| Part 8 � Everythin� according to plan?� asked Cupid. Strife nodded, as he stalked over to his lover. Cupid grinned and lay back. Strife crawled over his body and straddled him. � Cupe?� � Yeah?� � I want mom ta be happy,� Strife rolled off Cupid and curled up next to him. � I know,� Cupid hugged him close. � What about Autolycus?� asked Strife. � What about him?� � Duh! Mom�s gotta crush on him,� Strife tapped Cupid�s head. � How �bout we fix em up?� Cupid looked at Strife, � This wouldn�t have anything to do with what Eris and Pops pulled last night, would it?� Strife smirked, � Weeell.� Cupid shook his head and chuckled. � Well, maybe that�s not a bad idea. She seems to forget how much we love each other,� Cupid bit his lip. � And why you�re here.� Strife hugged him, � I remember.� ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two years before � You�re insane!� � Oh come on, Strife,� Cupid started. � No, ya bein� stupid,� Strife was desperately trying not to cry, but his heart was breaking. � Strife, please, I love her,� Cupid pleaded. Strife snorted, � Yeah, whatever, if shooting yourself in the foot means you love her, fine.� � Will you just give me your support?� Cupid asked. � Fine,� Strife wrapped his arms around himself. � But expect �I told ya so�s� when you come cryin ta me.� Cupid sighed, this was not the reaction he�d expected from his cousin when he�d told him about his forthcoming marriage. � Okay. Will you be there?� � I dunno, maybe,� Strife just wanted to get out of there. He certainly didn�t want to be part of a ceremony that would lose him Cupid forever. @>-->----- After Cupid married, he saw less and less of Strife. He was surprised how lonely he felt without his cousin around all the time. Psyche didn�t seem all that bothered about spending time with him. It had started off well, but lately she�d been distant, and if he was honest he couldn�t bring himself to care. He wondered if the marriage hadn�t been a little hasty after all. The only highlight in his life came with Bliss� birth. @>-->---- Then his whole world came crashing down around his ears in one day. He got a summons to see his grandmother and flashed into her temple. � Wha-what�s going on?� Cupid stuttered. Psyche was bound with Hephaestian manacles and on her knees. She stared pleadingly at her husband. � Cupid, I�m so sorry to do this. It was brought to my attention that young Psyche was having some, uh, an affair,� Hera said gently. � I want you to see what I saw in her mind.� � Psyche?� Cupid was confused. � It�s not true Cupie, I swear, umph,� Psyche was silenced suddenly. Cupid stepped forward and reached out his mind to connect with Psyche�s. He staggered back from the force of hatred and disgust he felt directed towards himself. Then he saw all the running around about behind his back with various Gods and mortals and pulled away, shaking his head. � Why?� Psyche laughed bitterly, � You don�t know? You try living with someone who is in love with someone else.� She sneered at him. Cupid frowned, � What?� he had no idea what she was talking about. Hera touched his shoulder. � You may choose her punishment. Your ties have already been severed.� Cupid shook his head, trying to clear it. � I, I. Make her mortal, send her back to Earth, that is punishment enough,� he replied. � No!� Psyche screamed. She glared at him and he backed away from the hatred in her eyes. � It is done,� intoned Hera. Psyche disappeared. � Cupid, will you be all right?� Hera asked her grandson kindly. He nodded, � Yeah, I�m just, I don�t know.� He kissed Hera goodbye and transported himself back to his halls. He sat down. It was strange, he didn�t really feel anything. He wasn�t even really surprised, except he had no idea what she meant about loving someone else. As he sat there, he was suddenly gripped by a terrible pain. He clutched at his chest, struggling for breath. As he passed out, he whispered a name. � Strife.� @>-->----- When he came to, he felt terrible, like a part of himself was missing. He transported himself to Strife�s bedroom. � Strife? Strife?� he called. He flashed into the War Room. � Dad?� Ares was sitting down, his head in his hands. He looked up, his eyes were red. � Cupid, I.� � What? What�s happened? Where�s Strife?� Cupid shook his father. � He, he�s dead. Callisto, somehow she managed to get hold of the Hind�s blood dagger. It, she killed him. I didn�t know, I didn�t stop her.� Ares closed his eyes. Cupid dropped to the floor. He shook his head, refusing to believe his father. � No, no, no,� he rocked jerkily. � Cupid, I�m sorry,� Ares reached out to touch his son. � No!