Piper wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to find the mole. She had already spent a few minutes standing in the same spot and looking around. It wasn't telling her anything new. Most of the attendants were giving her an odd look. Piper looked away and tried to think.
Ever since Reyna had said that she wished Piper wasn't dating Jason, she had been acting weird. Reyna wouldn't meet Piper's eyes and seemed to be doing everything in her power to get away from her. Piper sighed and shook her head. She needed to focus.
They didn't have any authority on this island. The tolerance that Circe gave them was very thin, and it could break at any moment. Reyna was probably doing something to cause it to break. Piper glanced around. The attendants weren't going to help them, but she could try drawing out the mole.
Piper walked towards the front desk. The receptionist glanced up at her and then frowned. Piper spoke, "Hi. I was wondering what kind of things my girlfriend and I could do after she's done helping Circe. She's not a big fan of spas, but I've been trying to change her mind."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow and gave her a new look. She intertwined her fingers and rested her chin on her hands. The receptionist spoke, "You and Reyna? I never thought she would come out of her shell."
"You know Reyna?" Piper asked. She leaned on the counter and forced her face into a look of sadness. "She's so closed off to me."
The receptionist looked around and then leaned in closer. She spoke, "Reyna has always been closed off. When she used to be on the island, she kept to herself. I know her sister has visited a few times, but Reyna doesn't."
"Reyna doesn't want to say hi to her old friends?" Piper questioned. The receptionist laughed.
"I wouldn't call us friends. Besides, most of the attendants from Reyna's time are no longer here," the receptionist said. "Most of the attendants were brought in right after Circe started to rebuild her island. A few more after that."
"Few more?" Piper wondered. She played with a pen and stared at the desk. Her eyes slowly drifted around to the other attendants.
"The one who gives massages," the receptionist answered. She waved her hand. "The newer ones learn how to do that first."
"I think Reyna might like a massage. She's so tense," Piper said. Her eyes moved around. If there was a mole, it would be someone who didn't have loyalty to Circe. Newer attendants would be the first place to look. "Do you have any openings?"
"We always have openings," the receptionist said. Piper smiled at her and saw movement. The smile quickly died as she saw Jason being led through the spa. There was a dreamy look on his face. The receptionist followed her look. "Don't worry about the boy. He won't harm anyone."
"I haven't seen any men here," Piper began. She looked at the receptionist. "Why not?"
"Because they are scum," the receptionist answered. "Circe helps them see their inner self and helps them transform into that.
Piper nodded and pushed herself off of the counter. She watched an attendant lead Jason into a room. Piper spoke, "I'm going to find Reyna. We'll be back for that massage."
The receptionist hummed under her breath. Piper quickly walked past the desk and followed behind where Jason had gone. She stepped into a long hallway and stared at all of the doors. Piper opened the door on the right and only found a dressing room. The last thing she wanted to do was open each door, but in the end, she had to do it to find Jason.
Instead of kicking each door open, she knocked and asked if anyone was inside. There was mostly no response, and she checked those rooms just to be safe. The few that did answer were warned to cover up before she peeked her head in. Piper didn't have any luck until she made it to one of the last doors.
Piper knocked on the door, and an attendant spoke, "We're busy."
"I was sent to help," Piper said. After a moment, the door opened. Piper caught sight of Jason sitting on a stool, and an attendant was standing over him. Piper slammed into the attendant and slammed the door shut. She held her knife to the attendant's throat.
"Boy! Hel-"
Piper covered the attendant's mouth. She then used her foot to close the door. Piper looked at Jason and spoke, "It's me, Jason. It's Piper. Snap out of this."
Jason had been staring ahead. Upon hearing her voice, he turned to look at her. When she finished talking, Jason blinked, and he seemed to snap back to reality. He looked around in confusion.
"What are you doing with my boyfriend?" Piper demanded. The attendant glared up at her. "Tell me!"
"We were going to show him his true self," the attendant answered. She sneered up at Piper.
"I was with Nico. Where is he?" Jason questioned. He stood and looked at Piper. The attendant just glared up at them. "Where is he? And Arke? Where are they?"
