Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Chapter 1 : Somewhere over the window

CAELUM

I stared.

I couldn’t believe how a human can appear so perfect like a god, with no traces of faults. Her beauty is incomparable: Her supple lips, her glowing skin and her eyes that lure me closer.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

Her face held some kind of sweet innocence to them, I find it hard to believe. She looks serene and peaceful–I wanted to lie down and look at her all day. Her eyes caught light and I have to remind myself to breathe as I got lost in the deepest forest that held my entirety.

“You are here again, ” I whispered, careful not to break this moment. My heart that was gone, seems to have jumped inside of my chest, thudding in a hopeful way.

I felt like the ground was pulled under my feet.

She smiles at me and held out her hand. I trembled, quite ashamed, only to look down and notice that she was naked. She holds a leaf over her that merely covered her glorious body.

She looks lovely.

“How come you are here?” But my questions were cut short as I look at the hooded figure. Hades drifted close and take off his cloak, his hair glowing bright blue.

He smiles as he took her in his arms, swallowing, taking the life out of her.

“No,”

I tried to move but I couldn’t. I couldn’t save her.

“No!”

*

I am shaking.

I look up at the ceiling and was startled as I hear the shrilling sound. I angrily punch the alarm clock to silence it, my eyebrows drawn.

I don’t understand. Why must I dream of her? It is already the twenty first century and I still have the same dream–a void that keeps on swallowing me as I try to remember.

Her face hunts me every time I close my eyes. I do not know who she is or where she is or if she is still alive. I wonder what connects me to her and why of all the memories I have, she matters the most. She is a thousand years old mystery to me yet her face fades into nothing when I try to recall and I found myself groping in the dark, wondering what she looks like. Even with all the portraits I have drawn of her–I keep forgetting her face, for it keeps on disappearing off my mind like vapor would.

Was it possible to forget someone you fought so hard to remember?

Frowning, I sat up from the bed and ran my hands on my dark hair, clenching my jaw. I feel annoyed. This dreams always made me feel frustrated for as soon as I wake up, everything fades away. I used to draw her as soon as I wake up, keeping it all in a box before I forget but I grew tired, eventually, hating the fact that no matter how much I look for her, she is nowhere to be found.

Huffing, I swing my leg out of the bed and was surprise to feel the cold floor.

Where is my carpet? Did I not place it here?

I ran my hands on my face again and stood. I stretch my body and yawn, not caring that I am fully naked.

It was my room, my house, my rules.

Smirking, I made my way towards the bathroom, a bit disoriented. Glancing at my reflection, I noticed the hickeys covering my neck and that instantly made my little friend get excited.

I have a good lay last night.

Smiling to myself, I splash a handful of water to my face, rumpling my already messy hair, my eyes gleaming with mischief. I took one last glace at my reflection before looking for my pair of boxers back at the room. I sigh at the smell that reach my nose as I slip it on. Yep, this is a perfect outfit to start this morning, a better way to start a day.

I really did have a good lay last night

Not bothering to put on a shirt, I padded down the stairs and was surprised to see an almost naked- wait, that was wrong. I should say, a very NAKED woman with her butt cheeks swinging as she flipped something on the pan.

"What the hell?" I exhaled, trying my very best not to appear enticed at the blonde beauty who was now smirking at me. She was a beauty indeed. "Mon amour! Bonjour" (My love, Good morning)

The blonde was French! Bloody hell...

I cleared my throat and tried to even my breathing out as she slowly made her way to me. My eyes lowered down to her supple peaks, continuing down her south region. I gulped. Caressing my chest, she looked up at me with her blue doe like eyes, "Ça va?" (Are you okay?) I bit my lip. No words come to my rescue as I stayed there, glued on the spot as the little sphinx continue her slow seduction. She ran her hands from my shoulder and down to my chest, twirling her finger on the little hair.

I almost giggled right then and there for it tickles.

"Je veux faire l'amour avec toi..." (I wanna make love to you) her whisper on my skin surprised me but that isn't comparable to her lips that had captured mine as she pulled me down. She cling unto me, pushing me down on a stool. My lips are frozen as she tried to push them apart trying to gain an entrance. Frowning, she said seductively, "Embrasse moi, Caelum." (Kiss me, Caelum)

She don’t need to say it twice for me to do so as I take full control of the situation we are in. I slide my hand over the countertop making the pancake batter spill as the now broken bowl lay smashed on the floor together with the eggs. She ran her hands on my hair and tugged on it as I kiss her neck and suck, slowly.

