174. Metis’s Return
Metis’s Return
Her eyes lowered, she said softly,
‘I tried to stop him. But he has
his own destiny to fulfil.’
My hands shook as I took hers.
‘Please do not blame yourself.
His rage is an unstoppable force.
And anger like that cannot be sated
with kindness and wise words.’
I left the rest unspoken.
We knew his rage was driven
by vengeance. A vengeance rooted
in betrayal was hard to quench.
It could not be fed ambrosia,
only ichor. Styx’s voice was hushed,
her face even paler than before.
‘We failed you, Metis.
We should have understood
where this would lead.
In our quest to protect you,
we did to you what I hated
being done to me.
We kept secrets. Now…’
She swallowed hard.
‘Now we all must pay the price.’
Metis’s eyes filled with tears.
‘You must understand,
Zeus is not a terrible God.
He has been raised with
a singular purpose.
Rhea poured all her unspoken
sadness and fury into him.
What choice did he have
other than to become this?’
Perses interrupted.
‘He could choose not to
destroy his kin who have not
harmed him, Metis.’
I stared at him. His voice
was so callous. I had never
heard him speak this way before
to anyone. I stepped
between him and Metis.
‘Perhaps,’ I said, ‘the lesson
here is that we should all
see injustice for what it is,
so no more Titan children
thirst for revenge.’
Perses let out a bitter laugh.
‘Do you not understand still?’
His golden eyes seemed frigid.
‘It is too late. If Zeus has his way
there will be no Titans left.’
Metis shook her head vehemently.
‘He would not do that.’
Pallas, still holding Zelus close,
looked at Metis with kindness and pity.
‘That is what he told us today.
And do you not remember
him promising you a throne
made from Titan blood?’
Styx put her arm around Metis.
‘Come with us,’ she pleaded.
‘Come and tell our father all you know.’
Metis seemed torn.
But then she moved away from Styx.
‘I cannot. I have already pledged
my allegiance to Zeus
and Kronos’s children.’
What was our sister saying?
I felt like my heart was collapsing.
‘Metis,’ I whispered,
‘you are saying you are against us?’
She stared at us, yellow eyes strange
and distant. ‘Zeus is my consort.
I cannot turn against him.’