by Unknown
her and, as he did, Helen heard an almost imperceptible crunch.
Her phones broken, Lucas said, passing Helens phone to her
father so he could see it. It came apart in Jerrys hand. I came over
to see why she wasnt picking up and she was out here in the driveway
on her way to go get you. Helen stared at Lucas with her
mouth open, wondering how someone who demanded honesty
from everyone else could be so quick to lie.
How did you do this, Len? Jerry asked in a dismayed voice as
he studied the pulverized sandwich of plastic and microchips.
This was brand-new.
I know! Helen said a little too emphatically. Piece of junk,
right? Im so sorry, Dad. I had no idea you were coming early.
Really.
Oh, its all right, Jerry said a bit sheepishly now that he wasnt
so worried. He and Helen smiled at each other, all forgiven. Then
Jerry turned to Lucas. You look familiar, he said suspiciously,
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acknowledging Lucass presence for the first time and distrusting it
immediately.
For a moment Helen could see Lucas as her father dida heartbreakingly
beautiful young man who was too well built, too well
dressed, and driving too nice of a car to ever be liked by anyones
father.
Lucas Delos, he said, holding out his hand.
Dont you hate this kid? Jerry asked Helen candidly as he
shook the offered hand. Lucas laughed, and it was such an open,
unself-conscious sound that Jerry joined in.
We worked it out, Helen said.
Good, Jerry said. Then he passed Lucass flashy convertible as
he went back to the cab to pay and get his bags. Or maybe not, he
amended. Helen took that moment to roll her eyes at Lucas and
point to her phone.
What about that woman? How are you going to tell me the rest
of the story now? she whispered frantically. If I use the phone in
the kitchen, my dad will hear.
Sorry, Lucas whispered back, his eyes laughing. I couldnt
think of anything else to do.
Tomorrow, Helen warned. I want the whole story.
Ill pick you up half an hour early for school. Well get coffee,
Lucas promised.
Whats going on? Jerry asked suspiciously, joining them again.
Lucas has to get home for dinner, Helen said. She saw Lucas
wince at the lie, but he took the hint.
It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hamilton, Lucas said as he waved
good-bye and backpedaled toward his car.
Damn, I really wish you had acne. Or a gland problem, Jerry
replied.
Dad! Helen huffed, embarrassed. Good night, Lucas, she said
apologetically.
Good night, Helen, he replied softly, his eyes bright.
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Okay, thats enough. Get in the house, Helen, Jerry said with a
nervous smile. He physically turned Helen around and gave her a
little push toward the door. I think I would prefer it if you went
back to hating him.
Helen heard Lucas laughing to himself as he started his car. The
warm sound made her smile.
Lucas took his time driving home from Helens side of the island.
He needed time to think and get control over himself before he
faced his family. Not that it would do much good. Cassandra and
Jason could always figure out how he was feeling, and they were
being hypervigilant about him right now. Theyd been worried
about him since that day in the hallway when hed first seen her,
and now it would get worse. It was already worse. Jason would
probably try to get him to sit down for a nice, long talk, and Lucas
didnt have the patience for that. He didnt want anyones pity; he
just wanted to be left alone for once.
Lucas pulled into the garage and sat with the engine off for a few
minutes, trying to put his feelings back where they belonged. The
past few days hed felt as if his emotions were spring-loaded, as
though if he let the lid off them theyd all come flying out like confetti
from a Christmas cracker. He knew for damn sure he couldnt
handle seeing Cassandra, not right then, and he also knew she was
probably waiting for him. He got out of the car, walked outside,
and flew up to his bedroom window to avoid her.
But of course she knew he would do that, and she was already sitting
on the couch in his room. Lucas smiled ruefully to himself before
he even got his window open. He should have known better
than to try and outmaneuver his little sister.
I dont want to talk about it, Cassie, he said in what he hoped
was a patient but firm voice.
You dont get to make that choice, Cassandra responded sadly.
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No. Were Scions. We dont get to make many of our own
choices, do we? he said bitterly as he floated through the window
and came in for a landing.
His body took on the burden of gravity and his feet touched down
as he went from flying to walking in an instant.
Youve been gone a while, Cassandra said in an insinuating
tone.
I stayed in her area for a bit, looking around her neighborhood
for any sign of those women, he said evenly, and he wasnt lying.
I told you, you dont have to worry. Shes safe for a few more
days at least, Cassandra said, shaking her head. Im not so sure
about you.
I didnt touch her.
