A/N

Wow, I must have NO life. XD

Actually, I just got home from somewhere, and I have the urge to tap-tap-tap on my keyboard.

That was probably weird. Whatever. I'm not known to be normal. Dedicated to my pal, Alexander Caesar. Hope you like it! ;)

Enjoy!

Tarnished Metal

Another blood-curdling scream. Another life taken. He smiled sadistically.

He had just murdered his third victim of the night. He examined his blood-covered hands.

Red.

She had used to love that color. She had used to say that it was the color of life. The color of love, a rosy sunset, a red velvet cupcake.

He kicked the corpse of a once lively young woman. She wouldn't have approved of the lifestyle he had taken on.

Corner, kill, steal.

It was the same thing every night. There was no other choice. Besides, as a child of Hades, death was part of his job.

If she didn't approve, she shouldn't have left.

She shouldn't have left him alone in this cold, sick, world.

She shouldn't have died.

He had cornered a couple in an alley. They were hugging each other in fear, afraid to let go.

He pulled out a knife. Usually, if it was a monster or demigod, he would use his Stygian iron sword. Not tonight.

As he stepped closer, he began to relive the dark memories.

Flashback~

"Come on, Nico, let's go for a walk." Percy's eyes were filled with sadness.

Ten-year-old Nico di Angelo followed him, fingering the Mythomagic cards in his coat pocket.

As they walked into the woods, he faced towards Percy, his dark eyes questioning.

"W-Where's Bianca? Where's my sister?" Percy just stared at Nico, his eyes resembling the ocean after a storm.

"…She's dead, isn't she? I can feel her crossing the river right now, about to be judged. You promised you would protect her, Percy. YOU PROMISED!" Nico could feel himself crying. He ran out of camp, with Percy at his heels.

"Nico, wait! I'm sorry! Just listen!" Percy cried out.

Nico turned, a cruel smile on his face. In the span of five minutes, he had changed. He wasn't the innocent little boy everyone had grown to love. He was out for blood.

"It's too late for that, Percy, it's too late." With that, Nico disappeared into the shadows.

End~

He glanced at what he had done to the poor couple. He had gutted them, and a pool of red had surrounded them.

He wiped off the ruby, sticky substance off his knife. No one deserved to be happy. The world didn't deserve to be cheerful after he had lost his only family member.

He was in Georgia right now. He was wanted in at least five states. He had fully taken on the life of a criminal. The sad part? He was only twelve.

He was deep in the woods, where no one would find him. He stared at the amber fire he had built. He began to dream, only to harden even more out of guilt, sadness, and the need to avenge his sister.

Flashback~

"Come on, Bianca! Play with me!" Eight year old Nico was sitting on the floor, spreading out his Mythomagic cards.

"I'm trying to study for a test! It's the last one of the year. Nico, five more minutes." Ten year old Bianca was perched on a bed, studying from a textbook.

"No! Please, Bianca, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" Nico gave her his 'innocent little brother' look.

"…Oh, fine. One game, Nico, only one. I'm serious!" Bianca tried to sound stern, but the humor in her eyes gave it away.

"Yay! I want the Hades card! He has 50,000 attack points and he could summon zombies and stuff!"

"Whatever you say, Nico. Whatever you say." And just for that moment, everything was perfect.

End~

Things had changed. Nico smiled bitterly. He pulled out his sword. Pure Stygian iron. The metal was tarnished after being used so many times. It even had a sickly red tint as proof.

He looked at his reflection. Gloomy, emo styled hair, an oversized aviator coat, a skull ring with rubies as eyes.

His eyes. They were pure black, like a black hole. The last thing the victim saw before they died. They glinted darkly.

He had changed for the worst. He wasn't the innocent, Mythomagic loving little boy anymore. He was a murderer, a thief, a person's worst nightmare.

He once was like metal.

Once clean of guilt.

Once pure.

But like all metal, it rusts. It turns into something dark. Something that no one wants.

That's what he was. And he admitted it, in the back of his head, he knew it was wrong. But it was all for his sister.

All for the most special person in his life.

Bianca di Angelo.

A/N

That was darker than it was supposed to be. O.O

And A. C.? It probably didn't leave a very good impression.

Whatever. I'm sorry!