Chapter 8: Chapter 8

CHAPTER 7 : Cupid Being Coy

CAELUM

“What the! What is it?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice as I turn around, looking for danger.

Something from behind the curtain is moving.

Carefully, I let go of Rubin and settled her on her feet, my neck tingling of the tension. I take one of my arrows from my cloak and crouched, silently stalking towards it. I swinged the curtain and huffed as a black and white thing bounded towards me.

It’s a cat.

I directed my glare to Rubin as she nervously stood. Only then did I realize how stupid this cupid is, as the cat prowls on the carpet, giving me a wide yawn. The cat stretched its legs, dragging himself across before giving me another yawn and a lazy stare. It took me a while to notice that Aeon was dying of laughter as he collapsed on the carpet, his hands over his stomach as he curls up.

I can’t believe that I have acted like that.

“Com’ere you,” Pulling her by the hood of the jacket I lend her, I headed to the kitchen and started preparing a meal. “Hey!” Rubin protested as I push her down on a chair. Aeon sat up from the floor, still laughing, hitting the carpet with his fist as he did so.

Geez, I am surrounded by idiots.

“Hey, let go of me. Ugh!” She trashed around but I keep a hold of her. The cat let out a sullen meow as he followed us to the kitchen, brushing his tail on the furniture before licking his paws. Rubin bolted away from my grasp and went on top of the counter, her feet dangling while another round of laughter escaped Aeon. “ Get that away from me!”

“What’s the matter? He is only a cat,” I pulled Rubin back to the seat before taking the cat on my arm. “A cat?”

“Yep. He is a cat, a pet. He will never harm you unless provoked.”

“A pet? You keep this thing as a pet?” I nodded as Rubin thought for a while, her eyebrows meeting in the middle, “Does it have a name?”

“His name is Gust,” Aeon commented as he entered the kitchen, his shoulders still shaking with silent laughter, lifting his sullen face. He looks at Rubin as if curious of what she has on her mind before deciding against it, shaking his head. He catches my eye as I scratched the cat’s ear. Aeon held my gaze, tapping his pocket and pointing at me before he looks at Rubin, indicating the phone that is inside my robe.

I ignored him.

Rubin edged closer, trying to touch the cat’s head only to receive a hiss, making her jump on her seat. Aeon let out another round of laughter as he watch Rubin cower from the cat. I let go of the cat and directed my attention to the cupboard.

“What are you looking for?” His inquiry made me smirk so I didn’t turned to him.

“Ingredients, of course,” I retrieved some herbs, tomatoes, bacon and ground beef from the fridge before asking, “Where did you put the pasta?”

“Top shelf,” I reached out and smiled as I took the pasta and the tomato can since it was all in there. I grabbed a knife and began sharpening it with the wet stone, making Rubin’s eyes widen. “What are you making?” her question made me shake my head as I bit my lip, enjoying the look on her face.

What a curious little thing she is–she throw question after question like a five year old does.

I focused my attention at the task at hand and smiled, still not answering her as I began chopping the onions and garlic. “ I am glad you are here. I get to eat real food again,” Aeon said, smirking as he sits down next to Rubin who is watching me intently, her eyes not leaving my hands.

I took a large pan and fill it with water. Taking a large saucepan, I began sautéing the bacon. Once it is crispy, I took it out and put the ground beef in, waiting for it to brown a bit. Meanwhile, the water boils and I put the spaghetti in. Once the beef was brown, I toss the other vegetables in with the herbs and wait for it to soften before putting in the tomato sauce and the seasonings. Rubin was clapping her hands and once again, I rolled my eyes at her.

I took a plate, twist the pasta, settling it in the middle before letting it slide down towards her. Aeon clapped his hands together, imitating Rubin as I slide the other plate to him. Rubin poke her pasta with the fork and twist it gingerly. She blew on a strand and take it to her mouth and with bated breath, I wait. She gave a slight moan and said, “This is like that pasta we ate a while ago but this tastes better. Whats’it called?”

“Bolognese,”

“Hmm, taste like heaven!” She smiled, red sauce on her lips as she twisted the pasta on the fork.

