Charmolypi

Chapter 108

Percy was about to answer when they walked into a big room, where the whole front wall was windows. The back wall was covered in mirrors, so the room seemed to go on forever. There was a bunch of expensive-looking white furniture, and on a table in one corner was a large wire pet cage.

"This place gets weirder by the minute."

"Can they please just get out of there?"

She sat at a loom the size of a big screen TV, her hands weaving colored thread back and forth with amazing skill. The tapestry shimmered like it was three dimensional-a waterfall scene so real you could see the water moving and clouds drifting across a fabric sky.

Annabeth caught her breath. "It's beautiful."

"She's right," Pandora said in a dreamy voice, staring at the tapestry. Many turned to look at her in slight worry, afraid that she was under some sort of spell.

The woman turned, revealing her beautiful face. She was even prettier than the tapestry. Her long dark hair was braided with threads of gold and her piercing green eyes shone. She wore a silky black dress with shapes that seemed to move in the fabric.

"You appreciate weaving, my dear?" the woman asked.

"She's beautiful."

"Breathtaking."

"A goddess amongst women."

"Even her voice is beautiful."

"I could listen to her talk for hours on end."

"Snap out of it!" McGonagall snapped loudly, knowing that the men were falling under the spell of her charm.

"Oh, yes, ma'am!" Annabeth said. "My mother is-" She stopped herself. You couldn't just go around announcing that your mom was Athena, the goddess who invented the loom.

The hostess just smiled. "You have good taste, my dear. I'm so glad you've come. My name is C.C."

"That's an uncommon name," Regulus commented.

The animals in the corner cage started squealing. That's when Thea noticed the cage. It was out of place, considering that all the animals were free to roam around the resort freely.

The group introduced themselves to C.C. She looked Percy over with a twinge of disapproval, as if he'd failed some kind of test. Immediately, he felt bad. For some reason, he really wanted to please this lady.

"Oh, dear," she sighed. "You do need my help."

"Ma'am?" Percy asked.

C.C. called to the lady in the business suit. "Hylla, take Annabeth and Thea on a tour, will you? Show them what we have available. The clothing will need to change. And the hair, my goodness. We will do a full image consultation after I've spoken with this young gentleman."

"What's wrong with the way my daughter looks?" James asked, offended by the woman's statement.

"She's pointing out minor flaws to gain customers. It's disgusting," Lily added.

"My daughter doesn't have flaws," James grumbled.

"But ..." Annabeth's voice sounded hurt. "What's wrong with my hair?"

C.C. smiled benevolently. "My dear, you are lovely. Really! But you're not showing off yourself or your talents at all. So much wasted potential!"

"Wasted?"

"Well, surely you're not happy the way you are! My goodness, there's not a single person who is. But don't worry. We can improve anyone here at the spa. Hylla will show you what I mean. You, my dear, need to unlock your true self!"