It's all Cupid's fault (The Holidaze Book 2)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"That's because you are the Goddess of Love," Cupid derailed Mia's thought and she focused on him.

"Great, just freaking wonderful. How do I get these things," Mia pointed to the protruding wings upon her back, which threatened to sweep her away to places unknown. "Tucked away?"

"While you've got them out, it's probably a good idea to practice going back and forth between the dimensions," Cupid encouraged, but Mia didn't hear him.

She had wanted to check the alcove where she had managed to kill the plants with her depression. It astonished her to find that the rose and jasmine were growing back in profusion in that area.

That wasn't all she noticed. Beyond the alcoves there was now a broad meadow filled with delightfully scented wildflowers, and the chatter of birds.

Mia stepped towards it with her mouth agape as if it couldn't be real. As her feet stepped onto the lush flowers, where fat bumblebees buzzed and brilliantly coloured butterflies fluttered, the darkness beyond it opened up further.

A soft breeze from the forest that now bordered the meadow wafted the delightful aroma of the bushland her way. Mia could only stare at the magnificence as new plants and trees appeared to fill the area.

On her next step forward, a turquoise lake emerged, which bordered the forest. The vastness of the lake astounded her. As she continued moving, the turquoise hue of the water changed to aqua and violet in the deeper areas, stunning her at the visage.

A long jetty stretched out onto the lake and at the end sat a chair. With curiosity driving her, Mia walked out onto the jetty. She admired the sheen of alluring colours of the water.

To her delight, a group of mermaids swam to the surface. They waved at her joyfully while diving in and out of the water. Mia returned their enthusiastic wave and that delighted the merpeople, who made even more adventurous dives and flips of their tails.

"I haven't seen them for a long time."

Cupid's voice drew Mia's attention to him. She hadn't realised that he'd followed her out onto the jetty, and she wasn't sure if she wanted him near her.

"Is it normal for them to be here?" Mia couldn't help but ask as she peered down at the gleaming merpeople.

"Yes, we have quite a few of the wondrous creatures of the fantastical who live here, every Holidaze has. The merpeople have the well-being of the Lake of Love as their responsibility."

"The Lake of Love?" Mia raised her brows.

"That huge breadth of water contains the memory of every couple who's ever found a match from our Holidaze," Cupid explained.

"Wow."

"That's what creates the rainbows that you'll see skim across the water, or when the water changes to its many different hues. With every couple added, the lake expands with the joy of their love," Cupid pointed ahead to where a double rainbow lazily floated in the middle of the lake.

Mia had never seen a rainbow so brilliant or to contain so many shades of different colours. She stared at the rainbow and found herself both mesmerised and humbled at the sight.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she whispered.

"Yes, and that's why I can't let you take it back to the darkness that I made it into. I can teach you to use your wings. I can teach you to use your arrows, although, you're probably okay with that. The one thing I can't do is make you love this place, but I'm hoping that you'll grow to appreciate it with time," Cupid affirmed.