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Where nymphs like Acaste

treat me with such disdain

while my parents silently watch

and even you look at me

with such pity in your eyes!’

I stared at her, my mouth open

at this outburst.

Had I not just defended her

in front of her sisters?

Had she not seen how much

I was willing to do for her?

As though she could

read my mind,

Styx pulled back from me

and said coldly,

‘You are not here all the time.

And I do not need protection

when I can create life, and

NONE of them can.’

Her breathing was becoming

ragged now and to my shock

I realized Styx,

brave Styx,

was about to burst into tears.

I moved forward cautiously

and took her hand again.

She was in pain.

How could I help her?

‘Styx, I beg you—’

That was when we heard