thought you were a feminist!
Whats that got to do with anything?
Arent you always preaching that there can be no equality if the
sexes objectify each other?
Yeah, but damn! Kate said, fanning herself with her hand.
When I was your age all of the guys were trying to prove how antiestablishment
they were by out-uglying each other. I so got
robbed!
Keep on going and Ill tell my dad hes got competition, Helen
teased, but the joke didnt have the effect she thought it would. The
laughter went right out of Kates eyes and the smile melted off her
face.
I dont think it would make any difference to him, she said, and
then abruptly changed the subject. But were not talking about
me. Were talking about you and Lucas and the importance of
condoms.
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After several rounds of denial, and a few breaks to help customers,
Kate finally accepted the fact that Helen was still as pure as the
driven snow.
Is he gay? Kate asked. I mean, look at you, Len.
I havent asked, but Im pretty sure hes straight, Helen replied,
and then she sighed. I honestly dont know whats going on.
No reason to rush, and dont let anyone make you feel bad if you
want to wait, either. Its more fun if you take your time, anyway,
Kate said with a warm smile, changing the subject at the first sign
of Helens discomfort.
Although Kate seemed convinced that eventually she and Lucas
would go beyond virginal hand-holding, Helen suddenly wasnt so
sure. The one time she had tried to kiss Lucas he had told her to go
to sleep. Despite what everyone was saying about them, the truth
was that she and Lucas were no more than friends. Lucas could
have anyone he wanted, and if Kates response was any indication,
that included women long out of high school.
Knowing that didnt do anything to help Helens confidence. She
could tell that Lucas liked hershed caught him staring at her and
shed heard his heart pound when she lay down next to himbut
for some reason Lucas didnt seem to want to do anything about it.
Was that the way dating always was in the beginning, or was she
unintentionally doing something to push Lucas away? Shed never
had a boyfriend, and she honestly didnt know what normal was.
After work, she went home and forced herself to do all of her
school assignments before bed. By the time she switched out the
light it was well past two. Helen was beyond tired, but she still
couldnt fall asleep. She felt like she was missing something, or
maybe misunderstanding something. Lucas obviously liked her
and felt protective of her, but neither of those things meant that he
was attracted to her. Maybe she wasnt his type. Maybe he even
had a girlfriend back in Spain. Helen imagined a dark siren with
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long black curls, olive skin, and a sexy Spanish accent waiting for
Lucas to come back to Europe.
She flopped over in bed and put a pillow over her head, vowing
not to be the pathetic loser who chases after a boy she can never
have. She needed more information about Lucas, but since he was
new in school, and no one knew his previous history with girls,
Helen was going to have to see what she could get out of Ariadne
and hope she didnt come off as too obvious.
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UNCORRECTED E-PROOFNOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
.....................................................................
Chapter Nine
Keep sticking your chin out like that and Ill knock it
off for you, Hector yelled. Hed been doing a lot of
yelling over the past hour and a half.
Helen obediently tucked in her chin and lifted her
fists up to guard her face. She kept her center of
gravity low and moved her feet in sweeping crescents in case there
were obstacles on the ground that she would need to brush out of
the way. She circled Hector, watching his hips in case he shot in to
take her to the mat. She did everything hed told her to. Then Hector
smirked and punched her in the face, his hands moving in a
blurry haze. She fell on her butt for the tenth time and after a moment
looked up at him through her ever-healing eyes.
That was your left again, huh? she asked mildly.
What the hell is wrong with you? he said in a voice that reminded
Helen of Mr. Hergeshimer. Youre faster than me. Why
dont you get out of my way?
Helen shrugged and stood up, adopting a defensive stance again.
Hector immediately punched her in the gut, and she fell to her
knees.
Thats enough, Hector, shouted Lucas in a tight voice. Helen
held up a hand, gesturing to Lucas that it was okay as she stood up.
Again.
She wanted Lucas to stay out of this. For some reason, Helens
first real sparring session had turned personal for Hector, and she
wanted him to go all the way to the end of whatever trip he was on
so he could get it out of his system. The punishment hurt, but not
nearly as badly as her cramps, so she could deal with it. As soon as
she was back on her feet, Hector took them out from under her
again with a leg sweep.
Easy! yelled Jason. Shes never fought before, you dickhead!
Helen looked up and saw Jason place a hand on Lucass
shoulder, stopping him from jumping into the cage. Im fine, guys.
Nothing to worry about, she said as cheerfully as she could, getting
up yet again. Hector did not appreciate her tone.
