Chapter 59

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We sit in tense silence for a few minutes before Cal exhales. He grabs his bow from the satchel beside me and opens the car door.

"I'm going to try and get a bit closer - see if I can see what's going on." he says.

He looks at me and then Cupid.

"Behave yourselves." he adds sharply before stepping out of the car.

Cupid turns in his seat and pulls a face as his brother makes his way stealthily down the side walk. We fall back into silence and Cupid rests his head against the back of his seat.

"Listen Lila" he says heavily after a few moments "I've been thinking..."

In the mirror his jawline looks tense.

"What is it?" I ask.

He turns to face me again - his ocean eyes are blazing.

"Tonight. As soon as we've got the Finis...." he pauses and runs a hand through his ruffled hair.

He sighs.

"As soon as we've got the Finis...." he repeats "I'm going to leave town. Get out of Forever Falls for good. We're more powerful with the Finis - and safer, but realistically it's just bought us some time. Yes, they won't come after us instantly with no means to kill my brother or I - but with me here I can't promise the Arrows won't still go after you to ensure the match isn't made. And if the match is  made....well you know what happens then.... I don't want to put you in any more danger."

Even though I kind of knew this was going to happen, I feel as though I've been slapped in the face.

I remember what he said the first time I spent the night at his place. About how everyone has one match, and once they're gone they are alone.

What if Cupid is my only chance for love?

I want to tell him not to go. To stay here with me.

But I know that is stupid. And selfish.

I shrug.

"OK." I say blankly.

He looks at me - pain crossing his features.

"Lila" he says "I have to..."

He reaches out for my hand but I pull away.

"I know" I say - averting my eyes from his face and turning towards the window.

He sighs and after a few minutes I shake my head.

Regardless of the fact he now seems to have acquired a conscience - he used me to try and resurrect an ancient goddess, and now he's leaving.

"You should never have come here" I blurt angrily into the silence.

His eyes widen and he looks momentarily hurt. Then a flash of annoyance crosses his face.

"Well I'll be leaving you in good company at least" he retorts coldly "I would have thought you would appreciate some alone time with my brother"

I raise my eyebrows in shock and am about to respond when my phone vibrates.

It's Charlie.

She's inside.

Cupid immediately climbs out of the car and slams the door behind him.

I frown - taken aback by his mood swing. I realise my hand is shaking.

I take a deep breath.

I won't let him make me feel bad.

I get out of the car after him.

We stare at each other for a minute. The air feels charged and Cupid takes a step towards me. I can feel his body heat through the cotton t-shirt he is wearing. He looks like he is going to say something for a moment before he shakes his head.

He reaches past me into the back of the car, and snatches his bow and a quiver full of arrows.

Then he passes another quiver full of arrows to me without saying a word. I sling it over my shoulder noting the distinctive lack of the black arrows.  It's not the Arrows we're dealing with this time around, and Cal doesn't want the members of the Matchmaking Service to be harmed too badly.

They were his colleagues and friends after all.

"Let's go then" says Cupid "We don't have much time"

In a heavy silence we walk down the street - me half running to keep up with his long strides. We spot Cal just ahead - feet away from the Matchmaking Service entrance. The bright light from inside spills onto the pavement and further illuminates his blonde hair. On seeing us approach he nods in our direction, then slips stealthily through the door.

Cupid and I pick up our pace and jog after him to the glass front of the building.

It's empty inside. I scan the vast room for what we came here for.

Immediately my eyes home on in it; the long golden arrow which hangs above the reception desk.

The Finis.

Cal is already inside - passing the neon armchairs and sprinting towards it. Cupid opens the door and we both hurry inside.

"How long have we got?" I whisper urgently - forgetting the weird moment between Cupid and I just minutes before.

Cal pulls himself up on top of the desk, stands, and reaches for the arrow.

"Not long" says Cupid - anxiously watching his brother.

Then Cal has it in his hand. He pulls, and it detaches easily. He looks at us - a triumphant expression on his face.

And then the alarm starts.

Cupid's eyes widen.

"She rigged it up to the security system?!" Cal mutters - his face panic stricken as he leaps down in front of us - slipping the Finis into the quiver over his shoulder.

"GO!" he shouts "RUN"

Cupid pushes me ahead of him and I sprint after Cal towards the exit of the building.

Cal throws himself outside and I'm just behind him when there's an inhuman shriek of pain behind us.

