seemed to be trying to claw their way out of the rain clouds. His
skin was painted with that dying light and he was, as always,
beautiful.
Then Helen understood why she was pent up like a dam instead
of bawling like a waterfall. She wasnt sad. She was furious.
As she flew toward him, he saw her and stood. Helen didnt land
on the catwalk. Instead, she floated in front of him, claiming the
air for herself. For a moment, they just stared at each other, both of
them too overwhelmed to break the silence with speech.
What are you doing here? Lucas said at last, his sunken eyes
wide and hungry for the sight of her. Helen ignored his stupid
question and said the first thing that came to mind.
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Why didnt you tell me? she demanded, angry and hurt and not
sure what she wanted to hear from him. Right from the start. Why
couldnt you at least explain to me why we couldnt be together?
If you wanted to know, why didnt you just answer the phone
one of the thousand times Ive called you this past week? he demanded
in return, just as angry and hurt as she was.
Stop it! Stop asking me questions when youre the one with all
the answers! she bellowed at him, finally feeling the hitch and
sting of tears in her throat.
The dam was about to burst, and she knew that what was going
to come out would be ugly, red-faced sobbing. She had to get as far
away from Lucas as possible. She summoned one of the turbulent
storm winds to yank her body away and take her wherever it chose,
but Lucas felt her recklessness. He dove into the air and caught her
before she could be chewed up by the storm she was so drastically
underestimating. As soon as he had her safe again in his arms he
broke down and kissed her.
Helen was so stunned she stopped crying before she had a chance
to start and nearly fell out of the sky. Still the better flyer, Lucas
caught her and supported her as they tumbled on the wind, holding
and kissing each other as he guided them safely back down to
the catwalk. As their feet touched down, the light inside the lighthouse
switched on and projected the shadows of their embracing
figures out onto the choppy waves of the ocean.
I cant lose you, Lucas said, pulling his mouth away from hers.
Thats why I didnt tell you the whole truth. I thought if you knew
how bad it was youd send me away. I didnt want you to give up
hope. I cant do this if you give up on us.
I dont want to give up, Helen cried. But there can never be an
us, Lucas. You should have told me that.
Dont say never, he said. He brushed his face against her neck,
no longer kissing her, but unable to let her go completely. Nothing
is forever, and there are no absolutes. Well find a way.
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Lucas, Helen said, frowning and pushing against his chest until
he let her go. She sat down on the catwalk and pulled him down
next to her so they could talk. We would hate ourselves. And eventually,
wed hate each other.
I know that! he said, his voice rising desperately. Im not talking
about running off and doing whatever we want!
Then, what? Helen asked softly, calming him down. What are
we supposed to do?
I dont know yet, he admitted. He leaned back against the glass
wall of the lighthouse and pulled Helen against his chest. But I
will not go through another week like this last one.
Me neither, she said. She rested against him, fully relaxing for
the first time in days. I dont care how hard being together is,
nothing is worse than being apart.
What was it you told me? Decide what you cant do and then do
the opposite? he asked with an amused smile, pressing his lips
against her forehead. At least now we know we cant be apart.
It was like being dead, she said fearfully, as if even mentioning
the numbness she had felt would allow it to creep back into her
body.
For me too, he said in a strange, strangled voice.
What about your mother? She wont allow us to be together.
Well have to talk with her. Well have to talk to my whole
family.
Then we run, Lucas said, his voice low and even.
Neither of them said anything for a while. They just watched the
beacon light flash across the foaming waves of the storm-churned
ocean. Helen could hear his heart pounding, but his grip on her
only tightened as if he was already bracing himself for the battle he
would have to fight to keep her close to him.
Theyll chase us, she whispered. Theyll think weve started the
war.
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I know, Lucas said. But we wont. Well keep the Truce, even if
they dont believe that we can.
We dont have to make the same mistakes that they did, Helen
said defiantly. It makes me so angry that everyone assumes that
even though we know what would happen, well still go out and do
the same stupid thing.
Lucas laughed, but there was no joy in the sound.
Its almost as if we dont need to live our lives or feel our feelings
at all, because someone already told us what the ending was going
to be, he said bitterly. She could feel him tensing with indignation,
until a new and serious thought stilled him. Are you really willing
to do this? You know that it would mean youd have to leave your
father behind?
