LEO GOT DISTRACTED on the second floor with the appliances.
"No way," he said. "Is that an armored forge?" He hopped off the escalator before Piper or Ophelia could stop him, running over to a big oval oven-thing that looked like a barbecue on steroids.
When they caught up to him, Medea said, "You have good taste. This is H-2000, designed by Hephaestus himself. Hot enough to melt Celestial bronze or Imperial gold."
"Imperial gold?" Ophelia asked. The term sounded familiar.
The princess nodded. "Yes, my dear. Like those weapons so cleverly concealed in yours and Jason's pockets. 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 warned Jason cryptically, then 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. Ophelia grabbed his arm, holding him back. 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 and Ophelia shared a meaningful look before Piper hurried after Leo and the princess. Before Jason could wander after them, she grabbed his arm, shaking him none too gently.
"Snap out of it!" she hissed.
Jason made a confused face, like a lost puppy. It would have been cute if they weren't in mortal danger—okay, it was still kind of adorable, but that wasn't the point. "What do you mean?"
"She's using magic on you. Can't you feel it?"
He furrowed his eyebrows. "She seems okay."
"She's not okay!" Ophelia insisted. "She should be dead. She was married to the original Jason eons ago. Boreas said something about this—about souls no longer being confined to Hades. It's not just monsters who can't stay dead. She came back from the Underworld."
Jason shook his head uneasily. "I can see her. She's not a ghost."
Kenna the ghost rolled her eyes. "Is this dumbass your boyfriend?" she asked Ophelia. "You could do better."
"He's hot, he's allowed to be a little stupid," Ezekiel said defensively.
Ophelia ignored them. "No, she's a lot more dangerous!" she hissed. "Jason—"
"Children." The princess was back with Leo and Piper in tow. "If you please, we will now see what you came for. That is what you want, yes?"
Piper gave Ophelia a hopeless look. They didn't have many options—fighting the princess head-on wasn't a good idea, not when she had Jason and Leo under her spell and could almost as easily sway Ophelia. Judging from the state of the three ghosts, the sorceress could easily divide and conquer her four new victims.
They needed a plan. A good one.
"Hey," Leo said as they finally reached the ground floor, "Coach Hedge looks okay!"
The 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. His curly hair stuck up at odd angles.
"Yes," the princess said. "I always keep my wares in good condition. We can certainly 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 Piper a shrewd look. "That's better than starting unpleasantness, isn't it, dear?"
Ophelia sincerely doubted they'd be leaving in peace, no matter how pretty and soothing the woman's voice sounded. The trio of brutally-murdered ghosts could no doubt attest to that.
Leo and Jason were nodding urgently at Piper, mouthing, Say yes!
"We can negotiate," Piper said carefully.
"Totally!" Leo agreed. "Name your price."
"That's not negotiating!" Ophelia 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," Piper interjected.
Her Highness shrugged. "As I said, my patron 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 quite fair, does it? The price will be high."
Jason and Leo looked ready to offer just about anything, but before they could say anything, Piper spoke up again. "You're Medea," she said. "You helped the original Jason steal the Golden Fleece. You're one of the most evil villains in Greek mythology. Jason, Leo—don't trust her."
Jason stepped away from the sorceress as Leo scratched his head, looking around like he'd just woken up from an intense dream. "What are we doing again?"
"Boys!" The princess spread her hands in a welcoming gesture. "It's true, I'm Medea. But 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 sorceress. Is that so 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."
Ophelia's 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 patron, I am flesh and blood again."
"You... re-formed?" Leo blinked. "Like a monster?"
Medea didn't seem to like that. She spread her fingers, steam hissing from her nails. "You have no idea what's happening, do you, my dears? It is so much worse than a stirring of monsters from Tartarus. My patron knows that 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," Piper said. "The original Jason left Medea because she was crazy and bloodthirsty."
"Lies!" Medea protested.
Kenna whispered the story into Ophelia's ear. "On the way back from Colchis, Jason's ship landed at another kingdom," Ophelia recited, "and Jason agreed to leave 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.
"It may not have been right," Piper 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, I sneaked back into the palace and poisoned his lovely new bride. It was only fair—a suitable price."
"You're insane," Ophelia said.
"I am the 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 of Jason!"
The fountain turned bright red. Ophelia summoned her sword as Piper drew her dagger.
"Jason, Leo—it's time to go. Now," Piper said.
"Before you've closed the deal?" Medea asked. "What of your quest, boys? And my price is so easy. Did you know this fountain is magic? If a dead man were thrown into it, even if he was chopped to pieces, he would pop back out fully formed—stronger and more powerful than ever."
"No, that's how she tricked us!" Nathaniel said, the horror on his face mirrored on Kenna's.
"Seriously?" Leo asked.
"She's lying!" Ophelia insisted. "You can't believe her!"
"She did that trick with somebody before—a king, I think," Piper said. "She convinced his daughters to cut him to pieces so he could come out of the water young and healthy again, but it just killed him!"
