Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Chapter 2

RUBIN

“Don’t yeh mention this stupid selection ever ‘gain, George. I am warning yeh!”

I paused, trying to strain my ear, not believing my ears of what I am hearing. Of those seventeen years I have spent living with them, I have never heard Aunt Lilia argue with my Uncle George like this–very unlikely for her to lash out so early considering that she was a morning person.

“I am warning yeh, George, not a word of this to her!”

“Lilia, dear, you don’t understand–”

“What point do I need ter understand? Rubin stays ‘ere as long as she likes. I don’t care what yer mother says, or yer blasted brother–end of discussion.”

Her paddling feet made me retreat back upstairs to my room but she saw me, a wrinkle in between her furrowed brows. “Rubin! Have yeh been eavesdropping?” Her solid blue eyes were freezing me on the spot that I have to avert my eyes and shake my head ‘no’. Aunt Lilia appeared in her fluttery pink apron that hug her rather plump body I’ve grown to love ever since I was four, her golden hair that are greying on the tips is the only indication that she has aged. She viciously stared at me daring for me to speak. Aunt Lilia have cared for me like a mother would, occasionally giving me an earful because of my childish ways, yet I love her, deeply. She huffed before she yank me down the kitchen, her hand on my arm, “C’mon, yer breakfast is gettin’ cold.”

I didn’t have time to argue as Aunt Lilia headed inside the kitchen and sat me down on the chair, throwing daggers at my uncle who is sitting across me. Uncle George’s blue eyes glistened with mirth, as he watch me from across the table. He looks so much like my father and Uncle Cedric when they were young. It’s a pity that my father has died, I would love to see the set of three faces looking alike, with the exception of my father’s green eyes. Uncle Cedric brush his blond shoulder length hair and tied it back with a twine, still giving me a smirk.

Aunt Lilia stir the oats on the pot and poured me a bowl before serving another one for my uncle. I close my eyes and thank Persephone for the food before pouring honey over the oats.

“Want some?”

I stared at Uncle George as he held out the dried berries and nodded, making him smile as he scoop some for me. He sprinkled the dried berries over my oats and I ate, giving him a wider smile. Aunt Lilia settled next to me, snatching the berries from my Uncle, still glaring at him. I sigh.

“Uncle, I would like to try for the selection.”

Aunt Lilia’s spoon drop with a splat on top of her oats. She looks at me before glaring at my uncle. “This is yer fault! She overheard yeh. ”

“My fault? It was you who is screaming at the top of your lungs–trying to wake the whole castle, so how is it my fault?” Uncle George’s face turn scarlet as he directed the glare back to my Aunt who is shaking.

“Aunt Lilia, Uncle George,” they stop glowering at each other, directing their eyes at me. “This is the only way to stop the both of you from being worried. I’ve tested for Arts and Melodium class for my whole life, I haven’t tried for Sagittis. If I tried for the selections and I end up not being selected as Cupid, then both of you will be at peace.” I tried to smile but Aunt Lilia suddenly cried out as she took my hands.

“But what if they choose yeh? After all, it’s in yer blood. Your dad is one.”

“Then I go with it should I have to. This is the only thing I could do to honor my parents.” Aunt Lilia let go of my hand as she sat down, her eyes misty. She pulls out a fluffy blue handkerchief inside her coat and blew. I look at Uncle George who is turning his spoon round and round the bowl, distracting himself.

I settled back to my seat, eating in silence like the both of them. I was about to shove the last of my oats in my mouth when Uncle George cleared his throat and said in a tearful voice, “Your father will be so proud if you will be selected.”

“Do you think so?”

“There’s no doubt Marcus would.” Uncle George looks up, eyes shining as he took my hand, “It doesn’t matter if your hair is ginger and your eyes are green for you are precious to our hearts, always remember that.” I nodded, feeling my lips quivering as I stand up. I was about to go out of the kitchen and get my things when Aunt Lilia stands from her seat, pulling me in her arms. She held me close to her chest, whispering, “No matter wha’ happens, we stand with yeh,” and she kisses my forehead before letting me go up to my room.

I climb up the stairs, two at a time. With shaking hands, I open the door, grab my satchel and hang it on my shoulder. I sat down on the floor, trembling with nervousness and excitement. Taking a deep breath, I look around my room and was startled when my uncle George, knocked.

