Sorry for the delay! In which Percy and Circe officially have some alone time. Also- should Thalia come back at around 15 as she did in cannon or should she come back the same age as when she died?
Replies:
Undeath9087: Yeah there's several interesting things that will crop up in the future.
Guest: She knows Percy is a magician, and she also knows that Annabeth and Piper are Demigods. She doesn't know Percy is also a demigod. And yes she will question it, and uh- yeah the whole Hylla and Reyna situation is gonna be very very interesting when the time comes.
ant-death: Hehehehe, you don't know the half of it lol. Believe me. And also yeah, that's gonna make things with Thalia interesting.
Ryan: I see what you're going for but uh- this is the lady who turns men into pigs/Guinea pigs. And Percy knows that forceful transformation is beyond horrible so uh, me thinks she won't approve of that.
Guest: Hmmm. I mean it is a possibility, it would have to be after TTC plotline, or how I do TTC in this fic anyway.
rage2091: Patience my reader.
12problems89: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you enjoy this one too.
Zephyr0f8: I mean, even if Percy doesn't leave peacefully it'd cause major changes. Hylla here in now aware of what Percy is, the Magician stuff anyway.
PaSc622: Hmmm... it is a possibility and I shall say no more :)

Percy felt a flood of warmth filling her chest at her two best friends words. She knew that they would fight Circe if they felt they had to- they'd do anything to stick with her. The problem was... well, Circe was a goddess, and Percy didn't have a firm grasp of how powerful she was. She had faith in her own abilities- but Circe was a goddess of magic. It was risky to say the least. And if Annabeth and Piper were there... "You should go with her." Percy said after a moment, "I think Circe and I are going to have a magic talk-" she paused, "But don't eat or drink anything."

"They're girls." Circe waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not going to transform them-"

"Even so. The warning stands." Percy met Circe's eyes, and Circe tilted her head just so.

"As you wish."

"Percy-" Piper's voice was tight, "Are you sure about this?"

"She is." Annabeth's eyes were narrowed and Percy met her gaze without faltering. Then Annabeth gave a small nod, clearly understanding what Percy was thinking. "Percy can handle herself." she turned to look at Hylla, "Your boss just said something about a tour?"

"And why don't you treat them." Circe suggested, "The clothing will need to change-and the hair-"

"And that is where I draw the line." Piper held up her hands, "No way, nope I do not need or want a make over. It's not happing."

"I'm sure they won't force you to have a makeover." Percy forced down a laugh, shaking her head fondly. "Right Circe?"

"Hylla- show them what's available-" Circe looked annoyed. She was probably used to using her magic to enchant people into doing what she wanted them too. Percy imagined that the three of them were an unpleasantly jarring change for the goddess. "If they don't wish for make overs there is no need to force it."

"Of course C.C." Hylla nodded, and within minutes Annabeth and Piper were gone, and Circe waved a hand towards the elegant white chairs, around a dark wooden table, and Percy moved towards them, lowering herself into the chair as Circe sat across from her, the goddess folding her hands in her lap and crossing her legs at the ankles.

"So, Percy, I admit I'm curious. You're the first Magician I've met in- goodness it must be around two thousand years. I didn't meet many of your kind but back in the old days I met one or two- very very rarely. As you undoubtedly already know we try to keep our worlds apart, as much as is possible in any case."

"I am aware." Percy tilted her head, "You wanted me alone for a reason Circe. What is it?"

"I assume your little demigod friends know what you are."

"Of course." Percy nodded "I wouldn't lie to them. And before you say it, I already know that I'm playing dangerous games, walking in two worlds. Now is that seriously what you wanted to talk to me about?"

"In part." Circle waved a hand, and suddenly she was holding an elegant looking golden goblet with red gems embedded into it. "I'm also curious as to how the Egyptians have remained hidden for so very long. Have they stepped back from the mortal plane entirely? It seems most unlike them."

"Largely yes." Percy said the words carefully, "They have their reasons. The House of Life still thrives and works with our gods but they mostly remain in the Duat these days."

"The House of Life." Circe sighed, a distant look on her face, "A true haven for magic. You know I've often felt jealous of you Egyptians. Not only were your women treated much better than most of ours but your system revolves around magic. Most Greeks with magic of that sort were not given so much help or training. Our people had more respect for brutes with swords. And as a result our magic suffered for it. I won't deny that the average magician could defeat even a skilled mortal sorceress or sorcerer."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Percy hummed, "I notice you said mortal though."

"Only a truly powerful magician would stand a chance against an immortal." there was a flash of amusement in Circe's eyes. "But let us not fight my dear- I'm sure there's much we could learn from one another. Tell me- have you much skill with potions?"

"I have no need for potions." Percy leaned forward slightly. "Especially not the sort you use-" and she could hear a squealing noise- coming from the cage she'd noticed earlier. She turned her head, blinking when she saw- "Guinea pigs?" she turned her gaze back to Circe. "I suppose normal pigs were too big and messy?" because she could sense the magic- the transformation spell.

"Yes." Circe didn't look remotely guilty "Those ones are my... troubled ones. I've turned it into quite a business really. The well behaved ones get sent to schools and pet stores. A worthwhile cause, don't you think?"

