The skyline of Miami glittered beneath the twilight, the city exuding an enticing warmth that Lucas hardly had the time to savor. The docks were quieter at this hour, the hum of distant nightlife little more than a whisper.
He moved swiftly between moored boats, locating a small boat suitable for someone with limited sailing experience. Manipulating the Mist, Lucas persuaded the mortal owner to sell the boat, despite clearly lacking the funds on hand. He made a mental note to send compensation later.
With the boat secured, Lucas began weaving his usual sigils into it, specifically designed to bypass Scylla. Concealment sigils and cloaking spells were meticulously etched into the vessel. He put extra effort into these; although confident that monsters couldn't detect Harold in his guinea pig form, precautions against entities as ancient and powerful as Scylla were necessary.
By dawn, Miami was a distant smear on the horizon, swallowed by the endless blue of the Atlantic. He slipped past Scylla unnoticed, and the first true stop along his route appeared sooner than expected. Circe's Island emerged from the morning mist, an alluring yet ominous paradise crowned by verdant forests and golden sands, enticing all who saw it to land.
Lucas docked at the harbor, finding an attendant waiting. Upon recognizing him, the attendant dropped the customary mask used for newcomers, reverting to her natural appearance, familiar with Lucas from his previous visit.
"Hey, Chloe. Is Circe still in her office?"
Chloe gave an unexpected answer. "I'm afraid not. She's with her niece in the courtyard. Would you like me to take you there?"
"Niece?"
"Lady Medea. She has returned from Tartarus and is visiting. She always stops by after returning. You're quite lucky, she planned to leave by morning."
Chloe led him along a smooth pathway paved with pearl-white stones toward Circe's villa, its ancient splendor bright beneath the sunlight.
"Please wait here." Chloe entered alone, presumably informing Circe of his visit and request to meet.
She soon returned, informing him he could enter, then departed back to her duties.
The doors parted as Lucas approached, revealing Circe herself in flowing robes of deep azure silk. Her smile was enchanting yet measured, her eyes glittering with intelligence.
Beside her stood a woman equally beautiful. Unlike Circe's enticing and alluring beauty, hers was mysterious and dangerous, with shadow-dark hair tumbling over her shoulders and eyes flickering with knowledge of darker truths. She wore a black silk dress, complemented by a golden necklace that gleamed with Hecate's symbol: two crossed torches.
This must be Medea.
As Lucas sized her up, Medea was doing the same to him. She knew her aunt well, and the fact that Circe allowed a male to wander freely within her domain was unprecedented.
Medea spoke, her voice smooth yet edged with hidden threats. "Circe, your hospitality grows more generous with each passing century. Allowing a male into your home is indeed groundbreaking."
Circe smiled lightly, unbothered by Medea's jab. "Lucas is an exceptional student, Medea. A testament to the potential within Hecate's lineage."
Lucas offered a respectful nod. "Lady Medea, it's an honor."
Circe's eyes narrowed as she observed the guinea pig peering from Lucas's sleeve. "And who might this creature be?"
"Harold," Lucas introduced, allowing the small creature to rest in his palm.
Intrigued, Circe extended her hand, silently demanding Harold. Lucas hesitated briefly before gently placing Harold into her palm. Circe stroked Harold softly, studying him.
"A drakon. Interesting. It seems I taught you well." Circe said. "So what brings you back?"
"Plutus sent me on a quest to retrieve the golden fleece, in return for funding for the sanctuary."
"Sanctuary?"
"A place for demigods, spirits, minor gods and monsters, You could open a branch there, save being isolated out here."
Circe ignored his invitation, focusing on something else.
"And Olympus permits this? Do they not perceive it as undermining their rule?"
"They tolerate it," Lucas explained carefully. "Hecate has gathered allies, causing hesitation among the Olympians."
Medea interrupted sharply, eyes darkening with bitterness. "Do you truly think Olympus will let your haven exist peacefully?"
Before Lucas could respond, Medea continued coldly, "They prefer to toy with those beneath them. You think you can create a safe haven away from their schemes, yet you fail to realize that this itself is part of their entertainment; the hunt. A cat playing with a mouse, offering false hope before striking."
Lucas saw the wrath in Madea's eyes and understood.
Lucas met her fierce gaze. "You are too consumed by your past, Medea, to see the hope that lies ahead."
Circe watched carefully but remained silent, allowing them their exchange.
"Do not speak as if you know me, boy."
"I know enough," Lucas countered steadily. "You were a princess, a witch of immense potential: cold-hearted and fierce in your love for magic. Yet Aphrodite twisted your love, manipulated your affections, and drove you to tragic extremes. Betrayed and abandoned, you chose vengeance and pain."
Medea's eyes ignited with wrathful fire. "Careful, boy. Some words carry consequences. If this is how you speak to others, I won't be surprised if no one joins your little group."
"I only invite those who were innocent before being harmed, you may be a victim of theirs, but I know of the dark magic you practiced before the gods controlled you. The lives you ruined."
Circe, sensing the inevitable clash, stepped aside gracefully, holding Harold protectively. Her gaze lingered on Lucas, silent encouragement mixed with quiet concern. "The courtyard," she said evenly. "Let's vent in a place that won't damage my home, shall we?"
Lucas and Medea moved toward the courtyard, tension thickening around them, each step echoing the impending confrontation. Beneath the watchful gaze of Circe, the duel was set to begin.