Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(17)

"Does he know you're sending Persephone down there?"

"Hades wil be pleased to have your assistance. Do not worry so, al wil be well ." Demeter squeezed her shoulders firmly before resuming her trek through the trees. She gestured impatiently at Lina to catch up with her. "It is time for you to meet your spirit guide." When Lina stil didn't move, Demeter turned and raised her distinctive brows questioningly.

"Saying that Hades wil be pleased to have my assistance doesn't mean that you've told him I'm coming." Lina knew business rhetoric when she heard it. She'd just fired an accountant who specialized in it. "In other words, he has no idea I'm coming and not a clue that I'm there to mess around with the management of his realm. Right?"

Demeter's expression was wry. "You are experienced enough to understand that not everything can be spoken outright. Especial y when dealing with men."

"You're right. I do understand what you're saying. So here's my request. I'd like you to send him word that your daughter is coming for a" - Lina gestured vaguely - "a little vacation. From a purely business standpoint it's always a good idea to keep the lines of communication within management as open as possible."

Demeter considered her request. Perhaps the mortal was correct. Hades should be told of Persephone's coming; even if the dour god didn't deign to bestir himself to welcome her. Stil , it was only polite for one god to contact the other when entering another deity's realm. The Goddess raised one hand and pursed her lips, letting loose a series of melodic birdsong. Before the lovely sound had died on the wind, a flutter of wings burst overhead and an enormous raven circled Demeter once before gliding down to perch on her outstretched arm.

'Take the news of my daughter's arrival in the Underworld to Hades," Demeter said to the bird. 'Tel him that the Goddess of the Harvest appreciates his hospitality and his protection as Spring visits the Land of the Dead." Demeter threw up her arm and the raven lifted graceful y into the wind, disappearing amidst the trees.

"Does that satisfy your sense of responsibility?" Demeter asked Lina.

"Yes, thank you," Lina said as she hurried after the stern Goddess. Demeter came to a rise in the land that signaled the end of the tree line. There she waited for Lina and Eirene to join her, but Lina's eyes were not on the Goddess. They were focused on the incredible sight before them.

"Oh!" The breath left her in such a rush she felt dizzy. "I've never seen... this is... is..."

"It is Lake Avernus." For once Eirene's voice had lost its caustic edge. "Beyond it is the Bay of Naples."

"It's so beautiful," Lina said, at a loss for words to describe the awesome view. The lake stretched before them like a vast liquid mirror the color of sapphires. Light glittered and danced magical y over its surface, breathing life to its face so that its perfect, glassy cover sparkled playful y. There were no trees near the lake's edge, but lacy ferns framed it with the soft touch of earthy green. Beyond the lake waited the ocean, its lighter shades of aqua and turquoise making it appear like it was the feminine complement to the darker, land-bound body of water.

"You have only begun to know the wonders of this world, Lina," Demeter said.

Chapter 7

The Goddess's knowing steps found a smal dirt path that ap peared to circle the lake. Demeter turned to her right and fol owed the path around a gentle bend, which led directly to the mouth of a tunnel-like opening within a large rock formation mounded near the edge of the lake. As they approached the tunnel Lina could see that its stone wal s had been smoothed and painted with fabulous frescoes depicting gods and goddesses feasting, laughing and loving. But soon the frescoes were swal owed by the darkness within.

Lina's throat felt dry. The darkness was like a tomb.

Demeter's steps didn't falter. She marched into the tunnel. When Lina hesitated, she spoke gruffly to her.

"Wel , you must come, too. How else wil our way be lighted?" the Goddess coaxed.

"Lighted?" Lina repeated, realizing she sounded like an idiot. Eirene sighed. "You are the Goddess of Spring. Use your powers." Lina's brow knotted.

"Listen within, Persephone," Demeter enunciated the name carefully. "Your body knows." Ignoring her mounting frustration, Lina concentrated. Light. If she could make light, how would she do it? Think! she told herself. A half-formed idea flitted through her mind. She lifted her right hand to the level of her eyes. It was a lovely hand. The color of new cream, it was smooth and unlined -

unlike her own, well -worn forty-something-year-old hand. If she could create light, she would do it like she had done so many other important things in her life - with her hands. And suddenly she knew. She turned her hand, palm up and cast a simple thought down her arm. I'd like light, please.

With a perky snapping sound, a little globe of bril iance popped from her palm to hover inches above her hand. Enormously pleased with herself, she smiled past the light and into Demeter's eyes.

"That's how I'd make light."

"Wel done, Persephone," Demeter said. The Goddess nodded in the direction of the seemingly bottomless tunnel.

Squaring her shoulders, Lina stepped forward, leaving the bal of light hovering in the tunnel behind them.

"You must command it to stay with you," Demeter said.