I want to do an author's note, but I can't be bothered. So here is my note/non-note. Enjoy!


I was glad when we finally broke camp, and started down a tunnel. It twisted and turned, and seemed to go on forever. I wasn't really sure what to expect at the end-a dungeon, a mad scientist's lab, or maybe a sewer reservoir, where all the porta-potty sludge in the world ends up, forming a giant, evil, dirt face large enough to swallow the world. I blamed my ADHD. Instead, we found polished steel elevator doors, each one engraved with a cursive M. Next to the elevator was a directory board, like they have in shopping malls.

"M for Macy's?" Piper guessed. "I think they have one downtown in Chicago."

"Or Monocle motors still?" Leo asked. "Guys, look at the directory, it's messed up."

And indeed it was.

Parking, Kennels and Main entrance-sewer level

Furnishings and Cafe M:1

Women's fashion and magical appliances:2

Men's wear and weaponry:3

Cosmetics, potions, poisons and sundries:4

"Kennels for what?" Piper asked stupidly. "And what sort of department store has their entrance in a sewer?"

"Or sells poisons?" Leo continued. "What does sundries even mean, is it like, underwear?"

I took a deep breath. "When in doubt, start at the top."


The doors slid open on the first floor, and Jason stepped out sword ready.

"Guys?" he called. "You have got to see this." And we stepped out, one by one. We caught our breath.

"This is not Macy's." Piper said, awestruck. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, well done, Sherlock."

The department store looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope. The entire ceiling was a stained glass mosaic, with astrological signs around a giant sun. The daylight streaming through it washed everything inside a thousand different colors. The upper floors made a ring of balconies around a huge central atrium, so we could see all the way down to the ground floor. Gold railings glittered so brightly, they were hard to look at. My instincts flared up. This place was so calm and beautiful, I was expecting a fully fledged dragon to come bursting through the roof, and roast us all into demigod shish-kebab. I looked around. Apart from the elevator and the roof, there were no other entrances and exits, but there were two sets of glass escalators ran between the levels. I looked down The carpeting was a riot of oriental patterns, and colors, and the racks of merchandise were just as bizzare. There was too much to take at once, but I also did see racks of normal stuff like shirts, and shoe trees, but they were mixed in with armoured mannequins, beds of nails, and fur coats...were they...moving?! Leo stepped to the railing, and looked down.

"Check it out!" In the middle of the atrium, a fountain sprayed water twenty feet into the air, changing color from red to yellow to blue. The pool glittered with gold coins-drachmas, I realised with a jolt. I gritted my teeth. We were in the lair of a Greek legend. And I was pretty sure it wasn't a good one. On either side of the fountain stood an over sized canary cage. In one, there was a miniature hurricane swirled, and lightning flashed. In the other, frozen like a statue, was a short, buff satyr, holding a tree branch club.

"Coach hedge!" Piper yelled, at the same time that I rolled my eyes. "We'ne got to get down there!"

"Oh, come on!" I whined. "He broke Austin's saxaphone, because he used it to hit Silenus, the head counciller of the Cloven elders, over the head with it. Can't we leave him there?" Piper looked at me quzzically.

"He saved our life!"

"May I help you find something?" a cool female voice said behind us. All four of us jumped back. She smiled.

"I'm so happy to see new customers! How may I help you?" I gulped.

"We've walked right into the trap," I muttered under my breath. No-one heard me. Leo glanced at Jason, like 'all yours'. I had to snort.

"Um..." Jason started. "Is this your store?"

The woman nodded. "I found it abandoned, you know. I understand so many stored are, these days." She said these days like she hadn't been around in this time frame. My mind was working overtime, to try and figure out, who she was.

"I decided it would make the perfect place," the woman continued. "I love collecting tasteful objects, helping people, and offering quality goods at reasonable prices. So this seems a good...how do you say it...first acquisition in this country." She spoke with a pleasing accent, bu not American. I felt like I should know her, but my mind was drawing a blank. I figured she would try to kill us at the first opportunity, though, so my hand went straight to the pendant at my neck. I looked around. Piper was on the alert like me, but Jason and Leo...they were starting to relax. I realised she was a charm speak user.

"So you're new to America?" Jason asked conversationally. I was mentally slapping him. No! I was yelling in my thoughts. No, don't do it!

"I am...new," the woman said. Again, I got the feeling that she was around long before us. "I am the princess of Colchis. My friends call me your highness. Now what are you looking for?"

Piper poked Jason in the ribs. "Jason..."

"Um right, actually, your highness..." he pointed down to the gilded cage on the first floor. "That's out friend down there, Gleeson Hedge. The saytr. Could we, um...have him back, please?" I wanted to slap him in the fore head. Real smooth Jason.

"Of course!" the princess agreed at once, "I would love to show you my inventory. First may I know you names?"

I could see Jason thinking. I began to say,

"Jason, maybe it's not the best-"

This is Piper, and Alex," he gestured towards us. "This is Leo, and I'm Jason."

The princess fixed her eyes on him, and for a moment, her face glowed with anger, literally. It was blazing with so much anger, I could actually see her skull. I looked at Piper. She had seen it too. My memory was fuzzy, but I was sure I should know her! Then the moment passed, and Her Highness looked like a normal, elegant woman again.

"Jason. What an interesting name..." she said, her voice as cold as the Chicago wind. "I think we'll have to make a special deal for you. Come children. Let's go shopping."


I wanted to run for the elevator. My second option was to attack this woman then and there, but she had the boys under her trance, and I doubted they would be too happy with me if I killed her. The princess gestured towards the cosmetics counter.

"Shall we start with the potions?"

"Cool." Jason said. I was starting to panic. I knew a fight was coming, but I attacked, which side would the boys take? If they took her side, I doubted me and Piper would be able to do that.

"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. I'm a saleswoman." Her diamonds glittered, and her eyes glittered like a snake's, cold and dark. Piper looked at me for guidance. I shrugged.

"Don't worry," She continued. "We'll make our way down to the first floor, eh?"

Leo nodded eagerly. "Sure yeah! That sounds good. Right, Piper, Alex?" Something was up. Leo called me Al. If he was calling me Alex, something was wrong. I contemplated going up to him, and shaking his shoulders, but the this sorceress would know we were onto her. If she didn't already. Piper did her pest to stare daggers at Leo. 'No, it's not okay!'. You know, I was starting to really warm up to Piper.

"Of course it's okay!" Her Highness gushed. She put a hand on Leo and Jason's shoulders, and steered them towards the cosmetics section.

Me and Piper looked at each other helplessly, and we had no choice but to follow.


So they're in Medea's store! We're there folk! I'm actually really surprising myself, but the amount of chapters I've done. Also, two Chaps in one day. nOt BAd!

Yours,

Milk and Cheez.