by Unknown
hormone-infested boys from getting any closer to her.
By the time the bell rang for classes, all of Helens normal friends
had been driven away from the tablea table that had been theirs
since freshmen year. Matts sad look made Helen wonder how long
it had been since the two of them had been able to talk. It must
have been months.
Claire wasnt waiting for her at the trail when track practice started.
It was silly for her to try to avoid Helen by leaving without her,
because they both knew that she could catch up with Claire no
matter how far behind she was, but the intent was clear. When
Helen came jogging up, Claire didnt even turn to look at her.
Just keep running, Hamilton. I am so not into you right now,
Claire said as she veered away and raised her arm in a talk to the
hand gesture.
From many years of experience Helen knew that Claire needed to
punish her a little before shed be ready to move forward. Then
theyd talk on the phone, make up, and the next day everything
would be back to normal. Just this one time, Helen wished they
could skip to the end of the fight, especially since she hadnt done
anything, but she knew better than to rush Claire. Instead, Helen
dutifully ran past her.
After a few minutes of running alone, Helen started to get bored
with the mortal pace. She looked at her watch to calculate exactly
how much time she would need to kill before making her way back
to the trailhead, and took off across the moors at an impossible
speed. She knew Lucas could simply step up into the air and start
flying, but so far that approach hadnt worked for her. Maybe she
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needed to be running to get airborne, kind of like an airplane. Here
was a chance to test that theory.
As Helen struck out off the trail and through the marshy land
surrounding Miacomet Pond, she began to sense the lightness she
associated with flight. There was a fluttery feeling in her stomach,
a barely contained wildness that she assumed was an expression of
Scion power. She felt static energy running over her skin. It was as
if she had rubbed a balloon over her entire body and then held it
just far enough away so that her whole surface felt the outward tug
of an electrical field.
Taking an experimental leap, Helen soared up into the air. At
first she thought she had done it, that she was flying, but she soon
felt herself reach the top of a very large arc and begin to descend.
She had merely jumped higher than ever beforetoo highand
her brain was still hardwired to believe that when she hit the
ground she would go splat and die.
She tried to grab at the air, and although there was a part of her
that knew how to make it hold her, she was either too scared or not
scared enough to do the trick in time. She hit the ground at an
angle and went into a skid, her feet digging up two loamy troughs
in the mud.
She was fine, of course, but still deeply shaken. Her knees were
wobbly and she had to laugh to let out the crazy feeling flapping
around inside her chest. After she had calmed down a bit she
hauled herself up off her butt. She pulled her feet out of the mud
and started to walk back toward the school, feeling like a jackass.
She was covered in smelly muck up to her waist, and in her head
she pictured how she must have looked as she came down from her
leap, her arms pinwheeling frantically like a cartoon character falling
off a cliff.
She glanced around to make sure no one had spotted her in her
moment of foolishness, just out of habit, but she wasnt expecting
anyone to be near. Her heart turned over when she saw a dark
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smudge turn into a mans shape. Then he suddenly stopped and
changed direction just over the next rise. He had seen her get up
and walk away laughing after falling from fifty feet high. Worse
than that, Helen could see there was something wrong with the
way he moved. He was going much too fast to be human.
Her entire body tensed instinctively. Without even thinking
about it she took off after the dark shape. Whoever he was, he was
headed back toward the high schoolback toward Claire, who was
probably huffing and puffing along, slow and small and human.
The image of Kate lying unconscious on the ground flashed
through her head and spurred Helen to run faster. She skipped
over massive swaths of landscape, bounding recklessly over hillocks
and cranberry bogs, unable to think of anything but catching
him.
She noticed that she was having a hard time finding him in the
strange shadowy light, but as she got closer, the darkness that
seemed to swath itself around him abated a little and she was able
to pinpoint his location. It looked like he was sucking light out of
the air. There was something creepy about the way the dark shadows
radiated out from him like a sinister halohe was definitely
controlling the light. That meant he was another descendant of
Apolloone of the Hundred Cousins from the House of Thebes,
and therefore a threat.
From what she could see, the shadowy man was a few years older
than she was, but still barely out of his teens. When she was only a
few paces behind him she could see that he had fair hair and skin.
With a fresh burst of speed she reached out, trying to grab on to
him, and ripped off his shirt. Finally, he allowed the last of the
darkness clinging to him to be swept away by the sun glowing on
his huge, bare shoulders. Up close, he looked so similar to Hector
in both coloring and build that they could have been twins.
