The Cupid War (13 page)

24

J
ada, come here,” Fallon said, crawling backward across the yard toward Trina and Caleb. “Do it now!” he added when she stared blankly at him.

Susan Sides was walking toward him—slowly, confidently. It was a bitter irony, Fallon thought, that she was finally showing confidence now.

“Shouldn't we run?” Jada asked as she arrived at his side.

“I need your help,” Fallon said, taking her hand. “Project Love into me. I need your strength.”

Jada nodded in understanding and linked her fingers with his.

Susan moved in, her hands outstretched.

Fallon projected his Love shield. Jada projected Love into him, adding her power to his. The shield spread to encompass Caleb and Trina, and knocked Susan backward into the hedge five meters away.

Fallon smiled at that. It hurt to do so after Owen's punches, but he smiled anyway. Susan had just murdered two Cupids in cold blood; if he didn't try to smile, he would go insane.

“How did you figure out … this?” Jada said, waving at the shield with her free hand.

“The Source,” Fallon replied. “I asked for help, and then I just knew what to do.”

“Whoa,” Jada said. “I never knew we could do stuff like this.”

“There's a lot you haven't been told,” Fallon said. “Isn't that right, Louis?”

Jada's head snapped around in time to see Louis emerging through the wall of Ryan's house. He looked haggard, beat … the same way he looked after I kicked his ass, Fallon thought.

“Will this shield protect us from him?” Jada asked.

“No, it won't,” Fallon replied. “The shield that blocks him comes from a different source.”

“Then shouldn't you … ”

“He'd have shocked us already if he could have,” Fallon said. “Beating Caleb wiped him out. Didn't it, Louis?”

“Not lookin' so hot yourself,” Louis replied, raising an arm. “I got enough left for you.”

“Do you?” Fallon asked. He was risking a lot; he didn't think he could block both Louis and Susan in his current condition.

Luckily, he was right. Louis fired off a bolt so weak it barely got half a meter from his fingertips before petering out.

“Told you so,” Fallon said. “Now talk. Why'd you come here? Why”—he turned to look at Susan, who was picking herself out of the hedge—“are you helping her?”

“I don't owe you an explanation,” Louis replied. “What I do, I do, and that's the end of it. You got no business asking me anything.”

“But I do.”

Everyone turned again. Bud the Soul Reaper had emerged through the wall of the backyard shed, and he did not look happy. I've never actually seen him happy, Fallon thought, but this time he looks really honked off.

Fallon looked back at Louis. The man looked afraid, and seemed at a loss for what to do. He'd been caught; should he run, or throw himself at Bud's mercy?

Susan didn't hesitate. She ran.

Bud paid no attention to her. He approached the drifting souls of Walt and Joe and took them in his hands.

“I came here for these,” he said, “but I will send someone for you, Louis. It's clear you're in up to your neck here. This does not look good for you, not at all.”

The look on Louis's face changed, the fear giving way to misery.

“You don't understand,” he said, but Bud was already fading away.

“What're you going to do about Susan?” Fallon called after him.

“Not my problem,” Bud replied, just before he vanished.

“You don't understand!” Louis repeated, falling to his knees. “You guys just don't get it … ”

“It's about Sandra, isn't it?” Caleb asked, rolling onto his side so he could face Louis.

“His daughter?” Jada said, and Louis slowly nodded.

“They threatened her, didn't they?” Caleb said. “What have you done, Louis?”

Louis gave Caleb a dirty look, but had no words.

“Wait a minute,” Jada said. “Five years ago when Owen and I got jumped by those Suicides … is that what this is about?”

“I just know there's a story here,” Fallon said.

“A group of Suicides surrounded Jada and Owen, and took Owen prisoner,” Caleb said. “Which they'd never done before, at least not as long as I've been a Cupid.”

“They told me to go get Louis,” Jada added. “Told me to tell him if he didn't come, they would destroy Owen.”

“So Louis went, and returned with Owen,” Caleb said. “And you never did talk about it, did you?”

