A/N: I don't own the rights to any of the Percy Jackson series or it's characters. That right gaoes to Rick Riordan. I also don't own the rights to Animorph including it's title.

I am, however, the person who posted 'The Tales of...' series.

This is not a crossover of the Percy Jackson series with the book/tv series Animorph, despite what you might think from the title. I just thought it be a proper name for the ability to turn into animals since that's why the tv/book series 'Animorph' was called that in the first place.

Also, ever since I got my latest Laptop I been stuck using Google Docs and Copy and paste my chapters and for some reason when I save what I paste any formats I made is turn to normal format. I even have to bold the chapter titles, but as I'm sure you noticed sometimes I forget to do that. So anything I normally itallilize like thoughts come out normal text. A/N at the beginning and end of each keep the format changes because I add them without copying and pasting from google doc.

If you haven't read this yet, read:

Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Stolen Chariot
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sword of Hades
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Bronze Dragon
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Staff of Hermes
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Singer of Apollo

Piper: I Face One of the Most Powerful Sorceress

I cornered the princess as Jason and Leo went off to check out the living fur coats.

"You want them shopping for 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. But we don't want to dwell on that, do we? The boys are having such fun. Besides you can still leave with the potion you desire. Until then, let the boys have their fun."

Leo laughed as he tried on a hat that seemed to be made from enchanted raccoon fur. It's ringed tail twitched, and its little legs wiggled frantically as Leo walked. Jason was ogling the men's sportswear. Boys interested in shopping for clothes? A definite sign they were under an evil spell.

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 Greek ship could sail in those days. But Colchis is no more-lost eons ago."

"Eons?" I asked. The princess looked no more than fifty, but a bad feeling started settling over me-something King Boreas had mention back in Quebec. "How old are you?"

The princess laughed. "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 patrón finally brought me through. She made this all possible." The princess swept her hand around the department store.

My mouth tasted like metal. "Your patrón..."

"Oh, yes. She doesn't bring just anyone through, 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 even 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 shirt looked as if it had been clawed by tigers.

Jason frowned, "Why does this look so familiar?"

"Jason, it's like yours," I said. "Now we really have to leave." But I wasn't sure he could even hear me anymore through the princess enchantment,

"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 tee with a hole through the middle, as if it had been hit by a javelin, and a Roman toga slashed to pieces and stained with something that looked disturbingly like dried blood.

"Your Highness," I said, trying to control her nerves. "Why don't you tell the boys how you betrayed your family? For sure they'd like to hear that story."

My words didn't have any effect on the princess-I didn't expect it too-but the boys-who were my intended target-turned, suddenly interested.

"More story?" Leo asked.

"I like more story!" Jason agreed.

The princess flashed me an irritated look. "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 message clear: I can take it out on you. I also got the feeling that as long as her husband is dead, she'll take out her anger on anyone that share the same name as him.

"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.

"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 warships 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, the horrible story all coming back to me, along with a name-an infamous name that began 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 crew 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. "What did he do?"

The princess held the sliced up toga against Jason's chest, as if measuring him for assassination. "Don't you know the story, my boy? You of all people should. You were named after 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. I could feel the sorcery washing over them, taking 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 ground 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."

...

Leo got distracted on the second floor with the appliances.

"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 oval oven that looked like a barbecue on steroids.

When we caught up to him, the princess said, "You have good taste. This is the H-2000, designed by Hephaestus himself. Hot enough to melt Celestial Bronze, Stygian Iron, and Imperial Gold."

Jason flinched as if he recognize the term. "Imperial Gold."

The princess nodded. "Yes, my dear. Like that weapon so cleverly conccealed 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 your time," I said. "How would you know?"

"I hear stories. And 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 apparently took this as an order. He began walking toward it in a trance.

"Leo, don't!" Piper warned.

The Princess must have not really been trying to charm him to sit this time as I reach through Leo causing him to blink. "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 the appliance setion, giving him prices on various items.

I didn't want to leave him alone with her, but I had to try reasoning wth 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't you feel it?"

