Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

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