with Lucas?s help.
There was a lot of yelling from down the beach, and the sound of
feet pounding across the sand. Then Helen felt Lucas try to reposition
his head to look at someone standing above them.
?Hi, Dad,? he said apologetically.
Castor muttered some kind of oath that Helen didn?t recognize,
but the meaning was clear enough. Then he starting giving orders,
and Helen felt someone thud down next to her.
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?My gods,? Ariadne whispered to herself. ?Helen? I?m going to try
to roll you off, okay? But first I?m going to have to try to speed up
the healing of your bones a bit. It will feel a little hot, but don?t be
afraid, healing is one of my and Jason?s talents. Jase, come and do
her legs,? she called up.
Helen felt another thud, and then she felt the twins slide their
hands gently down along her arms and legs. There was a burning
sensation inside Helen?s bones that was nearly unbearable, and it
made her wonder if she would be better off without any ?healing.?
Right before she begged them to stop, the burning mercifully
ended. The twins counted to three and gingerly flipped her onto
her back like she was a runny pancake. Helen tried to be brave, but
she couldn?t stop a scream from slipping out. Every muscle, every
inch of skin, every bone in her body was lit up with pain as though
someone had filled her bloodstream with flaming-hot shards of
glass.
She gritted her teeth and took deep, calming breaths before she
felt like she had enough control to open her eyes. When she did,
she saw Ariadne?s luminous hazel eyes, fringed with the same incredibly
long lashes as Jason?s, looking down at her with compassion.
She studied Helen?s face carefully, and then gave her a tired