I shift on my cushion, looking at the woman on the stage then back to Cal and Cupid.

"She's your ex?" I splutter - I direct an accusing glare at Cal "I thought cupids couldn't do the whole love thing?"

The Matchmaking Agent frowns.

"Cupids can't be matched" he says sternly. "It is forbidden for us to fall in love..."

"Doesn't mean we can't have fun..." Cupid interjects grinning.

He sits back down on the picnic blanket in front of me. Even though he is tall, I notice he has a certain grace about his movements.

"...though some of us may choose not to" He adds, smirking at his brother.

He looks up at Hermes who is still stood beside us.

"Care to join us Herms?" he asks.

Cupid's friend shakes his head.

"Not tonight buddy" he says "Got business to attend to. But..."

He pauses.

"Be careful" he says.

He directs a look at me.

Cupid frowns – his usual mischievous air gone. For a moment he looks dangerous.

"Do you know something Hermes?" he asks.

The warm look disappears from Hermes' face and a tiredness crosses his features.

"I'm a messenger Cupid" he says "I was delivering messages before you were even born. I know many things. More than you could possibly comprehend."

He frowns.

"But I do not involve myself in these matters." He continues "Only...as a friend to you...I warn you. Be careful."

He looks at me again – his expression unreadable.

"You are playing with fire. Some things are best left alone."

The two stare at each other for an uncomfortable moment before Hermes' face breaks out into a warm smile again and the tension is gone.

"See you around Cupid" he says.

He turns swiftly on his heel and waltzes off amongst the picnic blankets.

I look at the two brothers.

"What was that all about?" I ask "Playing with fire? Is he talking about the Arrows?"

Cal frowns and gives a slight shake of his head but before he can say anything Cupid interrupts.

"Sure" he says absently as the suited waiter returns "The Arrows..."

The waiter places a small, stone slate in the centre of us and puts a picnic basket, ceramic jug, and three glasses on top of it.

"Well, shall we?" Cupid adds.

I take a look at Cal as Cupid opens the wicker hamper and starts pulling out a variety of different foods. The Matchmaking Agent looks troubled.

"Hermes..." I say "The name is familiar. Isn't he....?"

"Myth, legend, messenger to the gods..." says Cupid dismissively.

Cal shoots him a sharp look and Cupid grins.

"If you believe in that sort of thing that is..." he adds.

"He works in the messaging business" says Cal shortly "That's all you need to know"

I frown - about to challenge the Matchmaking Agent when Cupid interrupts.

"Drink?" he asks, changing the subject.

He leans over and passes me a cup of lemonade. I sigh and accept; taking a sip then placing it down on the gingham rug beside me.

I survey the food Cupid has laid out onto the slab.

There are a collection of sausage rolls, small cheese tartlets, some crusty bread, and a variety of cheese and pickles. Cal passes me a plate and I select a piece of bread and thin slice of brie.

"So how come we're meeting this Selena?" I say, casting a look up at the singer. "And what did Hermes mean when he said he wouldn't want to be in your shoes?"

The Siren now sings a lulling blues number, and I feel a shift in the atmosphere of the whole bar. Everyone seems more relaxed; the Djinn I spotted earlier now lay flat on the ground, staring at the stars through the fairy lights, and I notice one of the people in the pool now dozing on the shore.

My own eyelids are starting to feel heavy.

"She's been around a while" says Cupid "She knows a lot. People... tell her things. Sometimes involuntarily, sometimes without even noticing they have done so. And she's not impartial like Hermes. She can be persuaded to help us. She used to...back in the day."

Cal looks uncomfortable.

"But...she's not very happy with me." adds Cupid grimly "We didn't end well. And she's very powerful"

He looks up at her almost admiringly for a moment and I feel an unbidden stab of jealousy. As he stares, Selena's own dark eyes catch Cupid's.

Though she sees him, she doesn't react – only continues with her song.

I find myself yawning involuntarily.

"See how the whole bar is captivated by her?" he continues "You feel tranquil – calm. Everyone does. She's doing that."

He looks back at me and raises an eyebrow.

"Now imagine you had upset her and she wanted to take out the full scaled vengeance of hell upon you..."

He shudders and Cal looks marginally alarmed.

"Just how bad was the breakup?" he asks his brother sharply, his lips thinly set. "Is it really a good idea for Lila to be here?"

Cupid shrugs.

"I won't let her come to any harm" he replies "Don't worry brother."

He gives Cal a crooked smile.

"You think she might harm me?" I ask.

Cupid looks like he's thinking for a moment.

"There was that time when she...with that girl that..." he mutters to himself.

He pauses.

"Maybe best not to let her know you're my match" he says, looking at me worriedly. "Wouldn't want to make her jealous."

Selena comes to the end of her song.

She thanks the crowd then puts her microphone back into its stand. Slowly and purposefully she makes her way off the stage.

"She's seen us." mutters Cal. "She's coming this way."

Moments later she looms over the two cupids and I; an imposing figure of beauty. Her lips are set and her brown eyes are bright.

Cupid stands up awkwardly.

"Look...Selena." he begins – raising his hands in surrender. "You have every reason to be upset..."

Selena arches a perfectly formed eyebrow.

"Cupid honey?" she begins. "Get over yourself."

She casts her gaze at me and smiles warmly.

"I'm Selena," she says. "You must be the match."