(A Promise Meant To Break) Leo Valdez X Reader

Chapter 12 Leo

I hate to say that I was not proud in the following moments. 

A scream left my lips as both (Y/n), and I jumped back from the smiling face. My whole body ignited as the sound pushed past my lips into the open air. 

(Y/n) stumbled and hit the floor, landing with her back pressed against my leg. Her foot sprang out, and she kicked the head further into the darkness.

"Whoa there! Could you stop screaming?" The head yelled, and both of us shut up almost instantly. 

"You'd do good to turn that down, too," It squinted, and I reluctantly let the fire spread to only my hand.

(Y/n) was the first to shake off the shock; she drew her sword before her. She hesitantly walked into the shadows with me close behind, then pointed it at the glistening head. 

"Who are you, why are you in our cavern, and what do you want!?" she hissed. 

The head rolled his eyes.

"As I've already stated, my name is Liam. This is my cavern child, and I want my body back! So if you'll graciously put me back, I would appreciate it." 

He spit, looking past us at the glistening body. 

I stepped beside (Y/n), "We want answers first. Then we'll see how gracious we are feeling." 

She turned and nodded at me and my statement. 

"I don't have to tell you anything."

I smiled. 

"Need I remind you who has the sword pointed at their malleable face?"

I thought I saw a hint of fear flash across his glistening eyes. Liam sighed.

"It's a deal then, info in exchange for my body. What do you want to know?"

"What is this place-" I started, but (Y/n) cut me off.

"What is with the fountain?" She quizzed and squinted at Liam, "One minute there's water in it, the next there's not. Explain."

He rolled his eyes, and a grin spread across his face.

"Are you sure, Miss? I can't say anything unless you give me permission." I looked between (Y/n) and Liam, the flames reflecting off their faces in the darkness. 

Why would this hunk of metal need her permission? 

"Why do you-?"

"I give you permission, Liam; now answer the question." 

Her golden eyes looked like molten honey as she focused on his words.

"To answer the boy's question first, this is one of the old shrines of the Primordial Goddess Achelois. It has been engulfed in the labyrinth for centuries and forgotten-"

"Achelois? I've heard that name somewhere before." I interrupted, remembering Annabeth mentioning, "She was the goddess of the earth's moon, right?" 

There had been something else, though. Something else to the goddesses' powers, something I couldn't remember. 

"I thought that was Selene and then Artemis. Wasn't Achelois a Muses before she became a minor goddess or something?"Liam scoffed at (Y/n)'s comment.

"Of course, that's how they'd portray my lady. Everyone always overlooked my master. She was a powerful Primordial. She did more than that Selene woman ever did. She even had the moon before that child Artemis; you, of all people, should know that!" 

He spit the words in (Y/n)'s direction. The comment caught her off guard, and she pushed the blade closer to what was left of his throat.

"What has this got to do with the fountain?" She asked before I could."Miss, why did you fall into the fountain?" 

I watched (Y/n)'s cheeks basically pulsate red.

"I couldn't see where I was going." She admitted, not taking her eyes off Liam's face. 

"And why was that?" 

The red was spreading across her face now.

"Are you trying to embarrass-"

"Just answer the question." He barked, and (Y/n) squinted her gold pupils at him as she bit her cheek.

"Because Leo's fire went out, and it was dark. Oh Gods-"

Something clicked for her, and I watched Liam share his smile. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling like I was out on an inside joke. 

She turned towards me, and her eyes fell to the flame in my hand. 

"Leo, this is the shrine of a moon goddess." I blinked. Liam had just said that maybe the isolation was messing with her.

"So?"

"So, everything here only works in darkness. Like the sky!" She turned to Liam, grinning, to see if she was right.

"I knew you were a smart one, Miss." He chirped, and she blushed, "You're right. Everything in this shrine is functional only under the cover of darkness. Even better if there's some moonlight, but seeing as we're underground, I doubt that will happen."

My stomach churned. 

I couldn't. 

No. 

There was no way. It was the only thing I had left of her. But (Y/n) and I needed it.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out the folded piece of linen. My hand shook as I unfolded the cloth, revealing the small, five-petaled silvery flower.

"Will this work?" I asked, tilting it toward Liam. 

He smiled. 

"Ah, moonlace. It's so delicate and sweet. Where'd you manage to get that?" my cheeks burned, and I cast a look at (Y/n). 

Her skin was glowing silvery, more than mine or Liam's reflective face. 

"Uh, I found it in the forest," I muttered. 

Liam didn't look convinced, but as his eyes met the flower, he smiled again.

"Place the flower on the top of the fountain." I broke off a splintered piece from one of the crates and handed the burning torch to (Y/n). I nodded and reached the bottom of the large stone fountain. Then, I began climbing my way to the top. 

"You'll catch me if I fall right, Cariño?" I teased. 

(Y/n) rolled her eyes at me, and I smirked. Suddenly, my left hand slipped, and I heard shuffling beneath me. I looked down and spotted (Y/n) looking up. I re-adjusted my grip and kept climbing. 

Finally, I hoisted the flower onto the top of the vase-shaped fountain. I laid the cloth down, folding the edges smoothly, and then I jumped down and landed on my feet.

I grabbed the torch from (Y/n), and Liam nodded. 

Then, together, we blew out the light.

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Hello, my Gumdrops! 

Ever heard of Achelois before?

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- Thesourgummyworm <3