Almost At The Top- Book Four in the United Series

Chapter Twenty One

Max's POV:

"Max, please don't go. I know Leo's in trouble, but-" Percy starts but I immediately cut him off.

"Leo is in trouble, Percy. I have to help him," I reply then take one step towards the skimmer until someone calls out to me.

"Max! Stop!" A familiar warm voice calls to me. I look in the direction of the voice and see Leo running towards me. His hair is even more messy than usual and there are scratches and bruises running up his arms and on his face.

"Leo." I breathe, then run towards him as well. We collide together, hugging each other right away. I rest my forehead on his shoulder, so glad that he's okay.

"Leo, I thought Octavian had you, I thought they-" I being to rant but Leo cuts me off.

"They did have me, Max. I set all those losers on fire and ran. I knew they were going to use me as bait to get to you and I couldn't let that happen," Leo explains, hugging me tighter, and I smile into his shoulder.

"Max?" I hear someone else call to me in a heartbroken tone. I look at whoever called to me and my smile fades as I see John, staring with heartbroken eyes as I'm hugging Leo and burying my head into his shoulder.

"John, it's not what it looks like, I swear," I promise John, taking a step closer to him. I softly grab his hand, waiting for him to pull away or start walking away from me.

John is silent for a few seconds before looking me in the eye and giving me a warm yet sad smile.

"I know you'd never do that, Max," John replies then hugs me tightly. I hear Leo give a small and short gasp as I hug John back and give him a kiss on the cheek. I know Leo still loves me, but I unfortunately can't do anything about that.

"I-I'll go now..." Leo says to John and I. I can tell he tried to say it in a cheerful and teasing tone, but it comes out heartbroken and sad instead, and that breaks my heart. I can't believe Leo still loves me after all this time, and not to mention that he has Calypso. I have a feeling he would choose her over me any day.

"I love you, Max," John tells me and I know he's trying to sound loving, but he says it in an almost blunt way. I know he loves me as well, since he was able to wear off the love potion Ivan put me under by kissing me, but what does he feel now? Does he love me because I'm myself, or does he love me because I'm Eliza?

Gods, I can't go through any more of this love drama. I just want to fight and win this war and make sure none of my family or friends get hurt or lost.

That's when I remember someone that I haven't heard of in a very long time. One is still missing. Her Cêpan, Hilde, is here, but she's still gone, and we don't have any clue of where to look.

And that, of course, is where the one and only Malcolm Goode comes in. He has a tracking device that can locate every single one of the living Garde, even Ella. I can tell from my scar-free ankle that One is still alive, and we're going to find her. I just need a team, maybe two other people, to help me find her. Quests are usually done by three people, which Percy told me. I need two other people and I'm going to find One and bring her back here safe and sound, back to her Cêpan, even if it's the last thing I do. Again.

Still holding onto John, I look around at the surrounding battle and it's almost over, thankfully. There are only a few more Mogs left so I take out my dagger again and we all start taking them down one by one.

That's when I hear it. One gunshot and John freezes up. I look towards him and automatically see the bullet in his chest. He almost falls back but I quickly catch him and softly lay him down the ground. He breathes heavily and by the look on his face, he's in pain.

"John, John, it's okay. You'll be fine," I promise as I lightly press my hands against John's bullet wound. The cold tingling in my fingers proves that my new legacy is working. Before I know it, John's bullet wound is gone, just leaving a small blood stain on his shirt. He looks back up at me with fascination and confusion in his eyes. The regular tan color comes back to his face and he breathes normally again, which is a huge relief.

"Max you...you have a new legacy?" John asks me with wonderment in his voice. I smile at him, brush some hair out of his eyes like what I did to Leo earlier, then lean over and kiss him and he automatically kisses me back. We stay like that for a few seconds and I'm highly aware of someone watching us.

"Okay then..." A familiar voice calls out. I break apart from John and look in the direction of the voice. Percy's staring at us, kind of glaring at John, but looking overall surprised. John chuckles nervously.

"H-Hey, Percy. Um, I was just-" John stutters but I cut him off as I softly grab his warm hand.

"Don't worry, Perce. I kissed him first," I explain. Percy still looks surprised and suspicious, and I don't blame him. If I saw my little sister making out with a guy I barely knew on the ground, I'd be pretty surprised, too.

"Okay. Well, the battle's over if you want to get off the floor now," Percy informs us and walks away, still giving John a few warning glances as he walks to Annabeth. Annabeth laughs at us as John and I get to our feet. I smile at her and my eyes soon land on Reyna and Clarisse, talking to a sad-looking Hilde. Probably comforting her about her missing Garde, One. A light bulb flickers in my head. I can find One, but I need a team.

I think I just found my team.

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