Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Chapter 17

CAELUM

“This is priceless!”

I shook my head at Aeon who is looking down at the arrow as though it was the best thing he ever saw. “I mean, this is the arrow that Aphrodite had conjured. This is literally gold – like gold gold!”

“And that is what ended me in the past, which will probably be the very same ending I will face.”

“Oh, don’t be stupid!” Aeon waves his hand and I watched as the arrow soared around the room, his wind carrying it. “What did Hades really tell you?”

“Well, Hades have mentioned that he is only trying to help me which is why he keeps on tracking me down. I do not know if he is being cryptic of his answers but then, I get it. Hades only wanted my soul – it was his main purpose, to restore the balance of life on earth. It was his way of making my life easier or should I say, shorter.” I glared at the arrow as it zooms around.

Aeon is definitely having fun with it.

“But really – why should he give you something like this after a millennium? I mean, how did it even end up in his possession?”

“Aphrodite has promised my soul to him, it may be the reason why he is in possession of it. Other than that, he did not elaborate anymore.” I sat down on the sofa looking out at the lawn. The clouds loom menacingly, signaling the rain that is about to come. My thoughts drifted back to what happen earlier when I kiss Rubin - her lips felt so soft against mine and it tasted like the maple on her pancake. I would love to kiss her more but the pain I felt on my chest is unbearable.

I look up to see Aeon observing me, his purple eyes now transformed into a midnight blues as he held my gaze, “What is it, Caelum? I know you are bothered with something, tell me.”

I gave him a slight smile before I shrug, walking by the window, “A while ago when you ask for me to go out and have fun, I saw Rubin flirting with a German.”

A bird flutter by, twittering as it played by the fountain. The trees swayed with the wind and the clouds chased each other. “She was being lured in, just like how I expected. She is so naïve, so vulnerable. The guy is saying things to her and she sits there, looking at him with such curiosity and I have to stop him. I had this sudden urge to punch the living daylights out of him but believe me, I tried to stir away from those thoughts because Rubin was there.” I turn around to see that Aeon was smirking, his hands clasped together, his face glowing in excitement, “And? What happened?”

“The German leans down and I couldn’t stop myself any longer. I pounded his face with my fist continuously until he becomes unconscious but I didn’t stop, I couldn’t stop.” I look at Aeon to see his mouth wide open, “It was like in the past, Aeon, I couldn’t - I lose control and you know how bad it can get. I thought I am going to kill the foul creature but Rubin – she slaps my arm and held my face – her hands were so warm and I succumb to them as she asked me to stop.”

“Bloody hell! She stopped you?”

“She did.”

“And you didn’t hit her?”

“Nope.”

“That’s just...unexpected. I used to get injured when I tried to stop you. She's lucky you didn’t lashed out on her. It could’ve been worse.”

“I know,” I cracked my knuckles and brushed the crusted blood with my forefinger, tracing the blood that has flowed down to my wrist. Aeon handed me a tissue which I rolled my eyes at.

“What happened afterwards?”

“Rubin dragged me off to the park and screamed at me for full five minutes all the while I’m just staring at her. She asked me various questions and we undeniably had a row; she blames me for not letting her experience select mundane things. She hated that I am very protective of her and did you know what I said?”

“I love you?” Aeon suggested, his purple eyes twinkling as he looks at me hopefully.

“No. I did not say that to her, sadly.” I scratched my ear of embarrassment, watching as Aeon wiggled his brows and gave me a smirk. “I told her that I do not want her to be with other guys and she laughs at me before inquiring about my insensitive treatment towards her for the past few days and I couldn’t answer her! I am dumbfounded and I stood there, lips drawn tight and wondering about what I should say like an idiot I was.”

“Glad you know what you are.” I ignored his smart remark, turning away from him. I pulled at my hair and walked back to the window. “She began running away and I do not know what to do so I chased after her, pulling her hand before leaning in closer and-”

“And you kissed her? Not shagged her? How disappointing!” Aeon shakes his head at me and continue, “But that is the most romantic thing I’ve heard you’ve done in a millennium. Have you gone soft over a Cupid? This can’t do.” Aeon bowed his head as though he was deeply offended by what I’ve done.

“Though it was a good thing that you did. It won’t take that long as I told you, Caelum, this is the bond I am talking about - making a jerk transformed into a lovesick boy is priceless!” Aeon laughs at me and I joined him only to remember what had happened after I closed my eyes while I am kissing her.

