NOXIOUS.
⇱ A R R O W ⇲
━ CHAPTER 1. ━
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CUPID PEERED OUT THROUGH the gaps in her neighbours white-picket fence.
The sun was bright and hot on the nape of her neck, shaded little by the short hair that tickled her shoulders. Directly in her line of vision, her neighbour's flowers fluttered in a rare summer breeze. There seemed to be an endless abundance, beautiful and glowing in their full bloom. Cupid figured that taking only a handful for her Aunt Beth wouldn't hurt.
Surely, if she wasn't caught, there wouldn't be any trouble.
Cupid glanced behind her, peering up at the kitchen window. Her Aunt Beth was busy preparing pies, straw-blonde hair tied back into a haphazard bun. She was turned from the yard, too trusting of Cupid to check up on her more than once or twice. Aunt Beth would hardly notice if she was gone for no more than a few minutes.
Cupid gave a cursory glance around. She didn't know where her older brother was, but Castor was always too busy to pay her much attention anyway. Besides, he was rarely ever home to begin with. That being, it was precisely why no one took notice as Cupid stuck her foot on the fence's stringer, launching herself over the short wooden posts and landing nimbly onto the soft grass.
Her neighbour's yard was always well-kept; the direct result of Mr. Parker's obsessive care and maintenance. He was an older man, always grumbling beneath his breath, and he intimidated Cupid to no end. Though, she noticed that he seemed to soften around the edges in his garden.
However, his car had been gone from the driveway for some time now, and so Cupid figured there was no immediate threat. She hurried quickly to the flower bed, grinning as she ran a finger along the soft petals of a white rose. Cupid could have stared at them all day, but she knew to make quick of her work. She reached down with both hands, blissfully unaware of the sharp thorns that lay hidden beneath the petals.
Closing her fingers around the stems, the young girl immediately released a sharp cry of pain. The pain was so abrupt that Cupid panicked, pulling her hands back too quickly— too harshly. The thorns tore deeper and tears welled as the girl stared, horrified at her palms. Ruby red blood rose to the surface of her wounds, fast and quick. Droplets slid and fell, landing on the roses and staining Cupid's yellow dress.
A door slammed open and terror seized every bone in the young girl.s body. Whirling around, Cupid watched with wide eyes as a man, too young to be Mr. Parker, stormed out of the house. His eyes immediately fell on her, "Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" The shout seemed to set the world back into motion.
Adrenaline pumped energy into her body, drawing Cupid's attention from the wounds on her hands. Cupid bolted for the backyard fence gate. She couldn't run straight home, it was a dead-end course that would only lead to her being caught. She had to be smart.
However, the man was taller and a lot faster than she was. He cut her off and Cupid made for the apple tree at the edge of the fence, giving it a wide berth so that her pursuer would have more ground to cover. But, he cut her off again, backing Cupid into a corner of the yard.
Back-stepping, Cupid tripped on a stray tree root. The tears came faster now, falling freely as the man bore down upon her. The adrenaline was fading and her hands throbbed with pain. "Leave me alone!" Cupid cried, hiding her bloody hands behind her back.
The man paused and Cupid could see that he was flustered, " I'm not going to hurt you." He ventured closer and Cupid felt her body tense up. She'd never been in serious trouble before, simply because she had never done anything to deserve it. Now, it terrified her to imagine what this foolish act might result in.
Cupid had never seen Castor angry, and she wanted to keep it that way. The mere idea of her brother's rage was so terrible that Cupid could hardly form a coherent thought as the man reached out for her. Terror took hold. All she knew was that she was scared, her palms burned, and she wanted to be left alone. She hadn't taken anything, she was innocent.
Cupid closed her eyes and curled into herself as she screamed, "Go away!"
There was silence, then a distinct thump.
It took Cupid a while to register what it meant when no hand seized hold of her arm. Shaking from exhaustion and the sight of her own blood, the McLean girl lifted her head to find the man in collapsed heap on the ground. He was on his back, eyes closed. Cupid couldn't tell if he was breathing, and the guilt was jarring; she had done this, this was her fault.
Cupid's heart stuttered in her chest. It was a strange realization, to know that she had willed something like this into reality, and it horrified her. She only wanted him to stop─ but, that didn't mean stop living. If she could do this, what more was she capable of harming? A choked sob escaped her and, when something moved in the corner of her vision, Cupid bolted upright.
