I waited for ten minutes in confusion when Nico showed up.
He staggered back. 'What happened to you?'
'What do you mean?' I asked.
'When you were about ten feet off the ground, a strong wind carried you away.' Neeks said. 'Why didn't you try to reach us?'
'Where's Creesome?' I asked.
Nico gave me a puzzled look. 'Creesome?'
'My iPod.' I explained.
'It's with Anteros.' Neeks said. 'First explain—'
'Where is he?'
I looked up and saw him flying majestically.
'Superhero landing.' I prayed. 'Super boss superhero landing.'
He cannonballed and smashed his fist into the ground.
'Ten on ten.' I said.
'I believe this,' Anteros gave me Creesome. 'belongs to you.
'Pothos and you must've had a nice time, right?' He asked.
'That wind was Pothos?' Nico asked. 'I thought it was Zephyr.'
'He can become a wind because of Zephyr.' Anteros said. 'Zephyr's his father. And I knew it was him because Zephyr wouldn't help and Pothos is the only one of us that can turn into wind, like, freely.'
'Okay.' Neeks said. 'We've almost died because of your game; help?'
'Go to Orlando.' Anteros said. 'You should be able to find Psyche.'
'Psyche?' Nico asked. 'Eros's wife Psyche?'
'You'll know her when you see her.' Anteros said.
'Hold up,' I said. 'I have a very important question.'
'Shoot.' Anteros said.
'There's this word,' I started. 'Pulchri— density?'
'Pulchritudinous?' Anteros corrected.
'What the heck is that?' I asked.
'First; who told you about it?'
'Pothos.'
Anteros smiled. 'You don't wanna know. I'm surprised Pothos even used that word.'
'It's that bad?' I asked.
Next I heard Cooler Than Me.
Anteros picked up his phone. 'Hello._ What? _You're not serious._ But why?_ That's called being petty, Zayden._Shut up._ We'll talk about this later; go to Tartarus._ What-evar.
'Gotta go.' Anteros said. 'See you on the battlefield.'
'But—'
That dude went Writing On The Wall on our asses and jumped into the phone.
'I wish you could do that.' I muttered to Creesome.
'It doesn't need to.' Neeks took my hand and let us melt into the park bench shadow.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
We landed on a beach. And by landed; I really mean fell from the sky and onto the sand.
'Does that have to happen all the time?' I asked.
'I don't control exactly how we land.' Neeks said.
'If I could shadow travel; I'd be way better.'
'You'll learn; Good luck in Taiwan.'
'Ugh. Let's focus, Neeks.' I said. 'Now what do you think a super powerful love god's wife looks like?'
So we walked around the beach and found nothing but tourists giving us weird looks.
'Section two of the prophecy complete.' I said, getting bored of not speaking. 'I literally took a fall.'
'Meaning I was wrong.' Neeks said.
'Yes, brother.' I said, real sweet.
'Next line, Vine to save and guide them through; it could mean anything.'
'Yes, brother.'
'It could mean Dionysus, or an actual vine. Maybe even the Vine app.'
'Yes, brother.'
'You're stupid and deserve a thousand insults.'
'Ye— I mean; Shut up, brother.'
Neekss looked straight at me. 'What happened? What's on your mind? Are you still thinking about that word? What did Pothos do?'
'I don't wanna talk about it.' I said.
Neeks forced me on a seat.
'What is up with you?' He asked. 'You never miss a chance to talk. You're not even giving music quotations.'
'Maybe I just don't want to give music quotations.' I asked, taking his shoulders off me and getting up.
'You're a daughter of Apollo. You always give music quotations. Talk to me.'
'Is it by force?'
'I'm not forcing you to talk to me. I'm just concerned.'
'Concerned? What made you so concerned? You just want dirt on me.'
'What would I do with dirt on you?'
I felt a weird kind of anger. 'You know what; just stop pretending. I'm fine. You don't need to care.'
'I'm leader.' Neeks said. 'I have to care; no matter how annoying, mischievous, and— pulchritudinous you are.'
'This is what you think of me?' I asked. 'Fine. Lead all you want. I'm done.'
'Fine.'
'Fine.'
We went our separate ways.