"All right," said Chloe. "Everybody report."

It was later in the day and they were all assembled once more in one of the meeting rooms.

"Marina, what did you find?"

"N – nothing. There was nothing there."

"Nothing at all?" said Gemini. "Not even wreckage, debris?"

"No. Nothing."

"And you were definitely at the right co-ordinates?" Chloe asked.

Pyro and Marina both nodded.

"I don't understand it; there should at least have been something there."

"I guess somebody else got there before us," Pyro said.

"You mean Magneto?" said Gemini. "You think he took whatever was there?"

"I can't think of another explanation. Who else knows the co-ordinates of the island?"

"OK," said Chloe. "Logan, how about you?"

Wolverine looked at her, "Well, I went to the café where Pyro and the kid met Mystique. I picked up her scent and followed it as well as I could, but I lost it before it took me anywhere interesting."

"Nice work," Gemini muttered.

"There is one thing, though," said Logan. "There was another scent there I recognised."

"Go on," said Chloe.

Logan turned to Pyro, "You remember when we were in the prison, we'd just escaped from the cells? I said I could smell somebody I recognised, but I didn't know them well enough to pinpoint exactly."

"You smelled them again?"

"Right."

"So who was it?" Gemini demanded.

"Oh, use your brain, kid. Somebody who was at the prison, and who's also been with Mystique recently? Magneto, of course."

"No way! Mystique can't be involved in this! Magneto maybe, but not her! She was – "

She was like a mother to me, was what she wanted to say, but she didn't. She couldn't reveal her secret feelings to anyone except maybe Dad. Chloe moved on, "Dominic? Cassandra? Did you make any progress with the photo?"

"We identified two of the four who were still unknown," said Dominic. "It was on this disk Marina gave us. Both of them have links with Admiral McKenzie and the research work he does. One of them is a big name in the shipbuilding industry; I think his name is Kelvin or something. His company takes a lot of contracts from the Navy to build warships."

"Gregory Kelvin?" said Chloe. "Yes, I've heard of him."

"The second one we identified is yet another billionaire; he owns factories and mines and mass production facilities all over the world. Seems he provides a lot of the raw materials and component parts for – surprise – the shipbuilding industry."

"Does he have a name?" Vertigo wondered.

"Oh, yeah. John Smith."

"We're assuming that is actually his real name," said Cassandra dryly. "Anyway, we still don't know who these last two anonymous guys are. We can't tell much from the photo, except that the two of them don't look as if they see sunlight very much."

"Well, that narrows it down to the computer industry," Pyro said sarcastically. "No, seriously, that's good work, Cassie."

Pyro was not one for giving out praise often, if ever, and she blinked in surprise, "Wow – thanks."

"Anyway, we then had an idea," said Dominic. "Suppose Magneto wants these two to build him a ship?"

"Or…" Cassandra grinned. "A submarine."

Marina's eyes widened.

"We looked through the rest of the photographs in the camera's memory," Dominic explained. "We saw the plans for a submarine. I used to build models so I know a bit about them. I recognised it straight away."

"So what does he want with a submarine?" asked Atlas.

"We don't know," Cassandra admitted. "That's all we have so far. The other question we raised is: what incentive is Magneto offering these people? I mean, half of them are already billionaires. How has he convinced them to join him?"

"Mind control," Logan suggested.

"No," said Chloe. "He doesn't have enough power to control all of their minds, all of the time. I think even the Professor might have struggled to do that."

"All right, so what's he offering them? The chance to live while he slaughters everyone else?"

"I doubt it," said Pyro. "Most of these eleven people make their money through the efforts or transactions of other people. I don't see why they would support an attempt to see the world's population wiped out. Assuming that is what Magneto is trying to do. I don't know; there's something…something we just can't see…"

For a moment there was silence.

"Is it my turn now?" said Gemini. "OK, I phoned my sister. She said that my – her mother – used to do her research work at the ocean labs down in Florida."

"Oh yeah?" said Cassandra. "That's where Kelvin carries out his shipbuilding contracts for the Navy. Right, Helios?"

"That's right."

"I bet if we go there, we'll find some clues," Gemini said eagerly. "We might even find Magneto himself. This is where it all comes together, isn't it? The shipbuilding…the constantium research…do you think that's where he's based? At the ocean labs?"

"More importantly, it might be where he's holding your friends," said Pyro.