"Ridiculous," Medea said, her voice charged with power. "Leo, Jason—my price is so 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!" Piper yelled. But Jason and Leo were already glaring at each other, as if just realizing how they truly felt.
"Oh, gods," Kenna whimpered.
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."
"Guys, stop it!" Ophelia yelled, but they were already drawing their weapons—Jason's gold sword and Leo's club hammer.
"You don't want to do this!" Piper insisted, trying to use her own charmspeak to counteract Medea's brainwashing.
"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!"
Understanding trickled into Ophelia's mind, cold and cruel like melting snow. Dread settled heavy in her stomach, and there was something else, too—something familiar and painful. prodding at her incessantly. She felt the strangest sense of déjà vu, as if she'd been here before.
She looked at Piper, unable to explain the way her chest tightened. "What choice is she talking about, Piper?"
Piper could barely meet Ophelia's eye, her expression crestfallen. "I—" Her voice faltered. She looked at the princess, unable to hold Ophelia's gaze. "You work for Enceladus."
Medea laughed. "Serve a giant? No. But we all serve the same greater cause—a patron you cannot begin to challenge. Walk away, child of Aphrodite. This does not have to be your death, too. Save yourself, and your father can go free."
Leo and Jason were still facing off, ready to fight, but they looked unsteady and confused, like they were waiting for another order. There had to be some part of them that was fighting Medea's control. This wasn't 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 the rainbow, show me the office of Tristan McLean."
The mist shimmered, displaying the image of an office. Sitting behind a desk sat a woman talking on the phone.
"Hello, Jane," Medea said.
Jane hung the phone up calmly. "How can I help you, ma'am? Hello, Piper."
"You—" Piper sounded furious.
"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 like that was a compliment.
"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 his cooperation."
"Yes," Jane agreed in a bland tone, like she was sleepwalking. "He was quite cooperative when he believed Piper was in danger."
Piper looked like she'd been shot. Her dagger shook in her hand.
"I may have new orders for you, Jane," Medea said. "If Piper here cooperates, it may be time for Mr. McLean to come home. Would you arrange a suitable cover story for his absence, just in case? And I imagine the poor man will need some time in a psychiatric hospital."
"Yes, ma'am. I will stand by."
The image faded, and Medea turned to Piper. "There, you see?"
"You lured my dad into a trap," Piper said, her voice shaking with rage. "You helped the giant—"
"Oh, please, dear. You'll work yourself into a fit! I've been preparing for this war for years, even before I was brought back to life. I'm a seer, as I said. I can see the future as well as your little oracle. Years ago, still suffering in the Fields of Punishment, I had a vision of the eight 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 she managed to wake just a little—just enough to visit him."
"You helped her kill his mother," Ophelia breathed. "Leo, listen! Medea helped get your mother killed!"
"Uh-huh," Leo mumbled, in a daze. "So... I just attack Jason? That's okay?"
"Perfectly safe," Medea insisted. "And Jason, strike him hard. Show me you are worthy of your namesake."
"No!" Piper ordered. "Jason, Leo—she's tricking you. Put down your weapons."
Medea scoffed. "Please, girl. You're no match for me. I trained 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." Piper's voice was full of emotion. Ophelia could tell she wasn't holding anything back anymore—not her fear, her anger, her desperation. It was all present in her voice, and it only made it stronger. "Medea is charming you. It's part of her magic. You are best friends. Don't fight each other. Fight her!"
The boys hesitated. Medea's hold over them shattered.
Ezekiel whooped with delight, throwing his fist up in triumph. "Take that!"
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, a look of righteous fury on his face. "Lady, I got a three-pound hammer with your name on it."
"Bah!" Medea sneered. "I'll simply collect payment another way."
Ophelia charged at her, raising her sword, but the sorceress dissolved into smoke just as her sword passed through.
"You're slow, hero!" Medea laughed. "Take your frustration out on my pets!"
The giant bronze sundials at either end of the fountain swung open. Two snarling gold dragons drawled out from the pits below. Each was the size of a camper van—not as big as Festus, but still big enough to do some serious damage.
"So that's what's in the kennels," Leo said meekly.
The dragons spread their wings and hissed.
"Don't look them in the eye!" Jason warned. "They'll paralyze you."
"Indeed!" Medea was leisurely riding the escalators, as if she had all the time in the world. "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!"
"Hell no," Ophelia growled. "You guys take care of the dragons! I'll get her."
She took off after Medea. The princess started climbing in earnest as she spotted Ophelia coming after her. Ophelia moved fast, but Medea was quick, too. The witch didn't stop at the second floor—she hopped the next escalator and continued to ascend.
"The potions!" Kenna warned. "She's going for the potions!"
Ophelia could hear the battle raging on below—Leo blowing his safety whistle, Jason yelling to keep the dragons distracted, Piper trying to charmspeak them back into their kennels.
"Manifest us!" Nathaniel yelled. "You can do that, right? You're a daughter of Hecate!"
"No, I'm not!" Ophelia protested, not slowing in her stride.
