Page 71 of Styx

was there, holding a cloth to her forehead.

When Phoebe moved,

my eyes widened as I saw why.

It was only us in this room.

My mother’s womb was swollen

with a child she had sworn

to Kronos that she would not have.

‘Styx, Come Here!’

My aunt Phoebe spoke with urgency.

My body did as it was told, even in shock.

I knew how to help my mother through this,

having helped with all my siblings’ births.

I grabbed the clean water, and rushed

to be by my mother’s side.

Phoebe told Asteria and Leto,

‘Asteria, we need you here too.

Leto, go and make sure no one

disturbs us. Not a single soul

must be allowed in, do you understand?’

Leto nodded quickly and rushed

to stand outside the doors of the chambers.

As my mother let out a cry,

Phoebe gently took her hand.

‘Hush, sister. I know this is difficult,

but we need your quiet now.’

To my surprise, proud Tethys obeyed,

taking a cloth, placing it in her mouth,

and biting down on it instead of screaming.

As Asteria and I helped,

Phoebe gently guided my mother