by Unknown
massive-stateturn up the gravity pulling on you. The best way to
get the hang of it is to do it while youre landing.
Is that what you did when you landed on Hector the other day in
the tennis courts? Helen guessed. And last night? She was
thinking of how heavy hed made his body when they were wrestling
in her bed. She pinched her lips together to keep herself from
smiling.
Exactly, he said against her ear, letting his lower lip brush
against her skin. Its the third state of gravity for fliers, and it
could save your life in a fight.
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With his arm around her waist and the two of them floating ten
feet above the ground, he taught her how to warp the way the
world pulled on her. Lucas guided her to reverse the impulse that
made her weightless and imagine her body becoming heavier. She
was able to pick up the basics right away and when Lucas told her
to touch down she thudded into the lawn with a jarring blow, kicking
up two great divots of grass with her heels. She was impressed
with herself and looked up at Lucas for approval, but apparently,
there was still a lot left for her to learn.
Youll get better at it, he said encouragingly as he pounded into
the lawn next to her, skidding two deep trenches with his feet.
You are such a show-off! she said, grinning at him.
Hey, Ive got to impress you as much as I can, while I can. Soon
youll be flying circles around me, he said. He took her hand and
pulled her tight up against his side as he led her toward the house.
I doubt that, Helen said, shaking her head. Lucas was so graceful
in the air. There was no way shed ever fly the way he did.
Youre stronger than me, he said without any envy or judgment,
just as a fact. When you realize that, youre going to be able to do
things that I never dreamed of.
If Im so strong, then why do I always need you to come and
save my sorry ass? she asked sarcastically.
Because fighting is about much more than strength, he said
seriously. Which is good, or Hector would still be able to beat the
crap out of me in a fight.
I can still beat the crap out of you in a fight, Hector shouted
from inside the house. Lucas smirked at Helen and shook his head
as they walked into the kitchen. They didnt get far.
Not on my clean floors! Noel shouted, pointing to Lucass and
Helens muddy shoes. Then she realized why they were so muddy.
What did you savages do to my new lawn? she groaned.
I had to, Mom. Helen needs to learn. Lucas dutifully backed out
of the house and took off his shoes, and Helen did the same.
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Helen, dear. You look hungry. Make sure you eat something before
you leave, Noel said kindly, before shifting right back into
scolding mode. About that lawn, you know the rules, Luke.
Fix what you break, yeah, yeah. And you know I always do, he
said with a mischievous smile as he came into the house and started
chasing his poor, hassled mother out of the kitchen with the
threat of a tickle. She tried to beat him off with a dish towel, but
she didnt stand a chance.
As Lucas ran upstairs to change his clothes, Helen could see he
was happy. And so was she. She knew she was still in danger and
should be terrified, but watching Lucas bound up the stairs three at
a time, all she could feel was giddy, bubbly happiness. She still had
no idea what the heck was going on between them, but she was
happy.
Apparently, Helen wasnt the only one. Pandora came into the
kitchen with a yoga glow, humming to herself. She didnt have on
her bracelets. Instead, it was her anklets and a spangled belly chain
that were jingling away cheerily with every step and sway of her
hips.
Oh my gods, I love that! she exclaimed, reaching out and touching
the charm Helen always wore around her neck. I always say, if
it isnt plastered with diamonds it isnt really jewelry.
What? Helen asked, puzzled, looking down. Pandora was chugging
from a bottle she took from the fridge and didnt hear.
The workout room is all yours, she tossed back over her
shoulder at Hector. Helen fingered her heart necklace and
wondered why Pandora had mentioned diamonds. There were no
diamonds on her charm.
You ready for a beating, Princess? Hector asked once his aunt
had danced out of the room.
Do you have to call me that? Helen huffed, wondering if being a
dick was part of his strategy or if it was just his personality
baseline.
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Well, now I do, he smirked, pleased with himself for hitting a
nerve.
Lets go before I wreck Noels kitchen with your big, stupid
face.
Thats the spirit, he said encouragingly. Helen had to laugh. He
really could be quite charming when he wasnt trying to kill her.
Hector and Lucas started Helen out on the heavy bag, thinking
that it was the most basic place to begin. She didnt get it. She tried
to follow through with her hips like they told her, but she kept positioning
herself strangely at the last moment and taking all of the
momentum out of her swing. She just didnt like to punch things. It
didnt come naturally to her. Hector couldnt even watch.
