Helen saw the other boy lunge at her, but he was stopped by Lucas,
who threw out an arm and sent him flying back into the lockers behind
them. Then her whole body stopped and strained.
?Cassandra! Stay where you are,? Lucas called over Helen?s
shoulder, his face no more than an inch away from hers. ?She?s
very strong.?
Helen?s arms burned and the little bones in her wrists felt like
they were grinding together. Lucas was holding her by the wrists to
keep her hands away from his neck, she realized. They were locked
in a stalemate, and if she could get her fingers half an inch closer,
she could reach his throat.
And then what? a little voice in her head asked. Choke the life out
of him! answered another.
Lucas?s achingly blue eyes widened in surprise. Helen was winning.
One of her long nails grazed the pulsing skin covering the fat
artery she itched to slit. Then, before she could process what was
happening, Lucas spun her around and clamped her to his chest,
restraining her arms against her breast and standing between her
legs. The position he?d forced her into kept her off balance and unable
to bring her heel down on his instep. She was immobile.
?Who are you? What is your House?? he breathed into her ear,
giving her a rough shake to punctuate his point. She was beyond
understanding language.
Outmaneuvered and helpless, she started to scream with rage,
then stopped herself. Now that she couldn?t see his eyes she was
becoming aware of the fact that half the school?s faculty was trying
to tear her off him. Everyone was staring.
Helen doubled over in agony as her abdomen seized up with
cramps. Lucas immediately let her go as if she?d turned into a lit
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