Aeon gave her a look before directing his eyes at me. I gave the rest of the pasta to Rubin and let the both of them eat their second serving as I cleaned up around the kitchen.

“Will you cook me the same thing next time?” her sudden question floated across the room making me stop as I took the pan to the sink. I squeezed some dishwashing liquid on the sponge and swirled it round the pan.

“Next time? What next time are you talking about?” Aeon asked out loud as he took both of their plates and brought it to me. I silently wash the dishes, waiting for her to snap at Aeon but she didn’t. Turning around, I was surprise to see her standing next to me. “There would be next time…right, Caelum?” Her eager eyes held me in place and I was momentarily stunned. I got lost in her deep green eyes, making me wonder where I have seen them before.

She looks very familiar to me that it made me think what her purpore is and how she found me.

My doubts dissolved as Aeon puts his hand over her face, obscuring her eyes from view while he started pulling her towards him. This made the connection break and I blinked back, marveling at the strange feeling of longing.

What on earth is happening to me?

Rubin pushed Aeon’s hand away, glaring at him. I looked at Aeon to see him staring at me, purple eyes worried–I shake my head, dry my hands on the towel by the sink before proceeding out the kitchen and back to the living room. Aeon followed close, whispering, “What happened mate? Why are you looking at her like that? Have some control on yourself or that cupid will lure you in!”

“I can hear you, you know?” Rubin says as she walks on my other side. “And I am not luring him in!” She rolled her eyes before directing a nasty look at Aeon. He returned it with the same intensity, making them glare at each other.

“Quit it you two!” I push their heads off and ran up the stairs, wishing that they will stay away from me yet they weren’t. They were both hot on my heels, stomping like children being chastised by their parents.

“You stay away from him. I am warning you, cupid. Don’t you dare lure him in!”

Aeon stalks off, leaving me with Rubin as she followed me up on the stairs, stopping by the landing. Rubin looks up at me as she huffed but before she opens her mouth to speak, I say, “We stay here for tonight, get a plenty of rest. We leave for tomorrow at dawn,” I turned around and walk towards the direction of the guest room and was surprised when she started following me. “And might I ask, what exactly are you doing?”

She bit her lip and gave me a smile, “Erm, I don’t know where I will sleep, so…” She bowed down her head and I sighed, running my hands om my hair. I openned the room and let her in. I took some sheets and some mattress from the cupboard and spread it on the floor across the bed. She watched me as I took a pillow from the bed and put it on top of the pile, “Here. You will lay on the floor while I sleep on the bed.”

She kneeled down on the mattress and smiled up at me, “Thank you, Caelum.”

Rolling my eyes, I tried not to think about how soft she mentions my name, as though she is caressing every letter. Gritting my teeth, I sat on the bed, clapped my hands to turn off the light. I settled on the bed, lying on my side so I can face the forest.

My heart is thundering and I chose not to be bothered at how her tongue caress my name as she thanks me. I was just not used to it, that’s all.

No other reasons, right?

I was close to drifting off to sleep when she claps her hand, turning the light on. Sighing, I glared down at her and she hastily claps her hand, switching the light off.

“Sorry, Caelum.”

*

“Faster,”

“Alright, alright!” She hastily slipped her toes on the shoes I bought for her and angrily push her hair to the sides, glaring at me. My lips quirked up but I bit them, so as to appear annoyed. I looked up to see Aeon smirking at me. Psh–I would like to chuck my shoes at him too if I wasn’t enjoying myself rushing Rubin out of this place. I’ll get back at him soon once I got rid of this cupid.

“I’m ready!”

She drew close to me and we stand there side by side. I nodded once at Aeon and he gave me a knowing smile, tucking his hands inside his coat as the wind blew. Summoning the winds, I stepped towards it and pulled at her jacket.

The wind caressed my cheeks , sweetly as we both arrived back in Paris. Rubin was so fascinated she couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she tuck a hair beneath her ear and grinned. I let go of her jacket and scratched the back of my neck. She gave me a foolish grin, making me glare at her.

