Do you want me to stay away from you for the rest of the day?
he asked in a carefully controlled voice.
No, she thought. And yes. Both answers were completely true.
She couldnt lie to him, but the truth had suddenly become very
slippery.
I think that would be best, she mumbled.
He didnt say anything. He just turned on his heel and left her.
Hi, Luke . . . bye, Luke, Claire said as she joined them. She
looked back and forth at the two of them. Fight?
Helen shrugged and took Claires hand, leading her into the locker
room. I dont really care, was all she had the energy to say.
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As they ran the trail she asked about Claires day. She let Claire in
on the auditorium secret, and told her to tell Matt about it, too, in
order to avoid a friendship meltdown. Claire looked at her funny,
but she didnt ask any questions.
Helen felt as if the whole world had turned into some gigantic
punch line that she had waited patiently for, and then when she
heard it she found it insulting. If she had been in a comedy club
she would have gotten up and walked out, but instead she had to
go to the comedians house after school and let his cousin beat the
crap out of her.
When track was over, Helen dutifully rode her bike to the Delos
compound, arriving before Lucas, Jason, and Hector did. She went
down to the tennis courts, which were in the process of being converted
into a proper fighting arena with a sandy bottom, and
looked around. There was a sword on the ground. She picked it up
and gave it a swing to see how it felt.
It felt goofy as hell. Helen supposed she wasnt a swordswoman.
I think Hector wants you to learn the spear first. Its considered
traditional, Cassandra said behind her.
Wouldnt want to mess with tradition, Helen said sarcastically
as she threw the sword down, point first, into the sand so that the
hilt made a cross above the ground.
Yes, you would. In fact, I think thats what your mother had in
mind for you all along, Cassandra said in that spooky, faraway
voice she had a tendency to slip into at crucial moments. But
naming you is something your mother did in the past, and I can
only see the future.
Youre an oracle! Helen said, astonished. She should have
known all along.
Suddenly, she wasnt so sure she wanted to be alone with Cassandra.
There was something wrong about her eyes. Helen started
to circle around her, always keeping an equal distance between
them, but subtly closing the gap between herself and the exit.
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Delphi, Delos. And the Oracle at Delphi was always one of
Apollos chosen priests, Helen said as evenly as she could, trying
to keep Cassandra distracted.
Close. The Oracle was always one of Apollos Scions, and always
a priestess. A girl, Cassandra said bitterly. The Oracle of Delphi is
the female offspring of Apollo and the Three Fates.
Im pretty sure that wasnt in the book you gave me, Helen said
uncertainly as Cassandra pulled the sword out of the ground, hefted
it in her hand thoughtfully, and took a few steps toward her.
It wasnt made known to any of the ancient historians, but they
did know that Apollo is the son of Zeus, and not one of the original
gods. He was second generation, a kind of glorified Scion, and, like
us, he was going to die eventually. Cassandra came closer to
Helen, still holding the sword.
Then why didnt he? Helen asked cautiously, trying to stay calm
so as not to provoke her. She circled back the other way, never taking
her eyes off the bright bronze blade that Cassandra alternately
lifted and let fall, as if she couldnt entirely bring herself to raise it.
Apollo made a deal with the Three Fates, she said, half distracted
by some darker thought. He offered them something they
couldnt have without him. A baby girl. He swore on the River Styx
to give them offspring, and in return they swore never to cut his
string of life. From that day on, Apollo got his immortality, and
every generation one girl who is descended from him belongs to
the Fates. Shes their spiritual daughter, and occasionally she can
see what her mothers have in store for the world.
Cassandra was stalling, Helen realized. Whatever she was planning
to do unsettled her, but even though she seemed uncertain,
she continued to close in. As she did, light started to dance backward
into her skin, and her eyes and teeth glowed with the vaguely
purple hue of black light. Helen knew that she was older, larger,
and stronger than Cassandra, but she also knew she was still the
one in danger. Cassandra was not the only being inside that tiny
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body. She was being visited and maybe even partially controlled by
the Three Fates.
Helen watched as Cassandra cut off her exit. Helen could always
fly away, now that she knew how to get airborne, but she wasnt
sure if she could control her flight once she was aloft. She also
didnt know how to land without Lucas holding her hand. But right
now she was more afraid of the Oracle with the sword than she was
of falling out of the sky. Helen was about to take her chances with
flight when Cassandras demeanor suddenly changed. She went
from being the dark, fiery messenger of the Fates to being a very
vulnerable young girl.
