June 24, 9532 BC
"You disgust me!"
Why am I not dead? Styxx groaned as his father continued to shout at him through the pounding agony of his head.
"I've never been more embarrassed in my entire life!"
Then you should try waking up naked, chained to a bed by your uncle who sold you to men you're forced to see repeatedly.
"How could you do this to me?" his father continued to rail.
Oh yeah, I really screwed you, old man.... I'm not the one who sent you into the woods to be raped, and then laughed with your rapists for two days.
The one who left you to be tortured for your own good by your beloved priests.
He'd laugh if it wasn't so damn pathetic. Licking his dry lips, Styxx cracked his eyes open to see his father standing over him. "What did I do?"
"You laid up here drunk while we held a banquet in your honor. Do you know how that looks?"
Like I'm the spoiled, happy prince everyone stupidly thinks I am?
"It was so disrespectful to me and to the senators and their families. Is this the kind of king you want to be? Is it?"
I don't want to be king at all, especially not to senators who paid my uncle to screw me.
"Get up!" His father kicked him.
Styxx grimaced before he sat up. His eyes widened instantly as his stomach heaved. Scrambling, he barely made it to the chamber pot before his stomach lost all its contents.
"Look at you. You're pathetic. I have never in my life seen a sorrier sight."
You should get out more. He vomited again.
His father raked him with a merciless glower. "As soon as you finish with your self-absorbed, self-inflicted illness, you're to be caned for it."
Styxx wiped at his mouth. "You said I was too old for that."
"You're too old to act like a petulant, out-of-control child. If you're going to behave as one, I'm going to treat you as one."
He started to protest then his stomach churned again.
"And I intend to watch every stroke you're given."
Styxx closed his eyes, grateful beyond measure for that mercy even if it meant more strokes for him. Thank the gods. He could almost smile at the relief he felt.
Drawing a ragged breath, he propped himself against the wall and stared up at his father. "I think I shall need help walking down for it."
"You think this is funny?"
Hilarious, really. In a pathetic horror story kind of way. Why not laugh at this point? Tears certainly had gotten him nothing but mockery. Why not try a different approach?
"What do you want me to say, Father? I'm sorry? Fine. I'm sorry. Please, find the gentle benevolent mercy in your heart to forgive me for the dishonor and disservice I've done you with my neglect."
"You dare mock me? No, you're not sorry at all. But you will be." He kicked at Styxx's feet. "Guards!"
They entered immediately.
Styxx swept them with a hooded glance, wondering if one of them had fucked him, too.