refrain all by himself.
You have a beautiful voice! Is there anything youre not good
at? she asked with exasperation as she hit his arm playfully.
Apollo also happens to be the god of music. Now quit complaining
and sing along with me, he said, turning up the volume until
the bass was rattling the car windows.
Helens voice was not nearly as pretty as his, but she made up for
her lack of skill with sheer enthusiasm. They finished the song together,
and even stayed in the car after they had parked to play the
instrumental ending. Lucas was on steering-wheel drums, and
Helen was lead air guitar.
God, we sound amazing! My guitar solo was just inspired!
Helen enthused as she hopped out of the car.
We should tour, Lucas agreed as he took her hand and led her
into school.
They were getting stares, but Helen didnt care. She didnt feel
stomach pains anymore. She could relax now that she knew the
Curse Cramps would only come as a result of her using her powers
in front of mortals and not from any other kind of attention. She
began to wonder how many of her past episodes had been real, and
how many had been brought on by the fear of them. It was a relief
to know that she had some control over the curse, and for the first
time in her life, Helen felt like it might actually be okay to be a little
bit different.
Arent we old news yet? she asked him with a sly glint in her
eye.
I dont know. Let me check CNN, Lucas said, pulling out his
phone and pretending to open a browser. Helen gasped and
clapped a hand to her mouth.
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Oh no, my phone! I forgot to tell my dad its broken again! She
stopped dead in the hall as she remembered how Hector had made
her take a little swim with it.
Hector will buy you another phone. A better one, was all hed
say as he kissed her forehead. Ill make sure of it.
That sounds really bad, Helen groaned, but the bell rang and
she had to run or suffer Hergies wrath.
The rest of the day was as near to perfect as a day spent in high
school can get. Helen felt hugely energetic, Claire was a ninetypound
ray of sunshine, and Ariadne, too, seemed in fantastic spirits
as Matt helped her with her golf swing in the auditorium at
lunch. Matt was the captain of the golf team, and Ariadne was
thinking about joining, although first she had to learn how to play.
No, youre still gripping the club too tight, Matt directed her
gently. Think of it as a rapier, not an ax, he said, unwittingly hitting
the metaphoric nail on the head for her. Her swing instantly
improved.
Cassie, why dont you put that book down and come learn how
to golf? Ariadne called to her cousin.
In response, Cassandra opened another book.
What are you looking for, anyway? Matt called.
Charms or spells in ancient Greek myth that protect against
wounds, she said as she wiped a hand over her face. The gesture
reminded Helen of Lucas. If Matt found Cassandras response
strange, he let it go easily enough and focused on Ariadne and her
stance instead.
How much longer do you think we have before we get caught in
here? Claire asked.
Who cares? This is one of the best ideas Lennies ever had. We
should enjoy it while we have it and not ruin the moment worrying
about losing it, Matt answered serenely.
Claire looked at Helen and they both nodded, surprised by Matts
wise answer.
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To Matt Millis. Friend. Philosopher. Golf Pro, Helen called
back, saluting him with her thermos.
Here, here, called Claire. She raised her soy milk in a lazy toast.
Matt took a dignified bow and blushed when Ariadne smiled at
him.
Hey, Len? Did you get a new necklace? Claire asked, reaching
out to touch the charm that Helen always wore.
Helen responded, trying to eye her heart charm.
It looks like a strawberry, not a heart. Or maybe its just shinier.
Probably Im crazy.
The next few days were blissful, and Helen felt a peace she hadnt
experienced since the Deloses had arrived on the island. It was as if
someone had put a combination of Spanish fly and Prozac in the
water. Helen kept up her training in the afternoons, but as the days
passed with no sign that Creon had returned to the island, Helen
found herself forgetting about the danger. The only person who
seemed immune to the good cheer in the air was Zach. He kept trying
to talk to Helen alone but she was avoiding him, which was
easy enough when she was being guarded by a family of demigods.
Still, each time she dodged him she could tell that he got more and
more resentful.
She was hoping that if she put the whole situation off for long
enough no one would even remember how she had collapsed as she
chased some shirtless stranger. Hoping that if she stalled him long
enough, Zach would let it go. But instead his attitude was becoming
more and more urgent. The last thing Helen wanted was to tell
Lucas and make an issue out of it. After the whole Hector tried to
drown me and ruined my phone in the process incident, Lucas
had happily beat the stuffing out of his cousin in the newly finished
arena, and an hour later a toothless Hector had given Helen a new
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phone that she was pretty sure had enough computing power to
put a satellite into orbit.