I saw something, Helen, she said desperately. Then I saw it
again, and again. Ive been so ashamed and frightened that I
havent told anyone else what I saw. And I am so sorry if Im
wrongfor all of our sakes. But I have to do this . . . because . . .
this is what comes next.
Her eyes were filling up with tears. She looked so tormented
Helen would have done anything to make her feel better. She
smiled understandingly at Cassandra, who tried to control her
hitching breath as she nodded in return and wrapped both hands
around the hilt of her sword. She swung it over her shoulder and
paused, waiting for Helen to be ready.
Helen choked back the scream that was trying to climb out of her
mouth.
If Cassandra, the Oracle of Delphi, had foreseen her death, was
there any sense in fighting it? Did Helen really have a choice?
The thought of not being in control of her own destiny made her
angry. Angry enough to hold her head up and make the only decision
that she could, even if it was potentially the last decision she
would ever make.
I could try to fly away, but whats that saying from Oedipus Rex?
You meet your fate on the road you take to escape it, right? So go
ahead and do what you have to do. Im choosing to get this over
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with right now, Helen responded as evenly as she could while her
whole body shook with fear.
Cassandra swung her sword. In that millisecond Helen knew
shed had a good life, because she suddenly loved it so much that
she could have wept with gratitude. Shed had amazing friends, the
best dad in the world, and a strong, healthy body. Shed even experienced
the joy of flight. And once, just once, in the middle of the
night, shed almost kissed the only boy she ever wanted. . . .
Helen felt a strange, vibrating tickle, like someone had pressed a
gigantic kazoo against the side of her throat and blown on it. She
saw Cassandras eyes widen as she pulled the blade back from the
side of Helens neck and looked at it.
The sword was totally mangled in the middle section, all
crunched up on itself like a squeezed piece of tinfoil. Cassandra
stared at Helen in shock for a moment. Relieved tears spilled down
her cheeks.
I was right. She dropped the sword and grabbed Helen in a
hug. Then she started jumping up and down, making Helen jump
with her. Youre not dead! This is . . . You have no idea how happy
I am I didnt just kill you! she squealed.
Ditto, Helen said in a daze. She was alive.
Hang on. We still have to test this, Cassandra said excitedly as
she ran over to a chest of weapons in the corner of the fenced off
court. She threw open the lid and grabbed a bow and arrow. Grinning,
she shot Helen in the chest.
Helen heard Ariadne scream something behind her, and
someone running at demigod speed to overtake the arrow, but it
was too late. The arrow struck her and bounced off her chest, making
a faint twanging sound as it did so. Too late to change course,
Jason plowed into her from behind and knocked her to the ground.
They rolled over together until he was propped up on his elbows
above her, staring at her chest with disbelief.
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I saw that arrow strike you, he said vehemently as if he were
swearing in front of a grand jury.
It did, said Cassandra from the other end of the tennis court,
beaming with pleasure.
I think Cassies finally lost it, Hector whispered sadly, but
without surprise, to Ariadne.
No, I havent lost it, Hector. I saw it, Cassandra said, still smiling
from ear to ear. Helen cant be hurt by any weapon. Try it
yourself. She pulled a sword out of the box, offering it to him.
Cass, just put the sword down, Ariadne said with a hand raised
in an appeasing gesture. We can talk about this.
Im not crazy! Cassandra screamed, suddenly livid.
She isnt crazy, Helen said with conviction. She untangled herself
from Jason and stood. Go ahead, Cass. Shoot me.
Cassandra locked another arrow in her bow and shot Helenin
the head this time. Ariadne screamed again, but the scream trailed
off lamely when they all saw the arrow bounce right off. Everyone
was silent for a moment.
No frigging way! Hector shouted, a touch of envy making him
sound almost angry.
Did that hurt? Jason asked as he turned to Helen, a look of disbelief
on his face.
Maybe a tiny bit, Helen said, but Jason was too excited to really
listen. He ran over to the box, pulled out a javelin, and chucked it
at Helen. It bounced right off.
Okay, that stung, Helen said, smiling and raising her hands to
signal in a friendly way that shed had enough, but Hector had
already picked up a sword and was stalking toward her.
Ill stop as soon as you start bleeding, okay? he said casually before
he started hacking away at her. Four strokes in, and the blade
was ruined.
Helen stumbled back with raised arms and fell down. She wasnt
wounded, but the instinct to protect herself was still there, and
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Hector was absolutely terrifying when he attacked. The rain of
blows ended abruptly when the sword fell apart. She tried to stand
back up, but as soon as she did she was thrown down again as
something fell from the sky and landed violently on top of Hector.
Lucas had rammed into Hector from above, driving his cousin two
feet into the dirt before he reared back on his knees to hit him.
