Page 116 of Styx

gathered with Oceanus around his great map.

‘Father…’ I said breathlessly, ‘I have news.’

I felt the same way I did when I was a child

and I would joyously interrupt my father and uncles.

My father smiled at me widely.

‘As do I, daughter.’

I paused, confused. Had Perses

already spoken to him?

Instead, my father gestured to the oldest

of the River Gods, Achelous, a handsome God

who had an ink-dark beard, glittering dark

eyes, and the body of a great bull.

‘Achelous has asked for your hand,’

my father told me. ‘And I have said yes.’

Anger Coursed Through Me

I had always thought that Oceanus

was callous with his own daughters

but my naivety had led me to believe

he only took them for granted

because there were so many of them.

I never thought my own father would

assume that my eternity was his

to bargain away for favour or family.

But I knew that voicing this now

would lead to nothing good.

Instead of responding, I looked down.

‘Forgive me, Father, but I do not feel well.’

I took his stunned silence as an opportunity

to escape this room full of male Gods

and the games they played with our lives.