He squeezed my hand again. “And I will keep helping you. But your Mom had offered even more help than me, and both your parents are sheltering you with the safety of your home. Maybe compared to that, my help didn’t seem like that much of a concern.”
“But who would be concerned that I was getting help?” It didn’t make any sense.
Justin looked at me intently. “Who would want you to feel isolated and out of control?”
And suddenly, I knew. I opened my mouth only to find Justin’s lips against mine. In my confusion, I kissed him back. He still tasted like vanilla and mint, and I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of his lips. Energy coursed through my veins, and I pulled him close, pressing my body against his solid warmth. I felt sparks dancing on my skin, and I knew that if I opened my eyes, I would be glowing like a coal.
I was starting to really get into the kiss when Justin broke away from me. I blushed, confused.
“Don’t say her name. You don’t want to attract any more attention from her.”
He’d only been kissing me to shut me up? I tried to get my emotions under control, and finally I nodded, not meeting his eyes. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t have feelings for me. I was the one who was still hung up on him. He wasn’t trying to screw with me; he was just trying to keep me safe. I sighed. “So what do I do now?”
Justin sat back and a shadow crossed his face. “The question is, what don’t you do?” I must have looked confused, because he continued. “You don’t talk about Red magic anymore with anyone except me. You don’t draw attention to yourself. You don’t argue with your parents; let them think you’re a Green, let them believe you’re harmless, and hopefully they’ll stay safe.”
“That’ll be hard. I had really begun to depend on my mom for her support.”
Justin nodded. “I think that’s what she had in mind when she fixed your parents’ memories. She wants you to feel helpless so that you stop trying to control chaos. If you just sit back and let things happen, she’ll be happy.”
I clenched my fists. “But I won’t just sit back and let it happen. I don’t want to be the cause of any more tragedy!” The images of the flipped car shot through my mind, and I remembered Pele’s fiery eyes. “I don’t want to humor any crazy, bloodthirsty gods.”
“I know. But maybe you should take a break for the time being.”
I stared at him, surprised. “What are you saying?”
He looked at me earnestly. “Learn. You have a patron now. Let her teach you everything she can, and let anyone watching think that you have accepted your fate.”
I saw the value in his plan, even if it made my stomach churn. “But if I am in a position to avert disaster again—”
“I know you’ll have to act. But until then, don’t go looking for disaster. Let the gods think you are compliant; they’ll spend less time thinking about you if you don’t seem like a threat.”
“But even if I learn fast, how can I do this without help?” Tears welled up in my eyes again, and I blinked frantically.
There was a pause, and I felt the electric crackle of magic in the air. He leaned forward and kissed me again, gently. This time, I kept my eyes open, trying to watch him. His face was sweet and intense, and it looked like he was enjoying himself, too. All I knew for sure was he didn’t kiss me that time just to shut me up, and the thought made my heart leap.
When he pulled back, he traced my lips with his finger. “No matter what, Lena, I’ll always help you.”
Chapter Twenty
I walked home in a daze, struggling to think coherently while still feeling the pressure of Justin’s lips on mine. I shivered in the twilight, giddy with adrenaline.
By the time I turned the corner onto my street, I had nearly convinced myself that my parents’ mind wipe was actually a good thing. Maybe this new development would be a blessing in disguise; if no one in my house knew what I really was, there wouldn’t be as much tension and fear as there had been.
“I’m home!” I yelled, happy to be able to walk in the front door without worrying what new issue I would find waiting for me.
“How’s Justin?” Mom looked up from her book with a smile. I smiled back, feeling really happy for the first time in weeks.
“He’s good. We didn’t do much, just hung out.”
“I know better than that!” My dad’s voice drifted around the corner from the kitchen, and Mom laughed.
“Stop teasing her, Richard. Darlena’s allowed to have some fun.” She looked at me and her expression darkened slightly. “Just not too much fun, right, sweetie?”
I nodded, embarrassed. It was a good thing she didn’t know that Justin wasn’t the one who wanted more in our relationship; she might have locked me in my room and thrown away the key if she’d had any inkling that I wasn’t the good little girl she thought I was. I kept my face blank, glad that Mom couldn’t read my mind the way Aphrodite seemed to.
Dad came into the living room with a glass in one hand and a dish towel in the other. “I’m glad you got home when you did. I wouldn’t want you to miss curfew on a school night.”
“A school night?” Confused, I looked at my parents. They smiled at me, and I felt a shiver run across my neck.
“It’s Sunday night, Lena. You can’t be so infatuated with Justin that you forgot what day it is, right?” Mom’s voice was light and teasing, but her eyes were fixed firmly on mine. I drew a deep breath.
“Right. School. I didn’t forget. I just … wish I didn’t have to go back tomorrow.”
“Now, sweetie, that’s no way to talk. I know it’s hard now that you’ve found your path”—Dad patted my shoulder consolingly with the dish towel—“but you still have to get your diploma. You never know when you’ll need it; magic isn’t enough to make a living!” He chuckled, and Mom smiled up at him.
“Lena’s a good student. I know she takes her studies very seriously.”
I leaped at the chance to leave the room. “I do. Actually, I just remembered that I have a test tomorrow, so I really should go upstairs and finish studying.”
Mom nodded and Dad grinned. “That’s our girl. Just don’t stay up too late!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on the clock.”
As I went upstairs, I glanced over my shoulder and caught Mom’s eye. Did a flicker of sympathy cross her face? Dad had already turned back to the kitchen to finish the dishes, and Mom broke off her gaze almost immediately. I must have been imagining things.
Once I was safely inside my room, I sat down at my desk, puzzled. I had thought Mom and Dad’s ignorance might be a blessing in disguise, but I had never considered they wouldn’t remember that I had been kicked out of Trinity. Obviously, I would have to get ready tomorrow morning and leave the house, but I couldn’t go back to school. Principal Snout had made that very clear, and frankly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back to my old life. I had enjoyed the time I’d had at home, studying and trying to discover the limits of Red magic. How would I continue my training outside the house?
“You could just go to the mall.” I jumped out of my chair, startled. Aphrodite was standing beside the window.
“Don’t you ever knock?” I asked, irritated. She glared at me, and I reminded myself that this was my patron, my only protection from Hecate. I needed to keep her on my good side, and being grumpy and rude wasn’t likely to do that. I took a deep breath and tried to start over. “I’m sorry. I was thinking, and you startled me.”
She smiled wryly. “I could tell.” Glancing around my room, she wrinkled her nose. “Haven’t you tidied up in here since my last visit?”