Why wont you take this seriously? he shouted at Helen. She
bent down to spit out the taste of the blood in her mouth, and
Hector reeled back and punched her again in the head.
Stop it! screamed Cassandra from someplace beyond Helens
vision. She isnt a natural fighter, okay? When are you going to get
that through your thick skull?
Helen felt terribleshe knew she must be a bloody mess to get
someone who didnt even like her that upset.
By the time Helen had struggled back up to her knees, Cassandra
was no longer in the practice room where the Scions kept their
punching bags and fight cage. Helen swallowed a mouthful of spit
and blood and instantly regretted it when she choked on one of her
own teeth.
May I have some water, please? she asked Ariadne, who was
standing over her with a damp cloth.
On the other side of the cage, Helen saw Jason standing between
Lucas and Hector. Jasons shirt was half torn off and blood was
running from a cut on his head, but still he fought to keep the two
larger Delos boys from ripping each other up like wrapping paper
on Christmas morning. Hector was yelling at Lucas, pleading his
case.
She can take anything. Anything! I hit her harder than Ive ever
hit anyone and she stood right back up! But she wont hit back!
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Hector roared, his voice crack
ing with passion. He saw Helen looking
at him and pointed an accusing finger at her. You think you
can just stand back and let Luke do all your fighting for you?
Youre stronger than all of us combined, but youre too good to
fight, Princess?
Jason wrapped both his arms around his brother and held on as
Hector bucked and struggled.
Im not trying to get hit! Helen lisped through her broken and
rapidly regrowing teeth. Ariadne put her own arms around Helen
and held her as she stared daggers at her big brother.
How dare you, Hector? She wasnt raised like we were, always at
each others throats. It just isnt in her, she scolded.
Hector seemed chastened by his sisters tone and finally stopped
struggling against Jasons restraint. He slumped against his brother
for a moment and then abruptly pushed him away. Then, with
one easy leap he jumped over of the fifteen-foot-high fence surrounding
the fight mat and landed with an intentionally loud slap.
Shed better get it in her. Because I dont want any of the people
I love to die defending her lazy ass, he rasped. As he walked out of
the fight room, Lucas ran to Helen.
Im so sorry. He reached out and took Helen from Ariadnes
arms. You dont ever have to fight him again.
Why not? Helen asked, pushing off his chest, her speech still
slurred from taking too many knocks to the head. I may not be a
natural fighter, but hes right. I need to learn this or someone else
could get hurt. Someone like my father, or Claire, or Kate . . . Those
women are still after me. They could hurt anyone I care about.
Lucas caught her as she fell over. He looked over her mashed-up
face inch by inch as he carried her out of the cage and into a back
area that served as both locker room and medical facility.
He sat her on top of a stainless-steel table and left her for just a
moment to gather some gauze, a basin of water, and, strangely, a
juice box and a jar of raw honey. He didnt say a word, but gestured
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for her to open her mouth, which she did, and then he started
drizzling honey onto her tongue. As soon as her taste buds registered
the oily sweet sunshine taste, she understood. Honey was
the perfect health food for demigods. A feral need kicked in, and
she grabbed his wrist with both her hands and held on until she
was licking the jar clean.
When the honey was gone she finally caught her breath. She
looked up and met Lucass eyes, and nodded at his inquisitive look,
as if to say that she was better now. Without a word, Lucas pushed
a plastic straw into the juice box and gave it to Helen to hold on to
as he started in on her cuts with the gauze and some hot water.
Helen was having a hard time seeing straight. Everything was out
of focus, and her eyes couldnt seem to get a hold of Lucas. It was
strange. Her vision kept sliding off his shape, as if it was too slippery
for her gaze. She tried to watch Lucass expression as he
doctored her cuts, but it was almost impossible to see him. As the
minutes ticked by and Helen healed on her own, Lucas became visible
again and Helen could see that the grooves of worry dug into
his forehead loosened and went away. He dabbed at the leftover
blood and sighed.
Why didnt you get out of Hectors way, Helen? he asked softly,
breaking the long silence. Why didnt you block with your hands?
Hes faster than me, she replied, but they both knew that wasnt
the whole truth, and as she took in his skeptical look she continued.
I knew if I started blocking him hed just get angrier, and
then I would eventually have no choice but to hit him so hard he
wouldnt be able to hit me back.
Thats sort of the point of fighting, you know, Lucas said with a
touch of a smile.