“Nervous?”

“I...yeah.” I sigh, standing up, settling on the bed. He sat beside me and said, “I know you are uncertain but that’s normal. Overconfidence can lead you to a sticky end if you are not careful.”

“Right.”

“Got everything you need inside?” Uncle George eyed my satchel and smiled. I nodded. “Yep.”

He gave me another smile before he lean back on the bed, “I remember how much your father would gloat about having been selected as Cupid. Marcus got in alright, very proud of the achievement, he was. Cedric and I goaded him on about a bet to make–”

“George! Yeh ‘re keeping her in. Though right thing ter do it is, I doubt she will be happy ter miss the selection. Barely ten minutes to go before they start, mind yeh!” Uncle George shakes his head before patting my back, “Go on, now. I doubt that the council will appreciate you being late even if you exceed expectations.”

“But what’s the bet about?”

“What bet?” Uncle George looks at me, sheepishly, trying to make me a fool.

“The one you made with my father. You said–”

“Oh? Well,” he stood up, taking my hands and pulling me up with him, “I have to go and see how things are going on with the fields. Off you go now…” He stirred me towards the door on which I reluctantly followed him down the stairs. Looking back at the clock, I was surprise that I have barely seven minutes left to make my way to the highest tower.

Leaning on my tiptoes, I kiss my Uncle’s cheek and hug him tight, “Tell me later about all of it, promise?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I will be selected as Cupid,” And I smiled, leaving him awestruck.

“YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!” His fleeting words made me laugh so hard that it gave me enough energy to run all the way up to the highest tower.

*

“Heather, Dew,”

“Here, miss.”

“Hearthrowe, Isabelle,”

“Here, miss.” I rolled my eyes as I hear my cousin’s voice that resembles a poisoned honey. Ugh.

I let go of the door silently, cringing as it creeks, while I hasten, proceeding up the middle row. “Hearthrowe, Rubin,” Professor Bow look up from her list and saw me halfway through the room. She reckoned me to a seat next to my cousin Belle and repeat my name, “Hearthrowe, Rubin?”

“He-Here,” I cleared my throat and huffed, “Here, miss.” Professor Bow gave me a kind smile, mentioning the students on her list and finishing it with Zeal, Rose.

“Good morning my dear students!" I glance at Professor Bow as she flew up the platform, her bright yellow wings trailing behind her along with her long white robe, resembling a wedding trail. "Today, we are going to have the Sagittis : focusing on the art of making arrows. Everyone, please bring out your sets." My fellow students shuffled on their seats as they took their twigs out along with some feathers and scrap iron.

I took out the stuffs that I gathered from the fields, fishing them out of my satchel. I arranged the plucked feathers from the dawn aerie, the branch from the cedar tree and the bronze scrap. I sigh; This is the lesson I've been wanting to test all my life and I couldn’t believe I am right here.

It doesn’t matter if I will be selected or not, what matters is that I will take this.

My fingertips burned. I knew that I am getting too excited. I glance up at our professor and smiled as Professor Bow acknowledge my choice of twig, "Cedar...excellent." I smiled at her direction and watch our professor walk up to the front and began writing down the instructions for the test.

" 'Cedar...Excellent' " My cousin, Belle imitated before she snatch the twig on my table, her long blond hair divided in two plaits with flowers sprinkled on them. "Oak is better than Cedar, freak. My father told me so. Don't you dare feel special just because they favored you. You are not the next cupid, I will be the one selected and you should remember that. They just treat you like this because they pity you. You are just an accessory; made to be worn on occasions but once they get tired of you, Gran Aphrodite will be proud of me and father will rejoice at last." I bit a retort back, not wanting to spike another argument that will lead to my Uncle George and Uncle Cedric fighting.

Isabelle, or Belle as they call her, was the only daughter of my Uncle Cedric, since his Destin, Aunt Lois, had died of an accident. Ever since then, my Uncle Cedric always have his daughter with him, spoiling her and succumbing to her every plea while encouraging her unto bullying me.

I swallowed as Belle pointed the Oak branch to my face, inching it closer to my green eyes, "That alone should have made you doubt if you truly belong here. What kind of cherub have a green eyes and bushy ginger hair? You're a monster!"

