Rhett winced and held back a moan. Asshole stallion.
“You okay?”
“I’ll live.”
Ace motioned the bartender for another beer. “Want one? I’m buying.”
“Sure.” Rhett removed his hat, set it next to the ridiculous pink one, and asked the bartender, “Any idea who might’ve lost this?”
“My guess it’s one of the out-of-towners playing pool.”
“I noticed those chicks when I walked in. They’re hot.” Ace put on his white Stetson. “You up for a game of pool?”
Rhett shifted so he could watch a leggy redhead. She leaned over the pool table, her long hair fell forward as she positioned the shot. She must’ve sensed his eyes on her because she glanced over her shoulder and smiled in his direction. He raised his glass. The motion made his shoulder twinge.
“You comin’?”
“Not this time.” Rhett took another drink.
Ace shrugged. “Mind if I try ’n’ find the owner?” He snatched the pink hat and twirled it on his finger.
“Go right ahead.” He watched his friend chat with the ladies. Usually, Rhett would have joined him, flirted with the women, and let the night develop, but his aching muscles kept him rooted to his seat.
The redhead donned the pink hat, reminding him of that fateful Valentine’s Day, and ruined any attraction he had for her.
Chapter Two
The Academy’s chariot skidded to a stop in front of Cami’s apartment where she waited on the sidewalk with family and friends. Ecstatic to be fulfilling her dream, she tapped her fingers against the side of her leg.
“Wish I’d seen you win in person.” Her father gave her a friendly I’m-proud-of-you smile, the smile he usually reserved for public officials. “Show the professors what we already know, you’re a top-notch archer.”
“Oh, Dad.” Her eyes teared at his approval.
“I love you, sweetie.” Her mother dabbed a lacey handkerchief to her dripping eyes and dragged Cami into a tight embrace. Would she ever quit thinking of Cami as a child?
“Wow, a true Pegasus.” Her younger sister, Affinity, stroked the wing of one of the horses. The driver tipped his white beret.
“Cams.” Zander leaned down, gave her a quick peck on the lips, and grinned. His eyes glimmered as he gazed at her with more than admiration.
Why didn’t she feel the least little spark for him? He had electric blue eyes that should make her swoon. Chivalrous, he picked up her two bags—one with her bow and arrows, the other with her wardrobe, and handed the luggage to the driver. Zander took her hand and assisted her inside the chariot, and said, “See you soon.”
“You ready, miss?” the driver asked.
“More than ever.” She held onto the chariot’s front bar anxious for her adventure to begin.
The man flicked the reins, and the horses soared. Her family and friends became tiny dots below. Her own apartment shrank.
“Hold on tight, miss. I’m picking up our speed.”
Faster than she had ever gone, they flew over Aphrodite’s Castle. The frosted heart-shaped windows glistened. She counted ten pink spires on top. Her village became minuscule and disappeared.
“The Academy,” he commanded the horses.
The animals neighed and flew through thick cumulous and stratocumulus layers. The white fog made it hard to see her own hands.
Above their destination, he called to the winged steeds, “Descend.”
A medieval style guard tower wedged between the castle’s three-story buildings. Trails mazed around the residence. Shrubs and trees created a picturesque scene. The horses landed in the clearing in front of the main building.
A woman in a stark white uniform approached with confident strides. “Welcome, Miss Calypso.”
“It’s a pleasure to be at such a fine institution.” Soon, she hoped to have her name on the wall next to the prestigious archers who’d attended here.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
“Thank you.” Cami followed the woman to Cottage Three. “You’ll be rooming with Aurora. She arrived an hour ago and is already on the range.”
Cami knew Aurora, the mayor’s daughter, a year younger than she. Aurora had already spread her things onto the bed on the right side of the room. Cami dropped her luggage on the left side near the wall. “Am I the last one to report in?”
“You are.”
She opened her archery bag, looped her bow and quiver over her shoulder, and headed for the door.
