NOT FRIENDS ━━━━━ p. mclean²

011.

"Gleeson!" Isa said. "We've got to get down there." 

A voice said, "May I help you find something?"

All four of them jumped back. A woman had just appeared in front of them. She wore an elegant black dress with diamond jewelry, and she looked like a retired fashion model ─ maybe fifty years old, though it was hard for Isa to judge. Her long dark hair swept over one shoulder, and her face was gorgeous in that surreal supermodel way ─ thin and haughty and cold, not quite human. With their long red-painted nails, her fingers looked more like talons.

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

Isa glanced at Jason like, You're in charge.

"Um," Jason started, "is this your store?"

The woman nodded. "I found it abandoned, you know. I understand so many stores are, these days. I decided it would make the perfect place. I love collecting tasteful objects, helping people, and offering quality goods at a reasonable price. So this seemed a good. . . how do you say. . . first acquisition in this country."

She spoke with a pleasing accent, but Isa couldn't guess where from. Clearly she wasn't hostile, though. Isa started to relax. Her voice was rich and exotic. She wanted to hear more.

"So you're new to America?" Jason asked.

"I am. . . new," the woman agreed. "I am the Princess of Colchis. My friends call me Your Highness. Now, what are you looking for?"

Isa had heard of rich foreigners buying American department stores. Of course most of the time they didn't sell poisons, living fur coats, storm spirits, or satyrs, but still ─ with a nice voice like that, the Princess of Colchis couldn't be all bad.

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

"Um, right. Actually, Your Highness. . ." he pointed to the gilded cage on the first floor. "That's our friend down there, Gleeson Hedge. The satyr. Could we. . . have him back, please?"

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

Jason hesitated. 

Piper started to say, "Jason, I wouldn't ─ "

"This is Piper," he said. "This is Leo and that's Isa. I'm Jason."

The princess fixed her eyes on him and then with a cordial smile and a soothing voice. "Jason. What an interesting name," she said, her eyes as cold as the Chicago wind. "I think we'll have to make a special deal for you. Come, children. Let's go shopping."

Piper wanted to run for the elevator.

Her second choice: attack the weird princess now, because she was sure a fight was coming. The way the lady's face glowed when she'd heard Jason's name had been bad enough. Now Her Highness was smiling like nothing had happened, and Isa, Jason and Leo didn't seem to think anything was wrong.

The princess gestured toward the cosmetics counter. "Shall we start with the potions?"

"Cool," Jason said.

"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," her Highness said. "I'm a saleswoman." her diamonds sparkled, and her eyes glittered like a snake's ─ cold and dark. "Don't worry. We'll work our way down to the first floor, eh?"