Cassandra said, grasping for words with frustration. Its like the
way it looks different to everyone. Thats because theres no such
thing as the most beautiful ornament, or the most beautiful anything
for that matter. How can I explain this?
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What I think is beautiful is very different from what even my
twin would think is beautiful because were all turned on by different
things, Ariadne explained bluntly for her.
Thats right, Cassandra said.
But why a girdle? Helen persisted.
You have to remember, a few thousand years ago girdles were
considered very attractive, but they were also a form of protection
for the wearer. Some even had bone or bronze plates in them, like
lightweight armor, Castor explained. He looked remote, though,
not his good-natured self. But there were two parts to the cestus.
The girdle itself, and its adornments. It was the adornments that
made the goddess irresistible to whomever she wanted to seduce,
and they had the power to change to suit the tastes of whoever was
looking at them. Time passed and girdles fell out of fashion, but
the transformative magic of the cestus is still the same. It can become
whatever you need it to be to make yourself more attractive,
Helen. And all these years youve only needed it to be a simple
necklace.
Ive always loved it, Lucas admitted softly. The way it falls into
that place. He touched the dent at the bottom of her throat for the
briefest of moments. I think its perfect.
Helen could see a hot flush wash across his cheekbones, but he
kept his eyes down, conscious of the fact that everyone was staring
at them with worried frowns. Castor especially looked so stricken
he could have been at a funeral.
What I dont understand is why are we all noticing it now? Its
like it just got charged with love mojo in the past few days or
something, Jason mused to no one in particular. Then a thought
occurred to him and he looked from Helen to Lucas, then away.
Like it just switched on, Ariadne said. She looked over at Helen
and Lucas, sharing the same idea as her twin.
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What if I wanted it to be something else? Helen asked, ignoring
the strange stares she was suddenly getting from everyone. Cassandra
shrugged.
I dont know. Maybe try changing it? she asked with an excited
look. But Id take it off first! You never know, she added quickly.
Helen unlatched her necklace and tried to think about sexy
things, but she couldnt come up with anything. After a moment
she realized that it didnt matter what she thought was sexy, but
what other people thought that would be important. She needed a
guinea pig. She looked at Hector, focusing on him alone, and she
felt her necklace change shape in her hand.
Helen! Hector exclaimed.
Helen looked down and saw that she was holding a tiny scrap of
lace that more closely resembled diamond-encrusted dental floss
than underpants. Everyone burst out laughing, pointing at Hector
and making fun of his trashy taste. She looked at Lucas, concentrated,
and it turned back into her necklace. He grinned.
I told you. I love that necklace, he said openly.
His gaze was so warm Helen felt she had to do something to divert
all the stares they were getting. She looked around the room,
pointedly seeking out a new victim. Everyone wisely decided to
scatter.
Dont even think about it! Ariadne shrieked, running out of the
room so Helen couldnt focus on her.
Come on! Thats not fair! Jason said. He backed away from her,
alternately covering his eyes so he couldnt see her and covering his
face so she couldnt see him.
All right, nobody panic! Helen put her necklace back on and
laughed, but no one was left in the library to witness her mercy but
Lucas and Cassandra. I like it best like this, myself.
Good, Lucas said, averting his eyes and trying to pretend he
wasnt embarrassed.
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Why arent you running? Helen asked Cassandra playfully, but
when she saw the dark look on her face she knew she had said
something terribly wrong.
That will never work on me, Cassandra said in a flat, distant
voice. She brushed past Helen.
Im sorry, Helen said to Lucas, as Cassandra stalked out of the
room. She put her hand on Lucass arm and made him look at her.
I dont understand, Lucas. What did I say?
Aphrodites power only works on adultson sexually mature individuals,
he answered with a raspy voice, like his throat had gone
dry.
Oh. I didnt know, but thats nothing for her to be ashamed of.
Shes only thirteen. She hasnt bloomed yet . . .
Lucas cut her off. My sister will never bloom. She was taken by
the Fates.
What does that mean?
It means that even if she wants to, even if she feels what other
woman feel, shell never fall in love or have children. She wont
even be able to have the kind of careless physical relationships that
Hector has pretty much once a week, Lucas said. She is sacrosanct
to the Three Fates, and they will not share their daughter.
But if she feels like a woman, why cant she act like one? Who
cares what three dusty old spinsters say? Helen asked persuasively,
but that made Lucas even more upset.
Youre not understanding this, Helen. Were talking about the
Fates, not a couple of overprotective parents with virginity issues.
The Moirae cant be avoided or tricked. Cassandra wont be able to
sneak out of her bedroom window and have sex with some hot guy
she met at a party, he said, pacing around. Even if he was a man
she truly respected, a man she could grow to love, the Fates would
separate them. Fate herself would make sure Cassandra never laid
eyes on that man again.
How cruel, Helen said, horrified.
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And someday the Fates will separate her from us, her own family.
You can barely tell now, but she and I used to be so close. She
used to take my hand anytime we walked next to each other, but
not anymore, he said, his voice breaking with emotion. She was
the sweetest little sister ever, I swear. Such a big, warm heart and
such a big, clever mindall packed into the tiniest girl youve ever
seen. Now shes becoming more like them. Cold, meticulous,
unrelenting.
Helen put her hands on his waist and waited silently until he was
ready to pull her into his arm and relax against her, which he finally
did in a wave. She had held him for only a few minutes when
Ariadne came into the library and told Helen she needed to come
out to the kitchen.