"Sounds good to me," said Logan. "Let's go. Chloe, you agree?"

Chloe frowned, "I still haven't been able to get hold of Neil, and I'm confused. We know he went to London, but he don't know why. He said he was going to talk to the UN but they're over here in America. He must have gone there for some other reason."

"Are you sure he actually went there?" Pyro said. "Did you actually see him leave?"

"Well…no. The last time I saw him, he was downstairs. He said he was just picking up a few things, but I don't know what. He was actually heading towards Cerebro, which is kind of strange now I come to think of it."

"Maybe he's trying to use it to find Magneto," Gemini suggested. "Maybe he changed his mind about going to London."

"Let's go and find out."

Pyro looked at Vertigo, "You guys start getting ready to go to the ocean labs. We'll take the helicopter. And make sure Accel stays here this time."

"You got it, boss."

The teenagers hurried off in the direction of the hangar, and the three adults made for Cerebro. Chloe wondered if Neil was in there, as Gemini had suggested. Maybe he had made a mistake about London, and realised the UN were really here in New York instead. Maybe he had decided to go there after trying to find Magneto. That sounded reasonable, but hadn't Neil still been talking about London when Chloe had seen him going towards Cerebro? Or had he? She couldn't remember clearly. Well, they would know soon enough if he was in there.

The door to the machine was now programmed to respond to retinal scans from all of the senior X-Men, and Chloe knelt down a few feet away to allow the scanner to read her eyes. She then stood, expecting the door to slide open, but nothing happened.

"It's not working."

"Let me try," said Logan impatiently.

They switched places, and the scanner swept over his eyes. Again, the door remained closed.

"He must be in there," said Chloe. "He must be using the machine; that's why it won't open."

"No. If that was true, the scanner wouldn't even have worked. It's locked us out, even though there's nobody in there."

Pyro folded his arms and yawned, "I'm not getting any younger here, guys."

"Something's wrong; it won't let us in," said Chloe. "Wait here; I'll fetch Marina."

"Why her?"

"The problem might be in the computer system that controls access to Cerebro. If so, she can take a look at it. She's no expert, but she's the next best thing."

"All right, then go get her."

Within a couple of minutes, Chloe returned with Marina in tow. The adults watched while the girl accessed the computer system. Feeling their eyes on her, Marina was self-conscious and nervous, but she tried hard to keep her concentration on what she was doing. After a few minutes, she looked up and said to Chloe, "The – the computer was programmed not to allow anybody access. I've fixed it."

"What was it, a computer error?"

"N – no, somebody must have changed the access rights. Was – was anybody using the machine recently?"

"Yes, Neil was…but why would he want to lock us out? I don't understand."

Logan shrugged, "Maybe so Magneto couldn't control our minds to get in."

Chloe looked into the scanner once more, and this time it accepted her retinal data, and the door slid open.

"Neil?" she called. "Are you in there?"

The huge spherical room was empty. She walked carefully along the platform to the terminal at the end. Nervous at being left with the two men, Marina followed her. Chloe instantly noticed that something was wrong with the Cerebro terminal. It took her a few seconds to realise exactly what, and then she wondered why she had seen something so obvious straight away.

The helmet was missing. Curious and slightly suspicious, she opened up the side of the machine, to examine the interior. Chloe knew little about the mechanics of Cerebro or how it worked, but it was obvious even to her untrained eye that several components were missing. Marina had clearly noticed too, "What – what gives, Chloe?"

"I don't know, Marina."

Was this what Neil meant when he said he had to 'pick up a couple of things'? Where has he taken these components? What is he trying to do with them?

"Well?" Logan said, as the two women emerged from the room.

"I don't understand," said Chloe in confusion. "Some parts of Cerebro are gone. I don't know enough about how the machine works, but it looks as if most of the important components have been stripped out. Neil must have them with him, wherever he is."

"Like I said, he's trying to stop Magneto from using it," Logan told her. "He's probably gone to hide them somewhere."

Chloe brightened, "I suppose that would explain it. I wish he'd told me what he was planning to do, though. Well, we've got no time to lose. We'd better get ready to head down to Florida."

The four of them began to head for the hangar, until Chloe stopped in mid-stride, frowning, "Wait a minute…something doesn't feel right…"

"What are you talking about?" one of the men said impatiently.

