BORDER

Chapter Thirty Seven

NERISSA

    I turn and smile at the familiar face. His hair is still as red as ever. He rushes over and hugs me. "Gods you look awfully ill. We need to go. Now."

    I hug him back, happy to see a face I did not know I longed for. Cupid has always been safe and very protective. Like he always knows what is best and I usually take his word for it. Considering his connection with the goddess of beauty.

    "What's wrong? Is everything alright in Lani? Are my people okay?"

    "I have to tell you something and you aren't gonna like it." He pulls away and takes my face in his.

    "Please tell me they're all safe. I was only gone a week. Please tell me they're okay. The children are they-?" I am rudely cut off by Anakin.

    "Children?" He questions, stepping in from the shadowy temple.

    "Yes bastard, the children of Lani."

"Watch your tone when you speak to my brother," Knoxx says, completely and standing up to Cupid's cruel words.

"Rissa, listen to me." Rudely ignoring Knoxx, Cupid continues. "They're all suffering and you have to go back. There's barely any fresh water and all the food is rotten and not edible. People are sick. A disease of some sort. We need to get you checked out."

"I can't be infected, if it just started."

Cupid looks over me, "Your hair is looking like theirs, Your gold is gone and you're as pale as a ghost." He says gently caressing my cheek.

"It is freezing in Gehena." I murmur.

"Let's get you to a fire. You can sleep in my lap if you need to."

"She's sure as Russa going to sleep in your lap." I hear Anakin speak up, roughly.

"Who are you?" Cupid asks rudely.

"Anakin Kumar." He says his name with pride. "And you don't know what's best for her, so you need to back off now."

"And you do? Bastard boy. I have heard about the Kumars and all their misery. You're nothing like your father. Now, I will do what I please to with my girl. She isn't yours and she never will be!" I watch Cupid snap with wide eyes

"Cupid, that was not necessary. You think I could ever love a fallen?" I say to calm him down. Anakin clenches his fists and Knoxx places a hand on his chest. Whispering something in his ear, Anakin nods sharply.

     I am led to the fire, sitting next to it as Cupid wraps a blanket around me.

"They're not as bad as you think."

Cupid scoffs, "You've gone soft."

"You were mean. They're very kind and I explored and saw things I am not used to seeing. It was magnificent Cupid. The colors. The land. Help me." I ask with a smile. "Help me bring down the Border."

He smiles at me as he leans in to kiss me.

"You stupid, stupid, stupid bitch."

    "Wh-what?" I stammer.

    "You broke every fucking rule." He pushes me off the stone that I was sitting on. I fall over.

    This isn't the Cupid I knew. Cupid would never do this to me. He always had a feeling of sort for me, he loves me. I wanted him. I wanted that! I am ready now. Why can't he see that? I need him to help me bring down the border. I will do anything for him to help me, marry him even.