"Are you mad? He has the same blond hair and blue eyes. The same broad shoulders."

"His features-"

"Are his own. Granted. Still, most men would kill to have a boy so handsome. If you doubt it, offer him up at market and see how rich you'll be."

"I'm not going to sell my son!" Xerxes growled.

"Then you admit he's yours?"

Xerxes snorted at his brother's trickery. Estes had always been able to outmaneuver him. It was what made his brother such a brilliant military commander. He could always think nine steps ahead of anyone else and he knew how to manipulate people to get them to do exactly what he wanted.

Even so, Xerxes couldn't get past the feeling in his gut that told him Styxx had a father other than him. That Styxx was more Acheron's brother than Xerxes's son.

Estes rubbed at his beard. "Brother, have you seen the scars Styxx carries?"

Xerxes scowled. "What scars?"

"He's your son. How have you missed them? They cover the poor child. Down his back, across his groin and ribs ... Not to mention his own mother tried to kill him and his older sister berates him every time he speaks and many times when he doesn't, and all the while you laugh at her attacks and think her disrespect is cute. Given all that, I should think he's entitled to being a little strange from time to time. He's been through more tragedies and challenges in his short life than most men experience in a lifetime."

That might be part of what he sensed.

But there were times when he felt absolute hatred for him radiating from the boy. Times when he felt like Styxx was plotting and conniving against him. "He keeps things from me."

"Should I remind you of the secrets we hid from Father? Starting with that red-haired slave girl we shared when we were at our Uncle Arel's?"

He laughed at the memory of two of the best weeks of his life. "She was a sweet treat."

"Indeed."

Maybe Estes was right, after all.... "I suppose I am overreacting. I just worry about him and our kingdom."

"That is what kings and fathers do."

Xerxes laughed. "Then I am great at both."

"Of course you are."

Xerxes smiled at the brother he loved more than anything. "I miss you so when you're gone. I hate that I only get to see you once a year, and always too short a stay."

"Perhaps I could remain longer on my next visit. Maybe take Styxx hunting for a week without you? He might confide in me if he's away from here and his responsibilities. Then I could observe him and see if he's normal or not, and report back to you what I find."

"Wonderful idea. And I think he'd like that. He's been rather sad and withdrawn for quite some time now."

Estes smiled. "I shall look forward to my time alone with Styxx. His hair should be back to its normal length by then, and his body more developed."

"What has that to do with anything?"

"He should have more confidence in himself. Feel more like a man and less like a frightened boy."

Xerxes scoffed. "I doubt he could have any less. 'Tis another matter that irritates me where he's concerned. He skulks about like a terrified peasant and not a prince." And that, too, made him doubt Styxx's paternity. Surely, he wouldn't father such a scared little mouse.

Estes crossed the room and clapped him on the shoulder. "Put it out of your mind, brother. I will take care of my nephew and his needs. I promise you. One week with me and he will be an entirely different person. Trust me. I know just how to make a man of him."

May 9, 9533 BC

Styxx sat alone in the dining room, drinking wine as he sought to silence the screaming gods in his head. He didn't know why on this day and his birthday they were so much worse than normal, but they were. It was as if they sought to drive him to true madness.

Leave me alone!

Still, they raged.

He added another round of wine and water to his cup and wondered how much more he'd have to consume before he passed out from it. Surely he was almost there. He'd been at this for hours now and had downed almost three full jugs.

As he sat back in his chair, he felt a presence in the room with him. At this hour of the night, no one should be awake except for the soldiers patrolling outside. Even his personal guard was now snoozing out in the hallway.

I need to replace them with two who don't snore so loudly.

Turning his head, he found one of his sister's maids standing in the doorway, watching him.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"I saw the candle burning and thought it'd been left alight by accident."

Sure she did. 'Cause candles were always being left unattended like that....

Liar. Just once, he'd like to find a woman who honestly admitted that she spied on him because she wanted to fuck him. Instead, they played their games as if he was too stupid to know the truth.

"As you can see now, it isn't." He took a deep quaff of his wine.

Instead of leaving, the pretty blond came closer. Licking her lips suggestively, she leaned against the table next to him. "Would you care for some company, Highness?"

"Not particularly."

"Truly?" She dragged her hand over her right breast, causing the nipple to harden and protrude through the thin white linen.

