ankles probably had a few bits of jewelry wrapped around
them as well.
Helen, this is my aunt Pandora. Dora, this is . . . Ariadne
rapped her fingertips on the bedspread like a drumroll. The famous
Helen Hamilton!
Ta-da, Helen replied weakly. Pandora sat down on the end of
the bed.
Gorge-ous! I can see why shes got Lukes panties in a twist, she
said with a cheeky grin.
No! Thats all done with! We havent heard the Furies since we
woke up on the beach, Helen said urgently. When Pandora gave
her a quizzical look, Helen felt like she had to keep going. I dont
want to kill any of you anymore. Just to be clear.
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Well, good, cuz I hear youve got quite the arsenal, Pandora
said as if she was giving a big compliment. Helen had no idea what
she was talking about so she changed the subject.
How is Lucas? she asked cautiously, still surprised that she
could say his name without being launched into a fit of anger. Pandora
and Ariadne glanced at each other.
Hell be okay, Pandora said firmly. She shook her wrists and
sent her bangles into a cascade of sparkles and jingles, almost as if
she believed the cheerful sound would banish all dark thoughts.
It was close, but hes healing, Ariadne added with an optimistic
face. Helen couldnt look at either of them. The tense moment was
broken by a glugging sound in Helens stomach, which lasted for
an inordinately long time.
Well, youre hungry, Pandora said drily. And I think you might
be able to come downstairs with some help.
Helen was outfitted with a long terry-cloth bathrobe, which bore
the logo of a popular Spanish soccer team, from Ariadnes closet.
Then, with a few more jokes about how Helen could use a little fattening
up, she was carried downstairs by her two new patronesses.
When they reached the kitchen, they were greeted with a heavenly
scent blossoming off of the stove, and Helens stomach
growled again. Hector heard the noise and cocked an eyebrow as
she was deposited gently in a chair at the kitchen table. He said
something to the woman who was orchestrating dinner, and she
spun around to look at Helen.
I didnt think youd be joining us, the woman said with a
startled face. Im so glad.
Thank you. And thank you again for the stuff you sent my father
and me, Helen said. She knew immediately that this was Noel
Delos, and she could also tell that Noel was a normal woman
without an ounce of demigod strength. A big, bubbling pot of guilt
boiled over in Helens chest. She had threatened this fragile human
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in a family of superheroesthreatened her to her son and her
nephews, no less. Noel smiled knowingly at Helens penitent face.
Youre very welcome. Now, first things first. How do I contact
your father to let him know youre okay?
Id rather keep my dad out of this, Helen replied nervously.
Youve been gone all night and all day. Dont you think hell be
worried?
Hes in Boston for the weekend. He wont be back until tomorrow
night.
All right, its up to you, but I want you to know I think it would
be better if you and your father had a long talk about all this, Noel
said with piercing eyes. Then she whirled around and got busy with
dinner. Helen had the feeling that she may have been granted a
stay of execution, but she wasnt pardoned yet. Are you ready to
eat now? Noel asked, buzzing around.
I dont think Ive ever been this hungry, Helen replied
truthfully.
Its the heal, Noel said, smiling at some internal thought as she
laid down bread, salt, and oil in front of Helen. She poured a tall
glass of milk before gesturing impatiently. Eat. This isnt the time
to be shy, Helen. You need it.
Helen ripped into the bread like a medieval glutton with low
blood sugar. Noel smiled again and asked Hector to go get some
hard cheese out of the fridge. He grudgingly did as he was told. As
he put the cheese down he made a joke about being scared to get
his fingers too close to Helens mouth.
Youre one to talk, Pandora grumbled. Just two weeks ago I
had to count the silverware after every meal to make sure you
hadnt swallowed any of it.
You were healing two weeks ago? Helen asked, and then remembered
that Hector and Pandora had arrived later than the rest
of the family.
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So much had happened in just a few weeks that Helen felt like
every day had telescoped out into a week in itself. As she marveled
at how much her life had changed, she noticed that a silence had
fallen over the kitchen. Apparently, Helen had stumbled on to a
touchy subject because everyone was exchanging nervous glances
over her head.
Sorry. I dont mean to intrude, Helen amended quickly.
No, its fine. Its just that Hectors recent heal is part of
something much bigger, Noel said. Right now, you eat.
