Styxx

Her father's face turned to stone. "I will not let him get away with it this time."

Tears flowed freely down her face at her father's blindness for the one true son he had. "This time? When have you ever allowed Acheron get away with anything?"

She blinked away the tears in her eyes as she tried to make him see reason. "Beware the viper in your closet. Isn't that another thing you're always saying, Father?" She cut a meaningful glare at Styxx. "Ambition and jealousy are at the heart of all betrayals. Acheron's only ambition is to stay out of your sight, and were he to have jealousy, it wouldn't be directed at you. But I do know of another who would gain immensely in his life were you gone."

Her father backhanded her. "How dare you implicate your brother."

"I told you, Father. She hates me. I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't bedded the whore, too."

Ryssa wiped the blood from her lips. "The only person in this family that I know of who sleeps with whores is you, Styxx. I wonder if Acheron was supposedly seen in your favorite stew...." And with that she turned and headed out of the room and to the street to find Artemis and stop this before it was too late and Acheron was dead.

* * *

"Leave us!"

Acheron barely recognized the sound of his father's voice through the vicious, throbbing pains that racked his body. No part of him had been left unviolated or free of abuse. It even hurt to blink.

Once the room was empty, his father approached him where he lay on a cold, stone slab.

To his complete shock, his father brought him a ladle of water. Acheron cringed, expecting the king to hurt him worse with it.

He didn't. His father actually lifted his head and helped him to drink. But for the fact it would kill the king's beloved Styxx should he die, Acheron would think it poisoned.

"Where were you last night?"

Acheron felt a single tear slide from the corner of his eye at the question that had been asked over and over again. The salt from it stung the open wounds on his cheek as he drew a ragged, agonized breath. "Just tell me what to say, akri. Tell me what will keep me from being hurt any more."

His father roared with rage as he slammed the ladle down on the stone by Acheron's face. "I want the names of the men you met with."

And he didn't know the names of the senators. They'd seldom offered any before they'd screwed him.

And Artemis would never speak up in his defense. If he breathed a single word of their relationship to anyone, she would make this torture session appear desirous.

Acheron shook his head. "I met with no one."

His father buried his hand in Acheron's hair and forced him to look at him. "Give me the truth. Damn you!"

Lost to the pain, Acheron struggled to think of some lie that his father would believe, but as with the interrogator, he came back to the one single truth. "I didn't do it. I wasn't there."

"Then where were you? Have you a single witness to your whereabouts?"

Yes, but she'd never come forward. If he were Styxx and a prince, the goddess wouldn't be ashamed of their relationship. But Artemis would never stand up for a worthless whore. "I have only my word."

His father roared in anger. He reached for him, but before he could make contact, he froze in place.

Acheron held his breath as he tried to understand what was happening. An instant later, Artemis appeared beside him.

Stunned, he couldn't do anything other than stare at her.

"Your sister told me what they'd accused you of. Don't worry, your father will have no memory of this. Nor will your brother."

Acheron swallowed as he tried to understand what she was saying. "You're protecting me?"

She nodded. An instant later, he was returned to his room and healed. Acheron lay back on his bed, more grateful than words could express. But even so it didn't erase the pain of what he'd been through. Any more than it concealed the fact that Styxx was planning to overthrow his own father. The father who loved him more than the air he breathed.

How selfish could Styxx be? Their father doted on him ... gave him anything he wanted, and still it wasn't enough.

Styxx wanted ... no, he demanded everything.

What am I going to do?

Artemis materialized beside him. Her expression was sorrowful as she brushed the hair back from his face.

"Will Ryssa remember us?" he asked her.

"No. From this moment forward she won't even remember that you and I know each other."

That was for the best.

Acheron stared at Artemis, amazed at what she'd done. No, she hadn't stood up for him, but she had saved him. It was a major breakthrough from the last time she'd left him to their "tender" care and he'd been gelded. "Thank you for coming for me."

Artemis laid her hand to his cheek. "I wish I could take you away from here."

She was the only person who could do it. But her fear of being caught with a worthless whore was too great. And maybe she was right. What good would it do for her to be ruined over him?

