Chapter 2: the day before the window

I have known so much about love.

There is love of parents, of siblings, of friends, of acquaintances and of couples. I did not dare to question my Uncle as he prodded on and on about the history of love and why they existed: Cupids and Erosians in general.



I have heard it a couple of times of course, ever since I could remember and time and time again, my Uncle Xavier would say "Listen, Francesca Rubin Hearthrowe," Oh how I hate that long cheesy name. If only I could change it "you are not like any other Erosian. You are born to be--

"The next Cupid which is why my hair is ginger and my eyes are green not like your golden hair and eyes the color of sky." I sigh before continuing, "But why does it feel so wrong, so stupid? I feel like I don't belong here. This is like some kind of mistake. I wish my mother and father are here to guide me..." I whispered the last bits but my Uncle had heard it all. Uncle Xavier ran his hands down on my bright red locks and said, "Why? Are you so tired of seeing our face and hearing our voice proving to you that you are of no difference to us?"

Shaking my head, I rose from my seat, taking my books with me. I opened the front doors hearing the fleeting voice of my Uncle as he scream, "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU REMIND ME OF YOUR FATHER. HE IS SOOOO STUBBORN LIKE YOU!" I trudded onwards, without even saying goodbye to my Uncle.

I couldn't help but long for my parents love. Yes, I know that my grandma and uncle Xavier with his wife, Lilia, adore me, though, in my heart, the longing of my parents' touch is what I really yearned for. I wanted to be with them. I frown at the thoughts of suicide gnawing at my brain like some kind of parasite.

I entered the hall. As usual everyone is busy studying or talking to each other. I took the seat next to the columns turning towards the front.

"Good morning my dear cherubs!" I glance at Professor Bow as she scuffled up the platform, her bright yellow wings trailing behind her along with her white cloak. "Today, we are going to tackle the art of making arrows. Everyone, please bring out your twigs." The students shuffled on their seats as they took their twigs out along with some feathers and scrap iron.

I gathered my own set of arrow kit; arranging the plucked feathers from the aerie with the branch from the cedar tree on my table. I sighed. This is what the lesson I've been waiting to learn all my life. I have tried to persuade my uncle and grandma to give me private lessons about this but they wouldn't budge. They told me that once I was of age, I'll be able not only to learn but master the art of making love arrows.

Technically, I turn eighteen tomorrow but does it really matter when you are the next cupid?

My fingertips burned. I knew that I am getting too excited. I glance up at our professor and smiled as Professor Bow acknowledge my choice of twig, "Cedar...excellent." I smiled at her direction and watch our professor walk up to the front and began writing down the instructions.

" 'Cedar...Excellent' " My cousin, Belle immitated before she snatch the twig on my table. "Oak is better than Cedar, freak. My father told me that so don't you dare feel special just because you are the next cupid. You are just an accessory; made to be worn on occasions but once they get tired of you, Gran Aphrodite will picked me and Daddy will be more proud of me." I bit a retort back, not wanting to spike another argument that will lead to my Uncle Xavier and Uncle Eric fighting.

Isabelle, or Belle as they call her, was the only daughter of my Uncle, Eric, since his destined one had died of an accident. Ever since then, my Uncle Eric always have his daughter with him, spoiling her and succumbing to her every plea.

I swallowed as Belle pointed the branch to my face, inching it closer to my green eyes, "That alone should have made you doubt if you truly belong. What kind of cupid have a green eye? You're a monster!"

"Isabelle!"

Professor Bow snatched the Oak twig that Belle was pointing at Rubin. She snapped it in a half before saying, " I will not tolerate any bullying in this class. Whether or not you are the granddaughter of the queen. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Both of us answered.

My voice is still quivering with the anger I am bottling up within me. I watch as Professor Bow continue her inspection of the twigs brought by her students. "Freak," Belle whispered on my ear before she took her seat on the front.

