Cupid's revenge
Valentine's Day was just a few hours away and Anteros was getting ready with his arrows to go out and spread love to mankind. Every year he did his job, but he watched with surprise how every year people loved each other and then forgot each other. He did not understand what was going on, but this year he would look for the cause of the evil.
In the office of love, Anteros looked out the window at the orange sunset that would give way to the winter night. He would get up and stretch his body trying to get rid of numbness, unfold his beautiful wings of bright and mesmerizing colors, take his arrows, and fly out of the place flying through the city.
It would open its mouth in an unparalleled yawn that seemed to devour buildings in one bite. "Alright it's time to go rest, that's enough for today," he thought to himself as he glided through the clouds. On the way home he watched two people chatting happily, he thought it would be a good idea to join them in a romantic way before Valentine's Day.
He pulled out one of his golden arrows, tempered the bow, aimed at the couple, and shot with all his might at the man and woman. The arrow cut through the air at an impressive speed faster than the speed of light. The soft sound of the arrow approaching the couple was sublime to Anteros.
The god closed his eyes and waited for the sound to make contact with the humans. After a moment the couple argued and she slapped the man and ran away. Anteros was surprised and did not understand what happened, he put away his arrows, and his bow and continued his flight towards the horizon.
The next morning...
It was Valentine's Day, Anteros got ready and felt that the day was perfect to do his job, he got everything ready and left for the office, during the flight, he began to see angry people and others making disturbances and destroying everything in their path.
Anteros could not believe what he was seeing, he took out his arrows and started shooting everywhere, he thought he had to fix everything since this day was when he had to be the guardian of love. The golden arrows were flying through the air like a winter rain and fell directly on the men and women who were destroying everything.
At that moment everything was harmonious and Anteros extremely tired, went to the office, released his bow and arrow, and sat down heavily on the chair. He looked at the whitish ceiling where some insects were flying around playing with each other. While his mind flew among the pirouettes of the insects, he tried to understand what was happening with the humans.
Anteros turned on the television and watched what was happening on Valentine's Day, his eyes widened to the maximum without being able to believe what he was seeing. The world had gone crazy, an apocalypse was in his blue eyes. Fire, fighting, death everywhere, and world leaders threatening to destroy each other.
He stopped immediately and reassembled himself, he had to save the world from the hatred that was consuming him. His colorful wings flapped with such force that he spread golden dust wherever he passed. He was now a first-hand witness and looked at the mess that Valentine had become.
He pulled out his arrows and began to shoot them everywhere, there was no chink left that wasn't covered by the arrows of true love. It was a monumental job he was doing to help the human race. In his arms, he felt spider webs of cramps for making such an effort, but despite everything he was succeeding in, people fell in love again and everything became harmonious and peaceful.
Despite the pain, Anteros was satisfied with the work, it had been the most satisfying Valentine's Day he had ever had and nothing could ruin it, except....
After a very hard day, Anteros arrived at his office again, lay back on his chair, and closed his eyes, then he heard a voice say, "You've done well, clumsy, but you're still missing a piece to finish solving this dilemma." Then a shrill laugh faded into the air, as Anteros opened his eyes and stood up startled.
He looked all around, but saw no one, at that instant, the television was turning on by itself and they were recording a high-tension event in Russia, the president of that country was irate and threatening to press the end of the world button. All nations were on high alert.
Anteros left the office quickly, he had to get to Moscow to try to do something. After a quick trip, the god arrived at the president's palace, he was able to evade the guards and arrived at the president, who, alienated, asked. "Who are you, being of evil mind". His wild eyes focused on Anteros.
"Calm yourself, president, I am Anteros, god of love." He slowly approached the alienated politician.
"Stay there, freak, or I will activate this button and this world will see its last day." The president let out an insane laugh.
"Alright, but don't do something crazy, millions will die if you do that, please, Mr. President." Anteros was raising his hands trying to talk some sense into the politician.
"They are all my enemies, they want to assassinate me, but I will do it first, watch this, haha." Unhinged laughter gave way to suicidal action.
The president slid his finger toward the red button, at that moment, Anteros took out an arrow and pointed his bow at the politician, in that minute everything was in slow motion, the arrow shot at full speed and the president's finger slid through the air looking for the red button.
Such a short instant, but one that would define the future of all mankind. After a few seconds a click was heard, Anteros opened his eyes and looked at the frozen president with his finger on the red button and then heard the shrill laughter.
"Haha... Hey dummy, how's your Valentine's Day going, lots of work?" Appearing behind the president was a familiar figure.
"Cupid, is that you?" Anteros recognized his brother.
"Of course it's me, silly, aren't you going to hug your brother." Cupid stretched his arms toward Anteros.
"It was you, wasn't it? Everything that's been going on. Now you want to destroy the world, asshole! Why, why?" Anteros shouted angrily at his brother.
"How perceptive you are, little brother. You know that humans are like parasites, they must be destroyed and eradicated from the face of this planet. We gods must erase the mistakes of the past and now is that time. Haha."
"How can you be so insensitive, one day it was you who gave love to humans, but your incompetence caused the gods to relegate you from the position and it was assigned to me." Anteros pointed at his brother's accusing tone.
"Shut up you fool, say no more, I will destroy these human imbeciles, and I will never forgive them for relegating me from my job." Cupid angrily was trying to turn on the weather.
Anteros ran to Cupid to stop him. Everything was slow, it seemed that he could not reach Cupid, but then he saw the golden arrow suspended, he took it with his hands and pulled it with force toward the body of the president. At that moment, the world became mobile again, but not before seeing the politician as he was pierced by love, and then it was stuck in Cupid.
Cupid watched as the arrow pierced his heart, took a few steps backward, and fell on the antique sofa. The president looked at Anteros and stopped his hand, released his grip, and ran to embrace the god. "But, what was I going to do, I am a fool," the politician was saying with tears in his eyes.
Anteros looked in his five senses at the politician and could see inside the man an arrowhead of hatred and lovelessness. The president embraced the god and thanked him for saving him and the millions of humans. The god of love understood that Cupid only acted out of jealousy and envy and now he got what he deserved.
While the president thanked Anteros for his help, Cupid stood up and with shrill cries addressed the god of love. There was no time to react and the god of love expected the worst, he closed his eyes, and then... He felt a strong embrace surround him.
"Thank you, thank you, brother, you have rescued me from the shadows of hatred and envy, I am back to being Cupid who delivers his love." Cupid was still embracing his brother.
Meanwhile, Anteros looked at the arrow of sincere love stuck in Cupid's heart and understood everything. The two gods left the place but not before leaving a magic powder for the president to forget the gods.
Once in the air, Cupid and Anteros flew around the world spreading their love to every corner of the planet, "No doubt, today was a great Valentine's Day, haha," said Cupid showing a big smile.
The world lived in peace and harmony under the care of the two brothers of love, Cupid and Anteros.
We leave you the participation of Rincón Poético in the monthly contest S&S Invitational: Valentine's Edition, I hope you like the story
Here is the link in case you want to participate in this interesting contest:
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Edited by Rincón Poético.
Text authored by:
Camilo Torres
DRA
¡Thanks for you reading!
