As soon as we reach the outside of the Cupids Matchmaking Service, something feels wrong. The door – usually shut to stop random humans from wandering in – is wide open, a crack forked across the glass.

Cassie and I share a look before stepping inside.

The bright reception area appears abandoned as we stride across it – but as we reach the stone reception desk my stomach clenches. Across its white surface is a crimson pool – reflecting the artificial lights buzzing above.

Blood.

We hurry over and see the receptionist – a dark haired guy who I think is called Carlos – crumpled on the tiled floor. In a swift movement Cassie jumps over the desk, her black braid swishing whip like through the air. She lands beside him and places her fingers to his neck.

"He's alive," she says. She looks up at me. "Can't have been shot with a cupid arrow. Just knocked out."

I nod – darkness swirling around inside me. I want to feel relief that he'll be OK – but I can't; not when my friends are here, not when my boyfriend is here.

"Come on," I say urgently.

I start to move toward the glass panel door behind the desk. Cassie hurries beside me.

We step into the open plan office and my stomach seems to fall out of my body. My heart hammers against my chest.

"No..." the word falls out off my mouth.

Cassie stiffens beside me.

The lights are flickering on and off – giving a strobe effect to the scene of violence before us. Cupids are sprawled against desks, unconscious – or maybe even dead – on the floor. Blood stains the white tiles. Laptops are smashed and furniture broken.

"What has happened here?" I whisper in horror.

There's no point in asking that question, and I don't wait for Cassie to reply. I already know.

Valentine.

I start to run. I need to find them.

I need to find Cupid.

I need to find Charlie.

And Cal. Crystal.

Even Mino.

My eyes scan the room as I run – panic tightening my throat and constricting my chest.

Where are they? How has this happened?

"Find them!" I shout at Cassie. "Help me find them!"

"Lila – wait," says Cassie. "This isn't just Valentine's work. He couldn't have escaped alone. He couldn't have done all this alone. No matter how much his power is growing."

The words in her text come back to me – fuzzy in my mind because I can't quite grasp onto anything but my growing panic right now.

Someone will help Valentine escape.

I spin around and hold her gaze as she stands at the other side of the room. The lights flicker around us. I feel a burning behind my eyes – the threat of tears.

"My friends are in here," I say in an even a voice as I can. "We need to find them."

She holds my gaze a second later. The nods.

"OK," she says. "If this was caused because Valentine was escaping, I'm guessing they'll have gone to stop him."

The dungeons.

I spin around and race through the rest of the office and into the indoor courtyard. The pool that normally stands there is slid of the way to reveal the dark stairs to the cells below. I see a bloody footprint, man sized, leading out of the gaping hole.

Valentine.

My heart beats fast – I can hear my pulse pounding in my ears.

My friends are down here, I feel it.

Cassie comes to a halt at my side. When I turn to look at her she's brandishing a table leg as a weapon in her hand. She twirls it around with her fingers.

"Just in case," she says.

"Good thinking," I agree.

Hurriedly I descend into the darkness. I leap down the final few steps. And my heart stops as I see them.

Bodies are sprawled across the floor. Unmoving.

Without hesitation I throw myself toward them – barely noticing the ajar cell doors as I pass. I see Cupid first – unmoving. I fall to my knees beside him.

Panic rises inside me.

Cupid shouldn't be able to die. But I remember what Valentine said.

If I wanted to kill my brother, that's a small hurdle – easily overcome.

I push my fingers to his neck.

And with relief I feel a faint, but steady pulse.

He's alive – but out cold. I scramble over to the next body, illuminated by the dim bulb ahead as I hear Cassie opening and closing cell doors behind me. Cal. He's alive.

Further down the corridor I spot Crystal and Mino – both leant against the wall of the corridor, slumping into each other. They're breathing.

But then I see the last body. And my stomach plummets.

Charlie is face down on the floor. Totally still.

Her neck is jutted out at a weird angle.

I run to her, scraping my knees as I fall down beside her.

