It was beginning. Bunny had to pull me away from the buffet table and lead me back up the stairs, where all the cupids had suddenly gathered. The short journey took me right to my group of friends, who stood at the front facing the couple, who were hiding on either side of the curtains of a makeshift stage. At least, that's what Rory told me when we reached them.
Orwell and Bridget were back. They waved at us and greeted Bunny as we stood along the line with a bunch of Cupids huddling behind us. I was confused as to why everyone was suddenly so excited and flared up. Yet, I suddenly felt that way.
My heart raced, and I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins. Goosebumps prickled my arms and legs as I felt my wings fluff up. I couldn't explain it, but I was literally jumping up and down with excitement. Everyone around me was caught up in the moment, and the joy on their faces and in their movements was unmistakable.
I turned back to the front, and suddenly everything clicked into place. A burst of red and blue light appeared, and a tall goddess stood before us. Her radiant smile was bright and proud, and her large wings fluttered elegantly as the crowd erupted with excitement once more.
Her laugh was so bright and cheerful that I couldn't help but laugh with her.
"Beauties! Oh, it feels so wonderful to do this again!" Her arms were outstretched, and her bright smile revealed her pearly white teeth. "I'm thrilled to see both familiar and new faces here!" Her eyes swept over the crowd before settling on me. I noticed her breath hitch for a moment, but it quickly passed as she turned and spread her arms wide. "This party is in honor of a very special couple who have been together for a long time!"
She stood on the ledge that served as a stage, pointing in the direction of the couple. They burst onto the scene, spinning each other around before landing in each other's arms. Laughter erupted between them, and the cupids cheered them on with loud enthusiasm.
The Euphorian Goddess laughed as well, moving over behind the two with her hand on their shoulders so they separated for a second. "Rue and Brick, how about you cuties tell everyone how you met? How did your love start?"
Brick blushed, gripping his partner's arms with his bright and loving smile. Rue looked up to him with her smile bigger than ever.
"We met back at the Angels Cove, actually. We went over to meet with some friends there." Rue looked over to us as Rory gave a thumbs-up. She turned back to Brick. "I saw Brick was there with some other angels as well, and we actually bumped into each other in the sky with some of the angels."
Brick continued where she left off. "After that, we saw each other at every party at the palace and decided to start going out." He hugged her tightly, and I felt myself hold back a yawn. The cupid moved away to kiss the other on the head. "I knew she was my everything."
Rue teared up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to hug him tightly. The Euphorian Goddess smiled brightly at the two, clapping along as the other cupids followed suit.
When the two of them moved away, the Euphorian Goddess held both of their hands, and her wings spread out behind them, making them all stand at the same height. The goddess towered over them with a bright smile. "Now that these two bonds are completely formed, I will announce to everyone that a new cupid is arriving!"
The cheers grew even louder, and I couldn't help but feel confused amidst the celebration. However, the happiness soon overshadowed my confusion, and I began to clap and cheer along with everyone else. Bunny bumped her hip against mine, catching my attention with a smile that I happily returned, feeling too joyful to blush at the thought that I had just kissed her a few moments ago.
Rue and Brick embraced on the ledge, while the Euphorian Goddess bowed to them both. The cupids began to disperse around the palace, signaling that it was time to either dance or congratulate the couple, as many of them gathered near the stage.
The goddess gave both cupids a kiss on the head. Her lips glowed lightly, and the cupids looked overjoyed at the goddess's offering. I was still confused by what had happened, but my focus was soon taken away by my friends pulling me.
They were laughing and playfully nudging each other. I realized we were heading toward the other side of the large room where the Cupids danced. I pulled my gaze away from Seth, who was tugging me along, to locate the source of the sound. It was loud and filled with joy, filling the room with the fast-paced violin and rhythms that a few Cupids played near the open window. Some of them were perched on the windowsill as they played their instruments.
I couldn't focus on that for too long when I was switched over to Bunny, who stopped pulling me into the crowd where everyone was dancing.
Suddenly, we were no longer dancing. At first, I was with Bunny; she held my hands and guided me until I found the rhythm and began to follow it. I'm not sure if it was the presence of the Euphorian Goddess that made me feel so excited and energetic, or if it was the music that had me bouncing on my feet.