Fascinated, he couldn't take his eyes off it as his mouth watered for something sweeter than wine.

She slid closer so that she could straddle his knees. His own body hardened at the sight of her like that. The sides of her peplos parted, showing him the entire length of her luscious flesh. "Have you ever touched a woman's breast, my lord?"

Too drunk to think straight, he couldn't speak.

So she reached up and removed the fibula from her peplos. The material fell to her waist, exposing her upper body to his hungry gaze. His throat went dry. Though her alabaster breasts weren't very large, they were nicely formed and would easily fill his palm.

Licking her lips, she slid her hips on top of the table in front of him then lifted the hem of her gown up to her thighs and flashed him an image of the curly blond hair at the juncture of her thighs. "Would you like to touch me?"

The cup fell from his numbed fingers as an incessant need to be inside her consumed him. She leaned back onto the table and bent her knees so that he had a perfect view of her. Then she reached between her legs and ran her fingers down her wet cleft. He watched in silent awe as she gently opened herself for him.

"Well?" she asked, her voice thick with needful hunger as she pressed her fingers deep inside her body and slowly masturbated for him. Moaning, she thrust her hips against her hand, and rode her fingers until they were slick and dewy.

His breathing labored, he arched a brow at her actions. Well, you don't look like you need me....

"What is going on?"

The maid let out a small squeak as she jumped from the table and covered herself.

Styxx sighed as he saw Ryssa's angry form in the doorway, glaring daggers at him ... thank the gods she didn't have one in her hand or it'd probably be buried in his chest by now. "Nothing, sweet sister."

She curled her lips in disgust as she faced her wayward maid. "You were supposed to be fetching me something to drink, Eirene."

"Forgive me, my lady."

Now the maid was meek and bashful? Really?

"Get upstairs!"

"Yes, my lady." She went down on the floor to retrieve her brooch, giving him a prime view of her shapely ass as she did so.

With one last regal snarl, Ryssa turned and left them. The instant his sister was gone, Eirene looked up from the floor and smiled at him.

"Should you need me, Your Highness, I'm not far away." Rising up, she pressed her fingers to his lips playfully so that he could smell and taste her.

Completely disinterested in the stench of a whore, Styxx wiped it away as she left him. People, and especially women, never ceased to amaze him.

You should have taken her up on her offer.

But he had no interest in a communal quim that welcomed any handy cock. His father had probably even tupped her. And that thought immediately softened him. He had no desire to tie himself to a spiteful, crazy bitch like his mother or Ryssa because he was hard for her charms.

He'd sooner take care of his own needs.

Or fuck a goat.

Shaking his head to clear it, he retrieved his cup from the floor and set it on the table. Then he headed for bed. Alone.

As he reached the top of the stairs, he found Ryssa waiting there for him.

"You are to stay away from my maids, do you hear me?"

"Then you should tell your maids to stay away from your brother."

She slapped him. "They're servants. They can't say no to you and you know it. It's sickening to have you prey on them the minute my back's turned."

Styxx wiped at the blood on his lips as his buzz gave way to anger. "What do you want from me, Ryssa?"

I want you dead.

Her unspoken response slapped him harder than her hand had. Her palm had only made his lips bleed. Those furious words cut his heart to the quick and he hated her for making him care about the fact his own sister despised him.

"I want you to stay away from me and my maids. They are good and decent women. Not your own private harem."

Why can't you be like Acheron? He would never prey on someone else.

He clenched his teeth. What would she say if she knew how many lovers her precious Acheron had taken while Styxx was still as virgin as the day he'd entered this world? And that was even with a god chasing after his virginity, along with every female unrelated to him.

She wouldn't believe it. For whatever reason, she wanted to hate him and went out of her way to find reasons to fuel her resentment and fury.

All I ever did was try to please you and Mother. But those days were over. There were some people who couldn't be pleased no matter how hard he tried and there was nothing he could do about it. He was tired of banging his head against that wall.

His head hurt badly enough. He didn't need a concussion to go with it.

"Good night, sweet sister. May Morpheus cradle you kindly to his bosom." Turning, he walked to his room and locked the door lest another of her maids get lost on her way to the kitchen.

His head throbbing, he went to his bed and threw himself across it.

