Page 146 of Styx

as we left our strange uncle and the Underworld.

My face was hot from recognition.

The first time an ancient God had seen my mind.

Pallas took my hand as we walked

down to the edge of the volcano of Tartarus.

He smiled at me and whispered,

‘You were always the cleverest of us.’

I felt a smile tug at my lips.

His pride in me was unwavering,

and his belief in me was so powerful.

He lifted my hand and kissed it.

When we reached the edge of the shore,

the sea lapping at our feet,

Perses raised his hands to his mouth and

a strange siren-like call escaped his lips.

It raised a cry from the birds above.

And soon, a soft breeze surrounded us and

a young, bright-eyed God was before us.

He was little more than a youth

with curly hair that fell into his eyes.

‘Hello, uncles and aunts,’

he said with a merry smile.

‘Where shall we go?’

‘We Must Go to See the King of the Orchard’

Perses told his jovial nephew.

I was already feeling tired just looking

at the youth. He seemed like someone

Asteria and Leto might find more palatable.

Zephyrus had a wide smile for us all

as he sang, ‘A journey through