[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Especially not on our first realdate.Lucas laughed softly. I wasthinking the same thing whenwe were in the café.You and Ihad coffee together oncebefore school, but we neverreally dated, did we? We never got the chance.The world was always aboutto end, or one of us was onfire or something equallyannoying. He chuckled.Shelooked up at him and tried notto blush. You know, we cando whatever we want here.Ican make sure there are noconsequences.She could feel his breathquicken and see his eyesgleam with more than just thecold. You remember, monthsago, you gave me someadvice about how I should goabout making toughdecisions? he asked. Decide what youabsolutely can t handle, anddo the opposite, she said,surprised that he was bringingthis up when she had beenthinking pretty much the samething not too long ago. That s why I won t kissyou. He raised a hand andtouched her face, and quicklydropped it. Eventually, we llhave to go back, and I ll loseyou again.I know for a fact Ican t handle that.Nor could Helen, and shewas starting to consider otheroptions.Like figuring out away for Aphrodite to removethe curse that required Helento have a daughter in the firstplace.Maybe instead ofaccepting her situationwhich was ridiculously unfair she needed to at least try tofix it. I m tired of going roundand round, Helen sighed.The carousel came to a stop.She stood up and jumpeddown, the lights of thecarnival shutting off sectionby section around her as shewalked off the fairgrounds.She dropped her wand, andsnow began to fall.Billions oftiny stars were blotted out andseemed to fall through thenight sky as unique littlecrystals.It looked like the airaround them whirled withshimmering bits of frozenstars. Helen, Lucas began,following her.She heard himbracing himself for anotherone of their legendaryarguments. I m not angry with youbecause you won t kiss me,she said, turning around andstopping him. I get why youwon t kiss me.I can t gothrough all that again, either. So what s the matter? heasked patiently. I m sick of believing thatthere are these shadowy all-powerful deities who aregreater than me, keeping mefrom what I want.Becausethat s a lie.I m just as strongas any of the beings whowould hold me back.And Iknow I can beat them. Ah.Helen? Lucashazarded. You re not goingto run off and start pickingfights with the gods oranything like that, are you? Well, no, she said,shifting uncertainly from footto foot. I was thinking I dstart by asking a few questionsand take it from there. Good, Lucas said,relieved.He reached out andtook her hand, his eyesnarrowing with determination. And if talking doesn t work,we ll bury them.Helen watched a darkshadow pass across his face. We ll think about this later,she said, leading him to a paththat wound into the woods. I m not ready for our date tobe over yet.ELEVENAbout half an hour afterTantalus, Daedalus, and Pallasleft his camp, Matt heard thealarm again.There was acommotion outside, the soundof struggling, and momentslater Telamon was at theentrance of Matt s tent with areport. A Scion was foundsneaking around the beachand captured, Telamoninformed him. I would havesent her back to her House,only.it s her, Master. It s all right, Matt said,nodding his head. Bring herin.Ariadne was led into thetent, held on either side by aMyrmidon.Her hair wastangled, and her face was redwith exertion.She dobviously put up a fight, butshe was no match for evenone of Matt s soldiers, letalone a full company of them. Let her go.Then leave us.The guards obeyed silently.He turned to Ariadne. Howdid you find us? I followed my father.Hewas acting weird tonight, shewhispered.Ariadne stood asfar away from Matt as shecould and rubbed her armswhere the guards had held her. Did they hurt you? heasked quietly.She ignored hisquestion. How can you be him?You re not a Scion. Neither was Achilles.She dropped her face intoher palms and rubbed her eyesroughly. No, she said,lifting her head suddenly. No, I don t believe any ofthis.I can t.She ran for the exit, butMatt moved faster than sheever could and was therebefore her.He caught herwrist to stop her from leaving.She stared at him in shock. Believe it. Her skin feltsoft and warm in his hand.Helet her go and turned away.He knew it was better thisway, even though it didn tfeel like it. Go home.Mymen won t stop you.She didn t leave.Matt heard her crossing thespace to him and turned,already shaking his head. Don t.She kissed him, anyway.Heknew he was supposed to stopthis.She might know the storyword for word, but she didn tactually remember the endingthe way he did.He was justabout to pull away and sendher home to her brothers whenshe pressed her thumb intothat U-shaped hollow underhis Adam s apple while shekissed him.Just like she usedto a hundred lifetimes ago.As Matt picked her up andcarried her over to his bed, hemarveled at how simple agesture it was.Really it wasa silly habit she had oftouching his throat with herthumb.But once she did that,Matt didn t care who he hadto kill. Sing for me, Helen pleaded.She lifted her head offLucas s chest and stared downat him. Right now? With noaccompaniment? Lucasasked
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]