"Is this really the best hotel in the city?" Isabell asked as the mortal man closed the car door behind her.
"Yes, Mistress," he answered, his voice low and reverent. "The Lotus Hotel has been the crown jewel of Las Vegas for nearly a century."
Neon lights and scantily clad humans stretched as far as the eye could see. The city pulsed with music and traffic.
A thrill ran up her spine as she drank in the spectacle. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
"Please remind me to never sleep in a car again," Percy groaned as he stepped out of the backseat. "I feel like crap."
"Don't blame the car for your own recklessness," Annabeth snorted. "What kind of idiot charges a boar the size of a house?"
"It was raining!" Percy shot back as he circled the luxurious vehicle. "That oversized piece of bacon didn't stand a chance."
Isabella smiled faintly. The mortal beside her—who had introduced himself as the head of some conglomerate—quickly fading from her thoughts.
Her friends were as amusing as ever.
Two days on the road and they had already moved past their encounter with Ares.
The corners of her mouth pulled upward as she glanced at Percy.
Venting their frustration on one of the god's sacred animals had certainly helped. Especially so after the beast had crashed into their previous car and killed its driver.
Which was a shame.
He had been far more handsome than the two that came after.
"Make sure you both sleep well tonight," Annabeth reminded them again as she stepped up to Isabella's side. "Tomorrow… we finish this quest."
"Which is about time," Percy said. "… Though I wouldn't mind staying a bit longer."
His gaze drifted longingly to the long line of people waiting outside the hotel entrance.
"The kids at school talked about this place as if it was some kind of paradise. I really want to see what all the hype is about."
Annabeth spun sharply, her dagger in hand.
A mortal had bumped into her.
"'scuse me, lil' lady," he slurred, the stench of cheap liquor clinging to him like a disgusting cloud. "Didn't see you there."
His brows formed into a frown as his gaze dropped to the blade.
"Is that a—"
"Just go, man," Percy interjected quickly. "Nothing to see here."
Clarity gradually seeped back into the mortal's eyes as he glanced between them. Then he flinched abruptly and quickly stumbled away.
Isabella hummed in quiet interest as she observed his retreat.
She had never seen a clear-sighted mortal before.
Annabeth released a slow breath and secured her dagger back into its sheath, before turning toward Isabella
"Can you do your thing again? That queue isn't moving at all, and there's no way we're waiting out here."
Their driver cleared his throat.
"About that." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "I have connections with—"
Isabella stepped forward and pressed her finger to his lips.
"We'll take it from here," she said.
The mortal flushed red, like a flustered teenager, as she withdrew her hand.
"I understand."
He lingered for a moment—then straightened his spine, his expression smoothing as he met her gaze without blinking.
"Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything else. I'll take care of everything you need!"
"I'm sure you will."
She offered the man a gracious smile and patted his cheek.
"You can go now."
Her companions stared at her blankly as she turned toward them and nodded curtly.
"Let's go."
The Mist thickened around them as they moved past the human crowd at the entrance. Fully caught within its influence, the security guards didn't spare them a glance when they stepped inside.
"Wow," Percy breathed as he gazed up at the ceiling. The gilded chandelier had immediately drawn his attention.
"This is nice."
Isabella flicked her hair back over her shoulder and joined him in taking in the room.
Marble floors. Gold accents. And impeccably dressed personnel. Unlike the packed entrance outside, the lobby was almost empty.
"Welcome to the Lotus Hotel, honored guests," the striking receptionist greeted them as they approached the front desk. "My name is Maria. How may I assist you?"
"We'd like to check in," Isabella answered slowly.
The look in the woman's eyes was so intense as to be almost offensive.
"One room. Three beds."
"You've come to the right place," Maria replied, her green eyes twinkling. "We have exactly what you need."
She retrieved a key from the drawer.
"Room 515—one of our most coveted accommodations."
Percy grinned widely as he reached for it.
"That's—"
"Hold on!" Annabeth cut in, pulling his hand back. "Don't we need a reservation? There's a line out the door. Doesn't that mean you're overbooked?"
Isabella eye's narrowed slightly the placid smile on the receptionist's face didn't so much twitch after she lowered the veil over her face.
Her allure had no effect on the mortal.
So much for a peaceful night's sleep.
"Far from it," Maria explained calmly. "The Lotus Hotel offers far more than just rooms. Most of our guests come for this."
She handed Percy a thick catalog.
"Damn," the boy whispered as he browsed through it. "This is awesome!"
"This is a hotel. In Las Vegas," Annabeth added incredulously. "Why does it have a library this big?"
"Isabella," Percy called. "Look—we finally found a place with a wellness area!"
Isabella quickly took the catalogue from him.
He wasn't lying.
