Virgo was unable to understand her body’s reaction to the idea that she would never see Elliot Hooper again. It was a curious, sort of twisting sensation that controlled her mind, heart and stomach. The thought of his unwashed, unpleasant and uncontrollable presence leaving her life caused a strange constriction in her throat and the imminent threat of ocular leakage. Not starting every day trading insults with this unremarkable mortal child, nor laughing at his absurdities, left a strange emptiness inside her, which she didn’t comprehend, given that all her major organs were present and accounted for. It was almost as though her body was objecting to the prospect of being separated from him for ever.

It was most peculiar. Virgo didn’t even particularly like the boy.

She was interrupted by her hand being warmly squeezed by David Hooper.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ he said.

She smiled at this charming mortal. Dave had been especially kind to her since his return two days previously, ever since the Gods informed him of her reckless actions at the Earth’s core. It transpired that mortal parents were particularly grateful when you saved their child from certain death. She added this to the long list of surprising mortal observations she had compiled over the previous months.

‘Thank you, Mr Hooper, but now I am an immortal, I am unable to accept mortal money,’ she said. ‘But should you wish to pay me in gelatine-based confectionery, that will be acceptable.’

‘You are such a freak,’ Elliot grunted. As usual, he was unhappy about being summoned to school first thing in the morning, especially after two long nights of staying up talking to his father. Virgo couldn’t help but smile. So much had changed since her arrival on Earth. But Elliot Hooper would never be a morning mortal.

‘I fail to understand why our presence is required at this hearing,’ she said.

‘So you can give that evil bunch of blubber exactly what he deserves,’ growled Dave. ‘What he did to you kids – he’s lucky I’m not up on a murder charge.’

Virgo noted that the two mortals seemed to have formed an exceptionally strong bond in their short time together and any mention of David leaving again appeared to cause Elliot some distress. But a smile from his father, who took Virgo’s and Elliot’s hands in his and brought them to his lips, appeared to calm the child. And, Virgo had to admit, it was a comforting sensation for her too.

They arrived shortly at the grand gates to Brysmore Grammar School and made their way through the corridors to Call Me Graham’s office. They knocked on the door and waited for the gibbering headmaster’s feeble summons.