DISCLAIMER: I do not own the PJO/HoO series

A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated regularly like usual. I know this chapter is short, but I promise the next chapter will be longer.

Chapter 6: Auden

Ok, I've got to admit, I'm quite thankful for company. Isolde's cool. She looked kinda scary when I first met her, with her black hair and pale skin, but she pretty chill. At least up until now. Before I met her, I honestly had nowhere I was headed to in particular. Now we're trying to get to New York. Isolde mentioned that her dad threatened to bring her there when she was younger. Currently, she's trying to lecture me about Mythology. Now who's the smart one here?

Isolde was waving her hand in front of my face, showing off her blood red mani. "Earth to Auden?"

My mind focused. "Sorry."

"As I was saying, you're a half-blood. You know, half god, half human."

I laughed. Judging from the extremely serious expression Isolde had on, either she was telling the truth, or she needed a therapist. "Sure."

Isolde spent the next five minutes telling me why she was right, and why I was wrong. I spent that time laughing and questioning her. Then she had enough. She grabbed my bag and pulled out my dagger, looking around to make sure no one was watching.

"What do you see?"

"A dagger"

"What do they see?"

"A dagger."

"No, they do not." She sighed. "I'm gonna have to show you the hard way. Hold out your hand. "

I obliged. Isolde held my hand as she pricked my finger with the dagger. Her touch was as cold as ice. My finger started to bleed. Isolde handed me a tiny bit of the blonde brownie thing. "Eat this."

The brownie practically melted in my mouth. It tasted like the smores my dad would make on camping trips when I was very little. A bit burnt, but just the taste of the smores made me regret running away. I haven't talked to him since I was seven. Maybe I should have given him a chance. Thinking about him made me feel sad. The cut on my finger disappeared as if nothing had ever happened. I felt as if I could do anything. "More please," I begged.

Isolde shook her head. Her cold ice blue eyes pierced through me, daring me to argue. "If you have any more you'll combust. That was ambrosia. The food of the gods. If normal mortals eat it they'll combust right away. Do you believe me now?"

I thought about it. Isolde was older, and she was probably right, but I didn't want to give in too quickly. At the same time, she didn't seem like the type of person you'd want as an enemy. I reluctantly agreed. "Fine. You're right."

She gave me a tight-lipped smile. There was an awkward silence between us. I've only met her today, but I felt as if she had changed me completely. I suddenly understood everything. Why mum had never been around, why the Minotaur attacked, why it disappeared. I knew there was so much more ahead, and that my life would only go downhill now, but I felt as if I knew more. I liked that. I thought about New York. It seemed so far away from Texas, but I knew we had to get there sooner or later. The moon was high up in the sky, and it was nighttime. I began to drift off into a deep sleep.