Goddess of Spring (10 page)

As Lina watched other spectral forms took shape along side the first two. They were wretched and horrible. The sight of them made Lina's stomach clench.

Lina realized that she had slowed almost to a stop and Eurydice was staring fearfully around them.

“I think we need to speed up. You have a date with eternity, and I hate to be late for anything, don't you? I think it's rude,” Lina said brightly as she stepped up their pace so that Eurydice almost had to jog to keep up with her. She heard Grief wailing behind them and she shuddered, refusing to look back. Instead she focused her attention on several softly glowing shapes that hovered down the path in front of them. Even though she couldn't see them clearly yet, Lina didn't feel any danger or animosity from them, and her inner voice was quiet, which she took as a positive sign.

“Wonder what those are up there?” Lina asked, making light conversation with the silent girl at her side.

“I think they are others like me,” Eurydice said slowly.

Lina stifled the instant trepidation she felt. She was, after all, in the Land of the Dead. Did she actually think that she wouldn't come across any dead people? That was a little like thinking she wouldn't find yeast in a bakery, she told herself sternly.

“Well, then we know we're heading in the right direction.” She smiled at Eurydice.

“You knew we were on the right path,” Eurydice said, smiling shyly back at her.

“That's because I have such a good guide,” Lina said, which made Eurydice's smile widen, flushing her pale face with pleasure. Lina kept the warmth of the young spirit's smile foremost in her mind as they overtook the first of the ghostly forms.

It was a young woman, and again Lina found herself thinking that this girl, too, was young enough to have been her daughter. The spirit carried a bundle which she kept hidden and pressed close to her breast, but Lina could tell by its shape that it was an infant. The woman's blank gaze moved from the dark landscape before her and touched on Eurydice without changing expression, but when she noticed Lina, her shadowed eyes widened and her face suddenly became animated.

“Is it truly the Goddess of Spring who walks amidst the dead?” Her voice was thick with emotion.

With only a slight hesitation, Lina answered, “Yes, I am Persephone.”

“Oh!” The newly dead woman pressed a transparent hand against her mouth as if to contain her emotions. She took a deep, steadying breath and said, “Then this dark journey is not so hopeless. Not if we walk in the presence of a goddess.”

Out of the corner of her eye Lina could see Eurydice smiling and nodding. The whisper of her name passed like a gentle wave through the cluster of glowing spirits that suddenly surrounded them.

“Persephone!”

“It is the Goddess of Spring!”

“She has come to light our dreary journey!”

One by one the spirits turned to Lina. They came in all ages and forms, from old men stooped with age to youngsters who flitted between the shapes of the older dead with the exuberance of youth. Some spirits showed evidence of their wounds, with obvious sword slashes painting their otherwise pale bodies in crimson. Some, like Eurydice and the young mother, were unmarked, but no matter the state of what remained of their physical forms, all of them had one thing in common—the look of delight and newly rekindled hope at the sight of Persephone.

Lina was surprised at her reaction to being surrounded by spirits of the dead. It wasn't scary at all. She could even stand the sight of death wounds, as long as she didn't stare too long and instead focused on the person's eyes. There Lina could see the light that ignited within each soul as she smiled and greeted them with what she hoped was a proper display of caring.

As Lina and Eurydice followed the dark path, the number of dead surrounding them continued to grow. Lina could see that Demeter hadn't exaggerated. The spirits obviously needed her. They reacted to her presence like she was rain and they were a desert plain. Parched, they drank in her smiles and greetings. Voices whispered endlessly around her, murmuring words in languages she shouldn't understand, but did. Feeling a little overwhelmed, Lina tried not to think about the multitude of spirits. Take them one at a time, she chanted over and over to herself. Think of them as eager customers and not as the unnumbered dead.

As if sensing her growing unease, Eurydice stayed close beside her, making sure that she kept the goddess moving forward.

“I can see the marsh just ahead,” Eurydice whispered to Persephone. “There we will board Charon's boat and he will take us across the lake to the path that leads to the Elysian Fields. The palace of Hades is at the edge of those fields. It cannot be much farther till we reach it.”