“They told me they'd hurt Sandra,” Louis said. “You think you just got it bad?” He turned to Fallon. “You got no idea what a Suicide is capable of. They would've hurt her, my daughter, nonstop … ”

“You made a deal with them,” Fallon said, understanding. “The Suicides realized Susan could be the greatest ever—all their powers but still a living being, immune to the powers of a Cupid, as far as anyone knew. They didn't want Susan Sides discovered by the other Cupids, so they made a deal with you, didn't they? To leave your daughter alone if you left Susan alone?”

Louis nodded. “They told me they'll give Sandra back to me.”

“And you believed them?” Caleb said.

“And this isn't the first time, is it?” Fallon asked. “Alexander told me how to connect to the Source. That's how I learned to make shields. You forbade the Cupids from meditating. Was that one of the Suicides' demands, too?”

Louis looked down, sighed, and nodded.

“Oh, Louis, you fool,” Caleb said. “You poor, poor fool. They will never release her to you. And you've put lives—human and Cupid—in danger. How many like Fallon, Louis? How many like Walter and Joseph? How many have to die for your daughter?”

“As many as it takes,” Louis answered simply.

“You don't mean that, old friend,” Caleb said. “You can't.”

“But I do,” Louis said, looking up again. “I know what they'll do to her. And after all she went through in life … ”

“Sandra chose to end her life,” Caleb said, “and for that, there are consequences. It is out of your hands, Louis. It always has been. Give it up now, before you make things worse.”

“No,” Louis said, and he shot to his feet. “No, there's still something I can do.” And he turned and ran off through the house.

“Goodbye, old friend,” Caleb said sadly.

Fallon wanted to say “good riddance,” but he had enough tact to stay quiet. He looked away from Caleb and Jada and focused his attention on Trina. He touched a hand to her heart and felt her soul; she was still alive and appeared physically healthy, but Fallon felt damage that was more than just internal.

Source, he asked, what can I do to save her?

And then, he knew.

“Fallon,” Caleb said, “what are you doing?”

Fallon didn't answer. He kept his hand inside Trina and poured in his life force. It was a risk that could cost him his existence—he had so very little life left to give—but it was the only thing that could heal the scars Louis had given her. Trina Porten didn't deserve to die.

Of course, he didn't either. But he would gladly sacrifice all that he was to give her the chance to keep going.

Fortunately, he didn't have to. Trina inhaled sharply and opened her eyes, then smiled weakly at the Cupids gathered around her.

“You're a trooper,” Fallon said.

“Ryan,” Trina said. “Is he … ?”

“I'll check,” Fallon said. He stood up, then promptly fell down.

“I'll go,” Caleb said, and he started to rise to his feet.

“You're not going anywhere, Fallon,” Jada said. “Neither are you, Caleb,” she added, pushing the larger man gently but firmly back down. “You both look like hell. I'll go.”

“Very well,” Caleb said, amused, as she walked toward the house.

“Can she help him?” Trina asked, pushing herself up into a sitting position. “Susan got him pretty good.”

“Only time, patience, and self-love can heal the depression a Suicide can cause,” Caleb said. “We must find a way to keep Susan from him, so she can do him no further harm. And he must be watched, guarded. Depressed people attract Suicides like a moth to a flame … ” He broke off, suddenly very worried.

“Oh no,” Fallon said, catching on.

Trina would have asked, but just then Jada screamed. All three of them clambered to their feet in time to see her fall out of the house with three Suicides clinging to her.

25

F
allon and Caleb stepped in front of Trina and fired Love. Both were shaky on their feet, and neither's aim was perfect, but they did succeed in grabbing the Suicides' attention.

The three Suicides leapt from the fallen Jada and attacked. One came straight at the Cupids; Fallon and Caleb easily blasted it back. The other two darted to the side, then came at them from each direction. The two Cupids couldn't react fast enough; the Suicides latched onto them, and they fell.

Fallon tried to put up a fight, but he had no strength left. Looking to his right, he saw that Caleb was faring no better.

“What can I do?” Trina cried, but Fallon had no answer for her. If help didn't arrive immediately, they were finished.

Fortunately, help came. A blast of Love knocked the Suicide off of Fallon, and a similar blast saved Caleb. The Suicides ran, unwilling to take their chances with this new threat.

