Bring It On, Valdez (Leo Valdez x Reader)

Chapter 22.

"(Y/N)!  Don't do anything stupid!"  Cassidy demanded.  

"I was expecting this," the ice goddess sighed.  "But you might not want to get on the bad side of the only person who knows how to cure your sister." 

All five of your heads snapped up.  

The rage still bubbled inside of you, but was subsiding for the time being.  

"There's gotta be a catch to this," you mumbled. 

"Oh, I wouldn't call it a catch," Khione drawled out.  "More of a bargain, really." 

"What the hell is it?" Nico grumbled with barred teeth, still sitting at Nikki's side.  

Khione smirked, looking towards you. 

"You, (F/N) (L/N)." 

Leo jumped up. 

"Your not going to so much as breathe in her direction," he said dangerously calmly. 

"(Y/N) is a powerful demigod.  I could use a minion with such power.  Maybe I'd even gain more respect," Khione said, tapping her chin with her index finger in false thought.  "A demigod for a demigod.  I thought that was fair." 

Your head was hurting from the thoughts spinning inside of it like a cyclone.  To sacrifice yourself for Nikki's life.  It had to be done.  But there was no way that Leo was going to let you go through with that, even for his best friend.  He would try to save both of you in any possible way. 

But this was the only possible way. 

You turned your (weapon of choice) back into your charm bracelet, replacing it on your wrist.  Leo looked at you in pure horror.  

"You can't be..." He trailed off, eyes filling with tears. 

You gave him a sweet kiss on the lips, his warm ones hitting your chapped ones.  You only lingered for so long.  Another second and he would've grabbed you and made sure you didn't go towards Khione. 

"Fine," you whispered, defeated.  

"(Y/N)! Don't you dare!" Jake yelled at you.  He held his whip so tight, his knuckles were completely white.  Leo stared after you in horror, shock not letting him move.  Tears ran down his cheeks as he stared at you, wide-eyed. 

"Excellent choice," Khione said to you, patting your back.  You jerked away and she only shrugged, probably expecting the cold shoulder.  

(A/N: *Ba dum tiss*) 

She snapped her fingers and the wind spirits immediately grabbed your arms; roughly, might I add.  They held you in place, preventing any form of escape as you panted in anger-and fear. 

Her white gown trailed behind her as she approached Nikki, making Nico hold her closer.  Jake took a step forward, being the overprotective brother that he was.  

Khione only rolled her eyes, tapping Nikki's right leg with two fingers, and chanting what sounded like a spell. 

The frost started to dissipate on Nikki's body, her normal pale, not the deathly-popsicle-type pale she was, returning.  The patterns disappeared, lifting into the air, then evaporating quickly.  

Nikki started to blink. 

"Nik?" Jake fell to his knees at her side, holding one of her arms.  She blinked several times before taking a deep breath.  

"Sup?" She asked, her voice weak.  It broke your heart. 

But even when saved from a millisecond from death, Nikki is still Nikki. 

Well, except for the eye. 

The ice and frost may have disappeared, but that doesn't meant it didn't leave a mark.  Her entire right eye's iris was discolored, the usual hazel completely drained out of it.  All the color that was left was a pale blue, almost blending in with the sclera. 

She looked up at Cassidy. 

"When the fuck did you get here?" She inquired casually.  

"Just in time to save your ass," her sister commented. 

"Well, I love cute little family reunions, but I'm afraid that my minion and I have work to do.  If you'll excuse us," Khione announced turning towards an archway across the room.  The spirits holding you captive turned to follow their mistress.  This was it.  You heard the distressed yells of Leo, who was being held back by another wind spirit, along with the others.  You were about to accept your fate. 

Not before a shot rang out. 

You dropped to the floor, landing on your feet swiftly.  

One of the wind spirits holding you was...shot? 

And was now a pile of gold powder. 

You looked to your companions. 

Nikki was still lying on the ground, pretty weak from the "almost-frozen-to-death" thing.  She had one hand raised toward the spirit's remains, and in that hand was a silver pistol.  She then aimed it at the next one, who tried to advance toward you. 

"Do NOT touch my sister." 

Bulls-eye. 

"What?!"  Khione spat.  "This is not what was bargained!" 

Leo ran up to you, standing in front of you protectively.  "Yeah, we may have crossed our fingers," he said with a smirk.  

Khione's expression was filled with rage.  She let out a shrill shriek, sending icicles the size of javelins out toward you all.  Leo quickly smashed one that was heading straight for you into pieces. 

You whipped your head around as the icicles approached your friends. Everything was happening so fast, and snow was billowing into the air like clouds.

Most were successfully dodged. 

But one was heading straight for Nikki, who was too weak to move. 

"NO!" You hear a yell as someone jumps in front of the oncoming projectile.  The person takes the full blow, getting impaled in the chest.  Screams echo throughout the cavern, scaring you out of your wits. 

And when the hectic scene died down, one person lay motionless on the floor.