� screamed Cupid. He pushed Ares away, and transported himself to his room. He flung himself onto his bed and started to cry. Great sobs racked his body. � Sweetie?� Cupid froze. � Cupie, what is it?� He looked up at his mother. � St-St-Strife,� he sobbed. Aphrodite sat on the bed and pulled her son into her arms. � I know, I know,� she said, trying to use her power to ease his pain. But then she felt something unexpected. She pulled back slightly. � You love him?� Cupid nodded. � I didn�t know,� he whispered. � I felt him die. And now� there�s nothing.� He buried his face in her shoulder. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For days he saw no one, except Bliss. But his broken heart upset his son, and eventually he asked his mother to take care of him. He sat in his hall as he had for the last three days, doing nothing, seeing nothing. Even Aphrodite, Ares and Hera appearing in his hall didn�t get a reaction. � Sweetie?� Cupid stared blankly at his mother. � Cupie we need to talk to you.� Cupid nodded. Aphrodite smiled hesitantly. � Cupid, I know you loved Strife, but you have to carry on, you have to.� Cupid closed his eyes and swallowed hard, he hadn�t cried for a couple of hours and he didn�t want to cry anymore. He shook his head. � I can�t.� � Cupid, how much do you love him?� Hera asked. � More than life,� Cupid whispered hoarsely. � Enough to risk leaving Bliss fatherless?� Cupid opened his eyes and frowned, � What do you mean?� � There is a little known rule in the kingdom of Hades, implemented by Persephone. If you pass the Trial of True Love, you can bring back your loved one. But,� she stopped. � But what?� � But if you fail, you die,� Ares finished for her. Cupid sat up, a determined look on his face, � What do I have to do?� � Cupie, are you sure?� Aphrodite asked. Cupid nodded, � I can�t be any kind of a father to Bliss with half my soul missing.� Ares and Aphrodite sighed and kissed their son, before disappearing. � You must go before Hades, ask to take the Trial of True Love for Strife,� said Hera. � Thank you grandmother. We will be back, I promise.� Cupid visited Bliss before he left. � Daddy!� squealed Bliss. � Hey sweetie,� Cupid sat down. � Bliss, daddy has to go away, and I might not come back,� Cupid stroked his son�s cheek. � But I love you very much.� Bliss hugged his father, � I love you too daddy.� Cupid sighed and kissed him, � Bye darling.� @>-->---- Cupid transported himself down to the underworld. � Hades?� he called nervously. Hades appeared in a flash of black sparks. � Cupid? What are you doing here?� he asked. � I, I want to take the Trial of True Love,� Cupid replied. Hades frowned, � Psyche is not with me.� Cupid frowned, � I wouldn�t risk anything for her! I, I want to take it for Strife.� � Strife?� Hades raised his eyebrows in surprise. Cupid nodded. � Very well. You must face three tests and pass them all. If you fail you too will die.� � I understand,� Cupid said firmly. � So be it!� Cupid found himself in a cave with three Strifes. He stared at them in confusion. � Strife?� � Hey cuz, hear ya dumped that Psycho chick,� said the first with a wink. � Yo, cuz, youngish, free and single huh?� said the second with a smirk. The third Strife smiled gently, � I told ya so, Cupe.� Cupid smiled, � Strife,� he sighed. He reached out to touch the third Strife and all three vanished. A voice echoed round the cave, � You have passed the test of friendship, and very quickly I might add.� Suddenly Cupid found himself in the middle of an orgy. Three nubile, young women came towards him, smiling. � Cupid, welcome,� said the first, handing him a drink. � Come, relax a while with us,� the second kissed his cheek. � When�s the second test?� Cupid asked in confusion. � Soon,� said the third woman. She took his hand, � Come.� The first two women wrapped their arms around him and led him to a couch. He barely noticed them. One of the girls knelt between his legs and started to stroke his thighs. Another slipped behind him and rubbed his shoulders. � What are you doing?� Cupid pushed them away. He put the drink down, his foot tapping impatiently. What was going on? He didn�t have time for this, when was the second test? A third woman slipped behind him and began to stroke his wings, pressing her breasts up against his back. � Oh you�re so tense,� she breathed in his ear, � Relax.� Cupid stood sharply, knocking her down with his wings in his haste and agitation, � How can I relax? What�s going on? Hades?� he shouted angrily, � I want the second test now!