Lila's Rose

    "Happy Cupid's Day, Lovebug," Cupid says to me with a boyish smile.

    He is sitting in the chair across from me. Pinkish light flickers across his hair in the strange ambience of the Love Shack.

    I roll my eyes. "You can't change the name of a holiday just because you feel like it." I take a sip of the strange pink concoction in my glass, running one finger over the petals of the soft pink rose in my other hand.

    He tilts his head and a smirk plays across his full lips. "Well I'm certainly not celebrating in his name. So it must be Cupid's day."

    I snort. He's incurable.

    I'm about to respond when out of nowhere, someone shows up beside our table.

    Cupid sighs. "Hello, brother. What fresh hell are you bringing? Arrows invading? Gods on the loose?"

    Cal sniffs. "I'm not here for you. You are not, no matter how much you would like to believe it, the center of the universe."

    "Awe, sure I am! Right Lila?"

    I shake my head in amusement. "Sorry, I'm gonna have to agree with your brother on this one."

    He grabs his chest in mock agony. "Oh the betrayal!"

    I turn to Cal. "If you aren't here for a disaster, why are you here?"

    He refuses to meet my eyes head on, cheeks pinking. "Just noticed that you were here and thought I'd wish you a happy Calentine's Day." I find myself holding a pure white rose along with the pink one.

    I blink.

    Cupid laughs. "See? I told you it was normal not to use our other brother's name." Another snicker. "But Calentine's? Really, brother?"

    Cal's eyebrow's draw together even as his cheeks heat further. "And what did you use? Cupid's Day? Like that sounds romantic?" Something strange flashes in his gaze.

    Cupid's expression changes and he stands up, the scrape of his chair ringing clearly above the music. "And what if I did? It can't be any worse than Calentine's Day."

    Cal looked furious. "Oh really?" He turns to me. "You decide Lila. Which is better?" Cupid focuses on me too, eyes intense, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips.

    I blink, taken aback. Why are they taking this so seriously? "I — I don't know," I stutter.

    Cupid half turns his head. "Tch." He slams one hand on the table, leaning in until his face is inches from mine. My heart skips a beat at his sudden proximity. "Happy Cupid's Day, Lila," he says, melted caramel voice sending shivers down my spine.

    Cal pushes him to the side. "You're being ridiculous, brother." He turns to me, eyes smoldering with something deep enough that it takes my breath away. "Lila, happy Calentine's Day."

    I open my mouth, trying to think of a good response, when the last voice I expected to hear cuts through the space.

    "You're both terrible. Allow me to show you how it's done properly." Now dark blue eyes stare into mine, cutting to my soul. My fists clench automatically, and the thorns of the fresh red rose that has joined my small bouquet send rivulets of blood over my fingers. Even so, no one says a thing, and I can't make myself open the hand. Valentine gives me a slow smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, Lila Black."

    I finally remember how to move my body. "N-no! You can't be here!" I say, stumbling back from the table. But none of them seem to hear me, and neither Cupid nor Cal reacts to their brother's reappearance.

    Instead all three of them stare at me with serious expressions. "Which one?" Cupid asks.

    Then Cal. "Which one?"

    Valentine joins the chorus. "Which one, Lila?"

    "Choose. Choose. Choose." All three of them are walking towards me, slowly, methodically, a strange, blank chorus. "Choose. Choose. Choose."

     I keep backing away, not understanding what's going on, but they keep coming. I turn to run, but then my toe catches on something and I go sprawling. The voices grow louder, until it's nothing but a painful ringing pounding through my skull. Their shadows fall over me, and my eyes catch on three pitch black roses curled in my fist.

***

    Morpheus lets out a quiet laugh as he opens his eyes, releasing the fragile strings of the girl's mind so she can leave the restless dreams he spun for her and return to a deeper slumber. The god smiles to himself. "Happy April Fools Day, Lila Black."

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This is the third of my three entries to the Cupid's Match Valentine's Day one shot contest. A little creepiness for you — and a little Morpheus too.