Bunny laughed over the loud music, grabbing me with her hand as I wrapped my arm around her hips. She tilted her head back, and some petals from her flower crown blew away as she spun with me. I lifted her into the air before I could hear her laughter. The momentary lift sent her wings fluttering wildly.
She spun away, and suddenly, I was with Rory. The redhead smirked, catching me by the waist as they twirled me around. I stood on my toes to keep my grip on their shoulders since they were moving too fast for me. I kept in step with them, navigating around some of the cupids with my wings cupped closely against my back, but my mind was far away from the accidental brush against a cupid with them.
Rory seemed to sense how hard it was for me to keep up. Their solution for that was to wrap a hand under me and lift me from the ground. I yelped, holding onto their shoulders as the angel spun around with me in their arms. I was grateful for my short stature, as it allowed them to easily lift me up and dance around until I was placed back on the ground with a new partner.
Seth was with me now, my back pressed against his chest, our hands connected together. He laughed, grabbing at my hips as I twirled around and out of his hold.
Our hands found each other simultaneously, intertwining our fingers. We danced to the same rhythm, our energies merging together. I leaned back against his chest, tilting my head back, and he caught me.
It was hard not to flap my wings when I was tossed back up and sent out before being sent back into his hands. It just felt so free and energetic to be dancing here with everybody around me.
I was introduced to new partners in a lively rotation. The entire group switched partners every few seconds, while the music played on without interruption. My joy was consistent; it was always just right—not too much, nor too little. My feet felt light as I tapped to the rhythm, and my wings were free, never stiff from being so close to my back.
I just felt.. happy.
As we danced, I did manage to get out of my own head enough to see Bridget, along with Orwell, trying to find one another in the crowd. I managed to swing around over to the short angel's side, grabbing her waist from behind so I could be her new partner.
The little angel jumped before relaxing at the sight of me. Her hand on my shoulder and our fingers interlocked together, she grinned up at me. "You look a lot happier."
I managed to plant out a cocky grin. "I sure feel a lot better." I chucked, swinging her out of my grasp before she spun back into my arms. "But I have to thank the Euphorian Goddess for that."
Bridget pressed into my chest with her own, a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure that's just what he 's doing?"
I took a moment to think, missing the beat when Bridget moved back and sent the ball my way. I felt myself trip and fall backward just as we switched partners. I expected to hit the floor, but arms caught me and pulled me up. I found myself landing in the embrace of someone much taller than I.
I expected to see Rory or Seth. But to my utter surprise. I crashed eyes with the Euphorian Goddess.
"I've got you, little one; don't worry," her strong voice reassured me. But just as she said that, she let me go for a moment. Her wings fluttered behind me, and I landed in a soft bundle of yellow feathers. As soon as I felt my feet touch down, I quickly grabbed the goddess's hands.
WHY AM I GRABBING THE GODDESS!?
The Euphorian Goddess seemed to read my mind as her grip on my hip loosened, giving me the choice to leave her embrace. However, I found myself drawn closer, tightening my hold on her. I tapped my bare feet on the ground and swayed my body alongside hers. She relaxed, and her smile grew even wider. Her hand tightened around mine as she spun me around in a circle once more.
Since she was too tall for me to hold onto her shoulder, I gripped her arm as we twirled together. I didn't even notice the eyes that watched us as the Euphorian Goddess created space for us to dance freely on the floor. I didn't mind the attention we were attracting; all I cared about was the movement and the feeling of freedom it brought me.
The music died down enough for me to catch my breath. I slowed my feet down and paddled along softly in step with the goddess. She praised my ability to follow her large steps with a grin, and her hand on my back sped down to my hips as I moved into her.
"You know how to dance, little angel," she said, her voice surprisingly clear amidst the thumping music in the room. I smiled back at her, tucking my hair behind my ear, and moved closer as she stepped back. "You are such a joyous little thing. I can see why Janus loves you dearly."
Her words made sense to me, and surprisingly, I didn't mind them. My heart didn't race at the mention of Janus or her name, which the Euphorian Goddess spoke without a second thought.
Did she know that Janus told me her name?
Even if she did, the goddess did not seem to mind. She danced along with me, and her wings flew out to catch me once again and send me into her. What actually made me scared was how it went in one ear and out the other. How could I not care about this?
