Playing Cupid

by SC Alban

  I walked farther past the tree line and rummaged around the bushes. The late afternoon sun was beginning to set, its rays low on the horizon. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught something glinting from the hollow of an old fallen log. Walking over to inspect, I approached with caution.

  After brushing away some rogue branches and dirt, I was able to pull the cerise quiver from the debris. Inside were three golden arrows with red, heart-shaped tips.

  “Wow,” I whispered as I pulled an arrow free.

  “I got the bow!” Amadeo yelled from the other side of the clearing.

  “I found—”

  Amadeo stood at my side.

  “Oh!” I said, surprised at his sudden appearance. “Your arrows.” How had he done that?

  “Oh, my arrows! My beautiful arrows,” he squealed, snatching the projectiles from my hand and lovingly kissing them one at a time. “Thank goodness I found you. Now, let’s line you up and see if you’re straight.”

  He grabbed the bow and held it up.

  “Wait, you’re gonna shoot an arrow now?” I asked.

  “Of course not, don’t be ridiculous,” he retorted, his derisiveness making me feel dumb. “I’m just going to line them up in the bow to make sure they’re straight. Rule number one: A solid shot requires a straight arrow.”

  He placed the first arrow in the cross piece of the bow, turning his body so the point was away from me. Taking a deep breath, he slowly pulled back the arrow. His hands held the instrument with a delicate grip only achieved by an expert archer. When the arrow was about halfway back, he let out a cry.

  “Ah!” he gasped as he relaxed his pull and slumped forward toward the ground.

  “What? What is it?”

  “My shoulder! Something must’ve happened to it when you hit me.” He held his left shoulder with his right hand, anguish plastered across his face.

  “Oh, this is terrible, just terrible,” he wailed. “Of all the stupid things that could happen. Forget about the toaster, I won’t even make quota this year!” He let out a pitiful groan that echoed in the forest.

  Guilt pierced my heart. “Amadeo, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault,” I said as I placed a comforting hand on his back.

  He snapped to attention at the touch.

  “That’s right. This is your fault. And now, you’re going to fix it.” The tone of his voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

  I jerked my hand away, not sure what he was thinking, but knowing I’d most likely not be too thrilled with what he was about to suggest.

  “What do you mean, I’m going to fix it? How can I fix it? I’m just a human,” I said, panic winding its way up my spine and closing my throat. I rubbed the base of my neck. For a hallucination, this was starting to feel a little too real.

  “It’s quite simple, really. I’m injured. You”—he looked me up and down—“apparently, are not. So, here’s how it’s gonna go. You’re going to help me tag my last three marks.”

  “What? Like shoot arrows at people or something?” I laughed at the ridiculous proposition.

  When he didn’t argue, I swallowed hard, my giggles immediately cut off.

  “And how am I going to do that? I’m like the last person who would know who to tag. I know nothing about love.”

  He pulled a small red book from his pocket and flashed it in my direction.

  “You don’t have to guess; you just have to help me check off the last three names.” He smiled.

  I eyed the book in his hands.

  “What, so you’re saying all I have to do is help you find the three people on the list, shoot them with an arrow, and…and that’s it?”

  Amadeo nodded, a devilish smile touching his eyes.

  “Pretty much. Easy peasy. And I’ll be there to help you with the rest of the details. Look, I have never missed a quota in the seven hundred and sixty-three years I’ve been commissioned as a cupid, and I’m not about to start now. It’s taken me centuries to make Division Two. If I don’t pull quota this year, I may be relegated to Division Three, and that means I’ve wasted the last three hundred years of my career. It’s not an option.”

  His eyes searched my face desperately, probably hoping for a sign I’d agree to his absurd plan. He looked up at me and caught my gaze. His blue eyes widened, and his face appeared to glow softly.

  “Please, Megan, you’ve got to help me. You’re all I’ve got.”

