Chapter 3: Threads of Fate

Place: Earth

Cupid stood motionless in his café, the weight of confusion and anger bearing down on him. With a resolute shout, he bellowed, “Loviator!”

The world trembled. Time itself faltered, and the winds held their breath as a commanding presence descended. Loviator, the god of balance, materialized before Cupid, his form imposing and his eyes piercing.

“It is your destiny, Cupid,” Loviator intoned, his voice rich and unyielding, “to be the devil’s paramour.”

Cupid’s fists clenched. “Why?”

Loviator’s expression remained inscrutable. “Some questions,” he said, “need not be answered.”

“That’s not an answer!” Cupid snapped. “Why me? Why her?”

Loviator tilted his head, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. “Not all truths are meant to be known.”

Before Cupid could press further, Loviator dissolved into shimmering light, the earth resuming its ceaseless motion as though nothing had happened.

Resolute, Cupid sought out Nethra’s address. Standing before her modest apartment, he rang the doorbell.

The door cracked open, revealing Nethra’s wary eyes. “What do you want?” she demanded.

Before Cupid could respond, she slammed the door shut.

Undeterred, Cupid used his powers, walking through the door as though it were air.

Nethra spun around, startled. “What the hell? Who are you? How did you do that? Are you some kind of alien—or a monster?”

Cupid’s voice was calm but firm. “I cannot read you, and I cannot assume anything about you.”

“What does that even mean?” she snapped.

“I am Cupid, the god of love,” he said simply. “I can read hearts. But yours is silent to me.”

Nethra crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Take your wild stories somewhere else.”

“I am not in the mood for games,” Cupid replied, his patience wearing thin.

“And you think I am? Look at me! Look at what you’ve done to me!” she shouted, gesturing toward her bandaged face.

Cupid softened, stepping closer. “Come closer,” he said gently.

“No way,” Nethra replied, instinctively stepping back.

“Please,” Cupid urged.

Hesitantly, she inched forward, her eyes fixed warily on him. Without warning, Cupid embraced her. A golden light emanated from his touch, warm and soothing.

When he stepped back, he said, “Remove your bandages and see for yourself.”

Nethra hesitated, her anger momentarily eclipsed by curiosity. “How dare you hug me?” she muttered but began unwrapping the bandages.

Her breath hitched as she saw her reflection in a nearby mirror. Her face, once marred, was now flawless.

“My face…” she whispered, her fingertips grazing her smooth skin.

Cupid nodded. “Now, will you answer my questions?”

Nethra turned to him, incredulous. “Wait a minute. So, you’re really a god?”

“Yes.”

“Wow,” she said, her tone shifting to awe. “I’m standing here with a god.”

“Don’t be childish,” Cupid said flatly.

“Fine,” Nethra replied. “But before I answer anything, I have a question of my own.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did the roses burn?”

Cupid sighed, then explained the divine test and the strange flames that erupted when she touched the bouquet.

Nethra laughed bitterly. “Me? In love with you? That’s ridiculous.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Cupid said dryly.

She raised an eyebrow. “If you’re the god of love, can’t you just read my heart?”

“That’s the problem,” Cupid admitted. “I can’t. I don’t know why.”

Nethra regarded him thoughtfully. “Well, don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

Cupid turned to leave. “I thought coming here might help me understand something about you. Clearly, I was wrong.”

“Wait,” she called out. “Why didn’t you heal Steve?”

Cupid froze. “Thank you for reminding me.”

Nethra frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

With a flick of his hand, Cupid restored the wounds he had healed moments ago.

“What did you just do?” she cried, touching her face in horror.

“I don’t have the right to alter the natural balance,” Cupid said calmly.

“You made me look like this!”

“You were rude,” Cupid replied with a faint smirk. “So, I taught you a lesson.”

“Get out,” Nethra snapped. “And don’t come back. Don’t ever show your face here again!”

Without another word, Cupid left, the door slamming behind him.

Place: Maven

In the shadowy halls of chaos, Eris, Whiro, Lilith, and Apophis sat at a table laden with food.

“So,” Apophis began, his voice laced with mischief. “Who among you loves me?”

Eris smirked, twirling a strand of her dark hair. “You’re the god of chaos, and I’m the goddess of manipulation. Naturally, I thought I loved you.”

“Shut up,” Apophis growled.

Lilith leaned back in her chair. “I think Cupid messed with my heart.”

Whiro shook his head. “Impossible. Cupid never interferes with the balance of nature.”

“Interesting,” Lilith said, raising an eyebrow. “A Maven god defending a Raven one.”

Whiro shrugged. “I respect the order of things.”

Apophis snorted. “Enough of this. Eat your food before I unleash chaos energy on all of you.”

Lilith chuckled. “Even the goddess of night monsters fears chaos.”

Apophis turned his gaze to Whiro. “And you, god of health. Do you think chaos leaves you untouched?”

Whiro smiled faintly. “No comments.”

Place: Heaven

In the resplendent halls of divinity, Loviator stood before the Supreme God, his expression somber.

“I know why you’re here,” the God said, his tone serene.

“Then you know what I want to ask,” Loviator replied.

The God nodded. “It’s about Cupid.”

“Why is his destiny tied to that girl?”

The God’s gaze turned grave. “Because he killed her parents.”

Loviator’s jaw clenched. “That’s impossible. Cupid is under my domain, and he’s never—”

The God raised a hand. “I created you after that incident. Before you existed, love and hate were unbalanced. Cupid acted out of alignment and killed them.”

Loviator’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Does Cupid know?”

“I erased his memory of it,” the God said.

“Then why is his destiny still linked to her?”