Page 8 of Styx

a particularly tricky sea, looked up

to his wife, her silver curls flowing freely.

‘What did you see?’ All Titans knew to take

visions as prophecies now. Especially

after what had happened to Ouranos.

‘I saw your riverbanks full of children,

laughter everywhere in these gilded halls.’

My mother had a glow of pride as she said this.

My father stopped working.

‘How many children?’ he asked softly.

My mother’s smile widened.

‘Countless children, oh king of oceans,

further than my eyes could see.’

My father’s smile was like the sea

when the sun fell on its waters.

His eyes glittered like jewels

as he gazed at my mother.

‘You could not bestow me

with a greater gift, my queen.’

She nodded in return, her eyes misty.

They had wanted this a long time.

A vision was like permission for our kind.

‘Your sons are to be known as the Potamoi,’

my mother continued, ‘and your daughters

will be Oceanids, named after their powerful father.’

I saw a change in Oceanus in every word spoken.

His demeanour softened, the rigidity

with which he carried himself relaxed.

He walked toward my mother and pulled her

into an embrace. Her hand left mine