*This chapter is dedicated to Chloe the hybrid. Thank you for reviewing every chapter and giving me advice when I desperately need it :)*

Chapter XX NICO

Nico felt like death. Everything hurt; when he slipped out of the dragon's grasp, he'd hit the water pretty hard. (As in, it felt like enough to break a couple bones)

After that, Nico went unconscious from pain, saying a muttered prayer to his father to protect him when he inevitably died.

So, it was quite a shock to find himself on an island, very much alive. He was laying on a mattress of some sort, a soft blanket tucked around him. Nico sat up and saw a girl sitting in the corner.

"You're awake." she said simply, coming to stand beside him.

Nico nodded cautiously. It was never good to wake up to an unfamiliar face. When you were a demigod, it most likely meant said person wanted to kill you.

He quickly studied her; she looked about fifteen with silky brown hair. Analyzing her hands and the rest of the room they were in, Nico couldn't see any weapons. Still, a well-trained monster can make a weapon out of basically anything. So he was going to remain untrusting. Well, Nico was basically always untrusting, but you get the idea.

The girl noticed him watching her and she said,

"What is your name, dear one?"

"I don't feel entirely comfortable telling you." Nico said hesitantly.

The girl looked said, her brown eyes sorrowful.

"I am no threat to you. Honestly."

She reached over and pulled the blanket higher over the boy's shoulders. Nico flinched away from her and she jerked backward.

"I'm sorry. I really should learn to keep my hands to myself."

"Who are you?" Nico asked finally.

"Where are we?"

"We are on Ogygia. And I am Calypso.' she said with a faint smile, walking away.

Due to his Ancient Greek studies, Nico knew the legend of Calypso. She was bound to stay on this island forever, because her father was Atlas. Nico did feel sorry for he about that; he knew what it was like to be judged by your parent's actions. But Calypso's punishment was particularly cruel. Every so often, a hero would wash up on her shores. She would rescue them, and diligently nurse them back to health. But there was a catch. Calypso couldn't help falling in love with every hero that she healed.

And the heroes were never able to stay with her. They always had to go, off to save the world once again. So Calypso was left alone, with a broken heart. Yeah, Nico did feel bad for her, but there was nothing he could do. He definitely wasn't staying. He'd made a promise to Percy, to lead the others to the Doors of Death. Nico had betrayed the son of Poseidon too many times in the past to let it happen again. He was getting out of here.

Besides, he probably was the exception to the rule. Calypso wouldn't fall for him. He'd make sure of that. And Nico sure as Hades wasn't planning on falling for her either. Everyone he loved got taken from him; what was the point in risking his heart once again?

Nico silently slipped out of bed and walked out into the sunshine. wincing from the bright light, he squinted and looked around. He saw Calypso kneeling on the dirt, working away in a garden. She was humming a tune to herself, smiling softly. He walked up to stand next to her and she turned around to look up at him.

"Hello. You look much better, your color's returned."

Nico nodded silently and then said,

"Thank you for taking care of me, Calypso."

"Of course, dear one." she said softly.

At the sight of her sad, wistful smile, Nico sighed inwardly. It wouldn't hurt to be friends with her, would it?

"My name's Nico di Angelo, by the way."