This was the first time I had seen Cupid's Cove filled with so many beings. The large cherry blossom tree had Cupids flying in and out of the windows and doors all around. We decided to come in through the door down below. As we began to walk forward, I was suddenly stopped by a cupid standing by the door.
"Sorry, but Heaven Pups aren't allowed in during the event." He motioned down to Casper, who was following behind me.
Rory, Bridget, and Seth stopped, approached me, and asked if the pup was allowed entry. I interrupted them, providing an easy answer for the stubborn cupid who would not budge.
Since it was a rule..
I turned to Casper, petting his head. "Sorry, buddy. You have to sit this one out."
His ears flattened, and he let out a whine. I felt the guilt prick inside my heart, and I winced at the noise. I pulled him into a small head, trying to comfort him and stop myself from staying here with him.
"He doesn't have to be alone, though." Bridget rubbed her shoulder and looked up towards the door as a familiar face appeared. She jumped and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Orwell, perfect timing!"
"Huh?" the boy asked, listening to us and waving to us all. "What's wrong?"
"Can Sable maybe stay out here with Casper? He can't go inside during the party."
"Of course!" Orwell nodded to us, his small pink wing opening up, and Sable burst out from behind him with surprising speed. She came to a stop and playfully poked the cupid while letting out a squeaky sound. Looking back at us with a curious expression, she asked, "Can you please stay out here with Casper?"
She made another noise that was too silent to make out before zooming over to Casper near the end of the walkway. The pup jumped up, his tail thumping loudly with joy. The two dashed around with Sable trailing in front of Casper, with a speed that he managed to keep up with.
So he will be found out here while we are inside. I just had to remember to come out of the door and not the window.
That reminds me that I have a session to attend in a few minutes, but I have no idea how long I slept for.
I was hesitant about attending the session, but my fear disappeared when I was pulled into the Cupids Tree Mansion and introduced to a newfound beauty from the Cupids. The interior was filled with so many Cupids that I had never seen gathered in one place before.
I didn't recognize any of them. As I passed by, I pulled my wings close to me, so tightly that they began to stretch and ache from the effort. I was following Bridget, who was in turn following Orwell up the spiral staircase at the back, hoping we would find a less crowded space. I did like the Cupids; they always smiled at me, smelled wonderful, and treated me with great respect. They were also undeniably beautiful.
But holding my wings like this would start to hurt; I had no chance of doing this the whole time we were here.
Fortunately, we were on the second floor, where the crowd had thinned out. While there were still plenty of cupids around, along with a few other angels, the room felt much more spacious and open, allowing everyone to spread out. The floor was adorned with large green shrubs that bloomed with big pink roses. These shrubs climbed along the walls, with a few cherry leaves peeking in from outside. Above us, a large pastel chandelier cast a soft light, creating a beautiful atmosphere.
Sunlight streamed through the large, open windows on the side, giving a pinkish hue to the leaves that framed the room. The interior, lined with elegant decor, was just as breathtaking as when I first laid eyes on it. It reminded me of a goddess's palace, although there were many differences, particularly in color. This space featured a greater abundance of pastel shades, reflecting the same colors and themes found in artistic mosaics.
I was suddenly pulled back into Rory, who held me by the arm. "I know it's beautiful, but be careful!" They pulled me along towards Orwell and Bridget, who were down by the window that lined the entire room.
We ended up in that space, and I caught sight of a similar couple near the end. I stopped, catching the eyes of Rue and Brick, who were huddled together behind a silky curtain. I looked to Orwell, who was speaking to another cupid. "What's Rue and Brick doing over there?"
He turned to Bridget and then back to me as his face shifted into confusion. He finally landed on the shorter angle: "You didn't tell them?"
She blushed, her wings ruffling up. "No, I didn't think about it until now.."
"Dudes!" Rory pulled away, jumping over to the couple, who turned at the attention. The redhead pulled them into a hug, their wings bristling at the touch. "Congrats! I'm glad you could make it this far; I could never."
"We know." The couple said at the same time.
As the three spoke, I turned back to Bridget. "You didn't think it was a good idea to mention who was the center of the party?"
Bridget appeared surprised, her expression revealing a hint of unease at my words. "I.." she stuttered. "I—"
"She wanted it to be a surprise." Seth suddenly jumped in. He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I felt my body relax. "And surprised you are, huh? You and Rory had no idea."
"Yeah," I let out a chuckle, suddenly feeling a bit warm. "That makes sense."
