Hit Me, Cupid!

ღ Nine: Love is Eternal, My Dear

“Where exactly have you last seen him?” I asked Psyche. Her nervous pacing back and forth made me feel dizzy.

    Psyche smoothed down her brown hair and frowned. “Near the tree house. He told me to wait there. He promised me that he’ll be fine.”

    We were standing in our backyard, the sun casting its rays through the trees’ canopy of branches. My relatives were all still crammed inside my house, the structure bursting with noise.

    Eros must have a death wish: every move he made seemed mysterious, and somehow it always led him to disaster. If I had known better, he was flirting with disaster. He always acted so strange; it was hard to keep up with him. He also had these mood swings that got him nowhere.

    “Come on, maybe we should get deeper?” I motioned Psyche to come after me.

    She trailed along behind me as I scanned the trees: it looked more like a forest than a simple backyard. We walked slowly, crunching the stones on the rocky soil. The branches swirled around in incomprehensible, complex patterns.

    The sky above us was bluer than ever. As we walked around, I thought of how much I did for Eros. Not only did I agree too his conditions, but now I was helping his girlfriend find him.

    I must be a freaking Saint or something.

    Why was he so reckless, anyways? Did he really want to be so super-heroic in front of Psyche, that he was willing to do anything just to prove something?

    And I can’t even do anything for her, I remembered Eros telling me.

    Ever since I met him, my life had turned upside down. Everything that concerned him also concerned me. It was as if I was part of his domino effect. The world I once knew had completely changed. It was a reality filled with unimaginable things. To be aware that mythology was actually real was mind-blowing, to say the least. I had never known this situation would become so complicated. I often ask myself why I should bother helping Psyche. She was his girlfriend, why should I help?

    I was being selfish. I wanted to be selfish, but it wasn’t in my nature. People would still judge you, no matter how good you are. Was it really so bad to care for others? I may or may not care about Eros, because deep down inside, I knew there’s a boy inside him hurting. For what reason, I have yet to find out.

    It could be me, but somehow, I wasn’t convinced. The pained look in his eyes, I couldn’t forget it. Sea-green eyes that reminded of the ocean; the pain was well alive.

    Stop thinking about him, I silently berated myself. He’s not your responsibility, remember?

    “Where’d you get that penguin?” Psyche asked me, eyeing the plush penguin I was dearly holding onto.

    Almost forgetting that I was still carrying the cute penguin, I held it up. Its pouty cheeks puffed with its smile, and its stomach was big and buff. “From a certain friend, Why?”

    “It’s cute.” Psyche smiled sweetly. “Can I hold that?”

    “Yeah, sure.” I handed her the penguin. The moment her hands caressed the soft exterior of the toy, her facial expression grew dark.

    Psyche quickly handed the penguin back to me. “Thanks. I don’t think you should carry it around you.”

    “Why?” I kicked the rocks out of my way with my flats and continued walking.

    “It’s kind of weird. I just feel bad luck around it.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Or better yet, return it to its giver.”

    “Now you’re creeping me out.” I gave her an odd look. What was wrong with Austin’s penguin? Maybe he asked a witch to curse me. I bet he was probably laughing his ass off right now, that evil moron.

    “Don’t sweat it,” Psyche told me. “It’s some sort of bad omen.”

    Bad omen. How many times do I have to hear all this vocabulary from them? I knew they were immortal, but right now, they’re in their mortal forms, giving my mind a lot of whirls. 

    Penguins are bad luck?

    Better return it to Austin then. Why did I even trust Austin in the first place? That guy’s a pain in the ass.

    The trees thickened as we moved further. One way or another, our backyard had turned into a forest with enchanting secrets- how did that even happen? But knowing Eros, he probably had something to do with this mystical side. I think I was the only one with this kind of I-can-see-and-detect-the-emitted-powers-so-I'm-special. I had this sense because I was struck with an arrow. How sweet. Not. Stumps were on both sides as we progressed. Birds flew and chirped. On my right side, beady black eyes were staring right at us.

    Only then did I realize it was an owl. How the hell did this become Sleeping Beauty’s magical fairy-tale-land-cottage-thingy?

    “Someone’s observing us,” Psyche murmured, her warm, brown eyes darkening.

    “It’s the owl, isn’t it?” I tilted my head in one side, and gestured towards the owl that seemed to be following us. “Athena’s owl, I mean.”

    Psyche shushed me. “Don’t mention their names. They hold a strong surge.”

    I stepped back. “Oh, sorry.”

She sighed, cradling her head with her hands. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just…” She let out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve had enough of them. I don’t know why wisdom woman is following us.”

    Athena, huh? I thought to myself. Beautiful, more gods and goddesses to involve me with.

    Right on cue, we heard a loud sound, something halfway between groaning and screaming. Psyche and I turned towards each other’s faces before sprinting towards the voice. The voice most definitely belonged to Eros. No one could sound as annoying as him.

    Light illuminated in the center of some sort of circle. As we arrived, we saw Eros on the ground, writhing in agony. We couldn’t see the fullness of his body, as a woman’s back was turned to us, standing in front of Eros. She had a flowing, strawberry-blonde hair that curled on its sides. Her skin was smooth, blemish free. She stood tall, and magnificently great; every move she made was graceful.

    Time suspended as Psyche and I stared at the woman who was watching Eros suffer on the ground.

    “Hey, what are you doing to him?” I yelled at her.

    Psyche held my hand and glanced at me. “Cee, I don’t think you should shout at her.”

    “Why not? Hey, stop hurting him!” I knew I should take Psyche’s warning, but to see someone suffer?

    “Psyche’s right, you should learn some manners.” The woman’s voice was smooth, velvety, and satin-like.

    I was about to stride towards her when Psyche held me back. “Yeah? Face me then!”

