over her eyes in a posture of deep concentration. Finally, she
looked up at Helen, and with a determined smile she dispelled the
lingering negativity.
?Well, you?re safe for now. I don?t see any immediate threats,?
she said reassuringly, watching Helen cradle her still-tender midsection.
?Any idea which human saw you chasing Creon??
?Gretchen. Don?t worry, no one will care. She?s always saying
stuff about me,? Helen said positively. ?Wait a sec. How do you
know someone saw me??
?These cramps you?re having? They?re the curse. Your mom
cursed you to feel almost unendurable pain if you use your Scion
powers in front of mortals,? Cassandra said with a shrug.
?Is that what it is? It?s been driving me crazy all week!? Lucas
said from the front seat as he turned down the long Delos
driveway.
?Of course you wouldn?t recognize them. You?re a boy,? Ariadne
said. ?Curse Cramps are sadistic, really. I haven?t even read about
anyone doing it in centuries.?
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?My mother cursed me?? Helen repeated back to Cassandra, who
nodded sadly.
?Way back, hundreds of years ago, it was thought to be the only
way to keep women Scions in line with the society of the time.
Mothers would do it to their daughters to keep them from drawing
too much attention to themselves because women weren?t supposed
to be special or smart or talented.? Cassandra wrinkled her
nose, like she had said something that smelled bad as it came out
of her mouth.
Helen sputtered uselessly to herself for a few seconds, unable to
process what she had just learned. Cassandra took Helen?s hand