Page 190 of Styx

near the door, River Gods

and nymphs alike jostling

to take up as much space

as they possibly could.

Beyond them were

the more powerful

children of the Titans.

Styx and Pallas were amongst them

as well as Leto. Metis was nowhere to be seen.

Perses and I went to take our place

by their side, our faces grim.

Next to the children of Titans

stood ten of the twelve children

of Gaia and Ouranos, the old Titans

and Titanides themselves.

Beyond them on thrones

made of silver and gold,

sat the most ancient of us all.

The five Primordials.

Even Tartarus had left his volcano.

I glanced at Styx and saw she shared

my great unease. Zelus was at Pallas’s

chest, already grown into a child.

We grew silent.

It was Oceanus who spoke

in the quiet that followed.

‘Primordials. Titans. Children

of Gods and immortals.

You have been summoned here

on the askance of your elders