"Not really." Percy muttered the words. The thought of it turned her stomach- "Forced transformation is inhumane and wrong. And most of your victims are probably perfectly innocent mortals who stumbled upon your island by accident."

"They're just men." Circe's voice was dismissive, "Come now, don't tell me that you haven't seen the darker side of what men can do. A pretty little thing like you- you might be young but I'm sure you've dealt with unwanted advances."

"I-" Percy considered for a moment before- "I mean- I have seen what some men are like-" she might not have understood Gabes comments when she'd been little but she could still remember that last day very well, and she understood what he'd been getting at now. And she'd been attacked before- though it never ended well for the attackers, "But not every man is a potential attacker. I know a lot of males who are really really good people. Who have never done anything to deserve being turned into guinea pigs. But I don't get the feeling that you get to know them before you turn them into animals do you-"

"I have no interest in what they might wish to say to me." Circe waved a hand dismissively, "I've built quite the empire here. A safe haven for women who've been treated poorly by men."

"That's nice and all, but you don't need to turn them into animals." Percy pointed out. "You could use your magic to send them away. You turn them into animals because you hate men and you want them to suffer, let's not pretend that you're doing all this out of a desire to truly help women."

"Judge me if you like." Circe pursed her lips. "But that does not change reality. I will be patient with you, you are young and I sense much potential in you. But you do not judge me for how I run my island. I am a goddess child. Your magic may be skilled but I am a goddess of magic no less. Do not think to challenge me."

Percy's eyes narrowed at that and she forced herself not to snap at the goddess- she was smart enough to know that it was risky to say the least. though the temptation was very strong.

"Let's agree to disagree then." she managed after a long moment. "We won't have to put up with each other for very long."

"Now now." Circe leaned forward, sipping from her goblet. "Don't be too hasty. I think we could learn a lot from one another, and your friends- well-" Circe smirked, That daughter of Athena might have potential- the daughter of Aphrodite- well. We can see what we can do. You'd be my honored guests here. They may not be able to learn your magic but they could easily learn mine."

"Yeah see that's not an option." Percy shook her head. "We didn't find upon your island by accident-"

"I could have guessed that much." Circe remarked, "A young magician travelling with two Greek Demigods? I have no doubt that you came here for a reason. And I admit I'm curious about what it might be. And how your little trio formed. While the Greek and Egyptian gods may have occasionally met and communicated they haven't for a very long time- there were some friendships- between Demigods and magicians but those rather soured. I wonder if you can guess when?"

"Wh-" Percy paused, "When Alexander the Great- Ptolemy." She realised, "The relationship soured because of the fact that the Greeks influence weakened Egypt. That does make sense." and even if there had been friendships Percy knew that it was an unwritten rule that they didn't mingle too closely- and a Greek god sleeping with a magician would have undoubtedly been taboo even when there had been a reasonable level of friendships. And then tensions had soared, and the Egyptian gods had been sealed away, and things had undoubtedly gotten more severe. There had been 275 years of the Ptolemic dynasty. 275 years for things to go sour between the Greek and Egyptian gods.

Percy shook herself slightly, pushing away those thoughts. "Which is not something that I want to discuss right now. The fact is that I am a Magician of the House of Life and Piper and Annabeth are Greek demigods and they're my friends."

"And your reasons for being here?" Circe quirked a brow. "Do tell. And I'll see what I can do for you. One magic user to another."

And Percy stared at her for a very long moment, weighing up her options.

From what she'd seen it was not a small island- searching it could take valuable time. Time they didn't really have. And Circe might not like the idea of the three girls ransacking her island to search for the Fleece.

There was a chance the goddess would lie if asked but... "The Golden Fleece." Percy decided to go for it. Hopefully she'd be able to tell if the goddess did try to lie to her. "We're looking for the Golden Fleece. We have good information telling us that it's somewhere in the Sea of Monsters."

And Circe looked genuinely startled at that- just for a moment but it was enough for Percy. That reaction wasn't faked. Circe didn't know that the Fleece was in the Sea of Monsters, which meant that it wasn't on her island. Annabeth would not be pleased. That meant that it was probably with Polyphemus.

But Percy didn't have long to consider that because Circe was leaning forward very slightly, a smirk flashing across her lips.

"It seems you've come to the right place." she almost purred the words. "I think we can come to some sort of arrangement, tell me Percy. What do you want the Fleece for? I assume there's something in particular you want it for. If you stay for-"

"Yeah no." Percy rose to her feet, "That isn't going to work for me. See I saw that look on your face, you were not expecting me to say that I was here for the Golden Fleece you didn't know it was in the Sea of Monsters so any deal you're making is some sort of trick, I'd assume to force me to stay here with Annabeth and Piper for some reason.

And Circe's false smile fell and she rose to her feet. "I'm afraid I don't want you to leave. You really are too potentially valuable- and in time I'm sure you'll understand. You could learn much from me too I'm sure. No one has ever merged the two magics- you and I together- well, we could make quite the splash."

"You're not going to let me just walk out of here, are you?"

"No. No I'm not."