I spin around as Cupid falls to his knees in the centre of the reception.

There are four Ardor arrows embedded into his back. Behind him agents are racing towards him. Even as he grunts in pain on the floor - another two arrows fly into his body.

He looks up at us.

"Go..." he splutters - his face red, his eyes unfocussed "Get...out...of...here..."

My hear plummets. I hear a pounding in my ears. The exit is just behind me.

I share a look with Cal who shakes his head subtly – as if to tell me not to do what I'm about to do. As if to tell me to leave him.

But I can't leave him.

I race back inside towards Cupid - throwing his arm over my shoulder - as Cal sends a stream of arrows over our heads.

He's too heavy. I can't lift him.

The pain seems to have gotten too much for him and he doesn't respond to me pulling at him - trying to get him to his feet. I look over his shoulder.

Cal's arrows are buying us time - but there are still agents advancing towards us in their white suits, expressions of anger on their faces. At the back of the room my eyes catch onto Charlie - watching the scene unfold in horror. Our eyes meet but she does nothing.

Help me I mouth.

Nothing.

Another arrow slams into Cupid's shoulder.

His eyes water but he makes no sound. I grab his face - pulling his gaze onto me.

"Cupid" I cry urgently "Come on. Get up."

The nearest agent reaches for his shoulder. It's a tall, strong looking male with striking blue eyes.

This is it. We're done for.

Then suddenly the agent advancing on us cries out in pain as an arrow is thrust into his neck. I look up.

Charlie stands over him - her brown eyes shining fiercely.

She throws Cupid's other arm around her shoulder. With a burst of strength - and Cal covering us with his rain of arrows - we manage to move him out onto the street.

"Get him to the car" says Cal "I'll try hold them off."

Cupid starts to gain some consciousness and the three of us move as quickly as we can towards the Aston Martin parked down the road - still supporting Cupid by his shoulders. My heart leaps as an Ardor skims past my arm - snagging some of the material of my jacket.

Cal follows close behind - sending arrows towards our pursuers.

"Get him in the back." calls Cal "I'll drive."

We pile Cupid into the back seat beside me and Charlie runs around into the passenger seat. Then Cal turns and sprints to us - arrows hurtling towards him.

He makes it to the car and throws himself inside - locking the doors. Outside two of the agents bang on the outside of the vehicle.

"You are under arrest." shouts one authoritatively "Get out of the car."

Cal ignores them and starts the engine - then puts his foot down on the accelerator.

"THE MATCH MUSTN'T BE MADE." the agent cries - forced to jump out of the way as we power off down the road.

Cupid's head lolls onto my shoulder. He is whimpering quietly - a thin sheen of perspiration across his forehead.

Charlie is muttering to herself in in the front seat - her head in her hands.

"Oh god...oh god..." I hear her quietly repeating to herself.

I reach out and grab her shoulder in what I hope is a reassuring manner as we race down the road. Then I look out of the rear window. The dark road is clear for a couple of minutes - but then I see two cars- a Porsche and a Jaguar - hurtling towards us.

"Cal..." I say "They're coming"

He accelerates - the car skidding around a sharp corner, throwing Cupid on top of me. My heart is racing.

"Where are we going?" I ask breathlessly.

I push Cupid back into an upright position. He groans - his eyes unseeing.

"Don't know." yells Cal.

I glance over my shoulder again - they are just metres behind us and another car has joined the chase. The night is filled with sounds of screeching brakes and beeping horns.

They're closing in on us.

We're going to get caught.

Then suddenly they drop back. I frown.

Why would they just stop?

"Cal..." I say "What's going on..?"

I see his face confused in the mirror. His eyes show he shares my concern.

Then his phone buzzes.

Keeping his eyes on the road he pulls it out of his pocket and throws it onto my lap.

"Read it" he instructs.

It's a message. My eyes widen.

Contacted the Matchmaking Service. They don't know about the Finis.  I've bought you some time. But there's a condition – they want something in return for their leniency. I said I'd make the arrangements. Come back to the house,  I'll explain everything. Crystal.

I read the message aloud.

"Attagirl Crystal"  mumbles Cupid - his head rolling back to rest on the back of the seat.

A wave of relief crosses Cal's face. He nods – turning the car around and heading back towards Forever Falls.

I look at the screen and frown. Then key in a reply.

What do they want in return?

Seconds later the phone buzzes with Crystal's response.

Cupid.


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