"You two are close. I know that much, she told you to call her that?"
I jumped to the beat, sending my back into her chest while her hand moved along my arms to follow me. I took the lead, finding my voice caught in my throat. "Yeah..! We are close." Why was I telling her this?
Why did it feel like it just slipped out of my lips?
I have no control over my body..
"What do you do with Janus, my dear?" She sent me into the air for a second, and I let my wings spray feathers over us. She placed me back down, and I leaned into her consuming touch.
"We.. talk, hug.. she helps me sleep."
"That's sweet of her." I heard her breath out, gripping my hand tighter and dipping her head back, which I followed. She turned back to me, and we flipped our arms around each other. "Is that all you two do? Janus is spending a lot of time with you."
"I love her."
I felt as though I stopped breathing entirely. My heart raced, and my body began to sweat. Yet, I continued to move; my body never ceased its motion. It only became more pronounced, drowning out the frantic heartbeat that pounded in my ears. I could feel the Euphorian Goddess tighten her grip around my hand, and for a moment, her smile faded. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she held that expression for a while as my feet hit the floor repeatedly.
Then that look vanished, and she pulled me into her embrace, wrapping her arms around my waist. She didn't speak as my back pressed against her chest while we swayed together, but I glanced up and noticed her smiling softly. She appeared happy, with a gentle glow in her eyes, and suddenly I felt a stinging sensation in my feet.
I let out a short gasp, reaching out for something, with a sudden pounding hit my head. I fell back into the goddess who had a tight hold on me, so I didn't crash into the floor.
She was speaking, but the headache grew, and her voice was at the back of my mind. I couldn't even hear the sound of my breathing; the music had died down, with only the skull-crushing pain pushing through my senses to be the only thing I could feel.
"Come on, Vienna." I was lifted up and taken off the dance floor. I leaned against a wall, feeling my head throb. The goddess was saying something else, her voice barely audible over the music, and my headache intensified to the point where I fell to my knees.
She repeated her words, placing a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to steady me. A struggle for control surged in my mind, and I let out a gasp. I could feel blood pooling from my nose, and the crushing sensation only worsened. The sensations that were meant to combat the pain seemed to be faltering; I was becoming weak and desperate, clutching my head and squeezing. I bit my lip hard enough that blood began to trickle down, mixing with the blood from my nose.
I didn't know what to do. It hurt.
It hurts! Make it stop!
The voices grew louder, and the surroundings blended together.
Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop!
Make it stop, Janus!
Janus! Please! Please!
You promised-!
My thoughts were cut short when her embrace grabbed hold of me. Her voice broke through my manic, and I sank into her touch.
"I am here. You're okay, my darling."
I fell into her embrace, basking in the warmth that spread across my skin and coursed through my bones. She brushed the hair away from my face and lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pressing my head against her to block out the light.
Janus caught on, pushing her wings up, and the light was gone. I relaxed quickly, letting the pain fade away in the air with the goddess being the only thing I felt.
She shifted slightly, wings rustling, and I stirred a bit in her embrace. After taking a couple more steps, she paused, and the other did as well.
The music had faded away, leaving only the soft sound of footsteps against the marble floor.
"Laetitia." Janus's voice was surprisingly strong as she addressed the other goddess. "What was this about?"
A slightly shaking voice replied, "I didn't mean to cause pain, Janus. I just wanted to have insight about your relationship with the angel." It was the Euphorian Goddess; her voice was much less energetic and happy.
"And you decided to go to Vienna about it? Not me?" Janus let out a sigh, her hand coming over to stroke my hair back, and I melted at the affection. "Was this Minerva's doing? Did she task you with speaking to her?"
"No, I did it out of my own curiosity." She let out a breath, the sound of wings flickered. "And safety."
Janus tensed up before letting her shoulders drop again. Her arms around me tightened, and she turned. I guessed she was now facing the other goddess, but I could not see with her wings covering me.
"Are you worried about that as well?"
"It's hard not to, Janus. You know what happens when secrets are kept," she sighed, and the moving of clothing could be heard. "I promise that we would not mind the affection you have for the angel. Just do not hide it from us."