"Mon amour, mon amour, arrête!" (My love, my love, stop!)

"Oui?" (Yes?) I stared down at her and she smiled, uttering the question I have despise for my entire existence.

"Tu m'aimes?" (Do you love me?)

My lips folded into a thin line as I let go of her, muttering, "Non" (No.) Worried, she straighten her clothes and hold my cheeks, forcing me to look at her, "Tu m'aimes?! Caelum, tell me..."

"I don't lo--" the words I had to say were cut off as a slap momentarily left me dumb. I stared down at her, noticing her now wet cheeks. "Look, I told you before. I'm not the ideal man to–"

"But we’re perfe’t last night! You ‘ave me believe zhat you love me and I believe zhat, too."

"Too bad, princess. Je ne sais pas un prince charmant (I am not a prince charming)." I wasn't given the chance to smirk anymore as a large pan hit the spot where I was standing before. Glad of my fast reflex, I turn and ran for the stairs though she caught me by my boxers, tugging at it. "Not zhat fast, Cunard! "

I just smiled back at her wiggling my butt before I decided that I am delaying so much work by wasting it with this blonde. With a smirk, I clutch the banister tight with both my hands and sigh as my boxers from awhile ago now lay on the floor, shredded, leaving me butt naked. Again.

"That was my favorite."

But then she wasn't done throwing things at me.

With a much exerted effort, she raised the antique vase from the end of the stairs and throw it on my way. Ducking, I said, "Mademoiselle, you don't need to break my things as I did to your heart."

And with all her might, she took another vase and lunged it towards me, "Zis are not your zings! Zis are all mine. My ‘ouse, my zings, MINE!"

Only then did I noticed that she was right. I don't possess any vases at my house, instead I have cherubs and books and stuffs. I also live on top of a building near the Eiffel tower where everything much grander than this.

Oh well.

I stared down at her and with a taunting tone, I voiced out my opinion, "Oh, possessive like a wolf, are we? But then, my heart will never be yours." I move quickly to the side as a vase now lay broken on my spot from awhile ago. Chuckling, I ran up the stairs and headed inside the room. I notice that the room was too small for my liking, the ceiling too low.

It is definitely not my room.

Throwing my black cloak over my jeans and wearing my white shirt on–no need for boxers I just need my little friend covered–I open up the window and jump down, landing on the roof with a light thud, laughing as I had yet broken another heart.

One down to my collection of thousands.

*

I watch as the little kid ran to his parents – He looks so vulnerable, so innocent as he is young.

The sight of him made me reminisce the day I arrive here on Earth as a young child. It felt like it happen only yesterday. Oblivion is a blessing and it is the only thing I brought with me, along with a new identity–a new soul. I was crying even if it was a beautiful day after a storm, scared and lost, as a little child should be. The mortals who took me in were kind and they treated me like their own–they became my parents.

They love me greatly only to die because of what I have done.

I shouldn’t have change those steel arrows into gold. If I knew that it will help Hades in tracking me down, I would’ve abandoned the thought of shooting arrows. I did not know that I had the power to give love and that’s my greatest mistake.

Love made me bitter, and love is the reason why I am alone.

Gaea stopped Hades from taking my life that day when he found me. She fashioned me a bracelet that serves as my life, the beats echoing in my hollow chest, masking my abnormality. I thrive on earth and exist like mortals do. As long as the earth lives, I breathe, but I have to move fast because I couldn’t afford to expose my everlasting youth.

Gaea’s words echo in my mind every time I touch my bracelet, ‘let no one near your heart for they will perish. From now on you will be blind of love and not notice it for this will assure your fall.’

I touch my bracelet and felt my odd pulse, smiling slightly before I shifted, waiting for the lift.

My hands curled and I put them inside of my pocket as Gaea’s words resonated inside my head, ‘This is my advice and I hope you will engrave it in your mind: do not show love, nor kindness. Trust in jealousy and envy, for it will make you live long. Enjoy my blessing. You will wait for how many years, still you won’t know why but once you perceive love and Hades finds out, he will come and I will see you again.’

I chose not to be bothered by Gaea’s words but every time I see the mortals laughing, rejoicing of their life–I felt envious.

What did I do in my past to deserve this reward, of which I felt, resembles a punishment?

Now I continue this life with no love to cling to.