He knit his eyebrows. "She seems okay,"

"She's not okay. Don't you get it? Charmspeak is the power Hera was warning you about. It's the power greater than the strength of Hercules. Even more sh shouldn't be alive! She was married to the other Jason-three thousand years ago. Hercules never met her as a demigod because the Argonauts had to leave him behind before reaching Colchis where the other Jason met her. Remember what Boreas said-something about souls no longer being confined in 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, and there's no way she's stronger than Hercules."

"She doesn't have to be. Don't you get it! 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?"

I had to choke back a scream. I was tempted to pull out my dagger and take on this witch myself, but I didn't like my chances-not in the middle of Her Highness' department store while my friends were under a spell. I couldn't even be sure they'd take my side in a fight. I had to figure out a better plan.

We took the escalator down to the base of te 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 super-concentrated tornado, that I couldn't tell how many there were-dozens at least. If that's not all the storm spirits, then hopefully that's enough to please Aeolus. That is if we can get out of here with them and Coach Hedge alive.

There's still the dragon, a voice said in my head. I don't even know if the Princess can charm a bronze dragon since its a machine but he was our best hope. Entrance maybe underground, but the roof is glass. Festus should be able to break through that. Only problem is he's flying around the city and only will come at the sound of Leo's safety whistle.

"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 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 certain barter for the storm spirits and the satyr. A package deal. If we come to terms, I'll even throw in the vial of healing potion, and you can go in peace." She gave me a shrewed 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 and mouthing, Say yes!

"We can negotiate," she said.

"Totally!" Leo agreed. "Name your price."

"Leo!" I 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 patrón 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 freed , 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 fair does it? Especially since some of them are children of his minion wind gods."

"King Boreas said they to run free outside their control," I added. "Only the ones the wind gods can control Aeolus would let be free."

"Either way, the price will be high," Her Highness finished.

I could see that my friends were ready to offer anything, promise anything. Before they could speak, I decided to play my last card.

"You're Medea," I said. "She's one of the most evel villains in Greek Mythology."

I put all the intensity I could gather into those words. I may not have as much experience as Medea, but I still have the same charmspeak power as her, I just need to get through with the boys. Fortunately it seemed to have worked. Jason stepped away from the sorceress.

Leo scratched his head and looked around like he was coming out of a dream.

"What are we doing, again?"

"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. 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 that 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 patrón, 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 patrón knows the giants and monsters are not her greatest servants. I am mortal. I learn from my mistakes. And now that I have returned to the living, I will not be cheated again. Now, here is my price 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 I bore him two children!" Medea said. "Still he broke his promise! I ask you, was that right?"

Jason and Leo dutifully shook their heads, but I wasn't through.

"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, sneak back into into the palace and poisoned his lovely new bride. It was only fair-a suitable price."

Ask about Theseus and his mortal father, a voice spoke in my mind as I remember more to Medeas' story.

"What about Theseus?" I asked. "You tried to kill him so the child you have with his mortal father would be heir."

"Theseus was the son of Poseidon not Aegeus. He wasn't the rightful heir nor should he have been," Medea snapped. "I broke Aegeus' curse as promised. I bore him a child. He would still be cursed by the gods of not having any children because of his ancestors if it wasn't for me."

"You're insane!" I said.

"I am a 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 Jason!"

The fountain turned bright red. I drew my dagger, but my hand was shaking almost too badly to hold it. "Leo, blow the whistle. Call Festus!"

"What of your quest?" Medea asked. "Boys, 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 hoping she would catch herself in a lie saying this one was for the original Jason. "She did that trick the daughters of Jason's nephew to chop him to pieces os he could come out of the water young and healthy again, but it just killed him!"

"Ridiculous," Medea said, and I could hear the power charged in every syllable, not letting the boys question her about it. "Leo, Jason-my price is 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 they were already glaring at each other. As if it was just dawning on them how they really felt.

I had never felt more hopeless. Now I understand what real sorcery looked like. I'd always thought magic meant wands and fireballs, but this was worse. Medea truly was more powerful than Hercules, just because of 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't even fix a dragon."

