My Eros Angel

Chapter Five

I have not forgotten about Soren's little stalking act and as I leave my apartment the following day, I am aware of my observer. A flick of obsidian hair reveals his little hiding place around the next building over and I quicken my pace towards it.

It takes no more than twenty steps to reach Soren's post and as I swing myself around the corner, I catch him by surprise. He yelps loudly as I use both hands, grabbing his shirt and pushing him against the rough building wall.

"Soren," I grit out, "what the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Took you long enough," he sneers as he tries to pry my hands off his shirt. I tighten my grip on him.

"Why are you here?"

"Seeing how our little project is turning out you could say," a voice says behind me. I squint my eyes and look towards the voice. Xander walks past me, leaning against the wall next to his twin and lighting a cigarette in his hand.

They are treating my life and my love as a game and it makes my insides burn. I loosen my grip on Soren as I look towards Xander.

"I am well aware of your intervention. You are lucky you are both still standing. Do not make it worse. Tell me what you want." I see something flash across Soren's gaze momentarily before his overconfidence takes over again.

"We're not the only ones. All of the fallen are...invested in your little love story."

"What does that mean?"

The twins are silent, Soren only opens his mouth to speak again when I roughly pull him back only to push him harshly into the wall again. Xander looks blankly away from us, appearing bored in the exchange going on next to him.

"There is hope that you will join us when you figure out Eros will not remember you."

"That is never going to happen."

Xander is the one to respond, still looking away from me as he speaks. "You say that now. What happens when you can't woo him back into your arms?" He turns his head towards me, his gaze intense and exuding composed confidence. "You will do anything to have your boy back, yes? You might just go as far as to come crawling to us."

"Never," I repeated sternly.

"Or maybe something more permanent needs to occur."

"Is that a threat?" I look to Xander, a warmness spreading through my veins as my rage threatens to overtake me.

"A warning. Some are willing to take drastic action to turn the war. It may surprise you just who."

"What are you talking about?"

"You could shift the balance of the war and you know it," Soren says.

"Both sides have waited long enough. Both are looking for the advantage," Xander adds.

I drop my hands to my sides, stepping back from Soren. Soren fixes his shirt, patting it down and lifting the collar before taking the cigarette from Xander's hand and inhaling a puff.

"Eros has nothing to do with this. Keep him out of it," I say.

"It's not our decision, we're just bystanders. You need to make your choice Cassian. Join us and we can restore Eros' memories."

"Like I said, never."

Soren scoffs as he exhales a cloud of smoke in my direction, "we'll see".

I have had enough. I offer one last threat to leave us be before turning away from the infuriating twins.

I walk aimlessly down the dull street, the noise of travelers and pedestrians falling into the background as I contemplate our situation. It seems trivial that the only reason my love does not recall me is a result of an attempt to add me to their ranks of soldiers.