gigantic kazoo against the side of her throat and blown on it. She
saw Cassandra?s eyes widen as she pulled the blade back from the
side of Helen?s neck and looked at it.
The sword was totally mangled in the middle section, all
crunched up on itself like a squeezed piece of tinfoil. Cassandra
stared at Helen in shock for a moment. Relieved tears spilled down
her cheeks.
?I was right.? She dropped the sword and grabbed Helen in a
hug. Then she started jumping up and down, making Helen jump
with her. ?You?re not dead! This is . . . You have no idea how happy
I am I didn?t just kill you!? she squealed.
?Ditto,? Helen said in a daze. She was alive.
?Hang on. We still have to test this,? Cassandra said excitedly as
she ran over to a chest of weapons in the corner of the fenced off
court. She threw open the lid and grabbed a bow and arrow. Grinning,
she shot Helen in the chest.
Helen heard Ariadne scream something behind her, and
someone running at demigod speed to overtake the arrow, but it
was too late. The arrow struck her and bounced off her chest, making
a faint twanging sound as it did so. Too late to change course,
Jason plowed into her from behind and knocked her to the ground.
They rolled over together until he was propped up on his elbows
above her, staring at her chest with disbelief.
209/395
?I saw that arrow strike you,? he said vehemently as if he were
swearing in front of a grand jury.
?It did,? said Cassandra from the other end of the tennis court,
beaming with pleasure.
?I think Cassie?s finally lost it,? Hector whispered sadly, but
without surprise, to Ariadne.