The Chosen One

Chapter 5 The Wonderland

Chapter 4

The Wonderland

“You are summoned by the mother” Jason got the message by the white bird with huge silver feathers and a horn on top of its head.

Jason was lost deep in thought as he observed the shining blue lake in front of him, its glow diminishing and there was nothing he could do about this place even he was giving in his best.

This place is all he could remember of when his parent left him here and moved away to a far away land.

They’d promised him “we’ll come back one day when there is love and peace everywhere”

The pastel pink the color of his mother’s long dress that flew long after her feet lying on the floor is carved into his memory. She looked like an angel in the white tiara with yellow, green and red flowers on her head, her blue eyes were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in this world. Her eyes held a promise.

“We love you my child” she sat besides him and hugged him “always remember that.”

“But mom” Jason begged his other hand tightly holding his father who was wearing a satin blue colored robe, a black and silver band around his head.

He looked at him with lot of love and adoration, his green eyes looked like emeralds or stones but he knew he’d hidden lot of warmth in them.

He’d hug him to sleep on a freezing winter night when mom had gone for an urgent work at the Cupid home and his voice that was a rare thing since he was a man of few words was enchanting because he’d heard him sing lullabies for him to sleep. 

They were leaving!

Jason could barely hold his tears

Jason had heard them talking earlier but he’d ignored.

Now when his parents were bidding him goodbye he knew that they were leaving him behind.

“Mom please take me with you” he begged, “I promise I’ll be a good boy.”

“I am sure My baby” his mom kissed him on his cheeks “you have always been a good boy. But Mother Cupid needs you here.”

“I need you too mom” Jason realized his mom was determined, he looked at his father “Daddy please. Who’ll teach me to fight? Who’ll teach me the rights and wrong?” he was crying now, tiny tears streaking the innocent face “please don’t go.”

“Oh my child” his father too bent down “you have learnt enough. You now have to give back to the world. You have a huge responsibility on your shoulders.”

He turned him around “do you see the beautiful lake” Jason nodded “and the tiny bushes filled with pretty flowers?” 

Jason nodded again.

“Can you see the flowers are drooping and not smiling?’ His father asked.

Jason nodded again wiping his tears and sadly watching the blurred colors of flowers that were once bright and fully blown

“We are going to get back the beauty of our habitat.” He said “and you too should make sure that the place stays beautiful when your parents return. You can do that?’ he asked.

Jason was now looking at the dying flowers on the bush as he nodded.

The flowers withered away leaving the bushes lonely but green. He watched as he grew that the bushes were faded with red orange and brown leaves and they faded away too.

The few of remaining trees were on full blossom filled with thick bushes and leaves, the silver lake still looked beautiful but there was more to it.

The grown up, Jason looked at the same lake. He’d done his best to maintain the place given the circumstances.

He still remembered those beautiful blue eyes of his mother and his promise to his father.

He had been struggling to maintain the beauty of the place, he knew his parents were struggling harder to get back to him.

Kaliyug’ was getting stronger each day and all the efforts by Mother Cupid to fight him was not enough.

“Love thee omnipresent’ he greeted

“Omnipresent Love’ she greeted back.

Cupid, now a young girl but years of her experience illuminated her fair face. 

She wasfloating in the center of a huge halo, another couple of halos rotating around her entire body like longitudes on the earth’s surface, sometimes glowing strongly, sometimes dimming. But Cupid remained unaffected by its presence.

It was part of her beautiful aura and she was used to its consistent existence, her height, body and weight had now increased, her red gown longer than her size floating below her feet.

Bow and arrow rested on her left shoulder tied with a golden veil, her eyes golden now and her smile prettier as she was happy to be back home.

“How much have we progressed Jason?’ she asked.

Jason shrugged “She was here yesterday’

“And my son opened his eyes for the first time in years” Mother Cupid gushed “I cannot wait till he is back on to his feet”

 “We are giving her time.” Jason stated, his voice void of emotions running inside him

Cupid’s face endeavored sadness “we don’t have much time son.”

Jason smiled as he did a once over at Mother Cupid, “you are looking good Mother.”

“Yes” Cupid smiled back, the halos around her now shining brighter and moving in a faster speed ’being back home has been blissful and I cannot thank you enough for bringing Estelle here.’

“All for the family Mother” Jason fisted his hand and bent his head humbly.

“Family needs more” Cupid winced,  she looked at one of her halos flickering “Kaliyug, he tied up with another evil.” Pain evident on her face but was quickly replaced by soft flawless skin ‘He was beaten the other day but with every passing second, he is alluring more evils into his alloy and getting powerful.”

“But we got our home back Mother once” Jason assured “we’ll defeat him again and always.

“We were lucky Estelle trusted us” Cupid said, “that trustempowered us. Then she helped us unconditionally, took care of me even if I was a complete stranger.”

“Yes that saved us, we were strong and we could fight harder and we won” Jason repeated the incidents in his words.