However, the McLean girl froze, wide-eyed when she saw that it was only Castor. He was a vision of silent rage. He stood still as stone, hidden in the shade cast by their neighbour's house. His arms were crossed along his chest, eyes seeming to calculate the situation with a coldness that gave her a chill. Cupid couldn't bring herself to move, not even when he stepped out into the sunlight, crossing the yard in quick, graceful strides.
When he reached them, Castor leaned down to kneel beside the man. He pressed a finger to his neck, muttering something beneath his breath before he stood. Cupid watched on, breathless with relief when the man began to rouse. Then, before he could fully wake, Castor grabbed her arm and the world seemed to suddenly shift─ but no... it didn't just shift.
That day, the whole world changed.
Cupid felt her nausea increase tenfold as the world darkened around her. She was pulled and pushed from each side, head spinning and throat constricting. Hysteria flooded her thoughts. Then, light came back into the earth, and she was standing in her Aunt's kitchen. Cupid immediately collapsed on her knees, heaving and sobbing. Something shattered to the ground.
Castor didn't seem to notice, or he didn't care. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?!" His shouts sounded distant somehow. "Cupid?" Cupid could hardly hear him, his concern lost on her. She was suddenly tired. Her limbs shook from the effort of holding her body up on the ground. Her hands hurt, her brain ached, and she was overwhelmed with nausea.
"Cupid!" Her Aunt's voice faded out as the last of Cupid's strength faded and she collapsed.
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When Cupid woke next, it was to the sound of shouting, "You don't have anyone to blame but yourself! You should never have never kept this from her!" Cupid flinched, curling her fingers on instinct. Her palms smarted at the action and she winced, quickly reminded of the foolish antics that had led to her current predicament.
Slowly, the McLean girl sat up, taking care not to aggravate her wounds. She noticed that her hands had been wrapped carefully in gauze, already stained red at the palms. Cupid swallowed down her nausea. "What more could you expect me to do?!" She grimaced at her brother's shout.
Her Aunt's anger was surprising; she never seemed to lose her temper. But, it was her brother's rage that was most unsettling. Castor had never been warm to begin with, but the thought of what his anger might be like was downright chilling.
Cupid hated thinking that she was the one to cause it.
She crept out of bed, drawn to the muffled voices in the next room over. Their house was small and the walls were thin. As much as it filled her with shame, Cupid was too curious to pass up the chance to eavesdrop on the conversation. She may not have been a good thief, but if there was on thing she was good at, it was knowing too much.
Besides, Cupid couldn't help but wonder; if their anger wasn't directed at her, then what were they so upset about? Cupid came to stand outside the door, tuning into the sound of her brother's voice, "─ not that simple. That world is dangerous."
Her Aunt's voice was exasperated. "They're gone, Castor. Nothing is going to change that, just like nothing will change what she is. If she doesn't learn to control this, it will only get worse. She has her mother's blood─"
"Don't you dare say that." Castor's voice was searing and Cupid was stung. She didn't understand what he meant. She didn't understand what any of this conversation meant. What did they mean about learning control? Did Castor not like being her brother?
Now that she thought about it, Cupid couldn't help but wonder at his less-than-kind demeanour. His reluctance to look or speak more than a few words to her. His voice held so much heat, that it was hard to believe otherwise. Castor hated her.
Something clutched at her heart then, and it wouldn't let go. Cupid was suddenly bitter and angry and devastated. She had tried so hard to get him to open up to her. But, he was always leaving, always skirting around the edges of her reach. His disdain was so obvious now that Cupid felt like a fool─ but, what was even worse was that there was still a part of her that wished it was a lie.
She imagined what it would be like to see his eyes warm up with words of kind reassurance on his tongue, like, "I could never hate you." She imagined what it was like to have a brother who cared. But, the image was quickly shattered with Castor's next words, "She'll never be anything like our mother, because she'll never know about magic." Cupid's breath faltered.
Magic.
She should have been suspicious. A part of her brain laughed at her naivety, calling it a prank or trick of some sort, and usually Cupid would have listened to that sense of rationality. She hated being made a fool, but there was another part of her that knew better. Castor couldn't possibly know she was listening and, while he was cold, he was hardly cruel. Not like this.
