The Cupid War by Timothy Carter Page B

Nevertheless, some time off was needed, if only for the sake of morale.
    â€œTime off comes when our karmic debt is paid,” Owen said. “Right, sir?”
    â€œGood man,” Louis replied. “Get to it, people.”
    â€œYou heard the man,” Owen said, waving at Jada. “Let’s go.”
    What a brown-noser, Fallon thought as Owen marched off.
    â€œBye, Caleb,” Jada said, turning to follow Owen. “Nice to meet you, Fallon.”
    â€œSame here,” Fallon replied. “See you … ”
    â€œWhat’d I just say? Party’s over,” Louis said. “That means you—”
    â€œYou must have heard the good news, Louis,” Caleb interrupted cheerfully. “Fallon has done extremely well for—”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I’m putting him in the field,” Louis said. “I got someone new for you to train. I’ll bring him to ya later. Ricky, come with me.”
    â€œThe name’s Fallon.”
    â€œYou’re lucky I don’t call you dirtbag!” Louis said.
    â€œLouis, with all due respect, Fallon still needs another week’s training,” Caleb said. “All new Cupids get at least twenty days before … ”
    â€œIs everybody having hearing problems today?” Louis snapped. “You’re reassigned, Caleb. So’s he. End of story. Let’s go, dirtbag.” And he stomped off in the direction of the portals.
    Caleb nodded reluctantly. “Good luck, Fallon. Come and find me if you need anything.”
    â€œThanks, Caleb,” Fallon said, then rushed to keep up with the boss. “So where am I going?” he asked, matching Louis’s stride.
    â€œA high school,” Louis replied. “That’ll be your entire zone. I’ve got another couple of Cupids working the area around it. Your job will be the school, the kids, and the teachers.”
    â€œOkay,” Fallon said. “But what if I need to leave the zone?”
    â€œYou won’t.”
    â€œBut if I need to follow a kid home, or to his job … ”
    â€œYou just don’t know how to listen, do ya?” Louis said. “Your zone is the school. Everywhere else is someone else’s responsibility. Got it?”
    â€œYes, sir,” Fallon replied, offering a mock salute.
    The electric blast hit him in the chest and knocked him off his feet. Two Cupids had to leap out of his way. One of them w asn’t fast enough.
    â€œOof!” cried a middle-aged woman as Fallon slammed into her. They both went down, then she shoved Fallon off her.
    â€œIt’s called respect,” Louis said while the woman got back up. “Guess you’ve forgotten who’s in charge here.”
    â€œI hadn’t forgotten,” Fallon said, swallowing his anger.
    â€œGonna say you’re sorry to the lady ya hit?” It wasn’t a question, or even a suggestion.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Fallon said to the woman. She nodded, then looked back at Louis.
    She’s afraid of him, Fallon realized. He looked around and saw every Cupid in the area desperately trying to mind his or her own business. They’re all so damn afraid of him, Fallon thought. And there’s nothing we can do about it. No union to report him to, no human resources to file a grievance with. Hell, they couldn’t even quit.
    â€œLet’s go, kid,” Louis said, and he turned and stomped off again.
    Ten minutes later, they stepped through a portal onto the front lawn of a large high school. It was a modern-looking building, two floors high and two blocks wide. And it was green.
    â€œHere ya are,” Louis said, indicating the school. “Guildwood Mills High School. You stay inside those walls and do your work. Got it?”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Fallon said, but Louis was already walking away. He held up a hand as he approached the sidewalk, opened a portal, and stepped through.
    Fallon watched him go, then made