Page 250 of Styx

Pallas and I returned to Oceanus’s palace.

Our chambers felt empty.

After years of children that I had raised

it was only the two of us again.

A wide abyss had been crafted

between us. One made of war.

Broken vows.

Betrayal.

Pallas turned to me.

‘Styx,’ he said quietly,

his voice rough with brokenness,

‘please look at me.’

I looked into his eyes.

He skimmed his fingers

along my jawline.

‘I know why you chose this.

I know now, it was not

just for you. It was for us.

You wanted us to be spared

the fate that… that…’

He could not finish.

But I shook my head bitterly.

‘I failed, Pallas.

He took our children.’

Pallas shook his head.

‘You did not fail.

We are not in cages.’

He pulled me close,

into his arms, and I realized then

my inability to feel anything.