"I don't know…I can't explain it…I have to check something. Wait for me in the hangar; I'll be there in a minute!"

She turned and hurried away, back towards the meeting room. Logan and Pyro looked at each other, shrugged, and went the rest of the way to the hangar trying not to look as if they were together. Marina nervously followed. She was generally uncertain around men, particularly very masculine, aggressive types such as these. When they reached the hangar she was glad to hurry over and stand beside Gemini. Of all the former Brotherhood students, Gemini was the only one Marina had really come to see as any kind of a friend. Both of them had unhappy memories from their past, and that gave them a mutual bond that was beginning to develop into friendship. Both were content to be in the other's company, and that was really all that either of them asked. Gemini smiled at her, and Marina gave a small, uncertain one in return.

"We're ready to go, boss," Vertigo was heard to say. "Say, the Neanderthal Man's not coming with us, is he?"

Logan gave him a look that told him not to push his luck. Vertigo replied with a look that showed how much he didn't care.

"We're just waiting for Gaia," said Pyro. "I think she's just checking one or two final things."

"Accel's upstairs," Cassandra assured him. "She's asleep."

"I hope she learned her lesson last time. Ah, here comes Gaia."

Suddenly Chloe came running into the hangar, and it soon became evident that something was wrong.

"Logan, John, there's something I have to show you! It's serious; it can't wait. You have to come now!"

"All right."

"Wait a minute, what about the ocean labs?" Vertigo interrupted. "We're sitting here, ready to go!"

Pyro looked at him, "Go. You take command."

Vertigo rolled his eyes, "I'd rather not. You know I don't – "

"Him?" Logan had snapped. "He's a lazy, good-for-nothing – "

"He can do it," Pyro retorted. "Vertigo, I'm counting on you."

"Fine," the boy said reluctantly. "I won't let you down."

"Good. And Vertigo – keep an eye on Gemini. I – just keep her safe, all right?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"I'm serious. I'm holding you responsible for anything that happens to her."

"Hey, wait a second! You can't put that responsibility on my shoulders just like that!"

Pyro glared at him, "Just do it. I think you owe her that much."

The boy sighed, "Yeah – maybe I do."

"Now go. And good luck."

"Wait a minute!" Gemini cried. "Aren't they coming with us? Isn't my dad coming with us?"

"No," said Vertigo. "They have another problem."

"What are you talking about? Where's my dad going?"

"He didn't say. Now sit down and help me navigate here."

Gemini frowned, but her determination to complete the mission overcame her doubts. She looked back to the others, "Helios, are you done with the maps?"

"Not yet. Look, Vertigo – are you looking? – I think I've found something. There's an old, disused ventilation shaft here. It runs right through this section of cliff directly into the heart of the ocean labs. It might be blocked, at least partially, but that could be our way in."

"If it's collapsed, it's not much good to us," Cassandra said.

Atlas moved closer, "I can probably clear a way through, but I'd like to know exactly what our objective is for this mission. I'm too used to Pyro just telling us what to do once we get there."

"All right," said Vertigo. "We're looking for something that will tell us what Magneto and his eleven co-conspirators are doing. That means checking their computer system, searching the labs, possibly interrogating anyone we run into."

"What if we run into Magneto?"

"Yeah, I was wondering that," said Gemini. "I mean, is he still on our side or what? My dad doesn't know what to think. What do we do if run into him?"

Vertigo shrugged, "I guess that depends on what he does first."

Marina spoke up, "He – he tried to kill me ear – earlier, remember."

"That's perfectly understandable," Cassandra said acidly.

"Hey, quit giving her a hard time," said Gemini.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the three girls, which none of the guys wanted to intrude on. Marina still resented Cassandra's hostility; Cassandra was bitter and wanted to get back at her in any way she could; and Gemini was worried about how to balance her two friends without appearing to favour either of them. Eventually each of them decided the best thing was to find something else to do, to take her mind off it. Gemini moved forward to help Vertigo navigate. Cassandra went to the rear of the helicopter to take an inventory of their supplies. Marina had brought a laptop computer with her, and was busily typing away.

"What are you doing?" Dominic asked her.

She looked up in surprise, "I, uh, I downloaded the contents of Admiral McKenzie's computer on to portable disk. I'm – I'm trying to d – decrypt it. Maybe it'll tell us more about Mag – Mag – Magneto's plans."

"Getting anywhere?"

