Marina's.P.O.V.
I awoke in a bed. It was soft and comfortable. Pictures surrounded the walls around me. They were pictures that were drawn by a child. I sat up groggily, staring out the window. I could see by the sun, that it was late afternoon. I quickly got out of the bed.
I walked out the door. Beads hung down from the frame. I entered the main room of the house. There was a women working at the kitchen area of the room. She wore a salmon pink dress and blond hair that had only a few specks of silver. She was incredibly beautiful. "Hello?" I asked. "Oh!" she exclaimed, startled, turning around.
"Marina! You've awaken, good." She smiled. She had blue eyes, the same kind blue eyes that Hercules had. "You're Hercules' mother?" I asked. "Yes, I am." She smiled, welcomingly. "Thank you for having me." I said cautiously. Even though this woman seemed nice, I was wary. I was wary of all new people. "How long have I been asleep?" I asked. "Since they left the Academy…all morning and almost all of the afternoon." She said. "Did they carry me all the way from the Academy?" I asked. "Yes, Hercules did." She explained.
"I'm Aunt Alcemene. That's what everybody calls me." Aunt Alcemene said, smiling. "Aunt Alcemene." I said, smiling a little. Maybe I could trust her a little. "Where are the others?" I asked, curiously. "In the barn, wrestling." Aunt Alcemene chuckled. It felt surprisingly calming to be around her. "Let me help with diner." I offered, standing up. Aunt Alcemene passed carrots, a cutting board and a knife. I expertly chopped up the carrot. "Well I see your not useless in the kitchen." Aunt Alcemene said smiling. She passed me more vegetables which I promptly chopped up.
We worked together in comfortable silence. I could hear laughter coming from the barn. Childlike and carefree.
"They're so happy." I commented, staring out the window. "Yes, they are." Auntie E said, but her eyes were creased with worry lines."Something worries you." I stated, looking at her. "Darkness surrounds Hercules. I can feel it. The gods are going to be doing something." Aunt Alcemene said, her voice thick."Or maybe an enemy of the gods." I murmured. Instantly the room grew cold.
I felt myself to begin to shake, the knife dropping out of my hand. It clattered to the ground at my feet. "I'm s..sorry." I stuttered, bending down. "Don't be, you're scared." Aunt Alcemene said, embracing me. I held her, my heart had grown cold because I was afraid that maybe I couldn't save him. Maybe, he'd die and I wouldn't be able to do anything, he could die because I couldn't save him. Somehow this woman, a complete and utter stranger, was calming me.
I felt tears pricking my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. "Shhh…your mother never told you about the gods and their enemies…did she?" she asked. I shook my head. "She only told me of Hades, Zeus and my father Poseidon." I explained. She let me go. "There are many gods who have…illegitimate children. Often these children are ignored by the gods. Many of them get angry, but their strength varies. Hercules will win against them, just as he has in the past." Aunt Alcemene reassured, she had no doubt in her voice.
"What if…" I choked on my words. "What is Hercules can't save himself. What if another has to save him and what if they fail?" I asked, shaking once more. I clasped my hands together and suddenly I felt strange. I felt water seep through my finger tips. "Aunt Alcemene " I cried, staring at my hands. Water seeped from them.
At first Aunt Alcemene eyes went wide with shock, but then turn to mild recognition. "You're half sea god." Aunt Alcemene said calmly. She took a cloth and placed it on my hands. "How old are you?" She asked. "15." I said. "Hercules had a spike in his strength when he was about 15. He broke almost every cup in the house." Aunt Alcemene said with a chuckle.
"I can control water?" I asked in amazement. "Hercules told me you're almost as strong." Aunt Alcemene smiled. "Hercules is much stronger, but I can stand up for long time in a fight." I said, chuckling. I thought of all the bruises Hercules had given me on my first few days of training.
Our conversation was cut short by Jason, Iolaus, Lillith and Hercules walking in. "Well, I see sleepyhead is up." Lilith laughed, playfully punching my shoulder. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, thinking about how Hercules had carried me. There was an unusual flutter in my chest whenever I thought of Hercules.
"Mmm…something smells good." Iolaus said, sniffing. "I'm glad someone appreciates my cooking!"Aunt Alcemene laughed. "You know that I always love your cooking!" Hercules exclaimed, pretending to be offended, but the smile that burst upon his face wrecked it.
I went to him and picked out a piece of straw that had tangled itself in his blond hair. "You're bringing the barn into the kitchen." I scolded softly. Hercules looked down at me coyly. I hid my face, afraid that he would see me blushing. He cupped my chin gently and forced me to look at his sky blue eyes. He tucked a piece of my hair back.
"C'mon! Let's set the table so we can eat!" Iolaus whined. "Amazing how you do work willingly when your stomach is involved, Iolaus!" Jason laughed, and everyone joined in. "I'm being helpful!" Iolaus said indignantly.
Aunt Alcemene handed us the plates, cups and utensils. We went outside and set the table, I and Aunt Alcemene put the food on the table and then we eat. It was delicious.
After we finished eating, Lillith, I and Aunt Alcemene cleaned up the table, leaving the guys to talk. Aunt Alcemene let me rinse. When no one was looking I spurted water from my hands and rinsed the dishes. It felt strangely…instinctual. As if this was something that I had done all my life.
After we had finished Aunt Alcemene shooed us outside. "That was so good!" I exclaimed. I felt giddily happy. "Yes, it was superb!" Iolaus agreed heartily, punctuating his sentence with a loud (embarrassingly so) belch. "Iolaus!" Lillith scolded, punching his shoulder. "Ow!" Iolaus cried, scooting away from Lillith. "Yeah, you're so rude!" Jason said in a high, snooty voice. "Fine, princess." Iolaus teased. Jason turned bright red and flung himself at Iolaus. Lillith, I and Hercules laughed as Iolaus and Jason wrestled. After 15 minutes my sides felt like they were splitting from so much laughter.
"Don't call me princess donkey boy." Jason threatened, having Iolaus in a headlock. "Fin." Iolaus agreed begrudgingly, though a goofy smile was still planted on his face. At that particular moment in time…I wished time would stop. Something deep inside me told me that we weren't going to have many more of these moments in the near future. Jason released Iolaus from the headlock.
I lay back in my chair and to my surprise I found Hercules' arm draped on it. I rested my head on his shoulder. I felt nice. "We should get to bed. Long walk tomorrow." Lilith said, yawning. "Yeah." Jason and Iolaus said simultaneously.
"You can sleep in my old room." Hercules said quickly to Lilith. "Thanks, but Marina should get it." Lillith argued. "It's ok. I really want to sleep in the barn, I've never done it before." I said, quickly ending the argument. "Ok…thanks Marina!" Lilith said smiling. Aunt Alcemene bid us good night as we walked to the barn.
We all yawned once more and headed off to bed. Jason and Iolaus headed to one corner and Hercules and I to another. I could hear Jason and Iolaus playfully arguing.
Hercules lay down on a blanket. "Thank you for inviting me, Hercules." I whispered. "I'm glad you're here." Hercules said, chuckling but his expression grew serious. "My three friends are the best friends I could ever had in the world, but they don't understand. Not the way you do, Marina." Hercules whispered, gently tucking a piece of wayward hair behind my ear.
We lay down. I tucked my head on Hercules shoulder. "I don't think I'll have any nightmares tonight." Hercules confessed, squeezing me gently. "I don't think so either, but I'll stay here anyways." I whispered back. I snuggled into him and fell into a deep sleep...
a/n: Thanks for all my followers! Thanx Porkchop Sandwiches for reviewing! Don't worry Annabeth and Percy are coming! :D