Short chapter today!
To Anonymous Person Lucky 13- Don't tell Jessica about it- she might try and find a Louisa-sized hamster ball for real life :P
To 8Ball3- I think every time a villain is written with a pompadour, he's automatically the worst XD
To NeverWritesAlwaysReads- Oh, she's fine O:) And thank you! ^_^ Lou is definitely one of my favourite OCs, between fanfics and my actual stories XD I'm so proud of how she's turned out :D
Harvey stared out at the water, sniffing the sea air as he pretended to think. Emphasis on pretended- he knew Louisa could talk to fish. He knew she could breathe underwater. He knew she was very splashy and demonic. He knew nothing about how she did any of that, beyond- duh- being natural born powers inherited from her father.
So, by extension, he knew nothing about teaching these powers to Popadom.
He wasn't going to say that though, glancing sidelong at his companion. Louisa-Popadom was bouncing in the surf, throwing their hands out and yelling in frustration when the waves did not respond to them, be it onto the sand or back out to sea.
"Why isn't this workin'?!"
"Maybe you need to be more in the water." Harvey suggested, shrugging as best he could while still wrapped in shadows. Popadom's shadowy black eyes glowered at him, but Louisa stomped into the water up to her waist.
"Now what?"
"I'm still working that out. Louisa's magic is… different to mine."
"Well, obviously, she's a Big Three child. You're the child of some minor goddess."
"Ooh, now that's just rude. My mother is a lovely lady." Harvey turned his nose up in protest. Popadom-Louisa scoffed and faced out to the horizon.
"You must know somethin' of this child's abilities."
"I've been teaching her to control the Mist."
"How's that goin'?"
"Terribly." Harvey admitted with an amused smile. "She's not the most patient of students. I think you need to wave your arms more."
"I am wavin' my arms!" She protested, arms pinwheeling madly enough so she looked like she was about to take flight. Harvey bit back a laugh, wriggling his arms against the shadowy bonds. There had to be some way out of these…
Louisa-Popadom yelled in frustration again, clenching her fists close to her chest and shouting wordlessly at the waves. Harvey had a silent, confused moment of who was in control there, seeing Louisa's usual demon child behaviour. When she turned, however, it was Popadom's black eyes that glared at him. "You must know somethin'!"
"Ooh, I know the alphabet, English and Latin."
"That's not what I meant!"
"What did you mean?" Harvey asked innocently. Popadom-Louisa glowered, shadows writhing around them. The ones around Harvey tightened, pressing on his arms and his chest, his breath wheezing. "Oh, I see what you mean now." He rasped. The shadows relaxed a fraction as she folded her arms. Harvey thought quickly, concentrating on the water. "Um… I know- I mean, I think a lot of Lou's powers come from physical motions, but with an emotional response behind them."
"Like what?"
"Um… well, I've seen glasses of water explode when she's lost her temper."
"Mm. I need somethin' more reliable than that. What else does she do?"
"She hits people with books."
"Why? She's a child of Neptune, why not just-?" Popadom-Louisa punched the air, scowling when the water still didn't respond. Harvey managed another shrug. "Ooh, this is annoyin'!" She turned away from him, closing her eyes and covering her face with her hands. Harvey watched curiously. Was Popadom trying to ask Louisa now? "No, tell me." She muttered. "Just tell me or I'll kill him. Why are you so stubborn?!"
"Because the sea is stubborn." Harvey supplied, though he wasn't sure Popadom heard him.
The dryad was quiet for a considerable time, unmoving in his silent argument with Louisa. Harvey almost wished him luck, knowing from experience how problematic the child was. He couldn't even get her to do homework, so how Popadom was going to get her to comply with sharing her Big Three powers, he had no idea. Although, he didn't threaten to murder her family when she drew animals into her shapes…
He had completely zoned out, for however long it was, he had no idea, startling back into reality when Louisa-Popadom began to laugh. She turned back to him, grinning lopsidedly, black eyes suddenly even darker.
"I have no use for you anymore." She said, raising her hand. Harvey blinked.
"Does… that mean I can go now?" He asked. She tipped her head, an iciness building behind that smile. Harvey bit his lip, a tremble sinking down his spine.
