I ran to the nearest mirror.

'Thank gods!' I screamed, admiring my free flowing black hair, absence of black lipstick and normal people clothes.

'So let me get this straight,' Neeks said. 'You killed your mom using underworld magic; and dad says it was necessary.'

'Yeah.' I said, not really paying attention. 'I look so much better now.'

'Your middle name is Tymborchos?' Psyche asked.

'I will never wear plaid again.' I said, actually hearing that but refusing to answer. 'Okay; maybe some times.'

Neeks looked at the clock. 'It's nine pm?'

'You should sleep.' Psyche said.

'Wait; we forgot something really important.' I said.

Psyche frowned. 'I know why you are here.'

'Reading our minds again?' I asked.

'It is all around Olympus.' Psyche said. 'And unfortunately; I know the insult my husband speaks of.'

'So spill.' I said. 'Did she call him something really bad? How badly did she roast him? On a scale of—'

'I caused it.' Psyche said. 'Now sleep.'

'You just said my mom's death wasn't my fault.' I said. 'You made me show you. You show us.'

'No.' Psyche said. 'Sleep. I order it.'

Our clothes turned into My Little Pegasus pjs and we fell asleep.

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That only meant dreams. And I wasn't able to put on Aşa.

The first dream was expected; Austin thinking about me.

'When are you coming back?' Austin asked, holding the diamond I gave him.

I almost said soon, when of course I was dragged into another dream.

'Shouldn't we release her?' Ed asked. 'She could develop an ulcer— or even die.'

'She is a goddess.' Anteros said. 'She will not die.'

Hold up.

I studied this other guy carefully.

That was definitely not Anteros.

Sure; lots of similarities. He had the same wings, same red eyes, a little bit more hotness and the straight black hair.

But his eyes were a lot harsher, like bright bad blood. He had way shorter hair; only up to his shoulders. This guy wore plain white; while the real Anteros didn't even try that shit. Most importantly; he was armed with a golden bow and an assortment of arrows. Some plain; some bronze; some Bruno Mars gold; a lot, okay?

Anteros, Patricia said. Figure it out.

Meaning that the person I saw was none other than the guy we've been looking for; Eros/Cupid/Chris.

'Why are you doing this?' Ed asked. 'This is not fair.'

'All is fair in love and war, Alpheus.' Eros said. 'And I happen to have mixed both trades quite well.

'As for my reasons,'

Eros calmly shot a ten on ten bullseye.

'How would you feel if your own wife; your one true love; was asked to leave you?' Eros said, still very chill.

'Well—'

'Terrible, yes?' Eros asked. 'Unfortunately for her; I felt a lot worse than terrible. I felt— what did Liam call it?— acrimonious.

'Immediately I had a plan. I executed it.' Eros said, toying with one of x arrows. 'I wanted to do something that would humiliate her. Something that changed her story; as she tried to change ours.'

'So you plan to change our story before the end of the week?'

'The lunar eclipse, to be exact. A day she holds sacred will be a day she will be humiliated.'

'And her champions, Kryos?' Al asked. 'From what Phobos told us, they have found Psyche.'

Eros looked wistful at the mention of Psyche. 'You know my butterfly; she is just so… perfect. She would help anyone in need; even if they lead to her downfall. All they have to do is apply enough pressure.'

Eros nocked his bow faster than Eminem's Super Sonic Speed. 'Keep that in mind; mother.'

Then he shot me.

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'Nico!'

I woke up sweating, panting, and probably crying.

Everywhere was dark. Meaning it was still night.

I felt the surface as soft. Coushiny. Like a couch or a bed. And I could swear by Joyner Lucas that I had fallen on my face before I slept.

I also felt someone near me.

'Neeks?' I called.

'Yes, sister?' Neeks replied.

I fumbled around for a night light, almost falling if not Neeks pulling me back.

'Psyche put off the power.' Neeks said. 'Even if it were on, she has no nightlights.'

'Why?' I asked.

'Don't you— never mind.' Neeks said. 'You wouldn't know the story.'

'Well then, Genius, tell me the story.'

'It's pretty long. The important thing is that darkness reminds her of how she met her husband.'

'Tell me the story, then. The fast version.'

Neeks sighed. 'Beautiful girl, jealous goddess, Cupid messing up and falling in love with her, prophecy to throw her off a cliff—'

I sat up. 'Slow down. Throw her off a cliff? Jealous goddess? Medium version then.'

'Should I also point out that it's kind of gross?' Neeks asked.

'Yeah. For you. It's about a guy and a girl falling in love and not the How I Met Will Solace story.' I said. 'Talk. I'll find Creesome and—'

'No.' Neeks said. 'We don't need light. In fact I think you'll understand the story better in darkness.'

'So it's a horror story?' I asked.

'Three thousand six hundred plus years ago,ʼ Neeks began, ignoring me. 'There lived the most beautiful girl. Her name was Psyche.