Hephaestus' POV

'And cut.' Hermes said to Ares.

'Please send that to me.' I pleaded.

'Haven't you seen enough?' Ares groaned.

'I want to be able to see this forever.' I said. 'I was, unfortunately, not able to do that with the golden net incident.'

'If I send it; I owe you nothing.' Hermes said.

'Done.' I said.

'Me too.' The others begged.

'Can someone just help me up?' Ares screeched.

Zeus came forward. 'If you say so.'

Zeus took Ares by the hand and threw him onto his seat.

'Thanks, dad.' Ares muttered as he straightened himself out.

'Hephaestus; truth or dare?' Ares asked.

'Dare.' I said.

Of course; my first mistake.

A word of advice: Never in your immortal/mortal life take a dare from a humiliated war god.

'I dare you to relive the first week of your childhood.' Ares said with a wicked glint in his eyes. 'If you get my fall.'

'Drift, Ares.' Athena corrected.

'As long as Hephaestus gets it,' Ares said. 'I don't care.'

Unfortunately I got it. [And I do not mean nerve.]

Dreadful thoughts filled my memory space called a brain. That long, long fall caused by that stupid, proud, evil—

'And if I refuse?' I asked.

'Then Nik slaps you.' Ares said.

I knew that would've be my only option. I didn't have much hair to sacrifice.

Nicola Strano made slow slapping movements with both hands.

I first thought; Would this be worth it?

Then I spied Aphrodite. She looked radiant today, as always; like a newly polished, pure gold automaton. A very beautiful, faithless, newly polished pure gold automaton, to be exact.

Hmm. This was definitely going to be worth it.

I shrugged. 'Okay. I'm down.'

Ares cocked his head. 'Excuse me?'

'I am fine with being thrown off Olympus again.' I said. 'Third time's the bracelet.'

'Charm.' Malcolm Pace said.

'Whatever.' I said. 'The problem is; times have changed. Streets are now made of heavy duty asphalt; not to mention all the chewing gum on them and possible sharp objects. Now, if I made them—'

'Meet me in two seconds at the highest point of Olympus.' Ares said, before disappearing.

I winked at Aphrodite; 'Wish me luck, honeycakes.'

'Are you serious about this?' Ares asked.

I stared below me.

I wished I had a tape measure or something. I was only left to approximate a bazillion feet down.

'Yes.' I croaked. 'I am very sure.'

'You don't have any parachutes or drones waiting around?'

'No. I will fall painfully; just as I did when I was born.'

Ares shrugged. 'If you say so.'

With the tip of his middle finger, I was sent falling down like London Bridge.

Like Sia said; I'm alive.

When my body touched the floor, I teleported back to Camp Half-Blood.

'I am in pain!' I screamed.

'I got it.' Will Solace announced.

I winced. 'But first; Aphrodite?'

Aphrodite could not contain her laughter. 'Yes.'

'May I ask you something?' I asked.

'Sure.' Aphrodite said, giggling.

I made a slight smile. 'Truth or death wish?'