Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also if you haven't read them yet read 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Early Adventures' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Magical Labyrinth' as well as the one shots 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Stolen Chariot' The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Sword of Hades', 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Bronze Dragon' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Last Olympian' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Staff of Hermes' before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned. Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.
A/N: I'm going to MAKE THIS CLEAR. Just like I mention on my bio page about every other fanfiction I done: I DON'T OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIAN SERIES OR IT'S CHARACTERS as the rights goes to Rick Rioran. Also I suggest you guys start paying attention to the Author notes and my warnings that I left on EVERY chapter of EVERY story. Because I KNOW I warn all of you about the first chapter before it started.
Sorry if this chapter is too much like the book
Piper's POV Part X
I cornered the princes as Jason and Leo went to check out the living fur coats.
"You want them shopping to their deaths?" I demanded.
"Mmm." The princess blew dust off a display case of swords. "I'm a seer, my dear. I know your little secret and your little stunt."
I had a shiver down my back when she said that.
"But we don't want to dwell on that, do we? The boys are having such fun," the princess said.
Leo laughed as he tried on a hat that seemed to be made from enchanted raccoon fur. Its ringed tail twitched, and its little legs wiggled frantically as Leo walked. Jason was ogling the men's sportswear. If you need proof that these two were under an evil sign, this would be it.
I glared at the princess. "Who are you?"
"I told you, my dear. I'm the Princess of Colchis."
"Where's Colchis?"
The princess' expression turned a little sad. "Where was Colchis, you mean. My father ruled the far shores of the Black Sea, as far to the east as a Greek ship could sail in those days. But Colchis is no more—lost eons ago."
"Eons?" I asked. I know, it's hard to believe. I have a hard time believing it myself. The princess looked no more than fifty. And yet a bad feeling settled in me as I remember what King Boreas told us back in Quebec. "How old are you?"
The princess laughed at my question. "A lady should avoid asking or answering that question. Let's just say the, ah, immigration process to enter your country took quite a while. My patron finally brought me through. She made all this possible." The princess swept her hand around the department store.
My mouth tasted like metal. "Your patron…"
"Oh, yes. She doesn't bring just anyone though, mind you—only those who have special talents, such as me. And really, she insisted on so little—a store entrance that must be underground so she can, ah, monitor my clientele; and a favor now and then. In exchange for a new life? Really, it was the best bargain I'd made in centuries."
Run, I thought. We have to get out of here.
But before I could turn my thoughts into words, Jason called, "Hey, check it out!"
From a rack labeled distressed clothing, he held up a purple T-shirt like the one he'd worn on the school field trip—except this one looked like it been clawed by tigers.
Jason frowned. "Why does this look so familiar?"
"Jason, it's like yours," I responded. "Now we really have to leave." But I'm starting to doubt he was listening because of the princess' enchantment over him."
"Nonsense," the princess said. "The boys aren't done, are they? And yes, my dear. Those shirts are very popular—trade-ins from previous customers. It suits you."
Leo picked up an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt with a hole through the middle, as if it had been hit by a javelin. Next to that was a tented bronze breastplate that looked like it was badly damage. There were also Roman togas slashed to pieces and stained with something that looked disturbingly like dried blood.
"Your Highness," I said while trying to control my nerves, "Why don't you tell the boys how you betrayed your family? I'm sure they'd like to hear that story."
My words didn't have any effect on the princess, but Jason and Leo were suddenly interested as they turned away from the racks.
"More story?" Leo asked.
"I like more story!" Jason agreed.
The princess flashed an irritated look at me. "Oh, one will do strange things for love, Piper. You should know that. I fell for that young hero, in fact, because your mother Aphrodite had me under a spell. If it wasn't for her—but I can't hold a grudge against a goddess, can I?"
The princess tone made her meaning clear to me: I can take it out on you.
"But that hero took you with him when he fled Colchis," I remembered. "Didn't he, Your Highness? He married you just as he promised."