“Don’t act so coy, Cupid.” I muttered, rummaging inside my cloak, a bit annoyed because it is still dark and I couldn’t see well.

Oh where did I put it?

“Here,” she looks at me as I took the phone out of my cloak. “Oh, a black pad!”

“How many times should I tell you, this is a phone, Rubin. A phone!”

“I know. I just like to call it that for it sticks in my head better.” She watched me as I switch the phone on and enter some numbers. “You see, when you click the number one,” I leaned down and show her the screen and how it works, “My phone will ring and I will go to you, alright?” I showed her my phone and she cringed at the sound, her eyes still alight of curiousity.

“Why should you go to me when we are together? Is this how you communicate here on earth, through this black pad?”

I rolled my eyes and repeated, “ It’s a phone,” I sighed, taking a while to look at her confused face, “ This is because I will leave you on your own.”

“But, why?” I put some GPS tracker on her phone and closed it, taking her hand and putting the phone on them. “Because I have to live my life. Just because we met doesn’t mean that we have to be together. You have your mission and so continue with it. Don’t bother with me.”

Her face flushes as she looks at me. I bit back my tongue and sighed–I didn’t mean to be so harsh but it is the only way. Plus, being harsh is a normal attitude for a Dieuoubliè like me – I have to be rude so she won’t be lured in. “Use the phone and call me when you need me. Don’t call me with no purpose, do you understand?”

“Yes,” She bows her head and tightly clutched the phone with her hands, “Here,” I took some money from my coat and put it on her hand, “Take this and save it. Buy food when you’re hungry and find someone to take you in. I believe that this money will get you through the week,” She sighs, pocketing the money in the jacket I lend her.

We remain standing there for a while, her head bowed, while I look around, noticing the rest of the city waking up. I was about to walk away when she pulled at my coat, “ Why do I have to find someone if you are here? Why don’t you just take me in?

I let out a breath as I pries her hands from my coat. “I couldn’t take you in. I have so much to do and taking care of you is not my responsibility.” I took a couple of steps away from her, turning back, “ And, you have no use for me so, why should I take you in?”

“I can clean your house, or cook for you–I’ll be your loyal servant!” She pulled at my arm making me look back at her. “ Anything, I’ll do anything, just… don’t leave me like this.”

My eyes harden at her words–time to do my plan B.

“Why do you feel so attached to me, cupid? You really are stupid, aren’t you? I push you off the window, and have you arrested, isn’t that rude for you?”

“And yet you showed me kindness when no one else did! You clothe and fed me, you take me places and showed me how brilliant the human world is,” she tightens her hold on my arm and stand in front of me. “Please take me in.”

“No,” I pushed her hands back and said, “We have no connection to me and I would never like you to form a bond with me. It is best we part ways now,” And I waved my hands, not waiting for her to say something and catch up as I close the wind path behind me, making sure that a certain ginger cupid won’t follow me.

*

The vinyl recording played a melancholy song, a wine glass stood on the table, half full as the fire merrily crackled on the fireplace. I paced next to it, a bit twitchy and anxious. I am waiting for her to call, to ask for me and beg for me to take her back.

Yet she didn’t.

I know that I have refused her a couple of times but I couldn’t help but hope. I can’t believe that she was as stubborn as Aeon and that’s the trait I hated the most. I chose not to be bothered as I raise the wine glass to my lips and take a sip. I swirled the wine round my mouth and watched the fire.

I wonder how she is doing outside in the real world. Will she be able to adapt?

It’s a good thing that she has taken my advice and not call me when it is not necessary. Though, I wonder if she’s not using it because she has no purpose of calling me, or because she doesn’t know how to use the phone. Oh well, it doesn’t matter now. She is not a responsibility to me. We just brushed at each other’s existence, merely touching each other’s lives–I am nothing to her and she is nothing to me.

I finished the whole glass of wine and have a debate on whether I should pour myself another one or not. The rain had stopped pouring outside and it is about midday, I ought to go out and find more victims, more beats is as easy to earn like a run in the park but the fun drags it longer, making the task more enjoyable.

