Ares' POV

Hermes had to borrow money from all the Olympians.

'Next week.' I said, giving Hermes the two hundred I had. 'Or you're dead.'

'Whatever.' Hermes said.

He placed the money in Nik's hand. 'There.'

Nik turned to Aphrodite. 'Sixty-forty if you fix my hair.'

Aphrodite smiled cruelly. 'Who's getting sixty?'

'Me; of course.' Nik said. 'Obvi much?'

'No deal.' Aphrodite said.

'Fine; you get sixty.' Nik pleaded.

'I'm sorry.' Skotia said sweetly. 'I don't need your money.'

Anger flashed in Nik's eyes. 'You—'

I flashed her a dangerous look, like; if you cross her then you cross me.

She calmed down. '—are a rich and powerful goddess after all.' She said with gritted teeth. 'You wouldn't need my stupid mortal money.'

'That's right, Nicola.' Aphrodite said.

The smile on Nik's face unnerved me. 'But I know someone who will.'

She walked to Hermes and whispered something in his ear, which made him grin like— well— him.

My first thought; I'm going to miss you, Dark One.

Then Hermes opened his mouth. 'Ares; dare or dare?'

'Huh?' I asked.

'Dare,' Hermes said slowly. 'or dare?'

'Dare.' I replied.

Hermes smiled. 'I dare you to striptease to your underwear; in front of everyone; while I'm recording.'

I felt my face go pale. 'Excuse me?'

Then I faced my kids. Most especially Cupid; who grinned like the two year old he was on the inside.

I puffed up again. 'I mean; excuse me? That's nothing. Such a simple dare.'

'Then do it; if you see it as so simple.' Cupid said.

I swear; sometimes I wish I could spank the Hades out of that kid. I would even settle for strangling. But nooo. Mama's boy and all; Aphrodite would become Androphonos if I even thought of it.

I sighed. 'Which song am I stripping to?'

Hermes and Apollo looked evilly at each other. 'Dance Monkey.' They said.

I balled my fists. Those two knew I hated that song.

'Harley; can you make us a pole?' Nik asked before I could protest.

'Leave that to me.' Hephaestus said, cracking his knuckles.

I had completely forgotten Hephaestus was there.

My shoulders slumped. 'Filius a—'

•^•

In three seconds, with the help of an extendable rod, Hephaestus set up the pole.

'Come on, Alkimos!' Hermes said. 'Or are you suddenly chicken?'

'Dad; you're embarrassing us here.' Clarisse muttered.

Aphrodite whipped out her phone. 'Smile, darling.'

'Yeah.' Hephaestus smirked. 'Smile, darling.'

'"It's such a simple dare."' Cupid mocked.

'Well, you do it.' I said with gritted teeth.

'I would,' He said, sarcastically studying his nails. 'but it is not in my place.'

I turned to Apollo. 'How does this work again?'

Apollo shrugged. 'That's your business.'

'Replay the music.' Hermes said.

'Increase the volume ting.' Nik said.

They replayed the music too loud.

I pointed at all of them. 'You'll pay for this.'

'Whatever.' All of them said.

I took a deep breath and started moonwalking around the pole.

Next I took my shirt off while doing the Cupid Shuffle.

'Inconceivable!' Cupid said.

'Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me,

Oh, oh.

I have never seen anybody do the things you do before.'

I gracefully combined twerking and flossing while I stripped my pants.

'So creepy and so entertaining at the same time.' Dionysus said.

And for my grand finale; I did a fireman spin, screamed like hell when I did the splits, and threw off my undershirt

'I am in pain!' I cried. 'I am in serious pain.'

The Hermes kids and Cupid threw their money at me.