Azrail's Fate

Why is he Smarter Than Me? (Marinette's POV)

We finally landed at camp, and I widened my eyes as I took in the fields around me. Suddenly, two people ran up to us. One, I recognized. I smiled, "Grover!" The second one, I didn't. She had blonde hair, and bright grey eyes. She didn't even acknowledge my presence, and just leapt into Percy's arms.

I averted my gaze as they started making out, and Grover laughed, "Welcome to camp, Marinette." I grinned, and took in his goat legs and horns, "You look more like a satyr now." He smiled, and held out his arm, "You ready to go meet Chiron?"

I smiled and nodded, accepting his arm and following him up to the big blue house on the hill. When we finally reached the top, he stood outside the door. I paused with him, and he shook his head, "Go on in. You should talk to him." I nodded, fidgeting with my backpack strap nervously.

I immediately noticed that the house was cozy. A pair of men sat at a table in the living room, playing a game on the table. A leopard hung on the wall, and I gasped when it looked over at me as I walked in. That's when they noticed me. The man in the wheelchair turned to me, smiling warmly, "You must be our new camper."

I turned to him, nodding nervously. He gestured for me to sit with him. I quietly walked over and sat on the couch, and then turned back to him. He was wearing a tweed jacket, and looked like a professor. He said, "I'm Chiron." I shook his hand, "Marinette."

He smiled, and said, "You must be very confused." I shook my head, "Not really. I'm just in shock, a little bit. I mean, it's not everyday you find out you're..." I trailed off. Was I supposed to tell him I'm an ex-goddess? Oh man, that's weird. He kept a smile on his face and said, "Do you know who your godly parent is?"

Should I tell him Hades? Or Persephone? Or Athena? Maybe I could say Aphrodite? The other man at the table said, "Do you or do you not know?" I nodded, "I-I know." I turned back to Chiron, and he said, "All right. Who is it?" I shifted, and brought my legs up to my chest. My instincts told me to trust him.

So, I said, hesitantly, "My parents said I'm not a demigod." I looked down, and silence ensued. I said, "They... they told me I'm an ex-goddess." Chiron grabbed my hands, and said, "How?" I looked up, and said, "I- my dad is Hades, my mom Persephone. But, for some reason that made Hera mad. So she tried to kill me."

The man at the table said, "And you were brought the mortals by Athena and Aphrodite." I looked up at him, and Chiron said, "You know this story?" He nodded, "I was there when she was born. And when Hera decided to go after her. I didn't recognize her at first."

He met my gaze, and said, "Nice to see you again, Azrail." I narrowed my eyes, "That's not my name." He looked back down at his cards and said, uncaring, "Yes it is. That was the name Persephone chose for you. Your human parents changed the name given to you." I covered my face, trying to gather myself. I eventually said, "Y-You're serious?"

The man said, "Yes. Why would I joke about that, Azrail?" I shook my head, feeling tears well in my eyes. My name was Azrail. Not Marinette. Chiron said, "What's wrong?" I looked up, "This changes.. everything." Chiron looked into my eyes, smile lines appearing around the corners, "Why should it?"

I tilted my head, and he said, "You're still the same person you were five minutes ago, aren't you?" I shrugged, wiping at my eyes. He said, "You're still Marinette. With or without that name. Azrail is just a name. A heritage. Same with your parents. They do not define you, nor your actions. You're the same girl you've always been."

He squeezed my hands, "You are still the same Marinette who defeated Kelli. The same Marinette you were before that. Just a little stronger. And you're going to keep getting stronger. A name and a parentage doesn't change that."

I nodded, and said, "Thanks, Chiron." He nodded, releasing my hands, and said, "Now, here's the question. Which cabin do you go in?" I shrugged, "I don't know." He thought for a moment, and then said, "Your mother doesn't have a cabin, because you won't find any other children of Persephone here. Your father's cabin is lonely most of the time."

He paused and said, "Or you could go in the Athena cabin. You seem to be a very intelligent girl, so you would fit right in with the intelligent ones. Of course, the Aphrodite cabin is still an option. Which would you prefer, my dear?" I rubbed my arms, and said, "Um, I don't know."

He said, "Would you prefer to be with others?" I nodded, "If that's okay with you." He nodded, and said, "Which part of you are you partial to? The arts and crafts, or love and beauty?" I laughed nervously, "I'm a bit clueless on love things." He smiled, and said, "I will send you to the Athena cabin."

I nodded, and walked out of the house. Chiron went back to the table, and I found my way outside. Grover was gone, but another girl was standing there. She had a feather braided in her hair, and 2 guys stood with her. One looked a little bit insane, with curly and crazy hair. The other had barely messy blonde hair, like he was trying to style it casually.

The girl turned when I walked out. She waved and asked, "Hey, is Chiron in there?" I nodded, mutely, and the blonde guy said, "I don't think I've met you before. You new?" I nodded again, and she walked inside by herself. The shorter guy said, "What's your name?" That caused me to pause. My mind went blank.

I had two names, and I didn't know which one defined me yet. I just didn't know. The blonde guy said, "Hello?" He waved a hand at me and I said, "I-I don't know." The shorter guy held out a hand, "Okay, I don't know. I'm Leo." I shook his hand, unable to stop a little smile that curled upwards.

The other guy said, "I'm Jason. How about we help you figure out your name?" I shrugged, "That's not the problem. I kinda have two. And I don't know which one I prefer yet." Leo beamed. Jason said, "Okay, and what are your names?"

I shifted, "Azrail and Marinette." Leo tilted his head, "Both of them suit you. Which one do you tell people?" I shifted, "Marinette. That's what I went by in Paris." Jason widened his eyes, "Really? Welcome to America!" I smiled and said, "I think I'm gonna go by Marinette." Leo grinned, and handed me a metal thing I hadn't even noticed he was building, "Welcome to camp, Marinette."

The girl stepped out of the house, and the trio ran off. I looked around, breathing deeply and closing my eyes. The entire field smelled like strawberries and I felt a calm slowly spread over me. I was going to be okay. I was going to figure all of this out.