The look in the princess' eyes made me want to apologize, but I didn't back down. I couldn't. If Jason and Leo realize who she really is, they might snap out of it. Or at least her spell will weaken enough for me to convince them.
"At first," Her Highness admitted, "it seemed he would keep his word. But even after I helped him steal my father's treasure, he still needed my help. As we fled, my brother's fleet came after us. His warship overtook us. He would have destroyed us, but I convinced my brother to come aboard our ship first and talk under a flag of truce. He trusted me."
"And you killed your own brother," I said as the horrible story started coming back to me, along with the name that started with the letter M.
"What?" Jason stirred. For a moment he looked almost like himself. "Killed your own—"
"No," the princess snapped. "Those stories are lies. It was my new husband and his men who killed my brother, though they couldn't have done it without my deception. They threw his body into the sea, and the pursuing fleet had to stop and search for it so they could give my brother a proper burial. This gave us time to get away. All this, I did for my husband. And he forgot our bargain. He betrayed me in the end."
Jason still looked uncomfortable as my plan seemed to be working. "What did he do?"
The princess held the sliced toga against Jason's chest, as if measuring him for an assassination. "Don't you know the story, my boy? You of all people should. You were named for him."
"Jason," I said. "The original Jason. But then you're—you should be dead!"
The princess smiled. "As I said, a new life in a new country. Certainly I made mistakes. I turned my back on my own people. I was called a traitor, a thief, a liar, a murderess. But I acted out of love." She turned to the boys and gave them a pitiful look, batting her eyelashes.
Thus my plan fails. I could feel the sorcery washing over my friends, taking final control more firmly than ever.
"Wouldn't you do the same for someone you loved, my dears?"
"Oh, sure," Jason said.
"Okay," Leo said.
"Guys!" I grinded my teeth in frustration. "Don't you see who she is? Don't you—"
"Let's continue, shall we?" the princess said breezily. "I believe you wanted to talk about a price for the storm spirits—and your satyr."
Right now I wanted nothing more than send her back to the Underworld where she belongs. Out all the princesses in the Greek why did it have to be her?
…
Of course Leo got distracted when we reached appliances on the second floor.
"No way," he said. "Is that an armored forge?"
Before I could stop him, he hopped off the escalator and ran over to a big oven that looked like a barbecue on steroids.
When we caught up with him, the princess said, "You have good taste. This is the H-2000, designed by Hephaestus himself. Hot enough to melt Celestial bronze or Imperial gold."
Jason flinched as if he recognized that term. "Imperial gold?"
The princess nodded. "Yes, my dear. Like that weapon so cleverly concealed in your pocket. To be properly forged, Imperial gold had to be consecrated in the Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill in Rome. Quite a powerful and rare metal, but like the Roman emperors, quite volatile. Be sure never to break that blade…" she smiled pleasantly. "Rome was after my time, of course, but I do hear stories. Now over here—this golden throne is one of my finest luxury items. Hephaestus made it as a punishment for his mother, Hera. Sit in it and you'll be immediately trapped.
Leo must of took this as an order, because he started walking toward it in his trance.
"Leo, don't!" I warned.
He blinked. "How much for both?"
"Oh, the seat I could let you have for five great deeds. The forge, seven years of servitude. And for only a bit of your strength—" She led Leo into an appliance section giving him prices on various items.
I didn't want to leave him alone with her, but I need to try to reason with Jason. I pulled him aside and slapped him across the face.
"Ow," he muttered sleepily. "What was that for?"
"Snap out of it!" I hissed.
"What do you mean?"
"She's charmspeaking you. Can you feel it?"
He knit his eyebrows. "She seems okay."
"She's not okay! She shouldn't even be alive! She was married to the other Jason three thousand years ago. Remember what Boreas said—something about the souls no longer being confined to Hades? It's not just monsters who can't stay dead. She's come back from the Underworld!"
Jason shook his head uneasily. "She's not a ghost."
"No, she's worse! She's—"
"Children." The princess was back with Leo in tow. "If you please, we will now see what you came for. That is what you want, yes? With that potion?"
