Gloom

"This one?" I ask, holding out the salacious, glittery black dress against my body.

"She'll love it," Love says with a huge smile on her face.

"Are we done yet?" Death says, sitting in the high back leather chair like some demonic prince.

"Pardon me for trying to find my happily ever after, you selfish prick."

Death sighs, rolling his eyes before closing them and resting the back of his head against the chair.

"Ignore him. He's happy for you," Love says, looking at the hem of the dress. "That will hit right around her ankles. It's perfect."

"You think she'll like wearing something from my realm?"

"Honestly, Ladybird has never really fit in at Cupidale. This dress might be more her than anything she's ever worn before."

"She is magnificent. Did I tell you I went down on her in the bathroom at LT?"

"Yes, Gloom, only about fifteen times."

"I also licked the tip of your fearless leader's cock, too."

Love sighs and nods her head. "You're a very lucky reaper."

"I am, aren't I?" I say with a grin, putting the dress next to the suit I'm buying for the event. "Are the RSVPs rolling in?"

Love bounces on her heels and pulls out a long scroll that automatically updates as soon as someone RSVPs.

"Eight hundred and thirty-two cupids, four hundred and twelve reapers, one Krampus, thirty-eight nymphs, and two lady lucks." I whistle and Love nods her head rapidly. "I know. It's going to be huge. I can't believe it was my idea."

"It's because you're brilliant, baby," Death praises her, finally seeming in a good mood.

"I didn't think Head Cupid would go for something like this, but he did," Love says, glancing back down at the responses.

"He's a good man," I say, clearing my throat and browsing through the ties. I mean, we all might as well match since we're going to this event together.

"You like him not because he's a package deal with Ladybird, right?" Love asks, and my mouth automatically gapes open. I don't like the suggestion one bit. Before I can even answer, Love shakes her head. "I'm just asking because ever since I became a cupid, I saw how lonely he was. The man in charge of the realm filled with love was the loneliest of them all. I didn't mean it to attack you, Gloom. I know you're not a malicious person. I've always wanted to find Cupiō his love match, and it's crazy that one of them has been his assistant for years and another is one of my best friends."

I sit there for a moment and let the accusation slide away; I know she didn't mean it like that. Love just wants everyone to be happy and find their perfect match.

"I really do like him. He's sweet, gentle, and different from anyone else I've ever met. My pull to Ladybird is wild and magnetic, but my pull to Cupiō is calm and seductive."

Love smiles at me, tears welling in her eyes.

"Great, you made her cry. We're out of here," Death says, and Love shakes her head.

"They're happy tears. Have fun tonight, and I'll see you in Cupidale in a few days to finalize the party."

"Thanks, Love."

"Can we please go now?" Death complains. Love rolls her eyes, but grabs her petulant boyfriend's arm as they portal to their apartment.

I'm not sure why I didn't tell Love about the pocket watch Cupiō gave me. Something about it felt private, like I just want to keep it our little secret. I pay for the clothing, and leave it back at my place before portalling right to the Head Cupid's private residence.

As soon as I pop in, there's a blood-curdling scream, which then makes me scream. So then I'm standing in the foyer of a lavish pink house, as I stare at a curvy cupid with a pile of wild pink hair pinned to the top of her head.

She holds the broom, pointing it at me.

"I'll call the Head Cupid right now and he'll… uh… mess you up real good," she says, wielding the cleaning device like a weapon.

"He invited me here," I say, which she clearly doesn't believe at first.

"Cupiō never has visitors," she says sadly. "Well, except for me, but that's because he pays me to clean his house."

I tilt my head at her. "There are cupid housekeepers?"

She clicks her tongue. "Well, no. Not really. See what had happened was I got a little drunk and might have made a man fall in love with a plastic blow up whale. Head Cupid isn't one for hefty punishments and I really like organizing things. You should have seen this place a hundred years ago. A disaster," she breathes out.

"So, you clean his house for fun?" I question and the strange cupid just smiles at me.

"I also bring him snacks now and then. I just feel so bad for him."

"Do you have a crush on him?"

The cupid scoffs. "Ugh, no. Definitely not my type." Her eyes go wide. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that. I just like my men a little edgier, you know? Cupiō is the sweetest."