"Charlie?!"

I touch her neck.

I don't think I can find a pulse.

"CHARLIE?!" I scream.

I hear something behind me but I can't respond. Wild cold panic and dread surges through my veins.

"CHARLIE?!?!"

I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder.

"Lila." It's Cupid. "Let me see her. Let me check."

I can't turn to him. I can only stare at Charlie – tears building in my eyes. This can't be happening. She can't be...

He grabs my waist and pulls me out of the way. Then leans in my place over Charlie's body. He touches her neck gently, then gently he turns her over to lie on her back.

Her eyes are shut. Her face slack, lifeless.

Cold nausea build up inside me. Around me I'm somewhat aware of the others regaining consciousness.

"Is she...?"

I can't say it. I can't say the word.

Dead.

She can't be dead.

Please don't be dead.

Cupid studies her a moment longer.

Then...

"Lila, it's OK. She's alive," says Cupid. He turns to look at me, knelt on the floor beside me.

A tsunami of relief crashes over me.

"She looks...I couldn't find a..."

"She hasn't been hit by a cupid arrow," says Cupid. "But it looks like she's taken a quite a blow to the head."

"Will she be OK?"

"She'll be fine," says Cassie – her voice so casual that it adds to my relief. Cassie's an oracle. She would know, right?

A shadow passes over us and I look up to see Crystal and Mino standing there. There's a deep frown on Crystal's face.

"Us cupids are pretty durable," says Cupid – giving me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

As if to prove him right, Charlie eyes flicker open. She winces then looks up at us all.

"What? Why is everyone staring at me?!" She tries to get up but flinches as she moves her neck. "OW!"

I crumple down on top of her, hugging her to me with relief. Then I look up at the deep frown on Crystal's face.

"What the hell happened here?" she says.

"Valentine escaped, that's what." Cal's sharp voice answers from behind me.

"Yes, I'd grasped that," says Crystal. "But how? He was in the cell and someone hit me from behind. Who did it? Who helped him escape?"

"It's absolute carnage out there," says Cassie. "Whoever did it was powerful."

Crystal looks at Cal, and he gives a sharp nod.

"I'll head to the surveillance room. See if I can pick anything up."

He turns on his heel and heads out. Charlie manages to push herself into a sitting position. She looks at me, her eyes confused.

"Why are you looking at me like that?!"

I shake my head.

"I thought you were dead," I say. "Cassie's prophecy from before..."

"Huh?" she says.

"Someone will help Valentine escape," says Cassie over the sound of Cal's footsteps heading upward. "There will be a battle by water. Not all will survive."

Not all will survive.

Crystal looks at me urgently once Cal is gone.

"Where is he, Lila?" she says. "Where has Valentine gone? Where are the hearts? We have a matter of hours until midnight - until Valentine's Day begins. And I can't help but think that if we don't find them, we're going to have to make a decision between you and Venus returning, or well..."

"Our dear old friend Cal's life," says Mino.

Crystal nods solemnly – her blue eyes blazing through the shadows. Cupid's hand tightens around my shoulder.

"Why else would he have taken Cal's life thread if not as leverage?" she says.

My blood runs cold. I'd thought the same thing. I remember what Valentine had text me just after he'd taken it – he'd pretty much said as much himself.

But I don't know where the hearts are...I can't work it out.

I shake my head.

"We talked about Psyche, the temple, and my early memories..." I say – frustration and fear mixing inside me in equal measure. "I don't see how he told me where the..."

I stop.

"There will be a battle by the water..." I mutter – repeating what Cassie just said. "My earliest memory...the day at the beach..."

I think again about what Valentine and I had talked about.

I look up – catch Crystal's eye.

"I know where the hearts are," I say.

Hi guys! I finished writing Valentine's Day yesterday!!! After this chapter, there are 5 more left! I'm planning on uploading another 2 chapters tomorrow, and then you'll get the final 3 on Friday!! Eeeeeek! Exciting!!!

Speak soon!

Lauren!

xxx