“I am glad we chose her Jason” Cupid smiled and frowned immediately “This time it’s going to be even more difficult. Triczar is badly injured.” She said sadly “She is The Chosen one. Therefore you have to get her back here. You’ll have to bring her again for Triczar”

Jason’s heart constricted “but I have to use a spell on her every time I get her here. It is not good for her.” He stressed “its not good for us too. Indirectly we are empowering Kaliyug”

Cupid frowned “it hurts me too. But that’s the only chance we have. She is our only hope”

“I think we should tell her the truth” Jason suggested.

“And make her run down the hills.” Cupid panicked “No”

“The best option is to get her here. Let both of them spend time together. Soon they’ll fall….” 

“On it Mother” Jason did not let Mother Cupid finish and left for work, unsettling feeling residing in the pit of his stomach.

Jason stared at the lake again. He wanted to spend time with the memories of his parents who had to desert him for the better good.

Surprisingly this time he remembered something more enticing than the sparkling blue of his mother’s eyes.

He did not want to compare which he liked most, definitely, his mother’s was always on upper hand but another pair of eyes that had his constant attention was those dark gray green eyes….

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Estelle responded to the doorbell even though it was late in the evening.

Part of her expected it to be the same blue-eyed boy who was no longer a stranger.

She had been with him somewhere.

Though she was so tired and drowsy that day that she remembered nothing of it except the fact that she enjoyed a lot and that place made her happy.

If filled her with warmth that lasted for hours after she was back home.

She missed Cupid too. 

How desperately she wished she could baby sit the pretty Cupid.

Although her non stop crying was something Estelle could take a rain check on but the enchantment and the aura the little girl had in her, Estelle could watch her for hours together.

She only feared for her lack of nutrition since the girl had nothing to eat at all.

“Hey” Estelle’s smile was broader than she might have imagined.

“Hi” Jason greeted meekly

They stood standing at the door in comfortable silence, each wondering what to say next.

“C… Can I come in?” Jason asked finally not knowing how to lure her or convince her to come to his Land which is nothing but a fictional fantasy to the people of her world

“I would have said No” Estelle chuckled “Since you are stranger and all.” She air quoted her fingers nevertheless glad that he was here. She was feeling lonely on the Christmas season. “But I guess” she shrugged “you are no longer stranger although…” she lifted her hand restricting Jason to enter who was already half way through entering “we do not know much about each other yet.”

“You are right” Jason tipped her nose; it was a reflex she was looking very cute in her pajama pants with some cartoon prints and a Santa hat and stuffed red Santa slippers. “Lets know each other better.”

He made himself comfortable on the couch that looked different today.

Actually the whole house looked different and vibrant today.

That’s the effect Cupid’s company has on others

Austin looked around to find the difference.

Estelle bit her lip. For the first time had she decorated her house for Christmas, even put up a Christmas tree. It did cost her a lot but she’d made a lot more muffins at the bakery too and was paid extra.

In fact someone had ordered a special order of muffins made by her only on the New Years eve.

He’d already paid advance to Hearth, the old lady who was very warm, compassionate and owner of the bakery. She was forgetful too so she’d already handed advance p*****t of the order to Estelle.

The Christmas was indeed merry for Estelle this year.

So she went extravagant in buying tree and decorations.

And she was very glad and proud of her inhibitions.

The glow of the lights of the tree spread into her heart and she was feeling very nice.

‘Coffee?’ Estelle offered and Jason found himself nodding.

‘I have to warm up to her to win her faith and take her along with me” Jason thought “I can in no way force her to come along or use a spell on her”

“Aren’t you cold?” Estelle asked as she handed him a blanket “here’s your coffee”

Jason was touched at her kind gesture. She indeed was perfect to be “The Chosen One” he thought. ’She could be a great queen’

Estelle waved her hand in front of his eyes “are you alright? Estelle asked. “You seem a little lost.”

Jason scratched the back of his neck “sorry” he muttered “lost in thoughts.”

“Really” Estelle was excited “and what would be those thoughts?”

“That you are a very nice person Estelle.” He said honestly.

Estelle stopped stirring the sugar in her coffee getting caught off guard with the compliment.

She does not remember last time she ever got a compliment from a guy.

With Austin it was different, he was flirting.

“What? Now you are comparing Jason and Austin. What the heck!” the inner voice intruded ‘Why?’

A lough cough and lot of splatter brought Estelle out of her thoughts.

“Hah aah ah” Jason was jumping on his seat “it was hot”

“It is coffee” Estelle furrowed her brows “Coffee is supposed to be hot.”

“Coffee is hot?” Jason couldn’t get it. Why would anyone want to hurt himself with such a hot drink?

Estelle couldn’t help her surprise “you haven’t had coffee before? Ever?” her shock was evident “Which world are you from?”

Jason burst into another loud fits of coughs…..