Chapter 11

I follow the dark narrow path. It looks like an unending path to walk through; I've been walking for a while now, but I still don't know where it ends. I must not waste any time; I need to find my mother and Psyche as soon as possible. I can't let those two take the two most important beings in my life.

After few more steps, I stop. I can hear voices talking. I listen to the sound of voices and follow where it came from. It leads me to a dead end.

How come that there is no other way? It ends here. Taking one step forward, I examine the wall that's blocking the way.

There are tiny holes where small amount of light passes through - there's a light source behind this wall. Putting a pressure on my hand, I try to push the right side of it; I hope that it is a secret door. Hopefully, it swings back, slowly. There are golden yellow and red velvet curtains; it covers the secret door. Carefully, I step outside, hiding on the curtains.

I can now clearly hear their voices - my mother's voice and Hades'. I scan the place, slightly flipping the red curtain aside. Mother sits formally on a red royal chair with golden arm and back rest like there's nothing wrong going on. She watches Hades as it walks back and forth while speaking. Her eyes spat on my direction but she returns her gaze instantly to Hades. I think she notices me.

On one corner, mother's bracelet is placed on a stand protected by a dark barrier.

Still hiding behind the long curtains, I walk slowly towards mother's precious bracelet preventing to make any sound. I need to get it. It is the only way that I know so that she will forgive me for all the things that I have done to her.

Hades stops speaking, silence fills the place. I pause, holding my breath. I hope that he did not notice me. A door creaks open then closes after a second. I heave a sigh of relief. That was close.

I flip the edges of two curtains on opposite directions, fixing my eyes on the bracelet. Five steps more.

"He goes out, Cupid. You can get yourself out of the curtains now." She walks, approaching me.

"Mother, forgive me." I bow my head.

"No, Cupid. You do not need to say sorry. I must be the one to say that."

"No, Mother. I'm sorry. I'm the reason why you're here."

Unsheathing my sword, I point it to the dark barrier that protects the bracelet. I strike the barrier with the sharpness of the sword. It does not break; my sword bounces back. I strike it again and it bounces back again. What should I do now? Hades really makes sure that it will not be taken easily.

"I lied to you. I did not kill Psyche."

"What?" I look at her, confusion paints on my face.

"I just take her away and I take her memories of you, Cupid. I made that so you'll learn and know your purpose as a god and discover your true power. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't lie. It was the very first time I lied in my life but it was for your own good. I hope you understand, Cupid. I do not know how Hercules knows about it and he takes advantage of it. He teams up with Hades to take her."

"All this time you make me think that she died." I say, sheathing my sword back. "That is not important now, Mother. I need to save Psyche and you from here. We need to escape from this place."

"I can't escape this place without the golden bracelet on my pulse, Cupid."

"I know, Mother. That's the reason why I'll take that," I point the bracelet," that bracelet back to you."

"It's no use. The force that surrounds it is too powerful."

"No. That's not true. I can take that bracelet for you, Mother. This is the only way I think I can help you."

The bow appears on my left hand and an arrow on my right hand - a bronze arrow - targeting the barrier. It is the first time an arrow like this materializes on my hand. It makes a crack on the barrier; slowly, it breaks, setting the bracelet free from protection.

Immediately, I take and give it to her. The bow and arrow disappear.

"You grew up strong, son," she utters, accepting the bracelet. "We need to get out from this room now before Hades comes back. I know where Psyche is. Just follow me." She goes to the secret door behind the curtains. She leads the way, taking the dark passage way. Only the fire torches on every ten meters a part lights our way.

"She's on the other side of this wall."

Suddenly, my heart beats rationally. That voice... the music in my ears. I can tell that it's Psyche's voice and by the sound of it, they are just near me. But the question is where? All I can see a very long passage way.

"Aphrodite!" Someone screams from a far.

"Mother, you need to leave now," facing her, I say.

"But how about you?"

"I can take care of myself, Mother. Just wear the bracelet now and leave before it's too late."

She sighs, putting the bracelet on her pulse. "Take care, my son," she says before she vanishes.

I close my eyes. I listen to every bit of their voices. I try to locate where they are. All I need to do is to concentrate and focus. Breathing slowly, I focus my sense of hearing to my beloved's voice. I can do it; love will lead the way just like what my mother told me.

Her voice reaches my ears. I turn my head to the right, facing the brown brick wall. I'm sure it comes from here; she's on the other side of this wall. Mother is right, Psyche's here. Pressing my hands onto the wall, I scan its surface. There must be a secret lock or something like that, but there's nothing. It is impossible if there's nothing.

I knock the wall twice, figuring of how thick it might be, calculating if I can blow it up; it is approximately ten inch thick. I thwack it full force with my fist, knocking it off my sight. It cracks a bit, creating a fissure on the spot where I hit it. A thin ray of light radiates from the other side. I hit the wall once again, smashing it into small pieces, breaking it fully.

The voices stop making noise. I emerge on the hole I created. There, I see Hercules with Psyche sitting on a couch. His still wears the black cloak and the red and black rope. Psyche is in all white dress.

"What the! How did you escape?" He says, surprised, eyes grow wide. He holds Psyche's hand, hiding her on his back.

"It's not important, Hercules. I'm here to claim back what's mine," I state, walking the distance between us. "Now, if you don't want to start a fight, please return my Psyche to me."

"That will not happen, Cupid. She won't leave my side. I'm the one she loves now. You're nothing to her."

"Just watch and see, Hercules." I spread my wings; my hair changes its color from red to jet black. I calm myself, taking a sigh.

I glance to Psyche. "Psyche," I call. She looks at me; her hands trembles; her eyes say she's scared.

"You're scaring her. Just leave the both of us, Cupid. She does not know you."

I do not mind what he says. I focus my gaze just on her. "Don't be scared to me, Psyche. It's me, Cupid, the one you love, remember?" I extend my arm, reaching her.

Hercules snaps my arm away. "Don't ever touch her or else..."

"Or else what? You'll kill me? You're afraid that she might remember everything if I touch her, Hercules."

He clenches jaw, stepping Psyche away. His weapon appears on his right hand. "Try to move closer to Psyche, you'll taste the sharpness of my blade."

My hair backs to color red. "If that's what you like." Instantly, I move fast in a zigzag pattern towards Psyche's position, perplexing his sight. I am just two steps away from her, he blocks his blade horizontally. Twisting my feet, I unsheathe my sword, covering it from his blade, I stop. It almost gashes my chest.

"Not so fast, my dear cousin. You'll beat me first before you can lend your hands on her." He unsheathes another sword on his other hand, attacking me.

I cover my wings from his attack. I point my sword against him.

He slides aside, dodging my blade.

I take that chance to touch Psyche. I glide on the air, posthaste.

"No!"

The tip of my left middle finger makes a contact on Psyche's shoulder as a sharp edged weapon struck directly to my heart. I stumble and fall.