and turned to Lucas with a warning.
?Stay high until we?re sure. She?s safer in the air.?
Hector ran off so fast that Helen could only make out his blur.
Lucas shut the window and leaned against it. His eyes were wide
and unblinking.
254/395
?What was that about?? Helen asked in a nearly inaudible voice.
She could hear her dad?s deep breathing from his bedroom. Thankfully,
he was still asleep.
?My family went looking for Creon last night,? Lucas answered
with downturned eyes. ?We think he caught a charter flight off the
island, but we aren?t sure yet.?
?He?s gone?? Helen asked, a little too hopefully.
?Maybe. But if he did leave, it won?t be forever.? Lucas stared at
Helen so intensely she had to reach out and touch him somehow
just to break the tension. She stepped forward and placed her hand
on his chest. He was shaking.
Straightening suddenly, Lucas crossed to the door. ?Put on
something warm.?
?Why? Where are we going?? she whispered.
?Up.?
/> As soon as they were airborne, Lucas seemed to relax a little, but
not much. She asked for a flying lesson, partly because she wanted
to learn, but mostly just to distract him. They worked on Helen?s
air-pressure control for over an hour before they got a call from his
family. Castor had called from the airport, finally confirming that
Creon had left the island by private charter like they had suspected,
and it was safe for Lucas to bring Helen in.
Hector took the phone and insisted they come in right away?he
wanted her to resume her combat training that morning. The cousins