"Isabelle!"

Professor Bow snatched the Oak twig that Belle was pointing at me. She snapped it in a half before saying, " I will not tolerate any misbehavior in this class, whether or not you are the granddaughter of the queen. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Both of us answered.

My voice is still quivering with the anger I am bottling up within me. I watch as Professor Bow continue her inspection of the twigs brought by her students. "Freak," Belle whispered on my ear before she took her seat next to me.

I look down at my own twig and began following the instructions given by my professor. I took out my knife and with a deep breath, I started shaping the wood. Conjuring the iron to mold itself into a pointy one, I attached it at the thin part, the feathers following as I plate it on the end of the wood making them serve as the fletching. I was the first to finish and my heart swelled with pride.

I wish my parents can see me now.

Making my way to the front, I bowed my head, give my arrow to the Professor and walk off.

The anger inside me is still boiling. If my parents were here, I wouldn't have to endure my stupid cousin nor would I have to listen to my uncles' petty quarrels about which of the both of them had the best kid. I bite my lip, sitting down at the edge of the clouds overlooking the city of Paris. The barrier under me flow like some kind of a water, not too solid, resembling a haze that reflects my image.

“Why do I have to be so different?" I glance back at my reflection, glaring at the color of my eyes. "Why do I have to look like this? So peculiar, So un-Cupid!" I stomp my feet down on the haze and cried, "Why did you both leave me? I need you now mom, dad, now more than ever…”

I close my eyes, letting myself collapse on the warm wet clouds. The clouds flutter under my skin, as though it was a bird, which made me force a bitter smile. The bright pockets of sun shone down on me–it was mesmerizing to be high up on the clouds and gaze down on the city below.

I have to remind myself, time and time again that it was just a work of magic. I won’t be able to go down there even if I stomp or knock on the barrier. It doesn’t work that way, I have to be selected to be allowed down there.

Not long after, I saw a cherubim flying towards me. He stopped and bowed, and as he straighten, I bit back a laugh. The cherubim bears the appearance of a boy with an old man’s face, hair as white as the cloud like his little wings, beard so long that it trails on the floor, a strong scent of tobacco emanating from his mouth as he said, “Greetings,” the cherubim bowed his head and focus his pale iris at me, “ What is your purpose here, Oleboi?” I snapped at him, not bothering to be nice at him. I can still remember my ninth birthday when this particular cherubim crashed on my party, reeking of wine.

“I was sent to deliver a message from the queen. She wants your presence back in the halls.” He said before muttering, “Ungrateful lass, staring at me with that green freaky eyes and what a bushy red hair–”

“Is that all you have to say?”

Oleboi straightened as if a surge of energy ran at him before he nodded, awkwardly. “Y-Yes, my mistress,” I wave a hand at him and watch as he fly back to the castle.

Grandma wants me back, for what reason? I do not know.

Still aching for the parents that have departed me, I trudge up the stairs and ignored the mocking yells of my fellow Erosians. They are waving their twigs at me, screaming "Monster" or "Freak".

I push open the doors and entered, bowing on the sight of my grandma Aphrodite, the Queen–her golden hair plated on top of her head to hold her crown, her face serene as she focuses her eyes at me. Grandma acknowledge me with a nod and instructed me to take a seat next to her on the ruined columns. Uncertain of what my grandma would say, I waited, biting my lips and wringing my hands as I sat beside her.

Grandma smiled at me before she brandish an arrow from her peach colored robes.

"Do you know what is the meaning of this, Fran?" I tried to control myself and not roll my eyes as she mention her special nickname for me. My grandma prefers to call me by my first name since she was the one who gave it to me, she doesn’t know how I quite hated being called that.  Distracted, I just stared at the arrow, slightly weirded out since the cedar wood is now slowly turning gold. "Francesca, do you know what is this?" My grandma inquired once again, pointing at the golden streak on the arrow core. I just stared, not knowing what to say.

Did I do something wrong with my arrow?

Geez, I think I am going to be kicked out of here for real this time. I failed the test. I’m such an idiot and a freak. I look up to my grandma and shrug, shaking my head ‘no’. Grandma Aphrodite sigh, looking a bit disappointed of me.

