Ah, the News Store? Helen offered with a shrug. I dont think
well be able to talk there, though.
How bout this, he said as he pulled into a chain restaurant that
was popular with the tourists.
Helen winced, but assented. There were other mom-and-pop
choices, but she knew all the people who worked in those places.
For this conversation she needed a little privacy.
They stood quietly together in line, waiting to sit before they started
talking. Helen tried not to stare at Lucas, but it was difficult. It
amazed her how comfortable he seemed wherever he went, as if
the whole world was as private to him as his own bedroom.
She tried to watch him out of the corner of her eye, maybe catch
him fidgeting or shuffling his feet the way she herself did in public,
but there was none of that. He really didnt care if people looked at
him or not. He didnt subconsciously apologize to the world for his
presence by slouching or crossing his arms or playing with his
keys. It unnerved Helen to see how he could just stand there and
not do anything else, but it also inspired her. Why should she
slouch and feel bashful for taking up more space than most people?
She stood up a little straighter while she stared at him.
Had enough? he asked, smiling at Helens brazen admiration of
his looks.
Not yet, she said, a matching smile breaking across her face.
Good.
As soon as they were seated, Lucas asked her what she wanted to
know, and Helen had to think for a moment. She wasnt entirely
sure.
I guess the first thing I need to know is who hurt Kate, she said,
dreading the answer.
We have no idea, he answered, sounding earnest. Helens heart
sank. She knew from the night before that although Lucas couldnt
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bear to be lied to, it didnt stop him from telling a few whoppers of
his own.
That doesnt make sense, Lucas, she said carefully. Your father
told me that I was the only one of . . . our kind . . . who was not a
member of your House. How can you not know two women who,
by that logic, are related to you?
Lucas nodded, like he understood why Helen doubted him. The
House of Thebes is very large. Our immediate familythose of us
who moved back here to the Statesare a just a tiny splinter group,
but the main part of the House of Thebes is much, much larger.
Theyre known as the Hundred Cousins, although there are a lot
more of them than that now, and theyre loosely led by my uncle
Tantalus, he said, looking down at his coffee, his eyes far away. I
have a lot of distant relatives that Ive never heard of, let alone
seen.
If your uncle is the leader, cant you just call and ask him which
of your cousins is trying to kill me?
Tantalus may have been the one who sent them, he said darkly.
But we dont know that for sure yet. My uncle PallasHector,
Jason, and Ariadnes fatherhe went back to Europe after the first
attack on you to see how much Tantalus knows. Helen studied his
face for a moment. It was all sharp edges and glittering blue eyes.
You mean spy on the rest of the House, Helen said, surprised.
He nodded. But why would your family go through so much for
me? Im grateful, but still. What else arent you telling me?
He tore at his croissant for a moment and then let out a fast
breath.
The Hundred Cousins are a kind of cult. They believe something
that my family doesnt, and they believe it so fanatically that they
are willing to kill for it. Thats why we left Spain. Hector . . . Lucas
trailed off, and then shook his head as if to clear it before turning
his focus back on Helen. The point is that youre in a lot of danger.
Ive been following you since I first saw you, but I cant guard you
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every second. If either one of those women finds you without me
there, theyll try to kill you, and you dont know how to defend
yourself yet.
Well, its not like Ive ever had to defend myself, Helen said, at
a loss. I mean, this is Nantucket. My dad and I forget to lock the
front door more often than not!
Youre very important to us. Much more than I can explain to
you right now, Lucas said, leaning forward and taking her hands.
I know you said you needed a few days, and I didnt want to freak
you out by throwing all of this at you at once, but you have to start
training with us as soon as you can. My family will teach you how
to fight.
You mean like judo and stuff?
Sort of, Lucas said, smiling reassuringly. Dont look so worried.
With your gifts youll be kicking ass in no time.
What gifts? Helen asked doubtfully.
You really dont know, do you? he marveled.
Hey, Luke, whats up? Zach asked, entering the café. He was
smiling, but his smile faded as soon as he saw whom Lucas was
with. Behind him stood a few guys from the football team, all of
whom were staring, openmouthed, at the unlikely pairing.
Hey, Zach. Getting some coffee. You? Lucas answered, totally
unfazed. Helen gave a watered-down smile and untucked her hair
from behind her ears to hide her face. Lucas reached across the
table and smoothed her hair back behind her shoulder.
Same, yeah, Zach mumbled as he nearly tripped over himself to
get away, his eyes darting between Helen and Lucas with disbelief.
See you in a few, he called out before joining the other guys in
line.
Helen bit her lip and stared at her coffee cup, rubbing her stomach
under the table as subtly as possible. Please, no cramps, she
thought.
Whats the matter? Lucas asked, watching her.
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Nothing. Can we just go? she pleaded, desperate to change the
subject, get away, maybe drop dead if at all possible.
Sure, Lucas said, standing up. He gave her a worried look. I
know its not nothing, Helen, and Id rather you told me the truth,
whatever it is. Ariadne gave all three of us guys a whole lecture
about womens troubles years ago, you know. And by lecture, I
mean beating.
Well, I owe her one, but its not what you think. Helen grabbed
his hand and pulled him toward the door.
Lucas waved to Zach on his way out. Zach waved back, but he
was still pouting.
I think Ive lowered your rank. Sorry, Helen said as they got in
the little silver Mercedes.