"I don't know," the attendant said. Piper glared at her and started to move the knife. "Wait! Wait! They are in Circe's private room. Exit the hall and go back to the main lobby. Go back to Circe's office but cut a right before you get there.
Piper let go of the attendant and gently grabbed Jason's arm. The two turned away and left the room. Jason broke the door handle and glanced at Piper. She gave him an approving nod. They didn't have much time before the attendant got free and told Circe about what was going on.
"You have to pretend to still be under charmspeak," Piper whispered. "If they think you are in control, they might try to stop us."
"I understand," Jason whispered. He looked at the ground and didn't lift his head. Piper grabbed Jason's arm and led him down the hall. They stepped into the main lobby. Piper did her best to keep her head down and drag Jason. Surprisingly, none of the attendants stopped them.
The two made it into the hallway and immediately pressed themselves against the wall. Down the hall, Circe was walking into her office, but she didn't seem to notice them. She was muttering under her breath about egotistical pirates. Piper heard a bang from their right.
"Where is she?" a voice yelled. Piper recognized Nico's voice. She exchanged looks with Jason.
Jason rushed towards the door and opened it. He disappeared into the room. Piper followed behind. She quickly looked around. Jason had Nico pinned to the ground, and Nico's sword was only a few inches from them. Reyna was laying on the ground and staring at Nico.
"What happened?" Piper asked. She rushed to Reyna's side. Reyna just stared at Nico and didn't answer. Her eyes were wide, and she looked terrified. Piper knelt by her. "Reyna?"
"He almost killed me. Just like my dream," Reyna whispered. Piper gently placed a hand on her arm. Reyna looked at her and then shook her head. She made it to her feet. "We need to go."
"Reyna, just take a second to calm down," Piper said. "What happened?"
"I'm sorry," Nico began. Piper glanced back and saw that Nico was watching them. His eyes were clear, and he seemed to have snapped out of the charmspeak. "Circe just told me to kill you. I'm so sorry."
Reyna let out a string of curses and looked back at the door. She seemed lost in thought. After a few moments, she spoke, "Circe wants to kill me, and I already swore to help Marcus. I think my choice is easy."
"We still have to reattach Arke's wings," Piper began.
"No. Circe already did it. We just have to get to Arke," Reyna muttered. She looked down and seemed lost in thought. "If we help take over Circe's island, that destroys any chance of a business relationship with her. Fuck."
"Who cares? Circe is evil," Nico said. He stood with the help of Jason. "She just ordered me to kill you! She keeps men as animals and slaves. How could you work with her?"
"Because it's what Hylla wants," Reyna muttered. She stared at the table. "Just go back to the ship. All of you."
"Reyna, we're not leaving you alone," Piper protested. Reyna turned on her. "You can't do this alone."
"You're a captain now," Jason added. "You have a crew that can help you, and we are part of your crew. Let us help."
"I need to get to Arke," Reyna muttered. She rubbed her forehead. Piper saw the door open, and her eyes widened. She tackled Reyna to the ground, and fire flew over their heads.
"Don't move an inch," Circe ordered. Piper stared up at the witch. Two of Circe's attendants flanked her. "Get up, Reyna."
"I'm not doing anything!" Reyna snapped. Her hand moved towards her cutlass. Circe's eyes flickered up towards Jason. Reyna lunged forward and tackled Circe to the ground. She raised a fist, and the two attendants rushed towards her. Piper grabbed one, and Jason grabbed the other.
Reyna landed two hits on Circe's nose before she was shoved backward. Circe scrambled to her feet, but Reyna didn't let her go too far. She wrapped both arms around Circe and slammed her into a door. They fell into another room.
"We're going to have to fight the whole spa, aren't we?" Nico asked. Piper pinned the attendant to the ground and looked at Jason. He nodded.
"Sounds about normal," Jason said. They heard a loud explosion, followed by smaller explosions. They heard the sounds of distant screams and fighting.
"Marcus isn't waiting," Piper realized. She looked at her friends. "He started his attack early, and we are in the middle of it."
