Hit Me, Cupid!

ღ Seven: I'm Cinderella, But Where's My Fairy Godmother?

There were plenty of times I wished that I didn’t have a big family. Why did Psyche suddenly appear? I didn’t hear any news from Uncle Robert before. He wasn’t even married last year. I mean, if he got married, we would have known.

    I had nothing against Psyche. It was just her sudden arrival that troubled me. I knew it wasn’t my place to ask, but I couldn’t help the curiosity filling my veins. That was weird. Unless, of course, Eros had some explanation to it. Anyway, I’d be just the good girl he wanted me to be, then maybe I could squeeze something out.

    “Cytherea!” Tia Shae shouted from across the room.

    The children of my relatives were already playing around the house. I knew I was going to have to clean them soon, but not this kind of soon.

    “Coming!” Your Majesty, I added inside my head.

    Tia Shae was still on the recliner chair where I left her. Her bare and big stomach was on the view; I tried hard not to be grossed out. Why did she have to be like that?

    “You’re late! Gah, give it to me!” Quickly, I handed it to her and she was more than happy to have it, “Now, off you go!”

    Gladly, I thought.

    Finally, I could have a break from all of her orders. I guess good karma was on my side today. Karma never failed to surprise me.

    “I smell like garbage.” I groaned then headed upstairs where I accidentally bumped into someone, “Sorry!”

    When I looked up and saw Eros’ face, I quickly spat my sorry out. I rounded around the corner and went inside my bedroom.  God knows I needed a good shower. They were probably laughing like hyenas right now and I couldn’t even find peace in my house.

    I put off my smelly dress— that gaudy shade of pink and odor of garbage never failed to disgust me – and turned graciously towards the shower’s head. I swiftly turned the knob around and let the curtain of steamy water refresh me. Alright, I just needed to do some impromptu yoga.

    I took a deep breath.

    I blew out that breath, Exhale.

    How did Eros manage to stay in our house? Well, that was probably because of Psyche. Apparently, she was introducing Eros to the others. Since I knew I wasn’t that needed – and I was what they call the problematic child – I decided to let it go.

    Hah, I could sing inside the bathroom.

    “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart—“ I started- this song totally sucked since it wasn’t even close to Christmas, but I sang on, “But the very next day, you gave it awaaaaay!”

    I could practically feel God telling me, Cytherea, please stop. This isn’t your future, so stop that.

    Okay, God, I spoke to the invisible deity in my head, how about my future? Should I marry someone from England? Maybe I should really stop talking. I was starting to sound insane and crazy. 

    I stepped out of the bathroom and wrapped myself around a fluffy grey towel before facing the mirror. I tried to convince myself that I could at least survive these events.

    One may be wondering: How on earth was I considered the ‘problematic child?’

    To be honest, it was mostly because I seemed normal. Most of our relatives had some definite trait. Look at my brother, Ach, he was popular and everything. Even Jake was considered troublesome. Madeleine was well known for speaking in different tongues, while I was almost the only one in the family who didn’t show any kind of special talent or gift.

    “Ceecee!”

    Speak of the devil, and he shall come: “What, Jake? I’m in the bathroom!”

    “Get out of your bathroom, Madeleine’s glasses are missing! She last saw it in your room,” Jake cried out.

    I opened the door and found my brother Jake laughing at me. “Seriously though, you need to look for it.”

    “I still need to change.” I glared at him.

    Jake pushed me further inside my room then out of it. His beady black eyes trailed after me as he gestured on the mat of my room. “She needs her glasses.”

    “Can’t this wait?! I need to change!” I shouted him furiously when he suddenly slammed my own door and locked himself inside, “Jake? Jake, this isn’t funny!”

    “Sure is funny, big sis!” Jake roared in laughter.

    I thumped loudly on the door, but as I was about to shout more – I heard Madeleine’s loud cry and I knew that she was coming to get me.

