‘Well,’ she said, pulling herself up stiffly and placing her left hand to her right shoulder. ‘Thank you, Elliot the Mortal, for your begrudging hospitality and cantankerous company. It has been curious knowing you and I wish you well in your uneventful mortal life.’

They looked at one another for a moment before bursting out laughing. Life with Virgo had been anything but uneventful.

The laughter died when Elliot realized that he was running out of seconds that still had Virgo in them. He tried to think of a way to adequately thank her for her friendship, for making good choices when he hadn’t, for making him laugh, and for saving his life.

‘See ya,’ he said eventually.

She nodded and blew her nose on her hair. Truly, she was such a freak.

‘Come on, Virgo, let’s get a move on,’ huffed Pisces impatiently. ‘We’ll be late for lunch. Especially as you haven’t started preparing it yet.’

‘OK, then,’ she said and returned to her colleagues on the Council.

‘Time for us to be off too,’ said Zeus softly.

‘What?’ said Elliot, feeling panic rising. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Mate – you and your dad don’t need us around, getting under your feet,’ said Hermes, coming and slinging an arm around his shoulder. ‘You don’t need us at all.’

‘Yes – yes, I do,’ said Elliot. ‘I need you all. What if something else . . . happens?’

‘Then you know how to call us,’ said Zeus, pressing a small thunderbolt into his hand. ‘And we’ll be here at the double.’

Elliot looked over at his dad, who nodded happily. Zeus was right. They had so much catching up to do. Living with a family of Greek immortals had been an epic adventure. But wow, was it hard work.

‘Heffer sends his apologies,’ said Zeus, offering a gift wrapped in a dirty rag. ‘He hates goodbyes. But he wanted you to have this. It’s not the original, but he assures me it’s identical to the one you lost.’

Elliot unwrapped the gift. It was his dad’s watch. He clutched it to his chest. He had it back and he silently swore he would never lose it again.

‘Say thanks from me,’ he said, gazing into the King of the Gods’ boundless eyes.

‘I will,’ nodded Zeus tearfully.

‘We love you, Elly,’ said Aphrodite, who was now a snotty mess – although still stunning with it. ‘And when you need help with your first girlfriend, you know where to find me.’

‘Gross,’ said Elliot, feeling the familiar blush at Aphrodite’s embrace.

‘You have a wonderful future ahead of you, Elliot,’ said Athene, gathering him into a hug. ‘We look forward to watching it unfold.’

‘I’ll drop in on you from time to time, mate,’ said Hermes, lifting Elliot up into the air, before flipping and catching him again. ‘You’re family now. Bad luck, bruv. BOSH!’