Severely wounded, Ariadne is taken back to Atlantis. The Oracle tells Jason that the knife that stabbed Ariadne had a death curse put upon it, and there is no way to heal it. Desperate, Jason asks if there is anyone who might be able to help, and the Oracle tells him the Graiae sisters know everything. Jason takes off with Hercules and Pythagoras in tow.
As they travel, Hercules admires the determination of Orpheus and Jason to not let anything stop them from fighting for the people they love, and he thinks sadly about Medusa, whom he hasn’t been able to help.
Cilix reports to Paisphae that Ariadne is dying. Pasiphae questions how she can trust someone who would betray their Queen, but when Cilix points out he risked his life to give Pasiphae this information she lets him go.
The heroes reach the Graiae sisters, three hideous hags with only one eye to share between them. When they refuse to help, Jason snatches their eye and threatens to destroy it. The Graiae Sisters explain that Ariadne can only be cured with blood of the sorceress who enchanted the knife that wounded her. Jason is determined to kill Medea, but the Graiae Sisters say that he can’t because her destiny is linked with his.
The heroes make their way through the cursed Calabrian Forest to find Medea. The forest is home to the terrible Stymphalian birds, which hunt by detecting blood. When Hercules is bitten by a mosquito, this tiny drop of blood attracts the birds, and soon poor Hercules is covered with scratches from their claws. The heroes take shelter in a rock alcove too small for the birds to enter, but Hercules is forced to stay inside until the bleeding stops. Pythagoras stays with Hercules to help him stop the bleeding while Jason goes on alone.
Jason climbs up the rocky cliff face to infiltrate the temple where Medea and Pasiphae are hiding. He manages to get to Medea, but Medea says that he can’t kill her. She claims that she can feel a connection between the two of them, and that they both are touched by the gods. Jason knocks Medea unconscious and takes some of her blood, but before he can leave, he is captured by the Colchians. Pasiphae has Jason taken to the dungeons and put in chains.
Pasiphae checks that Medea is all right and wonders why Jason didn’t kill her when he had the chance. Medea asks why Pasiphae hasn’t killed Jason, and Pasiphae confides that she is Jason’s mother.
In his cell, Jason is visited by Pasiphae. After asking Jason several questions about his past and what he knows of his parentage, Pasiphae claims that she only wants Atlantis to be at its strongest, and that Ariadne is too weak to protect the city. Jason replies that Atlantis is only weak right now because Pasiphae is working so hard to destroy it. Pasiphae tries to convince Jason that they don’t need to be on opposite sides. She considers telling Jason the truth but decides that Jason isn’t ready to hear it yet. Jason begs to know what she was about to tell him. Pasiphae falters for a moment and steps too close to Jason, who seizes her in his chains and tries to strangle her. The Colchians intervene and save Pasiphae, but Pasiphae stops them before they kill Jason.
Now that the bleeding has stopped, Hercules and Pythagoras set out to find out what happened to Jason.
Pasiphae tells Medea what happened. Pasiphae is so shaken by the hatred she saw in Jason’s eyes that she abandons any hope of using him in her plans and prepares to poison him. Medea is horrified that Pasiphae would kill her own son, but Pasiphae retorts that Jason has been dead to her ever since his father took him away.
Hercules and Pythagoras rescue Jason from the dungeon and the heroes escape with Medea’s blood.Ariadne is cured with a poultice made from Medea’s blood. When Ariadne awakens, she expresses her love for Jason, and asks him to marry her. Jason accepts.
Tropes
- I Surrender, Suckers: Jason is caught at sword point by one of the Colchian soldiers and initially drops his sword as though surrendering, but then grapples with the guard and knocks him out.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Subverted. Pasiphae comes very close to revealing the truth to Jason, but decides he isn’t ready for it.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When the Graiae Sisters won’t help Jason, he snatches their eye and threatens to destroy it. Hercules and Pythagoras are surprised to see Jason acting so ruthlessly when he usually sees the best in everyone.
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Subverted. Pasiphae questions how she can trust Cilix after he has betrayed multiple rulers of Atlantis, but Cilix points out that he has always betrayed for her sake, and Pasiphae decides to let him live.
- Shout-Out: After escaping from the temple of Hecate, Herules declares "The witch is dead." But Jason soon tells him Medea is still alive.
