C14 13. CUPID FREED

RUBIN

His eyes hardened at my question and I bit my lip. He sauntered low to my level only to stumble on one of the long ribbons from my dress, making his lips crash unto mine.

My eyes widen.

I didn’t have time to think about the incident when he pulls away in an instant. His face is flushed as mine did, his jaw tightly clenched as he bit back the words, pointing his finger at me, “ No one can know.” He glared at me, his hands shaking as he wipes his cheeks as though he is trying to get rid of the blush that is steadily forming on them. He bowed his head and started searching my robes, taking the books out of my satchel, a glare still directed my way. He sighs, shoulders hunched, “The police men will come and collect you. They might be harsh but you will survive. Just say, ‘Je suis désolé’, okay?” I glared at him, “Repeat after me, ‘Je suis désolé’“ I huff before saying, “I can speak French.”

He gave me a shrug “Oh, good.” He gave me a pat on my head before saying, “By the way, Caelum is my name.” He quietly says before he stalks off to his bedroom.

A couple of minutes passed before a knock on the room startled me. Caelum appeared next to me, his brows furrowed as he put something on my wings and I was surprise when my wings retracted back. The man guarding downstairs appeared as Caelum opens the door. “I’m glad you are here to escort her down, Newman.”

Wait, Caelum knows the door man.

The said Newman took me by my arms, pushing me back with another man who is wearing blue which I assume is the police man. He put a metal bracelet over my wrist and locked them in place. “I just want to say,” Caelum started, looking at the policeman as he stands by the door, “She didn’t steal anything. You don’t need to cuff her.” The police man shakes his head, tightening his hold on me. “I believe it izz necessary, she might run on us if I don’t.”

Caelum looks down on my feet, making me conscious of my appearance, so I hide my feet from him. Caelum stared at me for a moment, his eyes communicating something I can’5 decipher. He shakes his head and huffed, appearing as though he was disappointed as he said goodbye to Newman and us. He proceed to close the door almost instantly like he was afraid I am going to run and attack him.

I bit my lip as we descended, trying to stop the tears from falling down as they shoved me down the stairs. “Zis ought to happen onze in a while,” The officer says making Newman nod. “Indeed. The likes of her disturbs my master, greatly. I am confident to say that this will be the first and last time she will do this, nothing like this shall happen upon my watch.”

“I will make sure of zhat, don’ worry,” the officer bowed at Newman and I watch as he glared at me, sending us off. I was barking mad, looking back at his room as I desperately call for his name, “Caelum, please help me!” I pleaded but the policeman stirred me inside the vehicle and we started to move.

“Caelum!”

*

The rain poured harsher than before, the officer took me out of the vehicle and glared at me. He stirred me inside a building and they began questioning me. “Why did you go zer and ask for Mr. Rouen? ‘ow did you know where ‘e is? What do you want from ‘im?” I stayed silent, still confused on why I should be here in the first place. I can’t believe Caelum have me arrested .

Because I refuse to answer their questions, the police man glared at me before pushing me inside a barred room. I struggled to get away from his hold and run, only to be surprise when someone took my hand. I glanced up and see Caelum peering down at me–my heart pause for a minute before it angrily pump faster, being chased away by those freezing blue eyes Caelum possessed.

“Are you alright?”

I stared at him, confused on why he was asking me such question when he was the one who sent me here. He smiles at the policeman before he pulls me close. “I am sorry, there has been a misunderstanding...” His stormy eyes glinted and I am surprise when the police removed the silver metal on my wrist and smiled back at Caelum who is muttering under his breath.

He is using enchantments!

The baffled police man sat there, confused of his actions as he sat down on his chair looking at us while Caelum pulled me out to the hall. I stared down on his hands, tightly holding mine as he pulled me farther from there–I couldn’t help but blush. Caelum stopped before we reach the street, he gave me a look and shake his head, “I can’t believe I am doing this.” He pulls away his hand, his lips turning to a pout, frowning. He started to step out to the rain and I followed him.

He stopped abruptly, turning back at me with his hands on his hips. I remained standing next to him, now dripping once again because of the not so gentle rain pouring down on us. His long black coat appears to be dry even though raindrops kept on pelting down on it, but his hair is as wet as mine. My fingers are now tinged blue as I shivered, the blast of cold wind making it worst. I momentarily take the time to breathe in and could smell the weird scent coming off of him: the combination of roses and other flowers radiated from the insides of his coat. I held out my hand to touch him but he pushed them back, glaring at me, “I have saved you from those guys, you should be thankful–stay away from me from now on. Do you understand?”

His words confused me, I tried to catch his gaze but he chose to turn his head as he started walking, "Why? I don’t understand why I should do that!” I pulled at his hands, holding them tight only to be blasted–a flash blinding me for a while. I blinked my eyes to see his icy stare freezing me on the spot and making let go of his hand, “If you are what you say you are, then why do you hate me so much as to not even want to touch me?"

"I don't specifically hate you and there is a damn well reason why I refuse to touch you and why I act like this,” his expressive eyes startled me as he leaned down in front of my face as though he is scrutinizing my soul, "I hate all of you–Cupids, Erosians–all of your kind, you fuckers!" His voice rose that it made me cringe. I bit my lip to stop myself from whimpering, bowing my head so I wouldn't see his angry expression directed down at me. “I hate all of you for condemning me down here. Haven't you realize it when I push you through the window awhile ago that I hate you? Your kind damned me on earth and the reason behind it is still a mystery to me. So don't you dare try to meddle with my business again, Cupid, because you do not want to get mixed up with me. Consider this as my last warning.” I glanced up at him as I hear his words, his eyes gleaming mischievously at the threat he had just given me. I do not want to accept it but, his words wound me.

He started to walk away, his coat billowing about, carried by the non existent wind. I waited for a while before following him, shivering because of the cold. He is my only chance for survival in this peculiar world, I have no choice but to follow. Caelum quickly went down an alley I haven’t noticed and was surprised when he appeared in front of me. “Do you think I do not know you are following me?” I backed away on the wall, my eyes unfocused as he draw near, eyes glinting. The rain seems to stop from falling, or did they fall slower than before?

What is happening?

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to follow you but I have no choice.” I bowed my head, wringing my hand on my sides as I say, “I am so hungry and cold. I am all alone here. I don’t have anyone I know besides you.” My face grow scarlet as my hair while my stomach rumbled as if trying to prove my point. He gave me an exasperated sigh before turning, continue to walk down the alley.

I am getting a little bit nervous as the walls grow dingy and dark. I was about to ask him why we are heading this way when he turn around–his breath is fanning my face and it intoxicated me, making me a little bit dizzy–his hands trapping me in between the wall and his body. I gulped. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything with you just yet,” He gave me a smirk before he waved his hands and a gust of wind swallowed him.

“Wait!” I quickly ran towards the wind, my hands shaking as I closed my eyes.

*