Page 57 of Styx

with my parents.

The first thing my cousins did

was grasp my arms

and lead me away.

I looked for Styx amongst

these pearly skinned,

gossamer-dressed nymphs,

each one with glossy silken hair

and eyes that shone

sapphire, ruby, or emerald,

but her amber split eyes were missing.

‘Come, cousin,’ said Acaste,

her waist-length lustrous brown hair

woven with soft grey flowers.

‘You must sit with us

at the favoured seat by

our mother’s throne.’

As she said this,

she pushed aside

the weeping willow leaves

that obscured the view

of Goddess Tethys’s freshwater lake.

The turquoise-and-azure water

shimmered invitingly, as

all along the edges

laughing nymphs played

with dolphins

and tended to silver fish.

In the centre of it all,

was a gleaming throne