the heart charm carefully, but there was nothing special about it.
Its very pretty, Cassandra said kindly.
It is, isnt it? But its from Tiffany so there are probably thousands
just like it. Its just that this is all I have, Helen said, the
words spilling out uncensored. My dad says she must have been
planning to leave for a long time because by the time he figured out
she had left us, all the pictures were gone. Every single one. Even
pictures he thought she had no idea hed taken.
Helen stood up suddenly and started pacing around aimlessly.
She walked to the far end of the library, looking at all the books
that the Delos family had collected together, all of the antique furniture
they probably handed down, generation to generation. It
was a family legacy Helen had been denied, and she felt a sense of
loss not knowing where her mother was, or where shed come
from. But she also sensed a possibility in that ignorance.
Your family is tight, I can see that. You always know where
everyone is. But my mother did something drastic, right? She ran
away. Helen struggled with the right way to phrase her thought,
and decided the best thing would be to ask a question. Why were
you so sure that the House of Thebes was the only House left? How
could you possibly know that?
We keep very close watch over our numbers, Helen, Cassandra
said.
Yeah, but how can you know for sure?
Its barbaric, Castor said, shaking his head. When Helen gestured
for him to continue he did. When one demigod kills another
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from a rival House there is a traditional celebration for the champion
called a Triumph. Its considered a great honor.
But that doesnt mean my mother is dead. Maybe shes just
missing! You dont even know who she is! Helen said. The tears
tipped over the edge of her eyelids and splashed down on her shirt.
The fact that you exist proves that anything is possible, Cassandra
said. But she wasnt able to look Helen in the eye.
Right around the time you were born, the Houses were going
through a period of intense fighting that was thought to be the final
confrontation. There were a lot of deaths, Castor said, looking
down at his hands.
Helen turned her back on Castor and Cassandra and tried to
breathe her way through the tears, but still it took a few moments
before she knew she wasnt going to start sobbing. She didnt even
know why she was so upset. Shed always thought she hated her
mother.
Helen, we understand that you might need some time before we
continue. We still have a lot more to talk about, but were not going
anywhere and we can finish this conversation when youre ready.
In the meantime, please know that we really do want to help you,
Castor said gently from somewhere on the other side of the room.
Helen heard them get up to leave, but she couldnt bring herself
to say good-bye. After theyd left, she opened up the French doors
and went out onto the patio. The sight of the pristine beach and
rolling blue water blunted the sharper edges of her emotions and
before she knew it she was shuffling down the beach.
Are you okay? Lucas asked from behind her.
Helen just nodded, not surprised that he had appeared. They
both looked down the beach, watching a big, hairy dog jump in and
out of the surf with glee. After a moment Lucas moved and stood
beside her.
Im relieved, Helen said. She turned her head to look at him.
My whole life I thought my mother hated me so much that she
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didnt even want me to know what she looked like. A pained expression
darkened Lucass face, but Helen continued before he
could interrupt her. Im not saying an ancient blood feud is a good
thing, but at least its a reason why she left me. Ive never had one
of those before.
She could still be alive, you know, Lucas insisted. Regardless
of what Cass and my dad think.
I dont know what to feel about that yet, Helen replied honestly.
Kate has been more of a mother to me than Beth, or whatever she
was called, ever was. I guess Ill decide how I feel when I find out
the truth. The whole truth.
That works, Lucas replied, smiling out at the water for a moment
before another thought occurred to him and his face fell. For
now, anyway.
He squeezed her fingers, and Helen glanced down, surprised
again that they had joined hands when she wasnt paying attention.
She didnt know who had initiated this new habit of theirs, but she
realized that it would be nearly impossible to stop. She had never
held a boys hand before and it should have made her shy, but it
didnt. It felt like the most natural thing in the world for her to
touch him. That thought made her shake her head in wonder. She
looked up and noticed that he was looking down at their hands as
well, probably thinking the same thing.
Do you want to sit down for a moment? she asked, suddenly
conscious of the fact that the last time she had seen him he was unable
to walk without Jasons help.
Nope. But I wouldnt mind something else to eat. He threw a
distracted glance over his shoulder at the house.
Me too. My god, Im a pig! Helen said, still surprised at herself.
You went hours without eating during the heal, he said, leading
her away from the waters edge. Thats crazy talk.