The lift stops in front of us and I watch as people began to load inside. I followed them in and settle far from the others, darting my eyes away from the sweet little boy whom I’ve been looking at – he made me feel vulnerable.

As I look away, I notice people staring at me.

I am used to people giving me those looks–Not the bad kind or insulting ones but the flirting, seducing kind–The kind on which I don’t need to think twice to know that I am their greatest desire. I pursed my lips on the direction of the teenage girls and smiled as I earn a giggle from them, lifting my mood.

Bloody arrows. Is it possible to love and hate this life? Well, for me, I vote yes.

Getting off from the lift, I wink at the girls again and chuckled at the three little beats pulsing in my wrist.

Still, I thank Gaea for granting me this quite exciting life. It was challenging to get through each day, thinking of whose heart should I break, selecting my victims carefully for humans are vulnerable. They are easily tricked, easily molded. I can just close my eyes and turn around, pointing a finger before stopping to know who my new victim is. No effort exerted. Anywhere I go, I know I can survive, as long as I am careful not to show my feelings, I am safe from Hades’ attack.

It’s all about control of mind over my non existent heart.

The usual crowd buzzed just outside the post, the stairs full of people. I glared at the other girl who hasn’t stop giggling. Psh. She is probably enthralled of my unhuman beauty though she acts so obvious, making me irritated. She glares back at me while I rolled my eyes at her. Pathetic, I can’t believe she actually glared at me.

The guts of the girl, unbelievable!

I huff, dropping off the package Aeon asked me to. I walked out of the building, welcoming the sweet scent of baked goods, coffee and my favorite: jealousy and hate. Whistling to myself, I smiled at Newman as I entered the Chateau. His vivid green eyes fixed on me as he scratch his blonde head, flustered. “How’s it going, Newman?”

“Same old, my lord.” Newman station himself next to the door and huffed, straightening his coat. “Everything appears dull and boring this days. It would’ve been nice if you take me back to my original post.” I rolled my eyes at his suggestion and smirked.

“In time, Newman, in time,” I pat his shoulder which earn me a glare. I chuckled and strolled over to the lift, smiling as the familiar scent of jealousy and hate wafted through the halls, drifting behind me as if the scent knew that my presence is lingering on this very building.

I touched my bracelet, noticing the seven red dots inside it. Geez, I thought it was already ten! This means that I need another shift later on. Stepping out of the lift, I smirk at the cherubim posted both on my doors.

I enter my password and push open the door, smiling as I see the oars hanged on the ceilings. The old battered flag of United Kingdom, hanging next to the rows of a thousand collection of books I have stored for a millennia, is still holding on. I stare at it for a while before heading inside my room, deciding to change into a much better outfit.

I push the wall at the far end and it retracted, revealing my closet. I headed inside and slip out of my clothes throwing them down on the floor. I snatch some boxers, a black shirt and ripped jeans before deciding to wear my black leather jacket. I sprayed some allurements on my body, shuffling some round eyeglasses on the bridge of my nose before deciding against it. I push my hair back, ruffled it more and stared at my reflection, smiling.

Perfect!

I headed at the cupboard by the corner of my closet, swipe and enter the password to it, collecting my potions, compound bow and pipe. I was looking for some arrows when I notice the golden box where I store all of my letters and drawings of her. I couldn’t help but tighten my hand on my bow as I look at it, the bitter taste on my mouth ruining my happy mood.

Snatching the arrows, I close the safe and walk out of my room. I light my pipe before drifting out the building again, in search of a few more victims.

Geez, where should I go now?

I blew a sigh, deciding that I should let my feet lead the way. I sneak at the couple who are fighting over diaper duty, and sniff on the argument before puffing more chaos.

Ha! Serves them right. They can fight all day for all I care. What matters is my beats and the puffs they make.

I love this life.

My next stop was the restaurants. Not here for the food for my body, but for my soul. They are the source of every heated argument, from jealousy to misunderstanding to chaos. Getting into work, I push the man who is holding his girlfriend on his arms so that they trip. It seems that the situation is not worse so I made a move with the girl’s hair and make it tangle over the foot of table of the couple nearby.

This is getting heated!

Couple A was bickering and it didn't help that couple B were also joining in, rapid French spouting from their mouth as they fought over whose fault it is.

I took a plentiful of sniff before a puff of white feather floated on the space in front of me. Blinking, I frown at it and shoo it away with my steel arrow. Still frowning, I took notice of the golden arrow that is now protruding on the chest of the girl from the couple A.

