Page 249 of Styx

‘H-how did she defy him?’ I asked.

‘I do not know precisely,

but Zeus said she could do things

no Goddess should be able to do.’

Hades frowned. ‘I do not know what

he meant by these words.’

But I did. I knew what he meant.

He meant her magic made her terrifying.

He meant he was afraid of her stranger powers.

Powers both Asteria and I had.

That no God knew we could hold.

And I promised myself that to keep

my children who were hostage here safe,

I would never use the powers

that scared a God-King.

I would never practise magic

or spellwork again.

A Final Act

I held my children so close.

Bia wept uncontrollably.

Nike could barely hold her tears

back when I let her go.

Kratos, my sweet boy, whispered,

‘When we have permission,

we will visit, Mother.’

Zelus walked with us

until the gates of Olympus

stopped him from going any farther.

I turned back to look at him,

his sad eyes watching us go.