  I stood and stared, unable to tear my eyes away. A warm feeling of contentment spread throughout my chest, and I had a deep urge to acquiesce to his request. He suddenly broke the gaze, and I blinked and shook my head.

  “Plus, Eros will just rub it in my face. He doesn’t know what it’s like to really love, arrogant little rose sniffer. As a direct descendent of Venus, he’s never had to work for anything. He’s as one-dimensional as the message on a conversation heart. The only thing he loves is gloating. Do you know what it’s like to always be in the shadow of someone who takes everything for granted?”

  The question struck a nerve. I wasn’t sure if I believed love was worth the trouble, but I’d be damned if I was going to let Amadeo be relegated while the Jays…er, Eroses of the world floated to the top. The feeling of unease drifted away, and a cold wind whipped through the clearing. I shivered. Reaching out, I touched Amadeo’s jacket. It was soft and warm and left a shimmery sparkle on my fingertips.

  “You’re real. This is all real, isn’t it?” I whispered.

  He covered his face with his hand. “Oh Venus, here we go again.”

  I pulled my hand back and swallowed.

  “Yes, I’ll help you.”

  “Perfect.” He held out his hand, and I shook it firmly. A wave of heat passed between us. “The deal is sealed.”

  Unease rippled through my body when he spoke, but it was too late now. I’d given my word. What had I gotten myself into? Only one way to find out.

  “Okay, then I guess there’s just one more thing I need to know. Who’s our first mark?”

  Chapter Four

  Apparently, on top of having the power to induce love, cupids are also given some minor magical gifts. ‘Minor’ meaning they’re able to move a car out of a ditch with a wave of their hand.

  My eyes nearly popped out of my head when Amadeo easily lifted my Ranchero and carefully placed it back on the road. I was also grateful he had the wherewithal to bend out the dents and smooth the cracked glass, making the car look better than before the crash—all with the snap of his fingers.

  Another apparent cupid perk is masking themselves from people they don’t want detecting them. I never really thought about how valuable that skill could be until he disappeared right in front of my eyes. Unsettling as it was watching a person popping in and out of thin air, I had to admit, it was kind of cool. One minute he was there, the next…poof! Gone.

  No complaining from me, though. As I stood on the porch steps looking into my house, I was grateful the only explaining I had to give my dad was how I planned to feed Cosmo in the dark, and not about how my car was smashed to heck or the fact I now had an otherworldly little man in a velvety red suit accompanying me everywhere like a new appendage.

  “Might as well get this over with,” I said, grabbing the handle.

  “Where have you been? I thought I said to not be late.” Dad’s lips were pursed, his tone scolding as I walked into the kitchen and tossed my school bag on the closest chair.

  “I know, I’m sorry; I just lost track of time. I didn’t mean for you to worry.”

  “I wasn’t worried, I’m disappointed. And don’t apologize to me, think about Cosmo. He’s the one who needs you. He’s under your care.”

  “I’m here now aren’t I,” I shot back as I struggled to maintain my composure. Of course, he wouldn’t care. Why would he worry about where I was? I was only a couple hours late, in the dark. No biggie. I took a breath. “I’ll go and do it—”

  “I already let him out to pasture midmorning every day. Feeding h
im is the bare minimum you have to do. You can’t just ignore your responsibili—”

  “Really?” I snapped, daring him to continue. “Is that where you want to go with this?”

  He opened his mouth and closed it.

  “Fine.” He sighed as he turned and walked into the living room. “Just do it now.”

  I stood there silent for a few more seconds before I heard the television click on in the living room, and the noises of a basketball game wove their way into the kitchen. I closed my eyes and let a tear fall down my cheek before wiping it away with the back of my hand.

  I quietly sniffed a few times before walking to the kitchen sink. I splashed cold water on my face, grabbed the kitchen towel, and patted my skin dry. Though the conflict was small, it never got any easier. I added the few fallen bricks from my protective barrier back in place until my heart was securely boxed in my chest. Taking a deep breath, I threw the kitchen towel on the table and ran my hand through my hair, removing the hair tie.