You know, if it werent for the whole agonizing pain thing, I
think I could get to like heals. People carry you around, and feed
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you nonstop. Its like being an infant, only youre old enough to appreciate
it.
Not so much fun when you have to go to the bathroom, though.
No! Especially not when youre around strangers, Helen said,
expecting a laugh or a witty response from Luke, and not getting
either.
Were not strangers, he said quietly, slowing down so he could
look her in the eye.
Well, not anymore, she agreed. She felt a hot blush stinging her
cheeks and had to look down. His eyes were so honest and so blue
that Helen felt if she didnt force herself to look away right from
the start that shed get stuck and never stop staring at him.
They held hands as they walked back. When they got close to the
house, Helen noticed Cassandra staring down at them from one of
the second-story balconies. She didnt look happy.
When they went into the kitchen, they found Noel already hard at
work over half a dozen pots and pans. She set them up with a pint
of ice cream, cookies, nuts, and caramel sauce and told them they
were strong enough to make their own darned sundaes before she
went back to snarling at the ox-sized roast she was wrangling into
the oven. After a decadent snack that tempted the rest of the house
into the kitchen to spoil their appetites, Noel told everyone that
they might as well just stay in their seats because dinner would be
ready in another twenty minutes.
I cant. I have to go home, Helen admitted in a disappointed
tone as she pushed a few soggy pecans around the bottom of her
bowl.
Ridiculous. Youre not going anywhere, Lucas responded.
No, really. I have to go home, get the Jeep, and then pick Kate
and my dad up at the airport.
One of us can get them for you, Ariadne said, rising from the
seat on the bench to Helens right.
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Sit, Ari, youre still drained from healing. And dont think for a
second all that blush youre wearing is fooling me, Pandora said
with a twinkle in her eye and a snarky finger wag that set her
bracelets dancing and tinkling. Id love to go and meet your dad,
Helen.
No, you cant! Helen said a little too forcefully before she got a
hold of herself and continued in a steadier tone. My dad doesnt
know about any of this. Please. Its very kind of you to offer, but if
you could just give me a ride back to my house, Id really appreciate
it. She couldnt look up, but she knew everyone was shooting
each other meaningful looks over her head. Ariadne touched
Helens hand and opened her mouth to say something, but Lucas
spoke first.
Ill drive you home, he said as he slid out from his seat on the
bench and pulled Helen along with him by the hand. Lets go.
Youre in no shape to travel, Noel said, shaking her head, but
Lucas was already walking toward her and smiling mischievously.
Im driving her home, not flying her there, he said, suddenly
grabbing his mom faster than she could move and kissing the top
of her head with an exaggerated smooching sound. It couldnt have
been too comfortable, but it was funny enough to get Noel to laugh
and admit that Lucas was strong enough to drive.
Helen tried to give everyone a heartfelt thank-you but Lucas
made a snoring sound, grabbed her hand, and dragged her across
the room, saying, Yeah, yeah. Youll be back tomorrow, anyway.
What? Helen said in a flustered daze as Lucas pulled her
through the kitchen door that led to a huge garage packed with
fancy cars. He bundled her in a little, classic convertible Mercedes
and started the car as he hit the door opener.
Youll be back here tomorrow afternoon, he said, finally answering
her question as he pulled out and headed off the compound
toward Milestone Road.
I cant. I have track, Helen reminded him.
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I have football. Ill drive you back here after were both done.
And I can pick you up for school in the morning if youd like.
I thought you werent allowed to do sports anymore.
Thats mostly cleared up, he said with a huge grin. Look, all
Im going to say is Ive seen the football team. And believe me, they
need my cousins and me.
I should probably be offended by that, but Ive seen the football
team, too, Helen said, mirroring his grin. But regardless, I cant
come over after tomorrow. I have to work on Monday nights.
Tuesday then, Lucas said.
I cant. I have to cook dinner for my dad, she said in a rushed
voice.
He can come, too. My mom wants to meet him, Lucas said with
growing uncertainty. He glanced over at Helen. Dont you want to
come?
Its not that, she said, feeling cornered and frustrated and not
knowing why. My dad wont allow it, okay? Helen looked out her
window at the golf course and felt Lucas take her hand and shake it
a little to get her to look at him.
No one will tell your father about you if you dont want them to,
he said, glancing from her to the road and back again.
