𝕺𝖕𝖕𝖔𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖘 𝕬𝖙𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙 - 𝕱𝖊𝖒𝕺𝕮 𝖃 𝕷𝖊𝖔 𝖁𝖆𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖟

Kiera

I like to steal. That's pretty obvious, right?

So you shouldn't be surprised when I wanted to steal from the super model lady.

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

"Cool," Jason said.

I nodded.

"Guys," Piper interrupted, "We're here to get the storm spirits and Coach Hedge. If this—princess—really is 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. "Don't worry. We'll work our way down to the first floor, eh?"

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

I squeezed his hand once. "Seems fun!"

Piper ran a hand over her face.

"Of course, it's okay," Her Highness put her hands on mine and Leo's shoulders and steered us toward the cosmetics. "Come along, dears."

Jason followed behind, with Piper behind him.

Leo laced his fingers with mine and kept us close, even when the princess took her hands off us.

"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. And the smells—gods, they were amazing. They smelled like Mom's fresh blue cookies, and the smoothies Percy and I always buy a few blocks from our apartment.

The princess pointed to a bloodred vial—a simple test tube with a cork stopper. "This will heal any disease."

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

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

"Awesome," Jason said.

My eyes scanned the shelves, and landed on a circular shaped bottle with a glowing blue substance inside. "What's that?"

"Hm?" The princess looked closer. "Ah, my dear, that one can make even a mortal ascend to godhood. Want a sip?"

I reached out for it, and Leo slapped my hand. "No."

"Why?" I pouted.

"You can't keep me if you're immortal." He said, frowning.

"Oh," I sighed. "You have two?"

"I can make another," The princess smiled.

Piper pinched my elbow and I almost ran into the potions, "Ow!"

She scowled at me, "Kiera, try and stay away from becoming a god, please. We have a job to do."

"Job to do," I muttered. "Sure. Shopping first?"

The princess beamed at Leo. "Then we have potions for resisting fire—"

"Got that covered," Leo said.

The princess turned around to reach for something, and I slipped the fire resistance potion into my void-pocket. Like she said, she can always make more, right?

"Indeed?" The princess looked at two more bottles in her hands. "Hm. You don't appear to be wearing my trademark sunscreen. . ."

Sunscreen. . .witch. . .I tried to think on who this could've been. I remembered Annie telling me something when we fought fire breathing bulls at camp. Some-sort of coconut sunscreen witch. Whatever!