𝐄́𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒² || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐀 ✦

AURORA REMEMBERED THE TIME SHE WAS LURED ALONG WITH PERCY, ANNABETH, AND GROVER BY MEDUSA TO HER LAIR AND ALMOST GOT TURNED INTO STATUES. This was exactly like that but with a different set of people with her. Watching Jason and Leo follow the princess with an almost entranced look, Aurora felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

It was eerily reminiscent of that time when Medusa. The similarities were uncanny— the charming demeanor and the inviting atmosphere masking an underlying danger.

Aurora wanted to drag Jason and Leo by hand while Piper looked like she wanted to run for the elevator. The two girls' second choice: attack the weird princess now, because they were sure a fight was coming— it always does. 

The way the lady's face glowed when she'd heard Jason's name had been bad enough. Now Her Highness was smiling like nothing had happened, and Jason and Leo didn't seem to think anything was wrong.

The princess gestured toward the cosmetics counter. "Shall we start with the potions?"

"Cool," Jason said.

"It really isn't, Jason," Aurora deadpanned at him.

"Guys," Piper interrupted, "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, and her eyes glittered like a snake's—cold and dark. "Don't worry. We'll work our way down to the first floor, eh?"

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

Piper did her best to stare daggers at him: No, it is not okay!

"Fantastic," Aurora said, halfheartedly.

"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."

Aurora and Piper didn't have much choice except to follow.

Piper hated department stores— mostly because she'd gotten caught stealing from several of them. Well, not exactly caught, and not exactly stealing. She'd talked salesmen into giving her computers, new boots, a gold ring, and once even a lawn mower, though she had no idea why she wanted one. She never kept the stuff. She just did it to get her dad's attention.

Usually, she talked her neighborhood UPS guy into taking the stuff back. But of course, the salesmen she duped always came to their senses and called the police, who eventually tracked her down. Anyway, she wasn't thrilled to be back in a department store— especially one run by a crazy princess who glowed in the dark.

"And here," the princess said, "is the finest assortment of magical mixtures anywhere."

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.