“Take the north trail. It’ll lead you to the archery course.”
“Okay.” Breathless excitement filled Cami as she flew. In minutes, she’d be with the other award-winning Cupids. Above the cobblestone pathway, she flittered forward around the curve until she heard voices. She spotted two dozen traditional circular targets nestled between the thickets. At least twenty archers took shots. She landed on the soft ground several yards behind the archers and furled her wings.
The male instructor drifted to the ground and greeted her. “I’m Sarge. Saw your performance the other day at Aphrodite’s Contest. Quite impressive.”
“Thank you.”
Sarge played a five-note melody on his piccolo. “I need everyone to stop shooting and find a seat under the gazebo.”
Archers fluttered to a structure at the back of the field and took their seats in one of the three rows. Cami sat in the front on the far right.
The gray-haired instructor took the podium and addressed the group. “I’m Sargent Quicksilver. Everyone calls me Sarge. I’ll be your morning instructor for the next five days. We’ll concentrate mainly on marksmanship outside in this marvelous fresh air. In the afternoon, my colleague, Celeste, will train you on the more technical aspects inside the main building. She’ll be going over your responsibilities as archers and teaching you how to read relationship cases. With both sessions you will be given ample opportunities to refine your skills.”
Cami couldn't wait to try the top-notch simulations she’d heard about.
“As you are well-aware, the intensive training is to prepare you for this year’s Valentine season. Successfully pass your mastery demonstration, and you will become eligible for your first terrestrial assignment.”
The mention of Earth enhanced Cami’s euphoric state.
“You wouldn’t be at the Academy if you hadn’t already proved you have phenomenal skills. Aurora won the Grand Goddess Match. Zeke, the Heracles Contest. Lelanie, the Sagittarian Archer Award. Cami, Aphrodite’s Golden Arrow.”
Cami had practiced with most of these archers, except for a handful of Cupids from Lover’s Landing or the Providence of Dione. While the instructor droned on with other Cupid’s accomplishments, she imagined her first mission.
“Think of Celeste and I as guides to assist you in perfecting your talents.” Sarge said, “Still, I can’t stress to you enough: never, never, never forget our motto, patience and precision.”
The class automatically repeated the line they’d heard since grammar school, “Patience and precision.”
“It is imperative that you always use restraint. Make a mental plan of action. Humans are unpredictable, so be ready to change course. Never rush your shot. Every shot must be perfect and exact with no room for error. Precision occurs when all the elements line up.”
Precision Cami could do. Patience, well, not really her forte, but she had matured.
“That’s all I have for now. You have forty-five minutes to practice before lunch.”
The archers spread out. Cami took the target to the left of Zeke, a friend from school.
“Congrats on the victory.” Zeke high-heavened her.
“Thanks.” She nocked her arrow, aimed, released and hit the bullseye.
Life was good. Birds chirped. A slight breeze cooled her cheeks. She checked the other targets. Everyone hit their mark.
~ ~ ~
Two hours later, the training moved inside to a simulated American restaurant.
&nbs
p; An older Cupid flitted inside and stood on a pedestal. She said, “Welcome to the Academy. Please find a seat at one of the tables.”
The Cupids shuffled in. Cami sat next to Zeke. To her left, six empty booths had pink and red leather benches.
“We’ve got a lot to cover over the next few days, so we’d better get busy. We’ll begin with your basic knowledge of the location of the human heart.” Celeste flicked her fingertips and formed glittery, shimmering dust. A transparent image of a 3-D human floated in the center of the room. She used her arrow as a pointer. “The heart is located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone. We all know it can be tricky to hit. Since this is your first human assignment, you will be eager. That eagerness is one of the reasons we start you with the less potent love boost assignment. Once you prove yourself, you will move on to the powerful love potion arrow.”
Cami understood their rationale; still she couldn’t wait to assist a couple to fall in love. The power of the love potion would be strong.
