Chapter 15: Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

CAELON

“MY LORD!”

The urgent knocking broke me off from my trance. The golden arrow fell on the carpet with a light thud and I hastily put it inside the drawer. I breathe in and out, trying to contain my anxiety but I couldn’t.

“My Lord!”

“What is it!” I called out, annoyed at Newman for interrupting my silent meditation. I have to think hard upon my encounter with Hades today. Such interruption about insignificant things is not permitted when it is crucial that I debunk Hades’ hidden messages.

“It’s the lady, My Lord. Your wife has fainted and she’s—” He was not given any chances to speak as I push him off by the door and headed to the room across. Aila is shaking upon the bed, her face pale, her lips tinted blue I touched her hands and kneeled next to her. I checked her pulse and hissed when I felt that it is too weak.

I look behind me to see Newman staring,  “What are you doing there? Get me some towels and hot water. She is freezing!” Newman scrambled down the stairs while I wrap more blankets around her shivering form. I touched her forehead and groan, “Oh, Aila. What happened to you?”

Newman arrived with the hot water and towels. He assisted me while I warm her up, “How did this happen when I specifically ask you to go down the street close to the Chateau?” I turned at Newman to see his eyes wide, “Did you encounter some possessed? Tell me what happened!”

“No possessed, My Lord. Miss was only walking next to me and shooting arrows as she should, then she keeled over and fainted. She grew so hot and I couldn’t wake her up. I brought her home because I do not know what else to do.” Newman bowed his head but before I can speak, he inquired, “Why were your wings out, My Lord? Did something happen?”

I groaned internally, not realizing that my golden wings are still protruding upon my back. I have forgotten to resume to my human form with all the thinking that Hades brought me. The appearance of the ancient arrow confused me, along with all the changes that is happening to me and now, Aila is sick for no reason.

I waved my hands, “Don’t bother. Just leave and prepare some soup for her later.” I touched her forehead and breathe out a sigh, “She is stable now. She just needs to rest. I shall go back to the other room and finish something. Please do not disturb me unless it is something that is life threatening.”

Newman nodded. He was about to leave when he paused. “Are you not going to stay here with her, my lord? You shall wait for her to wake, at least. It appears that she was distressed a while ago. Maybe she just misses you. After what happened, we never know what she might do next.”

I glared at Newman, “There’s no point watching over someone that is as stubborn as her. She is just my wife in paper, not someone whom I shall care about.” The doubt in his eyes surprised me and Newman shakes his head.

“Wife or not, she is your woman. She needs to be loved and pampered!”

“Honestly, Newman, who is your real master? Judging by the way you talk back to me, it seems that this nutter has grown on you even just for a day of spending with each other. Do you like her that much? Maybe I should divorce her so you can go and marry her.” I rolled my eyes, “Besides, wooing her is a complete waste of time.” Newman raised one of his delicate eyebrows, his eyes not leaving mine. “I don’t please women; you know that it is not my nature. They do the pleasing and I do the waiting and that’s how it is. You have known me for a decade already, and I expect that you have a scoop of how I am with women.” I bowed my head, ignoring Newman’s inquisitive gaze that is burning my forehead.

“My lord, if you consider the fact that you married her even with that concept and her being a cupid,  means that you really want her.”

“Are you trying to outsmart me by pointing out that I married a cupid, Newman?”

Newman bit his lip, “I apologize for stepping out of the line, my lord. I shall go down and prepare the soup.”

I sigh as I watch Aila sleep. Newman won. After he left to prepare the soup, I found myself contemplating my decision.

Her words woke my inner instinct to change to my true form. She triggered my emotions, so hard that I could barely grip of myself. What I have seen after looking at my reflection made me wonder. Was it really my memory? Then why is she there? Why does Aila resemble the girl from my dreams?

“Who are you?” I whispered as I caressed her cheeks, “Why are you playing with me, cupid?”

We were lying next to each other. I have taken my clothes off to help warm her up, faster. My legs were upon hers and I am aware of how I get hard by the simple contact. Her breast looks so soft as her lips. She is a temptation walking in two feet and I find it hard to resist her. My hands fell to her shoulders and I contented myself by wrapping my arms around her, holding her tight. I wanted to make love to her while she is asleep but my worries were stopping me.

“Hot,” She muttered and I pulled away in shock, “Too hot.” She pushes me off and opened her eyes. Immediately, a frown appeared upon her face, “Caelon, how?”

She sits up and I guider her back to the pillow, wrapping the blanket around her. Aila blushes as soon as she realize that she was naked, “Wait. How did I ended up on the bed with you, and naked again?” She glared at me, “Do you really can’t resist my body that much that you even take advantage of me even when I am asleep? I am still angry at you, Caelon, and you are making me angrier by doing this!”

I raise an eyebrow at her suspicion and argued, “I did not take advantage of you while you are asleep, Aila. You fainted and you are having chills. You are naked on the bed with me because I am trying to warm you up, but if you prefer to die with hypothermia then be my guest. My life would be easier without you, anyways.”

The silence that followed after my statement made me look at her.  Her face changes, and I shake my head, “Nah, I am kidding.” I pulled her close to me but she tried to push me away, “Aila.”