Youve got the killer instincts of a houseplant, he groaned, covering
his face.
Maybe we should move on to grappling. Itd probably be more
useful for her, anyway, considering all of her attacks have been
close-quarter struggles, Lucas suggested.
Helen readily agreed. She was a terrible fighter, but not even
Hector could deny that she was trying. The boys gave her a brief
rundown of dojo etiquette, and then she entered the ring with a
bow, as she had been taught. She was expecting Lucas to be her
teacher, but he stood back and let Hector go into the dojo with her
instead.
I thought this was your specialty, Helen said uncertainly to
Lucas.
It is. Hes way better on the ground than I am, Hector replied
for him with a grin. Now get down on your hands and knees. You
know, like youre a dog.
Despite the fact that Hector was deliberately trying to get Helens
back up, she stayed calm and focused on the instructions she was
given. Jujitsu was part physical, which was fun, but the main part
of it, the real challenge, was mental. She felt like she was trying to
solve a puzzle, trying to unwind out of the human pretzel that
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Hector had made out of her. A few times she pissed him off by giggling
and shying away from the sexually suggestive shapes he was
trying to bend her into, but he gutted it out and kept working with
her rather than let Lucas take over the lesson.
Nah-uh! Hector said when Lucas tried to enter the ring. You.
Out.
Youre not breaking it down step-by-step for her, Hector! Lucas
called from outside the cage. He wouldnt come in the ring and
break the rules of the dojo, but he could still yell from the sidelines.
She doesnt know the first thing about pulling guard!
Well, tough, Hector replied as he raised himself up from
between her knees. Theres no way Im letting you in here, brother,
so just forget it. He gestured meaningfully at her prone body
and open legs, and raised his eyebrows. Helen started laughing
hysterically.
You have nothing to worry about, Hector! she managed to
choke out. Trust me!
That got Lucas blushing. Helen heard a familiar laugh from outside
the ring. Giggles? Is that you? She propped herself up and
shoved Hector off of her.
Yeah, its me. I gotta say, Len, I would have thought it would be
harder to get between your legs, but Hector doesnt seem to be
having any trouble at all, Claire teased.
What are you doing here? Helen said, surprised.
I tried to stop her, but she just barged in and . . . Jason began,
his voice fraying with frustration.
I really wanted to see you do demigod stuff! Claire said, cutting
him off. Ive never gotten to see you do all your tricks on purpose
before.
Tricks? Were not show ponies, Claire! Jason yelled at her.
Helen looked at Hector and shrugged while Claire and Jason
continued to bicker. You know what? I think they enjoy fighting,
she commented.
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Shes your friend, Hector said to her.
Hes your brother, Helen said back.
Then she heard the door slam. Lucas had left the room. Helen
stood up and called after him, but she couldnt leave the ring until
Hector, her dojo master for the day, dismissed her. She turned to
him and pleaded with her eyes.
You may be safe for today, but youre still in a lot of danger, you
know. I know you dont like this, but you need to train. And anyway,
it would be better if you just let him start hating you now,
Helen, he said heavily.
What are you talking about? she asked, surprised that Hector
could be so unfeeling.
Then chase after him if you have to, he said, looking away.
Helen bowed to him and ran out of the practice ring. But it will
only get harder, he warned as she turned to close the door. She
slammed it behind her to make her point . . . though she didnt exactly
know what that point was.
She ran outside and heard a deep thunking noise coming from
the tennis courts. She started to run and then realized that, duh,
she could fly. Leaping into the air, she looked down to see Lucas in
the tennis-courts-turned-arena, chucking spears at a target. He
saw her and took flight, meeting her in the air.
Come on, he said, taking her hand and looking down at a
couple of mortals on the nearly empty beach below them.
Someone could still see us.
They flew high, going north to Great Point where they could be
alone. They touched down on the soft sand around the lighthouse
and transitioned into two normal people walking on the chilly
beach, holding hands. Lucas was still silent after a few moments so
Helen decided to go first.
You know we were all joking around, right? I wasnt trying to
hurt your feelings. Im sorry if I did, Helen told him.
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You didnt hurt my feelings, he said, shaking his head and
clenching his fists. Its much simpler than that. Much more basic.
I hate seeing Hector on top of you. Im jealous, Helen.
Then you train me, she said hopefully, and he stopped walking
and turned away from her with a groan. Wait, why not? she
persisted.
Im a demigod, not a saint, he said with a self-deprecating
laugh. Theres only so much I can take.
