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Chapter 1: Apollonia

There is something to be said about the kindergartner that can point to a picture of the Greek gods and say "That's a family." There is more to be said about the kindergartner that points to the picture and says "That's my family."

Imagine the child then pointing to the sun god, otherwise known as god of music, god of poetry, god of prophecy and god of medicine and saying "Daddy."

Understand this child isn't lying. That the small kindergartner already knows each god by name and has seen the monsters of ancient tales before her eyes.

I was that child.

I announced to the class that I was the child of a god and my teacher called me mother to tell her that the absence of a father in my life was causing me to weave crazy stories in my mind.

She didn't understand I did see my father. He held my hands when I had the chicken pox and cured me before I ever went to the doctor. My father was why I never went to the doctor, but I still knew he couldn't cure everything.

Mom switched me to a different school three days later and for the first and only time it wasn't because of my ADHD, or my sister's, acting up.

I asked my mother in third grade why she switched me, even when the teacher hadn't believed Apollo was my father, but she reminded me kindergartners, even the ones without ADHD, have big mouths and a knack for gossip. It would have been too easy for a monster to track us. Nothing caught their attention more then a small child admitting in public they were a half-blood.

I only laughed that my name wasn't enough to attract them. Apollonia, belonging to Apollo. Were all monsters that dense?

But belonging to Apollo means more then attracting monsters. It means inheriting gifts that my own father nicknamed "his curse".

"Apolla, I'm sleepy." My little sister, Apolline, yawned and clasped my hand tighter as we ascended the steps to our apartment.

"Do you have any homework?" Even if she did do it, or I did it for her she would still get at most a C. It was natural for us. Apolline shook her head slightly. "Alright, you can go to bed until dinner once we get upstairs." She smiled and we continued climbing.

We reached the door to our newest apartment; I placed down my bag to dig for my key, silently praying to Hestia that I didn't forget it at school again. Apolline tested the door to find it open and ran inside as I scooped the mail off the floor and slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Daddy!" I heard the small squeal of delight and smiled, kicking the door shut behind me.

He was sitting next to mom at the kitchen table. He looked older than normal; the aura of a seventeen or eighteen year old had shifted to the one of almost thirty, maybe early forties. His sandy hair was combed back neatly and I could only stare. I was used to having a man who looked like a teenager as my father.

"Apolla, it isn't nice to stare." His voice was lighthearted as normal and I smiled again.

"I was just surprised that you aged a bit." He laughed and wrapped me in a hug.

"Well, I can't look the same age as the eldest of my favorite daughters can I?"

"I'm turning fifteen in three weeks, not eighteen." His smile faded and he looked me straight in the eyes.

"Fifteen? I thought I had a few more years until you would need the talk…"

"Dad!" I couldn't help but laugh as the smile spread back across his face and he ruffled my hair like he had been doing since I could remember.

"I had some errands to do with your mother today. She couldn't be seen kissing a teenager in public now can she?" My mother laughed and I gagged.

"Daddy! That yucky!" He scooped up Apolline and tossed her lightly in the air. She was so small for a third grader.

"How is my curse faring you anyways Apolla?" He placed her back on the floor and sat back down at the table.

"Horrible, as always." He laughed and looked back at Apolline.

"Inie told me she was about to fall asleep on the stairs. Will you go help her to bed?" I nodded and grabbed Inie's hand.

"Daddy, will you be here after my nap?" She yawned and tried to keep her eyes open.

He glanced towards mom and I couldn't help but notice the sadness in his voice and eyes. "I will be, Inie."

She smiled and pulled me towards her room before I could call him out on his lie. Quietly, I helped her slip out of her uniform and into pajamas. Apolline slowly climbed into her bed, grabbing her stuffed pegasus from the top of her pillow where she always kept it.

I turned to return to the kitchen when I heard her small voice. "Apolla, where is Aldara?"

I looked at the small white stuffy in her arms and sighed. "You are holding her Inie. Aldara is in your arms."

I watched as she looked down at the stuffy and a look of relief spread over her face and she smiled. "I wonder how she got there." Her little eyes closed and I switched off the lights.

My parents sat in silence, looking into the empty cups of coffee. "You will say good-bye to her before you go again, right?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He wouldn't look at me as I sat down, the sad gleam still in his eyes.

"Because of the way you looked at mom when you told her you would be here. You looked like you didn't want to tell her that." He finally turned his eyes to mine.

"I will be here, but in this case it would be better if I didn't have to be." I could only sit in silence and wait for further explanation.

"Apollonia," My mother was the only one who used our full names in the Greek world. "Your father and I went to Inie's doctor today to get the test results. They weren't bad but she definitely has more then ADHD. We both believe it wouldn't be good for her if she began camp this summer." I stood in surprise and my father quickly pushed me back down.

"She's already in third grade! I started in first! Apolline has been dying to go for years! You can't just tell her she isn't going when we would be leaving in three weeks! She's almost old enough that the monsters will be able to sense her too! I already smell enough for both of us!" My father sighed and took my hand in his, as he stared into my eyes. I had never seen such pain in them.

"What is the main reason you sing for school everyday even though you hate it? Why don't you give it up and risk being kicked out of another school?" I knew the answer but I hated to admit it.

"Because they know how to help Inie, they want to help her and she is happy." I tried to hold back the tears slowly forming, and broke the eye contact with my father.

"Exactly. You do what you can to help and your mother and I need to do what we can." I could tell my mother was trying not to cry as well.

"But everyone at camp has ADHD! She won't be different, it's the best place for her to fit in, make other friends!" Mom's tears fell down her cheeks and dad used his other hand to grab hers.

"The doctor suggested we home school her if Bethel doesn't end up working out. This is more then the common ADHD of demigods. Even I don't understand it." My father's voice was weak. "It's not normal to forget like she does at such a young age." I shuddered, remembering the white pegasus in her arms. "I know you don't like this, but think of all the injuries you received at camp, especially your first year."

"Most of those were because you kept me in the Hermes cabin for two weeks so I got trampled at night." He broke a small smile.

"Character building. You needed it." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling myself.

The smile fell as we heard movement from the small bedroom down the hall. My father glanced at me and I could tell he wanted me to stay, no one could comfort Apolline better then I could, but I ran before she could step into the kitchen. I hated to see her hurt.

I began my ninth year of Camp Half-Blood without my sister at my side, my voice the only thing protecting her spot at Bethel Academy for another year.

Please review! Next chapter will be the introduction to another demigod in the story! I think either Ambrose or Dorinda…