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𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐍, 𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍?
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CHARLIE GRINNED, HOLDING UP HER CROSSED ARMS TO REVEAL A COLLECTION OF THINGS. A golden goblet — though how she found one in the clothing section, was beyond anyone — as well as a few potions no one remembered her pocketing and some random pieces of cloth along with a raccoon that happily sat on her head, curled into a tight little ball.

''Charlie,'' Leo said, a fond smile on his face as he watched her try to pick up a left boot. ''Are you seriously trying to—''

She fell, collapsing straight down as pain flashed up her spine. The raccoon on her head stood up, making a few noises as it span around before settling back down. ''Ah, gods damn it.''

Leo laughed loudly, extending a hand out to her. Jason called out to them, spinning around as he held a shirt up, sleeve to shoulders as if to see how it would look on him, ''Hey, check it out!''

From a rack labelled distressed clothing, he held up a purple T-shirt, like the one he'd worn on the school field trip — except this one looked like it had been torn apart by tigers.

Jason frowned. ''Why does this look so familiar?''

''Jason, it's yours,'' Piper said in a soft voice, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. ''Now, we really have to leave.'' Her hands span out before falling to her sides, head tilting as she realised Jason most likely couldn't hear her anymore because of the Princess's enchantment.

''Nonsense,'' the Princess said. ''The boys aren't done, are they? And yes, my dear. Those shirts are very popular — trade ins from previous customers. It suits you.''

Leo picked up an orange Camp Half-Blood tee with a hole through the middle, as if it had been hit by a javelin. Charlie made a scramble for the pile, making it her mission to find a clean one. Next to those, was a dented bronze breastplate pitted with corrosion — acid, maybe? — and a Roman toga slashed to pieces and stained with something that looked disturbingly like dried blood.

''Your highness,' Piper said, trying to control her nerves. ''Why don't you tell the others about how you betrayed your family? I'm sure they'd like to hear that story.''

Her words didn't have any effect on the Princess, but the boys turned, suddenly interested.

''More story?'' Leo asked.

''I'd like more story!'' Jason agreed.

Charlie grabbed all the orange shirts and made a scene of plopping right at the Princess' feet, cross legged as she stared up, waiting for a story, hands absentmindedly filtering through the pile.

The Princess flashed Piper an irritated look. ''Oh, one will do strange things for love, Piper. You should know that. I fell for that young hero, in fact, because your mother Aphrodite had me under a spell. If it wasn't for her — but I can't hold a grudge against a goddess, can I?''

The Princess's tone made her meaning clear : but I can take it out on you.

''But that hero took you with him when he fled Colchis,'' Piper remembered. ''Didn't he, your highness? He married you, just as promised.''

The look in the Princess's eyes made Piper want to apologise, but she didn't back down. Charlie's hands stopped moving as she pouted childishly, staring up at them. ''You're married?''

''At first,'' her highness admitted. ''It seemed he would keep his word. But even after I helped him steal my father's treasure, he still needed my help. As we fled, my brother's fleet came after us. His warships overtook us. He would have destroyed us, but I convinced my brother to come aboard our ship first and talk under the flag of truce. He trusted me.''

''And you killed your own brother,'' Piper said, the horrible story all coming back to her, along with a name — an infamous name that began with the letter M.

''What?'' Jason stirred. For a moment, he looked almost like himself. ''Killed your own—''

''No,'' the Princess snapped. ''Those stories are lies. It was my new husband and his men who killed my brother, though they couldn't have done it without deception. They threw his body into the sea, and the pursuing fleet had to stop and search for it so they could give him a proper burial. This gave us time to get away. All this, I did for my husband. And he forgot our bargain. He betrayed me in the end.''

Charlie gasped dramatically, clinging onto Leo's hand as he had taken a seat beside her. ''No!''

Jason still looked uncomfortable. ''What did he do?''

The Princess held the sliced toga against Jason's chest, as if measuring him for an assassination. ''Don't you know the story, my boy? You of all people should. You were named for him.''

''Jason,'' Piper said. ''The original Jason. But then you're — you should be dead!''

The Princess smiled. ''As I said, a new life in a new country. Certainly, I made mistakes. I turned my back on my own people. I was called a traitor, a thief, a liar, a murderess. But I acted out of love.'' She turned to the others and gave them a pitiful look, battling her eyelashes. Piper could feel the sorcery washing over them, taking control firmly than ever. ''Wouldn't you do the same for someone you loved, my dears?''