Fallon struggled to raise his head and face his savior. Then he did a double take; it was Owen.

“You guys okay?” Owen asked, extending a hand to help him up.

“You've got nerve, asking me that,” Fallon replied, ignoring the hand.

“Look, I was wrong, okay?” Owen said. “Louis said you were bad news, and I … ”

“I know,” Fallon said. “He saved you from the Suicides.”

“So … are we cool?” Owen asked, his hand still extended.

Fallon considered, then gave Owen his hand. Owen helped him to stand, and then Fallon decked him full in the face.

“Now we're cool,” Fallon replied, rubbing his knuckles.

“Thanks for coming back,” Jada said, helping Owen back to his feet.

“Yeah, I kinda freaked out when … you know,” Owen said. “They were my buds. And that girl who … I've never seen anything like that. Ever.”

“No one ever has,” Caleb said. “Is someone going to help me up?”

While Owen and Jada hurried to Caleb's aid, Fallon approached Trina. She looked worried and frightened, but she was standing again. Fallon realized he'd nearly given his life for her. In a second, he'd do it again. And the look she gave Fallon told him she'd do the same for him.

“Sorry I wasn't much help just now,” she said.

“You're alive,” Fallon said. “That's all I … whoa,” he added as he fell over.

“Fallon!” Trina cried.

“I'm okay,” Fallon said from his hands and knees. “Just a bit … woozy.”

“You gave up part of your soul,” Caleb told him. “And you were attacked by a Suicide. And then there was Owen's handiwork.”

“I said I was sorry!” Owen said.

“We all need to get back to the Cupid Center to heal,” Caleb announced.

“You guys go ahead,” Fallon said. “Trina and I still have to help Ryan.”

“You're in no condition to … ”

“Ryan's not in great shape either,” Fallon said. “If we don't help him now, he might not make it.”

“You've lost too much life force,” Caleb pointed out. “And more Suicides will come … ”

“I've got plenty of Love left,” Fallon told him. “And I can replenish my life force.”

“How?” Jada wanted to know.

“Ask Alexander,” Fallon said. “Once you get back. I'll join you shortly. Trina?”

“Yes?”

“I need a little help.” He reached a hand up to her.

“Oh, right,” she said, and leaned over so that Fallon could touch her heart.

When he did so, he suddenly felt a strong surge of emotion. She was feeling something more than simple interest in what she was looking at, and she was looking at him.

A flood of thoughts and feelings went through Fallon's heart and mind. Had he accidentally given her some
Love when he'd been sharing his soul? Had the soul-sharing been enough to make this happen? He was happy, excited … and yet he was afraid. How could this possibly work out? He was intangible in her world, for crying out loud!

“Ryan,” he said, breaking the moment.

“Right,” Trina said, and she started toward the house. “He's probably where we left him.” She was now feeling confusion and worry, and a tiny bit of heartache. Oh man, Fallon thought. What am I gonna do about this?

He was almost relieved when Trina walked through the front door and screamed. Her emotions changed instantly to shock and fear, and Fallon had to step past her to see why.

Ryan lay on the floor, surrounded by broken glass, his left wrist bleeding. In his other hand he held a shard of glass with a jagged point smeared with blood.

The hallway mirror had been shattered—the source of the glass—and the phone sat on the floor beneath it. It didn't take a genius to see the two had come together violently, and the phone had won.

It took Fallon only a moment to absorb the scene, but Trina was already moving. She grabbed Ryan's bleeding wrist in one hand and squeezed, while her other hand took the glass shard from him.

“Find me something to dress the wound,” she ordered. “Hurry!”

“There's jackets in here,” Fallon said, looking in the hall closet. “A leather, a jean … ”

“I need cloth!” Trina said. “Never mind, I got it.” She threw off her jacket and peeled off her shirt, then wrapped it around Ryan's wrist.

“Ryan, can you hear me?” Trina shouted. “I need you to put pressure on your arm while I call 911. Can you do that?”

“G … go away … ” Ryan muttered.

“Ryan, I'm trying to save you!”

“Leave … me alone … ”

He's in it bad, Fallon thought, and immediately consulted the Source for help. The answer he got surprised him.