“Something curious happened when I kissed her, Aeon. I saw a part of my past; everything was kind of blurry and confusing but there is one thing I am sure of: Rubin was there.”

“What? She’s in your past? When exactly is that, three hundred years ago? Seven hundred years?”

“No. I think I saw her much further than that. It was like a memory before I even came here on earth.”

“So, you mean to tell me that the cupid was a god before? Unbelievable! Then how come she became a cupid?”

“Something happened in the past on which I am still not sure of. Did you know that she has told me in her previous life that she will look for me? That she will find me?” I couldn’t block the image from entering my mind as I remembered her pleading eyes and her supple lips. I couldn’t help her though, because she made me promise that I should not help her. I sat by the sofa and sighed, running my hands on my hair, rumpling them further. “The both of us are connected before earth and I think, Hades knows about it. He has planned all this.”

Aeon stands from his swiveling chair and take a seat next to me, “If that is that then Hades surely did planned all this, I mean why would he be suddenly kind as to offer you the arrow? Don’t you think Rubin has the right to know about all these?”

The image of her tearful eyes and her hurtful face flashes back in my mind and I couldn’t help but sighed, making Aeon turned at me, his brows furrowed as he asked, “Why? Is there something more to the story that I have yet to know?”

“I pushed Rubin, Aeon, and she collapsed. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t mean to do that to her but hearing myself now, my voice pathetic and full of guilt, it made me feel worse.” I felt for my chest and looked at Aeon, trying to explain myself, “It was because I felt this pain on my chest, Aeon, and it is something I have never felt before. Like someone has decided to pierce my chest and draw it back instantly. I tried to apologize to her but she was gone. She quickly left and I couldn’t follow her. She was quite fast.”

“Haven’t you got a brain? I thought you have the power to locate someone using the wind? Haven’t you learned it from me?” I sighed, watching Aeon as he looks at me with disappointment apparent in his eyes. “Now that the arrow is in our possession and the scroll clearly pertains to none other than Rubin, I think it is apparent that we should involve her in our plans for she was the greatest variable here.”

“Are you sure that, that is wise?”

“Caelum, she is the wielder of the arrow. She controls everything, whether you die or not. Plus, you have mentioned how she quite resembled the girl from your dreams.” I listened to Aeon as he talks some sense to me. The clouds that are supposed to be drifting about are now stuck from a far, a gentle breeze making the leaves shiver and the surroundings growing darker as the afternoon transition to night.

I wonder where Rubin is?

“It would be much easier to plan if Rubin was here to listen to these suggestions I am making, for I am sure half of it did not reached your ears as you thought about her. Maybe it is better if I asked Newman to track her down-”

“No. I'll go and search for her,” I went out of his study, snatching my cloak and dodging the golden arrow that is zooming at me, hearing Aeon’s petty explanation, “Oops, sorry. The golden arrow is such a fascinating object I will never be bored of.

I flicked my hand, rolling my eyes at Aeon before taking a step and finding myself looking outside a boutique. I frowned at the women who passed me by, deciding that a nod in reply would suffice only to earn a giggle. I raised an eyebrow at their reaction and pondered as I breathe in, thinking about Rubin, trusting Aeon’s wind. The sun is slowly sinking and the surroundings, darkened. I had to find her, soon. Biting my lip, I chose to enter the boutique and look around.

“Try this on. This will cheer you up for sure.” the raven-haired girl exclaimed as I passed by her, thinking that she might be losing her marbles while talking to herself when another girl emerged from the veil, “I don’t think so, Rause. This sort of distractions doesn’t work for me.”

Her voice ring out from the other side of the room and I turned around to see Rubin scowling at the raven-head. “Will you be fine to grab some snacks then before you head back? I am famished, Ru.”

“I’m not sure though. I’m running late and they might be looking for me already since-” Rubin stopped mid-sentence as she noticed me staring at her from a nearby rack. She takes a step back, trembling slightly while her friend turns around to face me, taken aback.

‘How is this even possible?’

Rubin bites her lip and worriedly take her friend’s hand, watching her as she takes a look around the boutique, searching for a way to get out. I took a step towards her and she raised both of her hands, saying, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Her friend looks at me before putting a hand on Rubin’s shoulder and directing a glare at me, “So, this is the guy you are talking about?” Rubin nodded and I watched as her friend began marching up to me, her head held high and her fist balled up as though he can take me down with it. I snorted.

