Cupid's Bow

Chapter 1

Amora Archer had never meant to be a bad guy. She wasn't a great liar, and her charismatic people skills sucked. She had to admit, she was a terrible bad guy. She normally wouldn't categorize herself as a bad guy, but lately it seemed all her brilliant intentions were for naught. Amora Archer had a novel childhood—at least she thinks so. Part of her memory had been lost when she became part of the 'Mythological' challenged. The part she did know was that she had a little brother named Jacob and he was the cutest little boy she'd ever seen with cherub cheeks, hair so blond it was almost white, and round sapphire eyes—nothing like her gray eyes and dusty rose hair. Sometimes, when she thought about him, she found herself missing him; he wouldn't let her be a thief.

She sighed, walking along the trees of the forest and looked at the Moon as it shined brilliant in the night. He seemed to stare her down, smiling secretively at her from the dark sky. He spoke to her only once when she first woke up from…well, she didn't know. He told Amora her name, but hadn't spoken to her since. He hadn't told her what she was meant to do, or why he had chosen her to be who she was. Amora asked him every night, and every night she got no reply. Not even a small, insignificant whisper.

Amora sat on her favorite oak tree and watched the fall leaves as they floated in the air around the forest. The wind was picking up making the dried leaves flutter, the sound made her think of applause. She smiled softly and rested her head against the rough bark. Then she felt the air shift. The leaves became unnaturally still and she grabbed her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver. She waited for the next whisper of something foul in the woods.

She didn't wait long.

A dark laugh erupted out of the shadows, and she knew then who was in the forest. She aimed her bow towards the sound and her arm tensed, ready to release the bowstring and send the arrow to its intended target. She knew it wouldn't kill him, but it would give her time to run.

"Show yourself, Boogeyman." She commanded in a low tone.

The shadow moved to the branch above her. "Good evening, Cupid. You're looking well tonight." Pitch Black murmured. She reigned in her fear, knowing his reputation.

"What do you want, Pitch?" She growled pulling the bowstring further back.

"My, my Amora. Such an impatient little thing. It's hardly fitting for the coming holiday." He smirked.

"My holiday is none of your business. The Guardians made sure of that." She wanted to smile at the hatred and disgust that marred his face when she mentioned the age-old heroes.

"The Guardians are nothing but a band of fools. I will be believed in." He snapped at her.

"So go tell them. Leave me be." She replied. But she knew better than that. Pitch had tracked her for a reason. He wanted her for something.

"Ah, but I do so love your company. Bringer of love and all that. I must admit that when I began my search for Cupid, I expected a sweet baby Cherub with a child's toy bow. You seem to outgrow expectation, my dear." He smiled charmingly, but it only unsettled her.

"Why did you seek me out?" Her voice was dangerously low, and the bow was at the ready. All it would take was a few relaxed muscles and she would fire.

"Is that fear I detect?" He asked her.

"It's disgust. Your presence is unsettling." She replied.

"Oh, but I think your wrong. You see, I know fear very, very well. I know when people are afraid. It's the one thing I am never wrong about." He took a half-step closer and she raised the bow an inch higher. "But I did not come here to discuss what you are afraid of. I came because I am in need of a little love…"

The shadows all moved at once, closing in on her in a tight circle. Cupid fired.

The Northern Lights appeared in the skies over every continent. Jack watched them as they streaked across the sky and recognized the alarm when he saw it. He ran along the telephone wires and buildings to get to the portal that opened to the North. He caught the soft amber glow of Sandy on his right and ran with his fellow, glowing guardian to reach the meeting point.

"What's going on, Sandy?" Jacked asked.

The Sandman shrugged with his sand making a small question mark over his head. Jack nodded and landed softly on his bare feet on the top of the building where the Easter Bunny would meet them. The Northern Lights got brighter—more urgent and before he could remark, the Easter Bunny appeared, huffing and armed with twin boomerangs.

"You mates got any idea what's going on?" He asked Jack and Sandy who both shook their heads.

"You don't think it's Pitch again, do you?" Jack asked, suddenly remembering the Boogeyman.

Bunny replied with a snort. "With the beat down he got the last time? He'd be mighty stupid to go up against all of us again. Especially when the children believe so hard now. He'd have to have some major help from some—"

Bunny was interrupted by the Yetis who came out of the Portal and ushered them all through, straight into the warmth of Santa's workshop. A fire was burning and Tooth was flitting around the pictograph of the Moon on the floor. She and Santa were both facing the open window, waiting for the Moon to speak. Jack, Sandy, and Bunny approached cautiously.

"What's wrong, Tooth?" Jacked wondered, watching the fairy float frantically. She didn't reply, she merely looked toward Santa.

"Santa?" Bunny prompted the big man.

Santa glanced at him briefly. "One of the Legendary's is in danger." He replied, his voice almost lost in the roar of the fire.

Jack raised an eyebrow and gestured around them room. "Who could be in danger? We're all in this room."

Sandy shook his dusty head and pointed passed a Yeti to the shelf over the fire where one solid gold heart stood against the brick of the wall. Jack leaned in to get a better look, but still didn't comprehend.

"Someone to do with hearts?" He said confused.

Bunny rubbed his face. "No. He means Cupid."

"Cupid? The baby cherub in a diaper? He exists?" Jack asked a smirk on his lips.

"Aye, she exists. And that lass isn't any sort of cherub I've ever met." He commented.

"She? Cupid's a girl? How come I've never heard of her before?" Jack was so remarkably curious now.

"Amora Archer isn't the sort of Legendary that gets a good reputation. She's a thief, a recluse. And," Santa murmured. "She's been attacked."

Bunny hopped once. "Did the Man on the Moon tell you that? What does he need love for?"

Sandy tugged on Santa's pant leg and pointed to the window where the Moon was shining so bright, it was nearly blinding. The thick beams of silver moonlight fell onto the floor, illuminating the pictograph. Jack jumped back as a picture of a woman rose from the floor. She was dressed in a black leather jacket with two rows of zippers over each pocket. Her eyes were gray and her hair was a faded, pastel pink which dripped down over one eye. It looked as if she half-cared about tying it up into a pony tail and some fall away strands escaped. Over the left side of her jacket was a small, stitched heart that was cut off from view by her quiver which held at least two dozen arrows with red feathers. A strongly carved bow was draped over her shoulder with a small incantation carved into its handle.

Before he could see more, a black wave of sand poured over her body, covering her in a dark cocoon. And at once, the image fell away from the floor and he looked at the Moon.

"Pitch," Santa growled.

"What's the plan?" Jacked asked twirling his staff behind his head.

"We have to find Cupid and keep her safe. Pitch wants her love and love is the power that is the most precious. Come. We have a maiden to save. Even if she is on the Naughty List."