"But you can see us!" Nathaniel said. "If you can see us, you should be able to bring us back into the world of the living—long enough for us to help you send this bitch back to the Fields of Punishment."
"I don't know how!"
"It's instinct," Nathaniel said, as if speaking from experience. "Trust me, my mother is Hecate, my skills were in necromancy and magic with spirits. Just manifest us into physical beings—bring us into the mortal world."
Ophelia had no clue how to do that, or even if she could. But if it could help her stop Medea...
It was worth a shot.
Ophelia stopped on the top floor. She let her instincts take over, trusting that they would guide her. Lupa had told her that her instincts were as reliable as any of her pups. The wolf had warned her to listen to her instincts, to trust them.
So she listened.
Her eyes slipped shut, and she felt a tugging sensation in her stomach. It was as if ice-water had been injected into her veins, like something was sucking her life out of her body inch by inch. The rational part of her mind screamed at her to stop, but she pushed on.
Her eyes shot open, and the three ghosts were solid.
They still moved like ghosts, their bodies phasing through objects, moving faster than the wind as they glided toward Medea, but it was different. There was purpose in their movements. They got to Medea just as the sorceress reached the counter full of potions.
Ezekiel and Kenna each grabbed one of Medea's arms, yanking her against the counter of potions. Vials broke under her weight, and she let out a shriek of pain.
"What is this?" Medea demanded. She whipped her head from side to side, staring in horror at the two ghosts clutching her arms. "How are you doing this?"
Ophelia was too weak to respond, but Nathaniel was all too happy to speak for her.
"We're going to enjoy this," he said coldly. "You're never going to hurt another hero again."
"You're dead!" Medea hissed. "You can't hurt me! I'm Circe's niece, the granddaughter of Helios!"
"Sorry to break it to you, Your Highness," Kenna said, "but you're about to be just as dead as we are."
Ophelia struggled to her feet. Her limbs felt like lead, the tugging in her stomach turning painful, but she kept a tight grip on it. She staggered toward the sorceress.
"Do you have any idea what so many potions will do when mixed?" Medea hissed, looking down at the mess around her. "You've doomed us all!" Smoke rolled across the carpet as the multitude of deadly stains spread, throwing sparks and setting fires in the clothing racks. "You have only seconds before this concoction consumes everything and destroys the building. There's no time—"
There was a loud crash behind Ophelia. The stained glass ceiling shattered and Festus dropped into the department store to the sound of Leo's delighted shouting.
"I will not be abandoned again!" Medea cried. She struggled against the ghosts' hold. She looked at Ophelia with a wild expression, one full of desperation. "You want your memories back? Your boyfriend's? Take me with you!"
It took almost all of her strength, but Ophelia summoned her sword and raised it, placing the tip against Medea's chest. Fear flickered across the sorceress's face. "Why would I trust you?"
"You'll never survive this quest without me, little girl," Medea hissed. "Take me with you!"
"Kill her," Kenna said, glaring at the sorceress with unbridled hate in her eyes.
"She never deserved a second chance," Ezekiel growled. "Don't give her a third."
Ophelia's heart pounded. If the potions didn't kill her—which wasn't a guarantee—Medea would come after them. She'd hunt them down and slaughter them the way she'd slaughtered her own children, her ex-husband's new bride, the trio of teenagers that haunted her department store. She wouldn't stop.
Ophelia couldn't let that happen—she couldn't let Medea threaten her or her friends.
Nathaniel placed his hand over Ophelia's on the hilt of her sword. "She's a murderer," he whispered. "She has to pay."
Guided by the hand of a ghost, Ophelia pushed the sword into Medea's chest.
Medea gasped, the sound wet and awful. She looked up at Ophelia, a look of pure surprise in her eyes. Then the light in those eyes died, and Medea was gone.
The sorceress fell backward, her body sliding gruesomely off of Ophelia's sword. It was stained red with blood, dripping and mingling with the potions that still sizzled and burned on Medea's dress.
Ophelia fell to her knees, exhaustion taking over. The tugging in her gut disappeared in an instant, and the trio of ghosts faded halfway, as see-through as they had been before.
Her hands were still. They should have been shaking. She'd just taken a life—why weren't they shaking? How was she so calm?
Why did she feel like she'd done this all before?
"Thank you," Nathaniel whispered. "You set us free."
"You have to go now," Kenna said. "Medea was right—these potions will blow the place up. You don't have much time."
Ophelia heard the mechanical sounds of Festus's wings flapping behind her. She heard her friends calling for her. She willed her sword back into a compass. When she looked again at the ghosts, they were gone—just like Matt.
Ophelia swallowed hard, stumbling toward the railing and leaping soundlessly off of the balcony. She fell for just a few seconds before Jason and Piper caught her, hauling her onto Festus's back.
They soared through the broken roof and over downtown Chicago. The department store exploded behind them, but it was muffled in Ophelia's ears. As the dragon soared higher into the sky, she slumped back against Jason's chest, and was out in an instant.
❖