''Oh, sure,'' Jason said.

''Okay.'' Leo said.

''Most definitely,'' Charlie nodded.

''Guys!'' Piper ground her teeth in frustration. ''Don't you see who she is? Don't you—''

''Let's continue, shall we?'' the Princess said breezily. ''I believe you wanted to talk about a price for the storm spirits — and your satyr.''

Leo got distracted on the second floor with the appliances.

''No way,'' he said. ''Is that an armoured forge?''

Before Piper could stop him, he hopped off the escalator and ran over to a big oval oven that looked like a barbeque on steroids.

When they caught up with him, the Princess said, ''You have good taste. This is the H-2000, designed by Hephaestus himself. Hot enough to melt Celestial bronze or Imperial gold.''

Jason flinched as if he recognised that term. ''Imperial gold?''

The Princess nodded. ''Yes, my dear. Like that weapon so cleverly concealed in your pocket. To be properly forged, Imperial gold had to be consecrated in the Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill in Rome. Quite the powerful and rare metal, but like the Roman emperors, quite volatile. Be sure never to break that blade...'' She smiled pleasantly. ''Rome was after my time, of course, but I do hear stories. And now over here — this golden throne is one of my finest luxury items. Hephaestus made it as a punishment for his mother, Hera. Sit in it and you'll be immediately trapped.''

Leo apparently took this as an order. He began walking towards it in a trance. 

''Leo, don't!'' Piper warned.

He blinked. ''How much for both?''

''Oh, the seat I could let you have for five great deeds. The forge, seven years of servitude. And for only a bit of your strength—'' She led Leo into the appliance section, giving him prices on various items.

Piper didn't want to leave him alone with her, but she had to try reasoning with Jason. Charlie too, if she was still even slightly there, waiting since their previous talk. She pulled them both aside and looked at them both. Jason first. She slapped him across the face.

''Ow,'' he muttered sleepily. ''What was that for?''

''Snap out of it!'' Piper hissed as Charlie laughed into her hand, giggling lazily.

''What do you mean?''

''She's charmspeaking you. All of you. Can't you feel it?''

''Oh, I can feel it alright,'' Charlie smiled toothily and Piper almost felt bad for what she was about to reveal.

Jason, on the other hand, knit his eyebrows. ''She seems okay.''

''She's not okay! She shouldn't even be alive! She married to Jason — the other Jason — like three thousand years ago. Remember what Boreas said —something about the souls no longer being confined to Hades? It's not just monsters who can't stay dead. She came back from the Underworld!''

''I did that once,'' Charlie said, staring of into the distance. Piper was beginning to worry she had sneaked into a secret liquor aisle whilst she wasn't paying attention.

Jason shook his head uneasily. ''She's not a ghost.''

''No, she's worse! She's—''

''Children.'' The Princess was back, with Leo in tow. ''If you please, we will now see what you came for. That is what you want, yes?''

Piper had to choke back a scream. She was tempted to pull out her dagger and take on this witch herself, but she didn't like her chances — not in the middle of her highness's department store while her friends were under a spell. Piper couldn't even be sure they'd take her side in a fight. She had to figure out a better plan.

They took the escalator down to the base of the fountain. For the first time, Piper noticed two large bronze sundials — each about the size of a trampoline — inlaid on the marble tile floor to the north and south of the fountain. The glided oversize canary cages stood to the east and west, and the farthest one held the storm spirits. They were so densely packed, spinning around like a super-concentrated tornado, that Piper couldn't tell how many there were — dozens, at least.

''Hey,'' Leo said. ''Coach Hedge looks okay!''

They ran to the nearest canary cage. The old satyr seemed to have been petrified at the moment he was sucked into the sky above the Grand Canyon. He was frozen mid-shout, his club raised over his head, like he was ordering the gym class to drop and give him fifty. His curly hair stuck up at odd angles. If Piper just concentrated on certain details — the bright orange polo shirt, the wispy goatee, the whistle around his neck — she could imagine Coach Hedge as his good old annoying self. But it was hard to ignore the stubby horns on his head, and the fact that he had furry goat legs and hooves instead of workout pants and Nikes.

