Sapphira Black's Story

Monday
Ten dorm rooms, a huge theater, a courtyard, a pool, a gym, an outdoor battle arena, a café, a dance club, a dance hall, a school store, and several different classrooms were what could be found in the University. Now, in the large theater, all of the students were gathered. They sat in front of a large stage where the twelve Olympians were gathered. Athena, who had the idea for the school and was therefore headmaster, was at the podium and was speaking.

Or trying to speak. The students, though, wouldn’t be quiet. Athena looked quiet timid in front of all of them. She would have hated for her plan to fall through.
“May I have your attention? Your attention, please?” she said, but was not heard over the chatting children.

“Everybody shut up right now!” Ares yelled powerfully. All the students went silent.

Athena took a deep breath and continued. “Thank you. Now, as you all know this is the Demigod Academy. You all have gifts. A gift of us gods. You possess spectacular powers to control a certain element. Obviously, none of you are quite certain how to control it. And that’s why you’re here. Here, we will not only teach you how to use your powers, but also about what it means to be a Demigod. You must use your powers for good. And to do that, you must learn about our history and train each day. I hope you will all enjoy yourselves…” Her speech went on for about ten minutes and most of the students lost interest after a while. Finally, she said, “Have a great year! Please hurry onto your first class which I believe is ancient Greek history. And—“

“Not so fast!” a voice from out of nowhere came. From the deep tone and rage within it, everyone could tell it was Hades. “You think this is a grand idea, Athena? You believe that all these little…rodents have the ability to be gods? And what about my children? Where are they? I’ll tell you now, Athena and the rest of you Olympians, this school will fail. Shut it down now or there will be hell to pay. I guarantee it!”
After a moment, all the students began to talk about what that meant.

“Children! Please! Please! Don’t panic!” Athena tried.

Then Zeus stepped up. “Silence! All students should immediately report to the common room at once! You are to stay there until further notice. Any student caught outside of the common room shall be expelled…dismissed!” And he left. All the students filed out and were escorted by minor gods to the common room. They sat around in silence waiting for what was going to happen next.
----
SAPPHIRA:
Sapphire looked around at everyone. She didn’t know what to do. Her hair a light shade of pink, she was feeling alright, but a little worried. She looked around at the other students, but was still a bit confused as of what to do. It was frightening. Especially for her. She knew Hades and knew that he would make good on his promise to end the school.

But there was nothing she could do, was there?

Doug let out a light yawn as he found his way to a seat in the common room, folding his larger-than-average frame down onto it. He certainly didn't look worried. In fact, he was grinning faintly, if a little sleepily; this was all happening a little early in the day for his tastes. He was used to sleeping most of the sunlight away and partying long into the night, so it would probably be a little while before his sleep patterns adjusted to this new schedule of classes and trainings.

They'd forced him to wear a shirt, very much against his will, for the opening ceremony, but he'd undone every single button to leave it hanging open to expose his chiseled torso. He idly brushed some blond hair from his half-lidded green eyes, letting them wander around to appraise his fellow students. "He's just one guy. Er. God," he drawled, noting the panic in some of his peers' expressions. "Our moms and dads'll kick his ass, then we'll get to dive right into the boring school stuff." He lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug, then folded his arms across his chest, grinning. "Anyone wanna play a game while we wait?"

"A game?" Cali asked, "What do you mean?"

Siren rolled her eyes at her sister. "Depends," she said twisting her crimson hair.

"Pearl, don't be rude!" Cali scolded her sister. They were twins, but Cali always felt like the older sister. She was worried about the situation. Hades was a pretty scary dude. But Siren thought of it as an adventure. It was exciting. And anything to get out of class for a while.

Archer
Good God! Er... Gods, he supposed. Good Gods! How terrifying that had been! Archer laughed and grinned all the way to the common room. He was in a damn good mood, a damn good mood indeed. He wasn’t going to let some hellion fuck that up for him. Not Archer Scott Kennedy. No siree. He wasn’t even sure why he was so happy. Maybe it was the thrill of being near kids like him, demigods. In a way, it was like a whole big adventure. Arch loved a good thrill. Damn, he was in a good mood.

