Neither of us speaks for a moment.

I stare at Cupid across the table. He raises his eyebrows expectantly.

"Venus?" I splutter "Venus....is the founder?"

Cupid nods then waits.

"As in....as in....the goddess?"

He nods again, his eyes watchful.

"And...she's....your mother?"

Cupid sighs.

"Look" he says "I know this is a lot..."

"And she's coming back?? If we're matched??" I interrupt. "What...? I mean...How? What? Huh?"

"Breathe Lila" says Cupid, raising an eyebrow "I can explain."

Without asking he pours some of the dark liquid from the coffee pot into my mug.

"Let's take this one step at a time" he says. "What would you like to know first?"

I shrug dramatically.

"Oh I don't know" I say "The end of the world thing might be a good starting point"

Cupid pauses then takes a sip of his own coffee. He runs his hand through his ruffled hair.

"It doesn't have to come to that" he says "But if we're matched - then she will come back."

I look at him – raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"It's hard to explain" he says "but Gods don't belong in this world. In the old times they roamed free and ruled over all. They had no regard for the lives of humans – commanded countless sacrifices, massacres, wars... Venus was one of the most powerful and sadistic of them all - The Goddess of Love."

His eyes burn into mine.

"There is nothing more powerful or sadistic than love." he says.

I stare at him blankly - not knowing what to say.

"But...Why will she come back if we're matched?" I say.

He rubs his chin thoughtfully.

"There was a shift around two thousand years ago" he says "The old gods left - went dormant. The reason why was never clear - maybe because the people had stopped worshipping them like they used to, maybe they were just bored of this life. But they still watch over us. They have their eyes everywhere - in their statues, their remaining temples, and through those who still serve them. They lie waiting - waiting for an opportune moment to return"

He pauses - waiting for me to process what he has just said.

"About a millennium before they went away, Venus founded the Cupids Matchmaking Service. It was the most efficient way for her to remain powerful." He says. "She gained power every time a match was made - and every cupid, on getting hit by an arrow, entered into a contract with her. They were sworn to serve her by making those matches - and in payment they received eternal strength, youth and beauty. They're still bound by that contract."

I frown.

"But where do I come into all of this?" I ask "Why will she come back if we're matched?"

"She was always against the idea of cupids finding love - she thought it distracted them" he says "It was the rule she enforced most severely - punishing and torturing anyone under her service who broke it."

I look at him confused.

"But she's gone now" I say.

Cupid frowns – his face unusually serious.

"Yes." He says slowly "But before she left she wrote the company policy. In it she listed rules, which if broken, would mean she would come back to bring order to the Matchmaking Service. And one of those rules was..."

"No cupid must ever be matched" I say - remembering the words carved underneath the stone statue in the Matchmaking Service.

The statue was Venus. That was why Cal and Cupid seemed so uneasy around it.

I pause – thinking for a moment.

"Would that really mean the end of the world though?" I say "If she's just bringing order to the Matchmaking Service – maybe that's not so bad for everyone else"

Cupid shakes his head.

"You don't know Venus" he says "Do you really think a God would be satisfied with reigning over one organisation? She'll take back the Matchmaking Service – and then she'll take back the world."

I feel myself staring at him – my brain is whirring – trying to make sense of everything he has told me.

"Before - you said you wanted her to come back?" I say "If she's so bad...then why?"

A dark look crosses his face.

"I want to put an end to her" he says "Once and for all. For thousands of years we've lived in fear - bound by her rules. Knowing she could come back and destroy lives at any moment."

He shrugs.

"I've broken rules before - she has been more lenient with me because of who I am" he says. "She couldn't ignore this though. Cupid himself finding his match" He shakes his head "What would the others think if she didn't reinforce her own policy on her most revered rule. If I break this rule - she will return."

"You want to draw her out and kill her with the Finis" I say.

He nods.

"That's horrible" I say quietly "She's your mother."

His lips tighten and a fire blazes in his eyes.

"You don't know what you're talking about Lila" he says harshly "She's a monster."

I nervously take a sip of my coffee then look back up at Cupid. His expression is calm again.

"So this will happen if we're matched" I say "But what does that even mean? What counts as a match? We already went to the dance together"

Amusement flashes across his face.

"It takes more than that lovebug" he says.

I look at him and feel my face flush.

"Oh...!" I say.

Cupid laughs.

"No...Not that" he says, raising an eyebrow "The match is made when both parties develop feelings - feelings beyond a superficial attraction. It's made when they begin to fall in love"

I frown.

"Well what do we do then?" I say "I don't really want to bring back an ancient goddess so that you can kill her..."

Cupid looks amused again.

"Don't fall in love with me then" he smirks.

I look at him sternly.

"I'm serious" I say "This is insane. What are we going to do?"

He sighs.

"Let's get Crystal and the Finis." he says "We'll be safer if Venus does ever come back if I have hold of it. I'm the only one prepared to use it on her."

A sad look crosses his face.

"Then maybe it would be better for us all if I just left town" he says "I don't want to put you in any more danger. And...if Venus comes back...you'll be the first person she'll come after"

It's strange, considering the alternative, but I'm filled with sadness at the prospect of him leaving.

"We just have to make sure we don't accidentally develop any more feelings until then" he adds seriously.

We stare at each other for a few moments and the air between us begins to feel uncomfortable. I'm about to change the subject when Cupid looks over my shoulder, a frown on his face.

I turn my head.

Cal is powering towards us, a rucksack on his back.

"Can't you see we're busy brother" says Cupid, raising an eyebrow as he approaches the table. "We're trying to have a date here."

Cal looks between us both distastefully then thrusts his phone under Cupid's nose.

"The tracker has been activated" he says "I know where they're keeping Crystal."

Cupid and I share a look.

"Where?" I ask.

"Romeo's" he says "The Diner. Just around the corner. There must be a room upstairs. We need to go. Now."

He turns on his heel and heads back out of the Love Shack.

Cupid and I jump to our feet.

"Do you think she'll be OK?" I ask as we rush after Cal.

Cupid looks at me darkly – worry behind his ocean coloured eyes.

"I don't know" he says "After this amount of time...well...who knows what state she'll be in."

We catch up with Cal in the alleyway and burst out into Forever Falls square. The run down diner stands there as usual in the corner. It looks unusually dark inside.

"Weapons?" asks Cupid.

"Three black arrows and a Capax in my rucksack" Cal replies.

Cupid nods and we head towards the building. When we reach the diner there's a sign on the door reading: Closed for Maintenance.

"So they have the whole place to themselves" I say quietly.

Cal nods – his eyes bright in the moonlight.

"You don't have to come inside with us" says Cupid, looking down at me "What we see in there...it might not be pretty"

Cal looks at his brother sharply.

"We can't just leave her alone out here" he snaps "What if one of them comes out to find her when they notice we're here? She's safer with us."

Cupid looks at me and shrugs.

"Sorry" he says. "Scrap that. Looks like you're coming along after all."

I nod resolutely and take a deep breath. My heart is pounding.

"OK" I say "It's OK. I'm ready."

Cupid puts his hand on the door handle.

"Then let's go save Crystal." he says.