Marina's.P.O.V.

I hefted my pack onto my shoulder. "You sure you want to do this, Marina?" my mother asked, biting her bottom lip worriedly. I looked down at her. She was medium height and unnaturally thin. It had been a lean winter and harvest had been bad. The gods were not pleased with me. She had brown hair with flecks of grey and stormy grey eyes, like the sea during a storm. She looked younger than she really was. "I'm sure, Mother." I whispered tenderly. Cheiron's Academy will make me into a warrior, Mother. I need to do this, please." I whispered. I saw my mother's eyes narrow she knew that there was more. "You think that if you become a warrior, you're father will notice you, right?" she asked, tilting my chin back up. "Yes." I whispered, bitterly. Mother embraced me fiercely.

My father, Poseidon, god of the seas, never noticed me, or at least that's what it seemed like. I had never met him. My mother said that I looked like him. I was tall, muscular and lean. My skin was abnormally tanner than most of the other Greeks girls here. I was abnormally strong, stronger than the strongest man in the village. I had my father's olive skin and bright blue eyes; eyes bluer than the Mediterranean Sea, high cheeks bones and long flowing brown hair that had bright gold streaks giving the illusion that it was blond.

"I need to go or I'll be late Mother." I whispered softly into her soft hair. She reluctantly released me pressing gold coins into my hand. "I have money that is saved, mother. Save this for yourself." I said attempting to give them back. "No. Since you are gone I will sell the farm and live with Bethesda, my sister. This money is for you, spend it wisely. Come back a warrior." My mother said a fiery light in her eyes. I knew that she wouldn't take the money back. "Thank you." I said, bowing my head in respect. To my surprise she embraced me again. "Go...take my love with you." She said as she released me. "Goodbye." I whispered and then I walked away not turning around. I turned and looked back but by that point my mother was only a speck in the distant.

The journey to the Academy was a pleasant one. It took only half a day by mid-afternoon I reached the wooden gate in front the academy. Many other people were there. All boys. I felt myself begin to get nervous. I had hoped that other girls would be here but no such luck.

I walked in, my palms slick with sweat. Even though I was nervous and felt intimidated I knew this was where I wanted to be. I got into line for registration. I saw a centaur at the front with a funny dressed man. I guessed this was Cheiron.

The mood was boisterous as we waited in line. The boys around me laughed and wrestled. I turned around just in time to be elbowed hard in the stomach. "Oof.."I wheezed. "I'm so sorry." A voice said. I held my stomach, doubled over. I looked up to see a boy's face. He had shoulder length, curly, blond hair and brown eyes. "Now look at what you've done, Iolaus." A voice laughed. "It's...it's alright." I wheezed standing back up still holding my bruised stomach. Beside the boy, Iolaus, were two other boys. One was the same height as Iolaus with shaggy brown hair, very muscular. He wore leather, expensive Corinthian leather, all black. On the other side was a taller boy. He had long, straight, sandy blond hair and blue eyes as blue as the sky. He was thinner than the other two, but he looked no less strong. But there was something different...something that I couldn't place. "Hi." I said, trying to smile. They all looked in shock. "You're a girl!" Iolaus exclaimed. "Where's Lillith? She'll be jumping for joy!" the short, muscular one said. "My name is Marina, not girl." I said, annoyed at being patronized so much because I was a girl.

"Hercules." The tall and blond one said. "Jason, crown prince of Corinth." The short, muscular one said. "You're highness."I answered, bowing respectfully. "Iolaus." The one who elbowed me said. "Hey." I answered. "Where are you from?" Hercules asked swiping a piece of straw blond hair from his eye. "A small village south of Corinth." I answered. I couldn't help but stare at Hercules. There was a glow around him...a godly glow! "Son of Zeus." I whispered, knowing it was true once I uttered it. I didn't know how I knew but I could feel it.

"What did you say?" Hercules asked, still laughing from a joke that Iolaus had told. "Nothing." I whispered, not wanting to scare Hercules. I wasn't alone! There were others like me! There were other demigods! I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. This information made me so happy.

We finally reached Cheiron and the little man.

"Name?" the little man asked.

"Marina." I answered.

"Mother?"

"Desponia."

"Father?"

"Do I have to answer that question?" I asked, now feeling very self-conscious. I didn't want to cause a scene I just didn't want to answer that question. I didn't want to be laughed at. I have been laughed for my entire life because of this. "Father?" the little man pressed.

"Poseidon.' I spat angrily, glaring at the little man. "Poseidon?" he asked, incredulous. "Yes! As in 'god of the seas'" I nearly yelled, handing him my tuition money.

I felt tears threatening and just wanted to run away. I could feel the other cadets' eyes boring into my back. The curse of my father followed me everywhere I went, no matter how far I ran. I realized the Hercules, Iolaus and Jason had become silent. "It's become apparent, that you are no longer the only half-god, Hercules." The centaur said. I stared up in wonder. He was tanned with black locks. The horse part of him was midnight black and rippled with muscle.

"Master Cheiron." I whispered respectfully bowing. Cheiron made me feel calmer, the anger that had been burning no longer was there, replaced by the serenity that this centaur seemed to give off. "Welcome daughter of Poseidon." Cheiron said, taking my shoulder and leading me into the academy. I knew I'd be ok...for now.