Page 198 of Styx

Metis’s Return

Her eyes lowered, she said softly,

‘I tried to stop him. But he has

his own destiny to fulfil.’

My hands shook as I took hers.

‘Please do not blame yourself.

His rage is an unstoppable force.

And anger like that cannot be sated

with kindness and wise words.’

I left the rest unspoken.

We knew his rage was driven

by vengeance. A vengeance rooted

in betrayal was hard to quench.

It could not be fed ambrosia,

only ichor. Styx’s voice was hushed,

her face even paler than before.

‘We failed you, Metis.

We should have understood

where this would lead.

In our quest to protect you,

we did to you what I hated

being done to me.

We kept secrets. Now…’

She swallowed hard.

‘Now we all must pay the price.’

Metis’s eyes filled with tears.

‘You must understand,

Zeus is not a terrible God.

He has been raised with

a singular purpose.