“Don’t waste your time and energy, girl, instead, let me take us to some dinner and clarify some facts that Rubin might have mentioned wrong,” I waved my hand and I nodded in satisfaction as Rubin’s friend followed me out of the boutique. I stared back to see Rubin still stalling behind us and I wave my hand at her, making the both of them follow me inside a diner located next to the boutique.

The streets are now dark. The occasional streetlights twinkling as Rubin and her friend obediently followed me inside a restaurant. I looked down at my phone as it buzzed with Aeon’s name blinking: ‘Airhead’

“Hello?”

“Where is she? Have you found her?” I look at the other girl and smiled slightly, deciding that it is time. "Hello, Caelum? Newman said that Rubin wasn’t at the park where she usually waits for him. Should I-”

“You don’t need to worry; Rubin is with me.” I opened the door for them and her friend quickly led us to a booth, pulling Rubin down on a seat before glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and held her death glare, “We’re going to have dinner. If you want, you can join us. “

“Oh, umm, I guess I should. I’ll call Newman and together we will head there.”

“No! Just you, alright? I’m sure Newman can find something to eat at home. Just you here, okay?”

“Alright,” I ended the call and settled across Rubin who appears to be cowering under my gaze, “What would you like to eat?”

“Fish and chips for me, please, and coffee, if you permit it.” I raised an eyebrow at Rubin as she gives me back the menu. “And you, girl?”

“Rause.”

“Rose?”

“Not Rose, but Rause! R-A-U-S-E. Rause Quint, that is my name,” Rause’s said folding her hand on top of the table. “I’ll have some chowder and baked oysters.”

“Is that all, Rause?”

“And some chips on the side, please. I guess that won't make you bankrupt and don’t you dare think that treating me to diner will add you to my good side because it won’t. You are still a git!” I smirked, looking at Rubin who averted her gaze from me, pretending that the napkin on the table is much interesting than the topic we are having.

“What exactly did she tell you about me?” I asked an unsuspecting Rause, who quickly straightened from her seat.

“Well, Rubin have mentioned that you kissed her and afterwards, you pushed her – ow!” Rubin glared at Rause and the both of them sat there, having a silent fight while I watch them with amusement. I can feel the tension and I cleared my throat to ease it only to be glared at by the both of them.

Geez.

“Oi, Caelum!” Aeon waves his hands as he entered the diner, his white blond hair in a disarray, sticking up on his head. A few humans looked at him and I shake my head, he is just so stupid for a god.

“You didn’t tell me that we will have another company.” Aeon sat next to me and blinked – once, twice. Rubin and Rause stopped glaring at each other and diverted their attention to Aeon who is still dumbfounded, his eyes skimming Rause’s face.

“Why is the new guy looking at me, Ru?”

Rause drew closer to Rubin, forgetting about their earlier argument. Rubin’s eyes caught mine before she looks at Aeon who sat there, dazed, as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Why is he here? Hello, mister, do I know you?” Rause’s questions seems to awaken Aeon from his trance as he blinks, taking the menu from the table and calling for the waiter. “Two usual please and -” Aeon looks at Rause who ignored him as she spoke with the waiter, “I would like a chowder and baked oysters with chips on the side.”

“I’ll have some fish and chips and a cup of coffee.” I quickly raised my hand for the waiter as he goes and said “Please add some cream for the lady’s coffee, just put it on the side.” The waiter nodded at me and swiftly left to prepare our meal.

Rubin twirled her fingers on her hair as Rause tried to avoid Aeon’s eyes while he stayed like that, entranced. Not being able to help myself I nudged his ribs which made him look murderous at me, “What?” Aeon muttered his eyes still trained on Rause as though he is trying to memorize her face, “What do you want?”

I was saved from answering Aeon when our orders arrived. Both of the ladies started eating while Aeon continue to stare at Rause. I shoved each forkful of tuna pasta in my mouth, annoyed that Aeon was acting like this. Rubin catches my gaze as she takes the creamer. She looks down at her coffee and stirred the cream in, her eyes filled with curiosity. I dab the napkin on the sides of my mouth and cleared my throat. Rause fixed me a cold stare, her bright blue eyes startling me.

