Red String (Under Revision)

Chapter 4

"I did nothing, Percy."

"I don't believe you. Knowing Aphrodite, she won't cut your wings unless you did something wrong."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever, Percy. Just mind your own business, courting Athena's daughter." I push him. He just laughs and bid his goodbye.

He turns his head back. "By the way, Cupid. Happy eighteenth birthday! I wonder what will be your powers be like," he waves his right arm before he rushes towards our other cousins.
Great. I forgot. Today is my birthday. Thanks to my ever loving mother. Note the sarcasm.

***

"We're here," mother says.

We stop in front of a five meter golden door. Regal designs are engraved on its surface. The handle is also made from gold. Under it is a lion's head form with a golden ring on its mouth; it is used for knocking. And the two foundations beside the door are sculpted from a hard and thick high class rock.

She holds the knob and pushes the door, effortlessly. We enter.

The archangels bow their heads before leaving the room.

The titans sit on their elevated golden chairs. Each one of them owns a particular seat. Next to them are the gods and goddesses in higher positions, including my parents. They also sit on an elevated golden chairs but it is lower than the titans' seats. It is the room of the council.

The council is the one responsible and the one who controls the law of the universe.

"It's your day of birth, Cupid. Do you discover your purpose as a god and your unique powers?" Zeus asks, holding his beard.

"No, Zeus," I reply in monotonous voice. "If I do, I will use it to break more human hearts and put them in despair," I murmur.

"I’ll say something, Son?" Father, Ares, raises his right eyebrow, laying his head on the headboard of his seat. He's beside Hades, on his left, and Athena on his right.

"Nothing, Father."

"We'll be having a feast this night as a celebration of your birthday," Father speaks.

"Yeah," I utter, not even interested on what he just said. "Is that all you want to say? Can I go to my room now?"

"That's all. You can go," Poseidon voices out.

I bow before I open the golden door and make my exit.

***

"What's with that attitude, Cupid? You're disrespecting your own father and the council," mother sermons the moment I enter my room.

I slump on my bed, lazily. "Yeah. Like I care." I close my eyes, putting both of my hands on the back of my head.

I don't care if either they prepare a feast or not for me. It cannot replace the loneliness inside of me.

"Forget about that human, Cupid. She's the main reason why you are acting like that," she sits on the edge of my bed.

"No, Mother. She's not the main reason. You,” I point my index finger to her, “You're the reason why I become like this. If you did not take her life, I will be glad that you and the council prepare a celebration for me. If you just let Psyche live, I might not be acting like this. It is all because of you - you and your selfish reasons."

She slaps me. "You're being such an incivility. You're not respecting me as your own mother."

I open my eyes. I stand and I walk to the balcony of my room. "You don't deserve to be respected."

I look down to see the wholeness of the Earth, pressing my hands against the railings. I blink my eyes for several times. Am I just thinking too much? I can see a lot of red lines all over the Earth. It makes the Earth like a ball of red colored thread.

Mother follows me; she stands beside me. "You know I did that on purpose - for your own good." She looks at my face. "Cupid, are you okay?" Using her right hand, she touches the sides of my neck then to my forehead. "You look troubled."

I snap her hand. "Don't mind me. I'm okay. I can take care of myself." I really don't get why my mother acts like she's concerned about me but it contradicts her actions. How ironic.

I look back. The red lines are still there. I scratch my nape, eyes getting smaller. "Mother, can you see the red lines scattered around the Earth?" I question, out of nowhere.

She looks at the Earth under us. "What red lines are you talking about, Cupid? There's only a vast blue bodies of water and green lands on Earth. Are you sure that you're okay?"

"Yeah. Just forget it. And can you please leave me alone." I walk pass her. I grab my harp that was placed on the corner beside the floor-to-ceiling window. I sit on my bed, cross legs. My father gave this to me on my tenth birthday as his gift. He knows how I really want to have a harp and play with it. Since then, I practice on how to play it in harmony, making songs for eargasm.

"Just a reminder, Cupid. We have a feast tonight and you must attend. And lastly, be nice tonight," she emphasizes, opening the door and leaves me.

I strum some strings, making a melancholic melody. I close my eyes.

***

I sigh for one last time; I’m trying to calm my mind. Everyone is asking about on what happened to my wings as I make my way to the hall. And my cousins are making assumptions on why I lose my wings and making it a laughing stuff. I let them think on whatever they want to think about it.

I walk pass them, ignoring them. But they follow me where ever I go. I hate it.

"Cupid, I heard what happened to Psyche," Hercules utters. I face him; my brows furrow. "Chill. I just want to say that I hope you're okay. I know you really love her," tapping my shoulders, he adds. "See you around." He waves his hand and dashes to his father, Zeus.

I shrug all the thoughts in my mind. I continue my walk. Some of my cousins separate from the group to approach their parents.
I look around. Nothing's change inside the hall; tall and thick curtains are still hanging on the floor-to-ceiling windows but it was folded and tied up beside the glass window; huge foundations with ancient designs are aligned into two lines in the center, dividing the hall into three; tables and flowers are scattered around the place; a red carpet is rolled out from the main door that passes through the center and it ends at the seats of Zeus and Hera in front - Zeus owns this palace. There are angels playing their harps, violins and flutes north-east corner.

I scan the entire hall. And again, I can see the red strings. I squeeze my eyes, convincing myself that I am just having a hallucination. I blink a couple of times. The red strings are still there connecting from one to another especially on our parents. They have it. It is unbreakable. It strips off no one. Angels, demigods, gods and goddesses only pass through it like it was just an illusion.

"Cupid, what are you looking?" I gaze to Percy who’s already standing beside me.

"Percy, do you see any red string or a red thread?"

He raises his shoulder. "There's nothing, Cupid."

"Are you serious? You really can't see it?"

"Yes. I think you're just over thinking and hungry," he laughs, resting his right arm on my shoulders. He guides me to our table.
I wander my gaze. I don't know why but my head turns itself into no specific direction. I stare on the window on the left side. There's a girl in white, standing on the balcony, staring at the moon; her hands connecting at her back, intertwined; her hair dances in the air.

"Can I have your attention, everyone," Hera speaks out, tapping a fork on her champagne glass. All eyes are being set at her.

I fix my eyes on the window. But I see no one. I know that's her. The way she stand, her physique and her golden hair - it's Psyche. But it is impossible. She's dead. I saw it with my pair of eyes as she lays in my arms, lifeless. I know she’s already living in the spirit world.