Its not that. He doesnt let me go out on school nights, she
said, looking back at him, but he was frowning deeply and staring
at the road. As the minutes ticked by silently, Helen could feel Lucass
mood getting worse and worse.
Nope. This isnt going to work, he said suddenly, pulling the car
over to the side of the road, yanking on the parking break, and
turning in his seat to face Helen. When he saw Helens startled face
he took a shaky breath to control himself before he started. I dont
know if my dad explained this to you, but the different Houses are
the descendants of different gods, he began.
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Yes, he said something like that, Helen responded quietly. She
felt like a kid in the principals office and she had no idea why. He
tried to smile at her, but gave up.
My familys House, the House of Thebes, are the descendants of
Apollo. Hes primarily known as the god of Light, but he was also
the god of Music, Healing, and of Truth. FalsefindersScions who
can feel liesare very rare, but Im one of them. I always know a lie
when I hear it, and if it comes from someone close to me I cant
stand it. So you cant lie to me, Helen. Ever. If you dont want to
tell me the truth, please, for my sake, dont say anything all, he
pleaded.
Does it hurt? Helen asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ive tried to explain to Jase how it feels, but Ive never been able
to get it right. Its almost like that feeling you get when youve lost
worse. The longer the lie hangs there, the more frantic I get to find
the truth. Ill dig and dig for it . . .
I just need a little bit of time to adjust, Helen admitted in a
rush. Im not ready to tell my dad about me, or about my mom,
because I dont know what it would do to him. To be honest, I dont
know if Ill ever tell him. But I know I need a minute to get used to
all of this. A few days at least.
Lucass face relaxed immediately and he let out a held breath.
Why didnt you just say that to begin with?
Because its, its too . . . she trailed off, not knowing why it was
so hard.
Too raw. Like being naked, Lucas said for her. Helen nodded
her head. Well, sorry. But with me you have to be either honest or
silent. He released the break, put the car in gear, and merged back
into traffic.
As soon as he could stop shifting, he grabbed her hand and held
it on his leg, and when the fading sunlight forced him to turn on
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the headlights, he let go of the steering wheel rather than let go of
her hand.
Lucas pulled into Helens driveway behind the Pig, then killed
the lights and engine. Stay here for a sec, he said before hopping
out of the car and disappearing around the back of the house.
Helen craned her head to look for him as she waited, but she
didnt hear anythingnot even the sound of his footsteps. Annoyed
that he would just run off like that, she got out of the car and
walked up to the Pig to get a better view. She noticed her purse lyin
g
on the ground behind the front tire. Oops. She picked it up and
fished out her phone. There were over a dozen missed calls.
She remembered that her purse was lying on the ground because
she had been attacked, and she suddenly realized that her attacker
was not Hector or Lucas, as she had assumed the other night.
Now that she could look back on it without the Furies there to
warp her judgment, she figured out that there had been someone
else here waiting for her when she came home. Someone with wiry
armsa woman, she thought, recalling the smell of cosmeticshad
grabbed her from behind, then been scared off by the arrival of the
Delos family. Lucas had sent Ariadne and Jason to chase after her,
but the woman must have gotten away because there was no mention
of her this weekend. In the shock of the past few days, Helen
had completely forgotten about the attack.
Lucas? she called, heading toward the shadows off to the side of
her house. He had been gone too long. She heard a muffled thud
behind her.
I asked you to stay in the car. Its for your safety, Helen, Lucas
said with frustration. She spun around to face him, gesturing
wildly with her cell phone still in her hand.
That woman! Youre looking for that woman who jumped Kate
and me, Helen said, finally understanding it all. Shes a Scion,
too. She has to be!
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Yes, of course she is. . . . he interrupted her. But listen to me.
There are two of themtwo different women are after you, and we
havent caught either of them yet.
A pair of lights flashed across the house and driveway. A car was
pulling up. Lucas stood in front of Helen and looked easily through
the lights that were blinding her from seeing the people in the car.
Its your father, he told her.
Helen? There you are! Where the hell have you been? Jerry
shouted as he climbed out of the cab before the driver had even
come to a full stop. He was angrier than shed seen him in years. I
called over and over. Youre never late! I thought something had
happened to you!
Why are you here? Helen screeched.
We got an earlier flight. Didnt you get any of my messages?
I . . . Helen trailed off, holding up her cell phone stupidly. She
knew she had to make something up, but she also knew she was a