stop and face him. You need to quit track.
Helen stared at him for a moment. Quit track? Are you nuts?
How else am I going to get a scholarship?
That doesnt matter anymore, Lucas said, shaking his head.
Doesnt matter? Lucas, this is my life youre talking about.
Exactly. Youve been attacked, how many times now? We still
dont know who those women are. And I dont think you realize
just how big a threat Creon is even with me standing right next to
you, let alone when you go running off by yourself across the island.
This is your life were talking about, not just an athletic scholarship,
he said evenly, calmly. I want you to quit. For now,
anyway.
You have got to be kidding me, she replied, completely
deadpan.
Im not. Quit track. Until we figure out how to deal with Creon,
its too dangerous.
What if I just walked up to you and told you to quit football?
she asked sarcastically.
282/395
Done, he said, holding his hands out in a placating gesture. I
told you once, and I meant it, that Id never ask you to do
something that I wouldnt do myself. Were in this together.
Youre . . . Thats . . . I cant believe youre putting this on me!
she yelled, pointing a finger at him childishly. She stomped around
in a circle, kicking at the sand and trying to figure out why she was
so upset.
Im not putting it on you! Its on both of us! Thats what Ive
been trying to tell you, he urged, raising his voice in frustration.
Ive always felt stuck on this island, and I always thought track
would be my one way to get off of it. Now youre telling me to give
up on all of my plans like its the easiest thing in the world!
Its easier than dying! he shouted at her, but there was a humorous
lilt creeping into his voice and a smile tugging at his lips.
And I dont know if youve noticed this or not, but you can fly.
Youre not going to be stuck anywhere again!
Helen didnt want to laugh. In fact, she was working very hard to
give him a penetrating glare, but no matter how hard she tried, she
couldnt keep a straight face. She made a horrible noise, a huge
piggy-sounding snort, and that made Lucas double up and laugh so
hard he had to put his hands on his knees to brace himself. As
Helen covered her face and really let herself laugh, she felt Lucas
put his arms around her.
They held on to each other, each of them propping the other up.
Thats when Helen started to understand how things really worked
between her and Lucas. They had to do this together, had to share
fifty-fiftythe huge burdens that had been placed on them, or they
would be crushed.
Lucas turned his lips toward her cheek as he ran his hand up her
spine and began to stroke the back of her neck. She felt the muscles
across his shoulders tense and he suddenly pushed a knee between
her thighs. Helen gasped and tried to decide if she should pull him
down on top of her like she wanted, or push him away like he
283/395
wanted, but she didnt get the chance to do either. As quickly as he
had changed, he switched back. He pulled away from her with a
sad smile, and then jumped into the air.
You know, you dont need to run track to get into a good school.
Youre going to kill it on your SATs, he said breezily, but with the
faintest bit of a quiver still lingering in his voice.
Thats what Hergie thinks, too, Helen said. She still felt a bit
dazed and shaky. She joined him in the sky and continued her
thought when she finally had one. I just didnt want to be that girl,
you know? The girl who does whatever her boyfriend tells her to do
because she wants someone else to make all the tough decisions for
her.
I hate that girl, Lucas said with a wrinkled nose as they flew
back, hand in hand, to his house.
Everyone hates that girl. Thats why I cant automatically do
whatever you say, even if you are right. Ive got my pride, Helen
said jokingly as they landed in his yard, but he didnt laugh. She
squeezed his hand. What is it?
Pride is a really dangerous thing for Scions. Were prone to it,
and its usually our downfall. I know you were kidding, but be careful,
okay? he said gently.
Oh, yeah. Hubris. Ancient Greeces big no-no. Helen nodded
sagely. Lucas gave her a surprised look. What? Ive been doing my
mythology homework. Actually, I guess its my history homework,
isnt it?
It is. Family history, he said, and pulled her close to him.
They walked down to the fight cage with their arms around each
other before separating. They changed into workout clothes and
met back on the practice mat.
Helen was expecting there to be a little lingering tension between
her and Lucas after his slip at Great Point, but if anything, that
momentary loss of self-control only served to make him more focused
on training. Usually, there was a moment or two when one
284/395
or the other of them would become conscious of the intimate positions
they pressed each other into as Helen tried to grasp the basics
of jujitsu, but not that afternoon. Lucas was all business.
I just realized, weve been fighting all day, Helen said as she
tried and failed to break out of his armbar for the tenth time. And
I dont think Ive won once.
How long has it been? he asked, suddenly curious about
something she didnt understand right away. He craned his head
and looked at the clock on the wall, then back at Helen. Do you
have your bolts back yet?