"Yes, you can go now." She grinned sweetly. "In a way."
"Oooh, I don't like this!" Lizzie wailed. They had recruited Storm, the best Louisa-tracker they knew. Jessica sat at the front, her daughter clinging to her tight enough to be a Heimlich, hiding her face between Jessica's shoulders and complaining the entire time. "I thought this would be really cool, but it's not!" She squeaked as Storm swerved around a building, sniffing the air. The mare was so focused on her task that she didn't even turn her head to snort, offended, at Lizzie.
Jessica watched the city pass beneath them, scrutinising everything she could. They flew over their trick-or-treating route, although there was no sign of the boys, Barry and Liam. Hundreds upon hundreds of people were out, enjoying the festivities, their laughter and shrieks of delight reaching up to them. No-one noticed the pegasus swooping overhead.
The night air was cold and biting through their Halloween costumes, Lizzie's spider legs flapping in the currents. Jessica had lost her hat at some point, only distantly noticing when her hair whisked in her face. She had managed to dwindle Lizzie's terrified babbling down to white noise, occasionally squeezing her hand in silent reassurance.
Storm veered in the direction of the beach, still following Louisa's scent. Of course, the beach. From up here, they could see the sea stretching out, glittering under the night sky with dozens of stars and the silver glow of the moon. Storm beat her wings, picking up speed. Lizzie yelped, her hold constricting and pushing air from Jessica's lungs.
"Breathe." She wheezed.
"I'm trying." Lizzie mumbled.
"No. Me breathe."
"Oh. Sorry." Lizzie's hold eased the tiniest possible fraction of a smidge. Jessica had a momentary thought about tipping her off the pegasus, but quickly thought better of it. Something told her Lizzie would not see the funny side.
Lizzie squealed as Storm began to descend, accelerating towards the ground on a smooth, angled glide. They landed on the sand with a soft thump. Lizzie practically threw herself off, scrambling away. Jessica inhaled deeply, feeling her stomach. She was definitely going to have bruises from that constriction. Maybe even internal bleeding. "I don't want to do that again!" Lizzie cried. Storm ignored her, sniffing the sand.
"Is she close by?" Jessica asked. Storm's ear flicked and she began to walk, nose to the ground. "Lizzie, you OK?"
"I think I'm going to be sick."
"Can you be sick and walk?"
"I can, but it's not going to be pretty." She did look a little green. Jessica offered her arm, Lizzie looping hers through with a feeble, grateful smile. Her spider limbs swatted Jessica's side. Slowly, they followed after Storm, Lizzie taking deep breaths of the ocean air. "I think I'll stick to surfing." She mumbled.
"Well, when you learn to surf through the sky and track a really annoying bratty demigod, let me know."
"Yes, Mom." Jessica smiled at that. Was she ever going to get used to being called 'Mom'? Was that elated feeling of pure joy going to happen every time she heard the word? She sure hoped so.
Storm whinnied for their attention, lifting her head to stare at the water. She checked they were still following her and then trotted off, heading for the waves. She was pawing at the surf when they caught up with her, ears lying flat. Jessica still couldn't speak pegasus, but she knew the mare was agitated, pacing back and forth and snorting at the water, kicking the waves. Her wings spread a bit, as if challenging the sea to a fight.
Nausea wrestled in Jessica's stomach.
"You can't find her?" Her voice was quiet, quieter than she intended. Storm looked at her, dark eyes shimmering miserably. Jessica looked to the water lapping around the pegasus's hooves and sighed. "The trail ends here." She told Lizzie. "Storm can't find her."
"So… what does that mean? Is she… out there?" Lizzie pointed out to the horizon.
"I don't know." Jessica admitted. Lizzie stared at her, brow creasing. Her blue eyes seemed almost moonlight grey under the night sky, worried tears pooling.
"What do we do then?" Jessica thought about it for a moment, contemplating the waves. Popadom clearly had a plan, something he needed Louisa for. Was it this god-killer thing? Was it to free himself from the tree? What?
She didn't know enough to piece anything together. There was only one way to find Louisa and Harvey again, voicing the option in response to Lizzie's question.
"We wait for the next catastrophe."