"N – not really. This encryption is – is way beyond my expertise. I really wanted Chris to take a look at it."

He hesitated, "Um – how are you coping? I mean, with Annie and Gary missing…"

"I'm fine."

"Good. I just thought, well, that you might be taking it kinda badly."

She sighed, "I'm not crazy, D – Dominic. I'm just mending, that's all."

"OK. Well, if there's anything I can do…I mean, I know it isn't easy for you…"

Marina said nothing. She knew he was saying these things because he genuinely did want to help her, but did he really have to speak to her in that patronising tone of voice? And why was he sitting so far away while he was talking to her? Was he deliberately keeping his distance from her in case she flipped out or something? Did he genuinely care, or did he just pity her? Marina didn't want anyone's pity. It didn't help her in any way. She wanted to be healed of her illness and live a normal life again. She didn't want to be treated any differently from anyone else. If people treated her different, it made her feel different. No. I can't think about that now. I have to focus. This is important. She returned her thoughts to what she was doing. She had no idea if she would have any success breaking through the encryption. The first thing to do was work out what kind of encryption was being used. Once she knew the method McKenzie had used, she might be able to make a stab at working out the key. The laptop she was using was Chris', and it had a selection of decryption programs he had written, but only one or two that might be advanced enough for the work she needed to do. To use them, however, she first had to work out the method of encryption. Once she knew that, she could set the decryption algorithm to try and work out the key.

Dominic watched her as she worked. He knew she was having difficulties, but at the same time he knew she had made an immense amount of improvement. He remembered the first time he had seen her, when she had first arrived at the school, a tear-sodden bundle who shrank away from anyone who approached, flinched when she was touched, and refused to speak to anyone. She had spent most of her time just huddled on her bed, unkempt and dirty, seeming largely unaware of what was going on around her. She rarely ate, and only then when food was given directly to her. Dominic had not been told anything of her history or her problems. The adults seemed to think it was best to let him approach her with an open mind, and hoped that his friendship might begin to heal her. He had been uncertain at first, but had tried his best to help her whenever he could.

She was much better now. Although she was still reluctant to speak and still nervous in unfamiliar circumstances, she seemed reasonably comfortable with the people and places she knew. She could eat, dress, and enjoy herself now. But as much as he wanted to think she was on the mend, he still could never forget what she had been like originally. He'd hated seeing her like that, and he was worried to think that she might end up that way again. He found himself reluctant to go near her or speak to her too harshly, in case he did something that hurt her and sent her back to the way she'd been before. There wasn't really anything he could to help her, other than just being her friend, but he wished there was. Dominic's twin brother Recyclo had suffered equally terribly from mental scarring and emotional trauma, and Dominic had been determined to help him get through it and be whole again. He'd never had the chance. Recyclo had died. Now he was determined to try and do for Marina what he hadn't been able to do for his brother. He believed that every woman needed a man to protect her. A bit sexist perhaps, but it was just instinct. Gary was the one who looked after Marina, but now that Gary wasn't around – well, perhaps it was Dominic's job for the time being.

He glanced over at Cassandra and gave her a smile, which she didn't return. She looked away from him and returned to what she was doing, sorting through the crates they had brought with them. Atlas was kneeling beside the opened medical crate, no doubt checking on his supplies of herbal mixtures and other remedies. Dominic moved over towards Cassandra.

"Do you need any help?" he asked her.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

She said nothing. He sat down beside her and watched as she carefully picked through the items inside the electronics crate. Either she was ignoring him or she was waiting for him to say something else.

"When this is all over," he tried. "When we've got some time to ourselves, to think things over more clearly…"

She turned to face him, and angrily hissed under her breath, "Helios! Just forget it! There's nothing to think over! There's nothing between us and there isn't going to be! Will you just drop it!"

"Cassandra – Cassie – listen to me. This isn't just a momentary infatuation. I'm crazy about you; I've been that way since you moved into the school. I don't want you to think it's just for your looks, because it isn't. I've seen the way you care for the kids, the littl'uns. I think you're wonderful with them and I want to get to know you better."

"You're wasting your breath."

"Won't you even give me a chance?"

"No."

"Why not?"

She slapped away the hand that he tried to rest gently on her arm, "Because you're a man, and all men are the same! You'd either end up treating me like your personal property, or you'd ditch me in a second when somebody better came along. Don't pretend that you've fallen in love with me. Men aren't capable of feeling love. All they feel is lust, and their most basic animal instinct to reproduce. All they want is constant sex."

