Page 134 of Styx

at her had she not immediately rushed to us,

weeping. She fell into Asteria’s arms apologizing.

‘I should have been watching her! After what she

learned about Rhea and Kronos, she was never

the same.’ Leto mourned, holding Asteria tight.

‘Leto,’ Coeus said quietly,

‘give them time to ask their questions first.’

As ever, Asteria’s father was omniscient.

‘How could this have happened?’ I demanded,

Pallas’s hand tightened around mine.

‘How could she just disappear like this?’

The room felt so still after I said these words.

As though no one wanted to admit the truth

until I had said out loud. Metis was gone.

Leto wept harder into Asteria’s shoulder.

‘I am sorry, Styx, I wish I—’

‘I have no time for your wishes,’ I snapped.

‘We need to know where she’s gone.’

Coeus turned to me now, a frown

on his face. ‘It was not Leto’s fault.’

‘Whose was it then?’ I turned to him.

A chill fell between us.

‘It was mine.’

What Metis Heard

My mind whirled with a thousand questions.

What did he mean it was his fault?

I glared at him, my voice a hiss. ‘Explain.’

He sighed, then walked to the window where Phoebe,

his wife, was in the skies holding the moon,

its light shining onto the sea and onto these onyx floors.