Was there anything more treacherous in this world than a woman, especially when the bitch was conniving?

May 10, 9533 BC

Pacing the floor of his personal temple, Archon cursed as another anniversary passed without their having located his wife Apollymi's missing brat.

Time was growing critically short....

If they didn't find Apostolos and kill him, his "beloved" wife was going to free the little bastard's powers and the two of them would join together to destroy every single member of his pantheon.

Starting with him.

He glared at his sister, Epithymia. The Atlantean goddess of desire had promised him that Apostolos would die. She had been there at his birth and touched him so that anyone who saw him would covet his body. The humans were supposed to have ripped the child apart.

And yet another year had passed and he still lived.

"You have to tell us where he is," Archon snarled at her.

"It won't matter. He's not there."

"What do you mean?"

"After a few years, I went back and the brat was gone."

Archon cursed. "How can he hide from all of our collective powers?"

She gave him a droll stare. "You had to marry a primal god.... Remember? None of us can touch Apollymi's powers. The bitch is potent, which is why you're so afraid of her."

And once her son came into his majority, it would be the end of everything.

"Your best bet is to keep hammering him with voices and pain. Sooner or later, it's bound to drive him to suicide."

"And if he doesn't?" Archon asked.

"I suggest you learn to swim." She flashed out of his study.

Archon cursed. They would have to step up their plans. There was no choice. Even if he had to tear the human world apart, he needed that boy's head on a platter. Sooner rather than later.

August 18, 9533 BC

Styxx stood by his father's side with his spine ramrod stiff as he did his best to ignore the voices that fought each other for time inside his skull. The loudest was the strident shrew tone he knew best.

Ryssa.

You're such a spoiled little brat. You repulse me. Standing there like you're already king. You're nothing but a worthless bully. I'm surprised you haven't ordered someone else to take your place to welcome Uncle for his visits.

He slid his gaze to her. She gave him a cold, mocking smile. Whatever. He'd never forgiven her for her reaction to him years ago, anyway.

Against his will, her nasty words replayed in his mind. "You're the reason they took my brother from me. Just because you look like him, it doesn't make you what he is. You could never be Acheron. You're just a poor copy of him. Get out of my sight. You sicken me."

Love you, too.

Since that day, he'd done his best to comply with her wishes. He only interacted with her when he absolutely had to. But what baffled him most was how she could hate him so when she knew nothing about him. And yet she felt completely entitled to her animosity. To the point she wrapped herself in it like a warm, familiar cloak.

You're glad Acheron is gone. I know you are. I know you made Father send him away so that you wouldn't have any competition. You're such a selfish, ugly beast. Her most current rant against him.

And there she was definitely wrong. He missed his brother more than words could convey. Unfortunately, given the things he'd felt these years past, he had a bad feeling that the Acheron who existed today was nothing like the memory he held of his beloved brother.

No more than he was the same Styxx he'd been as a boy.

Time changes all things. And seldom did they change for the better.

Smiling, his father clapped him on the back. "Here he comes."

With a sick lump in his stomach, Styxx followed his father down the steps to wait while Estes and his unexpected entourage dismounted and moved toward them. Why were so many noblemen with his uncle? In the past, Estes had always come alone with his escort.

Today, he rode with five others as companions....

After closing the distance between them, Estes pulled Styxx into a tight hug. "Look at you, my precious nephew." Then he whispered in his ear. "You've become even more handsome than your brother." He squeezed Styxx's biceps. "Beefier, too."

Strange how, unlike his vain, vacuous sister, Styxx didn't feel attractive at all. Whenever someone came on to him, he assumed it had much more to do with his title than his person. An instinct usually fully corroborated by their thoughts.

Even the Olympian who wanted him always called him by his title. Seldom his name.

"Thank you, Uncle. How is my brother?" Styxx whispered, knowing that if his father overheard the question, he'd be furious at him. Any time he asked after Acheron or begged his father to allow his brother to come for a visit, his father beat or insulted him for it.

Estes glanced over to make sure his father was still out of hearing range before he answered. "Extremely well. You should consider coming for a visit. I'd love to have you."

"Father would never allow me to leave." At least not for a trip Styxx might actually enjoy. But let it be a trip to Tartarus ... the old man couldn't throw him out fast enough.