Bitterly she glared at the back of Marina's head, "That whore will find that out soon enough, when she gets pregnant for the first time. I hope it destroys her mind, or what's left of it."

"I don't believe you just said that," came his shocked voice. "You can't mean that."

"Can't I? Do you have any idea how it feels? To be in love, to have a future with somebody you would die for, to plan out your life and your family with them, to have all that to look forward to – and then to have it stolen away from you? Do you know what it's like to pour out your heart to somebody, to tell them things you would never tell another living soul, to share intimate moments that you would only ever share with the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Do you know what it's like to have your love, your future, your children stolen away by some whining, conniving, screwed-up little whore? Do you? Huh? Do you have any idea?"

"No, I don't. But you need to forget all that. You need to move on. Don't forget, she lost everything she ever loved as well."

Cassandra was thankful that he got up and left at that point. Her feelings were going crazy. Her mouth was running away with itself, taking words from her brain and spitting them out before she could think them through. Everything she had just said was true; that was the way she felt, but she'd never told it to anyone before. Not even Gemini. Why Helios? Why hadn't she just ignored him until he gave up? Why had she had to spill out her angst like a burning cauldron of oil? Why had she felt – known – that he could be trusted to keep her secrets to himself?

What the hell is wrong with me? Why the hell am I acting so crazy? Why can't I just forget everybody and be myself? Gladiator's a bastard and Aqua's a whore and Helios is – well, whatever – but why can't I just forget them? Why doesn't my brain do what I tell it to? Why can't I think about other things? He's right, I need to move on, but I can't – my brain won't let me. Why can't I just pretend they don't exist and I never loved Gladiator and I don't care that he's with her and…oh, I don't know. I don't care what happens to them, I really don't, so why the hell can't I stop thinking about them? I've already decided I've given up on men forever, so why do I still care?

It's because I want to have babies. I know I do; I've never tried to deny it to myself. It's my dream, to have my own children and raise them and care for them and love them forever. But, of course, I can't have children if I don't get married. That's why I'm confused. I hate men and I never want to marry, but I want kids so I have to. There isn't any way around it. Well, I suppose there are impregnation treatments I could go for, but I don't want to do that. I want the whole process to be natural, or it won't feel right. This is what's messing me up. My desire for kids and my hatred of men are fighting against each other and tearing me apart.

And that's why I'm falling in love with Helios. There's no point in denying it any more. He probably sees it, but he doesn't understand what it really means. I can't control my feelings and I can't control my passions. They control me. My brain knows I want babies so it makes me fall in love. I fall in love too easily, with men I shouldn't, and then everything falls apart. I'm a total mess…I'm driven by an impulse that's so strong it's warping the rest of my feelings.

She wanted to cry. I called Aqua a whore but I'm the one who's ready to sleep with just about anyone just to have the children I want. I can't have a normal relationship with a guy because I'm not a normal person. I'm warped and messed-up and crazy.

Cassandra glared at Aqua and thought savagely, why couldn't you just stay dead, you little whore? If you'd never come back, I'd still be with Gladiator and I'd be happy and he'd be happy and we'd have our future together. I'd be pregnant now and ready to have my first baby. He'd be ready to marry me and stay with me forever. I wouldn't be sitting here feeling like a cheap little slut who'll drop her panties for anyone who looks as if he might pass on some good genes. I don't understand why I've always wanted babies. I don't understand why I feel so strongly about it. I always have done. When I was at the orphanage, I remember I used to find little animals in the gardens and pretend I was their mother and look after them. Maybe it's because my own parents abandoned me and never spent any time caring for me or loving me. Maybe that's been missing from my life and my brain has gotten confused, and now it's trying to make up by cramming in maternal feelings now. Or something. Maybe I'm just crazy.

Tears brimmed in her eyes. That's right, I'm just a crazy, messed-up whore. Any children I have will turn out the same as me. I'd just be condemning to be what I am. I'm crazy; I must be; why else am I having these stupid thoughts? I can't take this. I can't take this! I CAN'T TAKE THIS!