  Talking to each other, really talking, was our definite weakness. Our discussions were always strained…awkward…combative. At least as I grew older, we both got better at keeping to an objective point and were able to hold an effective conversation with little to no emotional connection. The term ‘living apart together’ had never had a more appropriate interpretation. As time pressed on, it was easier to recover afterwards, but occasionally, the words hurt my heart. Did he feel it too?

  Still upset, but no longer feeling like I would crumble, I stormed out to the barn, closing the back door a little more assertively than necessary.

  Cosmo was already in a mood due to his delayed dinner when I finally made it out to his stall. And, in all honesty, I felt bad for keeping him waiting.

  “It’s okay, Cosmo,” I cooed as I slowly approached the dark horse. I placed my hand on his muzzle and rubbed slowly, enjoying the silkiness of his coat. If it weren’t for Cosmo, I wouldn’t have any friends.

  “I’m sorry I’m late, buddy,” I said, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “I didn’t forget about you, I swear. Things just got a little weird today. You forgive me, right?” I nuzzled against his smooth coat, my throat tightened and raw, making it nearly impossible to swallow as he pressed back against me.

  As I stroked his mane, a weight settled in my stomach. If my plans fell into place, I’d only be living here a few more years, through my time at the junior college until I transferred out. What would life be like without my equine friend? I’d most definitely miss him, but not even my beloved Cosmo was reason enough to stay in a place that had nothing else for me.

  Cosmo settled down, his breath hot on my hands. I stepped away and grabbed the feed.

  “You have a way with animals.” Amadeo spoke softly from the edge of the barn.

  I jumped at his voice. Did he always appear out of nowhere? I sighed and focused again on Cosmo.

  “Animals are easy,” I replied matter-of-factly, hoisting the feed onto my hip. “Their expectations are simple. If you take care of them, they will take care of you. End of story. It’s people who are hard.”

  “Tell me about it,” he replied.

  I gave him a sideways glance. “How so?”

  He seemed all too eager to answer my question. He nearly flew over to where I was standing, his eyes alight with an internal fire that made them sparkle like stars. And by flew, I meant I was pretty sure his feet weren’t touching the ground.

  “As someone who has carried their quota of human interaction, let me tell you that humans, in general, are a tough crowd. That brain up there”—he pointed his manicured finger at my head—“it keeps messing things up with down here.” He pointed at my heart. “Over the centuries, I’ve stood by while humans push further and further away from their instincts and become solely reliant on their intellectual abilities.”

  “So?” I interjected. “That’s not necessarily bad, is it? In fact, it makes a lot of sense. I mean, think about it, you want to be able to rationalize things, to make sure you’re making the right decisions.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I suppose it would make sense…to you. But let me tell you something: Humans are still part of the natural circle of life. You are animals. You’re born, just like all animals, and one day, you will die. It’s just how it is. You have a biological connection to nature, to instinct. But over time, it’s being used less and less. Your intuition is shot, and your true connection to the living world is nearly gone. You guys are all stuck in your heads these days, on your social media pages and apps and whatnots, looking to make virtual connections, but missing the real ones. It becomes very challenging for those of us who deal exclusively in personal, up-close matters of the heart.”

  I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. Could he have a point?

  “But isn’t your arrow like magic or something?” I asked. “Doesn’t it supersede all reason and make people fall in love?”

  “Sure, my arrows do contain magic,” he replied. “But I’m not in the business of brainwashing, here. The true magic is in the willingness of the humans chosen to allow said magic to take effect. It’s in their willingness to listen to their hearts. My arrows just start things off. Ultimately, it’s up to the humans to embrace the effect, to make the magic last…to keep it going.”

  He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and leaned up against the barn wall. “Lately, I’ve been noticing that humans love falling in love; they love the feeling of being swept away in the emotion. It’s that instant shot of dopamine that gets them. But sooner or later, the dopamine wears off and their fat brains waddle in the way of where their heart and natural inclination should rule, and before you know it, a perfectly good love match is tossed aside for something else.”

