You hit your head, Jason warned as the Scions shot each other
uncertain looks.
343/395
And I still know what I saw. Look, dont worry about me, Id
never rat out a friend, but we have to go now, Matt insisted. Before
the police come.
Ari? Jason asked as he met his twins eyes in an honest exchange.
Is it life threatening?
Ariadne ran her hands just over Matts skull, a faint glow coming
out of her palms. Hell be just fine, she said after a brief moment.
She started to lead Matt toward Hectors truck, but Matt giggled
and stopped dead.
Wow. What did you do to me? He gave her a goofy smile.
I healed you. Thats my gift, she answered as she smiled back at
him, suddenly looking exhausted.
Thanks, Matt said. He allowed himself to be moved toward
Hectors truck. Wait. Wheres Claire? Helen was out of the truck
and barreling down on Matt before her mother could even hold out
an arm to stop her.
What do you mean wheres Claire? Helen demanded, balling
her fists so hard her arms started shaking. Where did you last see
her?
The front seat, Matt replied weakly as he gestured toward his
car.
Jasons whole body went rigid. Moving so fast he was little more
than a blur, Jason tore the door of the car off with one hand and
tenderly scooped Claire out from underneath the dashboard with
the other. She was unconscious, bleeding, and as limp as a wet cotton
doll.
No, Jason whispered to her. You were supposed to stay away
from me. He placed his lips a hairs width away from hers and
held statue still.
How is she? Ariadne asked urgently.
Shes breathing, he said after a moment, his voice breaking. He
lifted his head up and met his twins eyes.
344/395
Well, can you heal her or not? she asked him calmly, as though
she and her twin had prepared themselves for this.
He clenched his jaw and nodded, but didnt speak, carrying
Claire into the back of the truck and holding her carefully on his
lap while everyone else organized.
Ill take care of Matts car and meet you back at home, Lucas
said to Hector, already obscuring the particulars of the wreck by
bending the light around it.
Wait, Daphne commanded. She raised a hand like she was hailing
a cab and closed her eyes. This will draw less attention, she
said. Thick wreaths of pearl gray fog rolled off the water and down
the street, the long, ropy tendrils racing toward her delicately tilted
fingers.
Great Zeus, Cloud-Gatherer, Hector said under his breath as
the scene of the accident disappeared in the fog. Then he turned to
Lucas. Where are you going to hide the car?
In the ocean. We can clean it up after dark, Lucas answered as
he plunged into the thick mist to push Matts lump of twisted metal
and leaking toxins off the dock.
Everyone else squeezed into Hectors truck. The whole incident,
from Creons attack to their getaway, had only taken a few minutes
and they were a full four blocks from the scene before they heard
the first siren sounding through the fog.
They drove in complete silence, at a completely lawful speed, out
to Siasconset, each of them stuck inside their own thought boxes of
shock and worry. As they cruised along, Helen couldnt take her
eyes off of Jason and Claire. Jason had started moving his hands
an inch above her body, his palms glowing like his sisters had
when she healed Matt. He whispered in her ear. He blew soft,
sparkling breaths against her closed eyes as if he was exhaling energy
directly into her unconscious dreams.
Whatever he was doing was helping Claire, but it was also causing
him excruciating pain. A thick, slick sweat beaded up on his
345/395
graying skin as Claire seemed to settle with more comfort in his
arms and gather more color in her cheeks. By the time they parked
at the Delos compound, Jason was so spent Helen didnt even ask,
she just picked Claire up off his lap and carried her into the house
for him.
My room. Quickly, Jason croaked as Helen carried Claire into
the crowded kitchen.
She ducked past the startled faces of the Delos family, cradling
Claire close to her chest to shield her from prying eyes as she and
Jason made their way to the stairs. Halfway up the staircase she
felt Jason put his hand on her shoulder and lean into her for support.
He was so weak he could barely put one foot in front of the
other. Eventually, he made it the rest of the way.
How can I help you? Helen asked Jason, easing Claire down into
his bed.
You cant, he replied as he stretched his big frame out alongside
Claire. I made my choice, and were tied to each other until she recovers.
Its sort of like a Healers last stand. At this point well
either make it through that desert together or we wont.
Oh, good, Helen sighed, finally feeling hopeful. Claire would
never allow someone she cared about to just go and die, especially
not to save her own life.
She saw Jason smile and nod humorously as he remembered that
no matter how dire the situation seemed, at least he had tied his
life force to a genuinely legendary fighter.
I did everything I could to keep her out of this, to protect her
from our kind, he whispered, meeting Helens eyes.
