The Heart of Camilo (A Camilo Madrigal x Reader Fem Y/N Story)

Sacrifice

*Y/N*

I knew what she wanted me to do. The candle was out. The only way to get magic now was by forcing a love sacrifice, just like they had explained to us that day under the waterfall, and hope the magic that came from that was enough to fix Diego. She had taken Camilo, knowing I would do anything to make sure he was safe. I looked down at Diego, who was still standing behind me, cowering. A strange sense of calm came over me. It was almost over. 

"Do it or I'll kill him," Gabriella yelled again. "I am out of patience with you. And if you refuse and try anything, his life is worthless now, anyway. I'll kill him and the rest of them after."

"How will Diego get the magic after I ... afterwards?" I asked her, tears pouring silently down my face.

"Hold Diego's hand and let me know when you're ready. He'll syphon it out of you when the sacrifice triggers it."

Diego whimpered behind me. I turned and knelt down beside him. "It's okay," I whispered. "You'll take the pure magic from me - it will fix you, I know it will. I promised I would help you, right? Whenever you can, get away from them, little brother. Stay with them as long as you need to survive, but run when you can. You aren't going to end up like them." He looked terrified, but swallowed hard, nodding. "I love you," I whispered to him finally before standing back up.

I turned back to face Gabriella. Camilo was still struggling against Javier's grip, confusion and fear painted across his face.

"Can I ... say goodbye?" I asked Gabriella desperately. "I'm your daughter, please, just let me say goodbye to him."

Her eyes narrowed, but shockingly, she nodded. "You have ten seconds." 

Javier released Camilo and Camilo stumbled forward, barely believing it, before getting his balance and running towards me. I ran to meet him and he grabbed me and pulled me to him in a desperate hug, before pulling back and holding my face in my hands, panic in his eyes as he searched my face. "Y/N, what the hell are you guys talking about? What's happening? Please, please..."

"I have to, Camilo, or she'll kill you," I begged him desperately. "Please, please, just look at me."

"No!" he yelled. "I'm not letting this happen, I'm not - NO!" Javier had appeared behind him again, and began dragging him back away from me towards Gabriella again. I reached out for his hand and caught it for a second until it was ripped away as Javier hauled him backwards. Camilo was going ballistic, thrashing around, yelling in rage and fear, terrified eyes still on me. Frustrated, Gabriella reached out and grabbed him by the arm.

"No!" I screamed, but she had lit her hands and burned his arm where she had grabbed him. Camilo let out an unearthly scream as he grabbed his arm, collapsing to the ground.

I lit my hands. "You said you wouldn't hurt him!" I screamed.

"Get on with it, then!" she yelled back. She extinguished the flames and reached down and grabbed him around the throat, pulling him until he was sitting upright in front of her, facing me. "Last chance."

His eyes were desperate, the burn angry on his arm, a bruise blooming on his face from where Javier had hit him earlier. There was so much I wanted to say, and no time to say anything. I just hoped that he knew. I mouthed 'I'm sorry' to him. He shook his head, struggling as much as he could against Gabriella's hand on his throat. His eyes were pleading with me and I wanted nothing more than to give in, give up, run to him, but I couldn't. All she had to do was light her hands and he was dead, and I knew her patience was gone. I thought back to the first time I had ever seen him - how I had waved to him as he left that day not knowing who had walked into my life, how lucky I had been, and so grateful for everything that had happened in-between then and now. 'I love you,' I mouthed to him, tears pouring down my face. He thrashed more, his eyes unbelieving and desperate, and I knew I couldn't push Gabriella any further. I let out a sob, extinguishing my fire, letting her know I was ready.

"Okay, do it!" I screamed. "Just don't hurt him anymore!" I reached out and grabbed Diego's hand, closing my eyes as I watched the fire coming towards me. Everything slowed down and I closed my eyes tight - I was at the river, not here. I was with Camilo, in his arms, not watching him scream as he realized what was happening. I was dancing with him, feeling his arms around me, looking up at him and seeing him smile down at me. Life is simple, love is simple, we are together. He smiles at me. He pushes the hair out of my face. He pushes his forehead to mine. He holds me tight and I know I am safe forever with him. I stayed with him until I felt the heat hit me and everything went black.