So, when some guy said, "Anyone wanna play a game while we wait?" , Archer casually chucked his hand into the air and replied, grinning, “Sure. I’m up for it. Have anything in mind?” It was one of the rare times his words didn’t contain vile swears. Road to recovery.

Seth
Oh. How lovely. A threat?

Seth was rather bored. Bored and infuriated. Too many people. They were all so... happy. Well, compared to him, anyway. A lot of people were happy when compared to Seth. Too many. He trudged after the other kids to the common room, where he promptly took a seat in the corner, cross-legged on the chair. He never liked having his feet touch the floor while he was sitting in a chair. Pet peeve of his. Seth wasn’t sure why. It was just uncomfortable.

Not as uncomfortable as being in a room full of people.

Roy was terrified, at first it was uncomfortable with the whispers, but the cry of God of War which ended the whisper almost makes him stop the heart and to complete the lord of the underworld in person comes causing an uproar, luckily before passed out they were sent to a common room which, although not was satisfactory, was better than being in the presence of the Gods, he breathed a few times to calm down and looked around, for some reason a blond giant decided that was appropriate to take off his shirt and propose a game and what is more, there were people willing to do it, insane undoubtedly, a God threaten them and they want to play ..."I don't want share my room with any of them" he mumbled.

Sator’s Perspective

Watching the other “kids” sit down and settle in, talking and speaking of a game, Sator was bit irritated. One was off in what seemed to be a little fit of anger, a small one at that. Another seemed to shyly watch everyone else with utter apprehension and anxiety.

Sator thought nothing of all of this. Truly so. Perhaps he was even skeptical it was happening before his eyes, especially the whole gods-thing. Hermes came to him one night, just as he was laying in a particularly comfortable patch of corn, to tell him that Demeter, Lady of Agriculture, was his mother. Of course, Sator shrugged off this raving, naked lunatic with, “Hmm… that’s nice. Would you like to have sex?” Hermes was probably most obliged, though out of fear of Demeter he rightly rejected.

So was Sator the child of Demeter? Eh, maybe. Sator was a Christian, however. He didn’t believe in gods, let alone Greek ones, and he wasn’t sure what to think of all this. He wasn’t sure if a farmer finally hit him on the head with a rock and he got knocked out what. But it would make sense, all of this, Sator supposed. It would explain why Sator suffered and enjoyed such a dichromatic life, and would put to rest the question of who exactly his mother was. But he didn’t need a mother, and he didn’t need a father. He was an independent man. A virginal man, yes, but a man just the same. “A manly man, indeed,” he thought to himself. His only mother in life was the Virgin Mary, and he no pagan usurper could ever convince him otherwise.

He eyed a most becoming young woman sitting at the foot of a column in the commons. She was a bit near the large group of the kids. “Mmm… she is most delicious,” Sator thought. The others were not ugly, and some were certainly gorgeous, but had yet to capture his attention. What better way to catch their attention and prove his manliness than to catch her eye.

She seemed to be a rancher girl of some sort, a lil’ pistol packin’ mama it seemed, dressed in a cute little blue dress and a leather vest. Her hair was pulled pack in a pony-tail, and her eyes seemed generally enthusiastic. Sator strode gently towards her, his boots clacking against the marble floor, each calculated step purposed toward gathering attention.

“Excuse me, mi’lady,” Sator spoke, his accent leaking out a bit, attempting to catch her attention. Her smiling eyes caught up to his and he glared deeply into them. He grabbed her hand, catching her unawares. “Ah, you are indeed very beautiful,” he began to inch her hand closer to his mouth, “I am Sator Cereris Terensis, but you may call me Saturday.” He kissed her hand and looked back up to her eyes.
 

Victoria’s Perspective

“Get up off me, or I’ll be fixin’ to open a can’a whop ass!” she roared at Sator. “Ain’t no man touches this lil’ girl!” Sator jumped back up, surprised and embarrassed. His lips were sputtering for some type of salvation.

“Listen up men!” Victoria called out attention to the whole group, specifically those with the dreaded snake-organ, “Ain’t none of ya’ll ever touching this! Neve’ eve’, and ya’ll can just keep your hands down each others’ pants, ‘cause I like ladies and ladies alone.”