"How much for a night?" Annabeth asked, her voice brightening with rising excitement.
"The first night is free," Maria answered as she retrieved a white box from beneath the desk. "We discuss payment after you've fully experienced what we have to offer."
The receptionist set a silver plate down on the table. Three lotus-shaped pastries rested innocuously on its surface.
The scent that wafted from them was intoxicating.
"A welcome gift," Maria added. "For our new patrons."
She placed the key beside the plate.
"We hope your stay in our home becomes unforgettable."
Isabella's expression dimmed as her friends immediately grabbed one each. The sounds they made when they bit into them were almost obscene.
She carefully picked up the last pastry and seeped her magic into it. A curious hum escaped her as she proceeded the information the analysis spell was telling her.
Her gaze drifted to her companions, before locking back onto the serenely smiling receptionist.
Then she bite into the Lotus
——————-
Percy laughed uncontrollably as he spread his arms wide across the dance floor.
The crowd roared in response.
With a flick of his powers, a row of champagne bottles lifted into the air above them, spinning in a perfect circle.
The corks popped in rapid succession.
Excitement unlike any he had ever felt surged through his veins as the streams of sparkling liquid twisted together, forming a shimmering trident, before neatly pouring into waiting glasses.
"Percy! Percy! Percy!"
Dozens of different hands clapped him on the back, and an ever increasing amount of drinks were shoved into his hands—more than he could carry—as he staggered toward the bar.
The music pounded through him, rattling his bones more violently than they did when Luke used to knock him on his ass during training.
Color tasted like marshmallows.
Sound smelled like popcorn.
The glasses slipped from his grasp as his gaze fell on the girl sitting by the bar.
She was beautiful.
So beautiful.
He quickly ran a hand through his hair and donned the most charming smile he could muster before he stepped forward.
"Hello there," he said, leaning against the counter. "You come here often?"
"Oh my." The girl's laugh was like the chiming of a bell as it cut cleanly through the noise. "They've done quite the number on you, haven't they?"
"Wha—what do you mean?" Percy asked, the sound drawing him in like a siren's song
"Don't worry about it, dear."
Her impossibly purple eyes gleamed with amusement as rose to her feet.
"I merely came to check on you."
Percy's head pounded to the beat of his quickening pulse as he looked up at her.
"Check on me?"
"Of course. Your safety is my highest priority."
"… Who are you?"
His thoughts raced as he blinked slowly.
He'd heard that sentence before.
When he opened his eyes again—
The girl in the white dress was gone.
———————
"This game is rigged," Annabeth hissed sharply through gritted teeth.
She shoved another gold coin into the slot and yanked the lever.
A hundred tries—and not a single jackpot.
It was statistically impossible.
Her hands tightened as the machine trilled to announce another loss.
Another loss
To a machine.
Annabeth wanted to tear her hair out.
She had dominated every table, beating men and women thrice her age at blackjack, poker and every other game the casino offered.
It hadn't even been close.
Once she'd grown bored of the easy victories, one of the staff members had directed her to the slot section—and her winning streak ended.
Temporarily.
She would not be beaten by a machine.
She fed in another coin.
"Wow."
A high-pitched voice piped up beside her.
"You really suck at this."
Annabeth cast the boy a sidelong glance.
He smirked up at her with undisguised mirth, his olive skin stark against his bone-white clothes.
"Go away. I'm busy."
The boy's dark eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Busy losing, you mean."
"I haven't lost yet!"
"… You sure about that?"
"Oh, excuse me." She turned fully toward him. "Are you saying you could do better?"
He nodded, smugly.
"I bet I could."
"Be my guest."
She leaned in as he pulled the lever, and the symbols on the screen began to spin rapidly.
A perfect row of sevens.
There was no way.
The machine burst into triumphant music as coins poured out in a shimmering golden cascade.
The boy grinned widely and scooped them into a bag.
"Told you," he chuckled. "It's easy."
"That was luck!" Annabeth snapped. "Let me try again."
Twenty rounds later, only one conclusion remained.
This game was rigged.
"You know…" the infuriating boy drawled, his voice dripping with barely disguised laughter as he scored another Jackpot. "Your luck is, like, really bad."
Annabeth inhaled slowly.
"Shut up."
"Nico!"
The boy flinched.
"Where are you?"
"Damn," he muttered. "That's my sister."
He offered her an apologetic look.
"Sorry. I gotta run."
Annabeth nodded absentmindedly as she continued counting what little remained of her earlier winnings.
"Sure. See you around."
"See you—"
Nico's voice cut off as the casino fell silent. Along with the sound, all movements ceased too.
Everyone was standing perfectly still.
Annabeth breath caught as her gaze was dragged upward.