"This means that you are the Cupid, Francesca. You could finally go down to earth and do your duty as the chosen."

My heart swelled as I hear her words. I felt like I am flying but my thoughts from awhile ago punctured the feeling and I could feel my eyes beginning to tear up, "But I wasn't worthy of this grandmother. I am a freak. I am a monster!" I was shocked to hear my voice rise but I can't hold it in anymore. I stand up and started pacing in front of my grandmother as I tried to keep my emotions at bay. “There have been a mistake. I am sure of it. I just took the test because I want to make my father proud. It seems that, it is a wrong choice...I shouldn’t have–”

"Listen here, young lady.” I was surprise when my Grandma pulled my arm and yank me down on a seat. “ I know you have the most peculiar appearance in all of Eros but this doesn't mean that you are different to us." Grandma Aphrodite reckon me closer, letting me lie on her lap like I do so many times before when I was younger. She started threading her fingers on my ginger hair and smiled. "We are all the same and now you are the privileged one to be chosen as the next cupid."

I glance up at my grandmother before I sigh. "What about Isabelle? This will make her hate you once you sent me down to earth. You know how she loathed me! She will do anything in her power to--"

"To what?"

"To follow me down there."

"She won't. She knows what will happen to her if she did."

"But she is a mark of a true cupid–she was supposed to be the one, not me. I shouldn’t have gone for the test for I am anything but special. I regretted joining it." My heart painfully throb inside my chest as I tried to be not affected by my own words. Grandma Aphrodite just sat there, watching me like she wasn't even bothered of my opinions. How can she stay so calm and collected when I am bursting with this anger I have bottled up inside of me?

Finally, Grandma  stood and wave her hands making the arrow from awhile ago vanished. She smiled at me, "Go and rest. Tomorrow will be your twenty first birthday–incidentally, it will be the day you will go down to earth to do your mission as the next Cupid."

I nodded my head, smiling sadly at my grandmother. I was about to close the door when I felt  Grandma Aphrodite's hands enclosing around me, "Never doubt yourself, child. You are more than what you think you are..." and with a kiss on my forehead, I blink only to find my grandma gone.

Walking down the stairs I whispered, "I wish I won't disappoint you all..."

*

“Get a move now, George!”

“But Lilia, she is still sleeping. I do not–”

“What? Tell me more of yer lame reasons, aye? We know we cannot delay. She have a hard time alrigh’, but she has to prepare. Like righ’ now!” I could hear a set of feet shuffling across the floor and I hastily turn my back against the door, biting my lip as I hear it open.

"Rubin, I know yer awake. Yeh don't sleep with yer mouth closed." Oh, okay then. I opened my mouth, and continue to pretend to be asleep. "Francesca Rubin--"

"Okay, okay. I'm up, already! Don't get your knickers twisted up your bottoms, Aunt Lilia."

Well, that earned me a pillow zooming on my direction and hitting me on the head. I collapsed on the bed dramatically, snickering. “A-a-ouch!” I put both of my hands on my forehead, pretending to be hurt. Aunt Lilia shakes her head at me before throwing another pillow.

Uncle George sat down on my bed and gave me a smile, “I’ve heard what happen, I can’t believe you finish as first. Excellent!” I gave him a shy smile and watch as Aunt Lilia put her arms around me and sniffed, “I’m gonna miss yeh so much! I know I ‘ave tried ter stop yeh from being a Cupid bu’ understand, I don’t wan’ yeh ter go.”

I stared at their sad faces, feeling miserable all of a sudden for I have to leave.

They really act like my parents but still, they aren't. These distracting thoughts killed the mood. I stand up, settling near the window, I can hear Aunt Lilia and Uncle George whispering to each other, making me sigh, "We're not in the library, you know."

Uncle George look around, awkwardly twisting the ends of his dress shirt. Aunt Lilia's furrowed brows etched deeper on her face as she made a move towards me, taking me into her arms. "I know yeh are sad tha’ yer parents are not here bu’ we cannot do anything ‘bout it. We 're ‘ere to support yeh always, don’ forget that." She kiss my forehead and ran her hands on my ginger locks.