I wanted to scream. At this point I was tempted to pull out my dagger and take out this witch, but I knew my chances and they weren't great. Especially with my friends being under her spell. There's no telling if they would even help me or will kill me if she ordered them too. I had to figure out a better plan.
We took the escalator down to the base of the fountain. For the first time, I noticed two large bronze sundials—each about the size of a trampoline—inlaid on the marble tile floor to the north and south of the fountain. The gilded oversize canary cages stood to the east and west, and the farthest one held the storm spirits. They were so densely packed, spinning around like a super-concentrated tornado, that I couldn't tell how many there were—dozens, at least.
"Hey," Leo said, "Coach Hedge looks okay!"
We ran to the nearest canary cage. The old satyr seemed to have been petrified at the moment he was sucked into the sky above the Grand Canyon. He was frozen mid-shout, his club raised over his head like he was ordering the gym class to drop and give him fifty. His curly hair stuck up at odd angles. If I just concentrated on certain details—the bright orange polo shirt, the wispy goatee, the whistle around his neck—I could imagine Coach Hedge as his good old annoying self. But it was hard to ignore the stubby horns on his head, and the fact that he had furry goat legs and hooves instead of workout pants and Nikes.
"Yes," the princess said. "I always keep my wares in good condition. We can certainly barter for the storm spirits, the satyr. A package deal with the potion free of cost. That's if we come to terms, and you can go in peace." She gave me a shrewd look. "That's better than starting unpleasantness, isn't it, dear?"
Don't trust her, warned a voice in my head. If I was right about this lady's identity, nobody would be leaving in peace. A fair deal wasn't possible. It was all a trick. But my friends were looking at me, nodding urgently while mouthing, Say, yes! I need more time than this to think of a good plan.
"We can negotiate," she said.
"Totally!" Leo agreed. "Name your price."
"Leo!" Piper snapped.
The princess chuckled. "Name my price? Perhaps not the best haggling strategy, my boy, but at least you know a thing's value. Freedom is very valuable indeed. You would ask me to release this satyr, who attacked my storm winds—"
"Who attacked us," I interjected.
Her Highness shrugged. "As I said, my patron asks me for small favors from time to time. Sending the storm spirits to abduct you—that was one. I assure you it was nothing personal. And no harm done, as you came here, in the end, of your own free will! At any rate, you want the satyr free, and you want my storm spirits—who are very valuable servants, by the way—so you can hand them over to that tyrant Aeolus. Doesn't seem quite fair, does it? The price be high."
I could see that my friends were ready to offer anything, promise anything. But before they could speak, I played my last desperate card.
"You're Medea," I said. "You helped the original Jason steal the Golden Fleece. You're one of the most evil villains in Greek mythology. Jason, Leo—don't trust her."
I put all the intensity I could gather into those words. I was utterly sincere, and it seemed to have some effect. Jason stepped away from the sorceress.
Leo on other hand scratched his head and looked around like he was coming out of a dream.
So close.
"Boys!" The princess spread her hands in a welcoming gesture. Her diamond jewelry glittered, and her painted fingers curled like blood-tipped claws. "It's true, I'm Medea. But I'm so misunderstood. Oh, Piper, my dear, you don't know what it was like for women in the old days. We had no power, no leverage. Often we couldn't even choose our own husbands. But I was different. I chose my own destiny by becoming a sorceress. Is that so wrong? I made a pact with Jason: my help to win the fleece, in exchange for his love. A fair deal. He became a famous hero! Without me, he would've died unknown on the shores of Colchis."
Jason—my Jason—scowled. "Then… you really did die three thousand years ago? You came back from the Underworld?"
"Death no longer holds me, young hero," Medea said. "Thanks to my patron, I am flesh and blood again."
"You… re-formed?" Leo blinked. "Like a monster?"
Medea spread her fingers and steam hissed from her nails, like water splashed on hot iron. "You have no idea what's happening, do you, my dears? It is so much worse than a stirring of monsters from Tartarus. My patron knows that giants and monsters are not her greatest servants. I am mortal. I learned from my mistakes. And now I have to returned to the living, I will not be cheated again. Now, here is my prices for what you ask."
