Stunned, Styxx replayed her last bit through his head. "Did you really tell her that, Father?"
He sat down in a huff. "Who knows? Who cares? I told her what I had to, to keep her from nagging at me. Take my word, Styxx, there is nothing more annoying than a woman wanting her way."
Ignoring that last bit, Styxx braced himself for the question he needed answered. "Why did you send Acheron to Atlantis? The truth, Father."
Because whenever I see his wretched eyes I hate you. His father's thought splintered his heart.
"What does it matter?" his father snapped angrily. "Acheron was not a member of this family. He didn't belong here."
"And the fact that he shares my face?"
"A trick of the gods."
But I'm the one with the powers. Acheron only has the eyes.
And his father would hate and deny him, too, if he ever learned that truth.
I really am nothing....
Worse, he had nothing.
December 9, 9533 BC
Styxx was sound asleep when someone grabbed him and dragged him from his bed in the middle of the night.
"Where is he?"
His attacker slammed him against the wall so hard, his breath left his body.
"Damn it, boy! Answer me, or so help me, I'll gut you!"
Styxx finally recognized Estes's voice in the darkness. But for his life, he didn't understand why his uncle was so angry. "He's gone to Arcadia."
Estes backhanded him. "Not my brother, you stupid whore. Yours! What did you do with Acheron?"
What?
Styxx stared at him blankly. "He's with you."
Estes punched him in the stomach then began raining blows on him so fast and furiously that Styxx couldn't even put his arms up to defend himself. He was too dazed by the herbs, his sleep, and now the beating. Falling to the ground, he tried to crawl away, but Estes followed, kicking him as hard as he could with every step.
After a few minutes, he grabbed Styxx then jerked him over onto his back and pinned him to the floor. He pressed his forearm against Styxx's throat, cutting off his breathing.
Panting and in absolute misery, Styxx glared at Estes. Moonlight cut across his uncle's face, showing him the extent of Estes's fury ... not that the beating hadn't clued him in.
"Where did you put your brother?"
"I haven't seen him since I left Atlantis."
Estes choked him so hard, Styxx's ears buzzed. His vision dimmed. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not."
Evil glinted in his uncle's merciless eyes. "Let's see, shall we?" He pulled something from his purse and forced it into Styxx's mouth.
Styxx tried to spit it out, but Estes wouldn't let him. He sat on his chest and held him there with his hand over Styxx's mouth and nose until he was forced to swallow.
"If you're lying to me, boy ... if you've taken Acheron from me, everyone in your entire empire and Greece will learn just what a whore you really are. They will all know how much you've begged to have a cock shoved in your mouth and ass. You hear me?"
Growling in fury, Styxx tried his best to fight his uncle off, but it was no use. Estes was too much stronger and larger.
And he wouldn't budge.
He held Styxx's hands by his face until the drug he'd given him took effect.
Styxx's breath left him in one gasp as the room swam and he lost complete control of his body and mind.
His uncle finally let go of his hands. "Can you hear me?"
He answered against his will. It was as if he had no ability to control his oral responses. "I hear you."
"Where is Acheron?"
"I don't know."
"When did you last see him?"
Styxx blinked slowly as the memory returned. "When he held my ankles while I was branded a whore by your guard. You had him blow across the burn and then you ordered him out."
"You haven't seen him since?"
"No."
Estes stroked Styxx's hair back from his face. "What else do you remember about Atlantis, little Styxx?"
A single tear slid from the corner of his eye as horrid memories assailed him. "Everything."
His uncle smiled in his face. "Everything? Let's put that to the test, shall we?"
December 12, 9533 BC
Styxx came awake covered in blood and bruises, and aching all over. His head pounded and his throat was so raw, he wondered if it was bleeding, too.
"Here."
Something hit him in the head then landed on the mattress by his side.
Confused, he opened his eyes to see Estes in the room, not too far away. In that moment, the last two days slammed into him. "You fucking bastard!"