Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

wrong?for all of our sakes. But I have to do this . . . because . . .

this is what comes next.?

Her eyes were filling up with tears. She looked so tormented

Helen would have done anything to make her feel better. She

smiled understandingly at Cassandra, who tried to control her

hitching breath as she nodded in return and wrapped both hands

around the hilt of her sword. She swung it over her shoulder and

paused, waiting for Helen to be ready.

Helen choked back the scream that was trying to climb out of her

mouth.

If Cassandra, the Oracle of Delphi, had foreseen her death, was

there any sense in fighting it? Did Helen really have a choice?

The thought of not being in control of her own destiny made her

angry. Angry enough to hold her head up and make the only decision

that she could, even if it was potentially the last decision she

would ever make.

?I could try to fly away, but what?s that saying from Oedipus Rex?

?You meet your fate on the road you take to escape it,? right? So go

ahead and do what you have to do. I?m choosing to get this over

208/395

with right now,? Helen responded as evenly as she could while her

whole body shook with fear.

Cassandra swung her sword. In that millisecond Helen knew

she?d

had a good life, because she suddenly loved it so much that

she could have wept with gratitude. She?d had amazing friends, the

best dad in the world, and a strong, healthy body. She?d even experienced

the joy of flight. And once, just once, in the middle of the

night, she?d almost kissed the only boy she ever wanted. . . .

Helen felt a strange, vibrating tickle, like someone had pressed a