A grey owl was watching her with unwavering focus, perched on the railing above.
The hairs on her arms rose.
Her ears buzzed with a high pitched ringing sound as the birds' stare grew suffocating.
A moment later, it vanished, and movement returned the casino.
Annabeth almost fell as she staggered forward, barely managing to catch herself on the machine.
"What was that…?" she whispered.
An owl.
She'd seen that bird before.
"Dear guest," a smooth voice spoke beside her. "There seems to have been a mistake with your machine."
It was the same staff member from earlier.
"Please accept this as an apology."
The man held out a plate with a lotus cake and a neat stack of coins arrayed next to it.
The ringing returned as her gaze locked onto the tantalizing pastry.
"A Lotus…" she murmured.
"Indeed." The man smiled. "You enjoyed the last ones, didn't you?"
An owl's screech tore through her mind.
Annabeth's bronze dagger sliced through the air as she surged forward and pressed it against the monster's jugular.
"What did you do to my friends!"
—————-
This place is fun.
Isabella smiled brightly as she strolled through the expansive library.
She had been exploring the Lotus Eaters' lair for hours. And yet, she had barely scratched the surface of what it offered.
The people she passed paid her no attention, utterly absorbed in their own reading materials.
They were completely entranced by a different kind of enchantment from the on she induced in people.
She had no idea how they did it.
It was fascinating.
"Hello there," Isabella said, sliding into one of the seats at the table.
"Leave me be, woman," the rugged man beside her scoffed, his gaze fixed on the map before him.
"I have no time to spare for one of your kind."
Isabella rested her chin against her fist.
She may not know how they did it, but finding a way to destroy something was always easier than replicating it.
A faint purple mist curled around her fingers as she placed her hand on the man's bare arm.
Her divinity seeped into him—overpowering the lotus' influence.
"Are you sure about that?" she asked.
The mortal brown eyes were wide and clear as he snapped toward her.
"My apologies, Mistress!"
He bowed his head.
"How may I assist you?"
Isabella looked him over slowly. For some inexplicable reason, he was dressed like a pirate—with a rather unfortunate beard.
"I have a few questions—"
Her gaze caught on the map.
'The Sea of Monsters' was written in bold letters at the top.
"What is that?"
"This is my life's work: The culmination of my ambition."
Isabella' eyes lit up with interest as she leaned forward.
"Which is?"
"To kill the divine spirit Medusa!"
The man's expression twisted with obsessive desire.
"To succeed where even Perseus the Hero failed." His fingers traced a point on the map. "The Shapeless Isle has been lost for millennia—but I have found it!"
"Medusa?" Isabella asked. "Who's that?"
"Are you fuck—" He cut himself off and exhaled slowly. "If you wish, I would be honored to tell you the tale of the legendary Gorgon."
"… Go on."
Chiron had raised her on stories about the heroes of old. It should not be possible for some random mortal to know anything about their history that she didn't.
"In ancient times, the earth gave birth to three divine beings—the embodiments of the yearning hearts of men."
The pirate's tone grew solemn.
"But one was born incomplete. Unlike her sisters, she was half mortal. Twisted by envy, Medusa terrorized the lands until the gods decided to intervene."
Seeds of doubt grew within her as she proceeded his words.
Primordials didn't have demigod children.
That simply did not happen.
"Lady Athena banished her to the Shapeless Isle," the man continued. "But Medusa's wickedness knew no bounds! In one last of cruelty, she abducted her divine sisters and imprisoned them with her."
His jaw tightened as he lifted his chin.
"Countless heroes have tried to rescue the pure maidens—mighty Perseus the most famous among them. All have failed. But I will be different."
Isabella barely kept herself from breaking into a laugh.
The ego of men truly knew no limits.
"Why would you dedicate your life to this?" she asked. "What do you stand to gain?"
"It is said that whoever slays the monstrous Gorgon will earn the eternal loyalty of her beautiful sisters."
"… Of course it is"
She idly tapped a finger against her chin, wrecked by indecision.
What to do?
The corners of her lips curled upward as a sudden idea sparked in her mind.
She had no interest in gaining the loyalty of a pair of hags—but she knew someone who would.
"Alright."
Her voice deepened as she threaded it with divinity.
"Here's what's going to happen: You will abandon your ambitions. You will take your map. And you will go there."
She conjured a pen and a sheet of paper with her magic and wrote down the address.
"You will find someone called Ladora Buné. And you will tell him everything you just told me."
The pirate's eyes widened as defiance flickered across his face.
"Do you understand?"
It was gone an instant later.
"Your will is my command, Mistress," he conceded breathlessly. "I will depart at once."
He rose to his feet—then hesitated.
"What… will happen to me once I get there?"