"What's that?" his father asked as he rejoined them. "You're not trying to steal my heir, are you?"

"I'd take him in a heartbeat if you'd let me."

"He has too many obligations here at home."

Like cleaning stables and decorating temples he hated, listening to mewling, petty complaints, and observing his father's "benevolent" wisdom-which meant oooing and ahhing everything his father did as if the bastard didn't have enough sycophants already.

"Pity." Estes turned to Ryssa and scooped her up in his arms.

Styxx frowned as he caught the men with Estes giving him peculiar looks. But then if they'd met Acheron at his uncle's home in Atlantis, they were probably wondering, as all people did, if Styxx had any godhood in him, too.

The only thing he didn't miss about having his brother with him was the way people wanted to line them up and inspect them like they were freaks of nature because they matched so perfectly.

Except for their eyes.

And now their external scars, and voices-Styxx's had never lost the hoarseness from his time spent in the Dionysion. As Ryssa was so quick to point out, he perpetually sounded as if he had a cold.

Uh, don't speak, and for the sake of the gods, don't try to sing. Your voice is repellant. You sound like you need to clear your throat.

Releasing Ryssa, Estes stepped back and gestured toward his friends. "Since I'm here to take Styxx for a week..."

Styxx's scowl deepened as he looked to his father for confirmation. No one had told him this.

His father wouldn't meet his gaze at all.

"... I thought he'd enjoy a party for it," Estes continued. "Allow me to present my friends." He pulled the man closest to him up the stairs for Styxx and his father to greet. "Lord Kastor, whose father is a philosopher in Ithaca. Kastor was sent to Atlantis as a tutor for several prominent sons." No older than his mid-twenties, Kastor had dark hair and a thin beard with a thick nose.

They exchanged pleasantries.

Estes gestured to the three who stood together. "Also from Greek kingdoms, Lords Noe of Athens..." He appeared to be closer to his father's age, but extremely unattractive with heavyset jowls and a thick, unkempt black beard. "Leon of Macedonia..." On the unremarkable side, he was tall, red-haired, and very thin, and most likely in his mid-thirties. "Nestor, also an Athenian..." His brown hair curled around a bony face that held an exotic kind of beauty.

Descending the stairs, Estes went to the last man in their group. "And an Atlantean prince who is second cousin to the current queen ... Xan." Perfect in form and face, Xan had the kind of physique Styxx would give anything to possess. He kept working out for it, but so far ...

He had a long way to go. His muscles were highly defined, but very lean.

The group bowed before his father and then to him, except for Xan, who met them as equals. He shook hands with his father then turned a friendly smile to Styxx. "I've been looking forward to this since Estes invited me. I hear you're quite the man to ride with, Prince Styxx."

The unexpected praise made him decidedly uncomfortable. "I don't know about that, but it's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

This should be an enjoyable week with my favorite pastime, and a handsome prince to boot.

Estes was right. He matches Acheron in every way, except Styxx has perfect, beautiful eyes. Fascinating.

I am so glad I changed my mind about coming....

Styxx shook his head as their silent comments assailed him and then tripped over each other so fast that he could no longer distinguish their individual words, which were a mixture of Greek and Atlantean.

"Gentlemen," his father said with the full diplomacy of his crown, "please come inside and rest for a bit. I have plenty of libations for your welcome."

Ryssa led them in.

Styxx pulled his father aside. "Why didn't you tell me of this?"

Why are you complaining? I wish I could spend a week with my brother and have no responsibilities.

"I didn't know he was bringing a retinue with him. But I don't see a problem with it. We both thought you'd enjoy a hunting retreat with your uncle away from the stress of the palace." His father left him on the stairs as he followed after the others.

Grinding his teeth, Styxx wanted to curse them all. Did no one in his family know the most basic thing about him? How could he share a home every single day with people who knew so little about his personality?

He couldn't stand being around strangers. At all. Nor did he care for hunting.

How do I get out of this?

Maybe Galen could break my arm again....

But the worst part? He had a bad feeling in his stomach that something awful was going to happen. He just didn't know what.