What are you talking about? Lucas asked, backing out of the
parking lot.
Well, Zach and all those guys saw us together, she said, like her
meaning was obvious.
And?
Zach and Gretchen arent my biggest fans, which makes me sort
of like popularity antimatter at school, Helen explained sheepishly.
Lucass face cracked into a huge smile and he grabbed her
hand, but he had to let it go to shift.
Im going to have to start driving an automatic, he mumbled to
himself before continuing. You think youre unpopular? The first
hour I was on this island I heard about the beautiful, perfect, heavenly
Helen Hamilton. You know thats what the boys call you,
right? Heaven Hamilton? Helen dodged his seeking hand, but he
eventually captured hers and held it tighter.
Stop it, Lucas. This isnt a joke to me. And whats up with this?
she asked, holding up their linked hands.
I dont know, he said with a curious tilt of his head. But it feels
right, doesnt it? Look, why dont you tell me whats really
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bothering you about being seen with me. Are you afraid of people
talking?
Yes and no. You dont understand because you havent been
here long enough, but those popular people have something
against me, and some of them go out of their way to be mean to
me. Ive never fit in with them.
And you never will, he told her seriously. No matter where you
go you are going to be different, Helen. Its about time you got used
to it.
I am used to it! Ive had my whole life to get used to it! she exclaimed
as they drove into the school parking lot.
Good. Now stop freaking out and listen for a sec. Those guys
werent staring at us because they hate you. They were staring at us
because they couldnt figure out how the hell I convinced a girl who
tried to strangle me the other week to get in my car and go out for
coffee.
Oh, yeah. I forgot about that, Helen said to the ground, getting
out of the car. She tossed her bag over her shoulder.
And Id like to go back to forgetting about it. If we never talk
about trying to kill each other again, it would be fine with me, Lucas
said quietly. He took her hand firmly in his and pulled her up
against him so that her shoulder was touching his arm as they
walked into school.
Everyone was staring. The halls were lined with blank faces and
slack jaws as conversations were momentarily halted and then continued
twice as loud when Helen and Lucas passed. Helen tried to
pull her hand out of Lucass, but he resisted at first. Finally, he let
go when he realized that Helen was not just being modest, she was
about to panic.
Lennie? Claire called out warily. Helen smiled briefly at Lucas
and veered in Claires direction.
Where were you all weekend? Claire asked, eyeing Lucas
suspiciously.
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Did you try to call me? Helen asked, grateful for an excuse to
pry herself away from Lucas and hopefully away from all the
stares.
Like, five times. What happened to you?
My phone broke, Helen said apologetically. Then she turned to
Lucas. I have to stop at my locker before homeroom. Thanks for
the ride, she told him bluntly.
Okay. Ill see you later then, he said, accepting his dismissal as
gracefully as he could. When he was no more than three steps
away, Claire grabbed Helens arm and dragged her toward her
locker.
What the holy hand grenade was that? Claire practically
shouted. Helen shushed her as she wrestled with her locker
combination.
We had a long talk, Helen said quickly. We dont hate each
other anymore.
A talk? Yeah, right. Im sure tongues were involved but for some
reason I dont think much language was used. Claire looked angry,
but Helen was suddenly angrier.
Stop it, Claire! I mean it! I had a really rough weekend. Im sorry
I didnt think to call you last night but my father was pissed at me
for leaving him stranded at the airport.
Well, tell me about it now then! Claire replied defensively. Not
like you have to say anything. Everyone can see that you and Lucas
are suddenly a couple.
I dont know what we are, but its not something I can sum up
with an easy label like couple, okay? Stressed, Helen shuffled
through her books and realized that she hadnt done any of her
homework.
Why cant you just be honest with me? You slept with him,
Claire accused her. Her eyes were hurt. Helen knew she couldnt
shut her out entirely.
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Honestly? I did sleep with him. Twice. But not the way you
think, she said frankly. She turned Claire around and steered
them both to Hergies. Weve never even kissed.
Rubbish! Claire declared, stopping dead in the middle of the
hall.
Ask him yourself. Youve got classes with him all day, Helen responded,
perfectly serious. The bell rang and they both had to run
the last few steps to make it through the door before Hergie closed
it.
Helen had a terrible morning. Several teachers considered giving
her detention for not doing her homework and every single girl in
school was furious with her for getting a ride with Lucas. Helens
relationships with the girls in her class had always been strained.
For years shed gone out of her way to be nice to them, but shed finally
given up when she noticed that if she kept her head down and
her mouth shut she could slide under the radar.
That was all over now that she had been seen coming to school
with Lucas. She had crossed some sort of imaginary line, broken
the truce that she had entered into by refusing to compete, and
theyd declared war on her. All day long, Helen found that if she
looked anywhere but at the board or her desk she was shot nasty
looks. To top everything else off, Gretchen was whispering vicious
rumors about Helen to anyone who would listen, and Claire was
still upset.
Helen couldnt help but smile with relief when she saw Lucas at
his locker before lunch. He seemed to be the only person in the entire
school who would smile back at her.
So you like me again, huh? he said as she made her way toward
him.
Not you too, Helen moaned. Is there a sign on my back that
says kick me?
Its just gossip, Helen. It cant hurt us, he said, wisely deciding
not to tease her anymore.
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Maybe it cant hurt you, Helen muttered. She put a hand on her
belly. Lucas saw her do it and was just about to ask what was