I open my eyes to see Cal's face close to mine.

All around us people are dancing to some loud dance track blaring from the speakers. The pink lights still flash on and off in time to the music.

I blink a couple of times.

What's going on? I must have passed out or something.

"Lila?" says Cal gently "Lila are you alright?"

"I...uh..." I begin.

Suddenly I notice I am being supported by Cal's arms cradled steadily behind my back. Despite his slender frame I can feel his strength radiating from his tensed muscles.

I look at him curiously a moment and he hurriedly pulls me up towards him so that my feet are flat on the ground. I find my face just inches from his and I notice an odd look flash across his features before he hurriedly lets go and takes a step backwards.

"Are you OK?" he asks again.

His silvery eyes are wide with concern.

"Yes" I say "I'm fine....what happened? Did I faint? Where's Cupid?"

Cal looks are me worriedly.

"Cupid went after the Arrows" he says slowly "I know you can't remember - you're a human - but you were just hit by a Capax Lila"

"Huh?" I say "Are you sure? I can see the different arrows...you showed them to me"

Cal nods slowly.

"Yes you can see them" he says slowly as though explaining to a small child "But you're still human. Remember what I told you before. When a human is hit by an arrow they forget about it"

I frown.

The Capax?

But I feel fine.

Around us the harsh pink lighting mellows and brushes over the sharp angles on Cal's face as a slow song begins to play. People in the gym us start to pair off and dance together.

"Cupid's gone?" I ask.

Cal nods.

I look at him. There's something about him that's different than usual.

He seems brighter somehow. I feel an urge to be close to him.

He maintains my eye contact but looks uncomfortable.

"Dance with me" I say.

His eyes widen.

"I...uh...Lila" he says "We should probably get out of here...wait for Cupid..."

I shake my head.

"We're here now" I say "Cupid knows where to find us"

I take a step towards him. He doesn't move back but I can tell by the expression on his face that he is troubled.

"Lila..." he says weakly "This really isn't a good idea. You're not thinking straight. It's the Capax."

I look up into his eyes.

"It's just a dance" I say softly.

I hold up the palm of my hand.

He looks at it blankly a moment, then hesitantly he moves his hand towards mine. Our fingers briefly entangle before he pulls away.

I give him a look, then put my other hand around the back of his neck. He immediately tenses up. I can hear his breathing deepen as very slowly he places his hands around my waist.

I move my body closer to his and look up into his eyes.

"When we were back at the Matchmaking Service you showed me a mug" I say softly as we sway rigidly in time to the music "It had World's Best Boyfriend on. You were in love once?"

He hesitates then nods.

"Yes" he whispers - looking down at the ground.

"What happened?"

He looks at me - his eyes seem lost.

"Lila...I really don't think..." he starts.

"Tell me" I urge.

Cal sighs.

"I...uh....It was a long time ago" he says quietly "I had feelings for a human. It wasn't allowed. The founder was still in charge and set out to punish us."

He looks at me sadly.

"The only way to save her was to turn her into a cupid." he says bitterly "So I did"

He shrugs, and I feel his tensed shoulder muscles under my finger tips.

"Afterwards she didn't love me any more - not like she did before" he says "I broke it off and returned to the Matchmaking Service when the danger was gone. She joined a Matchmaking Service in London"

He looks away as though embarrassed.

"She used to send me gifts on the anniversary of the day I turned her - the mug was one of them"

I gently pull his face back towards mine. His eyes are shining.

"Do you still love her?" I ask.

He shakes his head.

"Not anymore" he says "Not like I did."

We look into each other's eyes silently for a few moments. With anyone else I think I'd feel uncomfortable being so close but somehow with Cal it feels OK.

"Lila" he says "This isn't right...we shouldn't be....you've been hit by the Capax..."

I move closer to him, and lightly touch the side of his face.

He leans into me – his forehead almost touching mine.

Then suddenly he springs away. He looks over my shoulder, a mortified expression on his face.

I turn around.

Cupid.

My eyes widen.

He's no longer wearing a jacket, and his shirt is rolled up over his muscular arms. His hair is slightly ruffled, and his eyes twinkle in the pink light.

I feel inexplicably drawn towards him. I move away from Cal.

"Cupid" I say.

My heart thumps in my chest.

Cupid looks at me curiously and then at his brother.

"She was hit by the Capax" he says hurriedly.

I take a step towards Cupid and look up at him in awe. I feel suddenly weak.

I have a weird urge to touch his face.

"You're really good looking" I blurt - stumbling slightly.

He rolls his eyes.

"Come on lovebug" he says, scooping me up into his arms. "Let's get you back. You can sleep this off"

He shoots his brother an unfriendly look over his shoulder.

"I planted the tracker" he says somewhat coldly "Now we just have to wait"

Then he carries me through the crowds and out of the dance - Cal following closely behind, his eyes cast to the ground.

***

I wake and sit up suddenly. I look around.

I'm in a large four poster bed. The sheets feel silky against my skin.

It's dark, but an un-curtained window across the room lets in the light of the full moon outside.

I must be at Cupid's.

With embarrassment I replay the evening in my head.

Oh god, did I dance with Cal?

Gently I swing my legs out of the bed and pad across the hardwood floor to the door. I'm still wearing my dress, and I put my hand to my head and feel the tangles in my hair.

I must look a mess right now.

From the doorway I hear raised male voices coming from downstairs. I frown then creep along the corridor Quietly I make my way down the twisty staircase.

"I've read Crystal's account in the Records of the Finis" I hear Cal snap "The Finis can kill anyone who shares the blood of Cupid"

There is the sound of a thud as Cal presumably drops the book onto the breakfast bar.

"What's your point brother?" replies Cupid.

"It's not just me who shares your blood is it?!" says Cal "There's another. If you're doing what I think you're doing..."

"And what's that?"

There's a pause.

"You want the match to be made." say Cal, lowering his voice to an angry whisper. "You want the founder back. And you want the Finis."

I move closer to the door to hear better.

"You don't want it to protect yourself" he continues "You want it to kill..."

"So what if what you're saying is true?" interjects Cupid "Wouldn't it be better - to not live in fear any more. You and Amena could be together again..."

"I don't feel that way about her any more" snaps Cal.

There's a pause.

"Well after that display at the dance - it does appear you've moved on" replies Cupid.

I note a hint of jealousy in his tone.

Cal doesn't reply for a moment.

"You shouldn't be putting so many lives at stake." he says quietly.

I hear footsteps approaching the door and I hurry back down the corridor - not wanting them to know I was listening in.

"And you especially shouldn't be putting Lila's life at stake" I hear Cal's voice fade away as I slip back into the bedroom.

My heart is thumping fast as I crawl under the sheets.

What is going on?