Page 246 of Styx

Just as you did. And you chose correctly.’

I grimaced at his fingers touching me.

I wanted to claw at them till he removed

his unwanted grip on my shoulder.

But instead, I said calmly,

‘You said you would not be like your father.’

Before I could stop myself, I continued,

‘But do you not see how this is worse?’

Zeus gave me a smile, but there was

no warmth in it. Instead, he boomed,

‘Let me show you how I am better

than my father ever was.

You, Styx, will have the goddesshood

you always desired. For your poisonous tongue,

your bitterness, your capacity to turn

on those you claim to love so easily…

I name you the Goddess of Hatred.’

My inside felt like it was wilting.

I stared at Zeus, my fury and humiliation

rendering me unable to speak.

He continued, ‘But look, there is more.

Your children, powerful, brilliant

as they are, will stay here on Olympus.

My most exalted warriors,

deified forever as my own.’

A hum rose from the collected Titans.

But I knew very well what Zeus was doing.

My children were too powerful.

He was separating them from me,

the one who had openly showed