I never asked to be a demigod. I never fitted in at school. I've never been in control of myself or my powers. These powers killed all that was important to me, and left me to live with my mean, horrible, nasty, evil stepdad (his name is Tim).

My name is Marie Susanne. Until a while ago, I thought I was just a normal gothic girl who never fitted in. I wear black clothes most of the time, and my hair is a shade of deepest black. I have startling green eyes, and a pale face. I guess I could have been popular if I had wanted to at school, but why would I need that? I'm small and lithe, but I'm still pretty strong, so I could have been a cheerleader. I just couldn't be bothered to get up and drag myself to the tryouts.

On that day, I was in my English class. I'm really good at English. I always get As. But Tim doesn't appreciate my intelligence. Whenever my reports get home (with straight As on them) he will only read all of the teacher's comments and stick it up on the fridge. My mother used to frame my reports.

Anyway, I was listening to the teacher and contemplating my depressing back-story when suddenly a huge monster burst into the room. It was a big dog thing, and instantly all of the students jumped up and started screaming. Some of them actually fainted. I rolled my eyes and copied the last of my notes from the blackboard before standing up to face the demon dog thing. I had always been taught to never panic, just keep a level head. Of course my stupid, preppy, inferior classmates had to all go insane at the sight of one overlarge dog. I groaned. The dog growled at me. The only thing keeping me from jumping out the window like all of my classmates was my huge ego and my unrealistic amount of bravery. I was just about to give the monster some witty and entertaining line when bam! A huge ball of light engulfed the room. I staggered backwards as three figures darted through the door.

"I'll take point, and you guys-" the new voice was cut off by a huge bark from the giant dog. I couldn't see. I shook my head while my eyes adjusted to the blinding light which had filled the room. I was just able to make out the shape of the huge dog when suddenly a cry of pain tore through the room. A human was sent flying through the air and crashed directly (and conveniently) into me.

"Ow!" I said. I could finally see what was going on, and watched as a boy around my age fell to the floor. He had black, messy hair and was wearing dark clothes. For some reason, as I was looking down at his helpless form, I got mad. Really mad.

"Hey, preppy dog thing!" I snarled, striding forward. The dog turned from the other two people it was fighting and growled at me. I held my ground, and the dog charged.

Suddenly, I was aware of every particle of time around me. I felt as though I was standing in a pool of liquid, liquid which was under my control. Without thinking, I raised my arm, and willed the liquid around the dog to slow. I watched as the dog slowly moved to a halt, frozen in the act of jumping on me.

And then it exploded into dust. I fell backwards, and collapsed, suddenly exhausted. Through my half-closed eyes, I was able to make out a blonde girl standing over me.

"Not another one," she was complaining. I frowned. Shouldn't they be thanking me, dropping to their knees in awe of my spectacular powers? Shouldn't they be frozen in shock at the logic-defying way I had killed the dog?

I noticed another boy coming to stand over me. He had shocking green eyes, a bit like mine, and a handsome face.

"Come on," he sighed. "She's one of us. Technically."

I was confused. They were looking at me as though I was some kind of disease. I just had time to register the hot gothic guy joining the blonde's side before I passed out.