"I know that, Aunt Lilia. I know you loved me like I am your own but," I stared off the window, trying to stop my tears, "I just miss them. I wish my parents are alive and here–"

Uncle George cleared his throat, momentarily distracting me. I look at him but he chose to avoid my gaze, acting a bit dodgy. I remembered our conversation from yesterday and pointed it out, "Uncle, aren't you going to tell me about the bet? You promise me.” Uncle George looks at me and reluctantly he walks towards us. “Alright…”

"I know that my father look like you only with a different eye color." I ran my hands on my Uncle's cheek and smiled at him. “So, about the bet?” I ask my Uncle George but he is not looking at me, he is staring at my Aunt Lilia as if they are conversing silently. "Uncle, Auntie, Is there something you want to say?"

"No, dearie," Aunt Lilia replied.

"Yes, dearie," Uncle George mused.

Their replies caught me off guard as I look at the both of them, a bit suspicious of the way Aunt Lilia let go of me and sat on the bed while Uncle George started chewing his bottom lip.

"Ruby--"

"George, no. We vowed ter protect her!"

"Protect me? From what?"

They both stared at me, Aunt Lilia, now standing up, "George--"

"Lilia, I can't. Sixteen years is enough!" I could feel my Uncle's arms loosening, making me take a step back, staring at him.

"What are you saying Uncle? What sixteen years? What protection are you talking about?" He looks down at me, powder blue eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

"We vowed to protect you from the knowledge of your past, Rubin, we swore to keep it from you."

"What do you mean? What past? " I turn to my Aunt Lilia before looking back at my Uncle. "You told me that you raised me because Mom and Dad died during the assault. You treat me like I was your own because you have no children. We spend holidays together, laugh and dance…Isn't all of that true?"

"It is true. But can you remember your 3rd or 4th or 5th birthday? Do you have bizarre dreams about playgrounds that do not look like the ones we have here in Eros?" Uncle George throw question after question at my direction that the memories flashed behind my eyes, blindingly yet still blurred. "How about those times when you will wake up and scream 'mommy'? The little bunny bear you have, and the reason why no other Erosian child have a toy like that or would even think to name their toy, ‘Tookie’?" My Uncle's face is so red that I am afraid he will collapse because of it. With a broken voice, he whispered, "Do you ever wonder why you have these memories? Have it ever crossed your mind that everything felt peculiar and different when you arrive because you are not born here?"

I am speechless. I look at Aunt Lilia as she silently cried, hugging my bunny bear closer to her arms as Uncle George panted, his face so red with his outburst.

"Aunt Lilia, is this true?"

"Yer memory 'as been tampered with, Rubin. Yer real name was Crimsyn, a beautiful name yet it’s the mark of the earth on yeh so they change it, along with yer whole identity.” I whispered my name–Crimsyn. My mother have chosen that name for me and now I am called Rubin because they wipe away my memories–how insensitive! I frown, listening as my aunt continue, “Me and yer Uncle agreed because we wanted ter have a child and yeh are our opportunity. I do not want ter lie to yeh but in exchange of yer protection, we agreed."

"And Grandma knows all this?"

Aunt Lilia nodded on my direction, hastily wiping a stray tear on her face. "Then why did you all lie to me? Why did you just tell me now?" I felt betrayed and lost that another part of myself has been stolen and kept for so many years.

“We did not mean ter lie, Rubin. We just have ter do it!” Aunt Lilia insisted, her face flushed. I shake my head.

Uncle George slowly pull me to the window with my Aunt Lilia and him holding my hand, gently leading me on. He caress my cheek and whispered, "Your dad was just like you, a cupid sent down to earth, when he met your mom..." Uncle snatched a cloud from the window and conjure it to form into a man with wings watching a woman cloud.

The cloud man looks so real that I have to think of him as conjured. I sadly smiled at the cloud man as I listen to my Uncle George continuing the story, "He was bold, intelligent and daring. Marcus wanted to change some laws here in Eros including the most sacred one--"

"To give love and not receive it," I recited it with my heart, having heard of it all the time and reminded of it's weight ever since I could remember.

