Leda’s Log. A behind-the-scenes, slice-of-life look into the Legion of Angels, hosted by Leda Pandora, the Angel of Chaos.
Warning: may include abnormally-large cats and adorable baby angels.
Story #3 (“The Ball of Champions”) of Leda’s Log continues! In this chapter, Cupid demonstrates the power of her unique magic.
Leda’s Log
Part 22: Cupid’s Arrow
Cupid’s magic did indeed work on Aspen’s people. In fact, it worked very, very well.
“Wow,” I said, looking at all the sleeping security guards on the floor.
They’d been waiting for us the moment we’d stepped into the notary’s office, swords raised and ready to attack. It hadn’t helped them. Cupid had taken them all down in like two seconds. She was wicked-fast with that magic bow and arrows.
“Wow, indeed,” Aspen said, looking wide-eyed at Cupid. “I’m still surprised your magic works on my people. No off-worlder’s magic ever has.”
I snatched the keys off the sleeping secretary’s desk. The notary had been so worried about our return that he’d barricaded himself away behind a dozen armed men and at least as many locked doors. This would take a while.
“Cupid is different,” I told Aspen as I set to work figuring out which key opened the first lock. “Her powers are a whole different kettle of fish altogether. They don’t come from the gods or the demons. She didn’t get magic from Nectar or Venom.”
“Then where did you get your powers?” Aspen asked Cupid.
“Well, it all started with this massive magical shockwave that Leda set off.”
“Are you in the habit or setting off massive magical shockwaves?” Aspen asked me.
“No.”
Cupid snorted.
“Ok, yeah. Sometimes,” I added quickly. “But it’s always for a good cause, I swear.”
“In this case, she was destroying an evil hideout and thwarting the plans of the malicious people who lived there,” Cupid explained.
“They were really malicious,” I pointed out.
“So this is your thing?” Aspen asked. “Destroying evil hideouts and thwarting malicious people?”
I shrugged. “Destroying evil hideouts. Thwarting malicious people. Saving the world. Basically, yeah. I do that kind of thing all the time.” I threw her a smirk over my shoulder.
“Well, then,” Aspen said quietly. “I guess I picked the right ally to help me.”
“Yeah, you did.” I smiled when the lock clicked open. “Now let’s go convince the notary that he picked the wrong ally.”
My dramatic words turned out to be a little anticlimactic. It took me another five minutes to get through the rest of the locked doors. I wasn’t worried, though. I’d gotten a good look at the building on my first visit. There were no exits at the back.
I led the way, creeping down the hall, keeping my eyes peeled for more guards. There weren’t any. The moment we entered the notary’s room, though, he reached for the gun on his desk. Cupid was faster. She shot at arrow at him, pinning his hand to his desk. He yowled.
“Nice aim,” I told her.
Mr. Barrens snarled. “You degenerate—”
“No name calling,” I cut him off. “You’re the one who tried to shoot us with a gun.”
“You will suffer for this outrage. You will all suffer!“
“He does like to talk,” Cupid commented.
“It’s not all talk,” Aspen said. “He’s been known to kill people who annoy him. Well, actually he has his guards kill them while he watches. He likes to watch.”
“Charming,” I said. “How does he literally get away with murder?”
Aspen sighed. “He has friends in high places.”
“You like to hurt people? Do you like to kill them?” Cupid said, leaning down to meet the man’s gaze. “Do you like to pretend that you’re big and powerful?”
“I don’t have to pretend. I am big and powerful,” he spat in her face. “I hold the fate of this whole world in my hands. That’s why you’re here. You need me. That’s how I knew you’d be back.”
“Sorry to steal your thunder, but actually, you knew we’d be back because I told you so,” I replied.
He glowered at me.
“Well, then, let’s get down to business, shall we?” I set Aspen’s folder on his desk. “You know why we’re here, Mr. Barrens. I think it’s safe to say that we all want us to be out of here as quickly as possible, so could you please just do your job and sign Aspen’s papers?”
He spat a string of curses at me.
I looked at Cupid. “What is a ‘sparkle-eyed angel duster’?”
“A poorly-executed insult?” she suggested.
“Indeed,” I agreed, then looked at the man. “Seriously, dude, if you’re going to insult me, at least do it properly.”
My helpful suggestion only made Mr. Barrens angrier. He struggled and thrashed, pulling on his arm. The arrow dissolved. He clutched his uninjured hand for a moment, like he couldn’t believe his luck. Then he jumped over the desk, running for the door.
“Oh, for crying out loud,” Cupid said, notching an arrow. “Making such a scene and a mess.” She shot him in the back.
He froze in his tracks, standing perfectly still for almost a minute.
Finally, I whispered, “Is he just stuck there?”
“For as long as I want him to be, yes,” Cupid replied.
Mr. Barrens turned toward around slowly, drawn to the sound of her voice. The fight in his eyes was gone. When they fell upon Cupid, his mouth lifted into a dopey smile.
I walked up to him. “He certainly looks docile.” I tapped him lightly on the forearm, and he very nearly tipped over. “Whoa, how strong did you make that arrow?” I asked Cupid.
“Strong,” she replied. “You did say these people are resistant to magic.”
I looked on as the arrogant, belligerent Mr. Barrens gave Cupid googly eyes. “But not your magic clearly.”
