Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

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.