I look down at her own twig and began following the instructions given by their professor. I took out my knife and with a deep breath, I started shaving the wood. Conjuring the iron to shape itself into a pointy one, I attached the feathers on the end of the wood making them serve as the fletching. I was the first to finish.

Making my way to the front, I bowed my head, give my arrow to the Professor and walk off.

The anger inside me is still boiling. If my parents were here, I wouldn't have to endure my stupid cousin nor would I have to bare with my uncles' petty quarrels about which of the both of them had the best kid. I bit my lip again and sat down on the edge of the clouds, overlooking the city of Paris. The barrier under me flow like some kind of a water, reflecting my image.

"Why do I have to be so different?" I glance back at my reflection, glaring at the color of my eyes. "Why do I have to look like this? So peculiar? So unCupid!" I stomp my feet down on the haze and screamed, "Why did you both leave me?! I need you now Mommy, daddy. Now more than ever!"

And with that I close my eyes, letting myself collapse on the warm wet clouds.

Soon, a messenger was sent to me, delivering a memo from my grandma. Aphrodite want me back to the halls. For what reason? I do not know.

Still aching for the parents that have departed me, I trudge up the stairs and ignored the mocking yells of mu fellow classmates. They are waving their arrows at me, screaming "Monster" or "Freak"

I pushed open the doors and entered, bowing on the sight of my grandma Aphrodite, the Queen. Grandma acknowledge me with a nod and instructed me to take a seat next to her on the ruined columns. Nervous of what my grandma would say, I waited, biting my lips and wringing my hands as I sat beside her.



Grandma smiled at me before she brandish an arrow from her peach colored robes.

"Do you know what is the meaninng of this, Fran?" My grandma preffered to call me by my first name since she was the one who gave it to me, Distracted, I just stared at the arrow, slightly weirded out since the wood is now slowly turning gold. "Francesca, do you know what is this?" My grandma asked again, pointing at the golden streak on the arrow core. I just stared, puzzled. I look up to my grandma and shrugged. Grandma Aphrodite sighed, looking like a bit disappointed of me.

"It means that you are ready, Francesca. You could finally go down to earth and do your duty as the Cupid." I could feel my eyes beginning to moist, my former thoughts now pouring to my mouth, "But I wasn't worthy. I am a freak. I am a monster!" I was shocked to hear my voice rise, but I can't hold it in anymore. I stood, pacing in front of my grandmother as I tried to keep my anger at bay.

"Listen here, young lady. I know you have the most peculiar appearance in all of Eros but this doesn't mean that you are different to us." Grandma Aphrodite pulled me closer and letting me to sit on her lap like I do so many times before when I was younger. She then thread her fingers on my ginger hair and smiled. "We are all the same only that you are the privileged one to be chosen as the next cupid."

I stared at my grandmother and glance at the mark on my left hand, the heart shaped birthmark with my pulse lying underneath. I sighed, "What about Isabelle? This will make her hate you once you sent me down to earth. You know how she loathed me! She will do anything in her power to--"

"To what?"

"To follow me down there."

"She won't. She knows what will happen to her."

"But, she have the mark too!" I stated , my eyebrows meeting in the middle of my forehead as I continue, "We are born in the same day, 14th of February. We have the same marks. What if you made a mistake? She was supposed to be the one, not me. I am anything but special..."

My heart painfully throb inside my chest as I tried to be not affected by my own words. Grandma Aphrodite just sat there, watching ne like she wasn't even convince of my opinions.

Finally, Grandma stood and wave her hands. The arrow from awhile ago vanished as she smiled at me, "Go now. Rest. Tomorrow will be your eighteenth--the day you will go down to earth to have your test as the next Cupid."

I nodded my head, Smiling sadly at my grandmother. I was about to close the door when I felt Grandma Aphrodite's hands enclosing around me, "Never doubt yourself, child. You are more than what you think you are..." and with a kiss on my forehead, I blinked only to find my grandma gone.

Trudging down the stairs I whispered, "I wish I won't disappoint you all..."

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