The man licked his lips, eyes still locked on Cupid.
“Ooh, he really loooves you,” I laughed.
“Lucky me,” Cupid said in her usual dry tone.
Aspen watched Mr. Barrens jump up and down to get Cupid’s attention. “Remarkable. Making someone sleepy is one thing, but this is something else entirely. You have him completely under your spell.”
Mr. Barrens chose that very moment to try to kiss Cupid. She sidestepped, and he tripped over his chair.
“That’s my girl Cupid, spreading love and joy wherever she goes,” I chuckled.
Mr. Barrens got to his feet, gazing upon Cupid with that doting look, like she could do no wrong.
“Ok, Aspen, hand Cupid your bundle of paperwork,” I said. “Then she will give them to Mr. Barrens.”
“Me?” Cupid asked.
“Sure. You’re the one he’s in love with, so you’re the one who can convince him to sign Aspen’s papers.”
“He’s not really in love with me,” Cupid said as she took the papers from Aspen. “The arrow’s just made him susceptible.”
“Susceptible to your charms?” I smirked at her.
“Susceptible to suggestion,” she said tightly, clearly not in the mood to be charming.
That only made me want to tease her more. “Susceptible to your charming suggestions?”
Cupid made an impatient noise. “Seriously, Leda, you spend an awful lot of time speaking nonsense.”
“I know. A little sprinkling of nonsense goes a long way toward making life interesting.”
Cupid’s eyes narrowed. “And what does a lot of nonsense do?”
“Shall we find out?”
“No.”
“It’s weird how he’s staring at her,” Aspen commented, frowning at Mr. Barrens. “All silent and stalky.”
“Sometimes a powerful arrow robs the target of their ability to speak.” Cupid waved her hand in front of his face, but all he did was smile even more. “The effect is temporary.”
“Is his case of the lovesies temporary?” I asked her.
“Of course.”
“Do you want it to be?” I gave my eyebrows a mischievous wiggle.
“Of course!”
“So he can’t talk.” Aspen snapped her fingers in front of Mr. Barrens’s eyes. He didn’t react, not even to blink. “But can he understand us? Because it’s going to be hard to get him to sign my papers if he can’t understand anything.”
Cupid handed Mr. Barrens the papers. “Take these.”
He took them.
Cupid looked at Aspen and declared, “He understands us.” Then she pointed at the papers in the notary’s hands and barked in that same commanding voice, “Sign these.”
“Hey, try using a little honey, sister,” I said.
“Sorry, all the honey I’ve got was in that arrow I shot into his back,” she said drily.
“I totally believe you,” I laughed.
But it didn’t seem to matter. Honey or no honey, Mr. Barrens was more than happy to sign Aspen’s papers and put his big official stamp on them. The problem came when we packed up to leave. He tried to follow us out of the office.
“No, you stay here,” I said, blocking the door.
Mr. Barrens looked at Cupid, his eyes wide.
“Tell him,” I said to her.
“Uh, right,” she said uncomfortably. “Listen to Leda. You need to stay here.”
Mr. Barrens latched on to her arm.
“Don’t worry. Everything is going to be all right.” Cupid tried to peeled his hand off of her, but he wasn’t having that. “I’ll…uh, call you.”
He let go instantly, grinning like an idiot. Then he sat down at his desk and stared at the phone.
“Nice going, Cupid,” I chuckled as the three of us left the building. “He’s a real catch.”
“Oh, shut up,” she snapped.
I winked at her, then turned toward Aspen, who was clutching her bundle of papers like it was a lifeline. “Ok, one unsurmountable problem down, one to go. Let’s get ready for the ball!”
When we arrived back at the dress shop, the crowds were still there, gawking at Angel. She hadn’t made much progress on her nap. Nero and Sierra had made progress, however.
“That one,” our daughter declared, pointing at the tuxedo Nero was wearing.
“Are you sure?” Nero asked her.
“Sure!” Sierra clapped her hands.
“Because there might be another two hundred tuxedos in the back that I could still try on.”
“No.” Sierra pointed at him again. “That one.”
I looked him up and down, smirking.
His gaze slid to me. “Yes, Pandora?”
“While I do enjoy your usual black battle leather,” I said, wetting my lips as I took one more long, leisurely look at him…and then another…and another, “I must say that you look wicked good in a tux.”
He hooked an arm around me, scooping me in closer. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whispered against his lips, nibbling playfully on them. “It certainly accentuates your features.” I slid my hands across his chest, around to his back, then plunged lower, grabbing his butt.
“Did you hit her with one of your arrows?” Aspen asked Cupid.
“No.” Cupid sighed. “They’re always like that.”
“Ok, ok. We’ll behave.” I kissed Nero once, then pulled away from him. Regretfully.
The twinkle in his eyes was so inviting, so tempting, that I had to look away so I didn’t give in to the urge to throw myself at him again. Nero’s chuckles echoed delightfully in my mind.
I cleared my throat. “Ok, Princess,” I said to Aspen. “Let’s get you to the ball!”
To be continued…
Unlike Angel, this giant cat got to finish his nap.
In the next chapter of Leda’s Log, Leda and the gang (Angel too!) go to the Ball of Champions as they continue their quest to help Aspen become queen.