“Mentally tell yourself, patience and precision.” Celeste said, her mouth pressed in a serious line. “Aim carefully. Practice control. Never rush your shot, and you’ll be fine.”
Cami squirmed recalling a recent meet she’d lost by being impatient.
“On to practical applications.” Celeste snapped her fingers.
Cami’s wrist emblem darkened from pink to fuchsia as did the other females. Every male’s emblem displayed ruby red. “Each of you are now gifted with full Cupid powers.”
The class cheered.
“Set your heart emblems to individual sound and pull up the demo file.”
Cami used her mental thoughts to call up the information. A virtual page floated in front of her.
“Focus on the turquoise heart entitled restaurant. I’ll give you a few minutes to digest the information. Remember every detail, no matter how minor.”
A holographic professor appeared on the page. His voice played in her ear. “A human’s love-light is an unreliable marker because it can be masked. Thus, you need to look at auras. Unlike Cupids whose auras are non-existent, the human’s aura often intensifies with heightened emotions.” He pointed to a chart. “Let’s take a quick refresher on how to interpret the colors.” Cami knew these auras like the back of her arrow.
The professor talked about a couple who lost their young child. Both grieving, the man tried to reach out to the woman. She pushed him away. Recently, she had moved in with her sister. This was their first meeting a month later.
Celeste snapped her fingers and their virtual pages disappeared. She waved her arrow. Glittery particles swirled and formed into four transparent humans in the middle booth. A couple materialized at the farthest booth on the left. “We’ll begin with something simple.” She flicked her dust in a straight line. “See if you can find the distressed human.”
Cami scanned the room. Not the man with the orange-red aura full of confidence or the lavender color of the daydreaming woman.
Celeste pointed to Cami. “Do you know?”
“The man on the far right with a burnt yellow aura mixed with dark green.”
“That’s correct.”
“Finding a distressed person is easy, but how can I be certain I’m choosing the correct lover?” Aurora asked.
“Watch the eyes. A human’s eyes express emotions. By the end of this training, you should have this down.” Even though Celeste was such a tiny thing, she had a loud voice.
“To recap, we’ve determined the woman seated next to the distressed man is our target.” Celeste clutched her bow in her right hand. “But I always remember to practice control. I check for the best angle. Make sure I have a clear shot of the heart. For our purposes today, I made this one easy.” She nocked her arrow and released. Success showed with the glowing woman’s heart. Everyone applauded.
“You’re all excellent archers but need to refine your skills. Each of you will have five assignments today in various rooms. Call up your Day One file and open Case A. You’ll find a room number in the upper right corner.”
“When you’re ready, go to your denoted room,” Celeste said. “This is practice. Learn from your mistakes. I’ll be available to answer questions and assist you if necessary.”
Cami was assigned to Room Sixteen.
Don’t rush. Remain composed and collected.
She read over her case four times. It seemed fairly straightforward. A couple had been arguing because the man worked long hours. Their last fight had the man ready to end their marriage. He needed a renewal of love.
She headed for the room and found the couple in the kitchen. With only two people, there was no question who needed assistance. Leaning against the counter drinking coffee, the man faced his wife. Flitting above them, Cami told herself patience and precision, and flew around the couple to analyze her best strategy for delivery. Concentrating, she held her bow, nocked her arrow, and checked her angle. She waited another few seconds to evaluate the situation. Everything worked, so she released the arrow.
A heart glowed in the center of the man’s shirt.
Patience and precision paid off.
How could I have thought Zander threw the last archery match? I belong at the academy.
~ ~ ~
The next four weeks went by in a blur. Before heading back home, Cami earned the coveted Precision Arrow. Only five of these prestigious arrows had been given out to the hundreds of elite marksmen in the last decade. This arrow had special properties, said to reach into the heart of even the most stubborn recipient. Her possession of the Precision Arrow came with big responsibilities because it had the power to change the heart of even the most resistant man. Cami had never been happier.