I know, she said, knowing full well shed be hurting her father
far worse than her mother ever did, but also knowing that she
would do it for Lucasfor both of them.
I understand if you cant do this he began, but Helen cut him
off.
If they wont let us stay together, we have no choice. We have to
run away.
It wont be forever, he said, trying to console her as well as himself.
Just until we can figure out a way around this. And we will
figure it out. There has to be a way.
Ive thought of something, Helen said, her whole body going
still. She felt Lucas tense.
I think I know where youre going with this, and I dont think I
want to hear you say it, he said uncertainly.
What if I wasnt a virgin? Helen said quickly, just to get it over
with.
Im not sharing you, Helen, he replied immediately. Besides, it
wont work.
Im serious, we have to consider it, she insisted, struggling in
his arms until he loosened his grip enough for her to lean back and
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look at him. Tell me the truth. Would you stop wanting me if I was
with someone else first?
Of course not, he said, smiling tenderly at her. And I dont just
want you, Helen. I love you. Big difference.
Okay, look. I hate to even think about this, but Ill do it, Helen
pleaded as Lucas started to shake his head vehementl
y. I love you,
too, and Ill do whatever I have to do if it will let us be together.
What? Why are you shaking your head? Youre not the only one
making this decision, you know.
Tricks like that wont work, not unless you just want something
physical. Is that all you want from me? Sex? he teased.
Of course not, you know that! Helen said in frustration, shoving
him away from her. I just told you I loved you!
Thats why it wont work, he said. He took her hands and pulled
her closer to him. If you and I were to be together the way we
want, or at least the way I want he began uncertainly.
And what do you want, exactly? Helen interrupted urgently.
I want it all. Everything we talked about. I want us to go to
school, learn a dozen languages, live all over the world. Most of all,
I want us to be together.
I do, too! Helen said excitedly as if she had found a way out.
And we can do all that without ever getting married!
Wed share everything, he said, shaking his head like Helen
wasnt understanding him. And because of that, wed be considered
a married couple in the eyes of the gods, regardless of who
took your virginity. I want a whole life with you, and because I
want that, you would be my wife. I cant even pretend I would
settle for less.
Youre saying that its our commitment to each other that will
define us to the gods, not a white dress or a ring? Helen asked,
already knowing the answer.
Exactly, he said. Then he suddenly laughed at a thought. Also,
itd be kinda hard to be together if I was in prison.
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What are you talking about? Helen asked, suddenly alarmed.
Why would you go to prison?
For killing the guy that took your virginity, he replied. You I
would forgive. But the guy? Dead man.
Helen smirked at Lucas like she didnt believe him, but she wisely
decided not to question his sincerity.
Then whats the plan? She sighed, resting back against him.
We cant be together and we definitely cant be apart.
We stick together and play by the rules until we can rewrite
them. Were going to find a way to make this work. I promise.
Isnt that hubris? she asked, raising her eyes to his. Thinking
we can beat the Fates?
I dont care what it is anymore. I need to hope, he responded
before he allowed himself kiss her.
Helen fell against him, and this time she was able to enjoy his
mouth without the shock that came along with the unexpectedness
of their first kiss. This time she could pay attention to him, feel him
responding to her. Far sooner than Helen wanted, Lucas pulled
back, pinched his eyes together like it hurt, and gently pushed her
hands off of him.
You have to stop, he said, forcing himself to laugh, even if it
was a shaky, watered-down laugh.
Sorry. I dont know what Im doing yet, Helen said through her
tingling lips.
Could have fooled me, he mumbled as he took both of her
hands and stood up, pulling her to her feet with him. I think a
little cold air will do us good.
Where to? Venice? Helen asked with a cheeky grin.
Sure. Because thats exactly what you and I needa more romantic
setting, he replied sarcastically. Sorry, Sparky, but Im
taking you home to your father before I start a war.
He leapt into the air and spun back to face her, holding out a
hand like they were in an old movie and he was asking her to
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dance. She groaned at how gorgeous he was, then joined him with
a smile, taking his hand and rolling her body over the playful eddies
he carved into the wind for her.
Moments later, they were landing in Helens yard and strolling
toward the door, hand in hand. Just as Helen was about to go inside
the house, Lucas stopped her.
You actually thought I didnt know, didnt you? he asked her incredulously.
Happy birthday.
I totally forgot! Helen exclaimed with a bemused smile.