“What is it?” both Aeon and Rause and her asked at the same time, making Rubin stop. I smirked while Aeon looks at Rause with his eyes wide with surprise on which she returns with remorse.

“Well?” The both of them replied again making Rause glare at Aeon who smiled.

“It’s rather late, Aeon. We have to go home for I needed to finish something.” I cringed at the lame excuse I have made up and sighed when I hear them say once again, “What something?”

Aeon's eyes were wide open while Rause stood from her seat and glowered at him, “Will you stop repeating every word I say?” She erupted before sitting back down, taking Rubin’s hand, “It must be so hard for you to live with these two idiots now that I have seen them.”

Rause rolled her eyes at me making me clench my fist, “Why don’t you stay the night back at my place? I will be all too willing to have you there and I am pretty sure that you would like it.”

I stood and pulled Rubin out of her seat, glaring at Rause, “She won’t go anywhere without me.” I marched out of the diner, smirking at Rause’s flushed face as I flicked my hand, appearing by the manor’s living room in just a blink of an eye.

“Let me go, ugh!” Rubin tried to remove my hands from her but I won’t let go. Taking her up to her room, I threw her back to her bed and closed the door behind me putting some enchantment as I breathe in and out. Why am I feeling annoyed all of a sudden? It was just Rause, a human, I shouldn’t be affected by her words.

“Caelum, let me out!” her fist thundered as she rapped at the door, making it shake slightly. The door knob rattled as she tried for it and scream, “Caelum!”

“No. You have to stay there until I figure it all out.” I whispered against the door, knowing that she won’t be able to hear it.

“Caelum, please!”

“I said, NO!” Rubin stopped hitting the door and instead, I felt her form shifting as she whispered in a murderous tone, “I hate you!”

Each of the three words felt like invisible swords that pierced me repeatedly and I collapsed against her closed door, trying to hold myself up with my weak hands as I hang on for dear life.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Oh, you bloody idiot!” Aeon marched up from the top of the stairs as he saw me there, pathetically holding on to the door knob. I put a finger over my lips, asking him to stay as quiet as possible. With a flick of my hand, I transported us back to the field, the floor dissolving, morphing so that it becomes the soil. I whimpered, my form shivering as I cough out some blood and I wiped it off in annoyance. Aeon supported my back but I couldn’t stand, he watched me there, writhing in pain before he crouches low and put his hand on my forehead.

I couldn’t hold the pain any longer so I screamed.

“Aaargh! It hurts. It hurts so much,” I clawed at my chest, as though there was some fire burning in me, scathing me from inside. “It hurts, please, make it stop! Aeon, make it stop.” I collapsed on the damp soil, my face buried on earth and I breathe harshly, my face sweaty and covered in mud.

“But how? Tell me what I should do, Caelum. Tell me because I do not know what to do!” The words I should say are choking me, black dots dancing in front of my vision as I tried to move my tongue that felt heavy in my own mouth, my consciousness slipping. I felt a slap on my face as I began closing my eyes. Aeon pulled me up into a sitting position and carefully held my head. “In-here,” I muttered, trying to guide his hand inside my cloak. I tried to take the small vial but my fingers are numb. Aeon gets the message and he plunges his hands inside my cloak, searching, “Which of these two, Caelum? Which of these, tell me!”

I can barely see the color of the vials he held in front of me as the fog clouded my vision. I shivered feeling cold and my body shakes, muttering in a weak voice, “Red. Pick the red.” Black spots appeared in front of my eyes as I felt Aeon guiding my head, holding the vial over my lip and tipping the liquid in before I completely lose control.

*

This is the worst thing that can happen and I am glad I have taken into consideration to bring a vial of numbity to aid me during my desperate times. I sat up, feeling the cold damp soil beneath me.

My chest was bare, the marks I made with my fingers are still there, red and sore. I felt for my back and sighed as I felt the feathers on my hands –well, that explains the added weight I am feeling on my back as though I am carrying a knapsack.

“You gave me quite a scare, Caelum! That attack hasn’t happened for nearly three hundred years!” Aeon’s purple eyes were glaring at me from the rose bushes as he sits up. “What happened? Is it because of Rubin?”

“Yes.” I weakly answered, reaching for my cloak and fumbling for the green vial. I took it on my hand and uncorked it, pouring it down on my back to shrink my wings and made them disappear. I rolled my shoulders and threw the cloak back on the ground. “Rubin have said words that triggered my attack.” I bowed my head in disgust of my own vulnerability, a bit ashamed of how her words had affected me and how easily I had collapsed.