� The room was suddenly empty. � You have passed the test of temptation, congratulations. Now comes the hard part.� Cupid found himself, this time, in total darkness. � What in Hades?� then he laughed at himself, obviously in Hades. � Cupe?� � Strife! Strife, where are you?� � I don�t know.� The cave was lit up by fires. � By the Gods,� breathed Cupid in horror. Strife was chained to the side of a cliff. He looked half dead. Below him, coiled up, lay an enormous serpent. Cupid gulped, biting his lip nervously. He hated snakes. It reared up and hissed at him as he approached. � Cupe, please go back,� begged Strife. Cupid looked up at his love and took a deep breath, � No!� With that, he launched himself into the air. The serpent lunged at him, and he just managed to dodge it. As he flew, the serpent followed, he couldn�t shake it. � Cupid, I don�t want ya hurt,� Strife shouted desperately. � I can�t get anymore hurt than living without you,� Cupid yelled as he dodged another lunge. Cupid flew round and round, then he dodged down and back round. Then he flew through the coil formed in the serpent�s body. It lunged at him again, then stopped as it got caught in its own body. It dropped to the ground. Cupid wiped the sweat from his face and flew up to Strife. Cupid released the chains and Strife vanished. � No!� screamed Cupid. There was a flash and he was standing before Hades again. � You faced your fear and risked your life, you pass the test of unconditional love,� Hades actually smiled. He waved his hand and Strife appeared. � Strife�s life and Godhood are restored, you may go.� Cupid grabbed hold of Strife tightly, and transported them both to his room. � Cupe, dude, what�s going on?� Strife was confused. He sat down on the bed. Cupid sat down next to his cousin, � You died.� � I died?� Cupid nodded. � How?� � Callisto stabbed you with the Hind�s blood dagger.� � But how come I�m here?� � I, uh, I brought you back,� Cupid said hesitantly. � How? Why?� Strife frowned in confusion. Cupid gulped, � Strife, I have a few things to tell you.� Strife nodded. � Psyche�s gone, for good,� he put up his hand to stop Strife. � I don�t care about that. I, I care about you.� He took Strife�s hand and pressed it to his chest. � I felt you go.� Tears stung his eyes, � I�ve never, I wanted to die.� � Don�t say that, don�t evah say that!� Strife shook his cousin. � Ya have people who love ya, ya have a son.� Cupid smiled weakly, � What kind of Love God has a broken heart?� Strife stared at him, eyes swimming with tears, � What, what do ya mean?� � I love you Strife, I couldn�t live without you. I, I don�t expect anything from you. I.� Strife put a finger on his lips. � Ya dope, do ya have any idea how long I�ve wanted ta hear that?� Cupid frowned. � I love ya,� he touched Cupid�s brow to smooth out the frown. � I�ve loved ya for decades.� Strife smiled at the look of sheer awe on Cupid�s face. He leaned forward and gently touched his lips to Cupid�s, then pulled back to look at him searchingly. Cupid blinked, � Why did you stop?� he gripped Strife�s top and pulled him forward to kiss him. Strife moaned and cupped Cupid�s face, pulling him closer as their lips parted and tongues touched hesitantly. They lay back on the bed and Strife climbed over Cupid, without breaking the kiss. He pulled back, lapping Cupid�s lips lightly, before plunging his tongue back inside his mouth. Cupid sucked Strife�s tongue, his hands sliding down the slim frame, coming to rest on the firm ass. He pulled Strife down, pushing his hips up at the same time. He grinned against Strife�s mouth when he felt, rather than heard, the moan, as their hard cocks pushed together. Strife rocked against Cupid, kissing him desperately. It was too much for both of them. Cupid pushed up hard, rubbing frantically, until with a gasp, he came, his back arching. Strife stiffened above him, a strangled cry signalling his own orgasm. Strife collapsed on top of Cupid, who wrapped his wings around them both. � Sorry,� whispered Strife. � Why?� Cupid whispered back. � I wanted ta take it slow, but I needed ya too badly.� � S�okay, I needed you too. We got forever to take it any way we want,� Cupid said. They kissed gently. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- � I remember,� Strife repeated. Cupid kissed the top of his head, � So, your mom and Autolycus, huh?� Strife nodded. � Yeah, I think they�d go well togethah, dontcha think?� Cupid thought about it, � Could be, I mean we know they like each other. But they�re not in love like pops and Joxer.� He grinned, � A real challenge.� |