Athena

A thousand puny spears slash my thigh. The enemy chokes on my garnet blood. Flourishing my sword, I advance.

Once I had a father, god of gods. In treachery, Zeus impregnated my mother, then swallowed her whole.

She survived—for a time. When she died, I rose with a wordless howl. Embryo no more, my body twined with muscles. I struck his brain, screaming hatred for my mother’s murderer.

At birth, I sprang from his reeking head. He cursed me. Now, I’m both warlike and chaste—eternally.

Patience, I tell myself. When he least expects it, I’ll have my vengeance.