    The woman turned and my jaw dropped.

    She was radiantly beautiful- I was at a loss of words to describe her. She had this voluptuous body, and her eyes glowed a vibrant gold. She wore a long white chiton and a golden girdle around her waist that made her even more irresistible. Her full and pump lips were tinted red. The woman had a marble neck and small waist that was often depicted in curvaceous models. All in all, she topped everyone’s looks.

    Psyche immediately bowed, showing some respect to whoever this person was, though I was sure I knew who this was.

    “You should know when to respect me, my dear.” She laughed melancholy. I couldn’t help but compare her looks with Eros. Both of them screamed enchanting.

    “Aphrodite,” I whispered, still not believing what I was seeing.

    Aphrodite smiled. Even her straight, white teeth were dazzling. “Hello, Cytherea. I dare believe that you and Eros have something to talk about?”

    Oh, not that please. Psyche didn’t need to know about it.       

    “Rise, Psyche,” Aphrodite greeted her warmly as Psyche jumped to her feet. After rising, she rushed to Eros’s side and helped him up.

    “You beat up your son?” I questioned her, raising an eyebrow.

    “Still no manners, I see.”

    Psyche interrupted us. “Please forgive her, she doesn’t know.” 

    Aphrodite sighed. “For you, my child, I will hold my temper.”

    “Thank you.” Psyche smiled at her before kissing Eros, trying to wake him up. I looked away.

    “Ah, young love.” Aphrodite laughed amusingly. “Nothing’s blind to my eyes, my dear. After all, you're named after me, aren't you?”

    “What?” I scowled at her. Oh, great, I was inheriting Eros’s scowl and attitude.

    “Even though you aren’t me, there’s always a reason, my dear.”

    “What, that I’ll inherit your position?” I rolled my eyes at her.

    “Goodness no!” She glanced at Psyche hugging Eros. “It’s for you to find out.”

    There was no use cracking the goddess' riddle and at this point, I was just annoyed.  “At least tell us what happened to him.”

    Aphrodite’s beautiful face turned sour, turning deadly serious. “He was chasing Thanatos for some reason.”

    “But he rarely appears in person,” Psyche suddenly said.

    “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Psyche, I need you to do something for me.” Ta-da, the Goddess-of-laziness, Aphrodite, requested again. As if tormenting Psyche wasn’t enough on the old stories. However, I knew she had to comply. That was her life, not mine.

    “Anything at all.” Psyche glanced worriedly to Eros’s weaken state.

    Eros struggled to get up, but he was already spitting blood. His entire body was wounded and his shirt was tattered into places. He looked to Aphrodite and growled, “she’s not going anywhere.”

    “My son, have you abandoned your duties?” Aphrodite stared directly at him.

    Eros looked extremely hurt by his mother’s words. I knew he was blaming himself; he couldn’t do anything to protect Psyche. I wish I had a part to play too. I wish he could somehow say, ‘Let Cee go,’ or anything at all.

    I was just the mortal he was forced to be with. I hated this. I hated how I was forced to care and feel deeply for him. Now I knew what it felt like to be struck with love. The thing was, I was forced to feel these things. I wasn't supposed to care for him, but I did. I was starting to think he did this on purpose. 

    Psyche dropped to her knees and kissed him everywhere – his nose, eyes, forehead, cheeks, jaw, and then lips. “I’ll be fine, my love. I’ll be back soon enough.”

    Eros clung to her, his face contorted in pain, like he felt powerless. “Don’t! Damn it, don’t!”

    Aphrodite forced them apart and took Psyche. She wrenched Eros and flung him across the field, slamming him to me, which caused me to groan. “Love is eternal, my dear.”

    “What the hell do you want?” Eros said dangerously low. Too bad he couldn’t move; he could barely help himself.

    I took his arm as I bit my lower lip. “Let go, Eros. You’re hurt, please.”

    He pulled away, sending me the deadliest glare I’ve ever seen. “Get away from me. You don’t know anything about us.”

    “Eros!” Aphrodite fumed, holding Psyche’s hand. “Do not treat mortals like that. They bloom of love and peace.”

    “No, they don’t!” Eros groaned when Aphrodite slammed him in a gust of wind. “Give her back. Stop messing with my life.”

    I looked back and forth between them. I didn't know he had a rough life. It was as if he was held as prisoner. If he disobeyed, he'd be punished. Severely. But I thought they were mother-and-son, so how did it turn out like this?

    “It’s about time you fix this mess! Thanatos will kill Psyche if you don’t.” Aphrodite’s icy glare warned him. It was beyond difficult watching these two beautiful creatures fight. I knew how hurt Eros was, but if he could just listen.

    “Eros, please.”

    Eros gripped my arm and brought me close to his face, his spearmint breath washing over me. “Stop acting like you care.”

    “But I do!” I yelled, blood taking its course twice. “Everyone cares! Stop thinking that you’re alone, because you aren’t.”

    “Listen to her, love,” Psyche called to Eros. “I will be back before you know it, I promise.” She smiled fleetingly.

    “You don’t understand the risks –“ Eros started.

    “Take care of him, will you?” Aphrodite glanced at me, her strawberry-golden hair glistening.

    I nodded.

    Aphrodite and Psyche started to disappear. “I love you!” Psyche said one more time before they completely disappeared.

    “I love-” Eros slammed his fist on the ground.

    Eros’s shirt was completely torn away. His chest covered in dirt; his face was in so much pain – emotionally and physically. I’d never seen someone like him before. He was a completely new Eros – the beat up and wounded one.

    In return, I helped him up and embraced him with my small arms. He still was bigger than me, but I wanted to comfort his heart. I knew how much he had to endure. He loved Psyche, I know that. Was it bad to make him feel happy, even if I wasn’t the person he loved?