Louisa remained silent while Jessica explained how she had found the girl unconscious in the water.
"You didn't take her for medical attention?"
"I work as a part-time nurse. She was only water-logged." The police officer behind the desk nodded and eyed Louisa warily.
"Why were you in the sea?" He asked. Louisa shrugged, her hands in her tracksuit bottoms pockets. She wore a couldn't-care-less expression, which clearly didn't sit well with the policeman.
The officer sighed. "Very well. We will keep her here for a night. If no-one claims her, we'll see if the local orphanage can take her."
"OK, thank-you."
"Wut? Ya goin'?"
"I have to, Lou." Louisa didn't look happy. Jessica thought for a few seconds before holding her hand out. Louisa's eyes flicked from Jessica's hand to her eyes, but she raised her hand in response. "Have you got a pen?" Jessica asked the officer. He handed her a blue biro. "OK, Lou. If you need to call me, just call me, alright?" She said, scribbling her number on the back of Louisa's hand.
"OK. Thanks." Louisa seemed a bit happier, but not entirely.
Later that night, Jessica lay awake wondering how Louisa was getting on. Even though she had only known Louisa for half a day, she had a feeling Louisa was testing the police officers' patience and sense of humour.
Jessica ran their last conversation through her head. It was the last thing Louisa said to her that caught her attention and confused her the most: 'I swear on the River Styx I've been tellin' the truth'.
River Styx? What was that?
About three in the morning, Jessica couldn't stand this not knowing any longer. She got out of her warm bed and went to her study, booting up her computer. She Googled everything Louisa had told her- the gods, the River Styx, the demons, the weapons.
It all fit with Louisa's story.
Jessica sat back in her leather, swivel chair, marvelling in her new knowledge.
Louisa was a demigod. Which meant her mom or dad was a god. Jessica thought back on Louisa's abilities. The water.
After a few minutes, Jessica found out two water gods- Peneus, a river god and Poseidon, the god of the sea.
Jessica had found Louisa in the ocean. And she hadn't said why she was there, but she clearly knew why.
"Having fun?" Jessica jumped and spun round in her chair, her heart racing. Sitting on the sofa positioned between two, oak bookcases was a man in his early thirties. He had laughter lines around his deep, sea green eyes that sparkled in the dim light. He had jet black hair that stuck up in all directions, as if a sea wind had styled it. He wore khaki shorts, a Hawaiian print shirt and sandals. His skin was deeply tanned, as if he spent all his time on the beach. Next to him was a trident.
"W-who are you? And… how did you get in?"
"Fire escape." The fire escape answer didn't seem solid enough, but Jessica didn't press him. "And you may call me Poseidon." He held her gaze studiously. "Why did you leave Louisa?"
"I-I… I had to. Someone could claim her or know her or something."
"But you heard her yourself. There is no-one to claim her." His grip tightened on the trident and he saw the fear in Jessica's eyes. "Do not worry. I do not run mortals through during the first meeting." Jessica paled.
"Is… is Louisa your… your…"
"Daughter?" Jessica nodded. "Yes."
"Then… why don't you claim her?"
"I would love to keep my children where I can look after them, but it is not in a god's role to do so."
"Children?"
"I have a son as well." He seemed pained. "I pity them, I really do."
"Why?"
"It was forbidden for I and my two brothers to sire anymore children. A hero's life isn't a happy one. There's always some sort of tragedy consuming their time."
"Then, why did you?"
"Love is a powerful thing." Poseidon got to his feet. "I must be going now. There is a matter to attend to in my kingdom."
"Erm… Poseidon?" He looked at her, a kind gleam in his powerful eyes. "What about Louisa? You won't leave her, will you?"
"I will help her, as I have done since she was five. But she needs a motherly figure in her life. Can you assure me you will take care of my daughter?" Jessica blinked blankly. He was asking her to adopt Louisa!
"I-I will." Jessica remembered what Louisa had said. "I swear on the River Styx to look after Louisa as best I can." Thunder boomed. Poseidon smiled.
"You learn quickly. That's good." And he turned into water vapour, trident and all, and vanished out the window, which opened on its own. All that was left was a strong, sea breeze.