26 It Takes Two to Tango pt.2

*BANG!!!*

Wrath fell to floor as the harsh fingers released itself from her throat. An odd warmth sheltered her from the impact of the hard ground. She dashed away from her attacker and rubbed her neck to soothe the mildly blistered skin. Her eyes were drawn to the pair of twitching foot.

"You…little…rascal…" the crazed woman grinded her teeth.

The little toddler crawled on all four to get a closer look at her bleeding caregiver. She shuffled gingerly, as if what she had witnessed might just be another illusion; a trick of the mind. The body eventually stopped flinching as her blood seeped into the carpeted floor; painting it crimson.

"M-Mary? I-I… Eros, she's dead," the poor thing stuttered.

Unknowingly, the little girl had pricked her hands on the jagged pieces of broken glass. The now crooked chandelier lay atop of the now lifeless body of the woman. It was Wrath's first direct encounter with death. Seeing a soul left its body right in front of her triggered something deep within her.

"Wrath! Move away from the glass!" a hand pulled her away from the rubble.

The swift motion snapped her out of the trance, "Eros!"

"Look at your hands! Let's get you cleaned up," his sharp features softened.

"But what about Mary? And the chandelier, and the carpet– "

The pale hand cupped her face away from the tragedy behind her, "Hey, never mind that now. C'mon, let's clean your wounds."

Eros led his tiny human companion into the bathroom and sat her down on a stool. He tended to her scars and wrapped her palms with bandages. Wrath zoned out as she stared at her bounded hands. Everything happened so fast that she still hadn't had time to process it thoroughly. Suddenly, fat steaming tears stained her flushed cheeks.

"Hey, what's wrong?" the ignorant man turned.

"She's dead, Eros."

"I know. But it's not your fault. She was about to harm you. At least she didn't turn into a ghost."

Her dark eyes met his, "I imagined it falling on her… Just like you said."

"Comforting people isn't my specialty, it's not every day that I meet people more reckless than me. Umm…" he sighed and disappeared into her room and came back with an origami octopus. "Here."

"What is this?" she wiped her tears.

"It's an octopus! It has eight arms to hug you all at once. So, hold this and imagine it was me when you're sad," he handed her the paper and turned away shyly.

Wrath's eyes glistened as the pink octopus lay gently on her hand, "I love it!"

"I-it's nothing okay! I just wanted you to stop crying. Not that I care," he tousled her hair.

"Hey!" she giggled.

"I have to go now, your grandma is coming," he smiled and dematerialized.

The bathroom door opened, and the silver-haired lady rushed in to hug her granddaughter. She frantically checked her from head to toe for wounds and stopped as she reached Wrath's hands. The eccentric lady caressed the wrapped palms and smiled softly; relieved.

"Did your friend help you?" she played dumb.

"Huh? Do you know him too? He gave me this octopus to make me feel better!" Wrath bragged.

The old lady reached out and brushed her purple locks, "Hahaha… I'm glad you feel better. Let's go down for lunch. You must be starving."

Wrath's face drained of its color and her eyes were plastered to the floor once more.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Madame Lilith bowed her head to meet her eyes.

"I don't like broccoli and roast beef," she whispered meekly.

"Don't worry about it. Your secret is safe with me, darling. Truthfully, I was never a huge fan either," her ruby lips formed a smile and she winked.

The two set for the glamorous marble dining hall as a group of mysterious men in uniforms went inside her room. Both of them shared a mutual ignorance towards the incident that just occurred right above their heads. Wrath felt a bond and gained an accomplice she had been longing for.

Her house didn't completely feel like an endless abyss of despair anymore. With a scarlet origami octopus in one hand and her grandma's hand in the other, she felt like she finally stood a chance at being happy.

**********

Wrath brought Eros' gift wherever she went. He hadn't showed up around the house since her parents' arrival. The minuscule creature reminded her of his warmth and the aural feeling he radiated.

"Wrath? Why do you keep that filthy paper on the dining table? It's such an eyesore, isn't it honey?" Persephone turned to her husband.

"Your mother's right, sweetie. What was it even supposed to be? A chewed gum?' he sneered.

"My friend gave it to me. It's an octopus," Wrath muttered.

"This crap again. How many times do we have to tell you that he doesn't exist?! Who would wanna befriend you anyway? That senile old hag is polluting you with ideas," the grumpy man protested.

"Maybe we should get rid of both of you," the wicked wife played along.

"No!" the tortured girl ran away to her room.

The drunken man let out a chuckle, "The kid has no sense of humor, huh?"

Wrath cradled herself under her blankets and embraced the octopus; longingly calling for a rescue from the torment.

"Eros…I don't wanna live anymore," she sniveled.

"I thought we made a promise," the familiar playful voice answered.

"Where have you been? I've missed you! They locked up grandma in her room and you disappeared too!' she threw her cover aside.

"I know, I'm sorry. It's been hard with your parents around. I can't tell you much about it, but I'm here now."

The little girl's smile tarnished as she looked down at her spoiled souvenir, "Mom was right, he's becoming an eyesore."

"I can always make you a new one if that's the only thing that upsets you. I'll leave one on your beloved balcony every day. Be it sunny or rainy. On one condition, promise that you'll never cry on your birthday ever again," he offered his pinky.

"Only if you stay with me here tonight."

"Okay," he wrapped his finger around hers.

Suddenly her bedroom door opened, and her grandma snuck inside; holding a birthday cake with four candles lit. She set the cake on a dresser and positioned a camera.

"Grandma, what are you doing?" Wrath whispered innocently.

"Happy birthday, princess. I sewed this for you," she gave her a pink octopus plushy. "Now quick, blow the candles before your parents realize I was missing."

Wrath ran up to her gleefully and jumped into her arms. Lilith set the timer on the camera and held her grandchild up to reach the cake. Just before the camera shutter clicked, Eros swooped into the frame with them and blew the candle with her.

"Happy birthday, Eros," the child said.

"S-so, what are you gonna name the replacement octopus?" he pretended to ignore the wish.

"Cupid," she said; a wide smile plastered across her face.