Cupid's Heart

Wings flapping furiously, I zipped through the air to get to Rome. I was so excited, I felt as though I was going to burst! It was the afternoon and a familiar name popped into my head. When I first heard her name, I flew as fast as I could, unbelieving. But, sure enough, when I nearly crash-landed outside the house, Cupid was sweeping the porch. She was right where she was supposed to be. It was Valentine's Day and the whole town was all atwitter.

I wanted to hug her! "Cupid!" I exclaimed, bouncing all around her. "Congratulations, young lady! You will not believe what I have in store for you! You just wait right there and he should be here soon." I leapt into the air and searched the street both ways. I could not believe it! Cupid – Aelia's daughter – was about to have her first crush. It had been nearly a year since I had seen the family. The only time I even remotely visited them when a young boy had a crush on Aeliana. But actually being able to shoot one of them with an arrow? I could not have been more ecstatic.

I felt the boy's presence was nearing and spotted him coming down the way in a caravan. Breaking out in a grin, I dropped to the floor beside her. "Here he comes, here he comes!" I chittered. I do not know why I could not contain my excitement for Cupid. It was the first time Cupid had feelings for anyone. I knew she did not care for any of the boys she met, which was why it was perfect for her to fall for the newcomer.

I saw the caravan approaching down the street, so I eagerly loaded my bow with an arrow. The boy about her age sat in the front beside a man I assumed was his father. He was admiring the new town, speaking rapidly. When Cupid looked up and noticed the horse-pulled wagon, she stared on, curious. He neared even closer. My heart leapt when his name appeared in my head. They would fall for one another! Yes!

I shifted my weight from foot to foot. Wait for it… I suppressed my itching fingers. Wait for it… Both eyes open, stance perfect, grip strong. Now! Leaping into the air, I pulled back and fired. The arrow whizzed through the air and pierced Cupid's heart. Without missing a beat, I loaded another arrow and shot the boy – Fulvio – as well. Their eyes locked and Cupid's cheeks flushed. Fulvio smiled. The pink fumes radiated from their person and I acted quickly.

I reached inside the satchel at my hip and pulled out two vials. MiM told me what the fumes were. Feelings, I decided to call them. As Cupid, it was my job to not only make people fall in love, but also collect their Feelings. If two people who were meant to be together ever broke up, all I would have to do is go back to them and pour the gas on them. Once that was accomplished, they would remember their feelings for that person and right their wrong. MiM gave the satchel to me. It was magical; it would never get heavy or run out of vials or space for me. All I had to do was open the pouch and it would produce the vials I needed and store the ones prepared.

And now Cupid's Feelings were mine to hold. After collecting the feelings in their rightful place, I followed Cupid inside. She hurried to her room, but I wanted to see what Domitus and Aelia were doing while their daughter had her first love. To my surprise, neither of them was there. Aeliana came out of her room and knocked on Cupid's door.

"What do you want, Aeliana?" Cupid snapped on the other side.

"Cupid," the younger sister whined, "I am bored. Agrippa is still working and Mother and Father are not back from the church. I want for you to play with me." After a while, Cupid agreed and the two sisters spent time with one another. I stood at the top of the stairs, curious, ignoring the names that pestered my mind. What were Aelia and Domitus doing at church? It was not the day to be there, and if it was, they would have taken the children. It was Valentine's Day; a day to be with one another. If they wanted to be alone, then why…?

I stopped myself short, eyes widening and jaw dropping. How could I be so ignorant?! Going through Aelia's room and out her window, I swooped through the air. Not long later, I came to a touchdown atop a familiar hill. The old church was still abandoned. A newly decorated cross protruded out of the ground. Aelia and Domitus sat by in one another's arms. They spoke softly to one another.

February 14th. Why had I never realized? It was ironic, really. Valentine's Day was the day I died. Is this what they do every year? Instead of loving one another, do my best friends mourn the loss of the woman who gave her life for them? Three years I had gone without the slightest thought of the date February 14th. Yet for sixteen years, Aelia and Domitus could not forget it. It haunted them, my act of selflessness. I knew before Valentine's Day that they would visit my grave, but afterwards, I just became so busy.

I never thought, though, that instead of celebrating the holiday, they would spend their time grieving. Swallowing hard, I went over to them. Though names and locations of those who needed me flooded my head, I ignored them the best I could. MiM had warned me once before that I had to stay focused on my duties. But how could I? Especially at a time like this. I sat beside Domitus, bringing my knees to my chest.

