Page 16 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

The River Goddess

Styx came to us with fangs at the ready,

wet green hair in tangles down to her waist,

her skin so white it looked like

the underbelly of a dead shark I once saw.

Her eyes were pale as bones,

split irises like a snake’s,

and when she spoke,

her voice was hoarse.

She said so coldly to my mother

that I shivered at her tone,

‘Immortals are not welcome here, Asteria,

even with just cause.’

Tears streamed down my mother’s face and, still kneeling, she grasped my hand.

‘Zeus and Poseidon wish us great harm, Styx.

You are the only family we have left.

Please. Do you not remember how once

we had named each other sister and friend?’

Styx’s mouth curled but her split eyes softened.

‘I cannot help you, even if I wanted to.’

My mother’s head dropped into her hands

as a sob escaped her throat,

but then she lifted her eyes with fresh hope.

‘If not me, can you take your niece, Hekate?’