“Hold a piece of mirror in front of him,” Fallon said.

“What?” Trina said. “Fallon, I've got to … ”

“Do it!” Fallon said, kneeling beside Ryan. “Let him see his face.”

Trina gave him a confused look, but she did as he asked. Ryan looked into the piece of mirror, saw his own face looking back at him …

… and Fallon fired Love into his heart. Ryan's eyes widened, and he grabbed his injured wrist with his good hand and squeezed tight.

“Help me,” he said.

They helped him. While Ryan held his wound, Trina picked up the phone and called for an ambulance.

“You're really good in a crisis,” Fallon said as she put the phone down.

“Thanks,” said Trina, suddenly realizing she was almost topless.

“For what?” Ryan asked.

“I wasn't … never mind.” Trina snatched up her jacket and put it on. “I need to make a tourniquet. Let me have your belt.”

“I'll wait outside,” Fallon said. He walked carefully through the door and sat on the front lawn.

Fallon meditated. It was tactically dangerous to do so out in the open, where a Suicide could attack him, but he needed the life energy from the Source. He tried to concentrate, but he kept thinking of how Trina had taken charge in saving Ryan's life. She kept surprising him with how capable she was. She'd whipped off her shirt without a hint of modesty, only concerned about doing what had to be done. People like that were rare indeed. And not bad looking, either …

Fallon shook his head to clear it. He needed to focus, and could not be distracted by how he was definitely
not
falling in love with Trina. She was a wonderful human being with a rare gift, and he respected her. That was all.

That was all!

Who do you think you're fooling?

Fallon wasn't sure if he'd thought that, or if the Source had spoken to him. Either way, it was true. He liked Trina. Wanted Trina. And, most likely, couldn't have Trina. He sighed, then tried to concentrate once more.

By the time the ambulance left, Fallon had more or less healed himself. He and Trina walked away from Ryan's house, and went the first two blocks in silence.

“Ryan'll be okay,” Fallon said, breaking the silence. “I don't think he lost that much blood.”

“No, he didn't,” Trina agreed. “What was that you did to him? With the mirror?”

“I made him love himself,” Fallon replied.

“Oh. Cool idea,” Trina said.

“Just popped into my head.”

“Neat.”

They walked another block. Fallon wanted to say something—anything—but his brain wasn't playing along.

“So, you going to go back to school?” he asked her.

“No, I'll just head home,” she said. “It's … been a strange day.”

“Yeah, it sure has been.”

“Besides … ” Trina folded her arms self-consciously over her chest. “I need another shirt.”

“Right, of course.” Fallon looked away. It had been all he could do not to stare at her when she'd taken it off to bind Ryan's wrist.

They walked a few more feet in silence.

“Do you have to get back?” she asked. “To your Cupid Center?”

“Yeah, I do,” Fallon said, turning back to her. “I should check in with the others. Gotta form a strategy now that everyone knows about Susan.”

“Oh. I guess, yeah.”

“But I'll walk you home first,” Fallon said.

“Oh, great!” Trina said, then caught herself. “I mean, thanks.”

“Susan might still be in the area.”

“Or that jerk of a boss you have.”

“Oh, Louis,” Fallon said. “I'd forgotten about him.”

They walked another block, and then Trina pointed. “This is my street.”

“Oh,” Fallon said. “You're almost home, then.”

“Yeah,” Trina replied.

They walked a few more steps. I'm out of time, Fallon realized. It was now or never.

“Look, Trina … ”

She spun around to face him. “Yeah?”

“I … need to say something. I mean, you and I … ”

“Uh huh?” she prompted.

Fallon fought his mind to find the right words and came up short. He wanted very much to say what was on his mind, but had no idea how to go about it.

Except to just say it.

“I want to be with you,” he said.

“Really?”

“But I don't know how it could possibly work between us. Look,” he went on, taking her hand in his, “I'm a Cupid, which means I'm dead! You're still alive … I'm just a ghost to you … ”

“You're holding my hand,” she said.

“I walk through walls!” Fallon said. “I can't even go up a staircase without help … ”

“You're holding my hand,” she repeated.

“I … what?” He looked down. And saw it was true.

He was holding her hand.