Chapter 10

"Cupid, it's time to wake up, you sleepy head."

I feel a palm touches my cheek; it's so soft. Gently, I open my eyes, one after another. A pair of emerald eyes pleasantly stares at me.

Fresh warm tears of happiness fall from the corner of my eyes. I embrace her figure. "I thought we will never see each other again, my love, Psyche."

She chuckles, rubbing my back. "What are you saying, Cupid? We're always together and I am always be at your side."

"No. I saw how you died, my love. How can you always be at my side if you are in spirit world? Am I dead?" I lift my gaze, seeing the never ending space of light. Is this the spirit world? Am I dead? But... This is impossible.

"That's not what I mean. I'm always at your side because my love stays on your heart," she hushes, holding my cheeks.

"Psyche," I say, closing my eyes. I tighten my hug, resting my forehead on hers.

"Yes, my love."

"Can we stay like this forever?"

We are laying down on a very soft cloud that serves as a bed. This feeling I want to stay; no one will disturb on this peacefulness; just the two of us savoring every second that will pass. I want it to last.

"We can stay like this for hours, Cupid. But we both know that it will not last forever. You do not belong here. You're not dead. You cannot be dead because you are a god - an immortal," she whispers.

"I know... But my heart wants you to stay with you, physically. If I need to disobey one rule again just to be with you in this solemn place, I'll do it. I don't want to feel the loneliness of missing you again, my love. I may live a thousand years but my life on those thousand years will never be complete without you. You are all I need, nothing more, nothing less." I bury my face in between of her neck and shoulder.

"Don't make it hard for me, Cupid. Maybe this is really our destiny, our fate... To be apart from each other. From the start we know we already made a sin. Our relationship is a sin, Cupid. I will understand you. So, please understand me, too. No mortal and immortal living together was written the history of life. Even the mortal partners of other gods and goddesses died in despair."

"Please, Psyche... Just let me do this. If there is only a way to convert me into a mortal and die just to be with you and stay on this place, I will never think twice to do it. Just let me feel your love."

I don't want to go back in a solitary life. I just want to stay here with my beloved. I know it is a selfish decision but that's the only way to fill my heart's content.

"I'm sorry, Cupid."

***

I groan as my nape aches. Ugh. Where do I get this sudden pain? The last thing I remember is when I am with Psyche. Or maybe that is just a dream? I rub my nape, stretching my muscles out of prick; I slightly open my eyes.

Everything that I can see is the dim of light coming from a fire torch outside the room. I creep to one corner just to make myself comfortable. I lean my back against the wall. Where am I anyway? A while ago, I am in a place surrounded by everlasting light, and now, here I am sitting in one of the deepest spot of darkness.

I can hear the sound of footsteps. Base on the sound of the footsteps, I think there are two of them making its way her, speaking words that I don't understand. Their voices get even louder and louder for every second passes. Their silhouettes show up, moving forwards on the passage way. They are near.

I am right that there are two of them as two figures stop in front of the iron grill door. I cannot see their faces; the shadow from the cloak they wear covers their faces. I look at them intently from head to toe just to determine who they are. They are in a red and black robe that wraps their skin; black gloves on their hands; black cloak hugs their body. They unveil their identity, hanging the hood of their cloak on the back of their head.

"How are you, dear cousin?" Hercules greets, smirking deviously. The atmosphere around him changes. It's different from the usual force around him when our path crosses on the palace. It's dark and full evilness than his usual light and happy-go-lucky spirit. "Do you like this place?" laughing, he adds.

I make no answer. I just stare at him.

"Silence means yes. I hope you enjoy your stay on this prison, Cupid."

As much as possible, I will hold my temper. He will never win against me by mocking. He's just a demigod. I am higher than him.

I remain silent. I furiously watch their every move. If I do something stupid with this condition of mine, it will only harm me. I must calculate every move I'll make. I know I am on that god's place; the one that stands beside him – Hades.

