect backdrop. I wasn’t thrilled, but he insisted.
“It’s rare for it to be so empty, even in the off season,” he told me while I was trying on winter jackets. He’d insisted on buying one first after I’d mentioned that it was really cold today. There was a salesperson nearby, keeping an eye on us and watching for the slightest sign that I needed help or another size or something.
I pulled up the hood. “Still a pandemic thing, right?”
Auris looked me over. “Indeed. It’s quiet in a way that makes me think of the past.”
“It’s nice that you’re getting less curious looks.”
He huffed. I was on my third jacket, a parka, the green similar to my old jacket. He turned the collar up for me. “Jealous, Ethan?”
“A little.”
“Says the man who has been spending most of the day aiming his camera elsewhere.” He pushed the hood back and made a show of looking at me.
“I have you in at least a dozen photos, and you know it.”
“Do I? You know I expect to be paid when I model for you. I have even considered upping my rates.”
“Greedy, but I think I can handle that.”
The salesperson took a step back, leaving us in peace in the changing room area, which was otherwise empty.
“Glad to hear it. Do you like it?”
“Your sexy talk? It’s not too bad.”
He chuckled. “No. The jacket, Ethan. Though I’m also glad to hear about the other thing.”
“Oh.” I stretched out my arms. The jacket was perfect, and it came with plenty of pockets as well. “Yeah, this is nice.”
Auris looked a little too excited about that. We left the store with that parka, as well as a scarf and gloves Auris insisted on. I only barely got out of being sat down to try on winter boots by pretending I was tired. The salesperson who’d shadowed us and swiped Auris’s card had been excitedly friendly and spoke very good English. Since he’d seen us close to making out, that gave me a really positive impression not just of the city but also of the people living here.
When we left the store, the day was fading to darkness.
“Home now?” Auris asked, his silvered eyes already turning dark.
“Yes.” I looked around. “Is it far?”
“No. Just a stroll, no more than ten minutes.”
I hooked my arm through his. “That’s convenient. Things are really close here, huh?”
“Prague is indeed convenient that way. The subway and tram make it even more so.” He took a left into a street for pedestrians only.
My attention was drawn to the roof of a building and the hard border it created against the almost dark sky, which was why I missed the fact that we were coming up on an intersection. A couple ran out of there, and one of them, a woman, broke out in noisy laughter.
I flinched, hard, and heard my heartbeat race in my ears. Panic flooded into me, and I felt as if I couldn’t move my chest the way I needed to.
