Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Chapter 9

CAELUM

“I don’t understand!”

I rolled my eyes at Aeon as he throws the book down on the table, lying down on the earth–his platinum blond hair in contrast with the dark soil, his purple eyes squinted as he looks up at the cloudless sky. Birds squawked as they fly up the clouds, startled of Aeon’s loud voice as he disturbed the silence only the field can provide for me. I continued harvesting the roses I will place next to the lilies, choosing a light blue porcelain vase to put it in.

“There ought to be something–anything! I mean, there should be a connection, a clue as to why this is all happening, I can’t–”

“Aeon, don’t you have anything in mind that you should do rather than pestering me? I am pretty sure there is more things that could entertain you rather than- ”

“I am not pestering you, I am merely pointing out certain things that I consider–dodgy...”

“Aeon, you are delving into things that are ought to not be thought so much about, get on with it already and have your own life!” I took the gloves from my worktable and started wearing them, taking the shovel from the pail. “But Caelum, there is so many things that connects you to her. I believed that she holds the key to all of this mystery.”

I sighed, throwing the shovel on the side and taking the scissors instead, carefully picking the roses I will use. “Aeon, don’t ponder on it for long. I don’t want you discussing this stupid matter every time you turned up here in my field,” I grabbed the stem of the rose and snipped at it, “Give it a rest.”

“Give it a rest? Give it a rest? Are you seriously – can you even hear yourself right now?” He stared at me as though he is only seeing me for the first time, his jaw slacked as he gaped. I rolled my eyes, “How should I give it a rest, Caelum? You are in danger.”

“How can you say that, Aeon? I am perfectly doing well these past few days ever since I got rid of the cupid, in fact, I have never been better.”

“Alright, you got rid of her, alright! But we still have not discussed how she’s turned up at your window–”

“She saw me by the club and she followed me, simply because she have sensed my ability. I told you so!”

“And Hades–he lingers close to your flat,” Aeon worriedly twisted his fingers as he looks at me, “ You can smell him, Caelum, he was there. I have warned you about him!”

“He might have visited me, yes.” I answered, not the slightest bothered by his outburst–his feeble attempt at warning me waning his chances of coaxing me into believing him. I settled the rose on the vase and arranged it with the lilies before frowning, “Hades don’t mean to bring me any harm. I have assured you of that a hundred of years before when we helprd him with the war. What you’re worrying about doesn’t make any sense. “

“No, Caelum! It makes sense, don’t you see? She can see you even with all the allurements you sprayed on your body and it is the first time that a cupid has chosen to bother you.” I rolled my eyes at him, removing the lilies and putting sunflowers instead to make it contrasted, tilting my head to the side. I watched as Aeon begins to pace in front of my working table, running his hands on his hair making it fall down on his forehead considering how silky they were–any girls would kill to know what his secret hair treatment is.

The wind started picking up, making the flowers sway as though they were a giant mass of rainbow wave. I glared at Aeon. “Will you stop influencing the weather and sit down? My flowers won’t survive your vicious wind– I have no patience of planting half of the field for the next ten years after you ruined them. So if I were you, I will voice out my opinion and stop pacing. Have mercy of my precious flowers!” Thunder rumbled and I huffed, glaring at the distance before focusing my eyes at Aeon.

“You’re the one to talk,” Aeon smirked, his purple eyes dancing with mirth. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. He settled down on the soil, not before he fan his robes out, using them to cover his white pants. He takes one of his book and scanned it, “The connection–you made the connection when you took her to your apartment, Caelum.” Aeon slapped his forehead, taking another book that is lying down on my worktable, scanning it with such ferocity in his eyes I am afraid the book itself might snapped at him, his muttering growing faster and louder as he ran his hand on the pages, “I’ve seen it here–I knew it–I, aha!”

Aeon pushes the book at me but I swatted him away like I would to a fly. He persisted, saying the words out loud as he reads them, “ Any act of kindness shown will assure a bond to the person involved–see? I told you!”

“So, there is a connection.” I drawled, bored of this. I took another vase and put it on top of the table, taking some ribbons and tying it around the base. “There is no denying it, Caelum! You made the connection when you took her from the police station,” Aeon clapped his hands, laughing out loud as he looks at me with amused purple eyes–as though he just figured out a cure to cancer.

“This is why you felt her when she was attacked at the alley that day! This is also the reason why you felt empty and bored this days because you are not next to her. What a fascinating fact this is!”

“And this implies?” I looked at him and he shrugs, avoiding my eyes.

“I don’t know,” Aeon huffed, turning the pages of the book and throwing it a foot away from the vase, making it slide on the table. Aeon cowered as I sneered at him, gritting my teeth, “But, I’m sure, we can look into it a bit more if she’s here.” Aeon mused, tilting his head on the side.

“So, you are suggesting that I take her back?”

“Yes, you should. You can just say that,” he nodded at me but his eyes is still glazed over as though he isn’t really here. I can almost imagine the wheels turning on his head as he thinks faster than the wind during a storm.

He’s such a nerd.