Bowing her head in a last grace of Southern ladylike behavior, “Thank ya’ll.”

Ain’t no man ever touchin’ without her consent. It made certain sense that Ares was her father, she was as tough or tougher than him, and she was prepared to get into the nitty gritty of things. But Victoria knew that at the heart of things, women were stronger than men, and her mortal mother was a helluva lot tougher than any man, God of War or not.

Although she was in her Spring attitude, Sapphira was a little concered as to what Victoria would do if anyon made her mad. Upon hearing, the game, though, she smiled and was excited. What a freat idea from Doug! Sapphira's hair turned violet and she became her laid-back Autumn persona. "I guess I'll go next. I'm Sapphira Black. You can call me Sapphire, Saph, or really whatever you want. My mother is Persephone. And..." she thought hard. What possibly could she say that would be good? Her hair changed to blonde and her friendly Summer personality shown through, even when she announced, "Once, I punched my best friend in the face and gave her a bloody lip. In my defense, she deserved it!" she smiled widely, "who's next?"

Sator’s Perspective

"Ah Persephone's daughter," Sator was impressed.

"If this is all true," Sator smiled, "then surely you are my half-niece, as my mother is your grandmother." He admired Sapphira. She was amazingly gorgeous, but not in the same way that other girls or boys made him feel. This gorgeousness was completely platonic to him. Perhaps it was true, this whole demigod thing.

"Perhaps we carry similar traits, if we come from the same divine gene-pool, so to speak?"

Decidedly unsatisfied by this Seth's answer, he inched his way closer to the little one. Something about the air of this boy was interesting, truly intriguing. Sator was determined to know this boy more. Not to suggest a possible relationship, but Sator NEEEDED to know for certain who this Seth was. He needed to know whether or not he was a possible candidate. The desire to figure out this mysterious figure was way too strong.

But then he realized how deep he was getting into all of these people, and remembered the scares from just a few years ago. He remembered... the village.

Sapphira, now in her Autumn persona, could see a potential conflict starting between Seth and Sator. She decided, although probably a bad idea (she didn't care), to try to step in. She walked over to the two. One was her kin and the other her roommate. What to do? What to do?

"Are you trying to seduce my roommate, uncle dearest?" she teased in a friendly way. "Not sure if he likes that." Yeah, this was getting boring. She flipped her hair and it became black. Her bitchier, straight forward, crueller persona.

"Now which of you are gonna take me to the dance? Or do I have to go by myself?" Honestly, she believed that she was setting herself up for disaster. Winter doubted that she would ever get anyone to like her. But, being in this persona, she assumed that she deserved to be completely rejected and embarrassed.

Sator’s Perspective

"Oh nothing, you just remind me of someone I once new," Sator replied to Seth.

"You are very enigmatic. I like things I do not understand." Sator sat down on a table near the window close to Seth.

"I can tell you don't like me, but you have nothing to fear, lil' one," his deep voice eased into a comforting lullaby-like tempo, "I've no intention to hurt you or anything. I simple intend to know you."

Turning to Sapphira, "I don't intend to seduce anyone. If they like me, they like me on their own will. And I don't do dances, if he wishes to take you to the dance, he may."

Seth
Remaining cross-legged on the seat, he hid his hands under the table and wrung them together. Seth may seem all though and stuff, but he got nervous as well as everyone else, perhaps even easier than normal. He always got like this on the inside whenever a stranger began talking directly to him. He didn't like it. 

His pale face turning the slightest shade of pink once more, he lifted his green eyed gaze from the table to Sator. He replied, as calmly as he could, "What do you want to know? You've already heard everything I have to say." 

"And," he continued. "I am most certainly not accompanying this... creature to the dance." It had come out har her than he'd meant it, but he was in a bad mood and more people crowding him wasn't making it any better.

Sator’s Perspective

"Now, now, little one. No need to insult the young lady," Sator said, face slightly shocked, but as cool and calm as before.

"If it pleases you, Sapphira, I will accompany you, but perhaps the young shy fellow in the back might interest you as well, you should ask him," Sator said, trying to clean up. He also knew that he could solve various issues at once. It would allow Seth the ability to only concentrate on one person at a time, thereby deflating the situation as much as Sator liked it, and provided Sapphira and the other shy young man a chance to socialize.

