Page 102 of Styx

and hard to soothe.

She shook my hand off

and said, ‘This is not fair.

They should not have come.

Styx did not want to see him.’

Her rage was righteous now,

but I knew Metis well.

I had seen her once destroy

her entire chambers in fury

when my mother had told her

she was to stay in her halls

after she had been caught

trying to listen in to my father

and one of his brother’s conversations.

Metis had never liked rules.

Behind me I heard footsteps

and turned to see Perses.

My heart skipped a beat

as his eyes met mine.

His chest was bare and every

sinew and muscle was a work of art.

Suddenly the voices in my head

grew very quiet and I sighed with relief.

‘Asteria.’ He nodded at me.

‘May I have a word?’

Leto and Metis looked at each other

with silent understanding.

‘Let us know when they emerge,’ Leto said

as they left.

Perses