“Why did you take me here?” She pushes my arms away but I only gripped her wrist, “Why did you even make me your wife? You made me miserable after marrying me, Caelon. I am not going to kill you even if I do not become your wife. At this rate, you will be the one who would kill me. Your actions hurt me more than anything.”

“ I am sorry,” I choked, but Aila shakes her head. She calms down, resting her head upon my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and she sobbed.

“No, I should be the one to say sorry because I agreed to this arrangement. You did not force me to it and besides, you already informed me beforehand that you are incapable of loving. I am just the one who is a fool to believe that it can be possible.” She sighs, “But can’t you be more gentle? Can’t you just pretend that you love me, at least? I just want to feel loved.”

“ Why would I pretend when I already have feelings for you?” But my question fell upon deaf ears as Aila’s breathing steadied, falling asleep upon my arms. I stared at her, confused of what I am feeling. Is this sympathy? Or am I really falling for the cupid?

Is it possible that she is waking the feelings I once had?

“I’ve warned you, Caelon but you never listen. How could you proceed with this plan knowing the risk that you will face?” I glared at him and he cleared his throat. “How is she?”

“Still sleeping.” I sat across Emyr, and he followed my actions with a suspicious gaze.

“Why did you summon me, Caelon? I know that it isn’t about Aila’s condition. You are holding something back from-“ I pulled the arrow out of my robes and let laid it upon the table between us, “This is priceless!”

I shook my head at Emyr who is looking at the arrow as though it was the best thing he ever saw. “I mean, is this what I am thinking of?” I nodded. “Is this really the arrow that Aphrodite had conjured?” I nodded again and he held his hair, a wide look upon his eyes. “This is literally gold – like gold gold!”

“And that is what ended me in the past, which will probably be the very same ending I will face.”

“Oh, don’t be stupid! The cupid is under your wing. She won’t end you.” Emyr waves his hand and I watched as the arrow soared around the room, his wind carrying it. “What did Hades tell you?”

“Well, Hades have mentioned that he is only trying to help me which is why he keeps on tracking me down. I Hades hinted that he only wanted my soul – it was his main purpose, to restore the balance of life on earth. It was his way of making my life easier or should I say, shorter.” I glared at the arrow as it zooms around.

Emyr is definitely having fun with it.

“But really – why should he give you the arrow after a millennium? I mean, how did it even end up in his possession?”

“Aphrodite has promised my soul to him, it may be the reason why he is in possession of it. Other than that, he did not elaborate.” I face the lawn. The clouds loom menacingly, signaling the rain that is about to come. My thoughts drifted back to what happen earlier when the pain I felt on my chest is unbearable after hearing Aila’s words.

I look up to see Emyr observing me, his eyes now transformed into midnight blues as he held my gaze, “What is it, Caelon? I know you are bothered with something, tell me.”

I gave him a slight smile as I shrug, walking by the window, “A while ago Aila had told me that she hated me. Her words brought pain on my chest, Emyr, and it is something I have never felt before. Like someone has decided to pierce my chest with a knife and draw it back instantly. But not only that,” I faced Emyr, his eyes burning molten gray. “Something curious happened when my wings sprouted, Emyr. I saw a part of my past; everything was kind of blurry and confusing but there is one thing I am sure of: Aila was there.”

“What? She’s in your past? When exactly is that, three hundred years ago? Seven hundred years?”

“No. I think is is much further than that. It was like a memory before I even came here on earth but I am not sure. Maybe, I am just spending an awful lot of time with her that it messes up my mind.”

“Nah, I doubt that you are making it up I mean, it is way before earth.” He frowns, rubbing his chin, “Does jt mean that Aila was a god before? Unbelievable! Then how come she became a cupid?”

“Could be.” I nodded, “Something must have happened in the past which ties my fate to her. There is more to us.” I frown, trying to remember the snippets of the memory, “Did you know that she has told me in the dream that she will look for me? That she will find me?” I couldn’t block the image from entering my mind as I remember her pleading eyes. “I couldn’t help her though, because she made me promise that I should not help her. She is like Aila, stubborn and stupid.” I sat by the sofa and sighed, running my hands on my hair. “The both of us are connected before earth and I think, Hades knows it. He has planned all this.”

Emyr stands and takes a seat next to me, “A good point. Hades must have really planned all this, I mean why would he offer you the arrow without any context? It’s out of the blue.” Emyr touches the arrow and ask, “ Don’t you think Aila has the right to know about all these?”

The image of her tearful eyes and her hurtful face flashes back in my mind and I couldn’t help but sigh, making Emyr turned at me, his brows furrowed as he asked, “Why? Is there something more to the story that I have yet to know?” Now that the arrow is in our possession and the scroll clearly pertains to none other than Aila, I think it is apparent that we should tell her of our plans for she is the greatest variable here.”

“Are you sure that, that is wise?”

“Caelon, she is the wielder of the arrow. She controls everything, whether you die or not. Plus, you have mentioned how she resembled the girl from your dreams.” I breathe out and shifted upon my seat, “It would be much easier to plan if Aila was here to listen to these suggestions I am making, for I am sure half of it did not reached your ears. I shall tell Newman—”

“No, I’ll go and wake her up,” I went out of the study, barely dodging the golden arrow that zooms at me, hearing Emyr’s petty explanation, “Oops, sorry. The golden arrow is such a fascinating object I will never be bored of. You must learn how to avoid it.”