Page 143 of Styx

But Tartarus, the son of Chaos,

brother of Gaia, Eros, Erebus, and Nyx,

was both the cage and the weapon,

like a terrible womb filled with

a thousand immortal lives,

a burning inferno that captured forever.

We walked into the mouth of the cave

and within moments, we heard a roar.

‘Children of Titans.

You are not welcome here.’

Tartarus Rose from the Rivers of Fire

His body was carved from dark volcanic rock,

ashes made up his face, glowing, molten magma

formed his limbs, his torso, his eyes.

It was as though the very earth came together

to create him, this fearsome beast of a God.

He was ancient, more ancient than time itself,

and his massive body spoke of things

we would never understand as newer Gods.

For a second, no one spoke. Then Perses

stepped forward and said quietly,

‘Uncle, we have need of your aid.’

At his heart, Perses was a strategist.

As God of Destruction, he was fearless.

The rest of us glanced at one another,

and it was I who spoke up next.

‘The other child of Titans who visited you.

The one with yellow eyes like mine.

Where did she go?’ I eyed the behemoth

we called an uncle. For some time