Chapter 49

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


Slowly I look up and catch Cupid's eye. He's tense, his shoulders squared below his black tux jacket. My heart is pounding against my chest.

"He's here," I say.

He gives a half nod, his lips thinned into a hard line. His jaw is strong, clenched, and he rubs his hand against it. Cal and Charlie stride toward us.

I show them all the message and Cal's eyes flash a rose silver in the pink gymnasium lights. His attention seems to catch on something across the room and his slender shoulders tense.

"He's not the only one who's here."

I follow his gaze over my shoulder. There's a guy wearing a ragged looking Matchmaking Service white suit stood to attention by the wall – a quiver full of arrows over his shoulder. His vacant eyes are on us.

"We should have realized he wouldn't come alone," says Cupid – his expression darkening.

Cal nods – a frown tugging down on his lips. Adrenaline surges through my veins. What if there are more of them? Is he planning something?

My phone buzzes again in my hand.

I'm waiting, Lila.

"I need to go."

"We'll follow," says Charlie, hand on her bow.

I look at the zombie cupid by the wall.

"I don't know if that's a good idea..."

"We'll follow," Cupid repeats – his eyes dark.

I hold his gaze a moment; passion burns behind it. It draws me in. But I have to leave.

I turn away from them and start to walk to the door. I feel Charlie, Cupid, and Cal behind me. Suddenly the zombie by the door picks up his bow, flicks an arrow into his quiver, and shoots. My heart jolts. It seems to happen in slow motion. I see it coming right at me. A red and gold ardor.

Something hard slams into my shoulder – and I'm pushed to the side out of its path. A stifled scream hits my ears, somewhat subdued by the sound of music. Ahead another of Valentine's zombies steps forward from the shadows – another Matchmaking Agent – her black hair slicked back with grease.

I spin around.

My heart hammers against my ribs.

Charlie is on her knees, her face creased with pain, the red tipped torture arrow arrow plunged into her shoulder.

"CHARLIE!" I scream.

Cal is on his knees beside her. He pulls it out, watching as it crumbles to ash between his fingers – he looks up his silver eyes cool as ice. Cupid grabs an arrow from his quiver, raises his bow, and fires it into the undead being's heart. The haggard looking guy is hurled back back against the wall and slumps to the floor.

He'll be back on his feet in no time.

I make to move toward Charlie – who has tears running down her cheeks as she consumes the pain from the arrow. But my phone buzzes again.

Hurry up, Lila. Snip snip.

My blood runs cold.

Snip snip.

Cal's life thread.

I look at Charlie as she writhes on the floor –eyes unfocused, staring at the ceiling. My heart aches and guilt twists in my stomach. I know it's not my fault, but still, she took that arrow for me. Cal still kneels beside her, but he's looking up at me – his jaw hard, the lighting casting pink shadows on his pale skin.

I take a breath then turn to Cupid whose eyes are fixed on the second zombie cupid. She's stood behind a shield of chatting students.

"Make sure Charlie's OK," I say.

I turn away from the three of them and start to walk toward the exit. Cupid grabs my arm, pulling me back.

"I don't like this. Something isn't right."

As he speaks the zombie he hit starts to rigidly jerk back to his feet.

"I have to go, Cupid."

I jerk my arm from his grasp and hurry toward the doors.

"Lila..." he shouts after me.

Valentine's cupids stand aside to let me through – then raise their bows back toward Cupid and the others. My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I make my way down the now deserted school corridor – almost drowning out the sound my echoing footsteps.

I touch my bow as I walk – but its cool weight offers me little comfort. I'm starting to think this wasn't a good idea. We don't even know if Charlie's plan to give Cupid more power has worked. And they're going to have to get through at least two zombie cupids to even get to me and Valentine.

Maybe we didn't have as much control over this situation as we thought we had.

Maybe this was Valentine's plan all along.

As I think it my pace slows. I'm probably walking directly into his trap.

But I have no choice. I have to do this – for Cal.

I grit my teeth and continue past the rows of lockers – slowing as the double doors to the cafeteria come into view. Two more of Valentine's people stand guard, bows raised – I think I recognize one of the girls from the Matchmaking Service.

My pulse quickens.

And yet, at the same time, a cool sense of calm starts to settle over me.

Because I feel like I know Valentine. I know it's impossible, but I do.