Exactly. So, what cant you take? Decide which of the two options
is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard
your choice turns out to be, at least you can find comfort in knowing
youre avoiding something even worse, Helen said logically.
Lucas looked at her sidelong and smiled.
You give good advice, you know that?
Maybe, maybe not. Ive got my own agenda, she said through a
playful smirk.
Youre betting Im going to choose to train you, arent you? he
asked, a laugh bubbling up in his chest.
Flat out banking on it.
They walked along for a bit, smiling at their own thoughts. She
could feel him struggling to make his decision, and she let him be.
Then, finally, she felt him give in to something and take a deep
breath.
The twins will still be teaching you archery and spears, and
Hector will still be in charge of boxing and sword fighting, but Im
taking over for all the grappling disciplines. Just a warning, this
could still be vetoed by my father and uncle, no matter what I say.
Dont I have any say? Helen asked, slightly annoyed. Castor
and Pallas cant tell me what to do. If I want you to train me, then
why shouldnt I get what I want?
Um . . . maybe leave my family to me, Lucas said goodnaturedly,
and Helen decided to let the subject drop. Come on, we
need to go back. I dont like having you out in the open like this.
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Everything is so close, Helen said as they hovered over the Delos
lawn, still in awe over how fast and simple it was for her to get
from one end of the island to the other. Dont you ever get sick of
being stuck over Nantucket?
I would if I was stuck, he said wryly as they touched down in
the backyard, but I just went to New York the other day.
You did! For what?
Bagels. Theres this place out in Brooklyn that I love. It only
takes me ten minutes at subsonic to get there.
Helen stopped dead when she realized what that meant.
You mean, any day at school, you and I can just fly to Boston
and eat our lunches in Harvard Square and then be back in time
for fifth period?
Sure, he said with a shrug. I want you to get a few more weeks
of experience before we go off island, but soon youll be strong
enough to go everywhere with me.
I want to see the statues on Easter Island! And Machu Picchu!
And the Great Wall of China! Helen exclaimed, practically hysterical
with excitement.
She started bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet as they
walked toward the house. Lucas grabbed her hands.
Well need to wait a bit before we go overseas. You can barely
stay in the air as it is and its harder to navigate with no point of
reference, plus oceanic air currents can be a nightmare.
But Ill be with you, and you know all that stuff already! She
stopped dead and gripping his hand tightly to her chest. Im
strong enough now, I swear! Please? Ive always dreamed of traveling!
Lucas, you have no idea! My whole life Ive wanted off this
&nb
sp; island.
I know, and we willsoon! Well tape a map to a dartboard and
wherever we hit, well go. Fiji, Finland, Florence, whatever! he
said indulgently, pulling her against him to stop her from jumping
into the air and leaving without him. We can go eat sushi in Tokyo
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every night until it gets boring. We can do whatever you want,
Helen. When youre a better flier.
We really can, cant we? she asked breathlessly, noticing the
fact that they had both used the word we. Then a less-pleasing
thought occurred to her. Youve been doing this for a while now,
havent you? Running off to other continents when you had a few
hours to kill.
Yes, I have.
But always alone?
We can carry people short distances when we fly if we have to,
but its unbelievably exhausting to tamper with other peoples
gravity. Youd be better off just walking there.
He was attempting to sound lighthearted about it, but his face
was turned down. Helen looked at him sideways, trying to figure
out what it must be like to know that you could go to the Louvre
and see the Mona Lisa instead of just looking at a picture of it in a
book, but youd have to go there by yourself. It must have been so
lonely for him. Hed been the only Scion who could fly for his entire
life, and that meant that hed been isolated in a lot of
waysuntil he met her.
Theres plenty of time for us to see the world, but for now, I
think youd better stay local. And since I cant ask you to do
something that I wouldnt be willing to do myself, I promise I
wont go off island without you, he said.
Yeah, right, Helen said, laughing and trying to pull her hand
out of his, but he held on to her.
Im serious, he said, tugging on her hand and pulling her toward
him until she was practically stepping on his feet. Theres
another reason I want you stay over the island, especially when Im
not with you. My family cant protect you if they cant find you.
Dont forget, those women are still out there. And Creon will be
back for you. . . .
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At the mention of Creons name, it came flooding back to her. He
had tried to kill her, and he very nearly succeeded. The dizzying
darkness had been bad enough, but he had forced her to use her
lightning and relive another terrible memory as well.