170. ‘Or Perish’
‘Or Perish’
The words were uttered with such icy fury
that the voices in my head began to clamour.
Zeus did not intend for this to be resolved
with any kind of conciliation.
He and his siblings had come here
with a singular notion.
That was to control
the realms of the Titans.
And if we did not give them up willingly,
they would take them by force.
Styx held my hand tighter as Oceanus spoke.
‘Gods do not perish, child.’
Zeus smiled at him. ‘But Gods can be punished.
They can be trapped inside darkness.
They can be hurt. Their wives and daughters
can be enslaved. Is that the fate
you choose for yourselves and your families?’
The ten Titans were completely silent.
My ichor turned to ice inside my body
as I heard my father finally say the words,
‘If it is a battle you want, child,
then it is a battle you will get.’