Chapter 1

I stare at the sun from the balcony of my room as it sets on the west side of the Earth, seating on a cemented railing, and crossing my legs in front. From here, I can see the clouds below covering the palace. Those clouds are not just ordinary clouds. If you will take a look from here, it is like a transparent mirror in which you can see everything from the other side; the wide body of water, and the green lands. But if you will take a look from the land surface of the Earth, all you can see is the total opposite – just the vast white clouds.

I hear the door creaks open. I did not turn to see who came in. I know it's my mother. She's the only one who always came in on my room without knocking.

"Cupid, you must eat. You ate nothing for the past two days. I know you're hungry."

I remain in silent. I don't want to talk to her. She's selfish. She only thinks about herself. And I don't get her logic on how she will be replaced by Psyche as the goddess of beauty. How will a mere human replace her as a goddess? It is impossible. I know that a mortal can be transformed into an immortal, but, to be a god or goddess is very impossible. Only the sons and daughters of gods and goddess will be called also as gods and goddess and demigods also.

She stands beside me. She taps my shoulder. "You know I did that on purpose – to protect our family."

"No, you didn't. You only did that for your own reasons, Mother." I am not mad on her. I am angry for killing the person I value the most. The only person who makes me feel happy without putting too much effort. "We both know that you will never be replaced because you're a daughter of a god and a goddess, Mother."

"Someday, you will know why I did that, Cupid. You'll realize that I made the right thing."

I stand up, spreading my two meter length wings. It shines every time a ray of light reflects on its feathers.

"Where are you going?" she asks, trying to stop me.

"Somewhere where I can be alone; where you can't bother me, Mother." I jump after saying those words. I glide on the air as I flip my wings.

I want to be alone. I need peace.

***

Slowly, I land my feet on a statue situated at the center of a park. I make sure that no human will see me – I make myself invisible. We, gods and goddesses, can be invisible if we want to hide ourselves and no mere mortal can see us. We do this every time we wonder on Earth.

I glance around the place.  There are big and tall trees aligned in every ten meters that sets the good ambiance of the place. There are colorful flowers planted in a man-made plot beside the walkway and beside every bleacher that lightens the mood of every creature who can see the variation of colors. The lights coming from the post-lights give direction to the people walking along the pathways – it makes cinematic effect.

I watch the girl walking on a pathway. She wears a black long-sleeved dress. Her face is covered by a red and black mask. She sits on one of the bleachers, untying the mask from the back of her head.

Based from her gestures and features, I think it is the girl that mother wants me to kill.

I focus my attention on her as she slowly removes the mask. I gape on her for seconds, for minutes rather. Is mother serious on killing this beautiful lady? She's too beautiful for a human.

Gliding on the air, I fly towards her direction. I want to see her face nearer. I stand in front of her. She can't see me anyway. She smiles and I don't know why I smile when I see her smiling. I step backward. I don't know what to do this feeling inside of me; there's something fluttering inside my stomach, and I can't help myself from staring on her. I reach her left shoulder, and I feel a volt of electricity passing through my skin.

She looks up with wide eyes. She stands up. Slowly, she takes few steps. "W-who are you?" She takes more steps away from me.

Do I accidentally forget to be invisible?

"W-why do you have wings?"

Do I scare her? I make myself invisible as fast as I can.

I stare on an empty seat. This is where I first saw her, our very first encounter. I fold my wings and sit on the bleacher. Resting my elbows on my knees, I cover my hands on my face. I can feel my tears start to roll over my cheeks. I can't forget that moment. Her shocked and unexplainable reaction the moment she saw me. It is sad when the person who gave you the best memories becomes a memory.

Even if I am a god, a god who still at a minor age and a god who still don't know what my powers will be, I know I fell in love with Psyche. But that love did not last for a long time. We are separated by life and death.

I am powerless compared to my cousins at my age. They already discovered their true power at an early age. I only have a pair of wings that serves as a shield. Other than that, nothing's special. That's the main reason why my father taught me on how to use a sword; how to defend myself from enemies, how to kill.

A couple passes by in front of me. The both of them wear a couple of white shirt with a caption printed in front saying She's Mine, and He's Mine. They look happy; they are laughing, talking on each other. I can see it from their glimmering eyes as they look at each other's pair of eyes.

If I can't be happy with someone I love, then so must be the frail mortals. I am a god and they're just mere humans. We are the superiors, they are the inferiors. I won't let them to be happy. They must also feel the same thing – despair, anguish, and alone.

I flutter my wings and fly unto them. They must be separated. They don't have the right to be happy.

I float five meter above them, flipping my wings faster than the usual to create strong waves of wind. The trees sway. The dried leaves on the ground dance on the air, swirling. The lampposts flicker its lights, and then the glass protecting the bulb inside it breaks. The people are in panic. They run to somewhere just to keep themselves safe.

The man hugs the woman, tightly; covering the woman's body by his own. The woman's head is placed against the man's chest.

I gesture my right arm towards the direction of the happy human couple. The strong bearing of wind with the dried leaves and twigs follows my lead. I flap my wings more as I move back and forth to make the wind stronger, to make sure that the couple will be separated. The wind encircles the couple and it blows between them. The twigs and leaves are scratching their skins, making wounds and bruises.

Slowly, the couple floats together with the wind, twisting. They're hugging no more; arms stretch whilst gripping their hands, trying not to lose their contact.

I produce more powerful blows of wind. It hits the man, throwing him aside. His spine thumps on one of the bleachers near them. His body hugs the ground, strangling for life.

That's right. Be afraid to lose your life. This is just the beginning of your suffering, humans.

"Cupid!" I hear mother speaks from my back. "Stop this foolishness."

"No, Mother. They must also suffer in misery just like what you did to me. No human must live happy in love," I reply, not looking at her.

I feel my wings stop from flapping. The breeze stops.

The woman drops directly to the ground. She stands on her feet and rushes on to the man, tears flowing on her rosy cheeks.

"Your wings are made for good, and not to make humans live in misery."

"But you want me to kill an innocent girl. The innocent girl I love the most."

Mother holds my pair of wings in one hand. She raises her sword. In just a second, I wince in pain. The flesh on my back and the roots of my wings spilt. She's cutting my wings, disconnecting it away from me.

"You must learn your lesson, Cupid. You're not being able to return on the palace as long as you can't gain you're wings. And you can only claim your wings once again when you've learned already your lesson and purpose as a god."