right past her.
It was obvious that Matt had come into the café looking for her.
Helen groaned to herself and rubbed her tired eyesClaire must
have told him that Helen was missing. Helen wondered how much
else he knew about her. Knowing Matt and how clever he was,
Helen was sure he had figured out some of her secret on his own,
like Claire had.
For a moment she wanted him to find her, but he was scanning
the room for Helens bright blonde hair. When his eyes didnt immediately
spot her, he gave up. She wanted to throw her napkin at
Matt and yell that she was sitting ten feet away from him, but she
realized that it was silly of her to blame him for not recognizing
her. Still, it hurt not to be recognized by a guy shed known since
she was in diapers. As she watched Matt walk out of the café, she
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couldnt help but feel like she was faceless, alone, and about as
substantial as a ghost.
Its better for him, Daphne said consolingly as she reached
across the table to take Helens hand. The mortals who love us
never last long. Scions are tragedy magnets. Its safer for them if
we leave before the trouble starts. Thats why I didnt give Jerry
more time . . .
You never loved my father, I mean Jerry, Helen interrupted bitterly.
She snatched her hand out from underneath her mothers.
No, I didnt. Im not going to lie to you to make myself more
sympathetic, Daphne replied, moving her rejected hand to reach
for the check. But I would never wish harm on that man. Remember,
hes the only person I trusted with my daughter. You hate me
for not loving Jerry? Fine. But the least you can do is respect me
for understanding how special he was and giving you the gift of
thinking he was your father.
Jerry is my father in every way that counts, Helen said, wrenching
herself out from the sinking seat of the booth.
She waited with her back turned while Daphne threw down some
bills. On their way to the hotel to get their things, Helen spotted
Hector. He looked right at her and then right past her, just as Matt
had done. The twins were with him, wandering around by the
ferry. Helen heard Ariadne call out to Matt, sounding surprised to
see him, but Daphne pulled her into the hotel before she could find
out what they said to each other. Helen heard Claires name mentioned
right before the door shut behind her making it impossible
even to tell what they were saying about her, even with Scion
hearing.
Lucas was in the lobby. Helen didnt see his face, but then she
didnt need to. If she had only caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared
around a corner a half a mile away she would still have
been able to recognize him. She turned her face away, knowing she
couldnt look at him or she would lose concentration and allow her
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mask to slip away. As she hurried up the stairs behind her mother,
she both hoped and feared that he would yell her name, but of
course, he didnt.
Back in their room, Helen grabbed what few things she had and
brought them to the entryway by the door, hiding her streaming
eyes and her red nose from her mother as best she could. She tried
to let the strangers dark hair fall across her face, but unfortunately
this girl had bangs. As her mother checked over the room one last
time before they left for the dock, Helen let out an incongruous
laugh, suddenly remembering the last time she had taken the ferry.
It was when Claire first told her about the new family that had
moved into the big compound out in Sconset. Claire had been sure
that there would be a dream boy to fall in love with each of them,
and Helen had been sure that Claire was being ridiculous. So sure
that shed changed the subject, and wondered aloud whether she
should cut her hair.
Well, Claire was absolutely right, Helen said to herself, laughing
through her tears. I do hate having bangs.
Her breath still catching on the half-crazy laugh, Helen yanked
open the door of the hotel room to leave, and ran right into Lucas.
In a split second he registered Helens tears and the shocked face
of the strange woman next to her. Lucas grabbed Helens arm and
pulled her away from the woman, putting himself between them.
What did you do to her? he said, threatening Daphne.
And just who are you? Daphne said with a southern drawl. Lucas
gave the woman a confused look and then looked back at
Helen.
Helen, who is this woman? he asked.
Come inside, Daphne said, dropping the fake accent. Come on,
Helen. Weve been discovered. He can see your true face.
How? Helen asked, looking down at the hands that werent
hers, at a body that wasnt hers, as she followed Lucas back into
the room.
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Because he loves you. Daphne shut the door behind them. The
cestus cant hide the face of a beloved, it can only reveal it. Youll
never be anyone but yourself to him because he loves you exactly
as you are.
Daphne rubbed her temples in frustration at this new and annoying
development. She turned to Lucas and dropped her disguise.
He gasped.
You are all of the women, Lucas said, remembering what Cassandra
had seen. Helen, this is the woman thats been attacking
you, this isnt her real face . . .