"Guys," I said. "The original Jason left Medea because she was crazy and bloodthirsty."
"Lies!" Medea said.
"On the way back from Colchis, Jason's ship landed at another kingdom, and Jason agreed to dump Medea and marry the king's daughter."
"After bore him two children!" Medea said. "Still he broke his promise! I ask you, was that right?"
Jason and Leo dutifully shook their heads. Even I have to agree that wasn't right, but I still know have more to share.
"It may not have been right," I said, "but neither was Medea's revenge. She murdered her own children to get back at Jason. She poisoned his new wife and fled the kingdom."
Medea snarled. "An invention to ruin my reputation! The people of the Corinth—that unruly mob—killed my children and drove me out. Jason did nothing to protect me. He robbed me of everything. So yes, I sneaked back into the palace and poisoned his lovely new bride. It was only fair—a suitable price."
"You're insane," I said.
"I am the victim!" Medea wailed. "I died with my dreams shattered, but no longer. I know now not to trust heroes. When they come asking for treasures, they will pay a heavy price. Especially when the one asking has the name of Jason!"
The fountain turned bright red. I drew my dagger, but my hand was shaking almost too badly to hold it. "Jason, Leo—it's time to go. Now."
"Before you've closed the deal?" Medea asked. "What of your quest, boys? And my price is so easy. Did you know this fountain is magic? If a dead man were to be thrown into it, even if he was chopped to pieces, he would pop back out fully formed—stronger and more powerful than ever."
"Seriously?" Leo asked.
"Leo, she's lying," I said. "She did that trick with somebody before—a king, I think. She convinced his daughters to cut him to pieces so he could come out of the water young an healthy, but it just killed him!"
"Ridiculous," Medea said, and I could hear the power charged in every syllable. "Leo, Jason—my price is so simple. Why don't you two fight? If you get injured, or even killed, no problem. We'll just throw you into the fountain and you'll be better than ever. You do want to fight, don't you? You resent each other!"
"Guys, no!" I said. But it was already too late. I lost them to Medea, again. They were glaring at each other as if it was dawning on them how they really felt.
I couldn't help but feel helpless. I now understood what real sorcery looked like. I'd always thought magic meant wands and fireballs, but this was worse. Medea didn't rely on poisons and potions. Her most potent weapon was her voice.
Leo scowled. "Jason's always the star. He always gets the attention and takes me for granted.
"You're annoying, Leo," Jason said. "You never take anything seriously. You can even fix a dragon on your own."
"Stop!" I pleaded, but both drew their weapons—Jason had his gold sword, and Leo had his hammer (which he pulled out from his tool belt).
"Let them go, Piper," Medea urged. "I'm doing you a favor. Let it happen now, and it will make your choice so much easier. Enceladus will be pleased. You could have your father back today!"
Medea's charmspeak didn't work on me, but the sorceress still had a persuasive voice.
My father back today? Despite my best intentions, I wanted that. I wanted my father back so much, it hurt.
"You work for Enceladus?" I asked.
Medea laughed. "Serve a giant? No. But we all serve the same greater cause—a patron you cannot begin to challenge. Walk away, child of Aphrodite. This does not have to be your death, too. Save yourself, and your father can go free."
Leo and Jason were still facing off, ready to fight, but they looked unsteady and confused—waiting for another order. Part of them had to be resisting, I hoped. This went completely against their nature.
"Listen to me, girl." Medea plucked a diamond off her bracelet and threw it into a spray of water from the fountain. As it passed through the multicolored light, Medea said, "O Iris, goddess of the rainbow, show me the office of Tristan McLean."
The mist shimmered and I saw my father's study. Sitting behind his desk, talking on the phone as usual, was my dad's assistant, Jane, in her dark business suit, her hair swirled in a tight bun.
"Hello, Jane," Medea said.
Jane hung the phone calmly, which twisted my stomach because I know she doesn't do for just anyone. "How can I help you, ma'am?" Hello, Piper."
