Ivan led Carina through the hallway of his house straight into an all black and gray living room. 

The room felt gloomy unlike the one Carina had at home.

Hers always felt lively and always seemed to lift her spirits.

This living room, however, only seemed to make Carina more nervous.

What if she wasn’t up to Ivan’s parents’ standards? What if they didn’t like her? What if they would kick her out for being a cupid? What if…

Ivan squeezed Carina’s hand as if he read her mind and could sense her nervousness.

He flashed her a sincere smile, lifting Carina’s mood and spirit.

“Thanks. I needed that,” Carina said, giving Ivan a small smile while squeezing his hand back.

Suddenly two very tall adults entered the room wearing all black.

The man was tall and muscular with broad shoulders. He had short black hair that was gelled back and shared Ivan’s dark gray eyes. His skin was caramel just like Ivan’s too. He held no expression on his face, nor no hint as to what he was thinking.

“Ivan’s father, Brone,” Carina thought to herself.

The woman standing next to him was almost as skinny as a corpse with malnutrition. She had long straight black hair with light gray eyes. Her skin was as white as snow, something that Carina hadn’t ever seen before.

“Ivan’s mother, Deirde,” Carina thought.

Ivan’s parents bowed.

Ivan did the same and Carina followed.

Carina remembered what Ivan had said, “Don’t say anything about Cupid’s or being one. I love you and I don’t want my parents to do anything irrational because you are a Cupid. I can’t stand the thought of losing you.” Carina had agreed.

Once the four of them stood straight up, they all sat down on the large black couch in the living room.

“So…,” Ivan’s father began. “You must be Carina.”

“Yes,” Carina said with a small smile. “And you are Mr. and Mrs. Dark.”

“Yes,” Ivan’s father said with a small nod. “So…how did you two meet? Ivan hasn’t really told us much about you.”

“School,” Ivan said.

“Alright,” Ivan’s father said, surprised that Carina hasn’t answered the question but his own son.

At the dinner table, the room was mostly silent as they ate.

Ivan’s father then spoke as they were served dinner by the servers.

“We know,” Ivan’s father said.

Carina’s heartbeat seemed to quicken even though Ivan’s father hadn’t said much yet about what he knew.

“What do you both know?” Ivan asked, squeezing Carina’s hand gently under the table.

“Carina…she’s a Cupid. Isn’t she?” Ivan’s father said.

Carina’s heart seemed to almost beat out of her chest now.

“I…,” Ivan began.

“Ivan hadn’t said anything about lying to his parents and he knows I don’t lie. I want his parents to like me and accept me, but I don’t want to have to lie for something as little as that,” Carina thought to herself.

“Yes. I am a Cupid,” Carina said.

Ivan turned his head facing Carina and stared at her with fear in his eyes.

Carina had gained new confidence and her heart rate slowed down. She wasn’t scared of his parents.

Not anymore.

Ivan’s father’s face twisted into a huge frown as his eyebrows scrunched together.

“I knew it,” Ivan’s father said, his face twisting back to normal. His mouth then twisted into a smirk.

“How?” Ivan asked, looking at his father with a shocked look on his face. “I haven’t told you anything!”

“I know the Amore’s. We’ve tried to steer clear of them for years. Somehow…,” Ivan’s father said, turning to look at Carina and then back at Ivan. “It seems like one of them found you anyway. You know how we feel about Cupid’s Ivan. How did you happen to become enchanted by one?”

“I…,” Ivan started.

“Enchanted?” Carina interrupted. “You think I enchanted him?! You think I would put a spell on Ivan?!”

Ivan and his father turned to look at Carina, who seemed angry at the thought that someone would think she would entrance someone on purpose or know how to.

“I didn’t enchant Ivan. I would never do such a thing,” Carina said, her blood boiling. “I don’t even know how to enchant someone. It’s against the rules of Cupid’s to make people fall in love if they don’t want to or feel attracted to the other person.”

“It may be against the rules, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t find some way to make it happen,” Ivan’s father said.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t sit here and be accused of something I didn’t do,” Carina said, getting up from her chair. “If you will excuse me, I’m going to go home.”

“Carina,” Ivan began.

“It’s ok. I can leave. I know that I’m not welcome,” Carina said, with a small forced smile. She turned around and headed towards the front door.

Ivan turned back to face his parents.

“Finally,” Ivan’s father said, closing his eyes and then opening them. “I thought she’d never leave.”

“Are you serious?!” Ivan said, getting even more angry. “I brought my girlfriend over for the first time and you can’t even show her a little kindness?!”

“Ivan, she’s a cupid. We’re anti-cupids,” Ivan’s father replied.

Ivan rolled his eyes.

“And? I love her! I love Carina!” Ivan shouted.

Carina stopped at the door, hearing what Ivan had shouted. Her cheeks heated and turned pink.

“As my parents, you can at least show the girl I love and that makes me happy, some kindness even if you don’t exactly like her species that she is a part of,” Ivan said, getting up from his chair.

“Ivan-,” Ivan’s father started.

“Please don’t talk to me,” Ivan said, cutting his father off. “You’ve done enough damage already.”

Ivan then ran off to the front door and found Carina standing there still.

“Oh thank goodness you’re still here!” Ivan said, hugging Carina and then letting her go. “I’m so sorry about my parents. You don’t deserve to hear that. You are the kindest and most amazing girl I’ve ever known.”

Carina smiled.

“Did you mean what you said?” Carina asked.

“What do you mean?” Ivan asked. “About you being the kindest and most amazing girl I’ve ever known? Yeah.”

“No. About you saying that you ‘love’ me?” Carina asked, her cheeks darkening in color.