At first she felt the lingering reticence of a new guest, but as soon
as the lentil stew was put down in front of her, Helens whole being
was lost in a flavor blur. She was vaguely aware of other people
pulling up chairs or standing around by the stove while they tasted
this or that, got themselves a plate, or just hung out to talk, but she
was far too focused on the ever-changing dishes in front of her to
pick individuals out of the crowd. Noel kept the food coming. A few
times, Helen was aware of Cassandra shuttling trays up and down
the stairs, but it didnt sink in that those were for Lucas until Helen
was falling asleep over something sweet and nutty made out of
dough.
Ready for ice cream? Noel asked her, absentmindedly pushing
a thick swath of Helens long hair behind her shoulder so it didnt
fall into her food.
I think Ive gone blind, Helen replied, unable to chew or swallow
or see straight anymore.
Finally, Noel sighed as she sank into a chair across the table
from Helen. She looked as tired as Helen felt. Jason? Do you think
you could take her up?
Sure, Jason replied, and scooped Helen out of her chair. She
was suddenly very awake.
I can walk! Really, you dont have to carry me, she said,
squirming in his arms.
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Sure you can. Now hold still or Ill drop you, he replied with a
good-natured smile. She had no choice but to relax and let him
carry her.
When they got upstairs, Cassandra came through one of the
many doors, holding a tray stacked to overflowing with dirty
dishes, and Helen got a brief glimpse of Lucas lying in bed. She
tensed and tried to crane her head around Jasons shoulders to get
a better look, but Cassandra shut the door.
Is he really going to be all right? Helen asked Jason as he
brought her into the guest room.
Yeah, Jason said, but he didnt meet her eyes when he said it.
He forced an uncomfortable laugh. Lukes just milking it to get
Cass to pamper him. Hell be fine, he said. He laid her down and
turned to go.
Im really sorry, Helen called out as Jason reached the door. He
stopped uncertainly and turned to listen as Helen unburdened herself
with increasing emotion. I was so scared and I was running
away into the fog and then I felt really light and really cold. When I
looked down and realized that I was flying, I fainted. I always knew
I was strange, that there was something wrong with me, but I
didnt know . . . Helen trailed off. Jason came back to her bedside
and touched her shoulder.
Nobody blames you, he said, but Helen waved a dismissive
hand.
Yeah, you do. You all do. Because I started this when I attacked
Lucas in the hallway at school.
You didnt start this, Jason replied forcefully. This war started
thousands of years ago. Helen gave him a confused look, but he
shook his head before she could ask any questions. Get some
sleep, and dont worry about Lucas. Even compared to other Sons
of Apollo, hes really tough. Jason switched off the light on his way
out, but left the door open a tiny crack in case she needed to call
out for help in the middle of the night.
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Helen snuggled into the down comforter and tried to relax, but
she was jittery with exhaustion and overwhelmed with the strangeness
of the room and the house. And the flying. She could
flythere was no denying it now. She wasnt just a gifted athlete
with paranoid notions about possibly being some kind of genetic
experiment. She could frigging fly, which is aerodynamically impossible
for a Homo sapiens, so she had to be something else. Something
other than human.
The only explanation was what Lucas had said, but that didnt
make much sense, either. The Greek gods were myths, anthropomorphic
manifestations of powerful natural forces, not historical
figures with actual descendantsor so shed been taught in eighth
grade. But now she wasnt so sure. She thought of how it felt to fly,
how the air had become solida malleable objectand she knew
that the argument was over in her heart. Somehow, she was a
demigod, and she was just going to have to accept it.
In the early morning hours, Helen woke up with a start and
looked around at the dark, unfamiliar room. She had been dreaming
about flying, which was great, until she realized she had no
idea how to land. Her first waking thought was that she would have
to get Lucas to teach her. Then it occurred to her he might never be
able to fly again.
Despite what his family said about him being fine, Helen knew
she wouldnt be able to go back to sleep without checking for herself.
She needed to see his face tanned and normal, not white and
scared as it was when they were in the dry lands together.
She touched her feet to the floor and tested them, applying more
pressure until she was sure she could stand, and then made her
wobbly way down the hall to Lucass room. She had never had shin
splints, had never had any kind of sports injury at all, but as she
crept along she imagined that what she was feeling had to be similar,
if not much, much worse. Her muscles wouldnt stretch as far as
usual; her joints felt swollen and hot. By the time she silently
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pushed Lucass door open she was covered in a thin, sickly sweat.
Lying on his back and staring at the moon in the window, Lucas
spun his head to look at Helen as she appeared in the doorway. A
moment passed.
Hi, he whispered.
Hi, she whispered back. May I come in?