I know. I even know that she was the one who hurt Kate in the
alley, Helen said, swallowing painfully. I thought it was methat
I had shocked Kate by accident.
Helen, you arent to blame, Daphne said, sounding almost annoyed
at the idea.
She was trying to kidnap me to get me away from your family
before you found out who I really was, Helen continued, ignoring
Daphne. She knew I wouldnt trust her, and that she would literally
have to tie me down to get me to listen to her. So thats what
she did. But this is my true mother, and this is her true face, Lucas.
Its our face.
Its not possible, Lucas said, looking from Helen to Daphne and
back again. No Scion resembles another this closely.
The bearers of the cestus always look like the first Scion to ever
posses it, Daphne said.
Helen of Troy, Lucas said quietly.
Helen nodded, then clarified while looking at her mother. Aphrodite
and Helen were half sisters, and they loved each other very
much. When the siege of Troy began, Aphrodite gave Helen the
cestus to protect her. Since then, its been passed from mother to
daughter, along with the Face.
The Face? Lucas asked.
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That Launched a Thousand Ships, Daphne said, repeating the
title automatically. Its our curse.
Helen of Troy was in the House of Atreus, Lucas said as he
slumped down into a straight-backed chair that decorated the
entryway. So Pallas was right. You are Daphne A
treus.
I suppose Pallas had to be right about something eventually,
Daphne snapped before she stopped herself and softened her tone.
I know hes your uncle, but we have a complicated history. Your
father was different. He was very kind to me, or at least he tried to
be. The Furies make kindness a very relative term.
The Furies, Lucas said as an idea struck him. Why dont I see
the Furies when Im around you?
For the same reason your family doesnt see them around Helen
anymore. You two risked your lives to save each other, and that released
you from your blood debt. A long time ago I went through
something similar with another member of the House of Thebes.
But I dont have time to explain the whole story to you, Daphne
said not unkindly. Helen and I have to get off this island, and we
have to do it now.
No, Lucas said, looking at Helen. Come back with me, both of
you. My family . . .
Your family wants me dead, Daphne replied coldly. And Creon
is here to hunt Helen down. I have to get her off this island, and if
you love her the way I know you do, youll help me do it.
I can protect Helen from Creon, Lucas said defiantly, still waiting
for Helen to look at him, but she wouldnt.
How? Are you ready to become a kin-killer? An Outcast?
Daphne asked harshly.
Lucas snapped his head around to look at Daphne, responding to
a phrase that he had been raised to abhor. For a moment he hated
her, but only because she was right.
You cant defend Helen against your own familynot to the
death. Im the only one who can protect her now, Daphne
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continued, her tone suggesting that she was genuinely sorry for
him. And the best way for me to do that is to get her away from
Creon.
I wont let him near her. I dont care what I have to become,
Lucas said, preoccupied with Helen and troubled by the way she
seemed to be avoiding him. He took her hands.
Lucas. Let me go, Helen said quietly, pulling her hands out of
his. He went silent, sensing something very wrong was about to
happen. Again. If you love me, youll let me go. Do you love me?
Her voice was so thin and papery it crackled.
You know I do, he replied, confused. If youre frightened, run
away with me, like we planned. You know were meant to be together,
I know you can feel that, just like I do.
I want you to let me go, she said simply as she finally met his
eyes and held them.
Instead of thinking about the way Lucass face fell under the
weight of his surprise and sadness, Helen imagined her heart as a
giant tub full of water. Everything she had ever felt in her life, all
the good and all bad, were just ribbons of food coloring in that water,
and the whole beautiful mess was swirling down the drain. The
only thing she needed to do was wait a few more seconds and the
basin would be empty.
You can hear the truth in what I say, cant you? she continued
mercilessly. I want you to let me go.
Lucas caught his breath and held it for a long moment as he registered
that Helen wasnt lying to him. Then he nodded and
breathed again, his face impassive.
I believe that you want to get away from me right now, but I also
know what is going to happen, regardless of what anyone wants,
he said.
The Oracle! Daphne exclaimed to herself, understanding Lucass
meaning. She survived her first prophecy? Is she still sane?
she asked breathlessly.
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He gave a curt nod in response to her insensitive questions.
Daphne began to pace distractedly, as if a thousand thoughts had
started elbowing around in her head. Suddenly, she stopped moving
and stared at Lucas.
What did she say about us? she asked.
That the beloved of Aphrodite were to find shelter in the House
of Thebes, Lucas replied, emotionless. So you see, you will come
back with me.