August 19, 9533 BC

Styxx couldn't remember the last time he'd been so happy. As much as he hated to admit it, he was glad his father and uncle had done this for him. It was wonderful to be off without his father nagging him and Ryssa's constant bitching. No tutors telling him how stupid he was. No glancing down hallways to make sure his mother wasn't there before he walked them. No wanton maids or women grabbing for his cock.

Even with his head throbbing, it was great.

I could definitely live like this for a while.

"Here." Estes gave him a handful of dried meat as they hid near a brook, waiting for deer to sniff out the bait they'd left for them.

Styxx quickly ate it. "That's delicious. What's in it?"

"A special herb that's only grown in Atlantis. We have nothing like it here in Greece."

"You should import it. You could make a fortune."

Estes smiled. "So they tell me." He handed Styxx a wineskin.

Styxx took a quick drink then lowered it as he heard leaves rustling where they'd dropped bait. Pulling his bow up, he nocked his arrow then leaned to sight it.

Estes moved to stand behind him, so close that he could feel his uncle's breath falling on the back of his neck. "Steady. Hold the shot."

His head cocked, Styxx waited.

"Lift your elbow," Estes whispered in his ear. He gently pushed it up to show Styxx how to stand properly. "Hips straight." His uncle dropped his hands to Styxx's hips and twisted them slightly. As he did so, Estes's groin pressed up against his buttocks, letting him know his uncle was fully erect.

Styxx's eyes widened in shock.

"Release!"

Completely unaware of the arrow's trajectory, Styxx let it fly and quickly stepped out of his uncle's embrace so that there was some distance between them.

But Estes acted as if nothing had happened.

Had he imagined it?

Estes smiled. "You got him, little squirrel! Congratulations."

His thoughts still on the disturbing intimate contact, and whether or not it was intentional, Styxx blinked, not understanding what Estes had said.

Xan clapped him on the shoulder as he joined them. "Great shot, Styxx."

Only then did Styxx realize he'd made the kill. The other men were already at the deer, inspecting it. Noe had a small cup he was using to capture some of the deer's blood.

"What are you doing?" Styxx asked him.

"It's your first kill. You always drink the blood of your first." Noe held the cup up for him to take.

Grimacing in distaste, Styxx hesitated.

"It's all right," Estes said from behind him. He pulled out the wineskin and more of the dried meat. "I have this ready to banish the taste. But it is a rite of passage we all take."

Xan took Styxx's bow and smiled at Estes.

Not sure about this, Styxx lifted the cup of blood. Closing his eyes, he drank it then shivered in revulsion as the salty, metallic taste assaulted his taste buds.

Gah ... how could a god stomach drinking human blood?

"Here." Estes swapped the meat for the cup.

Styxx quickly shoved it in his mouth and chewed it then drank the wine. His uncle was right again. It thankfully killed the taste immediately.

"We'll all dine well tonight." Leon grinned at his friends.

Kastor winked at Leon. "Good thing, too, for I am long famished for the hindquarters of an unsullied buck. Even if it means sharing him with the lot of you."

They all laughed.

Frowning, Styxx didn't understand what was so funny about his comment.

"So who gets to clean our meal?" Nestor asked.

Estes tossed his dagger to land at Nestor's feet. "It's your turn to skin and cook the venison. And the five of you can draw straws for dessert." His uncle put his hands on Styxx's shoulders to guide him away from the others. "Come, Styxx. Let's get that blood off you."

"What blood?"

"On your chiton."

Looking down, Styxx cringed as he realized he'd spilled some of the deer's blood on his clothes. I am completely incompetent.

What else was new?

Estes grabbed his saddlebag and led him to where the brook widened to a stream. He handed soap and towel to Styxx. "You might as well bathe the day's sweat off, too."

While Styxx went to clean himself, Estes started a small fire. By the time he returned for his clothes, his uncle was sitting on a blanket, mixing herbs into a small clay pot.

"What are you doing?"

Estes motioned him closer. "Have you ever heard of Eycharistisi?"

Styxx shook his head. "What is it?"

"Another special plant they grow in Atlantis. Truly, it is a place of wonder and marvel. They have the most advanced medicine you've ever seen." Estes set fire to the herbs then blew the flames down to low embers. "Would you like to try some?"

Styxx hesitated. They didn't look particularly appetizing, but then neither did the meat, and it was exceptionably tasty. Kneeling beside his uncle, he reached out to take the herbs with his fingers.