What remarkable willpower.
"I don't know," Isabella admitted, leaning back. "That boy is still a mystery to me."
A radiant smile spread across her face.
"Isn't that exciting?"
The pirate's response was drowned out by a sudden commotion at the library entrance.
"Isabella!"
"Where are you?"
She released a slowly breath and pinched the bridge of her nose as her companions barrel into the hall—brandishing their weapons at a squad of Lotus Eaters that chased closely behind them.
Isabella shoved the pirate aside with a quiet sigh and wrapped her fingers around the flaming spear that materialized in her grasp.
Fire bloomed around her as she stepped forward.
————
This was a waste of my time.
My gaze drifted as the next episode of the period drama began to play.
I had long decided to rest my mind for at least half an hour eau day by indulging in leisure, but TV just wasn't doing it for me anymore.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I lifted my arm.
"Wassup Ddra—"
A sharp beep cut me off as a built-in phone and elevator came into being along the wall.
I blinked, glancing toward the windows.
The sun was still high in the sky.
"Why is she already back?"
The mark beside the phone glowed faintly as I flashed forward and picked it up.
"Tell her to come up."
"Good afternoon, Mister Buné," a familiar voice replied. "I'm afraid Miss Jackson hasn't returned yet. This is someone else."
Aside from the Fates, only three people knew this address. And I was expecting none of them.
"What do they want?"
"He claims he was sent by a young woman he refers to as Mistress."
"Ah."
What game was that girl playing?
"Mortal?" I asked.
"Yes."
"… Send him up."
"Understood."
I flashed back to the couch and propped my feet on the edge of the table.
A minute later, the elevator chimed open, and a pirate stepped out.
"Are you Ladora Buné?" he asked, his voice strained.
Dark hair. Rugged face. And a ridiculous costume.
"You look absurd," I scoffed. "What do you want?"
The man inhaled deeply and stepped closer, his filthy boots leaving dirty stains on my spotless marble floor.
"My mistress sent me to tell you a story."
"Is she making you call her that?" I asked curiously. "Or is this some kind of kink thing?"
The man froze, outrage flashing across his face.
"How dare you—"
"Never mind."
I snapped my fingers, sealing his mouth shut.
"Come here. Let's hear about that story of yours."
He hesitated for a moment as my magic receded and then moved toward me—more carefully than he did before.
My gaze dropped to the table as he set down the parchment he'd been clutching like a lifeline and slowly unfurled it.
A map.
"What's this?"
"This is the most accurate map of the Sea of Monsters ever created," he replied. "I am Captain Brownbeard of the Brownbeard Pirates. Twenty years ago—"
"Stop."
A grimace pulled on my features as I lifted a hand.
"Come on man. I don't need your whole backstory. Just give me the summary."
"As you wish."
Brownbeard pointed at the map.
"This marks the location where the Gorgon Medusa is imprisoned. Whoever slays her will gain the eternal loyalty of two divine spirits."
"… Disregard what I just said. Give me the long version."
I drummed my fingers against my knee as he began his tale, inadvertently answering the question I had been wondering about for weeks now.
What version of Medusa existed in this world.
"I see," I muttered once he had finished.
I had underestimated Isabella.
The girl was stacking the deck in her favor for when we finally negotiated the terms of our agreement.
"You've done well," I added. "Did she leave any other instructions?"
"No."
The pirate's voice wavered almost imperceptibly as he stepped back.
"I am to defer to your judgment."
My pupils narrowed into slits as my magic thrummed wildly beneath my skin.
That girl really did know how to please a devil.
A curved set of horns grew from my head as I rose to my feet and extended my hand.
"Come."
My voice rolled through the room, heavy with draconic authority.
Brownbeard groaned like an injured beast as he jerked forward.
"On your knees."
The man collapsed to the floor in a graceless heap, his shaggy brown hair obscuring his face.
Orange flames ignited in my palms as I pressed my hand against his chest—burning through clothes and flesh alike as my mark carved itself into his skin.
"I can't let you live."
I curled my fingers around his chin and lifted it upward.
"You understand that, don't you?"
His shoulders trembled as he stubbornly refused to meet my gaze.
"I don't want to die."
"… That's too bad."
I pulled on the radiant thread my mark had established between us and tore his soul free.
The pirates lifeless body hit the floor with a dull thud.
I closed my eyes and stifled a moan.
No wonder the devils of old were so obsessed with this—the sensation of a mortal's soul dissolving in my demonic energy was intoxicating.
My eyes tore open as the elevator chimed again.
This time, revealing the person I had shared my home with for the past few weeks.
Shit.
Sally's gaze dropped to the corpse—then back to me.
"Ladora…"
The color drained from her face.
"What is this?"