    Since my brat of a brother wouldn’t open the door, I turned on my side and tried to find an open room. I must admit, he was pretty smart for a kid his age. All doors were locked and it wasn’t like I could go down like this with just a towel.

    “s**t, s**t,” I cussed out loud then my eyes scanned the hallway. I found our window open and then next thing I knew, I was climbing. I held on dearly to the edge of my towel and hopped down next to the window.

    The cold breeze air instantly slammed the hell out of me. I dropped down with the emergency exit staircase through it and I cursed my brother for being such an ass. He was trying to get his payback earlier this morning, but this was too far! How on earth am I going to change clothes now? He practically locked all doors, and if ever the door was even opened, there would be adults talking sensually in there.

    I had one weird, big family – especially my relatives.

    A dog barked, then it suddenly started to run off towards me. I yelled and kicked my feet on the ground.

    Oh, my poor bare feet.

    I ran and ran ‘till I reached the side of our home where our treehouse was built. It was made of planks of plain wood, and there was a swing set attached to the branches below. There was no roof on it, though. One of the reasons why I liked it was to see the sky’s heavenly bodies. Astronomy had always been fascinating to me.

    I climbed up and sat on the corner of it while I waited for the dog to be gone. Once it was out, I lay down and stared up at the skies and stars.

    The Hastings should have special abilities. Dad was always lucky, while Mom could cook food like a professional chef. Ach was popular and Jake was good at playing tricks. As for my other nieces and cousins, they each had different talents. I was the only one who didn’t.

    I was what they call a ‘late bloomer.’

    But, somehow, I didn’t hate life. I couldn’t say I loved it either, but I guess it was just harsh how people judge you. Jealousy, envy, anger, and lot of more – these are the usual problems. That was why I knew I didn’t want to mess up with Eros.

    Let’s all face it. I thought he was the one, but he accidentally slipped his arrow out. That means that we weren’t supposed to meet. I just wish he could be nicer to me. After all, I was already prepared to participate.

    “What are you doing here?”

    I immediately snapped my head at the side and saw the reincarnation of death – kidding, it was just Eros again. “Oh, hi.”

    He raised an eyebrow at me, keeping his distance. “And you’re wearing that because?”

    I flushed deeply. “Jake wouldn’t let me in on my room and the other rooms were locked and it’s not like I could go to our living and dining room like this.”

   He leaned in against the railing, looking up at the vast, empty sky.

    “Eros…” I trailed off. His name was like a drug to my mouth; I just wanted to say it over and over. God, I’m surely lovesick now.

    “Have you agreed to my terms?”

    “Yeah, I mean, if you could have told me that you are in love with someone then I could have already helped you.” I sighed and looked up. “You really love her, don’t you?”

    Eros tensed and clenched his fists, eyebrows furrowing, “Yeah, you don’t know how much she has endured just to be with me.”

    “Tell me about it,” I whispered softly.

    “My mother, Aphrodite, hated her. Aphrodite’s jealous of her natural beauty. The people were astounded by her beauty that they started praising and worshipping Psyche instead of Aphrodite. My mother hated this. She asked me to make her fall in love with a beast,” Eros paused, gazing softly at the stars above. “But-“

    “But you fell in love with her instead,” I finished for him.

    He nodded. “I took her up secretly. She was homesick, though, so I’ve let her sisters visit her. Her sisters’ kind of put things on her mind that I’m a beast – that I’m going to eat her up soon. The rule was; she is not to look at my face. I’m an immortal being – such mortals cannot look upon us. But, she did. And of course I’m good-looking."

    I coughed. Of course he was. 

    “I’m Eros," he said as a-matter-of-fact. "She used the lamp to gaze at my face and it woke me up. I needed to leave. I knew that it was impossible. Psyche looked everywhere for me and found my mother, Aphrodite, instead. Aphrodite was fuming mad that she took everything from her. Aphrodite sets out tasks and hardships for her to complete. She was almost dying when I saw her.” Eros’ voice was pained when he said this, “I only gave her the spirits to lift up when I kissed her. As soon as she finished everything that Aphrodite demanded her to do, she was turned an immortal like me.”

