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<strong>The</strong> woman nodded. ―I found it abandoned, you know. I understand so many stores are, these days. I<br />
decided it would make the perfect place. I love collecting tasteful objects, helping people, and offering quality<br />
goods at a reasonable price. So this seemed a good … how do you say … first acquisition in this country.‖<br />
She spoke with a pleasing accent, but Jason couldn‘t guess where from. Clearly she wasn‘t hostile,<br />
though. Jason started to relax. Her voice was rich and exotic. Jason wanted to hear more.<br />
―So you‘re new to America?‖ he asked.<br />
―I am … new,‖ the woman agreed. ―I am the Princess of Colchis. My friends call me Your Highness. Now,<br />
what are you looking for?‖<br />
Jason had heard of rich foreigners buying American department stores. Of course most of the time they<br />
didn‘t sell poisons, living fur coats, storm spirits, or satyrs, but still—with a nice voice like that, the Princess of<br />
Colchis couldn‘t be all bad.<br />
Piper poked him in the ribs. ―Jason …‖<br />
―Um, right. Actually, Your Highness …‖ He pointed to the gilded cage on the first floor. ―That‘s our friend<br />
down there, Gleeson Hedge. <strong>The</strong> satyr. Could we … have him back, please?‖<br />
―Of course!‖ the princess agreed immediately. ―I would love to show you my inventory. First, may I know<br />
your names?‖<br />
Jason hesitated. It seemed like a bad idea to give out their names. A memory tugged at the back of his<br />
mind—something Hera had warned him about, but it seemed fuzzy.<br />
On the other hand, Her Highness was on the verge of cooperating. If they could get what they wanted<br />
without a fight, that would be better. Besides, this lady didn‘t seem like an enemy.<br />
Piper started to say, ―Jason, I wouldn‘t—‖<br />
―This is Piper,‖ he said. ―This is Leo. I‘m Jason.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess fixed her eyes on him and, just for a moment, her face literally glowed, blazing with so much<br />
anger, Jason could see her skull beneath her skin. Jason‘s mind was getting blurrier, but he knew something<br />
didn‘t seem right. <strong>The</strong>n the moment passed, and Her Highness looked like a normal elegant woman again, with<br />
a cordial smile and a soothing voice.<br />
―Jason. What an interesting name,‖ she said, her eyes as cold as the Chicago wind. ―I think we‘ll have to<br />
make a special deal for you. Come, children. Let‘s go shopping.‖<br />
PIPER WANTED TO RUN FOR THE ELEVATOR.<br />
Her second choice: attack the weird princess now, because she was sure a fight was coming. <strong>The</strong> way<br />
the lady‘s face glowed when she‘d heard Jason‘s name had been bad enough. Now Her Highness was smiling<br />
like nothing had happened, and Jason and Leo didn‘t seem to think anything was wrong.<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess gestured toward the cosmetics counter. ―Shall we start with the potions?‖<br />
―Cool,‖ Jason said.<br />
―Guys,‖ Piper interrupted, ―we‘re here to get the storm spirits and Coach Hedge. If this—princess—is really<br />
our friend—‖<br />
―Oh, I‘m better than a friend, my dear,‖ Her Highness said. ―I‘m a saleswoman.‖ Her diamonds sparkled,<br />
and her eyes glittered like a snake‘s—cold and dark. ―Don‘t worry. We‘ll work our way down to the first floor,<br />
eh?‖<br />
Leo nodded eagerly. ―Sure, yeah! That sounds okay. Right, Piper?‖<br />
Piper did her best to stare daggers at him: No, it is not okay!<br />
―Of course it‘s okay.‖ Her Highness put her hands on Leo‘s and Jason‘s shoulders and steered them<br />
toward the cosmetics. ―Come along, boys.‖<br />
Piper didn‘t have much choice except to follow.<br />
She hated department stores—mostly because she‘d gotten caught stealing from several of them. Well,<br />
not exactly caught, and not exactly stealing. She‘d talked salesmen into giving her computers, new boots, a<br />
gold ring, once even a lawn mower, though she had no idea why she wanted one. She never kept the stuff. She<br />
just did it to get her dad‘s attention. Usually she talked her neighborhood UPS guy into taking the stuff back. But<br />
of course the salesmen she duped always came to their senses and called the police, who eventually tracked<br />
her down.<br />
Anyway, she wasn‘t thrilled to be back in a department store—especially one run by a crazy princess who<br />
glowed in the dark.<br />
―And here,‖ the princess said, ―is the finest assortment of magical mixtures anywhere.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> counter was crammed with bubbling beakers and smoking vials on tripods. Lining the display shelves<br />
were crystal flasks—some shaped like swans or honey bear dispensers. <strong>The</strong> liquids inside were every color,
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