“You were seen.”
Styxx snorted. “And I’m not the only one with my face, am I?”
No sooner were the words out than Styxx cringed.
Aw shit … Why did I say that?
His father roared with anger as he ordered six guards to fetch Acheron to the throne room and stormed out the doors.
What have I done? Too tired to think straight, he hadn’t even considered how his father would react to Acheron’s possible guilt.
Please be guilty. Please be guilty.…
The litany ran through his head as he followed after his father. His fury tangible, the king took his throne to wait for the arrival of the son he really couldn’t stand.
Sick to his stomach, Styxx sat down as guilt tore him apart. What were the odds that Acheron was actually conspiring against the king?
He could be. He had a much bigger reason to hate their father than even Styxx did.
But the moment he saw Acheron’s panicked face and heard his brother’s confused thoughts, he knew better.
Fuck me.…
He’d just thrown an innocent man into the fire. Acheron had been shackled. The guards forced him down on his knees in front of their father’s throne while Ryssa came tearing into the room with her face flushed bright red to defend the only brother she loved.
Ever defiant, Acheron glared at them. “Why am I here?”
Their father came off his throne with a bellow of rage. “You do not ask questions of me, traitor!”
Styxx ground his teeth in anger.
Stunned, Acheron couldn’t even blink for a full minute.
“Father!” Ryssa snapped. “Have you lost your reason?”
His answer was to backhand Acheron. “Where were you last night?”
Styxx forced himself not to react to a blow that exploded through his cheek and eye.
Acheron panted in pain. I was with Artemis.…
Styxx froze as he heard his brother’s thoughts. Triple shit. Acheron and Artemis? No wonder Apollo had such a hard-on for his brother. Now Styxx fully understood the god’s fury and Apollo’s incoherent rants that had preceded some of his more vicious attacks against Styxx in the past.
That, more than Styxx’s defiance, was what had set Apollo off on his lunacy.
Acheron, you dumb shit. You’re screwing Apollo’s “virgin” sister? Really? Was Acheron out of his mind?
And it explained the groin pain that had hurt so badly there were times Styxx still ached from it.
Styxx had been in Atlantean custody, in the ring, when it’d felt like someone had gelded him. Literally. He would have sworn someone had cut him open and torn him apart.
Either Apollo or one of the others must have gelded Acheron.
How could you be so stupid, brother?
Acheron locked gazes with Styxx and the accusation there scorched him. “I was in my room.”
His father struck Acheron again. “Liar. I have witnesses who saw you in a stew, plotting my murder.”
Terrified of anyone discovering that he felt Acheron’s blows, Styxx covered his face with his hand to shield the blood on his lips.
“I’ve done no such thing.” Acheron’s voice trembled with his fear.
His father hit him again before he turned to the guards. “Torture him until he decides to tell us the truth.”
Acheron cried out loud the same internal denial Styxx shouted in his head. His brother fought the guards holding him.
“Father, no!” Ryssa moved forward.
The king turned on her with a feral snarl. “You’re not going to save him this time. He’s committed treason and I will not allow that to go unanswered.”
Styxx growled silently in his throat as utter agony filled him. Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut?
Because he’d been tired and hadn’t thought it through.
When will I learn?
His breathing ragged, Acheron, who was being restrained by the guards, met and held Styxx’s gaze. How could you plot the death of a man who worships the ground you walk on? I would sell my worthless soul to have just a portion of the love you spurn.
Damn you, Styxx. Damn you!
Styxx winced at Acheron’s thoughts. If he only knew the truth.…
But Acheron would never believe it. Like everyone else, he thought Styxx had the beautiful, perfect life. But no one lived that.
No one. No life was spared grief or agony. The gods weren’t that kind to anyone. Ever. Everything looked so beautiful from the outside. But the interior view was never the same. Just like all the times as a small child Styxx had envied Acheron for living with Estes in Atlantis.
Yeah.…
Acheron was hauled out of the throne room and taken to the prison below.
What have you done, Styxx?
He flinched at Ryssa’s silent condemnation in his head. Like Acheron, she believed he was the traitor and that he’d framed his brother for it.
I’m as innocent as Acheron. Not that she’d ever believe him, any more than their father would believe his brother. What a messed up family they had.