"That made Marcus so cunning. He stayed longer on earth even after his mission, pretending to be human. With his wits, he had managed to capture a few women, dragging them across town like lost puppies. He made them obsess over his body and his face. He enjoyed the attention very much it scared him, sometimes–for we are susceptible to temptations more than humans do." Uncle George shook his head as we watch the cloud man flirt with the other clouds which also took form into women. "But to his greatest disappointment, there seems to be a woman unaffected by all this."

"Well, I assume that it is my Mum, right?"

"Of course. Under the name of Emily, this gentle human didn't believe your father's stories of adventure and knew from the moment he started chasing her around, that the man, your father, was in fact an ethereal creature. "

The cloud man started chasing the woman cloud around my room until finally he have caught her in his arms.

"In time, he had managed to break down her walls and she had fallen for him after all he had done to win her. She was a tough one, your mother. The longer they spend time together only deepen what your father feel for her. They are so happy, he is so happy, that he forgot the fact that he is still Cupid," I watch both of the clouds as they sat on the floor. They were laughing, chasing each other around my room.

Uncle George’s eyes lingered at the clouds for a moment, his hands weaving the air as to keep the man cloud and the woman, moving. He took a deep breath before Uncle look at me smiling, "Then they had you, you mischievous little sod." My uncle pinched my nose and I wave my hands on his direction, urging him to continue. The clouds from awhile ago are now together with a little puff on the arms of the woman cloud. Aunt Lilia pulled me to her arms and I frown as Uncle continue his story, in a voice now filled with grief.

"Marcus, with great desperation, faked his death so he could be with you and Emily. Mother found out about his plan, of his faked death and his whereabouts with Cedric’s information. Cedric, rejoicing of what our younger brother did, encourage our mother to hunt him down and kill you and Emily," Uncle George’s face is stony and cold as I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I did not agree, of course. Killing Emily is horrible but killing you, a child? It is unforgiveable–for we consider children as Holy. Hearing my opinion, Mother agreed that you will be accepted back to Eros like a normal child and be told of a different past. That is how you are with us now, living and well." Uncle George enveloped Aunt Lilia and me on his arms, his light gold wings sprouting from his back forming some kind of a shield.

Frowning, I wriggled out of his embrace and whispered, "But, my father...and my mother?" Uncle George withdraw his arms and Aunt Lilia look down at me with pity, "Are they still alive?"

There is silence and I hang on to that. I do not want to hear the words as my Uncle look down and shook his head.

I sniffed, pushing Aunt Lilia's hands away from me as she tried to hug me, "What is the use of telling me all this if the ending is the same? They're dead. No difference! Nothing at all." I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out loud. This felt a hundred times worse than before, knowing about my mother and father's forbidden love and how it had killed him in the end.

"There is a difference for now, you know the truth." Uncle George took my face on his large hands and wipe my tears. " You are going down to earth, to the place of temptations, hatred and grief–I consider it going in a field that involves roses and thorns. It is a depiction of heaven and hell clashing and forming into one that we fear that you might just end up like your father..." My hands tighten on my Uncle's hand, trying to remove them but they didn't move an inch away from my face. I want to move farther away from them, and pretend that they are not in the same room with me. I wanted to be alone and mourn my parents I have no memories of.

Sadly, that’s not the case.

"Rubin, I know. I'm sorry, if I say that but we love you so much and we don't want you to end up with the same fate as your father. And if I might add," Uncle Cedric sigh, his hands still on my face. "Well, we do not know... we have not confirm it but," Uncle George’s voice trembled as he continued "we–I mean, I–think that your mother is still alive."

That made me stare at my uncle, examining his eyes of any trace of tricks or maliciousness but I saw nothing. With a watery smile, I captured the both of them in my arms and cried. After a few moments, Aunt Lilia told my Uncle to go off since she is going to prepare me for the ceremony.

I had my bath, consisting of precious oils and scents from the tree blossoms, allurements essential for my mission. After I had finished my bath, I help myself on some plain white cotton dress, the sleeves shrug down on my shoulder like wings as she hang the nets on my back.

Oh wings! I'm going to have my wings today.

I wiggled my shoulders, exercising them and blush as Aunt Lilia watch me across the room. She offered to braid my hair and place the crown of golden laurels on my red hair–I smiled at my reflection as she finished. I feel beautiful, for once. She captured me on her arms and I can't help but shed a tear. She pulls away, “Oh don’t yeh cry, my dear, everything will be alrigh’.” I nod my head, following her as she led me out of my room.