Besides, nothing else could explain what had happened. Normal people couldn't make a grown man collapse without so much as lifting a finger. Normal people couldn't transport their very being from one spot to the next in a matter of seconds─ because Cupid wasn't normal. Deep down, at Cupid's core there was a part of her that was still full of childish wonder, and that part of her was awed by the idea of it being true.
She could wield magic.
That kind of power came with so many possibilities, but it wasn't a moment later that Cupid was filled with sudden dread. She was given a gift, and what had she done with it? Cupid thought back to the young man and the garden. She saw his collapsed form in front of her again; his chest struggling to rise, and she was terrified of this ability inside of her. What good had come of it?
For a moment, she understood what Castor meant.
Then, she was filled with a rage so sudden, it made her fingers curl. Cupid was young, but she wasn't completely oblivious. Whatever part of her that made her capable of such a gift, Cupid had inherited it from her mother. It was the only thing she would ever receive from her─ and Castor was trying to take it away.
Her Aunt had said that Cupid could learn to control it; that she could wield her power with careful practice instead of letting it run untamed.
Yes, she could be dangerous, but she could be also be honest and good. Whatever the result, it didn't matter to Cupid, because in that moment Castor wouldn't get to make that choice for her. It was Cupid's decision and hers alone. The young girl lifted her head as Castor's voice broke through the silence, "When that letter comes, you'll burn it. For her sake."
Cupid felt like she was filled with seething anger. In the next instant, with just the slightest thought, the parlour doors rattled before bursting open. Her Aunt Beth jumped back, but Castor only turned in mild surprise. He pursed his lips at the sight of Cupid's small form, her shaking fists dripping fresh blood. His cool eyes seemed annoyed and condescending.
"You don't tell me what to do," she seethed and, with that, the glass ornaments on her Aunt's mantle-piece exploded.
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After that day, Castor had cut off all contact between her Aunt Beth and Cupid for the next two years. He'd stormed out the door and hadn't once looked back. Cupid thought it was all a bit dramatic, considering that he managed to escape with no more than a small cut on his cheek. Still, the younger McLean wished she could stop feeling so guilty. She wished that she didn't feel so hurt by his sudden and complete disappearance.
But, she was, and that stung at her pride even more.
Cupid stared at the girl in the mirror. She was two years older now, but little had changed aside from her hair and her height. Strands of raven-coloured hair framed her face, falling just past her shoulders. Cupid turned away from her reflection, slipping on a coat as her Aunt gave a shout from downstairs. "Cupid McLean, if you're not down here in two seconds, I'll just have to go by myself!"
The girl grinned, bounding out of her bedroom and down the staircase quickly. She was reminded of why she should be more excited. Today, she would finally venture into the world of magic. In her brother's place, her Aunt had filled in all of the blanks; telling her stories of the wizarding world.
Though her Aunt Beth may have been a Muggle, her Uncle had been quite the wizard before his passing in the First Wizarding War.
However, his skill had taken years of study and practice, all done under the watchful supervision of the professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, it was Cupid's turn to experience it. She was going to carve her own name in the magical world, and build it out of hard work and dedication.
Cupid had received her acceptance letter the week before, alongside the list of items she would need for her classes. The McLean girl was brimming with excitement and, judging by her Aunt Beth's features, she wasn't the only one. The smaller girl stuck her hands inside her coat pockets, fingers brushing the scars on her palms.
Hiding the evidence of that day was a habit she couldn't seem to shake.
"Are you ready?" Looking up, Cupid met Aunt Beth's excited eyes with a smile. If she didn't know any better, Cupid would have figured this was a new experience for both of them. But, her Aunt's eyes were aged and they knew far more than Cupid had yet to understand.
Cupid nodded, but she was suddenly unsure of the confidence she had in her Aunt Beth's ability. Her Aunt's excitement slipped at Cupid's weak response. But, if she picked up on the girl's doubt, she didn't show it. Her Aunt opened the door and Cupid, peering out after her, immediately felt herself tense up.
She saw him before her Aunt did. It was only upon realizing that Cupid wasn't following that Aunt Beth caught the young girl's gaze, following it to where Castor stood in the gravel driveway. Her back went rigid. It was clear that neither of them had been expecting this surprise.
Castor didn't seem to mind their obvious discomfort as he strolled over, or he didn't care enough to notice. Cupid felt her gut twist─ not with disgust, but something more along the lines of aversion. She figured it was a result of his clear-cut and preemptive attitude. Somehow, he always managed to make her feel low in his presence and Cupid hated it. If he expected a warm welcome, he wasn't going to find it here.
