149. Zeus

Zeus

The voices within my head

became even louder.

More and more joined in,

like a chorus of angry shouts.

I winced. It felt like a thousand souls

were imprisoned inside my skull,

dying to get out. Through the noise, they told me

who he was. I clutched Styx’s hand.

‘H-he is the son of Kronos,’

I whispered, swaying slightly

from the weight of these voices.

Perses moved to my side,

his hand sliding around my waist,

holding me up against his chest.

‘He is the son of Kronos,’

I said more clearly so Pallas

and Leto could hear too.

‘That is impossible,’ Perses said.

‘Kronos eats every single child

born to Rhea. Why would he

let a son live, knowing the prophecy?’

The voices in my head screamed

and then suddenly went silent.

I turned to my consort quietly.

A slow harrowing settling

inside my immortal body.

The truth fell out into the darkness.

‘Kronos does not know.’

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