97. ‘What Is It You Want, Young Perses?’
‘What Is It You Want, Young Perses?’
At the boom of his voice,
a hush fell.
Perses looked unperturbed.
He met my father’s and
Oceanus’s eyes fearlessly.
‘I have come for Asteria’s hand.’
My father was about to speak
but Oceanus interrupted.
‘You are too late. She is promised
to another. My oldest son.’
Perses looked at me.
‘Asteria, is that what you want?’
I hated the way all eyes fell on me.
But I could not let Perses stand alone.
‘I wish to be with Perses, Father.’
I addressed him instead of Oceanus.
My father looked deeply uncomfortable,
his eyes moving between Perses and me
and Oceanus. ‘Asteria,’ he sighed,
‘you should have told me before.’
Perses shook his head.
‘Please do not blame Asteria.
It is I who took my time asking.’
He turned to Oceanus.
‘I mean no disrespect
to your hospitality or home.’
Oceanus was thunderous.
‘And yet, disrespect is precisely
what you have brought.
Coeus, tell them your decree.’
But my father merely stood quiet.
He was studying me carefully.
Oceanus spun toward my father.
‘Now.’ His voice threatened a storm.
‘No,’ said my father softly.
I stared at him and he gave me
the slightest of smiles.
‘My daughter will spend eternity
with a consort of her choice, not mine.’
A strange relief filled me at his words.
My faith in him had been restored.
I knew he was not like Oceanus.
Perses bowed his head to my father
and quietly took my hand.
Coeus turned to Oceanus and said,
‘I will not force my daughter to spend
her goddesshood with someone
she feels bound to out of duty.’
Oceanus glared. ‘My daughters
are dutiful enough to serve my vows.’
My father nodded as I finally saw
Styx and Pallas push their way
to the front of the crowd of deities.
‘Perhaps you are satisfied with dutiful
daughters, brother. I would rather have
happy ones.’
A gasp resounded and I realized it was my own.
Oceanus’s rheumy eyes were icy
as he said, ‘As you value daughters
so much more than vows to brothers,
then take your family and go.
Never shall you enter this palace again.’
My father’s face flitted between
anger and heartbreak.
Finally, he spoke. ‘As you wish,
brother.’ He motioned for Leto,
Metis, my mother, and me to join him.
Perses looked at Oceanus
and I saw the livid fury on the old God’s face.
‘You may join them, Perses.
Do not show your face here again.’
At these words, I heard a sharp
‘Wait.’ Pallas stepped out into
the light. ‘Perses is my brother.
If he is unwelcome, then so am I.’
Styx moved forward and took Pallas’s hand.
‘And you, daughter? Will you
display your insolence too?’
Oceanus sounded more bitter than enraged now.
‘I am simply doing as you asked, Father,’
Styx said sweetly. ‘Standing by my consort.’
I would have laughed at her acerbic wit
if the atmosphere were not so tense.
Oceanus, however, would not let his rage go.
‘Go then,’ he said, sweeping his arm over us.
‘Leave these halls and do not return!’
The assembled Gods made way
as my mother, sisters, and I followed my father out.
Before we left, Coeus turned around
one last time, a look of sadness in his eyes.
‘Remember what we know is on the horizon, brother.
If we do not stand together, we will fall forever.’