Before she could digest that fact, a horrendous cramp crumpled
up her torso like origami, and Helen tumbled to the ground with a
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scream. She curled up on the ground in fetal position, unable move
or even take a breath. Through the long blades of grass that partially
obscured her vision she could see the blond, shirtless Cousin
trot back toward her with an inquisitive look on his face.
Interesting, he said with cocky smile. Something behind Helen
caught his eye and he started to back away. Ill see you sooner
rather than later, preciosa, he promised as he ran off, a dark,
ominous mist collecting to obscure his outline.
Helen tried to shout something tough and ballsy after him, but all
that came out was a pathetic moan. He was gone in a second, and
she was left to lie there alone until she was noticed or until she was
well enough to walk away. Finally, she heard someone approach.
Helen? a familiar voice said as it neared. Oh, no. It is you.
Matt, Helen grunted. Get Lucas.
He came around into Helens field of vision and got down on his
knees in front of her. Dont you think the nurse would be a better
idea? Or maybe a paramedic?
Please. Lucas. Quick.
He sighed once, rubbed Helens back in an awkwardly reassuring
way, and then got up and ran off. Once she g
ot her breathing under
control, Helen could see enough around her to take in the fact that
she was practically in the school parking lotmuch closer to the
school than she had realized. Still curled up in a ball on the
ground, Helen banged her forehead against her knees. She couldnt
believe she had been that stupid. Her ear pressed to the ground,
Helen heard approaching footsteps that were a little too heavy and
a little too quick to be a normals and smiled to herself with relief
even though she was still in terrible pain.
Thanks, Matt, she heard Lucas say from somewhere behind
her. Where are you hurt? he asked her as he came around toward
the front, Jason close behind him. Helen pointed to her stomach
and spoke with her eyes. Lucas nodded and looked around,
confused.
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Did you see what happened? he asked Matt.
I think she was running after someone. I dont know, Matt said
skeptically. I just heard from Gretchen that Helen was chasing
some guy, then she screamed and fell down.
Is that true? Lucas asked Helen with a tense face. She nodded,
and he smiled back at her, his worried eyes softening for her sake.
He plucked some of her hair off her sweaty forehead and looked
back over his shoulder.
Im on it, said Jason too quietly for a mortal to catch, and then
Helen heard his rapidly retreating footsteps.
I should go with him, began Hectors voice from someplace that
Helen still couldnt see.
No, you shouldnt, ordered Lucas sharply. I need you to get the
girls. They could have whatever sickness Helen has, and they might
need you. Right?
Right, Hector said without bitterness, suddenly understanding
Lucass hidden meaning. Cassandra and Ariadne were unaware,
unprotected, and therefore in the most danger of being attacked by
the stranger. Hector ran off so silently that Helen couldnt even
hear his feet brush against the grass, and she couldnt help but be
both impressed and a little frightened by his skill.
Matt, can you help me get Helen up? If you could just grab her
feet . . . Lucas asked in an apologetic voice.
Sure, no problem, Matt said as he slipped his hands behind her
knees. Jeez, Len, you smell awful! Did you have to fall into every
cranberry bog on the island? Helen chuckled briefly, but it hurt to
laugh so she stopped.
Helen initially wondered why Lucas would ask Matt for help
when he didnt need it, but as she listened to them talk and work
together to carry her to Hectors SUV she realized that Lucas had
to be one of the smartest people shed ever met. Not only did asking
for help make Lucas seem normal, but it also made Matt feel
needed. Lucas was treating him like a partner and, more
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important, like a man. Helen knew that if Lucas ever asked for
Matts loyalty, this simple gesture of inclusion made it more likely
that he would get it. A fresh bout of pain gripped her so tightly that
a sweat broke out on her upper lip. Helen blew out her breath
slowly, trying to navigate her way through the pain.
Lucas popped the back hatch of the SUV and laid Helen down,
then asked if Matt didnt mind waiting with them until his sister
and cousins came back.
If Helen gets any worse, Im not going to wait for them, Im just
going to take her to the hospital. If that happens Id really appreciate
it if you stayed here to tell them where I went. It shouldnt take
long, Lucas explained.
Ill stay as long as you need me, Matt offered with his usual
generosity.
Damn, Matt. Arent you tired of watching over of my sick ass
yet? Helen asked him with a half smile.
You have no idea, he said back with a smile of his own. It faded
quickly. This makes it twice this year. You never used to get sick,
Len, not even that time we all got the stomach flu after Gretchens
birthday party in fourth grade. The rest of us were puking our
brains out for two days, but you were fine.