I carefully put the roses next to the sunflowers and voiced out my opinion, “Are you not aware, that you are the one who suggested that I should get rid of the cupid? “ I snipped the green thorn of the rose, noticing how it has matured considering the amount of gold sap it is producing. I waved my hand, s it on the air before I put it in a vial. I tucked it inside my cloak, saving it for later use.

“I am, but you’ll take her back so there is no problem with that, is there?” Aeon looks up at me but I turned my back and crouched low, snipping the stem of a nearby blue bell and making sure that I have a vial prepared. He moves closer and leaned down, talking in a whisper, “You will take the cupid back, won’t you?”

I sighed, choosing to ignore his mutterings as I take the blue bells, suspending them on the air before I put the vial under the lacerated part, making sure that I will catch most of the bronze sap. I put the stopper in the vial and lifted off the blue bell, settling them on the table and putting it with the vase earlier. “Caelum, it is of essential that I observe–”

“Observe?” My voice dropped in a whisper, judging him as I crouched down and begin digging up the soil around the Camellia I have planned with cultivating. “Yes, Caelum, Observe, I have to–”

“Like an experiment, hmm?” my words shut him up. Aeon gathered his books and put them neatly on top of the table with a huff. “It will appear like that, Caelum, but you can’t deny it yourself. You are worried about her too, after what happened a week ago.” He sharply said making me glare at him as he look at me pointedly, “But then again, it is unlikely for you to feel certain emotions considering that you are very limited in that sense. You should expect it though, that I am worried of you because of her.” His purple iris shifted and he looked as though he is back to being the god that is a thousand years old–which he really is. “You are like my brother, Caelum, and I will not easily risk your life...I just have to know.”

“And if you end up aggravating the situation by suggesting that I should take her back under my wing, what then?” I asked before raising an eyebrow at him. Aeon remained stoic, pondering about my words. I removed my gloves and threw them down at the table, fixing him a cold stare. The twittering birds swoop down and began crowding over the worms from the soil that I dug.

“I will take responsibility of everything and anything she will need,” My eyebrows are still raised as I look at him, not believing him entirely. “Caelum, please,” I held out a hand as I take the pink Camellia, “Alright, I agree with you. I’ll just take this–“Aeon touched my arm and give a jerk.

“ What happened?” Aeon looks at me, purple eyes wide, “Caelum–?”

But I didn’t hear what he has to say as I stepped back, bumping into someone. Blinking, I turn around, noticing my front door at The Chateau as it remain wide open while someone is crouched next to it, screaming, “No please, don’t!”

The red hair is noticeable anywhere she opted to appear. I take a tentative step and ask, “Rubin?”

Rubin looks up from her crouched form and pushed her bushy red hair back, making it even more wilder than before. She stands up, “Oh, Caelum!” she rushes at me, hands outstretched. Before I notice what she is doing, her hands were around my neck and she is holding to me tightly, shaking like a leaf. I let her cling unto me, her feet high up as she straddled my waist. “Rubin–”

“Oh! Sorry...” She lets go of my neck and stand on her feet. Staring down on my hands, her eyes zeroed at the flowers I am still holding. “Is that for me?” I glared at her, my lips forming into a frown as I listened to her next words, “It doesn’t suit you, give it to me!” she holds out her hand, her face screwed in concentration as she tried to act cute, “Come on, give it to me!”

“Wow!” I exhaled, shaking my head at her audacity. I tightened my hold on the Camellia, “I haven’t heard of that before, really! It’s my first time to hear that,” I held out a finger to prove my point, “First time!”

She rolled her eyes at me and smirked, still holding out her hand, “Give the flowers to me, Caelum. It really doesn’t suit you, REALLY.” I huffed, chucking the pink Camellia at her and she snatched it easily, carefully holding the flower, which made my lip quirked up a bit. I liked that she is gentle with the flowers.

“Oh! They are so pretty up close.”

“Of course they are, for they grew only at my field.” She ignores my words as she focused her eyes at the Camellia, lost in her own world. I silently watched her, distracted of the way she touches the petals of the flower and dipped her nose in as though she could smell it. I swallowed and bit my lip, my eyes focusing on her lips–are they as soft as they appear?

I could still feel the ghost of them, the light touch of her lips oj mine as I descended upon her, startled of my own clumsiness.

I would like to try to touch them again only if the heavens permitted it. I am pretty sure that they are as soft as they looked. After a while though, Rubin turns to me and asked,,“How come you are here?”

“What do you mean? This is my home–in case you haven’t notice that.” She rolled her eyes at me and pouted, looking adorably cute. I purposely shook my head and directed a glare at her direction, disliking the influence she has on me.

“I know it’s your home but you are not here awhile ago...” She whispers, holding the Camellia tenderly, “A weird man is here instead of you–his back is turned towards me; he’s wearing a travelling cloak and I thought, I thought you were him but no...” My breath was knocked out of my lungs as I pushed the door and entered my flat, surveying it. The smell of earth and death lingered inside my room as I sat on my bed, my hands sweaty. There appears to be no violation of my things and most of my books are still sitting on where I have left them a week ago after deciding that I should take a break from Paris for I can’t bare to linger next to a cupid. But as I found out that someone came here, the thought alone riled me up to a point that I am bursting with hate, making me huff in frustration.

