Page 196 of Styx
‘Gods do not perish, child.’
Zeus smiled at him. ‘But Gods can be punished.
They can be trapped inside darkness.
They can be hurt. Their wives and daughters
can be enslaved. Is that the fate
you choose for yourselves and your families?’
The ten Titans were completely silent.
My ichor turned to ice inside my body
as I heard my father finally say the words,
‘If it is a battle you want, child,
then it is a battle you will get.’
Zeus Turned to Us at This
‘Do you hear that, children of Titans?
Your fathers have abandoned you.
Given the choice of peace and bloodshed,
they have chosen to sacrifice you.
I am a kinder ruler. Any Titan who joins me
will be allowed to keep some of their powers
and pieces of their realms. They will win favour
with me and no harm will come to them.’
None of us moved. Zeus continued to speak,
his voice cold and unwavering.
‘And those of you who have never tasted power
in this Titan hierarchy will finally know godhood.
I will give this choice, this offer to you.’
With these words, Zeus and his siblings
departed the palace of Oceanus, leaving behind
a bitter taste of poisoned air in their wake.
We Who Had Never Known War
No Primordial had fought for Ouranos.