I don't think he will hurt me.

And I trust that Cupid, Charlie, and Cal will be here soon to help me take him down.

The sweet scent of death permeates my nostril as I walk past the two women on the door. They don't react to my presence. They're not here to stop me from getting in – they're here to stop the others.

Valentine wants to speak with me.

I put my hand on the door, and slowly I push it open and step inside.

***

The door swings closed behind me. The cafeteria is dark, cold – the only light coming from an outdoor lamp that shines through the window that looks onto the courtyard. In the center of the room a shadowy figure sits; hands held behind his closely shaved head head and booted feet resting on the table.

"Hello, Lila," he says.

"Valentine."

He swings his feet down and leans forward out of the shadow. He's wearing a light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to expose his muscular forearms. The dim light glitters in his eyes as they burn into mine. His full lips spread into a grin across his face.

"Nice of you to join me. I was starting to think you weren't going to come. Or that this was all part of some kind of elaborate plan to capture me or something..." his tone is laced with amusement and my insides twist. He gestures in front of him. "Please, take a seat."

Slowly I walk forward, my boots clicking against the linoleum. I stop in front of his table, noticing his elaborate black bow, and a quiver full of arrows resting by the table leg. I don't sit down.

"What have you done with Cal's life thread?" I say.

He chuckles, his low voice echoing around the abandoned cafeteria. The scent of grease and fries still lingers from lunch time.

"You're really quite attached to that boy, aren't you?" He shakes his head. "My dear little brother, I really can't understand why he provokes such affections in people."

He puts his elbows on the table, leans forward, and rests his chin on his crossed hands.

"Answer the question," I say.

He watches me a moment. Then nods.

"It's safe. For now."

"It's on the ship isn't it? With Morta's shears."

The corner of his lip tugs upward. This close to him I notice he has small dimples in his cheeks when he smiles. He leans back and gives a slow clap; the sudden sound against the quiet makes me flinch.

"You figured it out. How I was bringing the dead back. But do you know why?"

"Venus. You're trying to bring Venus back."

"I'm impressed."

"Why? Why do you want to bring her back?"

His grin broadens.

"The real question isn't why. It's still how. How can this be possible?" He raises a thick, black eyebrow. "Please, Lila - take a seat. You're making me uncomfortable..."

"Your comfort is hardly my priority."

"How about your comfort then? I figure we have a bit of time to kill before my brothers get here to ruin our fun."

I stare at him and he holds my gaze. He raises his eyebrows.

Slowly I move to the table. I pull back the chair and sit down in front of him. His broad shoulders seem to relax slightly. He nods.

"Thank you." He leans forward again, bringing his face closer to mine. I can feel his body heat. He smells like the sea, I realize – like salt and the outdoors. "You know, I'm actually surprised that you didn't figure out what I was doing sooner. Especially figuring how I got the idea to take over Charon's ferry in the first place."

I hold his gaze. His casual tone makes me feel uneasy – but I won't show him that.

"And how was that?" I say.

He laughs.

"Cupid didn't tell you?" he says.

I narrow my eyes. My heart begins to hammer hard.

"Tell me what?"

His lips curl upward. There's a taunting gleam in his eyes now. His blue irises seem to brim with untold secrets.

"About his old girl," he says.

"He told me what you did," I say.

"What I did?!" he rubs his hand with his mouth then looks at me. "I think he may have missed out some of the story."

"What story?"

He leans forward through the shadows, and, subconsciously, I find myself leaning toward him too. Then suddenly there's a clatter behind me. Valentine's gaze shoots upward toward the door. I turn.

Cupid stands in the open doorway – expression dark as thunder. Cal and Charlie stand on either side of him, bows raised. I hear a whoosh of arrows somewhere in the corridor and Cupid stumbles forward slightly. My heart catches in my throat – three ardors are plunged into his back.

He blinks a moment, as though waiting for the pain to hit. It doesn't seem to come. He stands straight, jaw tensed, shoulders squared.

The three arrows crumble to ash, dusting his black tux jacket.

A wave of relief washes over me.

The dance. It worked.

Valentine raises an eyebrow at him – a twinge of surprise gleaming alongside the blue of his irises.

"Well...that's new..."

A dark grin spreads across Cupid's face.

"Hello, brother," he says.


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net