The Sprout

Love Story: Chapter Two

Posted by archifCLICarchive from National - Published on 02/11/2010 at 10:55
2 comments » - Tagged as Creative Writing

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Love Story: Chapter One

Cupid

I outstretched my wings further, ruffling their feathers in the vicious wind. The bed of viridian that lay beneath me was hypnotising and carried my sailing body further across the ocean. The salt in the air stung as it hit my bare chest but the sheer thrill of the flight was enough to keep me going. My skin, however, was weathered and hardened and the brutal conditions of the ocean atmosphere merely tickled a sensation, let alone throw me off my course.

I swooped down, plummeting towards the emerald basin. Before I could completely submerge my body in the tantalizing water, however, a women’s voice stopped me.
“Cupid!” Morphing from my pike position and swerving back upwards I flapped my wings powerfully to keep a flight. I looked around for the owner of the voice, although I knew instinctively who I would see.

In the distance, on the balcony of my office, stood a waving blonde, Venus. I sighed; I couldn’t even enjoy my free time without being interrupted. Unwillingly, I started towards her. As I drew closer the stack of papers in her hands became even more detestable.

I creased my forehead “Must I? One hundred lovers was my deal, I’ve done my job so let me be.” I protested, before she could explain what she wanted me to do. As my work partner, though, it was painfully obvious. Her expression morphed from hurt to annoyed.
“No, as many matches as we give you is our deal. Don’t take these for granted, finding true love is hard.” I sighed at her words. What a sickening topic. I barely landed on the railings before leaping back and outstretching my wings again, feeling the wind caress them under my weight. It felt healthy and easy and not tiresome and boring like my job.

“Please Venus, give me a break.” I obediently landed back in front of her, against my better judgement. Tightening my wings back into my back, I eyed her for an answer.
“After these. Just please stop acting like this is the worst job in the world! Would you rather reap the dead like Hades!?” She handed me the papers furiously and waved her hands in the air. I pondered that.
“You know, I bet Hades is sick of his job as well - I bet he’d rather do my job for a bit, just to see what it’s like.”

Venus narrowed her oval eyes and let the thought play in her mind; however for someone so bent on love it proved to confuse her.
“No...” She said cautiously “Hades likes death. We like Love.” She sounded so certain.
“Why don’t you ask him? Hades is bound to death like we are bound to Love. The same thing over and over is tiresome and repetitive.”
“Not unless you like what you do.”

Prompt and definite she imitated her work partner by flicking her hair and turning around. I sighed heavily and began to flick through the sheets, yet again everyone in the world was destined to find their soul mates. Ugh, it made me disheartened just thinking about slaving around finding the hopeless individuals inside these endless contracts.

“All of them are fairly easy, mind you,” Venus stopped and turned around.
“However we need to give Eris a call to help us out on one of them.” I switched my gaze from the profiles of lovers to Venus’ knowing eyes. I almost told her that Eris wouldn’t be too happy about that, but something told me she already knew. It was a pity, really. We had the power to control and create love, but we had no control over how it happened. We could manipulate events and situations, we could find the ideal matches but after human free will kicks in we have no more say. However, once Venus and Aphrodite made a match it was rarely wrong. The hard part was getting the couple together at the right place and right time. It was usually an insipid and tedious job and I, as a lone and single worker, often needed assistance from one other... person, if you could call us that.

“Right. I’ll go make the call.” Venus huffed as she left; I grunted a response and chucked the papers on a near-by table. Good luck with that...

Venus

That was difficult... The thought drifted through my mind as I stormed back through the corridor of our huge building. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, pulling it back from my face. Everyone was being difficult lately, why didn’t they just quit? If they hated it that badly... I let that thought train die, they couldn’t quit - Cupid had said it himself, we were bound to Love. I huffed again and pushed the door open to our office, Aphrodite was idly spinning on her chair as I made my way to our phone. Eris was a difficult person to ask favours from, especially after our previous calls lately. I hoped a friendship bond would mean something to her.

Three rings and she picked up.

“Eris?”
“Venus, Hey!” She sounded squeaky and happy as usual. I wondered how she always stayed peppy when she lived in solitary. It was no wonder, though, why no one would stay with her - she personified discord and strife. I paused, trying to choose my word carefully.

“Can I ask a favour?” I paused again, biting my lip and bracing myself for an abrupt "No!", Eris didn’t really care who she disheartened. I hear her pause as well.
“Sure.” She chimed; I could practically see the smile behind her words. I had to choke back my gasp.
“What? Really?”
“I said 'sure' didn’t I? Jeez, when d’ya need me?” I let a broad smile command my face.
“Oh, um, tomorrow?” She replied with a noise that sounded like an OK but I wasn’t entirely sure. There was another pause. “Oh, uh, thank you!” I said sincerely, overjoyed that she had agreed.
“Yeah, whatever, bye.” She hung up before I could reply. Timidly, I hung the phone back up and turned to face Aphrodite who was still spinning absentmindedly in the chair. She stopped and looked at me.
“What?” She frowned.
I beamed back at her.“Eris said yes!”

She frowned again. “So?” She went back to spinning on the chair. My smile faded instantly at her words. Why did I bother? I slumped down in the seat opposite hers and like the mindless individual across from me I began to spin negligently in my chair.

Love Story: Chapter Three

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