Nico put the dark armor on, feeling the best he had in awhile. Rest, he decided, had really been what he needed. Now he felt ready to take on all the demigods, right after he'd slain Percy.

Nico smiled. Daedalus was dead, yes, but Nico could still get his revenge. That was the one thing he wanted, and now would get. It was what he pushed himself over the limit for. And today was the day.
"Almost time." Luke muttered, watching the blue lights in the sky.

Nico nodded, closing his eyes slightly. He was more than ready, but something inside him told him something was off. Something wasn't right.

"Let's go," Luke finally said, standing up. Or was it Kronos now? Either way, Nico liked calling him Luke better. Made him sound more human.

But were any of them human anymore?

Walking through the streets of Manhattan seemed almost too easy. Everywhere he looked, fallen bodies lay discarded on the ground. Blood stained the streets, red and golden, but all Nico could do was smile. This was it.

About twenty feet away, the Empire State Building loomed over them. Nico smiled triumphantly as Percy ran out of the base, his eyes widening when he saw them.

"Nico di Angelo…" Percy looked at them. "Luke,"

Nico glared at Percy, taking a step forward. Immediately, Chiron was in front of him.

Chiron notched an arrow, pointing it at Kr…Luke. It was still Luke, the one Nico ended up befriending.

"Step aside, little son." Luke glanced at Percy before turning to Chiron.

"I'm afraid not." Chiron said calmly. "Especially with a son of Hades at your side."

"That's why you should be scared enough to move." Nico mumbled, keeping his gaze on Percy. "Especially when that one son of Hades is more powerful then that pitiful son of Poseidon."

"You're a teacher, not a hero." Luke took a step forward.

"Luke was a hero." Chiron snarled. "He was a good one, until you corrupted him."

"Nobody corrupted Luke." Nico said quietly. "He's right there."

Kronos glanced over at him. "Silence, son of Hades."

"My name's Nico," Nico muttered again, gripping his sword nervously. What was he doing?

Chiron struck when Luke was distracted, using his sword. He didn't get far, however, when Luke screamed out. Chiron went flying into a building and didn't come out.

Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia ran towards the rubble, looking for any sign of their teacher. When there was none, Annabeth looked up in anger.

"You!" Annabeth turned to Luke. "To think that I…that I thought-"

Annabeth drew her knife, making Nico smirk slightly. What chance did she think she had?

She ran up to Luke, slicing at his chest with her dagger. Nothing was accomplished but her bouncing back, holding her shoulder.

Percy grabbed her quickly, pulling her back.

"I hate you!" she screamed, crying.

"I have to fight him." Percy told her.

"It's my fight, too!" Annabeth screamed before breaking free. She breathed heavily, facing Luke.

Percy immediately got in front of her. He was so close, close enough for one quick kill…

Nico stepped into the shadows, reappearing behind Percy. Immediately, the boy turned around, finding the gun to his forehead. Nico held the gun up to the boy's head, his expression cold as he gazed at him. "Go home or never see the light of day again."

Inside, however, Nico's chest was about to explode with emotions. Could he really kill this boy? Yes, he realized, he could. He had killed before.

"Percy!" a woman tried to fight her way through the now silent soldiers as they watched the scene. "Percy!"

The boy in front of him, Percy Jackson, glanced over at her. He spoke quietly, his eyes shinning with an unknown light. "I'll be okay, mom." he then turned to Nico. "I'm not giving up anytime soon. Nico, you should see why. You of all people should want to protect fami-"

"Shut up!" Nico hissed, digging the barrel deeper into the his forehead. "You mention her even once and I'll blow your brains across the pavement."

"You wouldn't." Percy replied.

"Want to bet?" Nico fingered the trigger. "Kronos wants you dead, and so do I."

"Son of Hades, back down." Luke ordered, stepping forward. "That's my kill."

"Funny, you said it was mine." Nico glanced at him before turning to Percy. "You knew I was a son of Hades, didn't you?"

Percy bit his lip. "I had suspicions. Nico, listen to me, you don't know what you're doing."

"I don't?" Nico asked. "To me, I'm about to kill you. What is it for you?"

"Nico, you don't want to kill me." Percy pleaded, staring in his eyes. "All I'm trying to do is protect the people I love."

"Yet you couldn't protect my person, could you?"

Percy's face filled with guilt. "Nico, she died to save us. You have to believe that. It was her choice. And knowing her-"

"You didn't know her."

"She would be ashamed of you to doing this." Percy continued. "Ashamed that you're aided Kronos-"

"Luke."

"While trying to take down hundred of people. How is that good? It's evil, Nico."

"It's revenge." Nico corrected.

"For what? Letting your sister be a hero?"

Nico bit his lip. "Me, doing this, makes me a hero. So let me be a hero."

"This makes you a villain." Percy looked at him sadly. "Minos really brainwashed you."

Nico scowled. "How did you know about Minos?"

"I had dreams, Iris messages. Bianca wanted me to stop it before-"

"Enough!" Kronos yelled. "Son of Hades, get over here."

Nico bit his lip, looking in Percy's eyes. He was innocent, Nico realized. He had done nothing wrong.

Nico put his lips to Percy's ear. "His Achilles spot. It's a small piece under his left arm."

Nico drew back, putting the gun down. "Sorry, Luke. I wasn't thinking."

The shot rang out across the area, making Nico stagger on his feet. Looking down, he watched his side fill with blood. When he put his gaze back up, he saw Annabeth and the smoking gun in her hands. "Get away from him."

"Annabeth, don't." Percy commanded, looking at Nico sadly. "Don't hurt him."

"Son of Hades! Over here!" Luke yelled, gripping his scythe. "Or I'll be the one to kill you."

Nico put a hand to his side, trying to feel for any skin left. Not finding any, he looked up at Luke with his last bits of energy. "Sorry, I only follow Percy now."

He heard the gasps of shock before his eyes shut, passing out for the hundredth time.