But Zach was making it impossible for Helen to protect him. The
more he kept trying to corner her, the more suspicious Lucas became,
until the inevitable happened. After school on Wednesday as
Lucas walked with Helen to track practice, he saw Zach wandering
around nearby. When Zach saw Lucas he changed direction and
went to the boys locker room, but not before his suspicious behavior
was noticed.
Is Zach after you? Lucas asked with wide eyes.
Oh, not really. He wants to talk to me about something, I think,
Helen said as if it wasnt important. She shut her mouth before she
could say too much.
Yeah, Ill bet, Lucas said with a sneer, his blue eyes turning
nearly black as he sensed her untruth. Is there any reason for
Zach to think that you might be single?
No! Wait, what? Helen stammered, not understanding Lucass
anger.
Did you tell him that you and I werent really a couple because I
wont . . . he trailed off, and ripped a hand through his hair as he
paced around in a circle. What are you telling people about us?
The outline of his body began to smear as he scattered the light
around him in agitation.
I havent told anyone anything! Helen said, her voice pitching
up to an unnaturally high register.
Are you trying to make me jealous or are you just so frustrated
that your
e already looking for someone else? Someone wholl give
in to you? He was so angry Helen could barely see him as he
began to blur himself out, but she was angry, too.
I am NOT looking for anyone else! she howled at him.
Lucas took an involuntary step back as he stared at the halo of
pale blue light crackling around Helens head and hands. Her lightning
didnt seem to respond to Lucass light control, and as the
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distortions he created were thrown back by Helens metallic glow
he was forced to shade his eyes.
Oh, boy, she tittered nervously. She felt like she was going over
the top peak on a roller coasterand she was just about to drop
down.
She threw an arm out to the side to steady herself. Lucas took a
step forward to grab on to her, but wisely stopped himself before
he touched her and got electrocuted. Then the blue light went out
like a switch had been turned off and Helen plopped onto the
ground like a half-baked soufflé.
I feel awful, she told him, a bewildered look on her face.
Are you . . . grounded yet? he asked her, practically vibrating
with worry.
Helen looked at the floor and giggled insanely as the electricity
running around her body tickled her brain.
Nope. Linoleum, she said, slapping the palm of her hand
against the nonconductive floor. Her vision swam in static. You
were r.r.right. I should have learned to u.u.use this. She had to get
rid of the energy, stat.
Luk.k.k. Run.n.n, she said, her jaw jittering uncontrollably with
energy as her bolt demanded to be released. She had held it too
long.
Lucas wouldnt leave her, and Helen knew she could kill him if
she didnt do this right. She racked her lightning-filled brain and
luckily remembered fourth-grade science class. Desperate to rid
herself of the monster she had summoned, she slid on her knees to
the exit door at the end of the hall and rammed her shoulder
against it.
As soon as she came in contact with the metal release bar that
ran across the middle of the door it glowed orange with heat and
started melting. She barely moved fast enough to open it before the
whole door turned into a solid block of smoldering metal. Tumbling
down the short flight of steps and crawling outside on her
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knees, she threw herself forward onto her hands. With a welcome
sigh she discharged her bolt into the one place that it would be
safely dismantledthe ground.
After a few seconds she felt herself get pulled up from the forgiving
earth and carried away.
Are you injured? Lucas asked anxiously.
Just wicked tired, she sighed, a little surprised at herself for using
the word wicked. She was too weary to care. Really, put me
down, she demanded when he didnt respond. He stopped and
balanced her on her feet. She rubbed her tongue across her teeth
and then sucked at the roof of her mouth.
Wow, Im thirsty! And I think I know why! Its like lightning,
right? So that means Im generating the electicI mean, erlecicI
mean, the boltby ripping apart the water in my body! That makes
total sense, she said, hearing herself sound like a cheerleader who
had suddenly figured out how her pompoms were made.
Helen? Youre scaring me. Here, sit, please. Do you need
something? Lucas asked, making her look him in the eye. She still
seemed to be throwing off sparks.
I do need something, she said, struggling to control her diction
and her fuzzy brain as best she could. I need to tell you whats going
on, so that you and I dont accidentally kill each other over a
dumb misunderstanding, and I need you to promise me that if I
tell you, youre not going to beat anyone up.
I dont think I like this deal, he said dubiously.
Tough.
He nodded his agreement. She looked around for a moment and
then decided to sit down on the top step of the outside stairs before
she fell down.
