a/n: Hey y'all, so this is my first time writing fanfiction, my first story and first chapter. Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous. I would really appreciate it if you guys would take the time to read and review. Thanks so much, enjoy!

Also, I own nothing but the plot, all rights go to Rick Riordan.

Nico's p.o.v

He opened his eyes to a beautiful garden, bright colours of flowers and leaves filled his vision. The ground was soft, covered in lush grass where his head rested. He pushed himself up on the ground into a sitting position. This was slightly painful and he couldn't figure out why. Nico looked at his hands and discovered six-seven blisters on both his hands. Some on his fingers and others on his palms. Some were bleeding and oozing.

Schist...where on earth did these come from? Nico thought to himself. He didn't remember getting those...or doing anything to get them. Pushing those thoughts aside, he stood up with great effort. Black spots started to appear in his vision. He felt like a ghost, light and weightless, like he wasn't even standing. He leaned against part of a fence to steady himself and make sure he didn't pass out, which was a real danger at this point.

Nico started to trudge forward on his tired and weak legs. He felt like he hadn't eaten or drank in days. But he couldn't remember. Had he really drank or eaten in the last few days?

This was troubling to the boy. He tried to think of something else, his birthday, where he lived, where he was, how he had gotten there. But alas, he remembered nothing. He decided that his first priority should be food and water. Walking, he passed many sunflowers, large, bright and yellow. He also noticed many plants that he did not recognize of many bright colours and different shapes and sizes.

Stealthily, a tall, slender woman with long, light-brown hair stepped into the aisle.

"Why hello there," she said in a sweet and warm tone. The boy spun around with such speed that he almost wept-out.

"How have you discovered my garden, stranger?" She asked. They stood in silence for a brief moment. Nico was studying her face, the soft yet pronounced features gave her a serene aura. But what else Nico noticed was that her mouth was drooping slightly and she seemed almost…sad. The woman was also studying the boy carefully in this moment. She noticed that his arms were bruised, that he appeared deathly pale and almost colourless and that most of all, he looked exhausted.

"I...I-I don't know," the boy managed to say, "I just woke up on the ground and…" His voice came out as a quiet melody, barely audible.

The woman stood calmly observing the boy for a minute more. On his belt he had a black sword. One that seemed to radiate darkness. She knew that metal, she had seen it before. It was stygian iron. A metal that was legendary at controlling the dead. But right now, this boy looked more like death than someone who was able to harness it. She decided that he needed her help.

"My name is Clytie, this is my garden," she started to explain, "you look pretty beaten up. How would you feel about me taking you to my house, feeding you, fixing you up and giving you a place to sleep for the night?"

Clytie. Nico vaguely recognized that name but he had no idea from where. He nodded, seeing that trusting this kind, compassionate woman could hold little danger and that it was probably his best chance of survival.

Clytie approached the child and slid her arm under his right and put his left over her shoulder. The difference in height caused some discomfort but nevertheless, Nico was thankful for at least some of the weight to be taken off his sore legs. The pair hobbled a few meters forward before reaching an opening in the translucent plastic greenhouse. The view that he was greeted with was absolutely breathtaking. About fifty meters away, there was the beautiful shore, the clear teal water reflecting so much light that it was almost blinding. To the west, there were two massive mountains both covered in greenery and life.

About ten meters away, there was a small home. The walls as whitish-yellow and as rough as the sand. Stepping inside, Nico observed that the house was small, but not uncomfortable. There were flowers and plants everywhere and the overall mood was bright. Clytie led Nico to a small room down a narrow hall. This room held only a bed, window and a small night table.

"You can lay right here and I'll get you some food," the woman said as she was gently laying the boy down on the bed. She disappeared from the room stealthily and down the hall. Nico layed there completely motionless, all of his energy depleted from his unknown adventure. He could see the setting sun through the open window. He also felt the calm warm breeze that was flowing through the thin curtains.

"Here you go," she said as she helped him into a sitting position and layed a platter in front of him. On this platter, there was a bowl of soup, a piece of bread and a glass of water. Nico started eating immediately, his hunger and instincts taking over completely. He was so focused on eating that he didn't even notice Clytie pulling up a chair beside the bed.

Nico swallowed his food and turned to her with a sheepish smile, "thank you so much for this food and all this hospitality."

"You're most welcome," she replied with a slight smile. "Now, hero, what is your name?"

Why had she called him hero? Nico did not know but with another swallow,

"Nico. Nico di Angelo," he said.

"My name is Clytie," she replied, "I live on this island but almost no one ever ends up here. So my question for you, boy, is how did you find this place?"

Once again, Nico had no idea. He tried to think but he couldn't, he just couldn't remember anything. Not where he lived, not where or when he was born. He realized, once again, that his memory had failed him.

Clytie could see the boy becoming visibly distressed. So, she stated calmly, "don't worry, it's okay," she soothed him.

"Here let me tell you a story, how does that sound?" she inquired.

Nico nodded very slightly and she took that as a yes.

Clytie was all alone on her island, she was tending to her garden making sure that all the flowers and plants remained nourished and alive. The calm breeze blew and soft sun shone, all was right in the world, at least her world.

A moment later, there was a terribly bright flash of light. She turned around and saw her lover. The beautiful, muscular man standing in front of her made her heart flutter and her breath catch.

"Helios," she barely manages to whisper, "I-I haven't seen you in so long, where were you?"

Without answering, Helios stepped closer and kissed her, their lips locking softly. His hands caressed her face and her hand were moving up and down his bank. The kiss was a long, passionate one.

When they finally broke apart, Helios took Clytie by the hand and led her over to a rock. They sat and Helios placed Clytie's hand in his lap in between his.

Helios started to explain why he hadn't seen her in so long. How he had been seeing another woman, Leucothoe. As he explained, Clytie could feel all of the warmth and happiness leave from her body. He kissed her on the cheek before disappearing into another flash of light.

Clytie never saw Helios again. She felt this heart break so deeply that she fell to her knees and started sobbing. Sobbing, she laid there for hours, watching the sun, her first and only love. When she finally stood up, she saw a small, yellow flower sprouting right there. She knelt down and studied the bloom. The petals were soft and yellow, the center large and full of seeds.

She named this flower a sunflower seeing that it faced the sun. With sorrow, she looked at the golden flower, leaving it there to grow.

Nico could barely believe what he was hearing. A story of such sadness and pain yet here was this woman, alive and well.

Nico still felt weak and he could barely keep his eyes open. Clytie took away the platter and helped him into a lying position.

She kissed his forehead and whispered, "goodnight, see you in the morning, anew." With that, she disappeared.

Nico fell asleep almost as soon as his eyes closed.

a/n: sorry if this was kind of short, ill try to write longer ones in the future. Until next time!