We walk into the diner.

It's empty inside -dimly lit by the street lamps shining through the glass front.

The last time I saw the inside of this place was when I was in the Sim. I think back to the training and the black eyed demons within.

My hands shake slightly and I stuff them into the pockets of my jacket.

I'd managed to fight the fake Arrows, but can I fight a real one?

Cupid shoots me a backwards glance then makes his way through the booths to the door behind the counter. Cal and I follow.

We enter a narrow corridor that smells of damp. There are wooden stairs leading upwards - a murmur of voices comes from above.

Crystal?

Cupid puts a finger to his lips gesturing that we stay quiet, and slowly we creep up the rickety staircase. My heart pounds as the steps creak below my feet.

We emerge into another dank, corridor lit by a flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. There is one door at the end. The voices here are louder.

Cupid moves forwards.

Despite his size, I notice the lightness and agility in his steps. He stops by the door. Beside me Cal casually unzips his rucksack behind his back - slipping out a black arrow.

Realising my eyes are on him, he casts me a concerned glance - raising his pale eyebrows in question.

I nod.

I'm OK.

He nods sharply and we move towards Cupid. We wait outside the door - trying to listen to what is being said.

"She's told us where it is. I've let the other Arrows know - they'll go collect the Finis - our job is done..." comes an accented male voice behind the door "Let's just dispose of her"

Beside me Cupid tenses up and I notice Cal's grip tighten on the black arrow.

"Yes" comes another voice - sneering and female "But she might be lying. They can't get the Finis now - there'll be too much security. They'll head there at Midnight when there's a shift swap. If it really is where she says it is then we'll kill her. If not - we can ask her some more questions"

Cupid turns to say something to us as the conversation continues. As he does the floorboard beneath him creaks. Silence suddenly falls on the other side of the door.

"There is someone outside" the male accented voice announces "Get Crystal out of here"

Cupid raises his eyebrows at us then barges through the wooden door.

Instantly Cal jumps forwards and throws the arrow like a spear over his brother's shoulder. I hear a grunt and thud as it hits its target.

One down.

Cupid grabs another arrow from his brother's bag as Cal moves forwards.

"Lila" shouts Cupid "Get Crystal"

I rush into the room behind them.

It's dimly lit and sparsely furnished. My eyes catch three Arrows, startled on their feet by a tattered looking couch, and a fourth - hit by Cal's Arrow - on the floor. I search the shadows for Crystal as the two brothers rush forwards and tackle down an Arrow each - Cupid jamming his weapon into the neck of one.

The third Arrow turns around and leaps over the sofa, rushing towards the far wall of the room. I follow him with my eyes and see what he is making his way towards.

Crystal lies unconscious, slumped over a wooden chair.

My heart thumps in my chest.

Without hesitation I run towards her - racing the dark haired Arrow. He gets to her just before me and turns; a sneer on his face.

I notice he has no weapons on him, but he is a good head taller than me. His arm muscles bulge against his smart white shirt.

How can I fight him?

"I'll be back for you later Lila Black" he says - his accented voice dripping with disdain.

Then he scoops Crystal up off the chair and turns away from me - making his way towards the door.

I look about frantically - trying to find assistance - but Cupid and Cal are both fighting the other Arrow by the couch. She has picked up a weapon and has Cupid pinned to the ground.

I stand blankly for a moment - not knowing what to do.

Then I notice a shimmering by the wall. I jolt my gaze to the side.

Stacked up against the peeling wallpaper is a quiver full of red and gold arrows, and a bow.

The Ardor.

They must have been using them on Crystal I think with a wave of nausea.

I grab the bow and an arrow, pulling back and aiming it at the back of the male carrying Crystal. He's moving quickly.

I can't afford to miss.

I take a deep breath, then let go.

There's a whoosh as the arrow hurtles through the air. Then a thunk as it plants itself into his back.

I can't believe it. I actually hit him!

The male lets out a strangled cry, and falls to his knees - dropping Crystal unceremoniously onto the floor.

Cupid, having just disposed of the remaining Arrow, looks up at me from his position on the floorboards and nods - an impressed look on his face.

The three of us rush forwards towards Crystal and the screaming male. Cupid places his fingers against Crystal's throat - checking for a pulse. He nods to himself, satisfied.

She's alive.

"It's...too....late. We know ....where it is"" shouts the male in his thick accent - his words laced with agony.

Cupid raises an eyebrow.

Suddenly he reaches into Cal's bag and pulls out the pink and bronze arrow.

The Capax.

He jams it into the already tortured male.

"Where is it?" Cupid asks - his eyes suddenly dark.

The male only laughs.

"You...really....think...the...Capax...can make me talk?" he looks at Cupid manically "I'm... a.... trained ...Arrow. I serve Her. I'll never tell you where the Finis is."

Cupid sighs.

"More...of...us....are on our way" continues the Arrow "You'll never get away."

Cupid scoops up Crystal.

"I believe him. He won't talk." he says "Time to go"

Cal looks down at the male and gives him a contemptuous look. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he punches him square in the jaw.

"That's for Crystal" he says as the dark haired male falls unconscious and crumples onto the floor.

Cupid raises his eyebrows, seemingly impressed.

"Nice punch brother" he says.

Cal nods rigidly, but I notice the half smile on his face.

"Thanks" he mutters.

Then we rush out of the damp, room and out of the diner. We burst out into the square and don't stop running until we reach Cupid's car. We pile inside and Cupid lays Crystal down beside me in the backseat. He starts the ignition and we race off down the roads towards his house.

"Will she be OK?" I ask, looking at the unconscious, former receptionist worriedly.

Cal looks over his shoulder - his eyebrows furrowed.

"I hope so" he says.

***

Around fifteen minutes later we're back in Cupid's living room. Crystal has been laid out onto the couch opposite the fire - breathing steadily as though asleep. I nurse a cup of coffee in the armchair nearest the fireplace.

Cal paces agitatedly around the room, and Cupid looks unusually irritable sat on the sofa opposite me.

"Will you sit down brother?" he snaps after a few minutes of silence.

Cal glares at him then suddenly walks out of the room without saying anything.

Cupid watches him a moment then looks back at me.

"What do we do?" I ask.

Cupid shakes his head.

"The Arrows said they'd sent someone to get the Finis at Midnight" he says. "But we can't ask Crystal where it is with her being unconscious. When they have it they'll come straight for us. Not to be dramatic or anything...but they'll kill us all."

He looks at me and smiles weakly. His eyes seem lost. For a moment I want to reach out and touch him - tell him that everything will be OK.

But then I remember what will happen if we develop any more feelings for each other; Venus will come back.

And the Arrows are coming for us.

And nothing is even close to OK right now.

I look away hurriedly and glance at the clock on my phone - my stomach somersaulting.

Eight in the evening. Four hours to go.

"Will she wake up before Midnight?" I ask quietly. "So we can get the Finis before they do?"

Cupid shrugs, running a hand through his ruffled hair.

"She could do I suppose..."

"We can't count on it" interjects Cal from the doorway.

He walks back inside and dumps a pile of books, papers and photographs onto the coffee table. Cupid raises an eyebrow.

"I went to collect information on Crystal today" he says "This is what I found. There must be a clue to where she put it somewhere. We'll have to work it out for ourselves."

I look up the blonde Matchmaking Agent. His silver eyes gleam brightly in the light of the fireplace.

"Well? What are you waiting for? We have four hours to find the Finis or we're all dead" he says "Let's get to work"