She stood, her head spinning, her vision swimming in front of her eyes. Her confused and shocked mind had only one thought: end this agony before I go even more crazy. She lurched towards the helicopter's door, and swiped at the opening mechanism. The door slid open silently, and she was suddenly buffeted by the force of the air outside. Cassandra closed her eyes, and stepped towards the gaping doorway. Her vision swam one last time and then there was only blackness.

"Is she OK?"

"Cassie? Cassie, wake up!"

"What happened? Did she hit the door release by accident?"

"Cassie?"

"Here, put this under her head."

Cassandra felt her head being gently lifted, and something soft placed underneath. She gave a slight moan as she returned to full consciousness, and she opened her eyes.

"Hey, you're awake!" Gemini smiled. "Are you OK?"

"I – I don't know…I don't remember…I just sort of blacked out…what happened?"

Helios was kneeling beside her with his hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently to reassure her. She could have told him to quit it, but she found she liked having him there. He spoke now, "We heard the door open and we looked over to see you about to fall out. What were you trying to do?"

"I – I don't understand. I was feeling really strange. All of my emotions were going crazy and I felt so terrible. I just wanted to die."

"You were going to jump?" Gemini cried.

"I suppose I was. I don't know what came over me. I feel OK now. I just felt as if…"

No. My most tender and personal feelings. I can't tell them to anyone.

"It was just crazy," she said. "It was as if all of my emotions and desires were amplified a hundred times and pulling against each other and trying to rip my mind into shreds. I couldn't take it; I just had to do something to stop it."

"Sounds like you OD-ed on something," Atlas replied. "You haven't been messing around with my herb stores, have you? There's stuff in there that might make your mind go a bit weird."

"No, I haven't done anything that would bring on this. It was just so sudden. It was really strange."

Gemini frowned, "I felt something strange too. I didn't mention it because I thought I'd just imagined it. I was afraid you might all think I was crazy or something. But now, with this, maybe it really was something."

"What was it?" said Helios.

"Well – it's hard to describe," said the duplicator, her hand running through her long dark hair. "My dad's just started teaching me how to defend my mind from telepaths, OK? It'll take ages before I'm as good at it as he is, but I've gotten a handle on the basics. I can kind of, like, sense when my mind is under attack. I think that's what I was feeling just now. I think a telepath was trying to get into our minds. Maybe that's what had Cassie so confused."

Cassandra closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again, "You think that's what happened? Somebody pushed into my mind and screwed around with my feelings? Then made me go crazy and try to kill myself?"

"Could Magneto do that?" asked Atlas.

"Dunno," said Gemini. "Hey, Vertigo, where are we?"

"Just coming up on Florida," came his voice from up front.

"Then maybe we are close enough for him to affect us telepathically. But I just can't believe he would do that. That's, like, just about the cruellest way he could kill somebody."

Cassie looked at her best friend, "Will you be able to sense it if he tries again?"

Gemini shrugged, "I can't be certain. I'll try my hardest."

"So this means he knows we're coming," said Atlas, a little nervously.

"Yes. He'll be waiting for us," said Vertigo. "He must have sensed our approach. Gemini, you're going to have to shield us from his telepathy from now on."

She stared at him, "Well, I'll do my best, but I really have only just started learning."

"It'll have to be good enough. OK, we're almost at the ocean labs. Start getting ready; unload everything we need."

The others moved into action. Cassandra sat up, feeling her legs to see if they would support her. They felt fine. Every part of her felt fine. There was no trace of the dizziness and utter confusion that had overwhelmed her not so long ago. Already she couldn't believe that she had been feeling so strangely. Sure, she still felt the sadness and the bitterness and the anger, but it was under her control. Earlier it had exploded out beyond anything she could possibly handle. Had Magneto been responsible? Was that his telepathy, messing with her mind, trying to drive her to take her own life? Why had he picked on her specifically? If he was looking for a fragile mind, why not try Aqua?

"Hey, Cassie," said Gemini.

She looked over. Her best friend moved closer and whispered, "I don't know if you know this, but Helios saved your life. He pulled you back just before you could fall out. I think he really likes you."

"Well…tell him thanks."

"Tell him yourself."

Cassie sighed. She didn't want to face Helios right now. She didn't want to risk falling even deeper in love with him. She wanted to pull out while she still could. She wanted him to do something stupid and thoughtless, so she could justifiably hate him. She wanted her body and brain to stop disobeying her, and to stop finding him so appealing. She needed something to take her mind off him. She stood and went to help the others.