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silent. Laney saw the concern that crossed both of their faces. They were no doubt thinking about the last few times this last year when peace had descended upon them. And then, of course, all hell had broken loose.
    Laney sighed. “Well, let’s just hope for the best, okay?”

    CHAPTER 5
     
     
     
     
     
    Athens, Greece
    1,500 BC
     
    T he wind pushed eleven-year-old Helen’s long blond hair into her face. She swiped it back with an impatient gesture. She’d love to cut it off. But girls weren’t allowed to have short hair.
    Until, at least, she was married, a woman of Sparta—then she would be allowed to. She couldn’t wait.
    A crow let out a shriek as it flew overhead. Helen looked up with a shiver. She hated those birds, the harbingers of death.
    “ What’s the matter, child?” Aethra sat only a few feet away in the garden, her embroidery in her lap, a basket of colorful threads beside her. Her hair had begun to turn to grey, but kindness shone in her brown eyes.
    A kindness her son did not have. It wasn’t Aethra’s fault her son had kidnapped Helen. Helen tried to keep that in mind when dealing with the older woman.
    Helen pointed up at the disappearing black shape. “The crows. They’re a sign of death.”
    Aethra opened her arms and Helen walked into them. Helen sighed, enjoying the comfort. Aethra’s arms weren’t her mother’s, but sometimes they were a good substitute. Like right now.
    Aethra stroked Helen’s hair. “You have nothing to fear. Theseus has made sure that you are well protected.”
    Helen glanced at the two guards who were always with them , but who never smiled. They were brutish men, both of them tall and battle-scarred. The two men had been her constant shadows for four months. But she was most definitely not comforted by their presence.
    Theseus had dropped her in Athens with his mother after —
    Helen buried her head in Aethra ’s chest. She didn’t want to think about that night. About what he’d done.
    Instead, Helen tried to just enjoy being outside, feeling the sun on her face. She was allowed outside for only short periods of time, after all. And although the courtyard was bordered by tall stone walls on all four sides, it was still large enough to allow her to run. It even had room for a small arbor of olive trees.
    A familiar whistle sounded. Helen looked up in disbelief, stepping out of Aethra ’s arms. Hope bloomed in her chest. Could it be?
    The guards stepped forward, pulling their swords from their sheaths.
    From over one of the walls, an arrow flew, lodging itself in the neck of one of the guards. The guard grabbed at his throat, but blood already gushed from the wound. He collapsed to the ground.
    Helen ’s eyes flew to the top of the stone wall opposite the only guard who remained.
    Two blond teenagers lay flat on the wall. One threw down a rope and quickly slid down. The other simply jumped from his high perch, landing with a nimble roll.
    Together, the young men pulled their own swords free. Tall and muscular, they looked strikingly similar as they advanced on the remaining guard.
    Aethra clutched Helen close, her arms trembling. “Oh no, child, you must run. You must escape.” She tried to push Helen toward the door.
    Helen sidestepped Aethra ’s hands before taking both of them in her own. Her eyes, though, never left the twins advancing on the remaining guard. She’d seen her brothers defeat men double this guard’s size without breaking a sweat. This guard would be no match for them.
    Helen glanced at the older woman with a smile. “Don’t worry, Aethra. They won’t hurt me. Or you, either. They’ve come to rescue me. That’s Castor and Pollux.”

    CHAPTER 6
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Hershey, Pennsylvania
     
    L aney jolted awake, still half in the dream, wanting to see Castor and Pollux defeat the guard. She stared at the ceiling, confused for a moment as to where the sky had gone. Looking around, she recognized the generic furnishings