  “And you think it’s because humans have grown apart from their natural instincts?”

  “I don’t think, I know,” he stated flatly. “I know, for various reasons, humans have placed more value on intellect than nature. There is no balance between the two anymore. It makes being a cupid very challenging.”

  I nodded. He had some interesting points. Still, nothing he said hinted at my new role in this whole thing. I cleared my throat.

  “So, tell me more about what it is I have to do to help you,” I said. “I’m not exactly sure if I can do it, but I’m willing to give it a try…I think.”

  He walked to the center of the barn and sat on an overturned bucket.

  “Well,” he replied thoughtfully, “it’s like I mentioned earlier. Once the target is located, I’ll do my thing, and when the time is right, you’ll shoot them with one of the arrows.”

  “Hmm, and that’s all?” I asked, suspicious. This all seemed way too easy. I wasn’t buying it.

  “Pretty much,” he said, smiling.

  I walked over to an old stool opposite of him and sat.

  “What about this book you have? That red one you waved around in the forest.”

  Amadeo retrieved the small book from his coat pocket at its mention. I reached for the small journal, but he quickly pulled it out of range.

  “Uh, uh, uh. Sorry, it’s not for you to see. It’s part of the code. Only cupids are allowed to view the contents of this book. Can you imagine what would happen if a human got their hands on this baby? Having the knowledge of who was on the list to fall in love, and in some cases with whom…Talk about chaos. Anyway, even if you could handle it, I could lose my license. So…no go, Meggo. Huh, cute little rhyme you got there.”

  Anger roiled in my stomach. “Why did you just call me that?” My teeth were clenched, my eyes narrowed.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Just seemed to fit.”

  “Well, it doesn’t. My name is Megan,” I snapped, my blood boiling inside my body. “And I said I’d help, but let’s get something straight. If you think I’m going into this without having all the information I need first, well then, you’re out of your mind. It’s bad enough I’ve actually agreed to shoot arrows at people for a myt
hological being I’m not even one hundred percent sure is real yet, but if for one second I suspect you’re lying to me…I’m out. You got it? I don’t care if you’re relegated to being Eros’s arrow shiner! Do I make myself clear?”

  “Geez, didn’t mean to set your Valentines on fire. No need to flip your lid…sorry,” he muttered.

  “Well…good. Thank you,” I conceded. I inhaled deeply, releasing a long, slow breath. “Now, tell me exactly who the first mark is and what we need to do.”

  Amadeo opened the book and flipped through its golden pages, the gilded edges softly whooshing. When he neared the end, he slowed and turned the pages one by one, his eyes scanning their contents.

  “Let’s see here…check. Check. You’re done. Oh, I got you, too. You’re done. Not you…yet,” he spoke to himself as he perused what I guessed were lists of names, flipping each thin page as he went. “Ah ha! Here you are. I knew you were here.”

  “Who? Who is it?” I asked, impatience getting the better of me as I struggled to peer over his shoulder for a peek.

  He turned his body, obstructing my view of the pages. “My, my. Aren’t you eager? You see, this is precisely why humans must never lay their hands on the contents of this book. It brings out the worst in—”

  “Amadeo, who’s the mark?” I protested, placing my hands on my hips.

  “Patience, patience. We’re getting there. Just hold on for a minute longer. First, have I told you about this one cupid in Division Three? Laird? Oh, you’re gonna love this story. Man, I remember he had an amazing year back in fifty-four.”

  “1954?”

  Amadeo gawked at me like I was growing a third head.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. 1854.”

  “Of course,” I said as I rested my head in my hand. This was turning into a long night.

  “Anyway, back to Laird. He was on fire. I mean, his shots were just right on, and he was quickly getting through his list, right? There was talk about him moving up to Division Two and bumping someone down. Even I was beginning to feel the pressure. It was pretty intense.