Seth nodded to the other person, who looked grateful. Orwell pulled Bridget away and said something to Seth and me before they flew off out of the tree. Seth then came over to me and said, "They'll be back when the announcements happen. How about we hang out with the couple?"
"Sure." I shrugged, allowing the taller angel to lead me over to the three near the curtains. The couple was out, Rory bothering them with flirty comments.
Rue turned to us, and I saw her shoulders deflate. "Thank the goddess you guys are here." She came over with Brick in her hand, pushing past Rory. They ended up between us, covered by everyone else in the room.
"Why are you guys hiding?" I asked even as Seth moved closer, so the other Cupids in the room could not see them.
"We don't want to spoil the party by announcing ourselves early." Rue shrugged, giving me an eye, "duh."
"Yeah, okay." I hissed out, turning my head away and moving my wings up so it was pressed near Seth. "Happy?"
"Yes!" Rue beamed, nodding her head.
Brick nodded to me, keeping his hand on his partner's shoulder. "Thank you, Vienna."
I didn't respond, letting Rory take over as they always did with questions. I felt eyes on me as I was turned away, so I turned back to see Seth looking at me. He didn't seem happy; he seemed slightly concerned.
"Are you okay?"
I mentally groaned at his worried tone. "Yeah," I looked back at him and unraveled my hands to place them on my hips. "I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced. "You sure? You have been acting weird and off for a while now."
"How?" I growled, making Seth raise an eyebrow at my tone. I quickly turned away, tightening my fingers around my shoulders and sinking my nails into my skin. I didn't understand why I suddenly felt this way—irritated and annoyed. Usually, I felt free and happy with my friends.
"Not gonna tell me why?"
"I don't know why," I rolled my eyes, trying to smile, but it felt tight. "I don't know why, but I just feel irritated and annoyed. I hoped coming here and having a party would help me release it…"
"Is it because of what happened in your training session?"
A flash of red and a spike from my head cause my wings to bristle and my nose to flare up. "NO!" I shouted louder than I intended to.
Seth flinched, his eyes wide at my sudden outburst. Rory and the couple also turned to me, with Rory looking concerned about Seth's reaction. They quickly came over, trying to position themselves between us.
"Sorry," I shook my head, taking a step away from them and letting my wings fall from their heightened position. "I meant to say no; nothing happened."
Seth shook his head, knowing that I was hiding something. But he dropped it, nodding to me with understanding that I did not want to talk about it.
As I turned away, I heard Rory let out in a hushed voice, "Are you okay? What was that about?"
"Vienna just needs to let go for a moment. Let's just be there for her, okay?"
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Rory said, and the sound of their wings flared from behind me.
I stopped by the window, leaning against it and looking outside. The spiking in my head had not left; it only seemed to heighten when I yelled. I felt guilty when I yelled at him. There was no reason to be so harsh. Why was I being so mean? To my friends, they don't deserve that.
Too busy with my own frowning, I didn't notice the presence sitting across from me. Opposite me, on the windowsill, sat Bunny. Her head was adorned with a variety of flowers that beautifully contrasted with her pink curls. I stared at the flowers, not realizing she had started to speak until her wings fluttered, sending pink feathers in my direction.
I shooed them away from my face and finally looked at the small cupid in front of me. With her hands behind her back and leaning towards me, she wore a smile that danced on her lips. "You look a bit sad," she said. I couldn't help but giggle in response. "This is a party. You're supposed to be happy."
"I know," I pulled my shoulders up, and my wings did the same. "I want to feel happy, I just don't know why I don't."
"Hmm…" Bunny looked behind me before turning, like she was looking for something. Her eyes lit up, turning back to me. "Have you eaten any of the food yet?"
"Food?"
She smirked, puffing up her cheeks. "Yes, food. All parties come with a buffet of food to choose from." I shook my head, and her face dropped. She stood up, placing a hand out for me with the smirk back on her rose-red lips. "Come on, it is downstairs."
"I don't know…" I looked around, trying to find Seth or Rory.
Bunny understood my hesitation, pulling me up with a surprisingly strong force for her small body. "The couple will not be announced for a while, so we have enough time to get some food." She dragged me along, and I caught Seth and Rory sitting on the ground near the curtains, with Rory sitting in his lap.
I groaned, feeling slightly annoyed yet a bit happy.
We found ourselves on the bottom floor, and I had to pull my wings close to my body again. Bunny quickly guided us to the far end of the hall, which was filled with angels of all shapes and sizes. Most of the cupids parted ways with the small cupid and me, waving goodbye as they did so, while I was being pulled along.