Yeah, I know. All that arguing you two did, even though youre
obviously perfect for each other, Helen said, feeling guilty. Jason
had tried to push Claire away to keep her safe, but Helen hadnt. I
get it now.
You have other things to deal with, he said, his eyes already
starting to close. Go. Ill guide her through.
346/395
If you lose your way, Ill follow you down, Helen told him,
already feeling the baked air of the dry lands leaching all the moisture
out of the atmosphere.
Suddenly, Helen knew what the dry lands were and why she had
always been too frightened to recognize the truth when it was staring
her in the face. The desert that she wandered into while she
slept, the land Jason now had to traverse to save Claire, was the
land of the dead. For the briefest of moments she could see Claires
fetch, confused, scared, and soundlessly calling out Jasons name.
Helen banished that disturbing image and spoke directly into
Jasons ear. I know the way through the rubble, and I promise, if
you cant make it on your own, Ill come down and carry you both
out.
Jasons eyes snapped back open in shock, but his spirit was
already following Claires, and although he tried to fight it, his eyes
closed again as he slipped into a deep comalike slumber. Helen left
the room, trusting him completely with Claires heal. Mentally, she
was already joining the battle that awaited her in the living
room.
Helen picked her way down the stairs, hearing her mothers
raised voice as she neared. It was already hauntingly familiar even
though she had known the woman only a few short hours.
Daphnes voice was Helens own, coming from outside her head
like a recording played back on a crappy answering machine.
Helen hated itnot the sound, but feeling like she was stuck in
someone elses mistake, doomed to adopt the worst qualities of the
people she was supposed to love the most.
Helen paused for a moment to steel herself before she went into
the living room. In the few short minutes Helen had been upstairs,
a fight had begun.
Im to blame? Daphne shrieked at Pallas, reacting to something
hed just said. If you all had just stayed in Cádiz, away from Helen,
none of this would have happened!
347/395
That was my fault, Hector admitted, trying to get everyone to
calm down. My family had to leave because I nearly killed one of
my own kin.
You wouldnt be the first, Daphne said out of the side of her
mouth.
Whats that supposed to mean? Pallas asked indignantly.
Are you finally ready to talk about the elephant in the room?
Daphne said bitterly. I didnt kill Ajax. Tantalus did.
Youre a liar! Pallas said, taking a menacing step toward her.
Then how come Im alive? Tantalus told all of you that he killed
me himself, didnt he?
Pallas stared at her furiously.
Just answer this one question. If I killed your brother Ajax, then
why dont you see the Furies right now? Daphne asked, throwing
her arms out as if to show she wasnt hiding them anywhere.
Everyone looked around at one another, as if they were expecting
someone else to have an explanation, but no one did.
Pallas, do you remember how Ajax and I hated each other, more
than just the rage of the Furies could account for, but at the same
time we wouldnt allow ourselves be parted? Do you remember
how we used to seek each other out, like we couldnt bear to be separated
for even a moment? Daphne asked in a softer tone.
You were his obsession, Pallas said darkly, his eyes shooting
briefly over to Lucas.
And he was mine. Eventually, we fought, but at the last moment,
instead of killing each other, there was a terrible accident. We
ended up saving each others lives. When we did that, I paid my
debt to the House of Thebes. And he paid his debt to the House of
Atreus. After that, Ajax could be with my family without inciting
the Furies, and I could be with his. How could I stand in front of
you if this werent the truth? Daphne motioned to Helen and Lucas.
Youve seen it happen again, right in front of your eyes, and
348/395
you all already know what the outcome is. Once the Furies were
gone, Ajax and I fell in love.
Liar! Pandora hissed.
No, Lucas said, shaking his head with a stricken, almost fearful
look in his eyes. Shes telling the truth.
I touched his body with my own hand, Pandora screamed, tears
tangling her pretty pixie face into a snarl. He was dead!
I think we were both dead for a few seconds, Daphne said compassionately.
She was trying to get Pandora to listen to her, but in
vain. Pandora shook her head at everything Daphne tried to tell
her. Ajax and I never really understood exactly what happened,
but I swear to you, I didnt kill him.
Pandora whirled away from Daphne, turning her back and still
shaking her head in denial. Ariadne went and stood next to her and
took her hand, but Pandora would accept no comfort. She dropped
Ariadnes hand and crossed her arms tightly across her chest, like
her insides hurt, her left hand cupping the cuff-locket on her right
wrist.
