Page 245 of Styx

Poseidon and they both smirked –

‘to the victor go the spoils.’

My heart froze.

A cry resounded across Olympus:

‘NO!’ It was so hoarse and broken

I almost did not realize that the voice…

the word… it was mine.

‘You Object, Styx?’

There was a dangerous edge to Zeus’s voice.

But I had faced a powerful God

and protested his decisions before.

I stepped forward and said,

‘Leave the Titanides alone.

They did not fight against you.’

Zeus’s eyes turned thunderous.

‘But they did. They stayed loyal

to husbands and sons and fathers

who stood against us. That is

a declaration enough.’

I shook my head.

‘Many did not have a choice.’

Zeus walked in my direction

and I felt Pallas’s eyes on me.

I knew what he was thinking.

If Zeus decided to punish me

for speaking against him,

there would be nothing he could do.

But Zeus instead put his hand

on my shoulder and said,

‘They all had a choice, Styx.