Yeah. But quietly. He gestured to Cassandra asleep on a couch
on the other side of the room. She was awake for two days
straight.
Helen made her way into the room, crouching like an old woman
and wincing at the pressure on her feet. She felt like some ridiculous
fairytale hag and she started laughing silently at the thought
of chasing kids off her gingerbread lawn.
You shouldnt have come on your own. Youve worn yourself
out, Lucas admonished her gently.
I was fine a second ago, but it was farther than I thought. Your
house is huge, Helen whispered, aiming her creaky body at the
chair next to his bed.
You wont be able to sit up long. Here, he said as he pulled back
his covers. Youd better lie down.
Helen looked uncertainly at his bed. She had spent all of last
night melded to him, but now it was different somehow. If she lay
down with him it would be a choice. She saw him smirking up at
her, and realized he thought she was being silly. Which she was,
because her knees were shaking with the effort to hold her up. She
tried to sit down as carefully as she could so as not to disturb him,
but at the last moment her legs gave out and she pretty much
flopped into bed with him.
Sorry, she whispered as she gathered the covers over them.
Its okay. Careful of your toesmy legs are splinted, he warned
her. Helen peeked under the covers and saw that his lower body
was wrapped in soft casts. See? Youre completely safe with me.
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He grinned at her in the dark and she grinned back, until the reason
for her draining trek came back to her. Her smile faded.
How bad is it? Can you even tell right now? she asked him seriously.
into his face and scan him for any well-intentioned lies. Even
in the low moonlight dribbling through the casement she could see
the intense jewel blue of his eyes.
Ill mend, he said so softly his lips hardly moved.
Completely? Will you still . . . you know . . . walk and run and . . .
fly and all that?
Yeah, he whispered before she had even finished talking. Good
as new in another day.
It occurred to Helen that all she had to do was lean down and she
would be kissing him. It seemed like such a natural thing to doas
if she should be kissing himthat she was halfway to his mouth
before she stopped herself and pulled back, stunned by her lack of
self-control. She saw him swallow hard.
Lie back, Helen, he told her, which she immediately did to hide
her confusion.
For a few minutes they were both breathing a lot faster than they
should have been, but after a while, Lucas relaxed enough to take
her hand and hold it under the covers. She watched his chest go up
and down in a way that was familiar to her now, and smiled herself
to sleep.
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UNCORRECTED E-PROOFNOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
.....................................................................
Chapter Seven
Because I didnt want to wake u
p Lucas! a frustrated
voice hissed.
Helen had no idea how Ariadne had made it to the
tea table at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. Ariadne
couldnt fly.
Why are you fighting me on this? Cassandra pleaded quietly.
Hmm. Helen couldnt be on top of the Golden Gate Bridge so she
must be in bed, but she couldnt figure out what Cassandra was doing
in bed with her. If she could only open her eyes and see.
I dont doubt you. But what can we do? asked Noel.
We should leave. Now. Pack up the house and go back to
Europe.
Youre overreacting, huffed Ariadne, not even bothering to
whisper.
Two nights in a row, Ari. They ate the same food. Shared a roof
and a bed, and now they have witnesses! Cassandra said just as
loud.
But they havent done the most important thing! Ariadne
shouted back.
Girls!
Even though she was still so tired she felt glued to the mattress,
the yelling made Helens eyes open. She saw Ariadne, Cassandra,
and Noel standing over her bed. Correction, they were standing
over Lucass bed and Helen was in it. Her eyes snapped open and
her head whipped around to look at Lucas. He was frowning himself
awake and starting to make some gravelly noise in the back of
his throat.
Go argue someplace else, he groaned as he rolled over onto
Helen. He tucked himself up against her, awkwardly fighting the
drag of the casts on his legs as he tried to bury his face in Helens
neck. She nudged him and looked up at Noel, Ariadne, and a furious
Cassandra.
I came to see how he was and then I couldnt get back to my
bed, Helen tried to explain, absolutely mortified.
She gasped involuntarily as one of Lucass hands ran up the
length of her thigh and latched on to the sloping dip from her hip
to her waist. Then she felt him tense, as if hed just realized that
pillows werent shaped like hourglasses. His head jerked up and he
looked around, alert for a fight.
Oh, yeah, he said to Helen as he remembered. His eyes relaxed
back into a sleepy daze. He smiled up at his family and stretched
until he winced, then rubbed at his sore chest, no longer in a good
mood. Little privacy? he asked.
His mother, sister, and cousin all either crossed their arms or put
their hands on their hips. Humiliated, Helen tried to untangle herself