Ataraxia (a Nico di Angelo fanfiction)

2|Camp Orientation Video?

The smell hit me first. Iodine, mixing with the smell of rubbing alcohol, and something else, something older.

It wasn't like that was a bad thing; it was unsettling, because the last time I I encountered this scent was when my brother...

Second, I heard voices muttering on my right side. It's hard to make out what they were saying. Too many... attacked... voice...

I knew what they were saying would make no sense to me in this state. I opened my eyes, and the bright light of what looked like afternoon hit me. I shifted in the bed, taking in its coziness.

"She's awake," a voice to my right said.

"No dip, Austin! Go find Will, I'll talk to her."

I turned my head just as a guy was running out of the door, presumably to call the Will guy. I then focused my gaze on the girl she was conversing with.

She was slender, her strong arms were exposed. She had medium length ginger hair. The girl was sitting on the chair next to the bed, and had her legs crossed like having to take care of and talk to a complete stranger is normal.

"Hi," she smiled at me. It was genuine, warm. "My name's Kayla. I know it must be strange for you, but you're in a special camp, a safe place for us demigods. We're currently in the infirmary."

Infirmary. No wonder it smelled like a hospital.

"Hello." My voice sounded normal, whatever they've been giving me must have done the trick. "Claudia."

"Claudia. That's a nice name. Well, we'll have to wait for my brother to assess your vitals before we can let you see the orientation video." She stood, opening the door and peeked her head out. "Will will be here soon. Heh, that's funny. 'Will will'."

Soon enough, a blond with blue eyes stepped into the infirmary. He smiled and gave a quick hey then proceeded to check me. He told me I was good to go.

I thanked him, then stood. I thought I was going to get a backlash because I had been laying down too long, but I felt normal. I felt good, even.

"Great!" Kayla looped her arms around mine. I didn't mind. "Time for you to get oriented with your Greek side."

•••

After a very informative and, well... creative (for lack of a better term) orientation video about gods, monsters, and demigods, I've fully catched up with the other side of my family.

We were now walking along the creek. Kayla, who I discovered was the daughter of Apollo, was now touring me around camp.

"So which is it?" Kayla asked.

"Which is what?"

"Which parent of yours is the godly one?" She completed her question like it was supposed to be obvious.

I looked at her, dumbfounded. I hadn't even thought of that. "I don't know."

"You don't... what?" She sputtered, like I had given the wrong answer. "How could you not know?"

"Well, uh, I live with my mom and dad," I stated, and stopped in my tracks. I sighed and sat down, the creek flowing in front of me. "I'm not really sure which of them isn't my real parent. I look like both of them."

Kayla sat beside me looking stumped as well. "I'm sorry. It's just, normally demigods come from a broken family. I hadn't really considered they would, I mean, I don't know anyone who had both of their parents... It must be hard swallowing the fact that one of them isn't blood-related."