~ ~ ~
Saturday afternoon, Cami rocked back and forth on her heels at the bottom of the headquarters stairs. Excited, euphoric, and a bit shocked, she still couldn’t believe her last week.
“The ceremony should begin any minute,” her mother said from beside her. “Relax and stand straight.”
Her dad wore a huge grin. She’d finally gained his respect. “It’s such an amazing feeling to be up on that stage.”
Someone behind her put strong hands on her shoulders. Surprised, she twisted out of the hold.
“Hey,” Zander said. Tall and muscular for a Cupid, he just wasn’t her fantasy. Maybe that’s why she tried to keep their relationship casual.
“Bet you’re psyched.” Zander inched closer to her.
“I am.” She kept her tone cool and backed up a couple of steps.
French horns broadcasted the council members’ arrival. Five older Cupids landed on stage and stood in a line.
The captain approached the podium. “I’m pleased to announce our newest Academy inductees. Council members, join me in presenting diplomas to nineteen of the finest archers in Cupid County.”
The sky looked bluer. The air seemed fresher. The chatter surrounding her—gleeful.
“Please come to the stage when I call your name. Aurora Arrow.” The Mayor’s daughter fluttered up the stairs, accepted her diploma, shook the hand of each council member and moved onto the top riser.
“Bryan Baxter.” He followed Aurora.
“Cami Calypso.”
She hurried toward the captain. It seemed surreal to be on the stage again so soon.
He handed her a diploma. “Folks, can you believe Miss Calypso is the first academy student to hit every single simulated target?”
Cami smiled. For once, she’d done better than her father.
Thunderous applause followed.
She shook hands with each member. The last council member, Zander’s uncle, Andre Eros, said, “Outstanding results.”
“Thank you.” She flitted up the riser to take her place on the top and tuned out the names of other archers collecting their certificates. Her thoughts were on Earth. Would it be as wonderful as everyone said? The graduates filled in the top row and flowed into the bottom riser.
“Let’s give
a round of applause to our graduates,” the captain called. “We’re counting on successful missions. We all know how love fills our galaxy with vitality and happiness.”
He turned to the group. “You shall receive word of your assignments within the hour. Again, congratulations to all of you.”
Elation soared through Cami as she dashed down the stairs. Her hard work had finally paid off.
Zander was the first to greet her. “You did it, Cams.”
A white message flashed on her wrist emblem. “I’m going to Cedar Springs, California.” Tomorrow she’d land in a new world.
“I’ll be working in California, too. Treasure Park. I wonder if your town’s close.” Zander used his magical dust to form a 3-D map. “Look at this. My assignment’s a few towns over. Maybe we can meet up after you’re done and fly home together.”
“Maybe,” Cami said, but she’d rather fly back by herself.
~ ~ ~
The next afternoon, Cami stood with her family in front of the sunbeam.
Her father embraced her. “It seems like only yesterday I showed you how to hold your first bow.”
“I barely remember.” She lied, recalling how her father became gruffer once her archery instructions began.
“Can’t wait till it’s my turn.” Her younger sister sighed.
“It’ll be here soon.”
Her mother’s fast blinking showed nervousness. “Please be cautious. Whatever you do, never underestimate a human.”
“I know, Mom.” Cami kissed her cheek. “See you in a few days.” She sprinkled dust from her fingertips to make her body transparent, opened her wings, and glided to the sunbeam’s edge. Her spirit soared. Wrapping her arms around the radiant column, she slid down to Earth toward her destination, the Last Call Saloon. A few seconds later, she landed with an umph on top of a pool table.
A sweaty man wearing a leather jacket shot a ball with a long stick. The white ball hit her in the ankle and bounced to the right.
Uh-oh! She’d interfered with the game.
He walked over to where she’d landed and gazed in her direction.
Did he see her translucent form? His hand moved toward the felt table, and she flew upward avoiding contact.
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