Psyche's Heart : CUPID'S MATCH BOOK 3

Chapter 50

"It's bad, Cupid ," says Crystal. "Valentine just got in touch. He thinks we're holding Lila against her will. He wants us to let Lila – and the box - go."

Something stirs inside me. Even after everything, I struggle to determine whether he actually wants me free – and this is an attempt to help me, or whether it's only the box he's after.

"Course he does," says Cupid. "I fail to see how that's a problem, though."

"Because if Lila doesn't meet him tonight, he's planning on speeding up this whole mythological war," says Cal.

"According to Charlie, there's a dance at the high school this evening," says Crystal. "The place will be full of cupids. The Arrows orchestrated it. They want to use it as a chance to get all the students together and make matches to give Venus more power."

"Okay. . . " says Cupid. "And?"

"Valentine and some of his new dead friends will be attending," says Mino – meeting my eyes.

"He'll lead the attack if I don't meet him," I say quietly.

Crystal inclines her head – her lips tense. "And if he attacks at the dance, it'll alert Venus to the presence of the army of the dead."

"Which will cause her to make a counter move with her cupid army," says Mino. "War will break. Mars will return. And then. . . "

He tails off, a half-smile on his lips. Cupid's face becomes serious as he meets Cal's steely gaze.

"Wow, you really weren't being over-dramatic, brother," he says. "It really will mean the end of the world."

***

A few hours later I head downstairs. I'm showered and now wear a baggy football jersey and oversized sweats. Cupid and Cal are training downstairs – I think they're blowing off steam more than anything. Both of them are tenser than I've seen them; and both of them seem wary around me.

There are voices coming from the kitchen as I approach.

I peer around the door. Crystal is looking up into Mino's face – their bodies close.

"We're not teenagers, Mino. I hardly think now is the time for some juvenile, trivial, date to the dance. . . " says Crystal. Her tone is reproachful but there's a glimmer of amusement behind her blue eyes.

Mino chuckles as he reaches out and tucks a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear. "I disagree, my love. Should the world indeed be coming to an end, I can think of no better way to spend it than with you in my arms."

I take a step back – careful not to be seen, not wanting to interrupt.

Crystal rolls her eyes – the corner of her lip tugging up. "Fine. I'll go to the dance with you. But only because we need to fit in as students." She takes a step back and heads towards the door leading out of Cupid's house. She turns to him as she opens it and points her finger. "No romance. There's too much going on right now. Okay?"

He inclines his head. "As you wish, my love."

He watches her as she heads out – the open door letting in a gust of wind that hits me all the way in the corridor. Then he exhales, an uncharacteristically sorrowful gleam in his eyes; it makes him look many years older than his youthful body might suggest. When I walk in, though, he turns suddenly. His face instantly transforms, a smile spreading across it.

"Feeling better?" he says as I walk to the breakfast bar and perch on a stool. He leans back against the counter by Cupid's fancy high-tech coffee machine.

"Yeah," I say with a sigh. "Feeling more myself again."

"A good shower can do that," he agrees. "Although I'm more of a bath person myself. Can I get you a coffee?"

"Please."

He presses a few wrong buttons on the coffee machine – clucking his tongue – before finally it whirs into life. "I don't know when it became so complex to make a cup of coffee," he says – bringing it to me.

I glance over at the gleaming silver contraption. "It does look more like the control board of a space-ship," I say – taking a sip.

Mino chuckles – leaning forwards, resting his forearms on the granite surface of the breakfast bar.

"Where did Crystal go?" I ask.

His eyes meet mine – open – his soul staring out from behind. "You overheard our conversation?" he says. I nod and he shrugs. "She went to secretly scope out the high-school before the dance – to see if she can fully determine what we're up against."

We fall silent for a few minutes – both of us staring into space. It should feel awkward but oddly it doesn't.

"So, you and Crystal, huh?" I say after a while.

He smiles sadly. "Alas, no. She has eyes for another. But a man can dream."

My forehead crumples. "Another? Who?"

His gaze flits up to the doorway as Cal strides sullenly through and strides to the sink to get himself a glass of water. He watches him, then turns back to me – giving me a sad smile.

"Oh," I say, softly.

"I'm going to go and see if she needs any help," he says. "I'll see you at the dance tonight, my friend."

He pushes off from the counter then heads to the door.

"Oh, hello," he says.

I swivel round on my stool to see who he is talking to. Charlie is in the doorway – black hair windswept, dressed in skinny jeans and a black leather jacket. She's got a satchel over her shoulder. She greets Mino as he strides off into the grey afternoon.

Then Charlie's eyes meet mine. My heartbeat quickens. For a moment it feels awkward – like I'm looking at her through the depths of a bottomless abyss. The last time I spoke to her I hung up the phone. And I'm guessing Crystal has filled her in on the whole Psyche thing. Cal stiffens by the sink – picking up on the weird tension.

"Charlie," I say quietly.

She assesses me from the doorway. I wonder if she's trying to see if I'm really me, or whether I'm some monster brought back from the Underworld. I swallow hard – shifting under her scrutiny. She frowns, disapproval forming across her features.

"You can't go to a dance looking like that," she says, finally, raising the satchel. "Luckily I've come prepared."

A grin spreads across my face as I shake my head. It's the end of the world and she's thinking about what clothes to wear. She grins back as I jump from my stool. She runs into my arms – almost knocking me over. Cal looks on with a exasperated half smile on his face – glass of water in hand.

"I'm glad you're okay," she says – pulling away. She grabs my hand and starts to lead me towards the corridor. "Now come on – the dance is in a few hours. Let's pick out an outfit, and you can tell me what the hell's going on."