Page 177 of Styx

She had told me that if she had been

a Goddess, she would have had a choice.

It was true there were those among us

who did not choose to be consorts.

But it was a rare thing for even a Goddess

not to choose to have a child.

Kneeling, I took Styx’s hand again.

Metis sat between her legs.

‘Perses,’ I spoke urgently,

‘bring us water, clean cloths.’

Metis looked at me and shook her head.

‘There is no need,’ she snapped her fingers,

and suddenly, there was a large golden bowl

full of water beside us, and swaddling cloths.

My jaw tightened.

Clearly Metis was further along

than both Styx and I in her powers.

Why did she not tell us any of this?

But there was no time to think,

as Styx began to push.

I pressed a cool, wet cloth to her forehead.

Her cries filled the cave. The process

of birth took time and strength.

While Pallas held Styx’s other hand,

whispering soothing words to her,

Perses kept careful watch for Zeus.

I was grateful for his distraction.

But I was afraid our own children

might have to be born this way.

Not in a palace, a safe home of Gods,