"You don't have to be nervous, Seth," Sator said, smiling at him and attempting to assure his friendliness, "I've no interest to harm you, I'm your friend."

Siren looked at Sapphira. Was she serious about that? She had to be kidding. Whatever. She was happy though. She had a date to the dance well before anyone else. "You're from Texas?" she asked, "Great place. Great music! I love country music. Reba, Toby Keith, Gretchen Wilson, Charlie Daniels. Love 'em!" she smiled.

Cali smiled at Victoria, but quickly looked away. She really was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She had forgotten about the dance. She was certain she'd either be alone or the akward third wheel on her sister's date. She bit her lip, though and ignored it. If someone asked her...

No one was going to ask her. She could truly believe that. At least she was singing there. Being her father's favorite daughter, he got her that. And she was greatful for it.

Sapphira glared at Seth. She wasn't really asking him anyways. But her Winter persona seemed to be sticking for the time. She walked over to Seth, "You know what's great?" she said, "I'm your roommate and I know where you're sleeping tonight. So you better hope you don't fall asleep." He was pretty lucky she didn't slap him across the face. Especially in Winter.
She turned to Sator, "You're a nice dude, but I'd rather you go with someone you actually want to. Later, bitches!" She turned her back and walked away from them. She seemed to be absolutely fine with this rejection, but she hit the two sparkling tears from everone by going to stare out the window furthest from everyone else.

Saph, now in her cheerful Summer persona. Had a complete turn around in mood. She forgot about Seth and Sator and now ran back to join the group. Upon hearing Siren's comment, she smiled and said to Cali, "I'd love to hear you sing!" She jumped up and pushed the coffee table to the center. Or at least tried. It was heavy. "If I could move this out a little, you could use it as a stage!"

Watching everyone, Alex and Ashe got a good look at what the students were all like; though, to put everything simply, about half of them apparently thought they could try hooking up with anyone and get lucky. Feels like regular school now, aside from Greek gods and goddesses being the staff and all of the students having what should be godly superpowers.

"So who are our roommates again?" Alex wondered between the pair. They only knew the names, not having had a chance to meet them face-to-face yet.

"Douglas and Sator are mine, but I hope we can request a change." Both were going to be boys; she wasn't comfortable amongst them unless Alex was there, living a semi-sheltered early life with her mother. Though, when they'd introduced themselves, Ashley was able to put two and two together, and now she /really/ hoped they could request roommate changes without incurring their parents' wrath. She was happy for the moment, however, since neither approached her yet. For now, she was content, but knew the ruckus she'd have to face once it was time to rest.

Meanwhile, Alex was a bit more worried. His roommates, Rosalind and Nova, haven't yet introduced themselves, leaving the few who also hadn't done so as a possibility.

As for the dance, most everyone else seemed to be jumping straight into getting a date when the topic was brought up, but neither of them really cared. If they didn't have a partner, that wasn't a problem between the cousins; if they could fire arrows into trees and targets together, they had no issue sharing a dance, too. Anything to keep each other out of trouble, even if they didn't say it.

"Do you wanna hear her sing?" Pearl tried to show off her sister's special talents, even though Calliope's mouth fell wide open when that happened. While Ashe and Alex did feel like hearing something good to drown out the noise, the latter still knew that few humans were able to compete with Ashe's god-blessed talent and training, not to mention her uncanny ability to play her violin and still sing at the same time. Ashe's mother would probably agree, too, trying to get her daughter to show off more had the woman been here, but nothing was said. Instead, the two watched as Sapphira tried to turn a coffee table into a pedestal for the girl with the voice of a muse.

Siren smiled widely at the response, even though it was kind of small. She helped Sapphira move the table and coaxed her sister up onto it.

"Just sing! For gods' sake!" she said, know that her sister had an amazing talent. It was a gift of the sea. One that would only be match possibly by the real muse Calliope from who her sister was named. She just hoped her sister was able to sing well when she was nervous.

Cali stepped up onto the table. The chatter continued besides a few who actually cared. She was frightened, though. Being a muse, everyone would immediately stop once she began. Especially since there were no instruments to compete for the sound. It would soully be her voice.

