Page 74 of Styx

A hierarchy where even a child

of Gods must abide by the rules,

accept being sent away in secret,

unclaimed by those who should

celebrate who you are at your birth.

Asteria’s Embrace Was Kind

Her words were gentle. ‘We will care for her

as our own sister. Do not worry yourself.’

But I was full of concern for my infant sister.

While I knew she would be safe with Asteria and Leto,

it did not change the fact that she was born

against the orders of a God-King,

putting her immortality in imminent danger.

Pulling myself from Asteria’s embrace,

my eyes red with crying, I turned to my mother,

now sitting on her bed, already healed.

‘How could you risk this?’

I hissed, rage starting to simmer.

My mother did not answer,

so I dug my claws deeper.

‘You knew what would happen.

And now Metis must pay the price.’

My mother turned to me and for a second

I thought I saw sadness in her eyes

before it turned to anger.

‘You may be favoured by your father,

and allowed to speak this way to him.

But you have no right to disrespect me so.’

I let go of Asteria’s hand, my fury at its peak.

‘I have every right as the deliverer of EACH