any longer tonight.
Helen couldnt argue with that, so she let Lucas hold her
shoulders and steer her down to the soft patch of grass they had
taken off from. She hovered above him as he transitioned gracefully
into the gravity-state.
What do I do? she asked, suddenly frightened again.
Its okay. I know landing is intimidating, but Im right here, Lucas
said patiently as he stood on the ground, his arms stretched up
to hold both her hands as she floated above him.
I think Ive seen a painting like this, Helen said, giddy with
fear. But the woman in the painting had wings.
Demigods, and gods for that matter, have always been attracted
to artists, and sometimes theyve painted us. The wings are total
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bull, of course, but they are pretty, he said in a light tone. He was
just giving her time to calm down, and she knew it.
Okay. What do I do? she asked evenly.
I want you to pick the world back up again, he answered.
What do you mean, pick up the world? she sputtered.
Concentrate. You can feel what I mean, I know you can, but you
have to trust me.
I trust you, Helen said for the hundredth time that day, but this
time she looked him in the eyes as she said it, and he looked back
at her with perfect faith. His face was glowing with it. Nothing
could be impossible if Lucas had faith in her. So, she picked up the
world . . . and fell, exactly like anyone else would have if they were
trying to walk on six feet of air. Of course, Lucas knew what to expect,
and caught her easily on her way to the ground. Snatching
her out of the air, he eased her down until her feet lightly touched
the grass.
Finally standing on her legs after so long without using them,
Helen felt a bit unsteady. Her vision was reeling, and she rested
against Lucas for a moment, her arms wrapped around his neck.
When the dizzy feeling passed, she kept her arms there still, hoping
to feel some kind of invitation from him. He pulled away and
forced a laugh.
See? Piece of cake. Next time, just swing your legs under you
right before you change states, and youll be good to go, he said
breezily as he started walking back toward the house. Youre
learning much faster than I did, you know.
Yeah, right. I would have hit the ground like a brick if you hadnt
caught me, she said, shoving Lucas away from her as she walked,
laughing with him even though her heart felt a bit twisted up in her
chest.
She wasnt exactly expecting a kiss, but she certainly had been
hoping for one. She suddenly felt really foolish, like she was being
an idiot for even trying to kiss someone so much smarter, so much
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more confident, so much more worldly than she was. She crossed
her arms and sped up, but Lucas wouldnt let her pass him. Instead,
he unwound her arms and took her hand. She had just
enough pride to be offended that he would insist on holding her
hand after refusing to kiss her.
They can see us, he said so quietly Helen could barely hear him.
She saw him jerk his chin over toward the house.
Following his gesture she saw that Pallas and Castor were sitting
on the dark deck outside their shared study. They must have come
outside to talk privately and been interrupted by Helens prolonged
landing. They also must have seen her angling for a little nookie,
which was so horrifying to Helen that she had to banish that
thought from her mind forever or instantly explode from
humiliation.
Shes learning fast, isnt she, Dad? Lucas called out.
Much better than her first landing, Castor replied jovially, then
turned to Helen. Glad to see youve stopped trying to impersonate
a comet.
Yeah. Ive also decided to do all my landings conscious from now
on. Saves on food costs, Helen returned amiably, glad that it was
too dark for them to see her blush. She smiled at Pallas but he
didnt laugh, or even return her smile. He just watched.
Very wise of you, Castor said. By the way, youd better not be
planning any side trips, Lucas, he added in warning. Your moms
almost done with dinner and shes not in the mood to wait for anyone
tonight.
Duly noted. Thanks for the heads-up, Lucas said as he led
Helen back toward the house. By the way Lucas was rushing her
along it seemed as if he was purposely avoiding his father and
uncle. Either that or he was keeping Helen away from them.
Okay, whats going on? she asked as soon as they got into the
dark garage and closed the door behind them. Your uncle is really
weird around me. What did he find out in Europe?
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No ones heard of you over thereor at least no one is talking
about you. My uncle Pallas came home because he was following
Creon here, but as far as we know Creon came to the States without
telling his family. We think he just wants to keep an eye on uson
Hector, mostly, Lucas said with a dark look on his face.
Did your uncle learn anything about those two women? The
ones who attacked me? Helen whispered tensely.
No, thats still a mystery. None of Uncle Pallass contacts know
anything about them. We dont think Tantalus knows about you
yet, but no one has seen Tantalus in years, so its difficult to say for
sure what hes got planned.
No ones seen Tantalus? Helen asked, stunned. How does he
lead, then?
Through his wife. Shes the one who gives all the orders to the
Hundred Cousins, and has been for almost nineteen years now.
Why?
Its a long story, Lucas said, frowning and looking down. Helen
could tell that meant that it was an important story.
My favorite kind, she said, angling her head so she could catch
his downcast eyes. When she did, she smiled coaxingly at him until
he gave in. Lucas took her hand absentmindedly and started playing
with her fingers as he spoke.
My father had another brother. He was the youngest of the boys
and everyones favorite. Even Tantalus loved him the most, he
said with a grimace, as if he had a hard time believing Tantalus
loved much of anything. His name was Ajax.
What happened to him? Did he die? Helen asked carefully. Lucas
nodded.
