𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿; heroes of olympus

ugh, spells

ERITH JAY
THE PRINCESS GESTURED toward the cosmetics counter. "Shall we start with the potions?"

"Cool," Jason said.

"Guys," Piper interrupted, her voice feeling like it was cutting through fifty layers of fog in Erith's mind, "we're here to get the storm spirits and Coach Hedge. If this―princess―is really our friend―"

"Oh, I'm better than a friend, my dear," Her Highness said. "I'm a saleswoman." Her diamonds sparkled. Her eyes glittered like a snake's. Erith felt like she was being swallowed. "Don't worry. We'll work our way down to the first floor, eh?"

Erith nodded easily. It sounded reasonable. Besides, this place was beautiful! Of course she wanted to explore it.

Leo nodded eagerly. "Sure, yeah! That sounds okay. Right, Piper?"

Piper glared at him. Erith was too excited to see the store to really think much about it, though.

"Of course it's okay." Her Highness put her hands on Leo's and Jason's shoulders and steered them toward the cosmetics. "Come along, boys." She glanced back at Erith. "You too, dear."

Erith took a few steps forward, eagerly wanting to see the store, but Piper grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Erith!" She snapped her fingers under the other girl's nose. "Snap out of it!" 

Erith shook her head dazedly. "Huh?"

But Her Highness had turned back around. "Come on, dears. Don't you wants to see my potions?"

Erith nodded with a grin and followed easily, Piper forgotten.

They stopped in front of, indeed, the woman's potions. "And here," Her Highness said, "is the finest assortment of magical mixtures anywhere."

Indeed, it was. The counter was crammed with bubbling beakers and smoking vials on tripods. Lining the display shelves were crystal flasks―some shaped like swans or honey bear dispensers. The liquids inside were every color, from glowing white to polka-dotted. And the smells... some were pleasant, like fresh-baked cookies or roses, but they were mixed with the scents of burning tires, skunk spray, and gym lockers.

The princess pointed to a blood red vial―a simple test tube with a cork stopper. "This one will heal any disease."

"Even cancer?" Leo asked. "Leprosy? Hangnails?"

"Any disease, sweet boy. And this vial"―she pointed to a swan-shaped container with blue liquid inside―"will kill you very painfully."

"Awesome," Jason said.

"That's so cool," Erith agreed.

"Jason," Piper said. "We've got a job to do. Remember? Erith, come on."

"Job to do," Jason muttered. "Sure. But shopping first, okay?"

Erith nodded, trusting Jason. He was right. "A little bit of shopping won't hurt, Piper. Relax."

The princess beamed at them. "Then we have potions for resisting fire―"

"Got that covered," Leo said. Erith grinned at him.

"Indeed?" The princess studied Leo's face more closely. "You don't appear to be wearing my trademark sunscreen... but no matter. We also have potions that cause blindness, insanity, sleep, or―"