Obviously, Daphne said turning her palms up in acquiescence.
Helen, get your things.
Helens jaw dropped and she stared at her mother in disbelief.
After everything Daphne had told her to get her away from the
House of Thebes, this change didnt make any sense.
But, well miss the ferry. . . . Helen stammered, still uncertain.
The Oracle has spoken, Daphne said, shouldering her bag with
a greedy look in her eyes. Helen had no idea what her mother was
up to, but lacking any reason to object, she had no choice but to
obey.
Helen and Daphne assumed their disguises and the three of them
went down to the lobby. Lucas asked them to wait a moment when
they got to the front door. He pulled out his phone and called Hector,
telling him to bring the car around to the entrance of the hotel.
Stay here, he said, firmly. Let me check the street before you
go out there. Hector said that Creon was headed our way.
Thats not necessary, Lucas. As long as you keep your distance
from us, were well hidden, Daphne said confidently as she
stepped out onto the sidewalk, rolling her fancy leather suitcase
behind her.
As Helen watched her mother walk out the door, she happened to
glance across the street. Creon was standing on the other side,
His eyes dropped down when he saw Daphne. Then he looked at
her suitcase, squinting his eyes in concentration.
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As soon as she saw Creon, Helens senses rewound to her last encounter
with him. She could still feel his humid breath on her neck
as he whispered preciosa in her ear right before he stabbed her.
Most of all, she remembered the suffocating darkness that had left
her feeling like she was lost in space and utterly helpless. The
terror-echo she felt made her forget for a moment that both she
and her mother were protected by their borrowed shapes.
Mom! Stop! she screamed instinctively, reaching out to pull
Daphne back into the hotel.
Creon made eye contact with Helen as she shouted. Then he saw
his cousin Lucas stride up and grab the strange girl frantically.
Creon looked from the cute brunette to Lucas, noticing how they
held each other so protectively. Then he looked back at the tacky
woman with the expensive luggage and smiled. He ran across the
street, his head lowered and his shoulders rounded like a bull.
Daphne! He knows! Lucas shouted, throwing Helen behind
him and moving impossibly fast to intercept Creon.
The cousins collided in the middle of the street, both of them using
their momentum to put power into their first punches. But Lucas
could do something Creon wasnt expecting. At the last moment
he made gravity pull harder on him, and in his massive-state
he pushed his stunned opponent back into the asphalt with so
much force he fractured the surface of the stree
t.
A split second later Lucas glanced up and saw Matts terrified
face through the windshield of his car as he slammed on his
brakes. Matt tried to stop, but it was too late. He hit the two figures
that had appeared out of thin air in the middle of the street and his
car crumpled in on itself as if it had run it onto a brick wall.
Lucas! Helen screamed as she tried to run past her mother.
Daphne grabbed Helen and restrained her just as Hectors big
SUV screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking Helens way to
the accident. Ariadne jumped out of the passenger side before
Hector had even come to a full stop and sprinted to the wreck.
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Get in the truck! Hector bellowed at Daphne as he came around
from the drivers side and stomped to the smoking front end of
Matts car.
Helen struggled, unable to see what was going on. She was still
calling Lucass name as Jason and Daphne bundled her into the
back of the SUV.
Lukes fine! Jason said to her through gritted teeth as he
wrestled with her. Helen, please! Were attracting enough attention
as it is.
Reminded where she was, Helen forced herself to calm down and
get into the backseat. She slid over to one of the tinted windows,
and sighed with relief when she saw Lucas standing up in front of
Matts destroyed car. He was uninjured and holding on to Hector
to keep him from running off somewhere. Creon was gone, so
Helen assumed that Hector was trying to follow him. For a moment,
it looked like Lucas was going to hit Hector, but then he
whispered something that seemed to convince his stubborn cousin,
and all at once Hector calmed down and nodded.
He looks just like Ajax, Daphne whispered behind her, her eyes
glued to Hector.
Helen glanced briefly at her mother, then turned her attention
back to the wreck. Ariadne was helping Matt out of his car, holding
him up. He was reeling and bleeding from the head, ash-white and
owl-eyed with astonishment, but he didnt seem to be badly hurt.
We should get you to a hospital, Cassandra insisted as she studied
Matts uneven pupils.
No, Matt said vehemently. Theres no way to explain this.
Normal people dont get up and walk away after you run them over
with a car.
They all knew he was right. Even concussed, Matt was a quick
thinker.