Page 60 of Styx

It is us who are favoured now,

by the Gods and their brothers.

Only beauty counts. And you,’

she said pityingly,

‘are not beautiful.

What match

can you hope

to make?’

Styx’s eyes flashed with fury

as she glared at Acaste

and I stepped off the rock

away from the grasp

of all these nymphs

and their cruelty and smother.

‘Do not speak to her like that.’

I glowered. ‘NEVER speak

to your older sister that way.’

The skies above us darkened

as I dimmed the stars and went to Styx.

The nymphs shrank back from us.

I took her hand in the water.

‘One day, Acaste,’ Styx said,

a tremor of rage in her voice,

‘you will realize the disservice

you have done yourself

by defining yourself by your beauty

and nothing more to speak of.’

With these words spoken,

we swam back through the lake

away from the gossiping tongues