Helen connected to that strange sense at the bottom of her belly
and felt a spark there. She nodded at Lucas, a bit surprised, and he
grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet.
Then lets go try it out, he said with a grin as he led her out of
the gym.
Wait, Helen said uncertainly, stopping him with an outstretched
hand. My lightning almost killed you today.
Because you dont know how to control it yet. Lucas turned and
cupped her shoulders in his hands. You have to accept this. I
know it freaks you out, but as harsh as it sounds, youve just got to
get over it. This is who you are, Helen, and Im not afraid of you, or
your lightning. So you shouldnt be, either.
Helen looked up at Lucas. His eyes were so sure, so accepting.
You know what? she said, standing up straighter. I want to
learn how to control my lightning.
Yeah, you do! he nearly shouted. When they got outside, they
saw Hectors truck pull up and the rest of the Delos siblings pile
out.
Were going to test her bolts! Lucas yelled toward them. Jason
and Hector glanced at each other briefly with wide eyes. They both
broke into a run.
How long has is been? Hector shouted, sprinting toward them,
&
nbsp; giddy as a schoolgirl.
285/395
About an hour and forty-five minutes, Lucas said. She drank
two gallons of water.
And I still feel a little thirsty, Helen admitted.
Well, get her some more water, Lucas! Cassandra ordered as
she and Ariadne caught up. How is she supposed to make lightning
bolts without hydrogen?
Right, Lucas said distractedly. Jumping into the air, he flew to
the house and back in about twenty seconds. Why didnt you tell
me you were thirsty? he asked Helen, handing her a large bottle
still cold from the fridge.
I didnt know. I guess I should start paying better attention to
that, Helen mumbled to herself sheepishly.
You have to pay attention to everything that makes you more
powerful. And your bolts make you very powerful, Hector said, a
feline grin spreading across his face. Helen tipped the bottle back
and drank deeply.
That door was insane! Jason exclaimed. Recalling it, he rubbed
a hand across his face in that Delos gesture that Helen always noticed.
It was like you had taken an industrial-strength welder to
it.
How many volts do you think you have stored right now? Cassandra
asked. They all entered the arena.
No idea. Helen shrugged. She felt for the charge and tried to
gauge it, but she couldnt describe it. Its a feeling, not a digital
readout, Cass.
Oh, then wait! Cassandra said, holding up her hands. Maybe I
can devise a way to measure it.
Cassie, geek out later! Were all dying to see this right now,
Hector whined.
All right, fine! Sorry, Helen. Whenever youre ready, she reluctantly
allowed.
The Delos family moved behind Helen, giving her plenty of room
to aim her bolt out across the nonconductive sand of the arena. She
286/395
held up her right hand. That was the hand she wrote with, but it
didnt feel like the best fit, so she switched to her left. Then she
summoned her boltdeliberately for the first time.
Lightning shot out of her hand. Not static, not some pathetic
splinter of a spark, but actual lightning. It arced forward in a
bright, branching blur, and it made a huge cracking sound, like an
orchestra of leather bullwhips snapping simultaneously. One
second the air was full of blinding icy blue light, and the next
second half of the arena was coated in a thick sheet of smoking
amber-colored glass.
No one said anything for a second.
Unbefrickinglievable, Hector cussed quietly into the silence.
Helen smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and
stumbled toward the water bottle that Lucas automatically held out
for her. She finished an entire liter in five gulps.
Maybe that was a bit much, she said as she leaned against
Lucas.
You could have fried about fifty people, Ariadne murmured distractedly,
looking from Helen to the irregular sheet of glass.
I dont want to fry fifty people. Fifty French fries, sure. Who
wouldnt want fifty French fries? Delicious, Helen said. She felt
herself give a goofy grin.
The electricity makes her a little confused, Lucas explained to
his siblings in an embarrassed tone. I hope it isnt bad for her.
Its not the voltage, Lucas. Its severe dehydration! Cassandra
chastised. Her body is built to handle electricity. Its the drain of
the fluids out of her tissues that makes her seem like an airhead.
And that isnt permanent or damaging, so stop worrying.
In the kitchen, Helen put her lips under the faucet. Everyone
waited patiently for Helen to drink her fill while they stared at one
another behind her back. She could feel their fear. It was exactly
287/395
why she had suppressed her power to begin with. That power was
so intense, so destructive, it was impossible for anyone to trust it.
Helen shut off the tap and turned to face them. Did I just freak
everyone out? she asked.
