Chapter 14:

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Long A/N at the end of the story I'd like everyone to read.

Last time on: Heroes of the Thirteen Colonies

"Annabeth? Where are you?" She knew it was Thalia's voice. She turned around the corner and smiled. "Hey we're about to spar you better come around back." She said nodding behind her. I stood up and walked over to her. Together we walked to the back lot. "You okay?" She asked looking at me. I can tell she noticed my solemn mood.

"Yeah I am okay." I said and walked with her to where everyone was standing, weapons in hand.

~Percy~

I stepped outside and immediately went around to the back. I had just finished finalizing the route to Virginia with Malcolm. It was a lot easier today, and I think it had to do with Annabeth. Malcolm was a lot happier and not as grumpy. He's usually so lonely because nobody really talks or hangs out with him since he was the only child of Athena. I'm glad he and Annabeth are comfortable now, they both seem happier.

I turned the corner to the back and saw everyone was already sparring. Everyone was already in pairs, accept for Annabeth. She was sitting on the grass with her legs crossed, looking bored. I really wasn't all the surprised she wasn't sparring with anyone, or well they weren't sparring with her.

"Hey," I called out and she looked up at me. I walked over to her. "Why aren't you sparring?" She sighed and spun her knife in her hand.

"Nobody wants to spar with the British girl." She explained. "They are too scared I will hurt them or something." Now it was my turn to sigh. Okay so I totally *cough* knew it *cough* understood why they didn't want to spar with Annabeth. I mean she's the Annabeth Chase! I don't even want to spar with her. She's too good. But they should still take it and not wimp out.

"I'll spar with you." I offered before I could shut my mouth. What the heck brain? She's going to chop my arms off. Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You want to spar, with me?" She said slowly. I nodded.

"Sure." I pulled out riptide from my pocket. Annabeth's mouth opened slightly when she caught eye of it.

"Uh Percy...I do not think you can spar with a pen." She said her eyes confused. I smirked.

"Oh really?" I asked twirling riptide in my palm. Annabeth nodded, standing up and gripping her knife. "Well we'll see about that." I smirked, but before I could even uncap riptide Annabeth was already attacking me. She latched her foot behind my knees and I buckled over falling flat on my back. She pinned me to the ground, her hands gripping my wrist. I didn't even know what was going on before it was too late.

"Percy! I thought you would be better then that!" She scolded and I could feel my mouth was still gaping. I really needed to step up my game. How had she done that so fast? Coming out of my daze, I wrapped my right leg around Annabeth's left one and flipped us both over but her knife was at my throat.

"How did-" I started but she got her right leg and kicked me in the stomach. I flipped off her and she scurried up to stand and place her right foot on my chest, her knife pointed at me.

"What was that?" She asked smiling. Thank goodness I was toned or else my stomach would be hurting right now. I just stared at her amused face with my mouth open. I prayed a bug wouldn't fly in.

"How did you get your knife to my throat like that?" I asked in awe, her foot on my chest making it kind of hard to speak.

"You gotta be ready for everything." She replied, her face no longer smiling. She offered me her left hand to help me up. I grabbed her hand and quick as lightening pulled it down. But I suppose she was expecting it because she did a summersault and stood back up. "Like that." She said and proceeded to walk away, putting her knife back in her holster. What the hell just happened? Why was she walking away?

I scrambled to my feet and ran after her. I put riptide in my pocket, I didn't even uncap him anyways. I made it to Annabeth and reached for her hand. She tensed at the touch and quickly turned around her other hand in a fist, ready to punch whoever it was. When she noticed it was me the tenseness in her shoulders disappeared, but only slightly. Her face was guarded, her eyes glossy, but I didn't really notice.

"How did-how are uh..." I tied to speak but my mouth couldn't form real words.

"How am I so good?" She asked for me and I nodded. Her eyes turned dark. "The British have their own way of training Percy." She said her voice quiet. "Maybe I can show you one day." She whispered, her head down so I could barely heard her.

She slipped her hand out of my grasp and trudged back into the mansion. I knew she didn't want me to follow her, and I didn't. But I really wanted to. Something in the way she spoke made me think something was wrong. Like she was not okay, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. How did she go from happy and smiling, to sad and frowning so fast? What happened with the British that could make her go from one extreme to the next so quick. I just stood there staring at where she had been.

"Hey Percy!" I turned my head around and saw it was Jason. "Want to spar?" He shouted pointing his sword at me. I nodded slowly walking to the lawn, my mind was still on Annabeth.

I looked up and Jason looked back at me concerned. "You okay?" He asked. I wanted to tell him he shouldn't be asking me and that he should be asking Annabeth, but I just shook my head.

"Lets just spar."

~Annabeth~

I knew nobody would be inside so that is where I took my shelter. I ran inside as soon as I turned the corner and knew Percy would not follow me. I did not need him seeing me like this, or well anybody for that matter.

