59. Asteria’s Embrace Was Kind
Asteria’s Embrace Was Kind
Her words were gentle. ‘We will care for her
as our own sister. Do not worry yourself.’
But I was full of concern for my infant sister.
While I knew she would be safe with Asteria and Leto,
it did not change the fact that she was born
against the orders of a God-King,
putting her immortality in imminent danger.
Pulling myself from Asteria’s embrace,
my eyes red with crying, I turned to my mother,
now sitting on her bed, already healed.
‘How could you risk this?’
I hissed, rage starting to simmer.
My mother did not answer,
so I dug my claws deeper.
‘You knew what would happen.
And now Metis must pay the price.’
My mother turned to me and for a second
I thought I saw sadness in her eyes
before it turned to anger.
‘You may be favoured by your father,
and allowed to speak this way to him.
But you have no right to disrespect me so.’
I let go of Asteria’s hand, my fury at its peak.
‘I have every right as the deliverer of EACH
of your countless children! I have every right
as the oldest of your children to ask why
you would do this to your own daughter – my sister!’
My mother stared at me for a moment,
then spoke with a sadness I couldn’t define.
‘I hope one day you do not have to make
the choice I have made for her, daughter.
I hope your children are born into a safer world.’
I turned away in anger and left the room
before I said something darker,
sickened and afraid all at once.
If my mother, a Goddess, could not
give birth with safety, what hope
was there for one such as me?