''Yes,'' the Princess said. ''I always keep my wares in good condition. We can certainly barter for the storm spirits and the satyr. A package deal. If we come to terms, I'll even throw in the vial of healing potion, and you can go in peace.'' She gave Piper a shrewd look. ''That's better than starting unpleasantness, isn't it, my dear?''

Don't trust her, warned a voice in her head. If Piper was right about this lady's identity, nobody would be leaving in peace. A fair deal wasn't possible It was all a trick. But her friends were looking at her, nodding urgently and mouthing 'SAY YES!' Piper needed time to think.

''We can negotiate,'' she said.

''Totally!'' Charlie agreed. ''Name your price.''

''Charlie!'' Piper snapped.

The Princess chuckled. ''If only Jason had been as loyal as you, my dead. Hmm, let's see... Name my price? Perhaps not the best haggling strategy, but at least you know a thing's value. Freedom is very valuable indeed. You would ask me to release this satyr, who attacked my storm winds—''

''Who attacked us,'' Piper interjected.

Her highness shrugged. ''As I said, my patron asks me for small favours from time to time. Sending the storm spirits to abduct you — that was one. I assure you it was nothing personal. And no harm done, as you came here, in the end, of your own free will! At any rate, you want the satyr freed, and you want my storm spirits — who are very valuable servants, by the way — so you can hand them over to that tyrant Aeolus. Doesn't seem quite fair, does it? The price will be high.''

Piper could see that her friends were ready to offer anything, promise anything. Before they could speak, she played her last card.

''Medea,'' she spat out, before she could be interrupted again. ''You're Medea. You helped the original Jason steal the Golden Fleece. You're one of the most evil villains in Greek mythology. Jason, Charlie, Leo — don't trust her.''

Piper put all the intensity she could gather into those words. She was utterly sincere, and it seemed to have some effect. Jason stepped away from the sorceress. Leo scratched his head and looked like he was coming out of a dream. Charlie put her hands in her pockets, frowning. Apparently, she didn't like the empty feeling anymore.

''What are we doing, again?''

''Children!'' The Princess spread her hands in a welcoming gesture. Her diamond jewelry glittered, and her painted fingers curled like blood-tipped claws. ''It's true, I'm Medea. But I'm so misunderstood. Oh, Piper, my dear, you don't know what it was like for women in the old days. We had no power, no leverage. Often we couldn't even choose our own husbands. But I was different. I chose my own destiny by becoming a sorceress. Is that so wrong? I made a pact with Jason: my help to win the fleece, in exchange for his love. A fair deal. He became a famous hero! Without me, he would've died unknown on the shores of Colchis.''

Jason — Piper's Jason — scowled. ''Then... you really did die three thousand years ago? You came back from the underworld?''

''Death no longer holds me, young hero,'' Medea said. ''Thanks to my patron, I am flesh and blood again.''

''You... re-formed?'' Leo blinked.

Charlie snarled. ''Like a monster?''

Medea spread her fingers, and steam hissed from her nails, like water splashed on hot iron. ''You have no idea what's happening, do you, my dears? It is so much worse than a stirring of monsters from Tartarus. My patron knows that giants and monsters are not her greatest servants. I am mortal. I learn from my mistakes. And now that I have returned to the living, I will not be cheated again. Now, here is my price for what you ask.''

''Guys,'' Piper said. ''The original Jason left Medea because she was crazy and bloodthirsty.''

''Lies!'' Medea said.

''On the way back from Colchis, Jason's ship landed at another kingdom, and Jason agreed to dump Medea and marry the king's daughter.''

''After I bore him two children!'' Medea said. ''Still broke his promise! I ask you, was that right?''

The three dutifully shook their heads, but Piper wasn't through.

''It may not have been right,'' she said, ''But neither was Medea's revenge. She murdered her own children to get back at Jason. She poisoned his new wife and fled the kingdom.''

Medea snarled. ''An invention to ruin my reputation! The people of the Corinth — that unruly mob — killed my children and drove me out. Jason did nothing to protect me. He robbed me of everything. So, yes, I sneaked back into the palace and poisoned his lovely new bride.It was only fair — a suitable price.''

''You're insane,'' Piper said.

''I am the victim!'' Medea wailed. ''I died with my dreams shattered, but no longer. I know now not to trust heroes. When they come asking for treasures, they will pay a heavy price! Especially when the one asking has the name of Jason!''