Of course they did not know I was there, so they continued in their hushed conversation. Aelia was telling him the story of the time when we were children and we accidentally broke her father's vase. Her smile was a sad one as she recalled to her husband how much trouble we had gotten in. I said nothing to them, and instead listened to the story I already knew about. How many times had she told this story already? Either way, it did not matter. Domitus was a good listener, and never interrupted her.

That is what I liked about Domitus. He was handsome; he was kind; hard-working, loving, and smart. He was perfect for Aelia. She had defied her father to be with him. My father never wanted me to do anything I did not want to, so he never chose a husband for me. For that, I am glad. That man would have been very disappointed.

I stayed with Aelia and Domitus for hours until they got tired and decided to go home. Aelia kissed her fingers and touched my cross before heading off. Domitus stared at the gravesite for a long while before hurrying after his wife. Behind me, the moon began to rise. I could practically feel the disappointed look MiM was giving me. I turned to face him, frowning.

"I am sorry," I said after a few moments.

MiM said he that forgave me. That he understood what I was going through. He said it would take a long time, but I would get used to it. He said that he would be by my side every step of the way. Hearing that made me smile. Even if I lost the world, I would always have the moon, and that was okay with me.

…

My excitement for Cupid was short-lived. I was called back to Rome that summer. Back to Domitus's home. But the call was not for anyone that lived there. When I landed in the backyard, I carefully opened the back door and snuck inside. The entire family was gathered in the living room, but another family was there as well. There was a father and a little girl about the age of Aeliana. I recognized the man as Domitus's friend. What on earth could be going on?

I stood beside Agrippa, who stood tall and proud. His expression was oddly stern, his fists clenched. The whole family looked expectant. They were in the middle of a conversation when a woman who was spitting image of the girl came in. "He is almost here," she announced. Domitus smiled. Cupid shifted from foot to foot. Agrippa looked like he was going to punch something.

I felt the boy's presence and loaded an arrow. A few moments later, the door opened and I fired the arrow immediately. The boy – handsome, muscular – stood in the doorway and locked eyes with Cupid. As he quickly averted his attention to his family, I jumped forward and collected his Feelings in a vial with his name on it. Another name popped into my head, but I was curious as to just exactly was going on over here in my friends' lives.

"Ah! Julius!" Domitus exclaimed. "We have been waiting for you, boy."

"Yes," said the boy almost timidly, "my father left me a note that said to meet him here." His blue eyes roamed the room, examining each person inside. "What is going on?"

Julius's father clapped him on the back. "My son, it has been decided," he declared. "Domitus feels it is time for Cupid to marry, and we have chosen you to be her groom."

"What?!" I boomed. Of course no one heard me. Cupid gave a small bow and Julius smiled. I turned to Domitus. "Domitus, are you insane? Do you not know that your daughter is in love with another man? How could you choose a husband for her when you know Aelia broke from her father because of it?"

My rampage went unheard. Julius stepped forward. I foolishly tried to block Cupid's way. I knew that she still had feelings for Fulvio; I would not stand for this. Julius went right through me, though. I shuddered, clutching myself. Trembling as I turned, I glared at the tall man as he took Cupid's hand and kissed it.

"It is an honor to have been chosen for such a beautiful woman," he said smoothly. Cupid blushed but still her name did not appear in my mind. She did not love him; did not even have the slightest feelings for him.

My eyes flickered to Agrippa who glowered even worse than I. Cupid said that she is also happy to have him as a fiancé. Growling loudly, her brother spun on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving everyone confused. I followed after Agrippa who stormed to his room. I had searched my memory for Julius and remembered the many girls in town who had feelings for him. There were many, and I did not like those numbers.

"Agrippa," I tried, "you see it, do you not? Julius is not right for Cupid. She does not love him and he will only break her heart. Stand up for your older sister! Do not just walk away. Protect her!"

The young man shut himself in his room. I stood before his doorway, rage boiling in my blood. I hated being invisible. I could not do anything. If I were there, I would be able to protest. This was not like Domitus. He was not being the sensible, caring man I once knew. Conversation started up downstairs and all seemed well. Sighing deeply, I went downstairs once more and out the back door. I still had a job to do. But there was no doubt in my mind that I would continue to check in on Cupid and see how she was doing. All I could do was hope for the day when her name rang loud in my ears and told me Yes! She does love him! All is well!

Years came. And years passed. And her name never appeared in my mind again.