wrong?for all of our sakes. But I have to do this . . . because . . .
this is what comes next.?
Her eyes were filling up with tears. She looked so tormented
Helen would have done anything to make her feel better. She
smiled understandingly at Cassandra, who tried to control her
hitching breath as she nodded in return and wrapped both hands
around the hilt of her sword. She swung it over her shoulder and
paused, waiting for Helen to be ready.
Helen choked back the scream that was trying to climb out of her
mouth.
If Cassandra, the Oracle of Delphi, had foreseen her death, was
there any sense in fighting it? Did Helen really have a choice?
The thought of not being in control of her own destiny made her
angry. Angry enough to hold her head up and make the only decision
that she could, even if it was potentially the last decision she
would ever make.
?I could try to fly away, but what?s that saying from Oedipus Rex?
?You meet your fate on the road you take to escape it,? right? So go
ahead and do what you have to do. I?m choosing to get this over
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with right now,? Helen responded as evenly as she could while her
whole body shook with fear.
Cassandra swung her sword. In that millisecond Helen knew
she?d
had a good life, because she suddenly loved it so much that
she could have wept with gratitude. She?d had amazing friends, the
best dad in the world, and a strong, healthy body. She?d even experienced
the joy of flight. And once, just once, in the middle of the
night, she?d almost kissed the only boy she ever wanted. . . .
Helen felt a strange, vibrating tickle, like someone had pressed a