went over to a pair of complete strangers at another booth. She
smiled at the two shocked tourists, pointed to her necklace, and
asked the man closest to her what he thought it looked like.
?A rose. Of course,? he said with a hopeful smile. His friend
leaned in and took a look, as if he were drawn to it.
?That?s a locket,? he said with a faraway look in his eye. ?Just like
my mom used to wear.?
?Thanks,? Helen said to them, then turned and went back to her
table with a shrug. ?You?re all wrong, except for Lucas. My mom
gave me this charm when I was a baby. It?s a heart, and I?ve never
worn anything but this heart since, like, forever.?
?That?s what I see!? Cassandra said like she had just solved a
mystery. ?I?ve been wondering what everyone was talking about!?
Helen sat back down next to Lucas. ?Personally, I think you all
see what you want to see.?
Cassandra?s mouth dropped open. ?Oh my gods! She?s projecting!
That?s why everyone is so cheerful and suddenly started jumping
on top of each other like it?s mating season at the zoo.? she
said. Her eyes were wide. She looked at Hector. ?I need to go home
right now.?
?But . . . our burgers,? he said, slightly forlorn but also aware of
the fact that he was going to end up doing whatever Cassandra told
him to do.
?We?ll need all this to go,? Cassandra said to the food runner. She
turned to Helen. ?I think I?ve figured this out, but I still need to test
it.?
289/395
They raced back to the Delos compound, the rowdy group storming
into the library and upsetting Castor and Pallas. Cassandra
dragged one of the ladders over to a high shelf of her choosing and