"You—" I was so angry I could hardly talk.
"Yes, child," Medea said. "Your father's assistant. Quite easy to manipulate. An organized mind for a mortal, but incredibly weak."
"Thank you, ma'am," Jane said.
"Don't mention it," Medea said. "I just wanted to congratulate you, Jane. Getting Mr. McLean to leave town so suddenly, take his jet to Oakland without alerting the press or the police—well done! No one seems to know where he's gone. And telling him his daughter's life was on the line—that was a nice touch to get his cooperation."
"Yes," Jane agreed in a bland tone, as if she were sleep walking. "He was quite cooperative when he believe Piper was in danger."
I look down at my trembling hand holding my dagger. There was no way I could use this weapon, especially not any better than Helen of Troy did, but it was still a looking glass, and what I saw in it was a scared girl with no chance of winning.
"I may have new orders for you, Jane," Medea said. "If the girl cooperates, it may be time for Mr. McLean to come home. Would you arrange a suitable cover story for his absence, just in case? And I imagine the poor man will need some time in a psychiatric hospital."
"Yes, ma'am. I will stand by."
The image faded, and Medea turned to me. "There, you see?"
"You lured my dad into a trap," I said. "You helped the giant—"
"Oh, please, dear. You'll work yourself into a fit! I've been preparing for this war for years, even before I was brought back to life. I am a seer, as I said. I can tell the future as well as your little oracle. Yours ago, still suffering in the Fields of Punishment, I had a vision of the seven in your so-called Great Prophecy. I saw your friend Leo here, and saw that he would be an important enemy someday. I stirred the consciousness of my patron, gave her this information, and she managed to wake just a little—just enough to visit him."
"Leo's mother," I said. "Leo, listen to this! She helped get your mother killed!"
"Uh-huh," Leo mumbled, in a daze. He frowned at his hammer. "So… I just attack Jason? That's okay?"
"Perfectly safe," Medea promised. "And Jason, strike him hard. Show me you are worthy of your namesake."
"No!" I ordered. "Jason, Leo—she's tricking you. Put down your weapons."
The sorceress rolled her eyes. "Please, girl. You're no match for me. I trained with my aunt, the immortal Circe. I can drive men mad or heal them with my voice. What hope do these puny young heroes have against me? Now, boys, kill each other!"
I forced myself not to listen to Medea. I remember what everyone back at Camp said about Annabeth's boyfriend being once predicted about being one of the seven greatest demigods of his generation and how it might be tied to the Great Prophecy. If they were right, and I was one of the seven, then that meant I have the potential to be one of the seven best heroes. Maybe even have the potential to save my dad.
Right now, I didn't feel so great, but it was the closest thing to self-encouragement I can think of to help me save my friends.
"Jason, Leo, listen to me." I put all my emotions into my voice. For years I'd been trying to control myself and not show weakness, but now I poured everything into my words—my fear, my desperation, my anger. "Medea is charming you. It's part of her magic. You are best friends. Don't fight each other. Fight her!"
They hesitated, but I could feel the spell shatter.
Jason blinked. "Leo, was I just about to stab you?"
"Something about my mother…?" Leo frowned, then turned toward Medea. "You… you're working for Dirt Woman. You sent her to the machine shop." He lifted his arm. "Lady, I got a three-pound hammer with your name on it."
"Bah!" Medea sneered. "I'll simply collect payment another way."
She pressed one of the mosaic tiles on the floor, and the building rumbled. Jason swung his sword of Medea, but she dissolved into smoke and reappeared at the base of the escalator.
"You're slow, hero!" she laughed. "Take your frustration on my pets!"
Before Jason could go after her, the giant bronze sundials at either end of the fountain swung open. Two snarling gold beasts—flesh-and-blood winged dragons—crawled out from the pits below. Each was the size of a camper van, maybe not as large compare to Festus, but large enough."
"So that's what's in the kennels," Leo said meekly.