But you cant stay away from her, either.
He couldnt. Even when he was still possessed by the Furies in
her presence, he couldnt stay away from Helen. He didnt know
how to describe it; it was as though it felt wrong to be separated
from her. You dont have to worry. I wont touch her.
Thats not the only thing I care about, she began in a warning
tone.
He interrupted her, tired of the doublespeak. Yeah, sure, but its
the thing you and everybody else cares about most, Cassie, he
said. He unlatched his watch and laid it carefully on his bedside
table. He wouldnt look at her, and he knew that was cruel, but he
couldnt stop himself.
Thats not true. You know that, right? she asked, suddenly no
more than his sweet little sister. He looked over at her and felt his
heart soften. She carried a heavier burden then he did, he knew
that. Sometimes his bitterness got the better of him, but he trusted
that Cassandra knew he loved her, and that she also knew he
wouldnt stop loving her even if she told him he had to give up the
one thing he wanted most in the world. That didnt make it any
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easier for either of them, though it wasnt like anyone had ever
asked them what they wanted.
What does it matter how any of us feel? he muttered. If I take
Helen, the war starts all over again. No amount of wishing will
make it different.
I dont know that, Cassandra replied with more than a little
self-doubt. Im not strong enough yet.
But you
re pretty sure it is, he said, sitting down on the end of
his bed, suddenly feeling as if he had taken on two planets worth
of gravity. And dont pretend youre not, because not even you can
lie to me.
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UNCORRECTED E-PROOFNOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
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Chapter Eight
Helen spent the next few hours alternately listening to
the details of her fathers trip and insisting that Lucas
was not her boyfriend. She figured out pretty fast that
the only way to get Jerry to stop asking questions about
Lucas was to ask him questions about Kate instead.
And besides, she genuinely wanted to know what was going on
between the two of them. Jerry kept insisting that they had never
been anything more than friends. Disappointed that her dad was
obviously still lugging around a big bag of hurt for her mother, all
Helen wanted was to escape upstairs to her room to think, but she
had to wait until they finished dinner first. By the time she and her
father were done eating, arguing over how much salt he was allowed
to put on his dinner, and talking about the store, Helen was
so exhausted she nearly fell asleep sitting on the edge of the tub as
she brushed her teeth.
The next morning, Helen skipped breakfast, packed her own
lunch box, and shouted good-bye to her father from the front door
before he even made it downstairs. He called after her as she
jumped into Lucass car, but she pretended she didnt hear him.
Shouldnt we wait to see what he wants? Lucas asked her.
Nope. Lets just go, she said a little too quickly.
Lucas shrugged and drove off as Jerry made it to the front door.
Helen waved to him, but she knew she would hear about this little
stunt later. In detail.
Okay, Im still new around here so I dont know the cafés.
Wheres a good place on this side of the island? Lucas asked.
Ah, the News Store? Helen offered with a shrug. I dont think
well be able to talk there, though.
How bout this, he said as he pulled into a chain restaurant that
was popular with the tourists.
Helen winced, but assented. There were other mom-and-pop
choices, but she knew all the people who worked in those places.
For this conversation she needed a little privacy.
They stood quietly together in line, waiting to sit before they started
talking. Helen tried not to stare at Lucas, but it was difficult. It
amazed her how comfortable he seemed wherever he went, as if
the whole world was as private to him as his own bedroom.
She tried to watch him out of the corner of her eye, maybe catch
him fidgeting or shuffling his feet the way she herself did in public,
but there was none of that. He really didnt care if people looked at
him or not. He didnt subconsciously apologize to the world for his
presence by slouching or crossing his arms or playing with his
keys. It unnerved Helen to see how he could just stand there and
not do anything else, but it also inspired her. Why should she
slouch and feel bashful for taking up more space than most people?
She stood up a little straighter while she stared at him.
Had enough? he asked, smiling at Helens brazen admiration of
his looks.
Not yet, she said, a matching smile breaking across her face.
Good.
As soon as they were seated, Lucas asked her what she wanted to
know, and Helen had to think for a moment. She wasnt entirely
sure.
I guess the first thing I need to know is who hurt Kate, she said,
dreading the answer.
We have no idea, he answered, sounding earnest. Helens heart
sank. She knew from the night before that although Lucas couldnt
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bear to be lied to, it didnt stop him from telling a few whoppers of
his own.
That doesnt make sense, Lucas, she said carefully. Your father
told me that I was the only one of . . . our kind . . . who was not a
member of your House. How can you not know two women who,
by that logic, are related to you?