What if I fail them? What if I end up like my father? What if I become obsessed of living with the humans that I refuse to go back? And what about my mother?

These thoughts occupied half of my attention as my Aunt lead me to the back of the grand hall, “ Wait for me here, I would have ter take some golden petals before yeh enter. I forgot ter prepare that…” I nodded, watching Aunt Lilia as she ran back to my room.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the odd chick in the brood.” I turn around, recognizing the taunting voice of my dear Uncle Cedric–the one who made sure that I suffer terribly in the hands of his daughter. “How does it feel to be selected?” He sneered and I glare back at him. “I feel better than Isabelle, of course.”

“Your cheek!” He spat, his bright blue eyes like icicles on his sockets, “You’re just like him you know: arrogant know-it-all who thought that the world revolves around him, well, you might not be aware but that is not the case,” He snapped, his voice cutting through the air. I straightened up as stiff as I could so as to not show him how nervous I felt, “I will make sure that you will fail like your father had, after all, your eyes isn’t the only thing you inherited from him considering that you are ruled by your emotions and not your mind.” Uncle Cedric smirked, heading at the end of the hall to enter the door.

I can feel the heat rushing up my cheeks and was glad that Aunt Lilia have arrived a minute later holding a basket of golden petals. “What’s with the long face, aye? Wha’ happened to yeh? Cheer up!” Aunt Lilia held my arm and guided me down the hall, pushing open the door with a bright smile on her face.

Grandma Aphrodite is seated on the front with my Uncle Cedric on her left and Uncle George on her right. Uncle Cedric was looking at me intently, his cold blue eyes filled with hatred as usual, lips thin. I stared back at him, holding his gaze. Uncle Cedric averted his eyes, focusing them at his daughter who is also glaring at me from her seat. I look around trying to find Aunt Lilia only to notice that she was crying, her fluffy blue towel covering half of her face, the now empty basket on her hand–I haven’t notice her showering me with it.

The arrow from yesterday stayed afloat in the middle of the room, jusg in front of my grandma, gleaming as it now appears solid gold. It started buzzing once I took a step inside which made all the Erosians look at me. Grandma Aphrodite reckon me and I hastily walk, nervously fiddling with my skirt as I bowed my head. The looks coming from everyone inside the room felt so hot against my skin that I feel flushed.

Grandma began the ceremony by speaking in the Old Tongue, thanking the gods and goddesses and honoring them with a magpie killed beneath the laurel tree and burnt on the fire made from cedar twigs.

After a moment it was finally time for me to recite my vows. I bit my lip and stood in front of the other Erosians, " I, Francesca Rubin Hearthrowe, receive thy power, passed by Marcus Valentin Hearthrowe, my deceased father– to fall down to earth, to give love and not receive any at all, and to not fall in love to any man or feel love for any human to my extent."

I crossed my index finger over my middle as I took the pledge, silently praying that no one will ever witness this play. I cannot afford to be caught now. My decision is final and I have to prove that I choose the right path.

I watch as my grandmother wave her hands; two wings sprout on my back, pure white and golden on the tips. Two bangles enclosed my ankles, signifying the sacred vow I have taken, following after the golden bow and arrow which settled themselves on my hands, fitting them perfectly.

"You've got one hundred forty three days to complete your task" I wanted to roll my eyes at the cliché occurrence but I shouldn’t, the council is looking at me like I am going to be convicted of murder–I have no choice but to maintain a straight face.

"For at least fifty arrows results to a hundred hearts–couple these, there and that–everywhere you'll walk around in this city of love, of course, with grace and utmost care. The cities on which our great power prevail, shoot their hearts with nothing to spare. Don't fall to fail me my child, to you I send my greatest love. Now, Go..." Grandma Aphrodite raised her right hand and pointed up, clouds opening as some kind of stairs began to solidify, ascending towards a door.

I didn't know that earth was up and not down.

I climbed each step, my feet cold against the smooth floor. I can feel the temperature goes hotter as I climb higher. As I stood at the top of the stairs, take a gulp and grab the knob.

Well, here goes everything...

계속