Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning #3)(105)

Artemis felt the slice of bittersweet pain as she made her decision. She really didn't have any choice. She loved him.

"I will guide your chariot, Brother."

"You? But how can - "

The goddess held up one slender, perfect hand, and used arrogance to stop the tears that burned hot within her eyes. "Do you doubt my powers?"

"No! I - "

"Then it's settled." She studied her well-manicured nails. "I've always thought that chariot needed an update. It's much too old-fashioned - much too" - she shuddered dramatically - "Spartan."

Apollo just stared openmouthed at her. She gave him a stern look. "Well, aren't you going to thank your sister?"

With a whoop he threw his arms around her lifted her and spun her in a circle.

Pamela's ethereal body stepped from one of the side paths. "Hey, what in the bloody buggering hell is - " Pamela gasped and covered her mouth. Then she started to laugh. "I said 'hell' and then freaked myself out." She shook her head, her wispy hair floating like sea foam around her face.

Apollo grinned and held his hand out to her. Still giggling a little, she clasped his solid, warm hand in her cool one.

"As I was saying - what is going on with you two? I could hear you yelling all the way up on the other tier."

Apollo looked at Artemis, who looked at Apollo.

"Well?" Pamela asked. "Someone tell me."

"It's your plan. You tell her," Artemis said.

"What is it?"

Apollo drew a deep breath. "I have an idea. I spoke with Hades and Lina about it, and just now I told Artemis. Between the three of them, they have made it possible."

"Mad, but possible," Artemis grumbled.

Apollo smiled fondly his sister before turning back to Pamela. "You have been here long enough to know that there are seven rivers in the Underworld."

Pamela nodded her head. "Yes."

"My idea has to do with one of them - the River Lethe."

Pamela shrugged her pale shoulders. "Okay, what's the idea?"

"You must first understand about the River Lethe," Lina said, walking up the path arm in arm with her husband.

"It is called the River of Forgetfulness," Hades said.

Apollo shook his head. "Is there no privacy in the Underworld?"

Everyone ignored him.

"The River of Forgetfulness - what does that mean?" Pamela asked.

"Its purpose is to wash a soul clean of all memories so that it can be reborn and live another lifetime," Lina explained.

Pamela met Apollo's brilliant blue eyes. "Tell me."

"If we drank of Lethe, you and I could be reborn. We would live a lifetime. We could marry, have children, and grow old together."

"But you're not mortal," Pamela said faintly. His words had brought a rush of light-headedness through her spirit. To live again? To love and have children - Apollo's children?

"Lethe will have the same effect on his spirit," Lina said. "All he needs to do is to choose to leave his immortal body, just like Persephone chooses to leave hers every six months."

"But how can he do that? How can he just stop being Apollo?"

"That's where Artemis comes in. She has agreed to make sure the Ancient World is not devoid of light while I'm absent from it."

"She has?" Pamela said, looking at the goddess.

Artemis moved her shoulders nonchalantly, and then under the pretense of smelling a milk-colored rose, she bent to the fragrant bloom and quickly turned her head away from them and wiped the wetness from her face.

Apollo took Pamela's shoulders in his hands. "We would live a mortal lifetime together. Our children would carry on after us. Think of it, Pamela!"

She felt dizzy, and she was glad Apollo was holding her so tightly. "But wait." She looked at Lina. "I thought you said that Lethe washes away memories. If we don't remember each other, how will I find him? Or he find me?"

Lina smiled and leaned into Hades, who wrapped his arm around her. "Soul mates always find one another."

"On that you have my sacred promise," Hades said.

Pamela's gaze shifted to the too-silent Artemis. "You don't want him to do this, do you?"

"I don't want to lose my brother," she said.

Apollo took one hand from Pamela's shoulder and rested it on his sister's arm. "I did not think you would lose me. I thought you would watch over me - carefully. As well as my children and my children's children."

Artemis bowed her head and put her hand over her brother's. "As I will, my Brother. On that you have my oath."

Apollo turned back to Pamela. "Then all that is left is for you to agree, sweet Pamela."

She felt as if her soul would burst with happiness. "Yes! Let's do it!"

Apollo turned to Hades and quirked one brow at his friend. "Now?"

Hades shrugged, and Lina elbowed him.

"Now is perfect," the Queen of the Underworld said.

Apollo took a step away from Pamela, who was still frowning at him in confusion. He lifted his chin regally, and Pamela thought he looked exactly like the profile that had been stamped on the old coin he had given her so long ago. She was going to tell him so, when his body suddenly quivered and then changed into solid marble as his glowing spirit stepped from it.