Demons And Angels

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Annabeth walked out of her bedroom, knowing the sun was barely up outside. Her black tanktop and jeans let the scars on her arms show. Different parts of slightly discolored skin, raised as if burned, littered her body.

The scars of past runes she had used.

Badges of honnor.

Her blonde curls were still up in a high ponytail, grey eyes still dissecting everything she saw.

Her footsteps were near silent, even as she wore combat boots with a two-inch heels. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and her chin was raised. Ever the proud warrior.

Only a few others were scrurring around as she made her way to the main hall. The training room was almost completely empty, except the for the man from last night.

He looked to be around her age, about seventeen. It was hard to tell. His hard jaw line had a clean shaven look he had not had last night. It made him look younger, but the broad shoulders made it clear he wasn't a kid.

She took in the other things about him.

His jet black hair was messy, as if someone had been running their hands through it all night. Green eyes, the color of the sea, gleamed with delight as he kicked and punched the dummie. He had his hands wrapped up, feet bare, and black sweatpants hung low on his hips.

Annabeth didn't let her eyes go lower than his neck before walking in and letting her hand trace the different weponds on the rack. She was always a dagger girl, quickly finding the dulled blades and twirling them in her hands.

Percy hadn't stopped his training, but had glanced her way a few times.

He grinned, placed his hand on his hips, and eyed her up and down. "So, what's your deal? Why'd you switch Institutions?" His voice was as deep as it had been yesterday, and he wasn't even slightly out of breath. Guessing by the sweat gleaming on his skin, he had been at it a while already.

"I felt like it." Annabeth shrugged, circling the black haired boy.

"Fair enough." Percy mused. His arms crossed over his toned chest, scars of different runes flickering with the movement. The angelic power rune was right over his heart, hers was in the same place, peeking out from under her tank top. "Why is it the people here seem to be pissing themselves over the thought of you here?" There wasn't judgement in the words, just amusement.

"Because, at my old Institute, I was one of the best fighters. In fact out of all of California." She shrugged, the movement graceful but carefully made. "Why do they seem so scared of you?" Her grey eyes locked onto his green ones.

"Because I'm one of the best out here in New York." His long lashes framed his eyes, his smirk turned midnight soft. "Daggers?" Annabeth nodded. "Then I'll use this." A wave of his hand and his dark metal sword was spinning in his hand.

"One." Annabeth started, both daggers angled to the floor.

"Two." Percy purred back, his feet braced but sword hanging limp in his hand.

"Three." They both breathed together.

As they unleashed themselves, a crowd gathered. To watch the clashing blades, metal sparking, the swiftness of each duck and doge. How perfectly they flowed together in battle. That kind of . . . skill, was overwhelming.

The fight didn't end, no it kept going.

When one slashed, the other parried. When one seemed to get the upper hand, they were knocked back down.

Until both pulled back, panting, sweat gleaming, and exhausted. Their eyes were filled with a light of finding a match for skill. For whit, for everything they were. Percy grinned and let his sword vanish. Annabeth threw the daggers back to their rightful place.

"Well done." Came the voice of Hodge, one of the trainers of this Institute. His grey hair and tweed jacket gave the look of a librarian. However, Percy knew that the man could handle himself just fine. "Welcome to our Institute, Annabeth."

"It's a pleasure." The blonde flicked her hair back over her shoulder. The grin was gone from her face, only cool calculation and bored amusement.

Percy started to unwrap his hands, padding over to where his water bottle was lying on the floor. He laid a towel over his neck, before wiping at his face and smirking back over at Annabeth. She had used the minute of reprieve to drink from her own water.

"You're good." The words were a bit taunting, just begging her to say she was more. Because she bet that he had not found anyone able to give him back everything he gave them. Further, she was betting, he knew she hadn't either.

So she sighed, facing him with crossed arms. "Not too bad yourself." She rolled her eyes, playing not interested, bored. "Say, what can a girl do with herself out here in the Big Apple?" Percy grinned, also crossing his arms. The crowd had long disbanded, but Annabeth still felt eyes on her.

The Shadowhunter in front of her stepped a little closer, leaning down to look her in the eyes. "Depends on what you're into." She had no idea what she was doing, why was it so easy to . . . play with this man? She could never do that with others, let them under her skin so much that she taunted back. It was new, and surely dangerous, but something in her blood heated.

Begging her to play along.

Annabeth guessed she could, it's not like it meant much. A distraction from the mess that was her mind these days.

"I'm into a little bit of everything. What has this city got?" Her voice was low, quiet as his had become.

Percy placed his hands back on his hips, smirk still in place. "Werewolves, Vampires, Demons, clubs with all three. You up for a little mission?"

Annabeth let her hips sway as she swaggered to the door. "You know a girl can't resist an offer like that." She left the boy in the training room and headed back to her rooms.