He wasn't worth it.

Acheron kissed her on the lips even though he was still cold inside. He had nowhere to go and he was sick and tired of being here with people who hated him.

I want out. But every time he'd tried to kill himself, he'd been stopped.

Because of his idiot brother.

Acheron froze at the thought.

Styxx ...

In the blink of an eye the simplest answer to his predicament came to him. Why had he never thought of it before? It wasn't himself he needed to kill.

Pulling back from Artemis, he held her hand. "You should go before someone stumbles in here."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Not if he had his way. "Tomorrow."

Acheron watched as she faded, and the second she was gone, he immediately made plans for what was to come.

His father refused to let him die so long as his life was tied to Styxx's, and Styxx was plotting the death of his father.

The answer was so simple.

If he killed Styxx, his father would be safe and Acheron would be free.

Peace. He would finally have peace from this stygian existence.

February 19, 9527 BC

Styxx scowled as he readied himself for bed. Something had been off all day. He remembered leaving Bethany and then ...

There was a significant gap in his memory. The kind he only experienced whenever his uncle had drugged him or one of the gods had done something with him they didn't want him to remember-and that was what concerned him most. Why had someone tampered with his memory?

Who had tampered with it?

Most importantly, what had happened during those missing hours?

His jaw was sore as if it'd been punched, but he had nothing else to answer his questions. Frowning, he kept trying to piece the day together. How had he gotten from the palace steps to falling asleep in fresh clothes on the floor of his room? Had a servant not come to wake him for dinner, he might still be asleep there.

It didn't make sense. No one else seemed to have noticed anything being off or odd. And because of his past, he couldn't stand not knowing what had happened during those missing hours of his life.

There's nothing you can do.

Still, it bothered him. Finishing off his wine, he went to bed, hoping that he slept through the night for once.

But he knew better.

The only time he had any kind of peaceful sleep was with Bethany.

He crawled into bed and sighed. Four more days until her return. Closing his eyes, he focused on her and did his best to shut out everything else.

* * *

Styxx woke up to a fierce, stinging pain. Gasping, he opened his eyes to see a shadow staggering away from his bed as something warm gushed from his chest.

Blood. Someone had stabbed him while he slept.... Rage consumed him. Fucking coward! No one kills me and lives!

Determined to mark his killer, Styxx jerked the dagger from his chest and shot across the bed after him. But the pain was so severe, he could barely breathe for it. Blood poured over him as he staggered from the bed. He went to throw the dagger, but his legs buckled.

He hit the floor hard. Over and over, he relived that moment when the Stygian Omada had returned from Atlantis, and had been ambushed by Thracians....

I'm dying. He knew it. Which meant Acheron must be dying, too.

The wound had gone straight through his heart and ruptured an artery. It was the only explanation for this amount of rapid blood loss. Tears filled his eyes as he thought of his Bethany.

How cruel to lose her now.

He fought Thanatos as hard as he could. But in the end, against all effort, he expelled one final breath and everything went dark.

* * *

Styxx came awake with a sharp, painful groan. Completely disoriented, he scowled at the amount of blood on the floor and on his body. Grimacing, he touched the wound that was directly over his heart. Blood still seeped out, but it was light compared to earlier.

His assassin was going to be shocked when he learned he'd failed. The coward must have checked his pulse, since he was now on his back and he'd fallen on his stomach.

At least he knew Acheron wasn't dead.

Unsure of how much time had passed since his attack, Styxx feared for the rest of his family. The attacker could have gone after his father, sister, or Apollodorus. He had to make sure they were protected.

Ignoring the pain in his chest, he pushed himself up and grabbed the red cloak Gaius and his men had given him. He took his sword then headed for his father's bedroom.

He bypassed the snoozing guards in the hallway and threw open the doors. "Father?"

Groggy, the king pushed himself away from the naked young slave woman in his bed and glared at him. "What is the meaning of this?"

Styxx pulled the cloak aside to show him the blood. "Someone tried to kill me while I was sleeping. I wanted to make sure they hadn't come for you."

His father paled at the sight. "You live?"

Obviously.

