Daughter of Mother Earth

Chapter Thirty-Six

"Well, that's where they're going to die, of course."
___________

As Piper talked to the sorceress, Crystal looked around with the boys. As much as she wanted to slash Medea's throat with her dagger, Crystal had to play along with it all. She fully trusted Piper. Crystal looked over as Leo picked up a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt with a hole through the middle. It looked like it had been stabbed with a spear of some sort. Whatever happened, it made Crystal uneasy.

She moved back to Piper when she asked for Medea to tell her life story. She remembered how the witch killed her own brother (A lie, Medea insisted) so she could be with her husband.

"Wouldn't you do the same for someone you love?" Medea asked.

"Why not?" Jason shrugged.

"Absolutely." Leo nodded.

Medea turned to Crystal again. "You don't need to answer, dear. I know you would do whatever for your lover. He would too."

On the outside, Crystal nodded. In the inside, though, she was beyond confused. She had a lover? Who?

Piper soon got frustrated and tried to get her friends out of their trance.

The princess continued on about the storm spirits and the satyr. But before they could continue on, Leo jumped of the escalator and went to a barbecue-like object on the second floor. Medea proceeded to explain that Hephaestus designed it himself and that it was hot enough to melt Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold.

"...Quite like that weapon in your pocket, Jason. Although, I don't know what metal your dagger is, Crystal. I've never seen anything quite like it."

After a while of talking, they took the escalator to the last floor. On both sides of the fountain, there were two large sundials that Crystal hadn't noticed. On the other two sides of the fountain stood the two cages containing the satyr and storm spirits.

"Coach Hedge!" Leo said.

They ran to the nearest cage. He looked like Grover on steroids... Only much shorter. Medea told them the price of the two cages, but Piper wouldn't give up, saying they could negotiate.

"Jason, Leo, Crystal! She's a witch. Don't trust her." Piper urged.

Jason and Leo seemed to fall out their trance for a moment. Crystal scowled and grabbed her dagger, moving into a stance.

"Yes, I am Medea. But you don't know what it was like for women. We had no power, no opinion. Heck, we couldn't even choose our own husbands. I helped Jason, in return for his love."

Crystal gripped her dagger tighter. "You died three thousand years ago."

"I am human again, thanks to my patron."

"Patron?" Crystal asked.

"My patron knows that giants and monsters are not her greatest servants. I learn from mistakes. Crystal, I'm like you." Medea spread her fingers.

"Like me? I highly doubt that." Crystal shook her head.

"But I am. We have the same patron. She brought you to life to serve her. I did the same."

"I don't have a patron and I am not a slave or a servant." Crystal growled.

"Oh, I see. They haven't told you. Well, you'll find out on your own then. It's not my place to tell you." Medea smirked.

Crystal raised an eyebrow. "Tell me what?"