Lucas nodded, like he understood why Helen doubted him. The
House of Thebes is very large. Our immediate familythose of us
who moved back here to the Statesare a just a tiny splinter group,
but the main part of the House of Thebes is much, much larger.
Theyre known as the Hundred Cousins, although there are a lot
more of them than that now, and theyre loosely led by my uncle
Tantalus, he said, looking down at his coffee, his eyes far away. I
have a lot of distant relatives that Ive never heard of, let alone
seen.
If your uncle is the leader, cant you just call and ask him which
of your cousins is trying to kill me?
Tantalus may have been the one who sent them, he said darkly.
But we dont know that for sure yet. My uncle PallasHector,
Jason, and Ariadnes fatherhe went back to Europe after the first
attack on you to see how much Tantalus knows. Helen studied his
face for a moment. It was all sharp edges and glittering blue eyes.
You mean spy on the rest of the House, Helen said, surprised.
He nodded. But why would your family go through so much for
me? Im grateful, but still. What else arent you telling me?
He tore at his croissant for a moment and then let out a fast
breath.
The Hundred Cousins are a kind of cult. They believe something
that my family doesnt, and they believe it so fanatically that they
are willing to kill for it. Thats why we left Spain. Hector . . . Lucas
trailed off, and then shook his head as if to clear it before turning
his focus back on Helen. The point is that youre in a lot of danger.
Ive been following you since I first saw you, but I cant guard you
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every second. If either one of those women finds you without me
there, theyll try to kill you, and you dont know how to defend
yourself yet.
Well, its not like Ive ever had to defend myself, Helen said, at
a loss. I mean, this is Nantucket. My dad and I forget to lock the
front door more often than not!
Youre very important to us. Much more than I can explain to
you right now, Lucas said, leaning forward and taking her hands.
I know you said you needed a few days, and I didnt want to freak
you out by throwing all of this at you at once, but you have to start
training with us as soon as you can. My family will teach you how
to fight.
You mean like judo and stuff?
Sort of, Lucas said, smiling reassuringly. Dont look so worried.
With your gifts youll be kicking ass in no time.
What gifts? Helen asked doubtfully.
You really dont know, do you? he marveled.
Hey, Luke, whats up? Zach asked, entering the café. He was
smiling, but his smile faded as soon as he saw whom Lucas was
with. Be
hind him stood a few guys from the football team, all of
whom were staring, openmouthed, at the unlikely pairing.
Hey, Zach. Getting some coffee. You? Lucas answered, totally
unfazed. Helen gave a watered-down smile and untucked her hair
from behind her ears to hide her face. Lucas reached across the
table and smoothed her hair back behind her shoulder.
Same, yeah, Zach mumbled as he nearly tripped over himself to
get away, his eyes darting between Helen and Lucas with disbelief.
See you in a few, he called out before joining the other guys in
line.
Helen bit her lip and stared at her coffee cup, rubbing her stomach
under the table as subtly as possible. Please, no cramps, she
thought.
Whats the matter? Lucas asked, watching her.
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Nothing. Can we just go? she pleaded, desperate to change the
subject, get away, maybe drop dead if at all possible.
Sure, Lucas said, standing up. He gave her a worried look. I
know its not nothing, Helen, and Id rather you told me the truth,
whatever it is. Ariadne gave all three of us guys a whole lecture
about womens troubles years ago, you know. And by lecture, I
mean beating.
Well, I owe her one, but its not what you think. Helen grabbed
his hand and pulled him toward the door.
Lucas waved to Zach on his way out. Zach waved back, but he
was still pouting.
I think Ive lowered your rank. Sorry, Helen said as they got in
the little silver Mercedes.
What are you talking about? Lucas asked, backing out of the
parking lot.
Well, Zach and all those guys saw us together, she said, like her
meaning was obvious.
And?
Zach and Gretchen arent my biggest fans, which makes me sort
of like popularity antimatter at school, Helen explained sheepishly.
Lucass face cracked into a huge smile and he grabbed her
hand, but he had to let it go to shift.
Im going to have to start driving an automatic, he mumbled to
himself before continuing. You think youre unpopular? The first
hour I was on this island I heard about the beautiful, perfect, heavenly
Helen Hamilton. You know thats what the boys call you,
right? Heaven Hamilton? Helen dodged his seeking hand, but he
eventually captured hers and held it tighter.
Stop it, Lucas. This isnt a joke to me. And whats up with this?