time. He rolled over gracefully and captured one of her arms just
before she could drift away.
?Tomorrow. I promise,? he said quietly as he reeled her in. ?But
it?s nearly dark and my family will worry about us if we stay out
any longer tonight.?
Helen couldn?t argue with that, so she let Lucas hold her
shoulders and steer her down to the soft patch of grass they had
taken off from. She hovered above him as he transitioned gracefully
into the gravity-state.
?What do I do?? she asked, suddenly frightened again.
?It?s okay. I know landing is intimidating, but I?m right here,? Lucas
said patiently as he stood on the ground, his arms stretched up
to hold both her hands as she floated above him.
?I think I?ve seen a painting like this,? Helen said, giddy with
fear. ?But the woman in the painting had wings.?
?Demigods, and gods for that matter, have always been attracted
to artists, and sometimes they?ve painted us. The wings are total
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bull, of course, but they are pretty,? he said in a light tone. He was
just giving her time to calm down, and she knew it.
?Okay. What do I do?? she asked evenly.
?I want you to pick the world back up again,? he answered.
?What do you mean, pick up the world?? she sputtered.
?Concentrate. You can feel what I mean, I know you can, but you
have to trust me.?
?I trust you,? Helen said for the hundredth time that day, but this
time she looked him in the eyes as she said it, and he looked back
at her with perfect faith. His face was glowing with it. Nothing
could be impossible if Lucas had faith in her. So, she picked up the
world . . . and fell, exactly like anyone else would have if they were