2.

Chapter 2

 

CAELUM

 

I watch as the little kid ran to his parents – He looks so vulnerable, so innocent for he is young.

 

He isn’t corrupted by life yet, his innocence still intact.

 

 

The sight of him made me reminisce the day I arrived here on Earth as a young child as I felt like it happened only yesterday. Oblivion is a blessing and it is the only thing I brought with me, along with a new identity–a new soul. I was crying even if it was a beautiful day after a storm, scared and lost, just as a little child should be. The mortals took pity on me and they took me in. They were kind and  treated me like their own–they became my parents.

 

They love me greatly only to die because of what I have done.

 

I shouldn’t have changed those steel arrows into gold. If I knew that it will help Hades in tracking me down, I would’ve abandoned the thought of shooting arrows. I am not aware that I had the power to give love and that’s my greatest mistake.

 

Love made me bitter, and love is the reason why I am alone.

 

Gaea stopped Hades from taking my life that day when he found me. She fashioned me a bracelet that serves as my life, the beats echoing in my hollow chest, masking my abnormality. I  thrive on earth and exist like mortals do. As long as the earth lives, I breathe, but I have to move fast because I couldn’t afford to expose my young countenance and everlasting youth.

 

Gaea’s words echoes in my mind every time I touched the bracelet, ‘let no one near your heart for they will perish. From now on you will be blind of love and not notice it for this will be your fall.’

 

I caressed my bracelet and felt my odd pulse, smiling slightly before I shifted, waiting for the lift.

 

My hands curled and I put them inside of my pocket as Gaea’s words resonated inside my head, ‘This is my advice and I hope you will engrave it in your mind: do not show love, nor kindness. Trust in jealousy and envy, for it will make you live long. Enjoy my blessing. You will wait for how many years, still you won’t know why but once you perceive love and Hades finds out, he will come and I will see you again.’

 

I chose not to be bothered by Gaea’s words but every time I see the mortals laughing, rejoicing of their life–I felt envious.

 

What did I do in my past to deserve this reward, of which I felt, resembles a punishment?

 

Now I continue this life with no love to cling to.

 

The lift stops in front of us and people began to pile inside. I followed them in and settled far from the others, darting my eyes away from the sweet little boy whom I’ve been looking at for he made me feel vulnerable.

 

As I look away, I noticed that people were staring at me.

 

I am used to people giving me those looks–Not the bad kind or insulting ones but the flirting, seducing kind; the kind on which I don’t need to think twice to know that I am their absolute desire. I pursed my lips on the direction of the teenage girls and smiled as I earned a giggle from them, lifting my mood.

 

Bloody arrows. Is it possible to love and hate this life? Well, for me, I vote yes.

 

Getting off from the lift, I winked at the girls again and chuckled at the three little half beats pulsing in my wrist.

 

Still, I thank Gaea for granting me this quite exciting life. It was challenging to get through each day, thinking of whose heart should I break, selecting my victims carefully for humans are vulnerable. They are easily tricked, easily molded. I can just close my eyes and turn around, pointing a finger before stopping to know who my new victim is. No effort exerted. Anywhere I go, I know I can survive. As long as I am careful not to show my feelings, I am safe from Hades’ attack.

 

It’s all about control of mind over my non existent heart.

 

The usual crowd buzzed just outside the post, the stairs full of people. I glared at the other girl who hasn’t stop g I rolled my eyes. She is probably enthralled of my inhuman beauty though she acts so obvious, making me irritated. She glares back at me while I rolled my eyes at her. Pathetic, I can’t believe she actually glared at me.

 

The guts of the girl, unbelievable!

 

I huffed, dropping off the package Aeon, the wind god, has asked me to. I walked out of the building, welcoming the sweet scent of  baked goods, coffee and my favorite:  jealousy and hate. Whistling to myself, I smiled at Newman as I entered the Chateau. His vivid green eyes fixed on me as he scratch his blonde head, flustered. “How’s it going, Newman?”

 

“Same old, my lord.” Newman station himself next to the door and huffed, straightening his coat. “Everything appears dull and boring this days. It would’ve been nice if you take me back to my original post.” I rolled my eyes at his suggestion and smirked.

 

“In time, Newman, in time,” I pat his shoulder which earn me a glare. I chuckled and strolled over to the lift, smiling as the familiar scent of jealousy and hate wafted through the halls, drifting behind me as if the scent knew that my presence is lingering on this very building.

 

I touched my bracelet, noticing the seven red dots inside it.

 

Geez, I thought it was already ten! This means that I need another shift later on.

 

 Stepping out of the lift, I smirk at the cherubim posted both on my doors.

 

I entered my password and pushed open the door, smiling as I see the oars hanged upon the ceilings. The old battered flag of United Kingdom, hanging next to the rows of a thousand collection of books I have stored for a millennia, is still holding on.  I stared at it for a while before heading inside my room, deciding to change into a much better outfit.

 

I rested my hand upon the wall at the far corner and it retracted, revealing my closet. I headed inside and slipped out of my clothes throwing them down on the floor. I snatched some boxers, a black shirt and ripped jeans before deciding to wear my black leather jacket. I sprayed some allurements on my body, shuffling some round eyeglasses on the bridge of my nose before deciding against it. I push my hair back, ruffled it more and stared at my reflection, smiling.

 

Perfect!

 

I headed at the cupboard by the corner of my closet, swipe and enter the password to it, collecting my potions, compound bow and pipe. I was looking for some arrows when I notice the golden box where I store all of my letters and drawings of her. I couldn’t help but tighten my hand on my bow as I look at it, the bitter taste on my mouth ruining my happy mood.

 

Snatching the arrows, I closed the safe and walked out of my room. I light my pipe before drifting out the building again, in search of a few more victims.

 

Geez, where should I go now?