Page 72 of Styx

through the painful process

of bringing new immortal life

into this world. The labour was long,

much longer than any of the others

I had tended to.

Finally, a head emerged,

and then, like the strange miracle

she was, the child slid into my arms.

I waited to see if there was another.

But no, like me, she was alone.

I Placed Her on My Mother’s Chest

as I had done with all my sisters before.

But instead of pulling her close

and blessing her, my mother simply

turned her head away.

‘Styx,’ Phoebe said, taking the baby

from my mother’s chest,

‘you are to tell no one of this.’

She looked to Asteria too.

‘Either of you.’ She swaddled

my new sister in silken threads,

and held her close. ‘I will tell the world

that she is mine. And she will live

in Coeus’s and my palace.’

I stared at the baby, unable

to understand what was happening.

‘But she is my sister.’

My voice was small and hoarse.

‘She is.’ Phoebe paused, then said

kindly, placing her hand