The fountain turned bright red. Piper drew her dagger, but her hand was shaking almost too badly to hold it. ''Jason, Leo — it's time to go. Now.''

Charlie nodded, though still somewhat in a daze, reaching behind her to swipe uselessly, trying to grasp her dagger, although her mind was clouded. Who was she meant to protect? Her brain was fuzzy.

''Before you've closed the deal?'' Medea asked. ''What of your quest, my dears? And my price is so easy. Did you know this fountain is magic? If a dead man were to be thrown into it, even if he was chopped to pieces, he would pop back out fully formed — stronger and more powerful than ever.''

''Seriously?'' Leo asked.

''Leo, she's lying.'' Piper shook her head. ''She did that trick with somebody before — a king, I think. She convinced his daughters to cut him to pieces so he could come out of the water young and healthy again, but it just killed him!''

''Ridiculous,''Medea said, and Piper could hear, could feel, the power charged in every syllable. ''Leo, Jason — my price is so simple. Why don't you two fight? If you get injured, or even killed, no problem. We'll just through you into the fountain and you'll be better than ever. You do want to fight, don't you? You resent each other!''

''Guys, no!'' Piper said, but they were already glaring at each other, as if it was just dawning on them how they really felt.

Piper had never felt more helpless. Now she understood what real sorcery looked like. She'd always thought magic meant winds and fireballs, but this was worse. Medea didn't just rely on poisons and potions. Her most potent weapon was her voice.

Leo scowled. ''Jason's always the star. He always gets the attention and takes me for granted.''

''You're annoying, Leo,'' Jason rolled his eyes. ''You never take anything seriously. You can't even fix a dragon.''

''And what, you can?'' Suddenly, Charlie was involved, and Medea's eyebrows raised, her mouth pursing into a very amused 'O'.

''You never told Charlie to do anything,'' Piper was panicking now. 

''Like I said, Charlie's feelings are, amplified, here. Appears an argument has stirred some emotions around.''

Charlie was now stood beside Leo. ''You ever gonna talk about that coin, Jason? 'Cause I'd quite like to know where you got it from.''

''Stop!'' Piper pleaded, but Leo and Jason both drew weapons. ''Charlie, you can't seriously be still annoyed by the stupid coin! Jason doesn't even remember! Leo, stop!''

''Let the boys go, Piper,'' Medea urged, turning her nose up at Charlie. ''Seems her emotions weren't strong enough to begin with, looks like she won't be participating in the fight after all.'' She turned back to Piper. ''I'm doing you a favour. Let it happen now, and it will make your choice so much easier. Enceladus will be pleased. You could have your father back today!''

Medea's charmspeak didn't work on her, but the sorceress still had persuasive voice. Her father back today? Despite her best intentions, Piper wanted that. She wanted her father back so much, it hurt.

''You work for Enceladus.''

Medea laughed. ''Serve a giant? No. But, we all serve the same greater cause — a patron you cannot begin to challenge. Walk away, child of Aphrodite. This does not have to be your death, too. Save yourself, and your father can go free. You might as well take Charlie with you, after all, she was wise enough not to officially become a part of your quest. Now that, is a fair price.''

Leo and Jason were still facing off, ready to fight, but they looked unsteady and confused — waiting for another order. Part of them had to be resisting, Piper hoped. This went completely against their nature.

''Listen to me, girl,'' Medea plucked a diamond off her bracelet and threw it into a spray of water from the fountain. As it passed through the multicoloured light, Medea spoke again. ''O Iris, goddess of the rainbow, show me the office of Tristan McLean.''

The mist shimmered, and Piper saw her father's study. Sitting behind his desk, talking on the phone, was her dad's assistant, Jane, in her dark business suit, her hair swirled in a tight bun.

''Hello, Jane,'' Medea said.

Jane hung up the phone calmly. ''How can I help you, ma'am? Hello, Piper.''

''You—'' Piper was so angry, she could barely talk.

''Yes, child,'' Medea said. ''Your father's assistant. Quite easy to manipulate. An organized mind for a mortal, but incredibly weak.''

''Thank you, ma'am,'' Jane said.

''Don't mention it,'' Medea said. ''I just wanted to congratulate you, Jane. Getting Mr. McLean to leave town to suddenly, take his jet to Oakland without alerting the press or the police — well done! No one seems to know where he's gone. And telling him his