His Black Heart

Bones rose from the ground like earthworms crawling out after it rained. The bones stuck to each other to form skeletons in torn clothing. Five feet behind them stood an olive skinned boy dressed in black. His cold onyx eyes watched the undead as they rose.

Nico Di Angelo. The son of Hades, the Ghost King and as many called him, A Hero of Olympus. He smirked at that. They called him a hero, but is he really? Yes, he did convince his father to fight in the war, he himself fought in it. He was the one who made Percy, The Saviour of Olympus, bathe in the Styx which in the end gained them victory but...

Heroes are courageous, they act even when they are afraid, even if it costs them their lives. They are dedicated to save those in need without a second thought. They do not stand by and watch injustice happen. They go beyond what is expected of them. Most importantly, they have a heart.

But Nico? Yes, he's courageous but that's it. His heart has been tainted by darkness. His pitch black heart. He doesn't have a family. Maria was killed by Zeus many years ago and his sister, Bianca, left him to join the Hunters of Artemis before she got herself killed on her first quest. Hades doesn't love him. He might be grateful that because of Nico he now is more respected by the Gods but Hades did not hide how much he preferred to have Bianca as his only remaining demigod child.

He doesn't have many friends. They all fear him. He was after all, the Ghost King. The son of Hades whose aura screamed death. Percy, Annabeth and a few others who bothered to get to know the true Nico Di Angelo were the only ones he has. Well, them and of course, her.

The skeletons dropped to the ground which later swallowed them as Nico made his way back into his gloomy cabin. As soon as he caught sight of the figure huddled on his bed, his cold eyes softened. Nico sat at the edge of his bed and softly tugged on the covers to uncover the figure's face.

A small smile carved its way onto his face when he saw her. Black hair framed her face and her eyelids hid her beautiful blue eyes. Softly shaking her, he wondered how a beautiful girl like her could love him. It took her months to break the ice around his heart but she never gave up. He's glad she didn't give up on him. He lived for her, now. Only for her.

"Mmm. Go away!" she mumbled sleepily, tugging on the cover. He chuckled softly.

"Breakfast is in twenty minutes, Thals. You need to wake up." She huffed but opened her eyes.

"Good morning, beautiful." she smiled and sat up.

"Morning." she greeted, voice thick with sleep. She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his stomach. Nico's arms automatically went around her. Dropping a kiss on her head, he soaked in the warmth she offered.

Unexpected isn't it? He's in love with the girl whose father killed his mother. Well, love is blind as they say.

"Love you." Thalia said. No matter how many times he heard that, it still warmed his black heart. She makes him feel loved, something he desperately craved before her.

"And I love you." There. His black heart knew how to love after all. Even if no one else knew this, the fact that Thalia knew it was enough for him. Maybe, just maybe, his black heart wasn't so tainted anymore.