I didnt, he said, kissing her. He looked up at the brightly lit
house, and they both listened briefly to an emergency weather report
blaring away on the TV. Your dads waiting for you. Youd
better go in.
Yeah. Kate made me a cake, Helen said. She grimaced, guilty
over how shed treated her family this past week.
Tomorrow, first thing, Ill be back to get you, Lucas promised
as he brushed his mouth lightly against hers. Then well go to my
house and tell my family. Together.
Right. We still have to plead our case, Helen said. Wrapped
around each other, they kissed for a few more moments, stalling
for time that the storm wouldnt give them. Finally, Lucas pulled
away. Glancing around at every shadow suspiciously, he told her to
hurry into the house. It was dark out and he was unwilling to leave
her unguarded for even a moment. Helen ran inside and closed the
front door behind her, peering out the window in time to see Lucas
fly away. She called out for her father as she walked into the family
room.
Jerry isnt here, Helen, said a womans voice behind her. Helen
spun around, already calling up a bolt, but the woman grabbed her
tightly by the wrists and shook her head.
That wont work on me, she said. Electricity danced across her
flawless face, making her long, blonde hair crackle and fluff, and
circling the pupils of her warm brown eyes.
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Oh my god, Helen said, looking at the heart-shaped charm that
fell neatly into the groove at the base of her attackers throat.
The woman ripped off Helens identical necklace with one hand
and jabbed a needle into her neck with the other. Helen felt her
muscles go limp and refuse to follow her commands. The world
faded into a pale gray haze, and even though she kept trying to see,
her eyes could only chase the bright squiggles that tracked across
the backs of her eyelids. She was losing consciousness so fast,
Helen knew that she had to have been given a powerful drug,
maybe even a lethal one. The last thing Helen felt was her attacker
tenderly supporting her body as it swooned to the floor. Helen
couldnt see, couldnt move, but for just one moment longer she
could still hear.
My sweet little girl, the woman whispered, and then Helen experienced
nothing, not even nightmares.
Lucas was only halfway home when the wind tried to throw him
down to the ground and the sky started to flash with the first bolts
of lightning. He landed immediately, and had to go the rest of the
way on foot rather than get electrocuted or crushed. He wondered
if Helen could fly through the lightning and if she would be able to
control it so that he could fly with her in a storm if the situation
ever arose. That would be beautiful, he thought as he walked
through the garage and into the
kitchen, flying through lightningbright
clouds.
As soon as he opened the door, he stopped, sensing something
wrong.
Didnt you bring Helen with you? Cassandra asked nervously as
he stood in the doorway. I could have sworn I saw you together
today.
Lucas looked around the room and saw Jerry and Kate, the
promised cake bristling with unlit candles, and Claire sitting wideeyed
next to Jason.
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I just left her at home to be with you two, he said gesturing to
Jerry and Kate. Panic washed up his legs, nearly making his knees
buckle.
Lucas ran out the kitchen door, past the cars in the garage, and
ripped the outside door off its hinges as he leapt up into the apoplectic
sky. Jumping up twenty feet, Jason tackled him out of the
air and dragged him back down, pinning Lucass weightless body
to the ground.
Sorry, brother, but the storm is too big. We drive tonight, Jason
said.
There was someone waiting for her inside her house! Lucas
yelled, taking on mass and throwing Jason off of him.
We know, you idiot! This afternoon, while you had your phone
shut off, Cassie saw that Creon came back to the island, Jason
said, latching on to Lucas to make sure he didnt change states
again and fly off. But Creon isnt the one at her house!
Then who is it? Lucas asked, visibly calming down. He and
Jason stood up and waited for Hector to pull his truck out.
Cassandra was getting little images all day long, but she didnt
understand them. One of the things she saw was a woman tailing
Creon as he came back to the island. She had this habit of tucking
her hair behind her ear with her pinkie finger, Jason began. The
truck pulled out and Lucas and Jason jumped onto it. They eased
themselves inside as the truck sped off into the punishing wind and
rain.
Then Cass said she kept seeing flashes of several different women,
over and over, Jason continued. She didnt know why she
was having visions about women that she didnt recognize and that
didnt seem to have anything to do with each other. It took a while,
but Cass finally noticed that they all had exactly the same way of
putting their hair behind their ear, like a nervous tic. Because of
that, Cass realized that they were all the same person, and the