Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(19)

"But how can I be sure to find my way back there?"

"You are the daughter of the Harvest. Turn your face upward, and your steps wil always lead you to your home," Eirene snapped in her usual, caustic manner. Then she met Lina's clear gaze and Eirene felt herself soften. This woman was, after al , housed against her wil in Persephone's body.

"Believe in yourself, child. Your strength rests within."

Lina was almost as surprised by the gentleness of the old woman's words as she was by her smile.

"I'l remember, thank you, Eirene," Lina said.

Demeter stepped forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead again. "May you be blessed with joy and magic, daughter."

The goddess turned away with a finality that told Lina not to cal her back, even though her heart was fluttering nervously at the thought of what lay ahead. Lina watched the darkness swal ow the two women, and she had just begun to think about whether she should send a little of her light to help lead Demeter to the surface when the Goddess's staff began to glow with the bril iant golden light of a summer day.

"And she needed me to light the way for her?" Lina muttered. "Not hardly."

"I beg your pardon, Goddess, but we must begin our journey." Lina turned back to Eurydice. The girl was plucking at the transparent folds of her garment. She gave Lina a shy, apologetic smile.

"I feel compel ed to continue. My soul tel s me that I have waited as long as I am able."

"Oh! Of course," Lina said, feeling instantly ashamed of herself. Here she was, fretting about Demeter leaving her alone to get started on a temporary job that she had been assured she could complete with no problem, and little, dead Eurydice was... well ... dead. Poor kid. "I'm ready. Let's go."

Instantly, the young spirit re-entered the grove of white trees with Lina fol owing close behind. The little bal of light enveloped them in a soft, clear glow, and as it touched the trees that surrounded them the light caught in the

branches and sparkled between the leaves making them shine like they were faceted jewels.

"They're so beautiful," Lina said quietly.

"I think it is your light that makes them appear so, Goddess," Eurydice said in the timid voice of a child.

"Oh, I don't know, I'l bet they have always been beautiful." As soon as she had spoken the words, the limbs above Lina began to ripple, as if in response to her compliment, and more faceted leaves shimmered and glistened in her light. She smiled at her guide and pointed up into the forest of diamonds. "They were here a long time before I came. My light is just al owing them to be seen as they real y are."

"Forgive me, Goddess. I did not mean to speak out of turn." Lina pulled her gaze from the shining leaves. Eurydice had ducked her head, as if she was waiting for some kind of chastisement.

"You didn't speak out of turn. You just made an observation. I want you to feel free to talk to me. Honestly, I'm already missing my" - Lina paused. She'd almost said "life" or "bakery" or

"world," - "mother," she amended, "and I'd real y appreciate some conversation to get my mind off her."

"I miss my mother, too," Eurydice whispered.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of..." Lina's words failed.

"It is not so terrible, Goddess," Eurydice said quickly. "Though I have been dead but a little while I think I am already beginning to understand."

When the girl quit speaking, Lina prompted her to continue. "Go on, I'd like to know what you've come to understand."

"The pains of the living world are already fading away. I miss my mother and... well ... others, but I know that I wil eventual y be reunited with them. I am, after al , stil myself." Eurydice held out her arm so that Lina's light

shined clearly through her delicate limb. "My body has changed a little, but my mind and heart are the same, which is a great relief to me. What I mean to say is that I have found that the terror of death is worse than death itself." The young spirit finished in a rush. Lina smiled at Eurydice. "You are very wise."

"Oh, no," Eurydice said, shaking her head quickly from side to side and causing her transparent blond hair to float around her in gossamer wisps. "If I were truly wise I would have avoided my mistakes."

Before Lina could question the girl further, they stepped from the grove of white trees to find themselves standing in front of an enormous ivory gate. Beyond the gate Lina could see a smooth, black path that wound off. into the eternal darkness like a thin ribbon of night.

"We must enter here and fol ow that path," Eurydice said. "It wil take us to Charon." Lina didn't need to pul from Persephone's knowledge; she recognized the name of the Ferryman of the Underworld. She nodded at Eurydice and had just reached up to push open the gate when the ivory wal swung away from her touch. At the same instant, a whir of sound caused the darkness before them to ripple, and a river of mist spewed from the other side of the gate, engulfing Lina in cold, gray vapor. Fear flowed from it like a raging river. Nightmare sounds assailed her senses, reminding Lina of every bad dream she had ever experienced. Her first response was to cover her ears and run away screaming, but the calm core within her took hold and spoke reassuringly into her frightened mind.

They are nothing but false dreams, the harmless mist of nightmare remembrances. You are a Goddess; they hold no terror for you. Order them away and they wil obey. Forcing her hands to her sides, Lina stood tal and shook herself like a cat ridding itself of hated water.