My Ebony Dove (Nico Di Angelo)

Ch 5: Birds of a Feather

Ryan's pov:

I screamed again, waking the healers and alerting them to my predicament. I had a gigantic gash in my chest and my blood was dripping everywhere it possibly could.

"What happened here?" Asked Will Solace, head healer and son of Apollo. Nico who had been awoken by the commotion turned to answer him.

"He woke up with this huge gash in his chest Will. Nobody was in here and there weren't any dead spirits. He just woke up with this gash. Judging by your failed attempts, I think that some god or other demigod ran him through." Nico shrugged his shoulders and sat up.

I stared back up at the white ceiling. "Since that food stuff didn't work, I suggest we do the old fashioned stitches method."

That was a great moment. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

"None of us know how to do this Ryan." Said Will hesitantly as he glanced back at the door, waiting for Chiron, the centaur and camp leader to come in.

"I know how to do it." Muttered Nico as he stood up and brushed the blankets aside.

I laughed all of a sudden and I'm pretty sure that they all thought that I was insane in the membrane.

"You should let him do it if you can't heal me. It might hurt like a bitch but if I don't die then it's good."

Nico nodded and instructed everyone to gather things like needles, thread, lighters blankets and anything that could be used as a sedative. Once they had everything, Nico warned me that it might hurt because they couldn't find any sedative. I nodded. Pain was good and maybe, just maybe I would forget that damned dream.

"Yeah this is going to hurt a lot Ryan. Just don't pass out or fall asleep if you can."

I gritted my teeth and looked away as they cut off my tank top and put the needle under the flame. They pushed the needle through the edge of my skin and I gritted my teeth harder, biting through my lip. I tasted blood but it couldn't distract me from the intense pain I was in.

"You guys might want to hurry up. I can't really see straight and I want to pass out. Please hurry."

"I'm hurrying as much as I can." Hissed Nico as he finished suturing the wound.

He cut the thread and put the needle away and I sighed in relief. The pain was pretty much over.

I presently passed out, leaving everyone sighing with relief until Chiron walked in. I couldn't see anybody but I heard all of what they were saying.

"You sutured the wound Nico. That's quite odd though. It is unheard of that the ambrosia and nectar wouldn't work on a demigod. Unless he's not a demigod. Anyhow, you said that he was dreaming and yelling in his sleep. Do you have any idea what he was dreaming about?"

"Well thanks for the compliment on the suturing but it wasn't that hard. I'm pretty sure he's a demigod because he got through the barrier. I can sense dead people and his dream was full of dead people. I saw his dad hit him and kill himself when he found something out but what he found out I don't know and i saw a shadow of him but not him kill him by the stab wound to the chest. I'm pretty sure there's a dream creature out there that can kill people."

I heard all of this though I couldn't move anything and I was very distressed by it. My finger twitched and then I coughed, giving away my now conscious body. I opened my eyes and stared at everyone.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not dead so thanks for saving me. Anyhow, I think I'd like to get up and go back home."

Chiron smiled up at me and gently shook his head. "Ryan, I think more rest would be a better option for you and you know that can't go home. Everyone you know as home is dead and not coming back. You are a demigod son and you should stay here at least until you are well."

Chiron and I argued for about half an hour and I have to say that he can definitely keep an argument going. In the end I decided to stay because I had no family left and I couldn't go anywhere else.

Life was getting interesting. (and definitely more murderous)

Two Weeks Later:

I had to sit at the Hermes table until I was claimed and it was ridiculously brutal. They prank and never shut up.

I remember that my life changed that night and the change wasn't for the better but for the worse, the infinite worse.

"Hey Ryan, have you been claimed by your Godly parent yet?" Yelled Percy from across the dining hall as he shoved a blue cupcake into his mouth. I don't what it is with him and blue food but it's oddly disconcerting. I quickly walked over there, thankful to have an excuse to get away from the Hermes kids.

"No I haven't and I'm getting kind of worried. It's been over two weeks since I've been here and I don't know how much more I can take of being in the Hermes cabin. They put Nair in my shampoo and bleach too, so I basically accidentally bleached my hair. They also dyed all my T-shirts bright pink. I really hate those kids and if Hermes is my dad then I'll have a real father son talk with him."

I was interrupted by Chiron who announced that there was to be a poetry contest in Apollo's honour for saving me. It seemed a bit outrageous but I guess it would be cool. I had been working on a poem anyways so maybe I could win and impress Apollo enough to be claimed as his son.

I was about three quarters of the way through my poem when someone let out a gasp. Everyone was staring at me and judging by Chiron's shocked and horrified expression, I was completely screwed.

I looked up and a symbol of a peacock feather, eye and all sat flaming brilliantly above my head.

Chiron finally broke the silence.

"It can't be possible but here it is."

He turned to address me.

"Here is Ryan Damask, son of Hera."