Page 62 of Styx

‘Don’t, Asteria,’

she said quietly.

I frowned at this.

We both stopped walking,

my gown still wet

from our unwanted swim.

‘Don’t look at me

with such pity.’

She turned to me.

‘I do not need pity.’

Her voice vibrated

with ambition and spite…

‘I Need Power’

I tensed at her words

as a pair of River Gods

walked by, their weathered

features deep in discussion.

Quickly, I grabbed

Styx’s hand and pulled

her into a corner where the arch

hid us from the hallway.

‘Styx,’ I said quietly,

‘keep your voice down!’

She pulled her hand

roughly out of mine.

‘Why?’ she asked bitterly.

‘I do not want this version

of immortality. Where I am

judged for how I look,

not what I can do.