    “How on earth did she manage to get into my family tree then?” I asked him.

    “Immortals tend to blend themselves in Greece. Your family just happened to be one and Psyche chose your family.”

    Their love story was beautiful. 

    “I’m helping you!” I smiled giddily up to him. It was almost forced, but I had to. I wanted to help.

    Eros stared at me. "There's no backing out here."

    I stood up next to him, almost forgetting that I was just in my towel. “I won’t. I guess, well, it’s just your story inspired me. She did all of that for you.”

    “And I can’t even do anything for her.” His eyes looked so lost and his voice was as cold as the ice.

    I poked him by his arm and chuckled. “You know, you don’t seem like a real jerk to me. I never knew you could love someone that true.”

    Eros scowled and moved away. “Just because I told you that doesn’t make us friends.”

    Maybe I needed to make him comfortable around me. Hating each other wouldn’t help us break this bond.

    “Congratulations, I’m on your side now.” I smiled a little. Somehow, something was tearing up inside me. The name Psyche was familiar to me. It was as if someone called her name.

    Eros glanced at me and clamped his jaw before removing his leather jacket off his shoulders and draping it over my almost essentially-naked body. “That’s twice now. Let’s not make it a habit.”

    I knew he was reminding me of his own sweaters, which I needed to give back. “Thanks,” I told him, “Aren’t you going to Psyche?”

    “She has to take care of, uh, things,” he replied, nonchalantly.

    Bring on the awkward moment of silence.

    I zoomed in around my surrounding and realized that I felt something creeping on us. Whatever that was, it wasn’t good. Eros stiffened and slammed his fists against the railing before surprising me. He all but placed me in front of him where he forced my face onto his toned, golden chest.

    “Be quiet and still," he warned. The beat of his heart was all I could listen to as Eros examined something.

    “Is whatever looking at us like you?” I asked him.

    “I don't know. Be still.” 

    I obeyed him.

    Eros was warm. His thick and defined muscles were all I could feel, except they were tensed. I was practically shoved into him and heat rushed up to my cheeks. I’d never been this close to a boy before. Especially not an immortal one. Maybe I should put this into a book called ‘Embarrassing Moments with the Immortals.’

    “We need to go.” His tone was thick and hoarse; I knew something was wrong.

    “What is it?”

    He lifted me onto his back, jumping through the branches and setting me onto the ground. As he let me go, he glared at the darkness. “Go. I need to settle something.”

    “Are—“

    “I said ‘go’ didn’t I? Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Eros’ eyes met mine and I sighed, giving up. I knew we couldn’t get along, but he could at least try and pretend.

    “Okay, fine.”

    “Tell Psyche to follow me. Tell her someone's here for a visit,” Eros told me before motioning for me to leave.

    “Okay.”

    And just like that, Eros started on his trail and left me all alone, with my towel and his leather jacket around me. Let him die on his own. I was just trying to be nice.

Psyche.  A voice whispered, Psyche, Psyche.

    “What? I’m going to call her, okay?” I said to no one in particular.

    No response. And then, low voices: wake, Psyche. Wake.

    “I doubt she’s sleeping. Maybe you want to call Ceecee instead? I really feel useless here.”

    Psyche. Trouble. Help.

    “Can I help?” I offered.

    No. Not Ceecee. Psyche. Psyche. Stop Ceecee. Cytherea not Psyche. Awake Psyche. Wake up, Psyche.

    Sighing, I huffed out and started to go back to where I came from by the window. “Fine, I’ll call Psyche. Obviously you don’t like Ceecee, but my name’s cute, right?”

    I was starting to sound like a lunatic. I was still clinging to the single thread of hope that this all was some crazy, horrific dream.