Yeah, Lucas said, his face a mask. Helens throat closed and her
whole body went still. She kept her eyes on Lucas, but she was
waiting for any one of them to condemn her for going too far. Lucas
looked up at Helen and smiled at her. He smiled like he was
proud of her.
But thats our problem, not yours, he said firmly. Theres nothing
wrong with what you can do. Theres nothing wrong with you.
Plus, I bet youre real good at making smores, Ariadne added.
But the real question is, can she do it without liquefying the
chocolate? Jason asked, like he was some kind of smores guru.
Helen looked from face to face, her heart aching a bit with gratitude
to find nothing but acceptance and compassion wherever her
eyes landed.
After all the talk of French fries and smores, everyone had junk
food on the brain, so they headed to a local mom-and-pop burger
shack by the beach. When Helen and Lucas got up to the counter,
the cashier reached out to touch Helens necklace.
Its a sea horse! I love sea horses, the woman enthused, raising
her hand to touch it, and dropping it again in embarrassment.
Helen thanked herbecause she would have felt rude if she
didntput in her order with Lucas and then they sat down in one
of the booths, where they looked at each other, confused.
Your necklace isnt a sea horse, its a heart, Lucas disagreed
vehemently.
What are you talking about, Luke? Hector said, sounding disparaging.
Helens necklace is a cockleshell. Always has been, although
I just noticed it today. Weird, he said, twisting up his face
in confusion.
288/395
Nuh-uh, Jason said with a disagreeing grimace. Its a strawberry.
I was just looking at it this morning.
Heart, Lucas insisted.
Has everyone lost their minds? Shes wearing a golden key with
pavé rubies on the top, Ariadne said, reaching out to touch it.
Which, by the way, I think is so lovely.
Helen, still a little punch-drunk with dehydration, got up and
went over to a pair of complete strangers at another booth. She
smiled at the two shocked tourists, pointed to her necklace, and
asked the man closest to her what he thought it looked like.
A rose. Of course, he said with a hopeful smile. His friend
leaned in and took a look, as if he were drawn to it.
Thats a locket, he said with a faraway look in his eye. Just like
my mom used to wear.
Thanks, Helen said to them, then turned and went back to her
table with a shrug. Youre all wrong, except for Lucas. My mom
gave me this charm when I was a baby. Its a heart, and Ive never
worn anything but this heart since, like, forever.
Thats what I see! Cassandra said like she had just solved a
mystery. Ive been wondering what everyone was talking about!
Helen sat back down next to Lucas. Personally, I think you all
see what you want to see.
Cassandras mouth dropped open. Oh my gods! Shes projecting!
Thats why everyone is so cheerful and suddenly started jumping
on top of each other like its mating season at the zoo. she
said. Her eyes were wide. She looked at Hector. I need to go home
right now.
But . . . our burgers, he said, slightly forlorn but also aware of
the fact that he was going to end up doing whatever Cassandra told
him to do.
Well need all this to go, Cassandra said to the food runner. She
turned to Helen. I think Ive figured this out, but I still need to test
it.
289/395
They raced back to the Delos compound, the rowdy group storming
into the library and upsetting Castor and Pallas. Cassandra
dragged one of the ladders over to a high shelf of her choosing and
then had Lucas hold the bottom for her while she climbed. As she
did so she told her father and uncle to look at Helens necklace and
describe what they saw.
It looks like . . . Thats impossible, Pallas said, his eyes hardening
with anger as he took an involuntary step back.
What do you see? Castor cautiously asked his brother.
I gave that to Aileen, Pallas said, pointing to Helens necklace
like he was accusing Helen of stealing it.
Cass? Lucas called up to his sister, worried.
Her necklace looks like whatever would attract the person who
looks at it. That ability is only related to one goddess and one relic,
Cassandra called down, still searching for something. Aphrodites
cestus.
That cant be, Pallas said, shaking his head. We might as well
say she has the aegis of Zeus. Or the Loch Ness monster, for that
matter. Its folklore, it doesnt exist.
Whats a cestus? Helen asked quietly, in case it was such a stupid
question everyone needed to be able to pretend like they didnt
hear her.
The cestus is Aphrodites girdle, Lucas responded automatically,
his eyes darting from Cassandra to Castor before they landed
back on Helen. Its a mythical object that makes the wearer impervious
to any weapon.
And impossible to resist, Castor added. He cast a worried look
at his son.
And Im supposed to have this thing on me? Well, I hate to
break it to you, but Im fresh out of mythical girdles, Helen said
Starcrossed Page 33
