Nicole's POV

'Dare.' I said.

'I dare you to tell the truth,' Cupid said. 'What happened Croatia?'

I knew he was going to ask that!

'Um,' I stammered. 'I wasn't there. I'm Nicole; not Nico.'

Cupid looked at Nik with a kind smile that said I won't hurt you and at the same time do what I say because I'm handsome. 'Danaë; could you please release Nico from his dare obligations?'

Nik's eyes rolled into their sockets. 'Nicole; stop.'

'But I don't want to be Nico.' I said, never thinking those words would ever come out of my mouth.

'I am the mafia.' Nik said drowsily. 'Everything I say goes.'

Nik was strong, but she was also a girl, (more or less). And might I say; Cupid looked pretty handsome five years younger.

'Sleep, child.' Cupid said.

Nik yawned. 'Who're you calling—'

In no time, she was snoring on Thalia's lap.

'Now, Nico.' Cupid said, stressing my name. 'Tell us.'

I have a ton of reasons to not talk about Croatia. Number one being that it was the worst time of my life; right up there with Albania.

The second was, of course; Percy. It was hard revealing my main secret to him. I didn't know what he would do if he found out about that.

'Pinecone Face; wake Nik.' I said.

'I'll take care of that.' Ares said and cleared his throat. 'Hut hut!'

'Go Vikings!' Nik shouted. Then she looked around. 'What just happened?'

'I quit.' I said. 'Slap me.'

Nik grinned like the crazy person she was. 'Shang; letters please?'

'Thirty eight.' Frank said.

'You know what?' Nik asked. 'Let's make it words.'

'Eleven.' Frank said.

Nik rubbed her hands like the place were Alaska. 'Neeks, get your face over here.'

-_-,

'Uncle; Truth Hurts.' Nik said.

'You got it.' Apollo pulled out his iPhone and made the very song start playing.

'Look me in the eyeball, Nicky.' Nik said.

I looked straight at her and she slapped me.

'Never look evil in the face!' Nik warned. 'Got that?'

'You just said—'

Another thwhack.

'Don't bring up what I said before.' Nik said. 'Let bygones be bygones. Now look at me.'

'You—'

Three more slaps.

'Did you not hear what I just told you?' Nik roared

She slapped me again. 'Six more-a those should set you straight.'

'I don't think so.' Solace giggled.

Everyone started laughing.

'See.' Nik said. 'You're a laughing stock.'

'You're the one making them laugh at me.' I said.

'You dare blame me for your stupidity?' Nik asked, giving me a slap like iron.

'What did anyone do to you?' I asked.

'I will smack you back to the motherland if you ask me one more question.' Nik said, slapping me right to the floor.

'I pity her children.' Hera muttered.

I tried to get up, but Nik slapped me again.

'Who told you to stand up?' Nik asked.

'Was I supposed to stay on the floor?' I asked.

'Answering my question with another question?' Nik slapped me thrice. 'Take that.'

My face burned. 'Is it over yet?'

'He still needs one more.' Thalia said.

'You got it.' Nik said.

She furiously rubbed her hands and chanted a prayer in something that sounded like Ancient Egyptian, Hebrew and Ancient Greek like she was praying to the slap gods of all those pantheons.

I was able to catch one word, but before I could really translate Nik hit me with a force that sent me to the top of the amphitheater rows.

'OWWWWWWWWW!'

I felt like I'd broken all my cheekbones.

'Whoops.' Thalia smacked her forehead. 'That last one made it eleven.'

'Twelve Olympians.' Nik said. 'Twelve slaps.'

'It's fate.' Apollo said. Then he snapped his fingers and I could feel my face again.

I shadow traveled to the bottom. 'Nik, I dare you to—'

'Class dismissed.' Nik said. 'Run.'

Nik and Thalia ran out of the amphitheater as fast as Hermes and Zeus' kid-ly possible.