He was murdered. By someone he couldnt stay away from, he
said quickly. Frustrated, he brushed a hand over his face before he
continued. Anyway. When Ajax was killed, my uncle Tantalus
went into hiding to protect himself. As head of the House, he
feared being overthrown. After that, all of his orders either came in
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writing or through his wife, Mildred. But no one has seen him in
person since then.
Mildred? Thats not a Greek name.
Shes mortal, of course, Lucas said with a raised eyebrow.
Scions from other Houses usually send us into a murderous rage,
remember? Not exactly good for a marriage. And the only other
option would be for us to marry our cousins.
Oh, right. Forgot about the Furies for a sec. And with just one
House left the only Scions around are related to you. Gross, Helen
said, rolling her eyes at herself for missing such glaringly obvious
points.
Youre not related to me, he whispered, gently pulling on her
hand to bring her closer to him. Then, abruptly, he turned and
started leading her through the garage.
They could have walked in a straight line around the edge, but instead
Lucas chose to bring her through the maze of cars. Right before
they got to the door that led into the kitchen he slowed and
turned back around to face her with a smile. She could hear his elevated
breathing and his hand felt light in hers. For just a moment
he pulled toward her, as if he were looking for a way to scuff his
chest across hers and fall against her mouth, but at the last moment
he turned away and brought her inside the house as if nothing
was going on.
And maybe nothing was. Helen was so confused. But as soon as
they entered the kitchen she had other things to worry about. Like
tinnitus. In an instant, she understood why Castor and Pallas had
gone outside to talk. It was really noisy in there.
Noel was working her magic over the stove, and the rest of the
family seemed to be collecting around her as inevitably as water
running downhill. All the chairs were taken, and the standing room
up against the counter was constantly changing as Noel whirled
and bullied her way around her work space. Everyone was talking
and laughing and arguing at the same time, and although Helen
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couldnt understand a word, somehow they all seemed to be understanding
each other. It was a Delos symphony, and Noel was the
maestro.
As an outsider, Helen could see Noel for what she wasthe center
of the family, the beating heart that fed all that muscle she was
tripping over while she was trying to cook. She was the personification
of a warm fire and an open door, and she welcomed, even expected,
strays like Helen to wander in and eat her food.
There you are, she said without looking up from the stove. I
called your father and invited him over for dinner. I figured youd
be too worn out to do any cooking yourself. She turned the vegetables
she was sautéing with a deft flick of her wrist, just like Helen
had seen celebrity chefs do on TV. Helen had always wanted to
learn that move, and for a moment her slightly shell-shocked brain
was distracted by it. Then she registered that Noel had been talking
to her.
You invited my dad? Helen asked shrilly.
I sure did. Pallas is finally home, and since youre going to be
spending a lot of time at our house to train Ive decided its time
our families met each other. I asked Jerry to bring your Kate as
well, but shes working the store tonight, so that will have to wait.
Your dads going to be here in about fifteen minutes, so if theres
anything you need to brush or wash first, she said, finally turning
around to inspect the windswept girl standing in her kitchen wearing
clothes that were about four sizes too big for her. Id do it
quick, she finished with a knowing smile.
Helen looked down at her grass-stained feet. She tried to run a
hand through her hair, and squeaked with pain when all the short
hairs on the back of her neck got yanked out. Ariadne laughed.
You look like youve been dragged through a bush backward. But
I can fix that. Ariadne stood up, pried Helens hand away from
Lucass, and dragged her out of the kitchen.
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Helen couldnt believe how many knots were in her hair, but
eventually Ariadne managed to tease them out with some anti-frizz
lotion and a straight comb. Then Helen washed her feet, tied her
hair back in a ponytail, and threw on some flip-flops that Ariadne
loaned her so fast she was halfway down the steps before she realized
that they were too big on her and she could break her neck.
What the hell are you wearing? Jerry said as soon as he saw
her. Helen burst out laughing, partly because her dad had said exactly
what she was thinking, but mostly because of the dumb-ass
look on his face.
Its a loaner. My track uniform was all sweaty. Hey, theyre huge,
but at least theyre clean, Helen said, gesturing down to the
gigantic T-shirt and the rolled-up sweatpants.
Oh. Well, you look . . . comfortable? he said suspiciously.
Next time Ill wear a ball gown, Helen promised. Still laughing
with her dad, she turned and noticed that half the Delos family was
watching them, apparently amused.
I see what you mean, Castor said to Lucas, and the two of them
shared a look that Helen didnt understand before he turned to
Jerry and smiled warmly.
Its nice to see you again, Jerry, Castor said, coming forward
with his hand extended for Jerry to shake.
And you, Castor. I intended to be the first to suggest we all sit
down to a meal together, but your wife seems to be a step ahead of
me, Jerry said graciously.
Welcome to my world, Castor replied with a laconic smile, the
two men already enjoying each others company.
The introductions were as brief as possible, considering they included
so many people, and Jerry handled them like a pro. Hed
run a local store for almost twenty years and he was accustomed to
remembering peoples names and adjusting to even the most eccentric
of personalities. Helen watched him respond in just the
right way to make one person smile, another laugh, and yet
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another stop and think. She was proud of her dad, not just because
he was clever and funny, but because he knew when not to be.
It also helped that Lucass family had similar tastes, both in conversation
and in food. Jerry ate up a storm and gently leaned on
Noel until she confessed that she had been a chef in her pre-mom
life, years ago, when she lived in France. Noel even admitted that
she had made a few stealth trips to the News Store. She generously