"Stop!" I pleaded, but both drew their weapons-Jason his gold sword and Leo a hammer from his toolbelt.

"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, and be good, and I'll let you take home the healing potion to use on him. I'm sure he'll need it after what he went through."

Medeas' charmspeak didn't work on me, but the sorceress still had a persuasive voice. Her father back today? Use the healing potion on him? Despite my best intentions I wanted that. I wanted my father back so much, it hurt. Heck, I didn't even considered using the potion to heal my father.

"You worked for Enceladus," I said.

Medea laughed. "Serve a giant? No. But we all serve the same greater cause-a patrón you cannot begin to challenge. Walk away, child of Aphrodite. This does not have to be your death, too. There are plenty of other children of Aphrodite I can take my revenge on. 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 for another order. Part of them had to be resisting, I hoped. I mean, they worked together against three fully grown Cyclopes for peep sake. I just need to bring that side out of them.

"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 rainbow, show me the office of Tristan McLean."

The mist shimmered. And Piper saw her father's study. Sitting behind his desk, talking on the phone, was my dad's assistant, Jane, in her dark business suit, her hair swirled in a tight bun.

"Hello, Jane," Medea said.

Jane hung up the phone calmly. "How can I help you, ma'am? Hello, Piper."

"You-" I was so angry I could hardly think.

"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 her cooperation."

"Yes," Jane agreed in a bland tone, as if she were sleepwalking. "He was quite cooperating when he believed Piper was in danger. It helps she has a record of getting kicked out of schools so he thought Wilderness School was just another school she got kicked out of. Just as long as I keep her from talking to her father."

I looked down at my dagger. This blade trembled in my hand. I couldn't use it for a weapon any better than Helen of Troy could, but it was still a looking glass, and what I saw in it was a scared girl with no chance of winning against a sorceress with three thousand years of charmspeaking experience.

"I may have new orders for you, Jane," Medea said. "If the girl cooperates, it may be time for Mr. McLean to come home-maybe in one mind if she behaves. Would you arrange a suitable cover story for his absence, just in case? Maybe, keep a psychiatric hospital on speed dial just incase the girl can't behave.

"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 been preparing for this war for years, even before I was brought back to life. I'm a seer, as I said. I can tell the future as well as your little 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 when the time came she managed to wake just a little-just enough to visit him."

"Leo's mother," Piper said. "Leo, listen to this!She helped get your mother killed!"

"Uh-huh," Leo mumbled, in a daze. He frowned as 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. I knew it was my last chance. "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 with my aunt, the immortal Circe. I can drive men mad or heal them with my voice. What hope do these puny heroes have against me? Now, boys, kill each other!"

"Jason, Leo, listen to me." I put all my emotion into her voice. For years I'd been trying to control myself and not show weakness, but now I poured everything into her words-my fear, my desperation, my anger. Aphrodite is the goddess of love-an emotion-so I'm hoping my bottle up feelings would empower my voice. I got to believe I too have the power greater than Hercules too. I knew I might be signing my dad's death warrant, but I cared too much about my friends to let them hurt each other. "Medea is charming you. It's part of her magic. You are best friends! You are a team! Don't fight each other. Remember how great you two worked together against the Cyclops? Use it against her!"

They hesitated, and 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 simply collect payment another way."

She pressed one of the mosaic tiles on the floor, and the building rumbled. Jason swung his sword at Medea, but she dissolved into smoke and reappeared at the escalator. Jason must have used his strength because the floor cracked as his sword dug into it.

"You're slow, hero!" She laughed. "You know, it's a real shame I never got to meet Hercules. I would love to see how he stands up against my pets after all the stories I heard. But I guess you would do nicely."

Before Jason could pull his sword out of the floor, 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 large compared to Festus, but big enough.

"So that's what's in the kennels," Leo said meekly.

The dragons 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 them in the eye," Jason warned pulling his sword free. "They'll paralyze you."

