Azrail's Fate

Training With Knives? (Marinette's POV)

Most of the kwamis slept on my bed, but a few of the other Athena kids persuaded them to sleep on their beds. The next morning, Longg was sleeping on my face, and I groaned. I pushed him off and said, "Get off me."

In seconds, the rest of the kwamis were floating around me, and Ziggy said, "Good morning." I covered my face with a pillow, and then I felt someone shaking my shoulder. Annabeth said, "Hey, Mari, get up. You're coming with me." I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. It was still dark outside, and I looked over at her.

She was smirking, and she said, "Come on. Let's go." I sighed, and crawled out of my bed. I held open my backpack, and the kwamis all flew in. Annabeth was leaning against the bed, studying. She was wearing a bright orange t-shirt, and jean shorts. She asked, "Are you gonna bring that with you everywhere?"

I nodded, and slung the backpack over my shoulder. I grabbed some clothes out of my suitcase, glad that I had brought summer clothes. Annabeth handed me something bright orange and said, "Camp T-shirt." I accepted it, walking to the bathroom and changing.

When I left the bathroom, I walked outside and found Annabeth talking to Percy, Leo, Jason and the other girl I still didn't know the name of. Annabeth turned when I walked out, a grin on her face, "Hey, Marinette." I smiled and waved.

Percy said, "We're going to do some weapons training and we wanted you to come with us." I shifted, biting my lip, but I nodded. They turned and started walking, and Piper stepped beside me. She said, "Hey, Marinette. I'm Piper, by the way." I smiled, and said, "You guys are members of the seven, right?"

Leo nodded, walking on my other side, "We're the most powerful demigods in existence." I nodded, and said, "Malcolm told me that much." Jason glanced over, from where he held Piper's hand, "We can tell you're more powerful than a normal child of Athena." I paused and said, hesitantly, "But, Annabeth's a child of Athena."

Percy laughed, glancing back at me, "And Annabeth's been doing this since she was seven. She's the smartest person in camp. You should tell us your story." I shrugged, and Percy said, offhandedly, "What's with the backpack?"

I stopped walking, making them all look back. I crossed my arms, "Annabeth, did you tell them?" I felt angry. I shouldn't have trusted her.

She widened her eyes and said, "I swore on the river Styx, Marinette. That means I wouldn't be standing here if I did." I shook my head, gesturing to them. I felt defensive now, hurt and angry, "Is this to interrogate me about my life and my secrets?"

Percy held up his hands, "Calm down, Marinette. No one's attacking you." I gripped my backpack straps, and I heard Wayzz whisper, "Shadow Moth." I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I didn't know if I could get akumatized here, but it was my job to set an example. I eventually looked up, turning on my cool and collected Ladybug personality, "Thanks for the offer to hang out with you guys, but I think I'm gonna go back to bed."

Leo raised an eyebrow, "How did you do that? One second you were angry and the next you're completely calm." I squeezed the straps and muttered, "Keep your cool. Keep your cool." I looked up and said, "I had to learn how to control my anger."

I turned and started walking back to the cabin. Piper ran in front of me and said, "Look, we get it. We're demigods too. We get the secrets and we get the trust issues. Trust us, Marinette, okay? We seriously mean you no harm."

Annabeth grabbed my hands, and looked in my eyes, "I get that you're trying to protect them, and I promise that I will help you protect them, okay? I can see that you need them and they need you. I'll protect this secret." She pointed to her friends, "I can vouch for them. They are the most trustworthy people you can ever meet."

I studied her eyes, and sighed, "Okay. I trust you, Annabeth. I'm sorry I overreacted. I'm just so used to running." I released her hands and Jason said, "So, you still want to come practice with weapons?" I nodded, and followed them up the hill.

When we walked into an arena, they all pulled out weapons. Seemingly out of nowhere. And Annabeth handed me a knife. She said, "Okay, let's train."