It was strange how her own blood could feel like a complete stranger.
Castor paused at the end of the porch steps and let the silence linger for a moment. His cool eyes didn't stray her way. Not even once. Cupid wanted to hurl a fiery remark at him, but she bit her tongue. She wouldn't waste the effort.
"I assume she got the letter," he said, and his voice was hollow. He still wasn't looking at her.
Cupid watched him with intent, "What does it matter to you?"
"Cupid." Her Aunt's tone warned Cupid to maintain civility, but the younger McLean didn't know if she had that kind of energy. Seeing Castor again with no warning left a sickly feeling in her stomach. She felt venomous and some part of her wanted to see a crack in his porcelain front.
Castor's eyes cut to her so suddenly that she felt her fists curl in reflex. "It doesn't," he began, then paused to consider his next words. "If you want to go, fine. But, from here on out, I won't be blamed for what happens to you." Cupid's curiosity was piqued and she scolded herself for it. She wanted to ask what he meant, but his expectant gaze made her hold her tongue.
Castor rose a brow, more entertained than impressed by her resolve. "Besides, someone has to take you to pick up your school utensils." Cupid wanted to roll her eyes. He was so proper. She wondered if this was what she would sound like had she been raised by their parents.
She hoped not.
"Someone already is," Cupid countered, stepping out of the house and closing the door behind her. She looked to her Aunt Beth, "I'm ready to go." At this point, Cupid was done with civility. She wanted to leave this situation behind as quickly as possible.
Castor released what sounded like a poorly-muffled laugh and Cupid turned to give him a vicious glare. Ignoring her, Castor pinned Aunt Beth with an amused look, "You're taking her? And how exactly do you plan on getting into Diagon Alley as a Muggle?" Aunt Beth said nothing.
"It's not as simple as you think, you can't just ask around for directions and expect to find your way by chance." Cupid couldn't believe what she was seeing; he was actually scolding her─ and she was letting him. Aunt Beth had always seemed too timid for her own good, but this was just infuriating.
Cupid whirled on Castor, "And who else did we have to turn to? Surely not you." Her words held enough heat to brand. But, of course, everything seemed to deflect off Castor. Luckily, Cupid had a whole arsenal of insults to fire his way, but she paused just as Aunt Beth laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I think you should go with him," her Aunt told her softly. Cupid reeled back at her words. She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Are you joking?" She demanded, feeling petulant, but unable to bring herself to care.
Aunt Beth gave her a meek smile. "He's right, Cupid. How can I help you when I don't even know where to start?" She didn't look hurt by Castor's point, but his tone still bothered Cupid and she wasn't buying into the idea that her Aunt was completely unaffected.
Cupid bristled, but she swallowed her anger, keeping it at bay with the promise that she would pay Castor back. The McLean girl hated being humiliated, but she hated seeing others humiliated even more. Her brother looked little bothered, but his eyes sparked a mild interest as her gaze turned to him.
And suddenly, Cupid understood his cold front; it was so much easier to hide intent behind it.
"Fine," she seethed, storming past the pair and barreling down the porch steps with no intention of stopping. Cupid was going to level the playing field. She didn't intend to do anything too damaging, but just enough to show him not to make an enemy of his blood.
If he thought he could waltz back into their lives without consequence and insult them so blatantly, then he had another thing coming. Cupid McLean was going to be the bane of her own brother's existence. After all, he had handed Cupid's role to her all on his own; a pest, an annoyance, a blight in his time and efforts. It was just like he said, if he was absolved from guilt in her own choices, then she was going to wipe her hands off guilt as well.
It was her duty to play the part and Cupid McLean was going to be the star.
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AN: Yeah, we're starting this off from the very beginning of Cupid's story, because I hated how everything about her was thrown at you all at once in the old chapters of Arrow. I want this to progress smoothly and give you insight into who Cupid is and what her character is like/how she grows. I also wanted to add depth to the plot by giving you more characters and new material for this story. Of course, there are going to be time skips during these new chapters, because I am not writing this from the very first HP movie. I don't have the time, the energy, or the enthusiasm for that. Anyways, let me know what you think of Cupid and how she differs from her old portrayal! (Though, that chapter is still going to appear later on in the chapters following this.) Thanks for reading, bubs! ♡