I wait until Cupid's breathing becomes rhythmic and heavy. I can't help but watch the blanket rise up and down slowly over his chest as he sleeps. In the dim light of the now dying fire his face looks almost angelic.

When I'm sure he is no longer awake I pull out my phone from my jeans pocket.

There's a text from Charlie.

We need to talk. Something weird is going on. Charlie.

I frown then cast a glance over to Cal.

He said not to contact anyone. He said it was too dangerous.

I sigh, then quietly climb out of the armchair and tiptoe towards the exit of the room.

Cupid grunts as I step past him and my heart jumps against my chest - then he falls quiet once more and I slip out into the corridor.

I pad lightly down the hallway – it's dimly lit by the outdoor lights which shine through the glass front of the kitchen down the other end.

Then I make my way up the spiral black staircase at the end of the corridor, and out onto the terrace area that I met Cupid earlier at his party.

I can't believe that was just hours ago – it feels like days have passed since then.

Outside the birds have started to sing, and the sky is the misty grey colour it reaches just before dawn. I glance at the clock on my phone – it's five am.

I wonder if Charlie will even be awake.

I walk to the edge of the terrace and lean against the black, metal fence that stands around the outside.

The air smells fresh like dew and cut grass.

I take a deep breath.

I feel oddly nervous about calling her back. Me and Charlie never fight. I can't even decide if I'm angry. If she and James were hit by arrows, was it even their fault?

Then I recall Cal's words back in the gym -there has to be a feeling there in the first place for it to work.

I suppose we need to talk about it anyway.

I sigh and push the recall button.

The phone rings - and for a hopeful moment I think it's going to go to voicemail - when she picks up.

"Lila" she says quickly.

I pause. My heart beats fast in my chest.

"Charlie" I say coolly.

I hear a sharp intake of breath on the other side of the line.

"Listen Lila," she says "Something...something happened..."

"I know" I interrupt. "You and James. I saw you."

She lets out a soft groan and my resolve softens.

It wasn't her fault.

"Look" I say gently "It's OK..."

I pause. I don't know what to tell her. I can't exactly talk to her about the Arrows.

"I'm so sorry Lila" she says "I can't explain it...and...I think I might be going mad it's just..."

She pauses, and I hear her take a deep breath.

"No" she says softly "You won't believe me...."

I furrow my eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" I say quickly "What won't I believe?"

Charlie takes a deep breath.

"It didn't come back to me until a couple of hours ago. It was like it made me forget that I even saw it..." She starts.

I frown.

"What did?" I say urgently. "Saw what?"

"The arrow."

I feel my eyes widen.

She saw the arrow?

Neither of us speak for a moment. My mind is still trying to process this information.

How could she have seen the arrow?

"I know...it sounds weird" she says "But I got hit by an arrow, I could have sworn it. But then it just crumbled to ash. And then after that – all these feelings that I've been trying to hide....from you... from myself...about James....they all came rushing to the surface....and...Oh god Lila, I'm so sorry."

She pauses.

"You think I'm going mad" she says softly.

I take a deep breath.

"You're not going mad Charlie" I say "Look...there's something I have to tell you too..."

As the dawn begins to break, I fill Charlie in on everything that has happened the past few days – the Cupids Matchmaking Service, Cupid, Cal, the Arrows and the bar called Elysium, and lastly the plan to fight off the Arrows by using Selena as bait.

She exhales slowly as I finish.

"So you're Cupid's Match?" she says.

For a moment I hear something almost triumphant in her voice, but then as she continues speaking I'm sure I imagined it.

"Dude" she says in a low voice "That is some serious...I mean...woah..."

I nod.

"I know" I reply quietly.

"And they're meeting the Arrows later today?" she asks "Are you going along too?"

I shake my head.

"They won't let me come" I say "But I want to."

I can almost hear Charlie's face break out into a grin on the other side of the phone.

"Since when do we need anyone's permission? Let's both tag along" she says "They don't need to know. Do they?"

***

The sun is almost completely up by the time I finish talking to Charlie.

I head back inside to the sweet smell of batter and syrup.

Curiously I head down the stairs and into the kitchen, stuffing my phone back into my pocket as I do so.

To my amusement Cal is stood over the hob in the centre of the room, flipping pancakes. As I enter he spins around and I grin as I take in the flour covered apron he is wearing. I don't know why – but Cal and pancakes are not a combination that I ever would have put together.

"Morning Lila" he says in his usual rigid manner.

"Morning Cal" I say, taking a stool at the breakfast bar.

"Breakfast" he says in explanation, looking at the frying pan.

I grin.

"I love pancakes" I say "My mom used to make them for me."

Cal gives a soft sheepish smile as he plates one up for me. I take it from him and drown it in some golden syrup he's left out on the side.

I wonder for a moment if I should tell him about my conversation with Charlie – but then I decide against it.

Maybe later. It will only worry him.

Moments later Cupid strides into the kitchen and stretches. His hair is ruffled and his eyes look sleepy.

"Mmmm pancakes" he says, sliding onto a stool.

He looks over at me.

"Eat up Lila" he says "You'll need plenty of energy for the day ahead that I've got planned"

I frown.

"I thought you weren't letting me come to fight the Arrows" I reply.

He looks at me and smirks, his eyes sparkling.

"I'm not" he says "But my brother and I are a bit out of combat practise."

I look at him questioningly and he grins.

"You're going to help us with our training."

I know! I know! This is one of the chapters people get most frustrated at Lila at! Haha!

I promise you it all goes down VERY differently in the published version that comes out October 1st! If you're interested make sure you're following me on Wattpad for updates about it! (click here --> )!

love, Lauren

xxx