Janus was silent, staying that way for a long time. As I stirred slightly in her tight hold, she finally moved her hand to my face. She placed it over my eyes and then ran it gently down my features. I could feel the liquid on my face absorb into my skin as she did this before she pulled her hand away.
"Then it is no secret."
Laetitia let out a chuckle, and her voice returned to its joyful tone. "It is until you tell them, Janus."
"I don't have to think about that right now. My concern is for Vienna, not for them." She expressed this with a venomous tone, raising her voice. It was the first time I had heard her speak like this, and I wondered if I should be more aware of my surroundings. I kind of wished that Janus could actually help me fall asleep.
She had done it before..
"Vienna." The other goddess suddenly let out a shuddering breath, and worry was back in her voice. "The angel.. Janus.. do you-"
"I know."
"..." They shared the silence, no one moving in the slightest. That was until Laetitia coughed and let out a chuckle. "You do... So that must be the secret, huh?"
Janus moved sharply, and I scrunched up in her hold. "Not. A. Word."
The other goddess was silent once again. Was it normal for her to be so quiet? This goddess was the most talkative.
"Janus… This must not be kept a secret. This is serious if it goes on for too long-"
"I am taking care of it." Her voice was stern, sending shivers down my spine. Despite her formidable tone and intimidating demeanor, I felt safe and peaceful in her arms. Under her wings, I sensed that her solemn and fearful voice couldn't reach me.
"Please," she suddenly sounded desperate and scared. "Let me take care of it. Let me take care of her."
The Euphorian Goddess said nothing, remaining silent until the sound of wings fluttered. The Gate Goddess stood still beside me. I could feel the sharp intakes of breath and the slight bristles in her wings, which hung protectively above me. I wondered if I should be asleep or if I should pretend to be.
Her wings moved, and the light hit my eyes, causing a wince to escape my lips.
Guess pretending was off the table.
I looked up to see Janus looking down at me, her gentle smile back on her lips. She pulled me closer to her, her head resting on my shoulder, and she squeezed me tighter. I felt confused, but I wrapped my arms around her neck, holding her just as tightly with my head pressed on the back of her neck.
We stayed like that for a while until she moved to meet my eyes. She let out a shuddering breath, covering it up with a smile. "I will not lie to you. You can take the information you heard as you please." She suddenly looked very desperate, her eyes staring back at me with a strong look. "But please.. my angel. Trust me."
"How could I not?" I smiled back at her, gently cupping her face in my smaller hands to help the towering woman calm down. She responded by relaxing under my touch, her expression softening. It felt as though she melted in my hands, just as I had with her, and that made my stomach flutter and my heart race.
She kissed my cheek, moving back to giggle lightly. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I'm not in pain, thanks to you." I laughed back, looking down at the ground, which I was far away from. I turned back to her, and she caught my look, nodding as she let me back onto the ground.
I looked around, noticing that we were in a different room. The music was a light buzz, accompanied by talking and the sound of feet hitting the ground. The goddess placed a hand on my back, saying, "The party is still going on. You can join, or I can take you to your cove to rest."
I glanced at my wristband, understanding that I had a little time before the following season. I was feeling tired, my feet hurt, and my wings were stiff. I also didn't want to lose the touch of Janus's hand.
I wanted to go back to the cove, but I didn't want to worry my friends. I looked up to Janus, and she replied to my silence with a curt nod. "I will wait for you outside of Cupid's Cove, darling."
I nodded before heading back into the dance room. I could feel the eyes on me, but I brushed it off and made my way straight to the group, who looked worried as they searched for me. They rushed over, patting me all over as if looking for injuries. I pushed them aside and took Rory's worried hands, stopping him from going any further.
"I'm fine. I came back in to say I am leaving for Angels Cove." I could see the disappointment in their eyes. "I have a session after that, but can we do something together later?"
Their eyes lit up, and the pressure on my chest lifted. They nodded to me, asking if Orwell and Bunny could join us as well. I didn't mind at all. However, I told Bridget and Seth not to let Rory choose as we usually do. They laughed while the redheads began to stammer their complaints.
I moved toward the stairs, ready to leave. I waved to them and nodded to the couple who saw me out. I was too excited to think or feel guilty; I just wanted to be in Janus's arms.