would have also said she has the most beautiful face you?ve ever
seen. You wouldn?t be able to ignore that fact?it?s in your blood,?
she replied petulantly.
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?And if she does have the most beautiful face I?ve ever seen?
What then?? Creon asked calmly, although a wonderful rush of adrenaline
was sending a chill across his skin. The line went silent for
a full five seconds.
?You need to come home now. We need to tell your father. This is
much bigger than you know,? Mildred finally choked out before
she abruptly ended the call.
The next morning Helen jerked herself awake, her entire body
snapping from sleep to high alert in a blink. Her hand flew to that
spot on her chest where Creon?s blade had broken, and she had to
press her fingers into her breastbone to convince herself that there
was no gaping hole there.
She heard faint whispers coming from across the room. Sitting
up, she saw Lucas standing in the window, talking to someone outside
in such a low voice that no human could hear. The clock by her
bed read 5:25, and the sky was barely gray with the dawn.
?She?s safe, that?s all that matters,? Lucas said out the window.
?Not all that matters,? came the whispered reply.
Helen got out of bed and joined Lucas at the window. She looked
down and saw Hector standing on the edge of her lawn. He looked
up at them, glancing back and forth from Helen to Lucas, an indignant
look on his face.
?You okay?? Hector asked Helen gruffly.
?Yeah. But you don?t look so hot,? she said. Even from one flight
up she could see that Hector?s eyes were bloodshot with fatigue
and worry. He grimaced sarcastically at her compassionate look,