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And then Helen was going to kick that no-hearted bitch’s ass.
Helen appeared in the middle of the Delos living room, inches away from Claire who was sleeping in a chair. A gust of cold air washed over Claire, waking her.
“Helen!” Claire gasped, jumping up immediately.
“Sorry,” Helen said when she saw the terrified look on Claire’s face. “Where is everyone?”
“It’s the middle of the night, where do you think everyone is?”
Helen looked around the charred remains of the living room. The chair Claire had been sleeping in was the only piece of furniture in the room that hadn’t been burned, and Helen recognized it as a transplant from the study.
“What are you doing in here?” Helen asked, gesturing to the destroyed room. “Why aren’t you at your home or upstairs?”
“I’m waiting to see if either of you came back. I figured the spot you left was the best bet,” Claire answered. She looked behind Helen expectantly, and her face fell. “No Lucas?” she asked, her eyes widening with sadness and something else Helen couldn’t place. It almost looked like distrust.
“He’s fine,” Helen said quickly, ignoring the pinch of disappointment she felt. Claire was acting like she thought Helen was lying to her. “I left him in . . . Don’t worry about it. He’s completely healed and totally safe.”
“How?” Claire asked. She gestured to the room around her. “This is what you did. And Lucas was holding on to you. How could he possibly live through that?”
Helen shifted from foot to foot. She wasn’t really ready to tell Claire about the fact that she’d built a new world. It was one thing discussing it with Morpheus, who shared her ability, but standing here with Claire it no longer seemed like such a normal thing to create a world.
“Long story. But trust me, he’s perfect.” She needed to change the subject. “Do you know where my mother is?” Helen asked, listening to the breathing of all the house’s inhabitants. She didn’t hear her mother among them.
“No clue. Not that that’s anything new. She’s really good at vanishing.” Claire peered at Helen cautiously.
“Yeah. She really is,” Helen said distractedly, trying to think of where Daphne could be.
She had to admit to herself that she didn’t know her mother well enough to know where she’d be at any time of the day, let alone where she went to sleep at night. Going out to look for her would probably be a waste of time. Eventually, Daphne would have to return, and then Helen would confront her.
Helen smiled cheerfully at Claire, but Claire didn’t smile back. She was still looking at Helen strangely. Like she didn’t recognize her anymore.
“What?” Helen asked defensively.
“You look freaky. Kind of scary.” Claire quickly glanced at the floor, like she couldn’t look at Helen anymore.
“Jason’s upstairs?” Helen asked, changing the subject again. She already knew the answer. She could hear Jason breathing in his room.
“Why do you need him?”
“Because I need a Healer. Come on,” Helen said, turning her back on Claire and mounting the stairs. “I look freaky because I’m pissed. I just found out that my dad’s being drugged.”
“No way!” Claire said loudly, and then dropped her voice. “By who?” she whispered as they got to the top of the stairs.
“My wicked witch of a mother. Who else?” Helen replied. “I’m hoping the twins can help him.”
“Jason will. But Ari isn’t here, so he’ll have to work alone,” Claire said, chewing her lower lip as the two girls got to Jason’s door.
Helen could tell that Claire was also worried about Ariadne, and where she’d gone off to that night. It wasn’t like Ariadne to just disappear, and Helen sensed that Claire thought something fishy was happening.
“How long has Ari been gone?” Helen asked.
“I don’t know,” Claire replied, brushing off the question. “Wait here a sec.” Helen paused outside while Claire went into Jason’s room to get him.
As Claire touched Jason’s shoulder to wake him, Jason responded by reaching up
out of his slumber to pull Claire down into bed with him. Claire resisted gently, and Helen looked away to allow them some privacy. She could see Jason’s need as a bright flash, and Claire’s reciprocation was immediate, even though she repressed it quickly. Helen could read emotions so clearly now it was embarrassing for her to be around couples. It was like walking in on naked people whenever she was around her old friends. Helen wondered how Orion dealt with it. Maybe he was more understanding about emotions because he had learned how to accept how vulnerable people are in general.
We’re all naked under a few millimeters of clothes, Helen reminded herself, recalling a wonderfully tense moment in her life when Lucas had stood just outside her shower door.