We finally arrived in another large room adorned with pink petals and blue flowers that lined the walls and spilled through the open windows. Since this was a treehouse and everyone had wings, it made sense to have open windows.
Rather than focusing on the decor and flowers, I followed Bunny, who led me to a long table filled with an assortment of food. A few cupids were gathered around the table, enjoying the spread. I couldn't see what they were eating until we stopped right in front of them.
What caught my attention first was the strong, sweet smell in the air. The table was filled with food that matched the pink and blue color scheme of the room. Almost everything on it was a sweet treat, contributing to the overall theme.
A variety of treats were available, including candy, cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, and beautifully presented smoothies, along with other items in the same category. The selection was plentiful, although some boards were less complete than others. Regardless, there were plenty of options to choose from, all of which belonged to the bakery or sweet category.
Bunny went straight for a smoothie that had marshmallows on top and a few juicy strawberry pieces inside. I turned back to reach for a heart-shaped cookie on the cookie plate. Taking a bite made my eyes open, and my stomach fluttered with the shocking taste it had.
I had no idea the pink cookie could have such a rich, chocolate flavor hiding inside it. I finished it and went for another one, taking at least two more before scarfing them down and licking my lips.
Bunny giggled and I turned an eye to her while stuffing my face. "Like it?"
I gulped before responding. "Yeah, it's okay.."
She raised a brow, and her wings fluffed up for a second before flattening back down onto her back. She took another sip from the smoothie and suppressed an eye roll. I smirked and nudged her with my elbow. She turned to me, and I gave her a genuine smile. "It's great."
She smiled, showing her bright white teeth, and my chest warmed up at her beauty. Instead of saying something, she moved her cup up for me to take a drink. I shook my head, feeling slightly embarrassed to share the same straw with her.
Bunny huffed, "Come on. It's only an 'indirect kiss', not a real one."
I blushed, wheezing out a laugh as I finished the last of my cookies. "I never kissed anyone, so I don't know.."
Bunny giggled and took my hand, her grip soft and delicate. I turned to face her, and she leaned closer, almost touching my lips. I shut my eyes, suppressing a gasp, and waited for something to happen. But nothing came. After a few seconds, I opened one eye to find her just inches away, wearing a sweet grin. "Can I kiss you?"
I blushed even harder, uncertain of what to say. I pulled away slightly, feeling her warm palm against mine. "Uh—what—" I gulped, my heart fluttering as she looked back at me. "I like you, Bunny, yes, but not—not like that..."
"I know Vienna, don't worry," Bunny said, rolling her eyes and turning her attention to me. "Trust me. It's just a kiss; it doesn't have to mean anything." Her smile turned into a playful smirk. "But don't you want to have your first kiss with a cupid? You can brag about it with Rory."
Okay, that sounded tempting.
Regardless of the situation, I knew that my heart didn't truly belong to anyone but Bunny. When I closed my eyes and thought about it, all I could see was a shimmer of gold and bright eyes looking back at me. I could feel a gentle touch and hear loving words that cradled me in a soft, welcoming embrace.
My face turned red when I opened my eyes back up. Bunny looked up at me, tilting her head. "Go ahead, you can think about your true love instead of me during the kiss."
I let out a shaking breath, nodding along with her as her grip tightened on my hand. I leaned down, and Bunny moved the smoothie away so that her lips would meet mine. I closed my eyes and felt the soft press of warm lips meeting mine.
She moved with a soft and gentle grace as she leaned slightly into me. With my head down, I could smell the sweet strawberry scent of her lips and taste it as well. It made me want to lean in closer, to savor the moment as my body melted into her touch. We lingered there for a few seconds, my eyes closed, lost in the sensation and the sweetness of her lips against mine.
Bunny soon pulled away, and I followed suit, meeting her bright pink eyes that sparkled back at me. I felt my face flush, and I noticed hers doing the same, but she brushed it off with a soft giggle.
I scratched my head, feeling suddenly awkward and embarrassed after kissing the cupid.
Well, now I have something to use against Rory. I kissed one before they could.
"Here," I turned to the short cupid, she was giving me the smoothie, and her smile sent warmth in my chest. "Have a drink. If you like it, there's always more."
Feeling suddenly giddy and warm, I took a sip and smiled at the comforting sweetness and smoothness of the drink. I nodded, licking my lips and smirking down at Bunny. "I just might."
She smirked back, rolling her head back as her wings fluffed up.