Somehow he managed to bite back that sarcasm before he responded. "Yes."

Styxx stepped away from the bed and turned on the guards who'd finally awakened and joined him in the king's bedchambers. "You," he said to the one on the right, "stand fast and protect your king. You, rouse the others for a search. Lock down the palace until we've looked everywhere for my attacker."

As they went to follow his commands, Styxx headed straight for Ryssa's rooms.

He checked Apollodorus first. The babe was asleep with his nurse. Styxx left two guards with them as an alarm was sounded for the others then he entered Ryssa's bedroom. She lay so still and pale that panic gripped him. Was she dead?

Gently, he touched her arm.

She came awake with a fierce screech.

Styxx breathed in relief, until she slapped him twice for waking her so rudely.

"What are you doing here at this hour? How dare you barge into my room uninvited! Who do you think you are? Are you trying to scare me to death?"

He ground his teeth as his cheek stung. "No, sweet sister. I wasn't trying to kill you. I was stabbed in my sleep and wanted to verify that you weren't attacked, too."

Her eyes widened as she saw the blood on him.

"Acheron!" She bolted from the bed and grabbed a red wrap. She was so worried about Acheron that she didn't even bother to close the door.

"Follow the princess," Styxx ordered the guard nearest him. "Don't let her out of your sight."

She didn't even ask if I was all right.

Even though he was covered in blood. Nor did she apologize for slapping him when all he'd done was come to ensure her safety....

The pain of that stung deep as he quickly searched her room to make sure it was clear. He left a guard posted in it then moved to check his brother. He was rather certain Acheron was unharmed, since Styxx felt no pain and lived.

"What do you mean?"

Styxx paused as he heard Acheron's question. He glanced at his two siblings, and the concern on Ryssa's face for his brother while his own cheeks stung from her slaps cut him deeply. There was no telling how red they were. Not that she cared. She'd never given him a single kind thought.

Acheron met his gaze over the top of Ryssa's head. The panic in those silver eyes felt like a kick to his groin. He probably fears that I'll blame him for this. But Styxx wasn't Ryssa. Having been on the receiving end of many false allegations, he tried not to jump to conclusions without hard evidence.

But as the defender of Didymos, it was his responsibility to keep his family safe.

"Find my attacker," he ordered the new group of guards, rushing toward them. "I want him now. Do you hear me? Search every corner until we have him."

"Have you seen anyone?" Ryssa asked Acheron.

He shook his head. "I was in my room."

Styxx started away then paused as a new threat went through him. He tended to forget that Acheron wasn't battle trained. Anyone could kill his brother.

"Guards!" he called out to another group that entered the hallway. He gestured to his brother who stepped back in fear as if he thought Styxx might arrest him without cause ... like their father had.

That fear made his heart clench. I would never willingly hurt you, Acheron. Damn you, Ryssa, for the lies you tell against me.

Heartsick, he pointed to Acheron. "Guard him. I want someone at his back at all times."

Knowing his siblings didn't want him disturbing them, Styxx went to help search the rest of the palace.

As soon as he reached the stairs, he saw Galen bursting through the main doors as if Cerberus was on his heels. Relief spread across his grizzled features the minute he saw Styxx on the landing. Galen took the steps two at a time until he was in front of him.

Placing his hands on Styxx's shoulders, he scanned his body with a stern frown. "Good gods, son! You shouldn't be up. Where were you struck? Where is the physician for you?"

Tears choked him at Galen's concern. Out of a palace full of people, only Galen had bothered to ask after his welfare. He lowered the neck of his cloak to show the wound. "I've had worse."

Galen snorted. "Yes and no. That needs stitching." He grabbed a young guard who was coming up the stairs. "Fetch the physician and send him to Prince Styxx's room. Fast, damn you, fast!" Then he took Styxx's arm and pulled him back down the hallway.

"I was searching for my assailant."

"Did you see him?" Galen asked.

"No. Not really."

"Then you're no good in a search, are you?"

"Yes, but-"

"No buts." Galen forced him into his room. "Your Bethany would have both our arses if she saw you searching with a wound like that. And you're covered in blood. Let's get you cleaned up."

