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from glowing white to polka-dotted. And the smells—ugh! Some were pleasant, like fresh-baked cookies or<br />
roses, but they were mixed with the scents of burning tires, skunk spray, and gym lockers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess pointed to a bloodred vial—a simple test tube with a cork stopper. ―This one will heal any<br />
disease.‖<br />
―Even cancer?‖ Leo asked. ―Leprosy? Hangnails?‖<br />
―Any disease, sweet boy. And this vial‖—she pointed to a swan-shaped container with blue liquid inside—<br />
―will kill you very painfully.‖<br />
―Awesome,‖ Jason said. His voice sounded dazed and sleepy.<br />
―Jason,‖ Piper said. ―We‘ve got a job to do. Remember?‖ She tried to put power into her words, to snap<br />
him out of his trance with charmspeak, but her voice sounded shaky even to her. This princess woman scared<br />
her too much, made her confidence crumble, just the way she‘d felt back in the Aphrodite cabin with Drew.<br />
―Job to do,‖ Jason muttered. ―Sure. But shopping first, okay?‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess beamed at him. ―<strong>The</strong>n we have potions for resisting fire—‖<br />
―Got that covered,‖ Leo said.<br />
―Indeed?‖ <strong>The</strong> princess studied Leo‘s face more closely. ―You don‘t appear to be wearing my trademark<br />
sunscreen …but no matter. We also have potions that cause blindness, insanity, sleep, or—‖<br />
―Wait.‖ Piper was still staring at the red vial. ―Could that potion cure lost memory?‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess narrowed her eyes. ―Possibly. Yes. Quite possibly. Why, my dear? Have you forgotten<br />
something important?‖<br />
Piper tried to keep her expression neutral, but if that vial could cure Jason‘s memory …<br />
Do I really want that? she wondered.<br />
If Jason found out who he was, he might not even be her friend. Hera had taken away his memories for a<br />
reason. She‘d told him it was the only way he‘d survive at Camp Half-Blood. What if Jason found out that he<br />
was their enemy, or something? He might come out of his amnesia and decide he hated Piper. He might have a<br />
girlfriend wherever he came from.<br />
It doesn‘t matter, she decided, which kind of surprised her.<br />
Jason always looked so anguished when he tried to remember things. Piper hated seeing him that way.<br />
She wanted to help him because she cared about him, even if that meant losing him. And maybe it would make<br />
this trip through Her Craziness‘s department store worthwhile.<br />
―How much?‖ Piper asked.<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess got a faraway look in her eyes. ―Well, now … <strong>The</strong> price is always tricky. I love helping<br />
people. Honestly, I do. And I always keep my bargains, but sometimes people try to cheat me.‖ Her gaze drifted<br />
to Jason. ―Once, for instance, I met a handsome young man who wanted a treasure from my father‘s kingdom.<br />
We made a bargain, and I promised to help him steal it.‖<br />
―From your own dad?‖ Jason still looked half in a trance, but the idea seemed to bother him.<br />
―Oh, don‘t worry,‖ the princess said. ―I demanded a high price. <strong>The</strong> young man had to take me away with<br />
him. He was quite good-looking, dashing, strong …‖ She looked at Piper. ―I‘m sure, my dear, you understand<br />
how one might be attracted to such a hero, and want to help him.‖<br />
Piper tried to control her emotions, but she probably blushed. She got the creepiest feeling the princess<br />
could read her thoughts.<br />
She also found the princess‘s story disturbingly familiar. Pieces of old myths she‘d read with her dad<br />
started coming together, but this woman couldn‘t be the one she was thinking of.<br />
―At any rate,‖ Her Highness continued, ―my hero had to do many impossible tasks, and I‘m not bragging<br />
when I say he couldn‘t have done them without me. I betrayed my own family to win the hero his prize. And still<br />
he cheated me of my payment.‖<br />
―Cheated?‖ Jason frowned, as if trying to remember something important.<br />
―That‘s messed up,‖ Leo said.<br />
Her Highness patted his cheek affectionately. ―I‘m sure you don‘t need to worry, Leo. You seem honest.<br />
You would always pay a fair price, wouldn‘t you?‖<br />
Leo nodded. ―What were we buying again? I‘ll take two.‖<br />
Piper broke in: ―So, the vial, Your Highness—how much?‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> princess assessed Piper‘s clothes, her face, her posture, as if putting a price tag on one slightly used<br />
demigod.<br />
―Would you give anything for it, my dear?‖ the princess asked. ―I sense that you would.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> words washed over Piper as powerfully as a good surfing wave. <strong>The</strong> force of the suggestion nearly<br />
lifted her offher feet. She wanted to pay any price. She wanted to say yes.
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