Book Cult (New and Improved)

Piper XXVII

"Piper XXVII," Clarisse read.

Having a feeling on what this chapter's going to have, Leo grimaced. I hope I didn't act too stupid.

Piper wanted to run for the elevator.

Her second choice: attack the weird princess now, because she was sure a fight was coming. 

Ares smiled eagerly at that.

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.

"What's she even going to do to them now that they're in her control?" Chris muttered.

Leo tossed the protractor in the air before catching it.

"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,"

A few people raised an eyebrow at this.

Her Highness said. "I'm a saleswoman." 

A couple people rolled their eyes at this.

Her diamonds and sparkled, and her eyes glittered like a snake's- cold and dark.

"Snakes aren't that bad." Hermes muttered.

Speaking of snakes, we've been sitting around here forever doing nothing, I'm bored! And hungry! Can I have a rat? George whined in Hermes' head.

Be quite, George! Martha scolded. By the way, Lord Hermes, Iris is requesting you to deliver four cargo bins of wind chimes and dream catchers.*

Do you think if we deliver that to her quick enough, she'll give us a big juicy rat as a tip? George eagerly inquired.

Do you always have to talk about food? Martha asked, voice full of annoyance.

Not when I'm eating a rat!

"Wind chimes and dream catchers? What does Iris want with... Never mind, I'll find out later." Hermes muttered, turning the phone on vibrate.

The cell phone vibrated in protest at this before Hermes warned. "Stop that or I'll put you on silent."

"Don't worry. We'll work out way down to the first floor, eh?"

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

Said boy smacked his forehead with the piece of plastic. Yeah, Valdez, that sounds like a great idea! Follow the lady who's head can literally glow in the dark!

...She hated department sores- mostly because she'd gotten caught stealing from several of them.

"It happens to the best of us..." Travis sighed sadly.

Connor nodded sympathetically.

 "You're lucky you're not in juvie." Katie grumbled.

Well, not exactly caught, and not exactly stealing. She'd talking the salesmen into giving her computers, new boots, a gold ring, once even a lawn mower, though she had no idea why she wanted one. She never kept the stuff.