"I know it's not much but…it'll keep the growling away."

Eirene smiled and kept the bottle aside—she'd take it with her when she leaves and save it for later—as she took a bite of the sandwich.

"So, tell me about yourself. Where are you from?"

Eirene had a tendency to stare at people and analyze their features. He had a square-shaped face and sharp cheek bones and extremely curly short brown hair. His eyes were a type of blue that you couldn't help staring at, and his lips were pink and chapped. A five o'clock shadow brushed his face. He wasn't skinny but more like a toned skinny, and he had multiple small scars all over his face and body. His eyes were what drew her in, they looked so trustworthy. But Eirene wasn't about to give away her life story to someone she'd just met, so instead she redirected the question.

"This place seems awfully convenient. How'd you get it?"

He seemed to get the message. "I acquired it through some...special services."

"And the monsters don't attack?"

"Well, no. This place is sealed off to any monsters and only mortals with the gift can see it. To others it's not even here."

"That's amazing."

He smiled, scooting closer to her and looking into her eyes. "Amazing enough for you to stay?"

Eirene immediately considered it. This was the safest safe house she'd heard off—completely monster proof. She could live here; she could stay here forever and never have to worry about any monster attacking her or any adults trying to ship her back off into the orphanage. She could finally live a simple, worry-free life. And a part of her wanted to say yes, but the other part knew she couldn't. It was all very fishy, she had scarcely known Dennis for twenty minutes and he was already offering for her to move in.

"Look, I know this seems really sudden but I know what you go through. Being a nomad—always moving around and never staying still for too long. Being a burden to your family, always fearing a monster will attack, having to deal with the stares of bystanders…I've been through it all before and that's why I'm giving you a way out." He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed it tight. "Not to mention, it sometimes get lonely." Eirene felt slightly uncomfortable with his sudden friendliness, but she was too deep in thought to move. He had a point, escaping the real world to live in this asylum would be ideal for anyone who'd lived her life.

"I'm sorry, but could you please…?" She forcefully untangled herself from his arm, and she saw him blush. "I just need to think about this alone for a bit."

He nodded. "I'll give you some time."

And when he left Eirene didn't hesitant to stand up and leave, clutching the ambrosia to her chest as she quietly opened and closed the door.

Annabeth stared at Eirene for a very long time when she finished telling her story. She supposed it was because she was analyzing it her story for any unexplainable holes. Finally, she seemed to find one.

"You left your dress at this…safe house?"

"Yes."

"And you did not get it back?"

"Oh, I did get it back, but he did not give it to me."

She frowned. "Well then, who gave it to you?"

Eirene remembered quite well, it had been Hermes who had delivered it to her, days after she'd left the safe haven. She was finding it increasingly harder to run and fight with the dropping jeans and oversized jumper despite the perks of heat it gave. The one day when she was walking she was stopped by a middle-aged jogger with an athletic figure and fit with salt-and-pepper hair.

"Excuse me, young lady?"

She turned around, startled and poised for battle.

"Sorry to frighten you, but I believe this belongs to you?"

He then handed her a small boxed package with no return postal or any information on it. She wanted to tell the man he was mistaken, but then he pulled out his phone and began arguing with someone.

"Yes, yes, I know. Tell Ares to calm himself, his father asked me to deliver a package to his charge. I just gave it to her, Clary. Whoa, okay, okay! I was just testing the nickname out. Doesn't stick? No? Okay, well tell your father that his father; ergo Zeus, is more of a priority. Just kidding, not really, I'm hanging up now!"

Eirene's eyes bugged out and she found herself looking at the man more intently. It was then that she saw that he was wearing a pith helmet with sprouted wings, and winged shoes for that matter. The antenna on his cell phone had two entwined snakes that were moving simultaneously. It was Hermes: Messengers of the gods. The realization smacked her in the face, and she didn't know how to react. She had never met a god in person, she never thought herself deserving enough. But now here he was, delivering a package that…that Zeus had sent her?

He let out a tired sigh as he flipped his phone closed, and Eirene watched in amazing as it grew into a caduceus and found herself conversing with the snakes.

"Oh gosh, those clothes look like they're about swallowing you up."

"You think she could be hiding rats in those clothes? Hey girlie, got any rats on you?"

"George!" the female scolded.

"What? I'm hungry."

"Be quiet, you two." He turned and faced Eirene. "So long, child of the Styx river; and good luck."

In truth, Eirene was surprised she'd forgotten about the encounter until now. Annabeth was staring at her like she was a science experiment, which Eirene had somewhat gotten used to. She'd reframed from telling her about the part where Hermes called her child of the Styx river, seeing how that would probably cause more of an uproar than Matthew getting shot.

Which reminded her, Matthew was shot! "I almost forgot to ask, is Matthew doing okay? Is he terribly hurt?"

"Yes, yes, he's fine but—we have a silently bigger problem right now. The story you just told me… do you by any chance remember where you were when you saw Dennis? Any identifiable street signs?"

Eirene searched her mind for any ounce of familiarity. "I remember the name of the café he was nearby. Levain Bakery, they have these really thick cookies on their window panels. Why? What's going to happen to him?" Even though he had seemed a bit sketchy, he still had saved her and given her clean clothes and food to eat. She felt just a bit protective of him.

Annabeth shook her head, smiling softly. "Don't worry, Eirene. I need to go somewhere for a bit, will you wait for me?"

Eirene didn't like the tone she was using with her, it was the tone Annabeth often used when she was trying to calm her down; like she was speaking to a child she didn't want to panic. And of course, this made Eirene panic. "Don't lie to me, I'm not stupid. You're going to Chiron, aren't you?"

She looked slightly weary. "Yes, I am."

"I want to come with you."

"You can't, this is restricted council meeting."

Eirene quickly unfolded herself from her sheets and stood up, standing face-to-face with Annabeth. "I want. To come. With you."

And looking into her stormy gray eyes glaze over with regret and defeat, she knew she was in.

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