Then I dont want any part of it, Helen said seriously. I dont
want to hurt people, Lucas. Cant you teach me something else?
Like what? he asked, at a loss.
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Like what you did in the hallway at school that first time we saw
each other. How you spun me around and stood between my legs
so I couldnt get at you? That didnt hurt me at all, but you still had
me beat. Or what you did on your lawn that night. Remember? I
was on top of you and then you did that thing with your hips? she
said with building optimism. He nodded and looked away.
Its called jujitsu. Its for hand-to-hand fighting and Id rather
you never got that close to your opponents. But Ill teach it to you if
you want, he said quietly.
Looking up at Lucas, Helen realized she was still seeing spots.
She had to brace herself by putting her hands on his waist. As the
spots went away she could see the color rising in Lucass cheeks,
and she felt waves of heat coming off his skin. Helen could smell
his scent and it made her feel quiet and still, almost drowsy.
And flying, Helen said, suddenly breaking herself out of her
languid mood. You still have to teach me how to get airborne.
Once I learn that, I can just fly away from the bad guys.
Ill teach you how to fly, he said softly, nodding his head and
looking down. Helen searched for his eyes, but he wouldnt look at
her. She wiped a hand across her face and it came back streaked
with blood.
Am I really that hideous right now? she asked as she leaned
away from him, suddenly self-conscious. To Helens surprise he
didnt reply, he just pulled her against him and held her.
Promise me something, he said into her hair. He waited for her
to nod before continuing. Promise me that next time you fight
youre not going to just stand there and let the other guy beat the
crap out of you until hes too tired to lift his arms.
If I can avoid it, believe me, I will, Helen said with a little laugh,
but Lucas pulled away from her so he could look her in the eye.
I wont watch that again. You understand me? he said sternly.
She nodded slowly and saw his face relax a little. His eyes were so
intense she had to glance around for something else to talk about.
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Your shirt, Helen said, pointing to the bloody print of her face
on his chest. Which reminds me. Ive ruined these workout
clothes Ariadne gave me. Should I change into another set, or are
we done?
Were done. You can put your street clothes back on after you
wash up, he said briskly as if to banish the heavy mood he had
fallen into. He took her face in his hands one last time and examined
her former cuts. After a few moments he released her. You
certainly do heal fast. But youll still have some impressive bruises,
so if I were you Id avoid your father for the rest of the night.
Ill just tell him you abuse me, Helen said with a shrug. She
jumped off the examining table.
And Ill tell him you like it, he teased back, his voice rich and
slow. Helen looked
up at him, feeling drowsy again. For a moment
he was just a breath away from her, but then he backed away.
As he walked out of the locker room he stripped off his bloody
shirt and threw it in the garbage. Helens vision stabilized again,
and she watched his bare back moving away from her. The last
cobwebs clearing from her eyes, she decided that if Lucas was gay
then she was going to have to get a sex change operation. He would
be so worth it.
While she cleaned up she got a chance to examine her mouth.
Her left front tooth was still in the process of growing back in, and
Helen had to laugh at how ridiculous she looked. How Lucas had
managed to keep a straight face while he looked at her when she
was as gap-toothed as a six-year-old was beyond comprehension.
Then she realized he must have seen it so many times that he
barely noticed it. Helen thought about what Ariadne had saidthat
they had grown up at each others throats. As if summoned by
Helens thoughts, Ariadne poked her head into the locker room to
check in.
Do you need a hand healing? she asked timidly.
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No, but come on in, Helen replied. Maybe she would get a
chance to ask if Lucas still had a girlfriend somewhere. Hows
Cassandra?
Overly sensitive, but shell be okay. Youre the one that got a
Hector beat-down, and since I know what that feels like Im going
to ask you honestlyis anything still broken? Ariadne glided into
the locker room.
Nothing broken. Well, not anymore, Helen replied. Everything
about Ariadne was so feminine and round and lovely that Helen
simply couldnt imagine anyone hitting her. Do you guys do this to
each other often? The fighting, I mean. Ariadne was shaking her
head before Helen had even finished talking.
No. We spar together to stay in shape, but only the boys really
fight, and only when they need to get something off their chests.
Lucas and Hector do most of the fighting, obviously.
They dont get along, do they?
Yes and no, Ariadne began carefully. Hector is really proud in
general, but hes especially proud of our ancestry and our family.
He doesnt like that weve fractured the House of Thebes. Dont get
me wronghe doesnt believe all that crap that the Hundred Cousins
do, but he hates to see our House divided. And Lucas feels like
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