Page 163 of Styx

love and grace. Do you still

not trust me?’ At these words,

it was as though a veil fell

from my eyes. I had hurt him.

Not because I kept the baby a secret,

but because I had disrespected his love

in doing so. Even now, Pallas did not

show any anger. Instead,

he simply showed pain.

‘Pallas,’ I said ruefully.

My heart had been barricaded so long

that I did not recognize his love

for the gift that it was.

And now I had hurt him. The only

male God who had shown me

unconditional understanding and support.

Where my father knew my intelligence

and used it to his benefit without gratitude,

Pallas always thanked me for my counsel.

Where my brothers knew I was eldest

but showed me no respect for it,

Pallas never forgot, mentioning

to anyone who would listen

that I was the first of our generation,

the oldest of the Titans’ children.

How had I not seen his patient love

for what it was? Relegated him to being

just another male God unconsciously.

I took his face in my hands and said words

I had rarely ever said before.