Lina was just thanking Eurydice for the bolstering information when the pathway in front of them shuddered, and with a deafening crack, the black marble broke open, exposing an opening in the ground that gaped like a giant's mouth. With gasps of fear, the souls of the dead scattered, leaving only Lina and Eurydice to face the dark maw.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“DAMNIT! Damnit! Damnit!” Lina yelled, too shocked to remember to switch to Italian as the earth at her feet opened. She wind-milled her arms to keep from tumbling forward, then hastily grabbed Eurydice by one cool, transparent hand and began to scramble back, pulling the girl with her. She'd only retreated a couple feet when four ebony-colored stallions surged from the opening. Snorting fire in an awesome display of power they converged on Lina and Eurydice.

“Goddess, help me!” Eurydice shrieked.

The girl's terrified voice snapped Lina out of her slack-jawed stupor. She dropped Eurydice's small, pale hand and stepped forward to meet the horses. The lead stallion challenged her with a piercing squeal, his ears turned flat against his massive skull. He was the first horse she approached.

Mentally crossing her fingers that her gift hadn't been left behind in her body, Lina dropped her voice to a playful level and held her hand out to his dangerous looking muzzle.

“Well, hello there you handsome boy.”

The horse faltered, mid-fiery snort. His ears pricked forward so that he could be certain to catch every sound she uttered.

Lina smiled. Obviously, her gift belonged to her soul and not to her body. She breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how large or fierce, they were just horses, and like all animals, horses adored her. Lina made soothing clucking sounds with her tongue against her teeth as she caressed the magnificent animal's velvet muzzle.

“You certainly are a big boy,” Lina cooed.

“Who dares to disturb the souls of the dead and to touch the dread steeds of Hades!”

The voice broke like a whip over her, and Lina jerked her hands away from the smooth muzzle, glancing guiltily up in the direction from which the deep voice originated.

Lina swallowed hard. She was such an idiot! She'd been so entranced by the horses that she hadn't even thought to look behind them.

The man stood in a brilliant silver chariot the color of moonbeams, holding a large, two-pronged spear in one hand and thick leather reins in his other hand. His massive body was swathed from neck to ankle in night-colored robes. A cloak rippled around him and Lina's little light illuminated its folds so that it shone with shades of deep purple and royal blue. His long hair was tied back in a thick queue. It, too, was black and the light showed its slick sheen. Lina's eyes moved to his face. His coloring was dark and exotic; his skin was a mixture of gold and bronze that gave him the intimidating look of a statue that had come alive. He was staring at her with eyes that blazed above high cheekbones and a strong, well-defined chin. His nose was hawkish. He was stern and angry and . . . magnificent.

God, she thought numbly, he's like an ancient Batman—minus the mask and the Batmobile.

“I'm sorry,” Lina said nervously. “I-I didn't mean to disturb anything. The dead were just, well, glad to see me and—”

One of the “dread steeds,” obviously annoyed at the lack of attention, blew in her face, obscuring her view of the man. Automatically, Lina clucked reassuringly to him and stroked the muzzle he offered.

“Again, you dare to touch a dread steed.” This time the deep voice sounded more confused than angry.

Lina had to shove the stallion's head aside so that she could peer at him from under the horse's neck. “Apparently, he doesn't realize he's a dread steed.” She smiled fondly at the horse and it lipped her shoulder. The other three animals had begun to stretch their heads toward her, too, eager for their share of the attention. “Well, that's not totally true. It's just that I have this
thing
with animals. They like me. A lot.” She reached another muzzle and gave it a quick caress. “So I'm sure that they're still dread steeds, just not at this particular moment.”

And then the man's words really registered in her mind. He'd said “the dread steeds of Hades.” Lina ducked her head behind the nearest horse.
Merda!
That meant that Batman was really Hades. She closed her eyes and counted to three, took a deep breath and stepped back from the knot of horsy affection.

