Page 189 of Styx

‘Perses?’ I asked, sitting up.

Outside Eos was bringing in the dawn,

her rosy fingers painting the sky.

My consort took a deep breath.

‘Asteria, we have received an urgent

summons. All the Gods and deities

have been called to Oceanus’s palace.

We must leave at once, my love.’

Only a few nights had passed

since our return. My heart raced

in my chest. This was disquieting.

Had Metis failed to convince Zeus?

The Universal Summons

When we arrived at Oceanus’s palace,

its high arches and marble floors

that I had once known so well

felt unwelcoming and strange.

The air was stifling as we made

our way to the halls where

a thousand great feasts for immortals

of every kind were held.

Perses pushed opened the heavy doors

and took my hand as he led me in.

A magnificent yet terrifying sight

awaited us within this place.

I did not know it was possible

to fit so many powerful Gods

into these halls, which seemed

even larger than I remembered them.

The lesser deities positioned themselves