121. ‘How Many Years Does a God Live?’
‘How Many Years Does a God Live?’
What a strange question.
It felt like it had an obvious answer.
The ancient being before us
was watching us intently, magma-filled eyes
gazing on us all at once.
Perses tried his answer first.
‘An eternity,’ he said quietly.
The great God shook his head.
‘An uncountable number of years?’
Leto suggested hesitantly.
He shook his head again.
Pallas spoke after that.
‘As many as Chaos allows.’
Tartarus gave a rumbling
chuckle but shook his head.
Asteria spoke now, softly.
‘As many as the stars.’
He smiled this time, but shook
his head again.
‘You have one more chance.’
He turned to look at me.
‘It is yours, little one.’
I took a deep breath and spoke quietly,
my heart thudding in my chest.
‘As many as he or she is remembered.’