“I'm sorry, it's rude of me not to introduce myself. I'm Persephone, Demeter's daughter. I think she sent word that I was coming for a visit.” The man's eyes widened, but he didn't respond. Lina barreled on. “I really didn't mean to disturb the dead. I apologize if I've done something I shouldn't have.” Still the god remained silent. Lina's stomach fluttered. “You must be Hades. I hope I haven't come at an inconvenient time.”

“I recognize you now, Goddess,” Hades said. “And I did receive word of your coming.”

Lina felt a little start of surprise. He recognized her? She hadn't expected Hades to know Persephone. Demeter certainly hadn't mentioned anything about the two of them knowing each other.

“You did no harm. It is just that the Underworld is not usually visited by immortals. The dead are not used to the presence of other gods,” he said stonily.

Lina tried to smile. His hard gaze made her want to squirm uncomfortably.

“It was my mother's idea,” Lina said, and was instantly sorry. She sounded like an insecure teenager. Quickly, she added, “And I thought it would be nice to get away.”

Hades raised one dark brow, just as Lina imagined Batman would have done.

“Demeter told me that the Underworld is filled with magic and beauty,” Lina repeated truthfully. “I'd like to see for myself.”

“There are many wonders in my realm that go unnoticed by the immortals above,” Hades said slowly.

“Then you don't mind if I visit?”

Hades studied her with dark, unreadable eyes. But before he could answer the stallion nearest to Lina suddenly laid his ears flat against his head, and with a squeal he bared his teeth dangerously at the small, pale form that had been silently approaching Lina.

With a terrified cry, Eurydice leapt back. Instantly, Lina stepped into the stallion's path, causing the huge animal to pull up short in his attack.

Hands on hips she scolded the massive beast. “That was a very mean thing to do! Eurydice was just coming to me. She wasn't doing anything wrong. I'm ashamed of you. You four have already scared away the rest of the souls. I'd think you'd know better.”

Chagrined, the horse hung his head and blinked at Lina with the sad, calf eyes.

Incredulous, Hades watched as the young goddess chastised his steed. What had she done to the horse? Had she cast a spell over him? Hades' gaze took in the other three stallions, each of whom was hanging his head and looking lovingly at Persephone. What kind of magic did the Goddess of Spring possess? He had glimpsed her only a few times in his infrequent forays to the surface. What he had observed was a beautiful, but frivolous, fun-loving young goddess, and he had given her as little thought as he gave the rest of the immortals. Yet the woman before him appeared calm and carried herself with a definite air of maturity. And she had enchanted his steeds. Hades shook his head in disbelief. What was this feeling she had awakened within him? Curiosity? It had been eons since he had felt even mildly curious about another living being. How intriguing . . . the very thought of him finding the Goddess of Spring interesting made him want to laugh aloud. He abruptly made his decision and forced himself to speak before he could change his mind.

“You are welcome in the Underworld, Persephone,” Hades said.

Lina looked up in surprise. The god's voice had changed, as had his somber expression. He was looking at her with an intensity that made his gaze feel almost tangible. His eyes were no longer remote and unreadable, they glistened with what she would almost swear was curiosity and, if she hadn't known he was God of the Underworld, something she recognized as good humor.

Batman—sexy, sexy Batman—on a good day when the Joker wasn't bugging him, and so damn male that he radiated power. Demeter's hasty description of Hades had definitely not prepared her for the reality of the god's presence.

“Well, thank you, Hades. I appreciate your hospitality,” she said a little breathlessly.

“Come, then. I will show you to my palace.” Hades gestured magnanimously to the open space next to him in the chariot.

Lina glanced back at the silent horses. “First, I better make things right with them.”

Hades watched as without any hesitation or sign of fear, the goddess stepped into the middle of the massive stallions so that she was surrounded by living horseflesh. An odd little ball of light followed her, causing the animals' slick, black coats to glisten and shine while encasing the goddess in an illuminated globe so that her face was clearly visible and Hades could see her grinning girlishly as she patted each horse in turn. Where was the flighty, self-absorbed Goddess of Spring? This well-composed, horse-loving Persephone was not what he had expected.