The dragon spread their wings and hissed. I could feel the heat coming off their glittering skin. One turned his angry orange eyes on me.
"Don't look at them in the eye!" Jason warned. "They'll paralyze you."
"Indeed!" Medea was leisurely riding the escalator up, leaning against the handrail as she watched the fun. "These two dears have been with me a long time—sun dragons, you know, gifts from my grandfather Helios. They pulled my chariot when I left Corinth, and now they will be your destruction. Ta-ta."
The dragons lunged. Leo and Jason charged to intercept. I must admit I'm pretty amaze how well those two fearlessly worked together to attack the dragons, as if they were trained together for years.
Medea was almost at the second floor, where she'd be able to choose from a wide assortment of deadly appliances.
"Oh, no, you don't," I growled, and took off after her.
When Medea spotted me, she started climbing in earnest. For a three-thousand-year-old-lady, she's pretty quick. I climbed at top speed, taking the steps three at a time, and yet I still couldn't catch her. Medea didn't stop at floor two. She hopped the next escalator and continued to ascend.
The potions, I thought. Of course that's what she would go for. Although I had her healing potion, she probably still had other concoctions that can kill us.
Down below, I heard the battle raging. Leo was blowing his safety whistle, and Jason was yelling to keep the dragon's attention. I didn't dare look—not while I was running with a dagger in my hand. I could just see myself tripping and stabbing myself in the nose. That would be super heroic.
I grabbed a shield from a armored manikin on floor three and continued to climb. I imagined Coach Hedge yelling in my mind, just like back in gym class at Wilderness School: Move it, McLean! You call that escalator climbing?
As annoying as it sounds in my head, I kept moving.
I reached the top floor, breathing hard, but I was too late. Medea had reached the potions counter.
The sorceress grabbed a swan-shape vial—the blue one that caused painful death. I did the only thing that came to my mind and threw my shield.
Medea turned triumphantly just in time to get hit in the chest by a fifty pound Frisbee. She stumbled backward, crashing over the counter, breaking vials and knocking down shelves. Good thing I already snatched the healing potion.
When the sorceress stood from the wreckage, her dress was stained with a dozen different colors. Many of the stains were smoldering and glowing.
"Fool!" Medea wailed. "Do you have any idea what so many potions will do mixed?"
"Kill you?"
The carpet began to steam around Medea's feet. She cough, and her face contorted in pain.
"You've doomed us all!" Medea screamed. Smoke was rolling across the carpet as the stain spread, throwing sparks and setting fires in the clothing racks. "You have only seconds before this concoction consumes everything and destroy the building!"
"We'll see about that!" I said as I headed down to my friends.
I barely got to the first floor while the store was starting to burn down. At this point Leo was pinned down by one of the dragons while Jason was at the other side of the room, dealing with the second one. At this point I was starting to think we wouldn't get out of here with Coach Hedge and the Storm Spirits alive when a miracle happened.
CRASH! The stained glass ceiling splintered into a rain of multicolored shards as Festus the bronze dragon dropped into the department store.
I never appreciated how big and strong Festus was until he picked up the two sun dragons, flew half way up the atrium, then hurled the sun dragons into the pits they'd came from.
"That's my boy!" Leo yelled before he raced the fountain, press the marble tile and closed the sundials. They shuddered as the dragons banged against them, trying to get out, but for the moment they were contained.
Medea, who was still alive, as she tried to get out of the fourth floor which was completely on fire.
Leo Jason and I boarded on Festus back and the bronze dragon flapped his mighty wings, snatching the two cages with the satyr and the storm spirits with his claws and began to ascend.
The last thing we heard as we got out of there was Medea yelled threats about my father will not be saved now and how I brought my friends and me doom before the department store exploded.
She's wrong. I will save my dad, I thought.
But as much as I tried to encourage myself, I almost believed her. Even with the healing potion in my pocket, even if we restored Jason's memory and things turns out well by chance with his restored memories, we still need a help of a god to take down Enceladus, and all of them were either locked up in Olympus or imprisoned by the Dirt Lady.
