Although I had control over my own body back, thank goodness, I spent the next week attempting to learn how to use my powers. Which was rather difficult.

While Luke drove (I managed to teach him in about one hour), I would sit in the back seat of the car and attempt to change the colour of my aura, which I learned showed which power was being used. Needless to say that I spent quite a bit of time of time staring into a mirror. Damn you Aphrodite!

My relationship with Luke was still at the friendship level. Although we were both aware of our feelings towards each other, me through my amazing power over love and him through the necklace, we had mutually agreed that night in the hotel that for the moment it was better to be friends. We had enough problems as it was.

Unfortunately, after the fiasco with the rooms and looking like a couple we spent the last few nights sleeping in the car. It wasn't too bad, but it got uncomfortable rather quickly. Luke, bless him, always insisted that I sleep in the back seats. However, I managed to persuade him otherwise on two occasions, and I know that on the inside he is thankful.

No other monsters have been sighted after the fight with the hydra. We can only hope that the fates have decided to favour us, although I knew deep down that it will not last. My scent in particular is rather strong.

However, the reality of our life had begun to set in, and we would often sit in the car in utter silence as we thought about home. Although I am happy that my life has been given a purpose, I cannot help but wonder how my mum is taking it all, raising my step-siblings on her own. I can see her in my dreams, staring out the window with a tear rolling down her cheek. Always only one.

So, there we were, sitting in the car in utter silence with solemn expressions on our face. Looking over at Luke, I could see that he was perhaps not taking the whole 'child-of-a-god' thing as well as I was. Make no mistake, he was completely and utterly up to the task. However, lately he was drawing himself in, talking to me less and less. He hardly ever smiled anymore.

In truth it was rather worrying me. I now know from experience that keeping everything to yourself was a recipe for disaster. No matter what you tell yourself, it does not get better if you just ignore it. While I was in primary school, I had a friend named Sophie. She was brilliant, smart and charming. However, she would never tell us about her parents or where she lived. She became more and more secluded, missing parties and sitting by herself. Eventually she got help and left the school, but I was always left with the guilt of knowing that I could have helped but chose not to.

I knew I needed to talk to Luke. Preferably sooner than later.

As we drove through the next town, I parked the car next to an Italian restaurant. Why you may ask. Three reasons: I was starving and the car food wasn't going to cut it; I believed that Luke would be more open in an area that wasn't this car; and I really needed to pee. Like super bad. With this in mind I managed to convince Luke to join me for lunch. It didn't take much, he was as sick of the car as I was by this stage.

It was a small little place. With only a few tables, I knew that it wasn't too popular. Perfect.

Taking the table in the back corner, we both ordered our preferred soft drink: Sprite for me and Coke for him. The waiter eyed us warily, and I realised that sitting in the corner may signal certain romantics that we plan to accomplish. Or at least a date. I allowed my Hermes side to show, and smirked mischievously at him. He moved rather quickly, and I wasn't sure if it was to get a camera or if he found us intimidating. Interesting, the affect I have on people.

And speaking of people…

Turning towards Luke, I decided that there was a time to be subtle and a time to be bold. I got straight to the point. "Okay, spill. What's wrong?"

Looking rather taken-aback at the question, I could see that he was mentally debating the pros and cons of telling the truth. I was having none of it. "Tell me the truth."

Realising that I could tell if he was lying (something I learned two days ago when he told me 'liked sushi' when he didn't) he decided to tell the truth. After sighing, he replied, "Its just… my mum has never coped with being alone very well. I can't help but think of the loneliness that she must be feelings, and the hatred." The last words he said with a sneer, and I knew that he believed that.

"No she doesn't. She may not understand why, but she does not hate you. I refuse to believe that any woman capable of raising a child as selfless as you would ever think of you that way." Each word that came out of my mouth rang true. What I said had to be heard. "I understand that this is hard for you to accept Luke. That your father is Apollo, that you are a danger to her. There have been times when all I have wanted to do was drive back and never let my mother go. But then I realise that it is not possible." Luke was looking at me in the eyes for the first time in days as I continue. "We are monster beacons. Staying with them would only put our loved ones in danger. The only way to guarantee their safety is to become safe ourselves: to reach my brother and live with the other demigods. Train and learn how to survive in this world. Besides, we are old enough to be let go. It was going to happen eventually, we would move on and live our own lives. No child stays with their parents forever. We just happened to have a reason to go. You need to trust her to make the right decisions, to look after herself." With my piece said, I relaxed and began to eat my pasta, which the waiter had brought while I was speaking.

I knew Luke needed some time for the truth to sink in.

Besides, the pasta was amazing.

After a few minutes of eating, where Luke had not moved a muscle, I sighed and made a decision that would bite me in the butt after. "If you are so worried, call her. Make sure."

As soon as I was done speaking Luke was up, asking the waiter for the nearest phone.

Chuckling at his eagerness, I waved to the waiter (who was looking more and more uncomfortable: probably worried we were fighting) and then kept eating. When I was done I ordered dessert. I was still super staving. And then I asked for Luke's pasta to be packaged. Honestly, his phone call was really long, and I began to worry that he was kidnapped. After paying, I managed to find him just outside the restaurant, talking fast in Greek while crying.

They always say all men are tough. Tough my arse.

While he was talking I decided to get the car. Which wasn't there.

It was stolen.

When we had left, I was so relieved to finally eat proper food that I had forgotten to take the keys. And our supplies. Some luckily bloke must have passed, thought 'score!' and driven away as fast as possible. Bastard.

After looking everywhere in the carpark, just to make sure, I proceeded to curse to every deity imaginable as our so called 'luck' ran out.

As soon as Luke got off the phone he joined me. We really looked like a bunch of idiots, standing there cursing. In fact, I was so occupied I didn't even notice that we were in immediate danger.

Until I did.

It was a Empousa. To most she would seem normal, perhaps even beautiful. But my abilities allowed me to see right through her disguise and view the miss-matched legs, and her teeth. Gross. When she saw me, she smiled in the most vicious of ways. Ready for blood

I was about to attack, I swear. I would have cut her like a knife slices through butter. Quick and efficient. However, she was soon flanked by four more.

I didn't even think. I grabbed Luke's hand and ran away. As fast as I could.

For I knew that I could not allow Luke to be anywhere near them. They possess the power of charmspeak, and are able to force men to do their bidding. That's how they eat them. When my mother read that story to me, I had told her that I wanted to be one. Now I most certainly didn't, I was very happy being myself thank you very much!

Luke, who was very confused, asked "Why on earth are we running?"

Knowing his mythology was lacking, only one response came to mind. "Vampire."

That got him running.

While we fled I could not help but think that we were goners. For they were gaining fast. We weren't going to make it.

And all I was thinking was 'Tell my mother I love her'.