A Soul On Fire ~Leo Valdez Love Story

I Do Something Incredibly Stupid

Annabeth and I charged into battle against the Chimera. Percy was doing good, mostly talking it up, while I sneaked around back. Echidna was near Alex, who was sweating from the force-field power. Annabeth helped Percy distract Chimera, dagger ready. I had an idea, but it was a long shot. I needed the snake's poison, and I didn't partically know how to get it without dying in the process.

I was noting it's every move, trying to figure out what it was going to do. The lion part was roaring and trying to disintegrate Percy and Annabeth at this time. The snake head was hanging back, but that seemed odd. It's head was toward Percy, fangs bared. Fang's bared. Oh boy. It was going to bite Percy.

And Percy was not helping his case by insulting it. Annabeth seemed to be thinking the same thing, noticing the snake head too. She looked at me, and I nodded. We needed to think of something fast, or Percy was dead meat. The snake had had enough. It lunged at Percy, who didn't know it was coming.

"No!" I screamed. "Percy, look out!" And with that, I jumped on the Chimera's back. The snake head looked at me and snapped at my shoulder. I moved out of the way and stabbed it's blood-caked fur. This made it more mad. I did not think this through. I could hear Echidna cackling with delight. The snake tried to bite me again, and I moved right before it could get me. Two times it bite itself, which was very good. Third times a charm, hopefully. It tried to bite again. Unfortunately, it was successful. It sank it's poisonous teeth right below my shoulder.

I screamed in pain, but clung on. The teeth stayed in the position, making more acidic poison pump through my blood. I was screaming, and I could hear Percy and Annabeth yelling. But they couldn't help. The lion kept them busy. I needed to get it out. Now. Or else I will be the Chimera's lunch. So, I did something completely gross.

I grabbed the snake's tooth, and yanked on it. I yelped in pain, taking it's fangs out of my arm. But I kept my grip firm on the tooth. That was very hard to do. My arm was burning and I knew I wouldn't survive this. But I had to. For Alex. I ripped the fang out, and took my dagger in my good hand, and cut the snake's head off. Disgusting, I know. But it had to be done. I took the snake's tooth and crawled drowsily up the lion's back. I got to the head and stabbed it with the tooth. It bucked me off, slamming me into the wall. Very hard. I was slipping into unconsciousness but I fought it.

I struggled to my feet, seeing Chimera was dust. I killed it. i really killed it. I smiled warily and saw Annabeth and Percy running to me. I couldn't feel my arm. It was burning like hell and I had to stop it. But the sight I saw made me forget about it. Alex fell to the ground, sweat on his forehead. Lily was shaking him to get up, but he didn't. Echidna was laughing, getting ready to kill him.

"Alex!" I screamed, shoving off Annabeth and Percy, bolting to him. I ran in front of Echidna and Alex, holding up my arm in front of my face, head turned. Echidna bit my arm, adding to the pain. My consciousness was falling short, but I needed to stay strong.

"You foolish Demi-God. It is time for you to come to an end in life" she cackled. Then I braced myself for the final blow.