"Give me the golden bracelet, Cupid," he commands like I am one of his followers. He places his open right hand in front.

"Where is my mother?" I ask in a hush instead of lending the bracelet. I secretly grip my left pulse where I put mother's bracelet.

"Give it to me." His voice changes into an evil sound.

"Answer my question first, Hades."

"You want to know where your mother? Well, I want to thank you for your cooperation, Cupid. You make it much easier for me to get Aphrodite away from the palace and bring her here in Underworld and make her my new wife. Because of you, she's with me now together with my concubines. I've been waiting for this moment to come."

"How dare you... How dare you to trick me? I trusted you. If I only know that you two did an alliance, I never did a deal with you. It turns out that you only wanted to get my mother for yourself. "

"You're emotions make you weak, dear cousin. I told you that. You are weak."

"At least I give back your pair of wings, Cupid. Now, give me the bracelet."

"No. I will never give it to you. You both deceive me," I stand, clenching my jaw. I try to hold the handle of my sword but my hand only grasps the air, it's not there. Even its cover is gone from my hip.

"Just give it, Cupid, before I will use my force to get it from you."

"No."

He raises his right arm. The iron grill disappears. His eyes glow red trying to intimidate and scare me, closing the space between us. "Give me the golden bracelet," he says once again.

I fight against his red eyes. He can't fright me with that. Even if he's higher in rank than me, I will never forgive him. He can't inferior me with his looks. "No," I resist.

"You leave me no choice, Cupid." Red colored force surrounds him; his cloak sways.

Suddenly, I feel like I am being squeezed by a force; my arms stick on my body tightly. He uses his power to control things by thinking and looking at it. I need to fight. I won't let him control over my body.

"Just give up already, Cupid. You cannot do anything against me knowing that you just turned eighteen and you do not know how your power works. I am still powerful than you." He looks at Hercules; he moves his head, pointing the bracelet on my left pulse. "Get it," he commands.

"You'll pay for this, Hades and Hercules. I know that father founds out now that my mother is missing from the palace."

"You think that will happen, Cupid? Well, you are wrong. I sent someone who will act like your mother and be like her," he scoffs, laughing evilly.

Hercules moves quickly. "This is the end, Cupid. I and your beloved Psyche will live together forever," he mocks, dragging the golden bracelet away from my pulse.

I need to do something. But I don't know what I am going to do. I'm hopeless. I bow my head; I am useless. I can't even do something to save my own mother and my beloved Psyche.

"That's it, Cupid. Just cry. Hercules is right that you really are a weakling. You cannot even protect yourself."

They walk away, closing the iron grill, before Hades let goes of me. I fall hard on the ground. My chest hits on a sharp stone. I clout the ground. Why am I being like this? I am very useless. I can do nothing but to make a loving couple and to make them miserable.

Tears stream directly to the ground. It lights up every time it makes a contact on the base. The light gets bigger and bigger as every single drop touches the floor until it illuminates the entire room. There's only a white colored light that conquers the surrounding. A transparent stature of a girl forms in front of me. Her right hand holds my chin, guiding me to stand on my feet.

"Remember everything what I and your father taught you. Do not let the thought that you're weak triumphs over you. We raise you to be strong. We raise you to be good. And remember that goodness always be the victor over evilness. I know you can do it. I trust you, son," she speaks softly before she disappears.

The light eats me, entering my body. And once more, it glows, surmounting the darkness that shades in every corner. I can feel a powerful force inside me, a power that makes me feel strong... stronger than before. My body radiances the colors of red and white; an armor outlines all over my body; a sword shows up on my hand, extending. Using the sword, I hit the iron grill. It breaks to pieces.

All I need to do is to find where they bring Psyche and my mother. I will save them no matter what it costs – even if it costs my life. I want to say sorry to my mother for everything that I did wrong, to oppose her. I will make everything right.