Rubin caressed the Camellia carefully, cradling it on her hands as she shuffled behind me. “He was sitting right here, his face hidden. Then, he speaks–” she shivered, fixing her eyes on me as I turn to her, “He brandished a sword at me – chasing me out. I am so scared so I ran but then I bumped into you and,” Her voice broke as she sighs, her eyes shining with tears “I never wanted to see him again, Caelum.”

“Did he say something to you?” She nodded, directing her attention back at the flower as she settled down on the carpet. I waited for her to say something but I decided against pushing her into speaking. Her face is so white that I am afraid she might collapse because of her unspoken fear.

The both of us stayed silent for a while as I let her collect her thoughts. After a minute, I couldn’t wait any longer so I asked, “What did he say?”

I bit my lip, hating myself for pushing her, not being able to resist to question her. She shakes her head and lifted it so that she is looking at me, “He told me that he finally found me–he sounds so delighted when I turned up here–like he is expecting me to be here as though he had known.” She wearily said as she stands and settled next to me, laying her head on my shoulder. The action shocked me and I can feel the hairs on my arm standing on end while I sat there, stiff as a board, focusing my thoughts on what Aeon told me.

It seems like his words are true. I have undoubtedly formed a bond with this cupid and sadly, she has been tracked down by Hades. No one comes into mind of who might threaten her like that. My hands tighten at the sheets, seething with anger I did not know I am able to possess. I shouldn’t have taken her in–I should’ve let her rot in that prison. My breath came out short and ragged as I stared at the wall, trying to calm myself.

This is like how it started in the past when Hades had taken the life of my adopted parents. Hades will end up taking her in the end for he have already seen her face. He never let them go – the faces he had seen, he always finds them and take them down to the underworld. Rubin will undoubtedly have the same fate–adding her life to my thousand years worth of guilt.

The bed shifted as she stands. I followed her with my eyes and was startled when she drew the curtains back, letting a chink of sunlight pierce the dark room before she kneels right in front of the sun, twirling the flower so that it catches the sunlight, turning it rosy pink and orange.

“What does this flower mean?”

“What?” I shake my head of my thoughts and watched her as she turns at me, her red her glowing as though it’s on fire under the bright sunlight. “This flower–what does it mean? Vivian told me that red rose means love but this–what is this flower and what does it mean?”

“It’s a pink Camellia,”

“Oh, its name sounds pretty,” I nodded at her, sliding off the bed so I can sit next to her, “And its meaning?”

I took a deep breath and whispered, “It means–longing for someone...”

“Oh, Oh!” Rubin laugh at me before she stands on her feet, “You’re kidding!”

“No, I am not. How can you say that? It is the flower’s meaning.”

“Really?” she leans down and focused her green eyes at me, startling me.

“Really.” I answered, squinting my eyes at her. What is she playing at?

“Then, are you longing for me?” I glared at her before rolling my eyes, standing up from the carpet, “As if.”

I busied myself with picking up the few books from the floor and putting them back at the bench at the end of the bed. I cleared my throat, “The flowers are intended for some use–I was to put them on the vase when you summoned me.”

“I did not summon you!”

“Then how come I felt you calling? I was just there, tending to my field, then I stepped back only to find myself facing you. I heard you, and there’s no doubt with my ability.” She shrugged her shoulders and shakes her head at me. “I didn’t! I swear. I was just so scared and I thought of you and the next moment I know, you are there–glaring at me, just like now.” I massaged my forehead and tried not to glare at her as I think about the situation further.

I shouldn’t have let her drew closer to me. I can see the dangers that will surround her now that Hades saw who she is and what she is.

I have to take her now. There will be more time to think about how we can get rid of Hades but hiding her without one of us to protect her will surely end in a loss cause.

Gods! What have become of my quiet, peaceful and enjoyable life?

Making my decision, I slipped my hand on hers and tugged on it gently, holding her close. “What are you doing?” She asked in an uneven voice, covering her face with the flower on her other hand as she tried to hide her blush from me. I smirked, not answering her as I summoned the wind.

I never wanted to admit it but as she breathes next to me, my chest felt like it is being squeezed. My eyes drifted down and I watched her – noticing how she blushes, her voice caught in her throat while she laughs out loud, rejoicing the way we travelled suing the wind. I felt my chest tightening, again.

I heard it before I felt it – an odd thudding sound echoing inside of me as though something is awakening–am I going crazy?

The both of us soared weightlessly through the air, suspended in between the place where we are and the place where we will be. Before we knew it, the ground solidified and we are squarely standing on our feet, facing the field of forgotten. She momentarily looked around, eyes wide with mirth before she laughed, surprising me as she gaze up.

I can’t help myself anymore.

I leaned down at her, my chest constricting as I stared at her face, noticing her freckles and how the flecks in her green eyes dance like leaves on a lake during spring. I breathe in her scent before swooping down at her to kiss her cheek.

A thud echoed in my chest and I am momentarily stunned.

Her eyes were wide with shock, her mouth opened with a pop. I slowly gain my composure back, straightening before I whistled to myself, smirking as I walked down the path.

“Hey! What did you do that for?”

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