Lucas, stop! Helen screamed in concert with Cassandra and
Ariadne.
Jason didnt yell, but as usual, he dove on top of the other two to
put himself between them. In his rage, Lucas hit Jason accidentally,
and that misguided blow made him stop and look at his cousins
more clearly. Hector lay at the bottom of the pile, covered in
layers of dirt, his hands held up in a surrendering gesture. Jason
lay across his brothers body, bleeding from the mouth and pushing
on Lucass shoulders to keep him back. Lucas blinked and
looked up at Helen.
He was trying to kill you. Lucas lowered his raised fist. He
forced his eyes to focus on Hector and his voice frayed at the edges,
like he was a young boy. I saw it. You had a sword.
Im okay. Look at me, Lucas. No blood. Im fine, Helen said
gently as she moved to the side of the trench. She put her hands on
his shoulders and tried to coax him off his frightened, panting
cousins. Lucas allowed himself to be led up out of the trench, docile
with regret and confusion.
Cassandra briefly explained Helens imperviousness to her brother
as Helen, Ariadne, and Jason pulled Hector up out of the collapsing
ditch. He was injurednot too seriously, but badly enough
that he couldnt walk on his own. Ariadne and Jason took Hector
into the house, having to hold him up as he walked. Lucas watched
his cousin half limp, half drag himself across the yard. He had to
Three fast-moving shapes came rushing out of the house to see
what was wrong. Pallas helped his children the rest of the way into
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the house while Castor and Pandora briefly conferred with Ariadne
and then moved toward the tennis court.
Why didnt you warn me, Cassie? Lucas pleaded quietly while
Castor shouted questions as he and Pandora entered the tennis
court. Cassandra shrugged, avoiding everyones eyes.
She was afraid, Helen answered defensively, cutting off Castors
questions. She took Cassandras hand and pulled her close, a little
angry that they would try to blame Cassandra for Lucass actions.
She had a vision of herself swinging a sword at me and she
thought she was going to kill me. She thought she had to kill me.
Would you have told anyone if you were in her shoes?
Pandora looked at Helen questioningly as if to ask if she was
okay. Helen gave her an uncertain smile in response, relieved that
Pandora had been sensitive enough to keep this exchange silent.
Then they both turned their attention back to Lucas, who was still
shell-shocked.
If you were scared, why didnt you tell me, Cassie? You know
you can always come to me, Lucas said firmly, but she shook her
head.
None of you are qualified to be my confidants anymore. Im the
only one who can decide what to reveal or keep hidden, she said
gently. Cassandra stepped away from Hel
ens side and stood up
straighter. It was as if she was throwing off her childhood with one
painful gesture. She took a wistful breath and turned back to
Helen.
Standing there, waiting for me to cut your head off? said the
newer, older, and slightly more melancholic Cassandra. That was
the bravest thing Ive ever seen.
Thats because you couldnt see yourself, Helen thought.
Cassandra looked down at Lucas who was still in shock over what
hed done. She put a hand on his shoulder and shook it until he
looked up at her.
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Lets go inside and check on Hector, she said as she helped her
brother off his knees.
Helen still felt shaky with adrenaline. Walking back to the house
next to Lucas, she wished he would take her hand like he used to,
but then scolded herself for even thinking that. She sped up and
walked in front of him so she wouldnt be tempted to feel sorry for
herself.
All of them sat down at the kitchen table to hash out the new discovery,
but no one had any answers. They asked Helen if she could
ever remember a time when she had been wounded by a knife, but
Helens childhood was remarkably violence free, especially for a
Scion. She couldnt remember ever getting anything bigger than a
paper cut. That sparked a philosophical debate on what qualified
as a weaponif paper could cut her but a spear couldnt, could you
make a spear out of paper and kill her?
Is a fork a weapon? Jason asked, gesturing to one sitting on the
counter. Ariadne shrugged and stabbed Helen in the shoulder with
it, and it squished up like a soggy ice-cream cone on contact.
Guess so, said Ariadne. Maybe a spoon? She turned to find
one.
Could you stop that, please? Lucas said with a wince. Eventually,
were going to find something that actually can hurt her.
Maybe even kill her. I think we should hold off on the experiments
until we figure out why shes like this.
I agree with Lucas, Castor said carefully. And the sooner we
find out how she got like this, the better.
It cant be something she inherited or we would have seen it in
another Scion before, Pallas said, staring at Helen like she was a
fancy, new bug hed found under a log. Dipped in the River Styx?
He threw it out there, like it was the most logical explanation. She
doesnt seem like a zombie, but maybe Achilles didnt, either.