Styxx had no choice as Galen hauled him to the bathing pool and helped him to wash the wound.

"Where's your father?"

"I left him in his rooms with his guards."

Galen glanced about the empty chamber. "Who's guarding you?"

Styxx held his sword up from where it rested on the floor beside Galen. "Me."

Galen scoffed as he glared at the wound and took the sword from Styxx's scarred hand. "And you're doing a mighty fine job of it, I must say. Why wasn't there a guard at your door?"

Styxx hissed as the warm water burned the injury. "You know I don't like people around me."

Galen arched a brow at that. "And yet you tolerate my sorry ass."

"You're entertaining."

"Keep insulting me and I'll stitch your wound myself. I know how much you enjoy that."

Styxx snorted as he remembered all the times he'd cursed Galen as the old man stitched his wounds after battle. "What can I say? Your delicate touch stings me."

Galen's gruff smile melted into a stern glower as he helped Styxx out of the water and to bed. "I don't want you to sleep again without at least two men on your door. I will be doing random checks and if I find your door unguarded again, I'm going to start standing at the foot of your bed at night. All night long."

Apollo would love that. Which was part of the reason Styxx hadn't wanted anyone at his door. That and he could hear their thoughts.

But Galen was right. After this, he couldn't afford to be stupid.

"Yes, sir."

Galen growled as he looked about the room and especially at the huge bloodstain on his sheets and the floor next to the bed. "Where's that damned physician? You could have bled to death by now." Then his frown deepened as he realized that they were in the room alone. Where's your father? What kind of man doesn't bother to check on his own son when he's damn near murdered in his sleep? No wonder he didn't care about killing my boy. He couldn't care less about his own.

Stupid bastard.

When he glanced back, Styxx took care to keep his expression blank. "Can I get you anything?" Galen asked.

"I'm fine."

The physician came in. Galen stayed while Styxx was stitched then afterward Galen went to help search.

* * *

Hours later after Styxx, against Galen's dire threats, had rejoined the search for his attacker, it was obvious the culprit had escaped. Damn. It'd happened so fast and unexpectedly that he hadn't seen even the smallest detail as to who it'd been.

On his way back to his chambers, Styxx paused as he saw Acheron returning to his own room. Alone. Fully dressed and wearing a cloak and shoes, Acheron had obviously been outside the palace.

"Where have you been?"

Acheron glared at him. "You don't own me. I owe you nothing." Bastard.

Styxx held his temper in check. "No, you don't. But you should be careful. My attacker might come for you."

Thank the gods you didn't see me.

That unexpected thought slapped him harder than Ryssa had.

"I'll take care it doesn't happen to me," Acheron mumbled as he headed for the stairs.

"Acheron?"

He paused to look back at him.

Styxx wasn't sure what to say. He wanted to ask if Acheron had killed him. If his brother had discovered the truth Styxx had learned that afternoon when he'd first met Bethany. That he couldn't die unless Acheron did.

If Acheron knew, he gave nothing away while he waited for Styxx to speak.

"Sleep well."

Acheron scowled at him before he turned and continued on his way without responding.

February 23, 9527 BC

Bethany wanted nothing more than to see her prince. She'd had enough of Archon and the others raging over the fact that no one could find Apostolos, and that they only had a few more weeks until Apollymi came out of her jail, wanting their collective throats. If they kept this up, she was going to move to Egypt and be done with the lot of them.

She pushed open the cottage door. Dynatos ran ahead, barking happily. "Styxx?"

"Right here, sweet." He pulled her gently against him and held her close.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me. I can feel it in the way you touch me. What's wrong?"

Styxx ground his teeth then smiled. He could never hide his feelings from her. She had an uncanny way of seeing his every emotion as if she could read his thoughts as well as he read everyone's but hers. "I think my brother tried to kill me while I slept."

"What?!"

"Don't breathe a word of it to anyone, please. I have no proof, and the last thing I want is to see him hurt over a suspicion that could be false."

Trembling for him, she ran her hands over his body, seeking an injury. "Were you hurt?"

"Stabbed."

"Where?"

He took her hand and led it to the stitches.

