*CUPID'S MATCH BOOK 2* FIRST DRAFT
Lila receives an ominous Valentine's Day card.
Cupid & Cal are keeping a dark secret.
Fate is being interfered with.
And a sadistic, and extremely powerful banished cupid is intent on stealing Lila's heart. Literal...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
At school on Monday, Valentine's Day decorations have started to spring up in the halls and on people's lockers - courtesy of the social committee. There are flashes of pink hearts, balloons, and posters pasted onto the walls advertising a 'cupid' themed dance this Friday.
"The theme was my idea," says Charlie with a grin as we pass a cartoon picture of a bow and arrow wielding cherub.
I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Seriously?!"
She laughs.
"What?! I have a bow and quiver that I'm never able to wear out in public! Plus - it means there's no reason you can't come. If anything kicks off like at the last dance, we can be armed and no-one will even know."
I roll my eyes as we head down the corridor to class.
"Should there really be a dance? What with it being in honor of the guy that's trying to kill me and all... it could add to his power..."
Charlie looks at me more seriously.
"Yeah, I thought that - but the social committee are hardly going to stop one of their big annual dances. It's not like I can tell them there's a zombie raising evil maniac cupid strutting about town. I did manage to get it moved to the week before Valentine's Day though - so it's not like it's on the actual day itself."
I know her words should re-assure me somewhat - but they just highlight how close Valentine's Day is getting. Whatever Valentine is building up to - with his zombie cupids, Morta's sheers, threats to me, and Cal's life thread - it will happen one week from Saturday.
We have 11 days to find out exactly what is going on. And how to stop it.
Charlie and I move into the classroom - taking our usual seats at the back.
I take a breath.
We will stop this. Hopefully our trip to track down Charon tonight should give us some answers.
I glance at Charlie.
"I suppose the themed dance also has the added bonus that everyone will probably dress like giant babies, and that will definitely annoy Cupid and Cal..." I say - the corner of my lip tugging upward.
Charlie beams at me.
"See! There's the spirit!"
***
Charlie drives me to the Cupids Matchmaking Service after school. We pause outside the clear front of the place. Cupid and Crystal are talking animatedly inside - frowns on their faces.
Charlie and I share a look, then she opens the door a fraction - stopping it just before it rings the bell to signal our arrival.
"...I'm just saying it's a possibility we shouldn't rule out," says Crystal. "I mean - when was the last time you...?"
