and smiled kindly at her. ?If it?s any consolation, the curse probably
kept you hidden all these years.?
?As much as I hate to admit anything so barbaric could be useful,
I have to agree,? said Ariadne as she opened her door and got out
of the car. ?If you hadn?t been cursed, can you imagine what your
mortal dad would have gone through when you were a toddler with
all that strength? He tries to punish you, you throw him out a window.
Bedtime would have been a bloodbath.?
?Well, when you put it that way,? Helen admitted as she climbed
out of the back, accepting Lucas?s politely offered hand. As she and
Lucas walked side by side behind Ariadne and Cassandra toward
the house, she started to laugh to herself.
?What is it?? he asked.
?I always knew my mother hated me, and now I find out that she
literally cursed me,? she replied, hearing her voice sound matterof-
fact. ?I don?t think I?ve ever heard anything that made so much
sense in my whole life.?
?Your mother was trying to protect you,? Lucas countered
judiciously.
?Oh, you are such a boy! You?ve never had cramps,? Helen
muttered. They paused on the landing.
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?Maybe take your shoes off,? Lucas said, looking down at Helen?s
feet. She was caked in black marsh mud all the way up to her waist.
?Maybe get a hose,? Helen countered with a laugh.
?I can do better than a hose,? he said with an easy grin, pulling on
her hand to follow him toward to the pool. ?Outdoor showers are
sort of a requirement for our family.?
He brought her to the outdoor shower and left her there to go to
the pool house to get some towels and a change of clothes. When