I sprinted through the door, shut it and I felt my knees buckle. I fell flat onto the slick floor. I tried standing up again, but I was too shaky, and I could not see through my tears. The nightmare last night was just coming back to me like a slap to the face as I sparred with Percy. I could not go crazy and actually hurt him. I needed to get out of there before I did something dumb.

I made it to the bottom of the steps and I tried to pull myself up, but I just could not. My arms fell limp at my side, feeling like noodles. My legs were wobbling and threatened to come out from under me if I even tried to stand. I could not move.

I curled into a ball and tried to stop the shaking. The scar had been reopened and all the memories were so fresh. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, in an attempted to stop the tears trying to fall.

FLASHBACK

"Come on Annabeth. I know you are better than that!" My training coach taunted. I knew that if I did not do the technique correct, I would be punished. Last time had been bad, so this time...

I shook the thoughts out of my head. I did not need to think about that right not, I needed to get this maneuver right. I pointed my knife to coach to signal I was ready. He pointed his sword at me and I clashed our weapons together. I quickly twisted my knife and brought it down, taking the sword with it. I looked down at the dirt ground. I had finally done it. I was too little too late however, because my couch punched me in the face. I stumbled backwards and hit the wooden wall, gripping my nose. He picked up my knife and next thing I know I was on the ground. My stomach was touching the floor and my coach was sitting on my back, cutting open the back of my dress with my knife. I knew what was coming, and I laid still. If I were to try to get away the punishment would be much worse.

I felt my knife run down my right shoulder. The blood trickling out. I only had nine today, the least amount I have had in a while. I felt as my couch made the slashes. He was keeping tally of all the times I had done the technique wrong. He kept the tally on my back, so I would always remember.

He cut the last one diagonally, threw my knife on the ground and sat up. "You are free to go." He said and grabbed his sword and sauntered out of the room.

I slowly sat up, the blood running down my back and pooling at my waste where my dress was. Today hurt less than usual but I still felt my tears growing. I slowly walked to the door and grabbed my knife from the floor.

I knew my jacket was somewhere near the door, but I could not see it in the dim light. I sunk to the floor and fumbled around for it. Finally I found its rough, wool fabric and I pulled it to me. I shook it on, careful not to touch my back and opened the door. I put on a straight face like I did everyday after practice and walked back to my dorm.

END OF FLASHBACK

After a few moments I finally found the strength to lug myself back my room. Just as I got to the top of the stairs I heard the front door open.

"Nice job today guys!" It was Percy. "I'm going to go get Annabeth so we can start packing." He said and I sprinted to my room. He did not need to see my like this. I shut my door quietly and locked it. I rushed to the door leading to the wash room and locked it to. Then I dived and hid under my bed, just incase. I heard the door nob jiggle and Percy's sigh. "Uh Annabeth? Are you okay?" He asked and I ignored him, praying he would just leave. After a few moments I heard his steps leading back down the hall and I came out from under the bed.

I went to the washroom door and unlocked it, stepping inside. I walked up to the mirror, leaving the door open and slowly took off my shirt. Then I undid my corset, but had my arms hold it in the front. I turned around so my back was facing the mirror and turned my head to look.

The hash marks lined my back, all the way from my shoulders to the small of my back. Line after line of them on display. Just looking at them made the memories come back more vivid than before. I had tried so long to push them out of my head and they were all coming back so fast. It was over whelming and stray tears trickled down my cheeks. I wiped them with my free hand. I was about to bend down to get my shirt when the washroom door knob started to turn. I heard myself squeak and I dove into my room, shirt in hand. I clawed my door shut and locked it, breathing heavily. That was too close, nobody could see me like that.

Whoever it was, they did not try to talk to me. I put my corset and shirt on. I stood up off the wood floor and took some deep breaths. I laid on my bed, over my covers and felt my eye lids droop. I did not realize how tired I was. I had not been having very good sleep lately and I was finally feeling how exhausted I was. I felt my eyes close and prayed the nightmares were spare me one nap. I had no such luck.

A/N: Hello there! Sorry this chapter was depressing and gruesome, but I wanted to get more of Annabeth's past. I honestly don't think the British did that but I really don't know. I made the couch very aggressive at Annabeth because the King knew Annabeth was special and he needed to keep her in her place. To do that he had the most aggressive coach he had and had him punish Annabeth so she would follow their order. Sorry if it didn't make sense, but I figured I would just clear it up in the A/N. If you have any other questions feel free to ask me.

Also if you noticed I changed the rating from teen to mature, that's because of her flashback moment. I'm not going to have anything sexual in this story. I ruled that out when I posted the first chapter. I just changed the rating to be safe. I wanted to make sure everyone knew my reasoning before continuing with the story. Thanks for reading!

Also the next chapter is going to be very Percabethy.

Till next time,

-lunch1380