The hands on my shoulder made me look up to see Aeon, his eyes full of worry, “What if I am not there? What will happen to you?”

“You know what happen then; you saw me, Aeon, I am responsible of those tragic wars. How many lives have been lost because of me? How many have I destroyed? I do not want a repeat of any of that.” I closed my eyes and put my head in between my knees. Aeon pats my back before he draped my cloak over me. “Let’s go back. The field is not the place for such discussion.”

Aeon flicks his hand and I watch as the carpeted floor appeared beneath me. I sit up and settled on the sofa, watching Aeon as he put the books away, his back turned against me.

“Aeon, the girl from a while ago-” He drops the book and it resounded. Aeon slowly turns at me, eyes glazed over as though he was once again in a trance.

“I know why you asked me to go there, so, I can see her…why did you do that?” Aeon’s voice sounds sinister that I shivered, “I just want you to see her alive – to stop you from blaming yourself of what happenned.” Aeon slouched over and actually pulled a bit of his hair, looking quite deranged with his face contorted.

“I can’t believe it, Caelum. She was alive. She’s here on earth, living a life that she was meant to live.” He sounds surprise that I have to smile at him in encouragement. “What’s her name again?”

“She’s Rause in this life.”

“Rose? You mean a flower?”

“Not Rose, but Rause! R-A-U-S-E. Rause Quint, that is her name. That is how she actually said it.”

“Oh,” He scratch his ears and sat, “I didn’t know she was here. I could’ve watched her grow into a lady. I could’ve made her happy by making her life easier, provide her the best things in exchange of what happened – I should’ve made it up to her. It is all my fault that she fell down the cliff, after all.”

“You can do that now. You can provide her all of the loving you deserve.” I assured him, letting out a breath that I didn’t know I am holding as I watched Aeon who looks at me hopefully. “You are lucky, you get to have that chance – to be with the girl you love, with no restrictions bound to hurt you or her,” I muttered, digging my fingers deep inside the pocket of my cloak. “You are one lucky guy.”

“Do you think so, that I have a chance with her in this life?” I nodded, not looking at him for I do not want to see hope in his eyes, the way my own eyes is devoid of one. “Don’t worry, Caelum, I will help you. Don’t think that I will leave you on your own, mate,” Aeon whispered, putting a reassuring hand on my back and pat it awkwardly.

“Do you still hurt? I must help you brew the medicine to get you back to your feet.

“Mind you, she really means it, Aeon. When she said she hated me, it’s like a sword was plunged in my chest and I grew weak. It hurts a lot.”

“I didn’t know that you’ll be affected like that. You are lucky I was there.”

“I’ll be goners if you didn’t come. It would be my third attack and if it did comes to that, I won’t return like this. I worry about what will happen then.” I snorted, regretting it afterwards as the pain made me clutch my side. After a while, Aeon pushed me back and I watch as he strut back to his desk, taking a slim box from inside. “The arrow is here. The scroll apparently pertains to your fate and Rubin’s. The only thing to do now is to inform her about it. I will think of ways to prevent you from suffering as she pierces your heart.”

“So, she should really do it? Shoot the arrow at me?” I asked him in pure disbelief.

“I’m afraid, yes. There is no way around this.”

“She would kill me, then?”

He pause, “Yes,” he said, looking at me with his odd purple eyes. “Caelum, it is essential that you will do this. We are trying to put an end to this lifelong curse. I believe—”

“But I don’t want to die,” I blurted out, looking at Aeon as he takes the arrow from inside the box. “Then what do you suggest that we do? Ask her to pierce it on her chest instead? We can’t do that!”

“I know. It’s just that I’ve been here on earth for too long. I am so attached—”

“Which is why we are ending it with this arrow! Don’t worry, it’s not going to kill you! It will only end the eternal you – make you mortal, see?” I was momentarily dazed, not believing his theory.

Would it really be like that, make me mortal? But how about Rubin? Can I have a chance with her too?

“So that’s it, what the scroll was meant to do - It is what Rubin should do, to end my immortality?”

“Yep. Now, you get it.” Aeon smiled and slowly I nodded. “I guess Rubin will agree to do this if I asked her to. I will talk to her tomorrow, persuade her if I must.”

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