But that wasn’t the biggest concern. If neither he nor Acheron had done it, someone had lied to his father. Someone who wanted them all dead. Raw anger filled him as he looked about the room. It had to be one of the senators who stood back in silence. No one else would have a reason to come after him and lie like this.
Except Apollo. Was this what the bastard had meant when he said that he intended to screw with him?
Styxx almost came off his throne when he felt the first lash cut across Acheron’s chest. Thankfully his father was preoccupied with Ryssa’s tantrum.
She stormed to Styxx and glared at him. “I will call down the wrath of every god on Olympus for you, brother. And I intend to laugh when they chain you to a rock and have your traitorous heart cut out.”
“Love you, too, lamb-head.”
If looks were lethal, he’d be as dead as she wished him.
His body ached as more blows were given to Acheron. He glanced to his father who looked older than he ever had before. And that right there was why Styxx didn’t covet his father’s crown. Even now, his father wasn’t sure if Styxx was lying or not.
The king would always be suspicious.
And there was nothing he could do to alleviate it.
Tired and aching, Styxx bit back a groan as another lash was given. “Father? May I have time to wash and change?”
The king nodded.
Styxx flinched as more pain hit him. Determined not to show it, he went over to his father before he left the room. “Who is our accuser?”
“I’ll tell you once I get to the bottom of this.”
Styxx ground his teeth in anger. You don’t trust us, your own children, but you trust a liar.
Why was he even surprised?
Because he expected better from his father. He always had. But his father had never ceased to disappoint him.
Fine. There was nothing he could do about it. Disgusted, Styxx went to his room, and with every foul pain, he cursed himself more. How could he have been so stupid as to incriminate Acheron? But then he’d been caught off guard with no sleep.
How do I get you out of this, brother?
Determined to try, Styxx went to his bedroom door to leave so that he could find the one who’d accused them.
It was locked.
What the…?
He pounded on it as hard as he could.
No one answered. Worse, he was suddenly so sleepy that he couldn’t stand. Yawning, he tried to focus his fuzzy gaze. But it was useless. One minute he was standing, the next, he was lying on the floor.
* * *
Sitting in his Olympian temple, Apollo nodded to Poena and Eris, who had pleased him well with their wonderful cruelty against Styxx and his siblings. But then that was what they excelled at.
Tearing families apart.
“Good work…” Apollo said with a smile. “Now finish it.”
They took off immedia
tely.
Dionysus waited until they were alone. “Question, brother. Why do you hate the Didymosian princes so badly?”
Apollo ground his teeth. “Styxx has been a thorn in my ass since the day you introduced us. What mortal dares to turn away the affections of a god?”
“Not a bright one, that’s for sure. And the other one you torture?”
Apollo hesitated. While he mostly trusted his brother, he wasn’t about to tell anyone about Artemis’s “pet.” As much as he wanted to hurt Styxx for spurning him, he wanted Acheron’s heart in his fist for daring to touch Artemis and contaminate her with his filth. But unfortunately, he couldn’t kill one twin without killing the other and starting a war with his sister he wasn’t ready to fight. Unfortunately, he needed that bitch to live.… So he settled on a lesser explanation. “Collateral damage.”
Dionysus arched a brow at that. “You gelded the boy for collateral damage? Damn, remind me not to piss you off.”
Apollo gave him a droll stare. “I wasn’t about to geld the one I’m sleeping with. I enjoy him too much for that.”
Dionysus shook his head. “Harsh, brother. Very harsh.”
“This from the one who sends madness out as punishment? I haven’t made them slaughter their own children or eat their own body parts.”
“As you would say, it is our moral obligation to keep the humans in line.”
Yes, it was. And he wasn’t through with the Didymosian twins … not yet. Not until Acheron learned to leave his sister alone and Styxx learned to bend to Apollo’s whims and presence with a smile.
* * *
Ryssa was terrified as she returned to her room and handed her crying son over to his nurse. What was she going to do?
Unlike her father, she knew who the real traitor was. If witnesses saw someone tall, blond, and looking like Acheron, it was Styxx. It had to be. Acheron would have nothing to gain by killing the king, other than vengeance, and he wasn’t the kind of person to go after vengeance for anything.
