Page 49 of Styx

her expression laced with questions.

‘What are you suggesting?’

I watched the sleek black eel

swimming in the water.

Then I looked into Styx’s eyes.

‘I am saying,’ I said softly,

‘try to make the eel again.’

Practice

But it was not so simple.

Styx’s first attempt ended

with nothing in her hands.

Her second caused her to leave

half-moon marks on her own palms

from clenching them too hard.

On the third attempt,

Styx looked annoyed, upset,

and like she was about to give up.

I would not let her.

We were sitting on the rocks,

and Styx was concentrating,

trying to remember how

she had magicked the eel.

‘It is no use,’ she said finally,

opening her eyes after another try.

‘How were you feeling that day?’

I asked her. ‘The day I found you

sleeping inside the cave?’

This made her bare her fangs.

‘I would rather not speak about it.’

I rubbed my forehead. ‘I think you