Cupid's POV

'Excuse me?' I asked.

'It's just a little dare.' Father taunted.

'Yeah, Cupid.' Nicole di Angelo said. 'Unless you're chicken.'

'I quite respect chickens.' I said defensively. 'They happen to be one of my sacred animals.'

The useless demigods laughed. The gods, knowing exactly what I could do to them; did not. Although as usual, Apollo couldn't keep a straight face.

'Order.' Nicola Strano called.

The amphitheater fell near silent.

'Take it or leave it, Cupid.'.Zeus said. 'And if you're taking it—'

'I'll get the switch.' Father and Hephaestus said unanimously.

'I have one right here.' Hades made a three metre long whip materialize out of thin air.

Poseidon put his hand on Hades' shoulder. 'Dear brother, I know you're the most abnormal specie in the cosmos;' Poseidon said gently. 'but why in your domain would you carry a switch around like an iPhone?'

'Just in case The Kindly Ones do not do their job.' Hades replied. 'And just for situations like this.'

To further empathise, he cracked the whip in my face.

'But if you leave it…' Nicola had a wicked glint in her eyes. 'Buddha; how many letters was that?'

'I wasn't paying attention.' Franklin Zhang said. 'Can you please repeat that, sir?'

Zeus smirked. 'I dare you, Cupid/Eros; god of love, handsomeness intimacy and procreation, the supposed all feared and never fearing, bold, audacious—'

'Thank you for the praises,' I said. 'but you just want to lengthen the amount of of letters.'

Zeus paid no heed to my observation. 'maker and destroyer of gods and men, the terrible, maleficent, childlike monster that we all fear… to get six decourous, most fitting and long deserved and overdue spankings from your own mother Aphrodite; the shapely, the statuesque, the pulchritudinous, ravishing, laughter loving goddess of love, beauty, marriage, intimacy and procreation; to the tune of the chorus of Joyner Lucas' ADHD from who ever requests it.'

'Four hundred and fifty three.' Athena said; as Franklin's head was spinning.

'Gods, my hands are gonna get so tired.' Nicola said dryly. She then perked up. 'Let me do some stretches.'

'No need.' I declared. 'I accept your challenge.'

'Aww.' The Hermes campers whined.

I shuddered at the thought, but I thought it was necessary. 'How many people want me whipped?'

My answer?

All the Olympians except Demeter but including my mother; Hades and Persephone; Nico di Angelo and Jason Grace.

'That's ninety lashes.' Annabeth Chase said.

Αυτό που του αξίζει

'Apollo; hit it.' Hermes said.

'I am his mother.' Aphrodite said. 'My turn first.'

'He meant the music.' Apollo said.

For someone who got impaled on the wrist by Diomedes a few thousand years ago; Aphrodite could handle a switch better than she could handle her nail polish. [Then again; she does not do her own manicures.]

'Ow.' Apollo said, fighting tears.

'Sorry.' Mother said with false sympathy. She then turned to me. 'Bend over, dear child.'

Before I got into position, I could swear I saw Pheobus smiling.

'One time for praying on my downfall.' Apollo said

Whack.

'Two times for the homies in the chow hall'

Whack.

'Three for them hoes on the internet'

Zip.

'Shittin' on niggas when they should really get out more'

Snap.

'Four times for the days that were all bad'

Crack

'Five times for the bitches who ain't called back'

Crack.

'Six times for kids like me who got ADHD just to—'

Three clean strokes.

'Mother.' I whined, standing up. 'That was nine.'

'Really?' Aphrodite asked. 'I thought it was three.'

Mother turned to the audience. 'Who else?'

Αυτό που του αξίζει

The good news is that I did not cry.

Bad news is I turned into a thirteen year old while batting my emotions.

'You look horrible.' Nicola said.

'Says the person who made an impromptu vote to have me humiliated.' I said with gritted teeth.

'I wasn't paying attention when they were voting.' Nicola said defensively. 'So when Kardashian asked if there were any last minute additions and my whole posse wanted to join in; I couldn't help but join them.'

'You will soon pay for this insult, Nicola Quevenzhane Danaë Strano.' I promised.

Nicola dared to have direct eye-contact. 'I'm a Hermes kid. Not paying for my mistakes is a thing for me.'

'I am a son of Ares.' I replied. 'Reprisal is my element.'

Nicola smiled. 'Whatever, baby.'

She returned to her seat, and I was reminded of my goal.

'Nicole di Angelo,' I said. 'Truth or dare?'