~ { Shadow and Beauty } ~

Medea

   Before Piper could stop him, he hopped off the escalator and ran over to a big oval oven that looked like a barbecue on steroids.

   When they caught up with him, the princess said, "You have good taste. This is the H-2000, designed by Hephaestus himself. Hot enough to melt Celestial bronze or Imperial gold."

   Jason flinched as if he recognized that term. "Imperial gold?"

   Piper looked at Kiara. She had shut her eyes as if remembering those words hurt. She didn't know how much Kiara could hear over the wax, but she hoped it wasn't much.

    The princess nodded. "Yes, my dear. Like that weapon so cleverly concealed in your pocket, or—" she turned to Kiara "—that sword you have. It is a powerful weapon—a mix of two dangerous materials. Anywho, 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 my time, of course, but I do 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.

   He blinked. "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 section, giving him prices on various items.

   Piper didn't want to leave him alone with her, but she had to try reasoning with Jason. She pulled him aside and slapped him across the face and Kiara came rushing to their side.

   "Alright, Piper," she said, "don't hurt him."

   "Ow," he muttered sleepily. "What was that for?"

   "Snap out of it!" Piper 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! She shouldn't even be alive! She was married to Jason—the other Jason—three thousand years ago. Remember what Boreas said—something about the souls no longer being confined to Hades? It's not just monsters who can't stay dead. She's come back from the Underworld!"

   Kiara put her hand on Piper's shoulder. "Piper, I understand you're frustrated, but you need to calm down a bit."

   Jason shook his head uneasily. "She's not a ghost."

   "No, she's worse! 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?"

   Piper had to choke back a scream. She was tempted to pull out her dagger and take on this witch herself, but she didn't like her chances—not in the middle of Her Highness's department store while her friends were under a spell—and Kiara's presence calmed her down a bit. Piper couldn't even be sure they'd take her side in a fight. She had to figure out a better plan.

   They took the escalator down to the base of the fountain. For the first time, Piper 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 storm spirits. They were so densely packed, spinning around like a super-concentrated tornado, that Piper couldn't tell how many there were—dozens, at least.