Oh, yeah! That was so gross! Hey, at least I brought you all Gatorade
and crackers, remember? Helen said playfully. She was trying
to lighten the mood, but she was still in pain. She pressed on
her belly again and Matt frowned. He was worried, and so was she.
Her cramps had never lasted this long before.
Maybe you should quit track, Matt suggested suddenly.
I think Matts right, Lucas said, his face both surprised and
pleased that Matt had suggested it. Its obviously not good for you.
You should quit.
Helen was too stunned to respond. She stared at Lucas with her
mouth hanging open until Hector, Cassandra, and Ariadne arrived
and ended the conversation. The girls got in the SUV with Lucas
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and Helen, and Hector took the keys to the Mercedes, saying he
would wait for Jason. Ariadne offered Matt a ride home in her
sweetest voice, but he demurred. Then, after a brief and very quiet
exchange between Lucas and Hector, Lucas got behind the wheel
and drove the three girls to the Delos compound, speeding the
whole way. As they drove, Cassandra climbed into the back and
perched next to Helen with a calm poise that belied her age.
Did you get a good look at him? she asked in a level, strangely
adult voice.
Yes, Helen answered.
If I showed you some pictures, would you be able to recognize
him?
Like, mug shots? No problem, Helen said positively. Im pretty
sure there arent that many guys in the world who look exactly like
a bigger, blonder version of Hector.
She sensed the mood in the SUV shift.
Creon, whispered Cassandra.
Are you sure? Lucas asked, his head snapping up look into the
rearview mirror at Cassandra.
Yes, she answered with a dreamy look on her face. And Uncle
Pallas followed him here from Europe. Hes at home. Lucas apparently
didnt need any more information. He fished his cell
phone out of his jeans and hit speed dial.
Jase, come in. Cassie can see him now, he said in a flat,
frightened voice. He listened for just a moment and then continued,
talking over Jasons questions. When we all get back home.
Your fathers waiting for us there.
Helen felt like she had missed an important detail. Whos
Creon? she asked Cassandra as soon as she was able to sit up.
A cousin of ours, Cassandra answered unhelpfully.
Hes the one who attacked Hector in Cádiz, Ariadne said, her
voice quivering momentarily. She glanced over at Lucas, who was
just about to interrupt her, and kept going. Okay, they attacked
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each other. Creon is a radical fanatic, and hes looking for a fight
with any of the moderates, not just us. But its Hector hes really
after. Not even you can deny that, Luke.
That guy, huh? Helen asked, folding her arms over her belly a
s
she tried to make a joke. No one laughed. Her right hand felt stiff
so she flexed it. A scrap of fabric fell from her balled-up fist.
Whats that? Cassandra asked.
Um. Its Creons. I caught up to him, and when I tried to grab
him I sort of ripped his shirt off, Helen replied apologetically.
You chased him, caught up to him, and got close enough to rip
his shirt off? Ariadne said in disbelief. Apparently, Creon was fast,
even by their standards.
He saw me trying to fly, okay? Helen began, sensing that she
had done something very wrong. I didnt know who he was, I just
knew that hed seen me jump about five stories into the air and I
had to get to him before he got away.
Great, Cassandra said bitterly. He came here to check on our
family and maybe pick a fight with Hector, but now that youve exposed
yourself everything has changed.
He was heading right for the school, Helen said defensively.
And what was he going to do? Cassandra yelled back, suddenly
furious. Attack a pathetic mortal? Use your head, Helen! For some
reason the two women who attacked you havent told the rest of
the Hundred Cousins that you exist, probably because they want
the glory of killing you alone so they can have a Triumph. Creon
might be thinking the same way, but if he isnt, he will tell Tantalus.
That means half of the Family is going to be here in a few
daysand you cant even hold a sword yet!
Back off, Cassie! Lucas said heatedly. We were raised for this,
and Helens had what? A whole week to adjust? He looked at Cassandra
through the rearview mirror, and even in reflection his eyes
looked intense. Cassandra threw up her hands in surrender.
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Youre right, Cassandra. I didnt use my head, Helen said, rubbing
her stomach. Maybe we could talk to him.
Ariadne made a strangled sound.
What? Why are you all so scared of him? Helen asked.
Hes a Shadow Master, Ariadne said ominously from the front
seat. He can stop light. Its unnatural.
Helen though about the darkness that wrapped itself around
Creon and she knew what Ariadne meant. The sun wouldnt shine
on him, and Helen had instinctively felt like there was something
wrong about that.
Shadow Masters are rare, Lucas tried to explain a bit more
calmly, but Helen could still hear the fear in his voice. There
