Cal stands in the doorway glaring at us through the sheet of rain falling from the sky. For a moment no-one speaks.

My head is whirring from the kiss, Cupid's words, and Cal's news.

Mom's home.

We stand there frozen. Then Cal's silvery eyes flash through the darkness.

"Get inside" he snarls "the pair of you."

Then he spins on his heel and turns back through the door.

Hesitantly I pull my gaze up to Cupid. The rain has flattened his hair and water streams down his face. He meets my look, his eyes unusually worried, and gives me a half nod.

I turn and follow Cal inside, Cupid close behind me.

Indoors Cal is back on the phone, his back to us both. As Cupid closes the door he turns suddenly. He has two towels in his hand. He throws one at Cupid forcefully - who catches it and stares at his brother warily.

Then he thrusts the other out to me. His silver eyes blaze furiously but I can sense something else beneath the anger.

Pain?

I think guiltily back to the dance and the way his arms had enclosed around me. It suddenly dawns on me that maybe the dance meant more to him than to me.

But Cupid is my match. He knew that all along.

"Thank you" I mumble, taking the towel out of his hand and looking down at my feet.

He says nothing, only turns back around and skulks off down the corridor, pushing the phone back to his ear.

"What's going on there now Crystal?" I hear him say "Are we safe...?"

I look up at Cupid, the towel hanging limply in my hand.

He has used his to dry his hair which now stands up in random spikes.

"Here" he says, gently taking mine off me.

He whirls it over my shoulders and uses it to pull me closer to him. Gently he brushes a wet strand of hair behind my ear.

I shiver – unsure if it's related to the cold rainwater running down my body or the effect of Cupid standing so close.

We kissed. I can't believe we kissed.

"What's going to happen?" I ask weakly "The earthquake, the match, the...."

"Kiss?" Cupid finishes for me softly.

I nod.

"Is Venus really back?" I say.

Cupid frowns then nods slowly.

"Afraid so lovebug" he says quietly.

I take a step back and he lets me go. My stomach is turning.

"I should never have kissed you" I whisper.

The horror of what we may have unleashed is slowly dawning on me. My heart pounds in my ears and a wave of nausea washes over me.

Cupid shakes his head. There's a vague look of anger in his eyes.

"It was already too late" he says "Don't you realise that? I couldn't stop my feelings for you."

He looks at me intensely for an extended moment, his face still damp from the rain. Part of me wants to reach forward, to kiss him again. I can tell he feels the same.

He averts his gaze to the floor and sighs.

"I should never have come here" he says sadly.

"No you shouldn't have" snaps Cal, hurrying back up the spiral staircase.

He is carrying the black case Crystal kept the Finis replica in under his arm. I presume that this time it holds the real thing.

"Venus is sending a team around to arrest us all." He continues "Now."

A gasp catches in my throat as Cal races down the corridor and takes a right turn. I spin back towards Cupid who has a resigned look on his face; as though he had been expecting this.

He gestures with a subtle incline of his head that we follow his brother. Hurriedly I go after him as he disappears behind one of the heavy looking wooden doors. Cupid enters behind me.

We're in a large study. A mahogany desk takes prominence with six monitors covering the surface. The wall behind it is made with what looks like a tinted glass, and gives a view of the approach to Juliet Hill and the sky pink with dawn.

Cal places the Finis onto the desk then leans over to switch on the monitors. He looks up at us and glares.

"By all means – please feel free to go on my personal computer brother..." says Cupid, falling into a leather recliner opposite the desk.

He's trying to act casual but his jawline is tensed and I notice him flickering glances at the case containing the golden arrow.

"I take it you still have all your security systems set up?" asks Cal – ignoring him.

Despite his fury he seems oddly calm. Cupid nods.

"We're staying here then?" I say "Shouldn't we be running away?"

Cal glares at me.

