Page 248 of Styx

‘Styx,’ he said quietly, ‘I promise you

that I will not interfere in your work.

Your river is your realm.

I will have no say over it.

But know this, other than Pallas,

all other Gods and Goddesses

can only visit the Underworld

with my permission.’

Out of the three brothers,

I was surprised to find Hades

the most tolerable, with his respectful manner

a small consolation in the grief I felt

upon losing my children.

I turned to look at Zeus, wishing my glare

was powerful enough to destroy a God-King.

I noticed finally that Metis

was nowhere to be seen.

‘Where is Metis?’ I whispered.

‘Did you not know what happened?’

Hades’s words held a strange succour to them,

almost as though he felt pity for me.

‘She defied Zeus. So he devoured her.’

My whole body felt like it was breaking.

I turned to Hades and whispered,

‘He devoured her?’ Hades nodded slowly.

‘I am sorry, Styx. Hera is said to be

Zeus’s next God-Queen.’

For all Metis’s powers,

for all her talents,

she could not fight Zeus.