Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Read Free Book Online

built, although
    his muscles were long and lean instead of bulky. He had
    short, black hair and a dark end-of-summer tan that brought out
    his white smile and his swimming-pool blue eyes.
    Meeting his eyes was an awakening. For the first time in Helen’s
    life she knew what pure, heart-poisoning hatred was.
    She was not aware of the fact that she was running toward him,
    but she could hear the voices of the three sobbing sisters rise into a
    keening wail, could see them standing behind the tall, dark boy she
    knew was Lucas, and the smaller, brown-haired boy next to him.
    The sisters were tearing at their hair until it came out of their
    scalps in bloody hanks. They pointed accusing fingers at the two
    boys while they screeched a series of names—the names of people
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    murdered long ago. Helen suddenly understood what she had to
    do.
    In the split second it took for her to close the gap between them,
    Helen saw the other boy lunge at her, but he was stopped by Lucas,
    who threw out an arm and sent him flying back into the lockers behind
    them. Then her whole body stopped and strained.
    “Cassandra! Stay where you are,” Lucas called over Helen’s
    shoulder, his face no more than an inch away from hers. “She’s
    very strong.”
    Helen’s arms burned and the little bones in her wrists felt like
    they were grinding together. Lucas was holding her by the wrists to
    keep her hands away from his neck, she realized. They were locked
    in a stalemate, and if she could get her fingers half an inch closer,
    she could reach his throat.
    And then what? a little voice in her head asked. Choke the life out
    of him! answered another.
    Lucas’s achingly blue eyes widened in surprise. Helen was winning.
    One of her long nails grazed the pulsing skin covering the fat
    artery she itched to slit. Then, before she could process what was
    happening, Lucas spun her around and clamped her to his chest,
    restraining her arms against her breast and standing between her
    legs. The position he’d forced her into kept her off balance and unable
    to bring her heel down on his instep. She was immobile.
    “Who are you? What is your House?” he breathed into her ear,
    giving her a rough shake to punctuate his point. She was beyond
    understanding language.
    Outmaneuvered and helpless, she started to scream with rage,
    then stopped herself. Now that she couldn’t see his eyes she was
    becoming aware of the fact that half the school’s faculty was trying
    to tear her off him. Everyone was staring.
    Helen doubled over in agony as her abdomen seized up with
    cramps. Lucas immediately let her go as if she’d turned into a lit
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    match, his body convulsing spasmodically, and she dropped to the
    floor.
    “Miss Hamilton! Miss . . . Helen. Helen, look at me,” said Mr.
    Hergeshimer. He was kneeling on the floor next to her while she
    panted, trying to relax her muscles. She looked up at his sweaty
    face. His hair was messed up and his glasses had been knocked
    sideways on his face in the fight. She wondered for a moment if she
    had been the one to hit him, and then she burst into tears.
    “What’s wrong with me?” she whimpered softly.
    “It’s all right, now. Calm down,” Mr. Hergeshimer said sternly.
    “All of you had better get to class. Immediately!” he roared to the
    throngs of kids standing around with their mouths open. Everyone
    scattered as Mr. Hergeshimer stood up and took charge.
    “You boys,” he pointed at Lucas and Jason, “are to come with me
    to the principal’s office. Mr. Millis! Miss Aoki! You are to take Miss
    Hamilton to the nurse’s office and then go directly to your next
    classes. Understood?”
    Matt immediately stepped forward and put Helen’s arm over his
    shoulder, helping her to stand. Claire took Helen’s hand and held it
    reassuringly. Helen glanced up and saw Lucas looking back over
    his shoulder at her as he went quietly with Mr. Hergeshimer.
    Another wave of loathing broke over her, and fresh tears lined up
    in her eyes.