Not to mention Acheron would never have been in public uncovered, especially not a stew. Had he done so, he’d still be there, facedown, beating people off him.
“What have you done, Styxx?” she whispered through the tight lump in her throat.
Why would he plot against his own father? But then she knew. The history of mankind was written by sons and brothers wanting more, and willing to do anything to get it.
Even kill their own fathers.
“I have to find Artemis.” There was no one else who could save Acheron from this madness.
Ryssa headed for her door to leave, but before she took three steps, the doors opened to admit the same guards who’d arrested Acheron.
“Your Highness, you’re to be taken for questioning.”
Her heart chilled at those words. “Questioning? This can’t be.”
But it was. Surrounding her with their muscle and terrifying visages, they took her to her father’s study where he waited with Styxx. Never had she hated her brother more.
She gave them both the coldest look she could muster. “What is this, Father?”
He appeared so worn and exhausted that she felt awful for him. This was the worst sort of treachery. His handsome features were drawn tight with sadness. “Why would you betray me, daughter?”
She scowled at his question. “I’ve never done anything to betray you, Father.… Ever.”
He shook his head. “I have a witness who just came forward and said that you were with Acheron last night as he plotted my death.”
She leveled a killing glare at Styxx. He had to be the one who’d named them. There was no one else. “Then they are lying as they lied about Acheron. I was with Apollo last night. Summon him and see.”
Styxx’s face went white.
So, he’d thought to rid himself of her, too. She couldn’t believe her father’s stupidity where Styxx was concerned. How could he be so blind to such a selfish villain?
Relief etched itself across her father’s brow as he approached her. “I’m glad they’re mistaken, kitten.” He laid a gentle hand to her face. “The thought of my beloved daughter turning on me…”
What of his beloved son?
She looked past her father to see Styxx staring at the floor. “Acheron is innocent.”
“No, child. Not this time. I have too many witnesses who saw him there.”
Why couldn’t she make him see the truth? “Acheron would never be in a stew, Father.”
“Of course he would. He worked in one. Where else would he go?”
Anywhere but there. Her brother had hated every minute of being trapped in those places and being forced to sell himself for food and shelter. “Please, Father. You’ve done enough to Acheron. Leave him be.”
He shook his head. “There is a nest of vipers coiled around me, and until I uncover the name of everyone he spoke to, I won’t stop.”
Tears filled her eyes as she considered the nightmare they were going to put Acheron through. Again. Needlessly. Why could her father not see the truth? “The priests say that Hades reserves a special corner of Tartarus for betrayers. I’m sure the name of your real traitor is being carved there even as we speak.”
Styxx refused to meet her gaze.
So she looked back at her father. “In all these years, Acheron has sought nothing but love from you, Father. One moment of your looking at him with something other than hatred burning in your eyes. Nothing more than a kind word, and at every turn you’ve denied him and hurt him. You have shattered the son who only wanted to love you. Let him go before you do irreparable harm, I beg you.”
Still, her father refused. “He’s betrayed me for the last time.”
“Betrayed you?” she asked, aghast at his reasoning. “Father, you can’t believe that. All he’s tried to do is stay out of your sight. Away from your notice. He cringes any time your name is brought up, or Styxx’s for that matter. If you’d stop being so blind for one minute, you’d see that he has never willingly mixed with people and he has never betrayed you.”
“He was a prostitute!” he roared in her face.
“He was a boy who had to eat, Father. Thrown away by his own family. Betrayed by the ones who should have protected him from harm. I was there when he was born, and I remember how all of you turned away from him. Do you? Do you even recall when you broke his arm? He was only two years old and could barely speak. He reached for you to hug you, and you knocked him away so forcefully that you broke his arm like a twig. When he cried out, you slapped him for it, and walked away.”
“And that’s why he plots your murder, Father,” Styxx spoke up finally in a whiny, nasal tone. “Don’t let a woman sway you from what needs to be done. Women are our greatest weakness. They prey on our guilt and our love of them. How many times have you told me that? You can’t listen to them. They think with their hearts and not their minds.”
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.
Styxx (DH #33) Page 54