I lie rigidly in the four poster bed staring up at the ceiling. I try to process what I just overheard. My heart is racing.

Cal said that Cupid wants the match to be made. And that he is trying to kill someone.

The founder?

Is he using me?

As my head is whirring I hear footsteps down the hall. I squeeze my eyes shut and lie still.

There's a light rap on the bedroom door and my body tenses.

I don't want either of the brothers to know I heard them. Especially not Cupid.

Not yet.

There's another rap.

"Lila?" Comes Cupid's voice "You awake?"

I don't reply. He knocks again.

"Lila?"

I sigh and sit up - shuffling towards the headboard and pulling the silky sheets to my chin.

"Yes" I say.

Cupid opens the door, slowly letting in a line of light from the corridor outside.

He steps inside and makes his way towards me.

He's changed out of his suit and is now wearing grey, baggy sweatpants and a white T-shirt. He approaches the bed and sits down on the edge. I notice he has clothing folded in his hands which he places down beside him.

I look up at him suspiciously.

The moon creates dark shadows on his face through the window. His jawline is tensed and his breathing seems heavy.

I wonder if the argument he has just had with Cal has gotten to him.

"I just wanted to check you were OK" he says.

I stare at him.

"I'm fine" I say shortly.

Cupid looks at me curiously.

"Are you sure?" he says.

I give a brisk nod.

"I've brought you some clothes" he says shrugging "Just an old T-Shirt and some of my shorts. I thought you'd be more comfortable"

I nod again.

He seems to study me for a moment.

"You're embarrassed" he says "About the dance."

His voice is a little strained.

"You danced with my brother"

He looks at me - his eyes burn into mine.

I shrug.

Embarrassed? If that's what he wants to think then fine.

He stands up.

"It was just the Capax Lila" he says, facing away from me.

He walks briskly to the door.

Is he jealous?

"Cupid?" I say.

He looks over his shoulder.

"Who's the founder of the Matchmaking Service?"

He says nothing, but a look of suspicion creeps onto his face. I wonder if he has realised I overheard his conversation.

"You promised" I say "You said that if I went to the dance with you you'd tell me."

He nods sharply.

"Tomorrow" he says. "We'll go to the Love Shack after school and I'll tell you everything"

He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Tomorrow" I repeat.

"Get some sleep" he says.

I nod.

He softly shuts the door and I hear his footsteps fading away down the corridor.

I lay back down under the covers and take a deep breath.

I get the feeling Cupid isn't happy - but it looks like I'm finally going to get some answers.

***

I awaken to the sun's rays shining through the window and sit up, reaching for my phone on the bedside table.

I'd half expected to see a text from Charlie but she hasn't contacted me.

I hope she's OK. With all the confusion I'd not thought to check up on her.

I send her a quick text to make sure she's alright then check the time.

Eight in the morning. I wonder if Cupid or Cal are up.

I'm wearing the clothes Cupid gave me and I need to get home to get changed before school.

I climb out of bed and make my way downstairs.

Cal is sat at the breakfast bar clutching a cup of coffee and staring vacantly. He looks like he hasn't slept all night.

The Records of the Finis is sat on the surface in front of him.

He jumps when I walk in.

"Hi Cal" I say - feeling my face flush slightly when he looks up at me.

After pretty much forcing him to dance with me last night I feel a bit awkward to be around him.

"Lila" he replies shortly, giving a sharp nod in greeting.

"Any news on Crystal?" I ask.

He shakes his head.

"Cupid managed to plant a tracker on one of the Arrows while they were fighting - but it won't be activated until one of them uses their phone" he says "We just have to wait it out"

He goes back to staring at the book.

"Everything OK?" I ask.

Cal nods then sighs. He looks at the leather bound book on the table.

"Just trying to find some clue as to where Crystal might have hidden the Finis" he says "When she was taken she said I wasn't always a receptionist. What does that mean??"

He runs his hand through his hair agitatedly.

"What was she before she was a receptionist?" I ask.

He shrugs.

"An Agent" he says "Like me. Before that - a human. But that doesn't help at all"

I think for a moment.

"When did she become a receptionist?"

Cal shakes his head.

"I don't remember" he says "There'll be a record of it somewhere though"

He looks up at me, his silvery eyes a little brighter.

"Hey. That might actually help!" he says.

I shrug and give him a half smile.

"Don't sound so surprised" I say, wandering over to the coffee machine and making a cup for myself.

Neither of us speaks for a moment while the machine is whirring.

I take a sip of the hot black liquid then look down at my outfit.

"Is Cupid up yet?" I say "I need to head home to change before school."

Cal shakes his head.

"No" he replies "But I'll take you back. I'm going to head out to Elysium anyway - see if I can get some more information on Crystal that might help us. I can't go back to the Matchmaking Service - but there'll be cupids there that know her. They may be willing to help"

***

The morning at school passes quietly. No-one remembers the intrusion of the Arrows at the dance and Charlie - to my relief - is fine, though she seems a little distant.

At lunch time though she takes me aside.

"Lila" she says urgently "I didn't know whether to say anything - but last night a load of kids got shot by arrows at the dance, you included. I swear it. No-one seems to remember - but it happened. Please believe me"

She looks at me - her brown eyes wide.

Of course she would have seen them. She's a cupid now. How could we not have thought of this?

I stare at her - unsure of what to say.

Then I sigh - and for a second time fill her in on what happened, though giving her an edited version this time around.

If she remembers her loyalty to the Arrows it's probably not a good idea for her to know I'm Cupid's Match, or that the brothers are trying to track down Crystal.

She stares at me open mouthed.

"I know it's a lot to take in" I say "And you probably have a lot of questions. Here..."

I take her phone and type in Cal's number.

"I'll answer what I can - but he'll help you

***

After a weird day of trying to explain things to Charlie I make my way to the car park to meet Cupid.

Charlie seems to have taken the news quite well, but I suspect it hasn't all sunk in yet.

I'm only waiting for a few minutes before Cupid's Aston Martin approaches. My stomach flutters nervously.

I'm finally about to get some answers.

Cupid pulls up beside me and I climb into the car.

There's a bit of an awkward air between us, and his face looks more serious than usual. He's still wearing the sweatpants and T-Shirt I saw him in last night.

We make small talk as he drives to the square. Then he parks up and we head to the Love Shack in silence - letting Eric the doorman stamp our hands then sitting down at a vacant, pink tinged table.

One of the waiters with a necklace of flowers takes our orders and, minutes later, appears with a pot of coffee.

Cupid looks at me intensely.

"So Lila" he says "What do you want to know?"

His eyes burn into mine and his jawline is tensed.

I take a deep breath.

"Why is it so bad that the founder comes back?" I ask "Why is Cal so afraid that will happen?"

He takes a sip of his coffee.

"He thinks it will mean the end of the world" he says.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

"Will it?"

Cupid shrugs.

"Maybe"

I furrow my eyebrows.

"Do you want the founder to come back?" I ask.

This time Cupid looks surprised.

"You heard us talking last night." he states quietly.

He sighs.

"I did" he says "But not to end the world. I wanted to save the world. But now..."

He looks at me sadly.

"I didn't expect to feel this way." he says "...about you. I don't want to put you in danger Lila. I'm just worried it's too late"

I feel my heart rate accelerate.

"Who is the founder of the Matchmaking Service?" I ask.

He looks at me and runs his hand through his ruffled hair.

"Insanely powerful, dangerous, unstoppable. She goes by a lot of names" he says "Aphrodite, Hathor, Venus - she's the original goddess of love."

He looks at me darkly.

"Or as Cal and I refer to her. Mother"