Pulling the pot back, Estes laughed. "You don't eat them, dear boy. You inhale their fragrance." He held up a small cup that was attached to the pot. "Put this over your nose and mouth and breathe in deeply."

"Is it safe?"

"Very. You know I'd never hurt you. I love you too much for that."

You are definitely going to enjoy this, little squirrel....

Styxx scowled at his uncle's thought. "What does it do?"

"It'll ease your headache and the soreness you had from the ride out here."

He'd do anything short of cutting his head off to get the throbbing pain to lessen. Between his uncle, Estes's five friends, and the four guards who rode with them, his head had been nothing but a cacophonous mess of their thoughts. They were so overwhelming, he couldn't even understand more than a random word or two at a time.

If this worked to silence the noise, he'd buy bushels of it.

Pulling the cup to his face, Styxx did as Estes had instructed. It smelled like some exotic fruit and it made his head reel. But the best part was that it completely shut out the voices of the gods and people in his head.

For that silence alone, he was grateful beyond measure.

"Here. Have more wine."

Styxx took the skin and drank deeply of it. But this was different from what he'd had earlier. Spicier. It hit his stomach then fanned out through his veins with a warm thickness he could feel. The calmest peace he'd ever known settled over him, like he was sleeping while awake.

Then out of nowhere, his body felt as if it was engulfed in flames. He blew cold air across his skin.

Estes took the wine from his hand and set it aside. "It's all right, Styxx. Don't fight it."

Don't fight what? It burned and ached. He rubbed at his neck, trying to cool down his flesh. "I'm so hot...."

"It'll pass in a minute."

Styxx licked his suddenly dry lips as the fire in his body went lower ... straight to his groin. The instant it did, it gave him an erection unlike any he'd ever had before. Every part of his body ached with a ferocious need to be touched. Eyes wide, he stared at Estes, who smiled.

Estes moved to sit behind him. Rising onto his knees, he brushed the hair back from Styxx's face and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Are you virgin still?"

"Yes."

Suddenly afraid, Styxx tried to get up, but Estes held him fast. Before he could escape, his uncle pinned him facedown on the ground with his arm twisted behind his back. Panic filled him as he realized what his uncle had planned for him.

Praying he was wrong, he cringed as Estes buried his hand in Styxx's hair and used his knees to wedge Styxx's thighs apart. "What are you doing, Uncle?"

Estes tossed his chiton down beside them and pressed his naked body to Styxx's. "You've no idea how hard it's been for me to wait until you were old enough for this. I was forced to sell Acheron's virginity to recoup the loan I had to make for his training. But yours, little squirrel, I intend to savor taking for hours to come."

August 28, 9533 BC

"We have to sober him up."

"Do we really have to?"

"One more day, Estes. We can take him back on the morrow."

"If we keep him any longer, my brother will send out a search party. He is the royal heir, after all, and we are deep in his father's kingdom."

"Yes, but I want to be buried deep in Styxx's kingdom one last time."

They laughed.

"Come on, Estes. I just want one more ride on the royal stallion."

His head spinning, Styxx tried his best to focus as they talked over him, but he couldn't. Someone poured something warm down his throat. Bitter, it caused him to sputter and choke.

Then it made him heave violently.

Estes rolled him over as his stomach unloaded itself. Repeatedly. It went on for so long that Styxx didn't think he'd ever stop regurgitating.

But finally his stomach settled and his vision began to clear. Completely weak, naked, and sore, with bruises all over his body, he lay on top of a stained blanket.

"Come on, boy," Estes said, his voice distorted and slow to Styxx's drug-numbed mind. "We need to get you washed and cleaned."

It wasn't until Styxx was waist-deep in the stream that he began to recall the last week he'd been with his uncle....

You know, Estes, you should bring him to Atlantis. I'd pay you a fortune for a go at him and his brother at the same time.

No, better yet, to watch the two of them have a go at each other.

Styxx covered his ears, trying to blot out things he didn't want to remember hearing. Things he didn't want to remember doing ...

Absolute horror consumed him. He started to bolt, but Estes caught him and held him tight against his naked body.

"Shh. Calm yourself."

"You ... you..." Styxx couldn't bring himself to say that his uncle and friends had gang-raped him.

Repeatedly.