"He is," I say, smiling at her current spiral. "I'm Gloom," I say, holding out my hand. The cupid finally realizes she's still holding the broom and drops it to the floor.

"Candy," she says, her grip firm as we shake hands.

"Do you know when Cupiō and Ladybird will be here?"

"Oh, my stars. He finally is bringing Ladybird over?" Her hands clutch her chest the same way that Love does. These cupids sure are something when it comes to matchmaking.

"I'm hoping Cupiō, Ladybird, and myself might have a connection."

"One of my best love matches was a throuple. This is amazing. He likely won't be home for another hour, but if you'd like, I could help you cook something before they even get home."

"You'd do that? Even though we just met and I scared the shit out of you?"

"Of course. Cupiō deserves happiness, so does Ladybird, so if I can help and don't, what kind of cupid would that make me?" she asks.

I smirk, loving how helpful cupids usually are.

"A real shitty one."

She smiles and shakes her head. "Come on, let me show you the kitchen."

I follow the short cupid to the kitchen where she whips about, pulling ingredients out one by one and bossing me around as she shows me how to cook her boss's favorite dish.

An hour and a half later, Candy and I have made what I would consider the most delicious lasagna, accompanied by a breathing bottle of wine, garlic bread, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

The front door opens, and Candy startles.

"Best of luck, Gloom."

"Are you coming to the Love in the Veil party?" I ask her, and she nods frantically.

"Of course I will."

"See you there," she says with a pop, portalling out of the boss's house and back to wherever it is she lives.

I expect a ‘honey we're home' with smiling faces and excitement to see me. But all I see is Cupiō's downtrodden face and Ladybird's pissed off one to match. Once they see the work I've done, they both soften a little.

"Thank you, Gloom, this was thoughtful," Cupiō says before taking a seat at the head table.

Ladybird gives me a look that I don't know her well enough to discern, so I just take a seat at the table.

"Candy helped me," I say and Ladybird seems irritated by hearing the nice cupid who helped me cook's name. "Is there something I'm missing?" I ask and Cupiō pours everyone a glass of wine.

"Are you familiar with my son, Eros?"

I grimace and nod my head, trying not to be rude.

"He asked me if I could turn him into a ghost today."

My brows furrow. "You can't just change what type of being you are." Ladybird chokes on her wine a little and I glance between the two of them. "Right?"

"I'm the first cupid, just like Mortem is the first reaper. Along with being the first comes not only great responsibility but also great power. If we find that a being in our realm isn't up to par, it is possible to banish them into a life of being a ghost."

"Why would anyone want to be a ghost?" I ask. As a reaper, I've seen my fair share of souls who decide not to pass on and wander their planet listlessly and alone. The afterlife is hard. Not everyone stays in the veil, some go to the good place, others the bad place, and if you're lucky like me, you get a position in the veil and get to experience many realms.

"He says he's in love with another ghost." Cupiō takes a deep sip of his wine.

"They'll never be able to touch."

"I told him this," Cupiō says, finishing his wine glass and pouring another. A splash of red wine hits his light pink beard, and he wipes it away, inhaling the alcohol.

"What did you do?"

"I told him I couldn't do it," Cupiō replies, downing the next glass. When he goes to pour again, Ladybird puts a hand on top of his glass and shakes her head.

"No. I'm not going to let you do this. He can't just keep showing up in Cupidale and causing you pain like this. What he was asking of you was beyond inappropriate. I know he's your son, I know that you love him no matter all the poor decisions he's made, but you deserve to be happy too," she tells him softly and we both look at her with awe-filled expressions. "Let's eat this delicious meal Gloom made and then do something fun."

"Something fun?" Cupiō asks.

"Something you haven't done for ages," she replies with a grin.

I look at her, trying to get some sort of idea of what she has planned, but she doesn't give me a hint. Instead, she moans as she eats my pasta.

"This is delicious, thank you, pet."

I shiver at the name and I know there's no hiding my pink cheeks or my hardening erection under the table.

I somehow calm myself down as we finish our meal. Cupiō looks less than pleased to not be rotting inside of his house and moping, but Ladybird seems to know what she's doing.

She grabs both of our hands as she portals us to Earth.

Why the fuck would she bring us here?