Helen?s halo of ball lightning was hotter than the surface of the
sun. It melted the pavement under her feet into lava and heated up
the air around her until it literally hummed. The Delos family
jumped away from the intolerable light and heat, but more important,
they jumped away from Daphne as she ran into the darkness
with Hector?s unconscious body slung over her shoulder.
The pain was unbearable. Helen couldn?t hold the ball of electricity
for more than a few seconds. As soon as she heard Daphne?s
footsteps move away, she switched off like a fried lightbulb and
379/395
stumbled desperately out of the white-hot liquid asphalt that was
pooling below her, burning her and choking her with noxious
gases. She crawled on hands and knees toward Ariadne, Castor,
and Pallas, their faces matching masks of agony as they all suddenly
became aware of what they had nearly done. But Helen
couldn?t let them fall apart just yet.
?Lucas needs help!? she rasped, gesturing back to the shattered
steps of the Atheneum.
?Ariadne,? Castor said in a brittle voice. ?Go get Lucas. Helen,
can you walk??
?No,? she admitted, shaking her head.
?Mortals will be coming,? Castor said as he picked Helen up and
started to carry her off, but he stopped when he noticed his brother
wasn?t following. ?Pallas! We need to go!?
?My son,? Pallas whispered, unable to move.
?Dad, come on! You have to take Creon?s body!? Ariadne hissed
from the stairs of the Atheneum. She had Lucas draped over her
shoulders and she was glancing around frantically to see if there
were any witnesses.
The sound of his daughter?s voice managed to distract Pallas