Quickly washing the glass, I stowed it inside the cupboard and waved at the fire, extinguishing it. I proceed inside my room, got myself an arrow and searched for my bow. I quickly spotted it by the sofa. I slung my quiver on my back and took the bow before stopping short as I felt my palm burning.

With shaking hands, I let go of the bow and stared at it. The intricate gold have fooled me of thinking that it was my own. Red burns appeared on my palm and I huffed, kicking the bow. I found my own bow at the foot of my bed, glaring at the golden bow that is innocently lying down on the carpet where I have dropped it, now charred in the middle on where I have touched it.

I will have to return it to her some other time. I should find a way to hold it first without burning my hand or maybe I can just look for her and ask her to get it herself.

Looking around, I notice her quiver lying on my table, next to the set of books. Curious, I touch the arrows and was surprise when it didn’t burn me. Instead, the golden arrows changed back into steel and clatter to the ground as it falls.

Oh well.

Spraying some allurements, I chose to stir away from her things as I take the jar, putting some leaves on my pipe. I should not be bothered by her forgotten things, it was her fault why it all ended in here. I waved my hands and lean on the wind, feeling the light thud as I was transported down the empty alley welcoming the cold air on my face.

Looks like spring will be coming early this year.

I began walking out the alley and to the open where a couple of kids were playing around the fountain. I am glad to have sprayed some allurements on me to keep them from seeing me but still draw close, allowing me some access to their emotions. I hated running around, scolding the brats–they are just so stubborn and hard to control.

Throwing them some nasty look, I spotted a couple kissing nearby and without blinking, I sent my steel arrows flying across the field

The couple momentarily stop kissing– the girl looks at the guy before she poured the rest of her iced tea on top of the guys head.

Wicked!

Crouching next to them, I listened as they exchanged rude words and blamed each other. Of course, watching them was fun but my purpose is to have my fill. Looking down, I notice a beat being accomplished.

I needed two more.

Smirking, I straightened up, snatching the abandoned croissant and shoving it in my mouth. I gradually chew it, observing the feeble humans as they go about their business: Laughing, arguing, rushing, dancing, talking. They are a busy bunch and I like it when they act like this. It is easier to target them and manipulate them when they are so distracted–they aren’t even trying to control their emotions as I walked pass them.

I decided to be a good boy today and not attack the wimpy humans, I guess eight beats can suffice for the month.

Walking by the park, I watched as a couple of parents ushered their kids to the swings and slide. The playground might appear to have been abandoned for being vintage but the roaring laughter of the kids beats away the odd ambiance, replacing it with a cheerful one. I find myself smirking as I remember a memory of a little girl bouncing towards the slides and screaming for her mom to watch her as she goes down. Pity that I have to put a memory glaze on her mom after she was kidnapped. I am afraid that it will bring a permanent damage to that woman’s brain because of how strong I have casted a different memory.

I adjusted the quiver on my back, settled under an oak tree and busied myself with my arrows. I took my pipe and blew with it, sending some puffs of enchanted smoke. After quite some time, I look up to see two little kids fighting by the sand box. Parents were trying to separate the two but to no avail, the little boy won’t let go of the little girl’s pigtails.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight and hopefully look down at my beats. They might have contribute a smidge on it, considering the light effort I have exerted. The bracelet beats steadily as it absorbs the negative energy from the bunch; not only were those ruddy kids fighting, but their parents have also joined in. It was a nice day at the park, I should say, to spend it like this and gather as many beat as I could without any hard work.

I quickly added more leaf on my pipe and blew, puffs of allurements flying off to every direction and soon enough, the kids and the parents were all in disagreement. I chuckled once again, waving my arms as to catch every smidge that they can contribute. There is no time for me to be picky.

The bracelet vibrated as it reach full, I can feel the thud awakening on my chest as it conjure a fake heart, making me a little bit normal for the month. Dusting off my pants I stood, collecting my things only to be surprised by the sight of the golden shoes.

Straightening up, my mouth hangs open as Rubin shakes her head at me, swatting off the puffs with her hand, “So, this is how you keep yourself busy?”

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