She sucked her breath in sharply at the location. "Your heart?"

"No. My heart is here." He placed her hand over her own chest.

"You're not amusing."

He pulled her back into his arms and laid his head on her shoulder. "Just hold me for a little while. Please."

His humble, heartfelt request brought tears to her eyes. She sank her hands into his hair that was slowly growing longer and held him close. He'd needed her and yet again she hadn't been here for him because she'd been off with the others. It nauseated her that she'd let him down again. Yet he said nothing about it.

And as minutes went by and he didn't withdraw from her, she realized just how hurt he really was. Not physically, but emotionally. Who could blame him? If he was right, his own family had attempted to slaughter him while he slept. No wonder the man had so much trouble sleeping.

"Did you tell Galen your suspicion?"

"No. I was afraid to. As I said, I have no real proof and didn't really catch a look at my attacker."

Which meant he'd talked to no one about it, but rather had lived in silent torment. "When did this happen?"

"Four days ago."

She ground her teeth in anger that he'd been so long alone. "I'm sorry, Styxx."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry over. You didn't stab me, did you?"

She growled at his ridiculous question and ignored it. "You were hurt and I wasn't here."

"You were with your family. I understand."

He always said that to her, as if it was more important to him that she honor that obligation over the love she had for him. "You're my family, too."

"It's all right, Beth. Really."

Tears choked her as she held on to him. He was her family now ... more than he knew. He was the father of her unborn son, but she couldn't tell him that yet. It was too soon.

She'd only realized it yesterday. For a couple of weeks now she hadn't felt well, which was extremely unusual for a goddess. Then, two nights ago, she'd dreamed of their son. He'd been fair-haired like his father with blue eyes and a precious smile, and he'd been dressed in a Greek helm ... a very small version of his noble father.

She'd conceived him when Styxx had been in her temple eight weeks ago, and their son would be born October fourth. She wanted to tell Styxx so badly that it was a physical pain. But she was terrified of how he might react. For too long Apollo and the other gods had played with his life. How would he react when he learned that his blind human fisherwoman was a goddess from two pantheons, far stronger than Apollo?

While Styxx might still love her, he'd be crushed that she'd lied to him. Or worse, he might blame her for not helping him combat Apollo or for fighting against Styxx and his people in their war with Atlantis.

Given the way he'd reacted in her temple when he'd discovered her emblem ...

It was possible he'd hate her forever. Not to mention what her mother's pantheon had done to him for the year she'd ignored him, and paid no attention to them. He had every right to hold that against her. Her undeniable stupidity deserved nothing less.

And eventually, she would have to tell him the truth, however today wasn't the day. Today, she wanted to focus on him and his needs.

In a few weeks, she'd tell him about their baby. Then later, she'd confess the rest. She just hoped he'd welcome the news of their son.

They'd never really spoken about children. And given the brutality of his own childhood, she'd stayed away from the topic out of respect for his pain. But he must have thought about it. As heir to Didymos, it was expected that he'd have children one day. Yet how strange that he never mentioned it to her.

Rising on her toes, Bethany pressed her cheek to his. "I love you, Styxx."

He cradled her head in his hand. "I love you. I always will."

She smiled and prayed that once he learned the full truth of her and what her carelessness had done to him that he continued to feel that way.

March 10, 9527 BC

Apollo froze as he caught sight of Artemis in the woods outside her Olympian temple with Acheron. The two of them were laughing as they hunted deer in her sacred field. Fury ignited deep inside him. How dare his twin sister whore herself with a bastard byblow.

A prostitute, no less.

That was bad enough, but the fact that she would dare bring him here added to his indignation. It pained and infuriated him that Artemis had interfered with Eris's and Poena's plot to have the king punish her precious whore for treason. Every time he turned around, she was saving that bastard. The fact that both Didymosians continued to elude his wrath and plans was ever a vexation that ate at his gut.

No one defied him.

Ever.

Unable to stand it for another heartbeat, he teleported himself to Didymos where Styxx was leaving the weekly court sessions with his father. The prince walked behind the king with a grim countenance that said he was in need of more fiber in his diet.

