The High Cupid smirks into his coffee cup and looks up at me.
“I’d never try to break up a true love match,” he says, and I blink at him. A true love match? Is he high? Because Death absolutely fucking dined and dashed on me this morning. “In fact, I think more cupids could follow your lead and welcome other members of the veil to our world.”
“Really?” I ask, my tone filled with surprise. I totally thought I was being fired, not getting kudos for bringing a reaper to the party. A reaper who I’m trying really hard not to think about or else I’ll cry a river.
“Yes, our lives are incredibly long. How boring to not branch out. Though, there’s something we need to discuss.”
I nod my head and my heart stops racing for just a beat. At least I’m not getting the axe.
“You need to return Eros’ quiver,” he states, and I open my mouth to reply, but he cuts me off with a swipe of his hand. Well shit, I guess there’s no lying about that. “I know you took it, and I know my son is a piece of fucking work and I’m to blame. But if you could please return the quiver, all will be set right. My son and I have already had a discussion on how we treat others. He’s been sent to the Hoxorian planet to work through his issues.”
My eyebrows rise and I’m jealous for a minute and then I remember some of the kinky stuff they’re into on that planet. Oviposition is big there, and I mean, I could totally see the allure of it, but it has to get old after a while… right? Maybe not, maybe I should ask for a day pass to just check it out. I feel like it’s something you should see at least once.
Cupio taps his desk, forcing me to pay attention to him.
“Return the quiver and he’ll be on his way.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m hoping we’ll see your reaper for May Day,” he says, and I just nod my head even though my heart aches.
Great, now I have to track down Death to collect Eros’ fucking quiver. Swallowing my pride to get it back will not be easy. What am I supposed to do? Troll the hospital, wait for him to show up and say, hey, you lay the best pipe I’ve ever had and oh yeah, I’m falling in love with you and you feel nothing in return and then sob into his dark robes while he looks at me with disgust?
The thought alone has me shivering and wanting to put my own arrow through my neck so I don’t have to live through the firsthand embarrassment.
“Of course, I’ll get the quiver returned right away.”
“Lovely, looking forward to seeing more of you and your reaper, Love.”
I nod my head and leave his office. Ladybird scowls at me and a dark part of me wants to give her double middle fingers and tell her to fuck herself, but that would be very un-cupid like, and I’m already on thin ice.
I bite the bullet and teleport to the hospital, hoping my ego doesn’t take too much of a beating in the process.
I hate the hospital, hate it even more that I’m about to run into Death and feel a yearning desire while he feels… more than likely nothing.
Maybe I was wrong about the reaper. Maybe he’s not as soft and gooey on the inside as I first thought. Maybe reapers are all a bunch of assholes who fuck you so good they rock around your brain cells too hard and make you forget all your bad bitch morals.
I thought my breakup with Eros was the start of a new era. You know? I thought I was swiftly in my Reputation Era moving to my Lovers Era. The queen of Earth would be so disappointed to see me looking absolutely pathetic right now. I tuck my pink wings tightly behind me as I roam the halls and look for the guy I was falling for.
I hate being a stupid cupid.
Played for a fool twice in such a short span of time is embarrassing. They should clip my wings and crack my arrows in half, ’cause clearly I don’t know shit about love.
There’s a piece of black fabric swinging into a room and I sigh heavily as I follow it inside.
It’s Death, and he’s gentle with the soul. I can hear him assuring the old woman about where she’s going, and she looks at peace.
Why does he have to be so good at his job and so kind to the humans he transports to their final resting place? And what is it about me that’s so disposable? That one night was all he needed? That no one wants to stay with me long enough to truly get to know me sinks into my bones and I’m afraid I might break.
My stomach sinks and my eyes well up with tears.
Fuck.
I’ll ask Amore to come by and get the arrow back. I can’t face this right now. My pathetic little heart feels crushed. I didn’t feel a fraction of loss when Eros broke up with me, but right now, I feel like someone kicked me right in the chest.
I’m about to teleport out when Death’s large hand wraps around my upper arm. “Love, there you are. I thought cupids always had the fifteenth off,” he says.
“Hi,” I reply meekly, and he tilts his head at me.