"Indeed!" Medea was leisurely riding the escalator up, leaning against the handrails 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 with the same teamwork they showed against the cyclops.

Medea was almost to 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. She was quick for a three-thousand-year-old lady. I climbed at top speed, taking the steps three at a time, and still I 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. She was famous for potions.

Down below, I heard the battle raging. Leo was blowing his safety whistle and I hear something crashed which told me Jason threw something big and heavy at the dragons. Or at least that's what I thought until I heard a familiar yell of Coach Hedge yelled "Die!"

Jason must have broke the cage holding Coach, I thought. Probably tossed the cage just for the heck of it.

I didn't dare to look back though. 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 an armored manikin on the floor three and continued to climb.

I reached the top floor, breathing hard, but I was too late. Medea had reached the potions counter.

The sorceress grabbed a swan shaped vial-the blue one that caused painful death-and I did the only thing that came to my mind. I threw my shield.

Medea turned triumphantly just in time to get hit in the chest by by a fifty pound metal frisbee. She stumbled backward, crashing over the counter, breaking vials and knocking down shelves. In the background I hear Coach Hedge make a triumphant yell. When the sorceress stood from the wreckage, her dress was stained 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 when mixed?"

"Kill you?" I said hopefully.

The carpet began to steam around Medea's feet. She coughed and her face contorted in pain-or was she faking?

"Coach! Jason help!" I heard Leo scream.

I couldn't help but look. One of the dragons have Leo pinned. Coach Hedge who was indeed free came swinging with his club. I didn't know what Jason said to get him to help but it did no help the dragon slapped coach sending him flying was all the way across the room, battling the other dragon he still had his sword on hand, but I doubt he was about to wrestle with the dragon-not that i blame him. Strength of Heracles didn't come with Superman's invulnerability, much less immunity to fire that was keeping Leo from being burned. There was some appliances around that Jason would grab and throw leading to the crashing sound.

"You've doomed us all!" Medea was rolling across the carpet as the stain spread, throwing sparks and sand setting fires in the clothing racks. "You have only seconds before this concotion consumes everything and destroy the building. There's no time-"

CRASH! The stained glass ceiling splintered in a rain of multicolored shards, and Festus the bronze dragon dropped into the department store.

He hurtled into the fray, snatching up a sun dragon, in each claw. Only now did Piper appreciate just how big and strong our metal friend was.

"That's my boy!" Leo yelled.

Festus flew halfway up the atrium then hurled the sun dragons into the pits they'd come from. Leo raced to the fountain and pressed the marble tile, closing the sundials. They shuddered as the dragons banged against them, trying to get out, but for the moment they were contained-hopefully long enough to be destroyed by the concoction.

Medea cursed in some ancient language. The whole fourth floor was on fire now. The air filled with noxious gas. Even with the roof open now, I could feel the heat intensifying. I backed up to the edge of the railing, keeping my dagger pointed toward Medea.

"I will not be abandoned again!" the sorceress knelt and snatched up the red healing potion, which had somehow survived the crash. "You want your boyfriend's memory restored? Take me with you!"

I glanced behind me. Leo and Jason were on board of Festus back, forcing Coach Hedge to get situated. The bronze dragon flapped his mighty wings, snatched the two cages with the storm spirits in his claws and began to ascend.

The building rumbled. Fire and the smoke curled up the walls, melting the railings, turning the air into acid.

"You'll never survived your quest without me!" Medea growled. "Your boy hero will stay ignorant forever, and your father will die. Take me with you!"

For one heartbeat, I was tempted. Then I saw Medea's grim smile. The sorceress was confident in her powers of persuasion, confident that she could always make a deal, always escape and win in the end. The power greater than the strength of Hercules.

So do you, that voice from earlier said.

"We don't need you, witch," I said. "Because I also have the power greater than the strength of Hercules."

I jumped over the side. I plummeted for only a second before Leo and Jason caught me, hauling me aboard the dragon with Coach Hedge.

I heard Medea screaming in rage as they soared through the broken roof and over downtown Chicago. Then the department store sxploded behind us.