Chapter 3
"...take me home! To the place, I belong!" Jess and her father belted out the lyrics as they pulled into Itasca State Park, their favorite place in all of Minnesota.
"We're here!" he said, as they parked the tiny car.
Jess hopped out, and immediately regretted wearing leggings and not shorts. It didn't matter. Soon, they would be standing in the headwaters of the Mississippi.
They hiked up the trail to the river. Jess's eyes darted around her, taking in every person, while still listening to her father's idle chatter.
They came into sight of the huge pillar standing before the river, and began wading in. Several dogs were swimming next to their owners as they stood. It was tradition to take a photo of the two of them, to see how much they changed from each time they stood in the water. As the camera flashed, she heard a dog begin barking. Her brown eyes immediately flitted over to the offending dog, and saw that it was barking at some sort of water spirit. It was ghoulish, with grey, sluggy water circulating through its form, elongated teeth, and eyes that glowed as though someone had rubbed salt in them.
Jess sloshed toward it, and it's captive-the dog's owner that was held in its arms. It looked right at the girl, and spoke without moving it's lips, Vengeance's daughter. You have no power over me. I have done you no wrong...yet.
"Maybe not me!" Jess replied. "But that German Shepherd thinks otherwise!"
She threw a punch, feinted another, and slammed her leg into the spirit's abdomen. It fell over with a thud, releasing the captured owner into the water. Jess grabbed the man, and dragged him the few feet to shore, before grabbing the spirit and twisting it into a chokehold. "I don't know who you are, or what you were trying to do." Jessica whispered in its ear, "but you'll leave and not come back if you know what's good for you."
There was a splash in the water behind Jess. "Couldn't agree more. And I'll back her up as a descendent of the sea god. Go away, Eris. Stop possessing that poor nymph."
The thing in Jess's arms gave a pout. Fine. But we both know those are empty words, Marianne.
The dark spirit floated out of the water spirit, and a typical blue tinted skin young girl was left in Jess's arms. Jessica released her into the river, and she gave a grateful smile before vanishing into the water.
Jess spun around to find a middle aged looking woman. She had amber hair, green eyes, and looked rather agile and thin despite being about forty. She also wore armor, which struck Jess as odd attire for a day trip to Itasca. "Who are you?
"As I said, a descendent of Poseidon. And as the goddess of discord said, Marianne. My grandpappy Poseidon asked me to check on the naiad of the river, and my Dad said I might find a demigod. So here we are. Gonna have to take you to camp if you're attracting the attention of a literal goddess. What's your name?"
"It's Jess. Jessica Tewers, but you'll call me Jess if you know what's good for you. And that's my dad, so I'm going to back away from the crazy lady, and not follow her onto…" Jess looked behind her. "Are those flying horses?"
"In fact they are. Does your Dad know you're a demigod?" she asked, directing this question toward Jess's father
He looked weary in his answer. "So you've finally come to take her away from me?"
Marianne shrugged. "At this point, it would be more dangerous to allow you to keep her close."
He sighed. "I knew this day would come, but I didn't think it would be today. Jess, you need to go with her. It's for your own safety."
"Dad, you've always taught me to defend myself, and now you are telling me to go away with a stranger. That's what I was supposed to defend against."
"That's not what I trained you for Jessica. It was for once they got your scent. She can take you to a place to really teach you how to fight the monsters. But you need to go with her."
"Dad, why?"
"Your mom was a Greek goddess, Jess. She was Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance. You need to learn to fight for those who need vengeance."
"Dad, you're sounding crazy."
"Was the thing in the water real?"
"Dad-"
"Yes or no. Did it have substance when you hit it?"
"Of course."
"Then you have your answer. But Jess, sweetie, if you want us both to be safe, you need to go with her."
Jess closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
"I won't let you down, Dad. I'll learn to avenge people, like...like my mom I guess."
"Good. Be the best you can be. I love you Jess."
She hugged him. "Love you, Dad."
Marianne led her to the flying horses, and soared east, toward the camp.