Cali took a deep breath and calmed herself. Then she began. She sang a song that she made up immediately on the spot. It had an edgey, yet delicate tune. Her voice, which dropped an octave for the song, was soon the only sound heard in the room.

"If you had a chance
At romance
Would you take it
Grasp it, hold it?

The fire is lit
No chance of going out
And all your shit
Is making me scream and shout

I’m high class bitch
You better believe me
And if you wanna hitch
A ride, don’t leave me

With tears in her eyes
She tells him
She never lies
But it thrills him

Such a terrible thrill
I’ll tell you
She was an easy kill
Broken in two

Broken hearted little fool
Can’t you see he was a tool!

Just play it cool
Girl
Oh, so, so cool
Girl.

So do you wanna
Run, run, run away
Coming back on a summer day
Far, far, far away
To a land of freedom!
Guys, who needs ‘em?

Kicking, screaming
Loving, scheming
Wrap your arms so tight around me
Keep me oh so safe and soundly

Looking for love
It ain’t above!
Looking for joy
I ain’t your toy!

I’m a real bad girl."

TIME LAPSE

After the strange ordeal with the school, the teachers decided that it was safe to allow the students out of the common room. They all went to their classes and the next night, they prepared for the dance. The gods were allowed to visit their children before the dance as a sort of welcoming. Many presented their daughters with gifts of dresses and helped their sons into suits. The dance was a formal.

As every student was required to go to it, several sat around and sulked. Those who wanted to dance enjoyed performances by the muses that attended as well as a single song sung by Calliope.

The dance, now in progress, seems to be going well.

___

Sapphira should have been down with everyone else. All the other students were there. But her mother was still locked away in the underworld and she had no friends yet to lend her a dress. For that reason, she was tearing her bag apart for any dress that seemed to be fomal. Any long dress would be good for her.

She sighed and continue looking through her bag. Nothing seemed to be there.

Her roommates weren't the nicest. She actually really hated them. She would do anything to switch. One didn't talk to her and the other already let her know what he thought of her.

Sapphira sat alone in her room. There was nothing to wear. She hated this whole thing. Her roommates, well she knew that things were a little awkward with their parents, but it was hard to not even have a parent. Being raised by a goddess, things were difficult. She was never quiet good enough. And she certainly didn't feel so now. With everyone else downstairs enjoying themselves, Sapphira began to cry. She didn't know why, but she had to now. What had she accomplished? Nothing. She didn't even make a friend. No one cared, did they. She just wouldn't go to the party. She didn't have a date, she didn't have any friends, she didn't even have someone who would consider being her friend.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Sapphira quickly dried her tears and composed herself. "Come in," she called.

To her surprise, it was her goddess grandmother.

"Why aren't you downstairs with your classmates?" Demeter asked.

"No reason. I don't have a date and I don't have a dress and I thought I wouldn't be missed. Guess I was wrong," she replied.

"Saph, your mother would love to be here right now, but she can't be. I'm sorry. I came to make sure you were alright. Are you?"

"Yes, Granny," she said.

"Are you going to come downstairs?" Sapphire shook her head. "Why not?"

"No one likes me."

"You don't have to have a date to be happy."

"I know. But I mean no one likes me. And I have nothing to wear."

"Oh, well that's an easy fix!" she pulled a dress out from some unseen place. Sapphira's eyes widened. It was a beautiful white gown. It was the most magnificent thing that she'd ever seen. "Try it on. I want to see if it fits!"

She quickly put it on. Demeter then helped her fix her hair up so it look lovely. She then put on her makeup. She looked in the mirror but didn't recognize herself. It was an entirely different person.

"There, all better. Now, no more tears. Go have fun!"

Sapphira walked down the hall and to the head of a marble staircase. Below it were the partygoers they were all talking and enjoying themselves. Many were dancing. They all looked so beautiful. And for once, Sapphira felt beautiful. She began to descend the steps in her beautiful dress. She imagined having someone meet her at the bottom like in one of those old movies. They could whisk her away across the dance floor so that she would be smiling all night long.

But that, of course, didn't happen.