"Your father is speaking the truth," Persephone said with a nod. "Not all people are like that, not at all. But it's best to be very careful and maybe be absolutely sure someone has your best interests at heart before going anywhere with them alone. In fact it might be a good idea to have one of us meet them first. At the very least have Melinoe meet them.

"You trust people and that's a very sweet thing, but it's dangerous too. I know because I was the same way. You get to choose when and if you do anything with a boy. These people...Zeus, Poseidon, Theseus...they don't believe that."