Page 241 of Styx

Pallas and Perses’s own father, Crius.

Asteria’s father, Coeus.

My heart ached for the two elder Gods

who had only shown me kindness.

I remembered their smiling faces.

Now they sat huddled behind bars.

I looked away, unable to see this.

It was a stripping of dignity.

And in that moment, I could only think

how grateful I was that neither

my father nor Pallas

were in those cruel cages.

With a pang of love, I glanced at my consort,

but he refused to look at me,

his eyes gazing at the cage

his own hands had built for his father.

It was as though all the warmth

had been drained from his body.

All Titans seemed duller now.

I noticed that none of the Titanides

were there. My heart thumped

What had happened to them.

Finally, Zeus spoke.

‘Friends!

Welcome!

And be glad you chose

the side that was victorious

for it could be you in these cages.’

He used his thunderbolt

to smack at Coeus’s cage.