"Styxx?"

He paused as his father turned to face him while their retinue continued on to give them privacy. "Sire?"

"Your sister is still angry at you. I was thinking you need to do something to placate her."

A tic started in Styxx's jaw. "What would you have me do?"

"Perhaps a gift? Surely, as intelligent as you are, you can think of something that would please her?"

"I shall have my heart cut out and delivered to her forthwith then."

The king curled his lip in revulsion. "I grow weary of your cheek, boy. You'd do well to curb it."

"Forgive me, Majesty." But his tone said he was anything other than contrite. It was the same tone that motivated Apollo to violence anytime the prince used it with him.

The king narrowed his eyes even more. "And speaking of your cheek ... How go your reparations with Apollo?"

The tic picked up its rhythm as Styxx glanced away.

Before the prince could speak, Xerxes grabbed Styxx and slammed him back against the wall then growled in his ear. "I meant what I told you, boy. I am weary of your insolence and I will stomach no more of it. If I have to, I will put you down on your knees in front of Apollo myself to make sure you please him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Majesty."

The king struck him hard in the middle of his chest then turned on his heel and left him.

Apollo waited until the king and his retinue had vanished before he materialized in front of Styxx who was still rubbing the area where his father had struck him.

Styxx cursed as Apollo trapped him in the dark corner. Just what my lousy day needed ... "My sister's in her room."

Apollo tsked at him. "I think you know she's not the one I want."

Of course not. No one, other than Acheron and their drunken mother, could tolerate Ryssa for very long.

Styxx tried to step around the god he hated most. "I'm in no mood to entertain you." As he started past, Apollo backhanded him so hard, he hit the wall again.

Licking at the blood on his lips, Styxx almost retaliated then caught himself. While he could fight Apollo and even win, the god had already shown him how easy it was to rip him out of his life with no one being the wiser. How easy it was to put an imposter in as Prince Styxx, and, while he couldn't care less about his family, he did care about Bethany.

The imposter could hurt her or replace him in her bed. Worst of all, the imposter might make her hate him to the point she left him for good and never came back again.

Those were things he'd never take a chance on. No matter what, he had to bend to Apollo.

With no choice, Styxx reverted to what he'd been trained to do in Atlantis.

Survive.

Deadening himself, he lowered his gaze to the floor. "My will is your will, akri."

A smile curled Apollo's lips. "Better." He wrapped his hand around Styxx's neck and jerked him into his arms. Viciously, he sank his fangs into Styxx's jugular.

Styxx cried out as pain exploded through him. But Apollo had no mercy. For whatever reason, the Olympian was furious today and Styxx was his chosen scapegoat.

Think of Beth ...

At least now, he'd have her arms to comfort him once it was over.

March 12, 9527 BC

Styxx heard the knock on his door, but he was in too much pain to answer. He wasn't sure at what point Apollo had finished with him and teleported him home. Time on Olympus moved very differently than time here. Honestly, it felt like he'd been with Apollo for more than a month. He had no idea what had angered the Olympian, but whatever it was he'd taken every bit of it out on Styxx.

Someone jerked the drapes back from his windows, spilling harsh sunlight through his room. Hissing, Styxx moved to cover his eyes with his arm then groaned as more pain ravaged him.

"Get up! You worthless, whoreson, bastard!" his father growled before he threw a bucket of water over him.

Styxx gasped at the coldness that made his covers even heavier on his bruised body. He was shaking and hurting so badly, he could barely breathe, never mind move.

When his father stepped to pull him from the bed, he heard Galen's voice from the doorway.

"Majesty? Is something wrong?"

Now that they had a witness for his cruelty, his father pulled back. "What are you doing here?"

"His Highness was badly injured and I wanted to come by and check on his welfare."

Only then did his father look at him and see the bruises and cuts that covered his body. "What happened to you?"

"He fell from the stable loft," Galen said before Styxx could think of his own lie.

Finally, a modicum of compassion filled his father's eyes. "You should be careful.... I'll have your morning appointments reset."

Styxx wiped at the blood and water on his face. "Thank you, Majesty ... for your magnanimous kindness."