What is it? Lucas asked.
Your mom found out about the whole cestus of Aphrodite thing
and shes sort of throwing a fit, Luke, Ariadne admitted with a
heavy heart, her gentle eyes darting between the two of them with
sympathy. Aunt Noel has asked for a meeting with Helen.
All the air seemed to leave the room, most of it sucked into Lucass
lungs. Ariadne spun on her heel and Lucas took Helens hand.
Is this bad? Helen asked Lucas breathlessly as they followed
Ariadne through the house.
Yes, he whispered. Listen, will you promise me something?
What?
Promise me that no matter what my mother says, that this isnt
the last time you talk to me. Lucas made her stop and face him.
He held her by her stiff shoulders and placed his lips against her
forehead as he spoke. Promise that you will speak to me again.
Even if its just once.
I promise, she stammered, not sure if this was really happening
to her or if shed wandered into some bizarre dream.
She and Lucas went into the kitchen holding hands tightly, as
though for the last time.
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Noel looked over at Castor and gestured to them as if they were
Exhibit A in her prosecution.
Luke, go upstairs, Castor said without being able to look him in
the eye.
I think Im entitled to hear this, he replied calmly. Helen
clutched his hand and glanced around at everyones solemn faces.
Something was very wrong. Helen started to breathe so fast she
felt like for the first time in her life she might actually
hyperventilate.
I want you all out. Its my hearth, and my sacred right by Hestia,
Noel said firmly, as if she were invoking some old ritual. This
is between Helen and me now.
After a few moments of silence, Jason was the first to move. Seeing
the look in Noels eyes, he went to Lucas and physically separated
his hand from Helens. If it had been anyone else, Helen was
convinced Lucas would have put up a fight, but he allowed Jason to
lead him upstairs. Everyone else filed out of the kitchen, looking
sad. Everyone except for Pallas, that is. Helen noticed that he
looked satisfied. Even a little smug.
Sit, Noel said, pulling out a chair for herself, facing Helen. You
dont understand whats happening, do you?
Helen shook her head and swallowed. Noel asked another question.
Ariadne explained the Truce to you, right?
She said the Houses have to stay separate or the gods will come
back and start the Trojan War all over again, Helen croaked
through a tight throat.
Right. Now what does that mean? What would be the simplest
way for the Houses to be unified? Noel asked sharply. Helen
shook her head again, scared dumb, and Noel continued. There
are two obvious ways. One House can destroy the others, or the
Houses can intermarry. Usually this is impossible for Scions because
the Furies keep everyone hating everyone else, but that isnt
an issue for you and Lucas.
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Helen let out a giant breath of relief.
Is that it? she asked. Nobodys marrying anybody! Lucas and I
are way too young! Were not that stupid.
Noel shook her head, as if Helen had missed the point.
Do you know how marriage was defined in ancient Greece?
Noel said in a calmer tone. Its really simple. A virgin goes to
mans house with the family gathered as witnesses. The virgin and
the man share a fire, a meal, and a bed. If the girl wasnt a virgin in
the morning, then the couple was considered married. Thats it.
Thats all it took. Youre still a virgin, right?
Helen blushed furiously, her jaw dropping. Yes. But thats no
ones business but my own!
It certainly is our business. Because you and Lucas have shared
almost everything else on the list, all thats left is the consummation
of the marriage. If that happens, then as far as the gods are
concerned you will be his wife. If youre his wife, then that unites
the final two Houses. And you know what that means.
War, Helen said, completely stunned. Her brain scrambled to
find the flaw in Noels argumentthe one thing that would make it
untruebut she didnt come up with anything. Its impossible.
No, its ironic. The first Trojan War started because two teenagers
fell in love and ran off together, and here are you and Lucas,
poised to make exactly the same mistake, Noel said, her pity beginning
to show through her anger.
And Lucas knew all this? Right from the start? Helen asked.
She felt strangely numb.
From the first moment he saw you, Noel replied.
That explains a lot, Helen whispered, still putting the pieces together
in her head. I thought he was just old-fashioned or
something.
Lucas? No. Noel laughed, shaking her head at the thought. But
he is honorable, so I trusted him with you. I allowed this to go on
because I believed that he would be able to control himself and not
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do anything that the world would regret. But the cestus changes
things.
Why? Helen asked, suddenly perking up. Ive always worn it,
and hes always been able to control himself. And I didnt exactly
make it easy on him, either, she added with regret. But from now
on I wont pressure him, and that way we can still be together,
right?
And then what? Noel pleaded gently. All the anger had gone
from her once she saw how invested Helen was, how much Helen
cared. You could both stay true to your word and never touch each
other, but what do you think that will do to your relationship over
time? What do you think it will do to Lucas? Noel paused and
looked at her hands in her lap.
Itll be hard, but we know whats at stake. . . . Helen began, trying
to bargain.
Ive already been told that Im going to lose my daughter to
madness. I cant lose my son as well, Noel interrupted, her eyes
wide with fear. Please, Helen. Im begging you. Stay away from
Lucas. If you get a little distance from each other, maybe hell be
able to let you go before its too late.
Youre talking like Im going to drive him crazy or something,
Helen said, frustrated. Noel gave her a piercing look that warned
Helen not to belittle the situation.
The cestus isnt some silly love potion you can buy at the county