Oh, how typical! The House of Thebes thinks it knows
everything because its the House of the Oracle, Daphne said to
Pandoras back, almost pleading with her. And the irony is that
its because you think you know it all that the other Houses have
been able to hide so much from youour relics, like the cestus
even our very existence. You thought the House of Atreus was
extinct, but here I am. Open your eyes! Whether you want to believe
it or not, Pandora, Ajax and I saved each others lives that
night, and then we fell deeply in love.
Then the two of you ran away together? Castor asked, shocking
everyone with his sympathetic tone.
We had no choice. Even though I had paid my debt to the House
of Thebes, and I could be near any of you without inciting the Furies,
you all still wanted me dead, Daphne replied with a shrug.
Ajax said that if we could explain what had happened to Tantalus,
349/395
he would take our side. He really believed your brother would help
us. We were so young, only seventeen. A powerful emotion overwhelmed
her and she suddenly clenched her fists and her jaw, as if
she was refusing to cry.
Finish your story, Lucas said evenly.
Jax and I were living on a sailboat, hiding at sea. Tantalus
rowed out to meet us because we were too frightened of an ambush
to come ashore. As soon as Tantalus saw my face he went mad.
They fought over me in the rowboat. I cant swimI swear, I
couldnt get to them. Ajax lost, Daphne said. She stared directly
obviously thats a lie. He has been chasing me ever since, maybe
because he wants me for himself, or maybe because he intends to
kill me and he doesnt want anyone else coming after me for the
sake of a Triumph. Im not entirely sure what he wants anymore.
I dont believe it, no matter what you say, Lucas, Pallas said,
shaking his head in denial. Tantalus loved Ajax.
Yes, he did. He loved his brother, and then he killed him,
Daphne said, frustrated to the point of cruelty. Now, as a kinkiller,
hes an Outcast, and he cant have contact with anyone from
the House of Thebes without the Furies revealing his sin to you.
Pallas, Castor said gently. Didnt it ever bother you that our
brother stayed hidden even when there were no other Houses left
to fight?
But there were other Houses, and there still are! Pallas
shouted, pointing to Helen and her mother. He must have known
she was still alive, and that she can seduce anyone, even us, to help
her get to him.
I havent used the cestus on you, Pallas. Not even to get you to
believe me, Daphne said tiredly. I want you to know in your own
heart who killed Ajax. I need you to believe that I wasnt the one
who killed my husband.
350/395
Everything shes saying is true, Lucas said, locking eyes with
Helen. She hasnt used the cestus. And she and Ajax were
married.
Helen looked away, although she could feel him studying her
&nbs
p; face.
The Fates have done this many times, Cassandra intoned, a
hint of the Oracles glow in her eyes and voice as she momentarily
peeked through the Veil. The Star-Crossed Lovers are in the warp
and weft of the pattern, and my mothers are compelled to repeat it
again and again. Symmetry must be maintained or the fabric of the
universe will be ruined. All Four Houses have been preserved this
way.
All four? Lucas repeated as his eyes sought out Helens. A glimmer
of hope flared up in him, but instead of seeing his own elation
echoed in Helen, her face was pale and empty. She looked away.
Four Houses in Three Heirs, the many voices continued to
chant. The Star-Crossed Lovers have preserved the bloodlines.
And the Three shall raise Atlantis.
A strange hush overtook the room, like the pause between a
blinding flash of lightning and the deafening roar of thunder that
inevitably follows.
Sibyl! Daphne said suddenly, addressing Cassandra by the
most ancient title of her office. I beg you to answer me! How can
the Scions rid themselves of the Furies?
She cant control them yet! Castor gasped at Daphne, whose
face had grown greedy and desperate. Helens mind flashed back to
Daphnes sudden decision to come back to the House of Thebes
with Lucas, and she knew that this was what her mother had
wanted all along.
Castor grabbed Daphnes arm, pulling her away from his daughter,
but it was too late. The Three Fates had been officially
summoned into the body of the Oracle to answer a direct question,
and they would not be stopped. Cassandras mouth glowed, her
351/395
hair writhed, and her head snapped back. Her eyes grew rheumy
with cataracts and her skin wrinkled. An old woman forcibly
pushed her way through a young girls shell like she was tearing
through a piece of paper. Convulsing, the old woman turned into
another woman, and then a third, as the many voices chimed out of
her.
The Descender must go down to those who cannot forgive and
cannot forget. The Descender and her Shield will free the Three
from their suffering as she will free the Houses from the cycle of
blood for blood, they said, and then went silent.
Cassandras head righted itself. The wrinkles smoothed and her
eyes cleared, but the eerie extra presences were still in her. Daphne
pulled herself away from Castor and approached the Oracle with