Cold. Callous. Unfeeling.
Years ago, he'd begged his sister to teach him how to love. She'd rebuffed his pleas with her coldness. Aphrodite had spit on him that day and turned her back to a child who'd only wanted to belong to someone.
It was Odia and Lyssa who now took him to their breasts and suckled him. He drank the warmth of their venom in and let it strip the pain away. His family had failed to teach him love, but from the world and their callous arms, he'd finally learned how to fully hate.
January 2, 9534 BC
"I have to admire your strength, little prince. While I find it appalling, I do have to respect it. Especially given everything you've suffered." The god brushed his hand against Styxx's neck.
Styxx quickly jerked away then grimaced in pain.
"In that regard," the god continued, "I think I should be insulted and highly offended that you'd rather be so abused than lie with me ... but you're young so I will forgive you.... For now."
Lying on the floor of his cell, Styxx didn't bother to look at the god who'd returned to torture him again. He was used to his visits. The Olympian came often to flog Styxx's spirit and will while the priests flogged his body.
"Am I really so repugnant to you?" Well aware that Styxx wouldn't answer, he shoved Styxx onto his back then ran his hands over the burns and scabs on Styxx's skin. "I could heal all of these."
"I won't be your whore. I won't be anyone's whore."
The god smiled. "Spoken like a true prince. But here's the thing. Sooner or later, everyone whores themselves for something. And I am tired of watching you be hurt."
Then stop it, you bastard!
"It's not that easy. You want out...."
Styxx shook his head, refusing to pay the price the god demanded.
The god growled at him then grabbed his jaw in a fierce grip. "All right. Fine. I know that one day, there will be something you are willing to whore yourself for, and then you will come to me on your knees. And you will receive me. In the meantime, before they do any more damage to your beauty, I will amend my terms. If you want to go home ... remove your clothes and lie here with your arms open and your knees parted. I will leave my clothes on, but you will cradle me like a lover while I feed from you."
Styxx cringed at the very thought of it. But given the other things he'd been put through these past months, that didn't seem so bad. Besides, the god would feed from him anyway. He knew that for a fact. The Olympian had tied the two of them together and there was nothing Styxx could do to stop it.
"I have your word you won't rape me," Styxx breathed through his hoarse throat.
"I swear on the River Styx that this one time, I will not rape you. But only so long as you hold me and let me feed until I'm full."
I can go home then?
"I will have you sent home on the morrow."
Styxx nodded in consent.
The god withdrew from him and watched as he slowly pulled his coarse stola off. Naked, Styxx lay back on the floor and did as the god had asked. Turning his head so that the god would have access to his neck, he closed his eyes and waited.
Apollo took a moment to savor this one small victory that he knew had cost the prince much of his pride. Honestly, he'd expected Styxx to refuse. "Remember the terms of our deal, human. Until I'm sated. If you fail to cradle me like a lover, I can have you any way I want."
Styxx nodded again.
The god approached him slowly. Styxx slammed his eyes shut, waiting for the familiar bite. Only this time, the god didn't use his jugular. Rather, he sank his fangs into the femoral artery in his thigh.
Styxx barely caught himself before he shoved the god away. Any breach of their agreement ...
It would be a lot more humiliating than this.
His jaw quivering, Styxx forced himself to sink his hand into the god's dark hair and cradle his body as if he enjoyed the god's touch. Bile rose in his throat. Biting his lip, he tried to focus on anything else to get him away from this moment of absolute horror.
Tears pricked at his eyes. The only good thing was that whenever the Olympian was around, the voices in his head stopped. He heard nothing. But right now, even that distraction would be welcome.
When the god finally finished, he crawled up his body then pressed himself against Styxx. Styxx had to force himself not to curl his lip or fight as he felt the god's erection on his blistered thigh through the cloth of the god's stola. He took Styxx's chin in his hand and forced him to meet his gaze. "One day, prince, I will have you fully."