It can’t be! I have to get at least five beats today. I can’t loose something as important as this.

Feeling my nostrils flare up, I stomp my way out of the restaurant and glared at the half dot near my seventh heart. I swipe at my bracelet to make it return to a watch, making it look normal from the eyes of the humans.

What a game changer!

I started walking down the alleyway and smiled as I reach my perfect place: the club Destin, where devastation is found and broken hearts overflowing the bin of rejection.

It was my own version of heaven.

I was about to walk in the club when a stupid girl in a stupid costume, consisting a golden crown of leaves and what seems like fishing nets hugging her petite but curvaceous body, looks at me. She was quite pretty. Her red hair that escaped her braid fan her face, and she tucked it behind her ear, blushing.

I frown.

I stood there, frozen on the spot as humans passes by me, rushing. She bit her lip and tuck her hair again, looking a bit shy. A human shove her roughly to the side but she doesn’t seem to mind. My scowl deepened and I swallowed. I watch as she continue staring at me, her eyes zeroing on my throat.

What a perverted girl!

Distracted, I took a step back when a car drove pass and in an instant, she was gone. The deafening protest of the man's vehicle made me cringe as I await for the girl's body to collide with the metal, to lay lifeless on the road and to contribute maybe a little smidge of red on my beats. Shaking my head, I bit my lip, thinking that she was only a hallucination. I’ve been dreaming about that mysterious girl again, making me think about stupid things.

I was about to take a step again when she reappeared, about a meter in front of me. She opens her eyes, shocked–her face is dotted with freckles, her red hair appearing more vicious as she stood there staring at me with those bright green eyes I have known to have stared to, every night, for a millennia. I remain standing there, still frowning, feeling like my mind had evade me but worst comes to worst when she smiled shyly, bowing her head. My body convulse that I have to take a deep breath and calm myself.

What is this feeling?

She looks down at her feet, before directing her wide eyes back at me as the arrows on my pocket and the pipe on my hand caught her attention. I believe that it's impossible for her to notice that through the mist of allurements I have sprayed on myself, hiding it away from the humans’ curious eyes, but then she could be something, right?

I shake my head as I thought about her being something else. It can’t be. I am just being paranoid. Geez.

My thoughts had preoccupied me for a moment that I hadn’t realize the fact that she was gone, the traffic now moving faster. I took a sniff and smiled, the humans’ heat from the club, beat steadier on my wrist.

Sneaking from the back door, I took a seat at the far back of the club and wait for the music beat to go higher–thumping away with the music, their hearts felt like my second skin, my outer shell, serving as my own. It was definite and sure, like how my life depended on the beats.

I pulled the three steel arrows from my inside pocket and let it drift from skin to skin as I make my way to the middle. I am close to attaching one of the arrows to the chest of my selected victim when a golden arrow flew past  from my nose, barely missing it. It embedded itself on the chest of my victim and blossomed.

Angered by this, I didn't dare to look around the room in case I spotted them again. I know better than to stir away from those stupid creatures. Putting the arrows back on my pocket, I huffed as I step out of the club.

I didn't even had the chance to accomplish my beat!

I bowed again at Newman who had open the door for me and head inside the elevator. Annoyed, the scent of adultery and jealousy did nothing to improve my mood as I kick my own door open. I throw the arrows on the couch together with the allurement vials and my pipe, collapsing down on the carpeted floor, spread eagled with no care in the world as I face the television, munching on the apple I had stolen yesterday.

I was momentarily dazed, playing with the core of the apple on my hands as I go over the events that had happened today. I was too distracted that I didn't realize the knock coming from my window.

I frown.

What the arrows is that? I think this is the same fucking bird I have tried to kill last week but it bloody gotten away. “I’ll get you this time, aye? Just wait!”

Pulling myself up, I hastily ran to my room and was surprise as I open the traditional window covering my glass ones.

I can’t believe my luck today.

There–smiling at me as the gold glitters on her skin contrast with the freckles sprinkled on her cheeks–was the girl. The dazzling green eyes and the fiery red locks wasn't helping the situation at all.

I just can’t wrap my mind on this.

She happily waved at me with her golden arrows and speak, "There you are! I was looking everywhere for you.”

I felt her breath fan my face and the intoxicating scent of vanilla made me dizzy. I need to act fast or else this freaking thing will overpower me.

Snarling, I stuck my tongue out at her and push her with all my might, smiling as I hear her scream.

Well, that my folks, is a cupid.

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