Zach was the one who saw me chasing Creon. He dropped some
pretty threatening hints in class the other day, about me and about
you and how abnormally fast and strong we all are. Now he keeps
trying to talk to me alone and I think he might be trying to
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blackmail me or something. Ive been dodging him for as long as I
can because . . .
The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the whole thing
turns into a big fish story and no one believes him, anyway, Lucas
finished for her with a knowing nod.
Right. You are so smart, Helen marveled.
And your brain is fried, Lucas said, smiling at her indulgently.
The smile fell away. Because of me. Im such an idiot, he
mumbled, looking down at his twisting hands.
Correction, youre a jealous idiot, and that has to change right
now, Helen replied seriously, still feeling light-headed, but fighting
her way through it. You have no reason to be jealous. I told
you that I dont want anyone but you. I never have.
Youve lived your whole life on this island, you dont know what
anyone means yet, he sighed. And you have no idea how . . . Attractive
isnt the right word. It doesnt fully describe the effect you
have on men. On me. Look, Im not a jealous person, Helen, really.
All the other girls Ive dated . . . Lucas broke off, took a breath,
and regrouped his thoughts before starting again.
You know, I never believed in The Face That Launched a Thousand
Ships thing. I used to hate that part in the Iliad. I even
laughed at it, he said. Then he paused and shook his head ruefully
as he raised his eyes to the sky for a moment, mentally kicking
himself. Its ridiculous, when you think about it. A ten-year war
because some selfish coward ran off with an unfaithful woman? It
made me angry, and I hated Paris and Helen for being so weak.
Then I did something very, very stupid. I swore I would never have
made the same choices they didthat I would have been stronger.
Then, two weeks later, I saw your face for the first time.
Wait, Helen said. She blinked with thirst, fatigue, and shock.
Im not Helen of Troy. Im Helen Hamilton from Nantucket, and
no one is launching anything to come and get me. I think youre
confused.
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I wish I was, he said hopelessly.
Hamilton! yelled Coach Tar, clutching her clipboard and
marching toward them with her eyes wide. Are you on fire?!
Helen looked at where Coach was pointing and realized that the
ground all around her was seared and black. The exit door looked
like something out of a Dali painting.
Luckily, Lucas was a fantastic liar. As a bevy of teachers came
rushing to their aid, he explained that there had been some kind of
electrical sparking from above the door, suggesting that perhaps
the exit sign had shorted. He and Helen had run outside to stomp
out the sparks that had drifted onto the grass. As he wove his story,
Helen could hear how honest he sounded, how convincing. She
nodded every time he looked at her, knowing that she needed to
keep her mouth shut or shed ruin the whole thing. Since the fire
was obviously electrical and the only possible source was the exit
sign, the story was believed.
Helen and Lucas insisted they were uninjured, but as a precaution
they were told to go to the nurses office for a quick checkup.
Just before Lucas led her away, Helen spotted Zach staring at them
from the crowd, his eyes frightened and resentful. He knew theyd
caused the fire. Helen touched Lucass shoulder and pointed Zach
out, and Lucas nodded, understanding her meaning perfectly.
So much for letting it blow over, she murmured ruefully.
Well discuss it tonight with my family. Cassie will know what to
do, he whispered, taking her sooty hand in one of his and texting
his cousins with the other as they walked down the hall to the
nurse.
Mrs. Crane checked them over, shook her head in wonder, and
declared them both perfectly well enough to go home, or even back
to practice if they wanted, though she gave both of them a nonsensical
lecture about hanging around under electrical death traps.
Then she looked at Helens necklace and smiled sweetly. Ive always
loved butterflies, she murmured, lightly touching Helens
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charm, before shooing them both out of her office in her stern but
kindly way.
Helen and Lucas beat everyone else back to the Delos compound,
deciding once they arrived that they were entitled to a few moments
of relaxation before they began what Helen had started
thinking of as her superhero lessons. They stopped in the kitchen
to get Helen another bottle of water and then went for a little fly.
Jase and Hector will call when theyre home from practice.
Weve still got about another hour or so, Lucas said confidently
when they touched down in the dunes. They walked down to the
half-damp sand that was flat and firm and perfect for a stroll.
Were supposed to have our first track meet next weekend,
Helen said suddenly, biting her lip with worry. I dont know if
Coachll let me run after missing so many practices.
Yeah, about that, Lucas said, sighing heavily and making her
stop and face him. You need to quit track.