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―Boys!‖ <strong>The</strong> princess spread her hands in a welcoming gesture. Her diamond jewelry glittered, and her<br />
painted fingers curled like blood-tipped claws. ―It‘s true, I‘m Medea. But I‘m so misunderstood. Oh, Piper, my<br />
dear, you don‘t know what it was like for women in the old days. We had no power, no leverage. Often we<br />
couldn‘t even choose our own husbands. But I was different. I chose my own destiny by becoming a sorceress.<br />
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<br />
became a famous hero! Without me, he would‘ve died unknown on the shores of Colchis.‖<br />
Jason—Piper‘s Jason—scowled. ―<strong>The</strong>n … you really did die three thousand years ago? You came back<br />
from the Underworld?‖<br />
―Death no longer holds me, young hero,‖ Medea said. ―Thanks to my patron, I am flesh and blood again.‖<br />
―You … re-formed?‖ Leo blinked. ―Like a monster?‖<br />
Medea spread her fingers, and steam hissed from her nails, like water splashed on hot iron. ―You have no<br />
idea what‘s happening, do you, my dears? It is so much worse than a stirring of monsters from Tartarus. My<br />
patron knows that giants and monsters are not her greatest servants. I am mortal. I learn from my mistakes.<br />
And now that I have returned to the living, I will not be cheated again. Now, here is my price for what you ask.‖<br />
―Guys,‖ Piper said. ―<strong>The</strong> original Jason left Medea because she was crazy and bloodthirsty.‖<br />
―Lies!‖ Medea said.<br />
―On the way back from Colchis, Jason‘s ship landed at another kingdom, and Jason agreed to dump<br />
Medea and marry the king‘s daughter.‖<br />
―After I bore him two children!‖ Medea said. ―Still he broke his promise! I ask you, was that right?‖<br />
Jason and Leo dutifully shook their heads, but Piper wasn‘t through.<br />
―It may not have been right,‖ she said, ―but neither was Medea‘s revenge. She murdered her own children<br />
to get back at Jason. She poisoned his new wife and fled the kingdom.‖<br />
Medea snarled. ―An invention to ruin my reputation! <strong>The</strong> people of the Corinth—that unruly mob—killed<br />
my children and drove me out. Jason did nothing to protect me. He robbed me of everything. So yes, I sneaked<br />
back into the palace and poisoned his lovely new bride. It was only fair—a suitable price.‖<br />
―You‘re insane,‖ Piper said.<br />
―I am the victim!‖ Medea wailed. ―I died with my dreams shattered, but no longer. I know now not to trust<br />
heroes. When they come asking for treasures, they will pay a heavy price. Especially when the one asking has<br />
the name of Jason!‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> fountain turned bright red. Piper drew her dagger, but her hand was shaking almost too badly to hold<br />
it. ―Jason, Leo—it‘s time to go. Now.‖<br />
―Before you‘ve closed the deal?‖ Medea asked. ―What of your quest, boys? And my price is so easy. Did<br />
you know this fountain is magic? If a dead man were to be thrown into it, even if he was chopped to pieces, he<br />
would pop back out fully formed—stronger and more powerful than ever.‖<br />
―Seriously?‖ Leo asked.<br />
―Leo, she‘s lying,‖ Piper said. ―She did that trick with somebody before—a king, I think. She convinced his<br />
daughters to cut him to pieces so he could come out of the water young and healthy again, but it just killed him!‖<br />
―Ridiculous,‖ Medea said, and Piper could hear the power charged in every syllable. ―Leo, Jason—my<br />
price is so simple. Why don‘t you two fight? If you get injured, or even killed, no problem. We‘ll just throw you<br />
into the fountain and you‘ll be better than ever. You do want to fight, don‘t you? You resent each other!‖<br />
―Guys, no!‖ Piper said. But they were already glaring at each other, as if it was just dawning on them how<br />
they really felt.<br />
Piper had never felt more helpless. Now she understood what real sorcery looked like. She‘d always<br />
thought magic meant wands and fireballs, but this was worse. Medea didn‘t just rely on poisons and potions.<br />
Her most potent weapon was her voice.<br />
belt.<br />
Leo scowled. ―Jason‘s always the star. He always gets the attention and takes me for granted.‖<br />
―You‘re annoying, Leo,‖ Jason said. ―You never take anything seriously. You can‘t even fix a dragon.‖<br />
―Stop!‖ Piper pleaded, but both drew weapons—Jason his gold sword, and Leo a hammer from his tool<br />
―Let them go, Piper,‖ Medea urged. ―I‘m doing you a favor. Let it happen now, and it will make your choice<br />
so much easier. Enceladus will be pleased. You could have your father back today!‖<br />
Medea‘s charmspeak didn‘t work on her, but the sorceress still had a persuasive voice. Her father back<br />
today? Despite her best intentions, Piper wanted that. She wanted her father back so much, it hurt.<br />
―You work for Enceladus,‖ she said.<br />
Medea laughed. ―Serve a giant? No. But we all serve the same greater cause—a patron you cannot begin<br />
to challenge. Walk away, child of Aphrodite. This does not have to be your death, too. Save yourself, and your<br />
father can go free.‖<br />
Leo and Jason were still facing off, ready to fight, but they looked unsteady and confused—waiting for<br />
another order. Part of them had to be resisting, Piper hoped. This went completely against their nature.
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