‘I think it is news that should be shared
with a cup of wine.’ She walked to the kitchen
as Charon raised an eyebrow and I frowned
in deep confusion. She always told me
I was too young to drink wine.
But she reappeared with four cups
and placed one before each of us
before the wine rose and poured itself.
‘It’s about Prometheus,’ Styx said.
Prometheus the clever was our cousin
who had invented mortals out of clay.
He had sided with the Olympians,
even though he was a Titan, and now
held the position of Zeus’ closest friend
and confidant. We waited for Styx to explain
what had happened. But when she didn’t,
Pallas slowly told us, ‘Prometheus stole
Zeus’ divine fire to give to his beloved mortals.
And when Zeus found out, he punished him.’
His voice broke slightly and he took
a long sip of wine. Charon and I waited
for him to continue. He put his cup down.
‘Zeus had him brought to his halls,
chained to a pillar and whipped till he bled.’
A gasp escaped my throat, but Pallas
continued, ‘He made us all watch.
And when it was done and Prometheus
lay bleeding, he had him bound to a rock
on the mountains and his liver was eaten
by Zeus’ eagle.’ My stomach sickened at this
