A Cupid's Story (Short Story)

Today on the blog I want to share with you a short story that I wrote. Being the hopeless romantic that I am and in honor of Valentine's Day I give you a love story......

A Cupid's Story

As the couple embraced I couldn’t help but think of all the couples I was responsible for matching. After nearly two centuries of being a Cupid my number was far too great to count. Besides it’s not like I keep track of them or anything. Okay, so maybe I do a little. But only the ones that last, the one’s I live vicariously through.

And I could tell that this couple was going to make it. It was in their eyes. You see the truth of love is

always in the eyes.

A sigh escaped my throat, but there was no worry of someone overhearing me because as a Cupid I couldn’t be seen. For the past one hundred and eighty-five years I have gone unseen, unnoticed and untouched by mortals. Oh how I wish for what these couples have. To have even a shred of what they share, even for just one day. It would truly be the ultimate reward.

“I would give up anything for that.” I stated with longing.

“Anything huh?” a deep voice asked from behind.

I froze. I knew that voice, it was the voice of the head Cupid, Drake.

“Drake. What, they let you out of your cage?” I asked trying to hide my nerves.

Drake caressed my cheek. “Oh Anastasia, you know how I long to give you that.”

My cheeks reddened with anger and embarrassment. Most Cupids would be flattered to have Drake’s attention. Not only was he the head Cupid, but he was also the picture of angelic. From his golden curls, his chiseled body and liquid sapphire eyes most girls would be a puddle at his feet. But I knew the real Drake. I knew that he could never love the way I desired—not like a human.

I would just be his play thing until he got bored. I firmly removed his hand from my cheek. “Now you know how that worked out the first time? Or do you need a little reminder?” I said with venom.

Drake immediately stepped back and I had to smother a chuckle, but I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. It appeared he did remember.

“Oh, I remember very well Anastasia.” He grimaced. “Now about your little wish.”

“What about it Drake? You know as well as I do that you will never let me leave.”

“Ah, that is where you are wrong Ana. You see I am going to grant you the one thing your heart desires. Your chance to find mortal love.” Drake paused. “I will give you six months to find a mortal who will confess his love for you. If you are successful, then I will release you of your lifetime of servitude.” He said flatly.

“And if I’m not successful?” I asked distrust thick in my voice.

A wicked grin spread across his face, “Ah, Ana always worried about the what if’s in life. Very well then. If you don’t succeed then you will come back to me and serve by my side as queen.”

I opened and closed my mouth completely taken aback by his demand. “Fine, but I have a few demands of my own.” I said through my anger.

“Of course you do.” He mocked.

“When I go down, you will not interfere with my life in any way. Or in the life of any mortal I court. Also you will send me down with a complete background a college degree, a job, everything I will need to survive in the mortal world.”

Drake closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Fine.” He hissed. “Deal. As soon as you kiss me the deal will be done and you will be mortal.”

I should have known something like that was coming, but it still shocked me. I steeled myself and stepped into him intending to give him the cold peck he deserved, but when I was close enough he grabbed me by the waist, pulled me to him and kissed me with lips so full of passion, heat and anger that he left me reeling. When he let go I stood alone. I was completely dazed, my lips tingled from our kiss. Who knew he could kiss like that.

I shook myself out of my stupor and took in the world around me. Sure it was the same world I had been watching but now everything seemed much more alive.

I picked a direction and headed where my heart told me to go.

Three months later….

I have officially been a mortal for three months now. And it has been the best three months of my very long existence. So far Drake has held up his end of the bargain. I have to say he set me up quite nicely. I am a professor of Literature at the local University and live in a beautiful condo on the beach. I have met many friends, but unfortunately I am no closer to finding my mortal love. With half my time left I know I should have been freaking out, but as a Cupid and as a hopeless romantic I will always believe in happily ever after. I know I will get mine. I just have to be patient—within reason anyway.

I was sitting in my office grading student essays when my best friend Jessica stormed into my office full of excitement.

“Oh my gosh, have you met the new Gothic Lit Professor? He is such an ass—tonishing specimen. I would like to sink my teeth into him.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me as she grabbed one of the student essays off my desk and began to read, “If I were Juliet from the famous Shakespeare tragedy I would, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah……how do you read this dribble?”

I leaned forward snatching the paper out of her hands. “Not everyone can be as talented as you.” Jessica was a very popular and talented fantasy author. Her specialty, stories about Cupid. Ironic huh?

“It is a gift.” She said leaning back in her chair. “So?”

“So what?” I asked.

Jessica huffed. “Have you met Mr. Delicious?”

I laughed. “No, I have not met Dr. Hunter.” I replied with emphasis on Dr. Hunter.

“Well you need to. How long has it been since you had a date?” She asked with one raised eyebrow.

I shook my head. I was so not going to answer that question. Because the truth was that I had never had a date in my whole one hundred and eighty-five years.

“We are not starting on that again, are we?” I sighed.

“Yes, we are starting on that again. Come on Ana you can’t let all your hotness go to waste. I know the way the college boys drool over you. You may not see it, but trust me every woman around you does. I bet your female students hate you.” Jessica said with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes and was getting ready to reply when someone knocked on my door.

“Come in.” I replied.

“Dr. Moon?” The man asked as he entered the room.

For a moment I sat in complete awe at the man who stood before me. He was definitely everything Jessica said he was. He had rich dark brown hair just long enough that he had to sweep it out of his eyes from time to time. Perfect olive skin, a firm jaw and a bottom lip that just begged to be bitten. I shook my head bringing myself back to the room.

“Sorry, how rude of me. Yes I am Dr. Moon, Anastasia Moon. You must be Dr. Hunter?” I asked rising, offering him my hand.

He stepped forward and took my hand. “Please call me Derek. Anastasia—pleased to meet you.” When he said my name our eyes met and I was startled to see that they were so gray they were almost silver. My breath caught and my heart stuttered.

Jessica cleared her throat and smiled like the cat that ate the canary. We slowly let go of each other’s hands as if we were afraid we would never find each other again. It almost pained me to let go.

Over the next two months Derek and I were inseparable. When we weren’t working we were together. I don’t know what it was, but we were instantly connected. Tonight we sat on my couch cuddled up watching our favorite show Once Upon a Time. We were both huge fans of fairytales and really loved the twists the producers put on the old stories.

“You know I don’t know what my life would be like without you.” Derek said as he drew hearts on the back of the hand that he held. He brought our clasped hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles, feather light. Then he kissed just below my ear, lingering long enough to breathe me in. He left a trail of kisses along my jaw that left me completely breathless and when he reached my chin he kissed it and rested his forehead on mine. “Anastasia, from the minute I met you, I was enchanted. Not just by your physical beauty, but by the beauty of your soul. I love you and will always love you.”

My body grew hot with his words, “I love you too.” I whispered as I leaned in and kissed him.

My heart soared and my soul sang. I was free. Free to live a mortal life, free to love a mortal man. I smiled at the thought…..freedom. 

                                    Check out Part 2 Here: O' Cupid Where Art Thou

Happy Valentine's Day!!

"Devouring worlds, one book and recipe at a time."