"Don't you understand? They're on their way. Now." He says "We'll never get away in time – and even if we do – Venus is after us. Venus with the full force of the Matchmaking Service behind her who – unless you've forgotten – have an extensive web of worldwide surveillance. There's nowhere to hide."

I stare at him defiantly – my heart pounding.

"But they know we're here" I snarl "So we definitely won't get away if we stay will we??"

He looks at me – his eyes somewhat surprised at my outburst. I notice Cupid watching him warily.

"We'll keep them out" Cal says.

He pushes another button on the computer. There is a whirring sound as metal bars begin to slide down behind the glass window.

"I have them over all my windows" says Cupid – noticing me staring. "Stop people getting in... And out." He adds, looking curiously at his brother.

"What happens if they get in?" I ask.

"I don't know for sure" says Cal icily "But I imagine we'll all die."

I feel cold all over at his words.

Suddenly down the corridor there is a shuffling noise. The three of us look sharply towards the door. Cal reaches for a sharp letter opener that sits on the desk. My heartbeat quickens.

Then Charlie walks in – rubbing her eyes.

"What's going on?" she says.

With so much going on I'd almost forgotten she was here.

I sigh in relief.

"The match was made" says Cal coldly "Venus is back – and her agents are coming to arrest us all."

"Oh" says Charlie "Damn..."

"Yes" replies Cal "Damn indeed."

He fires another look at Cupid and I.

"Any ideas of how to get out of this mess you've got us into?" he adds, staring at his brother.

Cupid sighs then shrugs.

"Perhaps" he says.

He pushes himself up out of the chair and walks up to me. Gently he takes my hands in his.

They feel warm around mine.

His eyes are burning with passion.

"I won't let anyone hurt you Lila" he says.

Then he turns to Cal.

"Come to the combat room with me" he says "we need to get set up with weapons."

For a moment it looks as though he is silently communicating something to his brother. I look at the two of them curiously. Then Cal nods sharply and the two of them walk towards the exit of the room.

"Lila, Charlie" says Cal, turning back to us "Keep an eye on the monitors. We have surveillance cameras all over the house and grounds. You see anyone approaching and you shout. OK?"

I nod as the two brothers disappear down the corridor. Then Charlie and I hurry around the other side of the desk. Different parts of the house and grounds flicker in black and white across the screens.

"So, the match was made" says Charlie, turning to look at me.

I nod then look down.

"I'm so sorry Charlie" I say – guilt gnawing inside my stomach "You should never have been involved in any of this."

She shrugs – falling down into the office chair in front of the monitors.

"It's not so bad being a cupid - forever young, powerful, weirdly good at archery" she says "The resurrection of an ancient goddess who wants to kill us is a bit of a downer though..."

There's fear in her expression but she grins. I can't help but grin back.

"Did you kiss then?" she asks – her eyes twinkling mischievously.

I roll my eyes and laugh – despite the circumstances.

The end of the world is coming and she still wants to talk boy gossip.

I nod.

"With tongues??" she says.

I punch her arm playfully and squeeze into the desk chair beside her.

"Did you seriously just ask me that?!" I say grinning.

She rests her head on my shoulder and we fall into silence – staring at the greyscale monitors.

How did we end up in this mess??

A few minutes later and the brothers re-emerge. Between them they're carrying a bow and quiver for each of us – filled with the three different types of arrows.

Cupid hands Charlie and I one, then shares another odd look with his brother. Cal opens the case on the table and slips the Finis into his quiver – hiding it among the other arrows.

I'm momentarily surprised – I thought that Cupid would have wanted to be the one to take it. It was the original reason he came to Forever Falls after all.

To make the match and to kill Venus.

I'm about to ask about it when a movement in the corner of my eye stops the question in my throat.

I jerk my head towards the monitor detailing the approach from Juliet Hill.

Adrenalin surges through my body. My hands begin to tremble and my body feels ice cold.

What I see is even worse than I'd imagined.

This isn't a team of agents.

It's an army.

"Oh god" I say - my voice barely a whisper "They're coming."