Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(20)

"Get away, bad dreams!" she commanded, and breathed a sigh of relief when the mist responded by dissipating into nothingness.

"You made them leave. Oh, thank you, Goddess."

Eurydice had moved close to her side, and now the young girl stood almost touching her. Lina could see the fear in her pale eyes.

"They couldn't have hurt you, Eurydice. They were just the mist of nightmares," she reassured the girl with a quick smile. "Unpleasant, sure, but not dangerous."

"I have never liked nightmares," Eurydice said, looking around fearful y.

"Honey, no one does. That's why they're cal ed bad dreams. Don't give them another thought -

they're history." The ivory gate had remained open, and Lina pointed at the dark road. "Didn't you say this was the way we had to go?"

"Yes, Goddess."

"Wel , then, off we go." Lina stepped through the gate and onto the road with Eurydice fol owing closely behind. Under the soft leather slippers that adorned Persephone's dainty feet, the road felt cool and hard. She crouched down to touch it

"Marble," she murmured. Lina peered into the distance. "It's made of what looks like a single slab of black marble." She stood up and grinned at Eurydice. "It's not the yel ow brick road, but it's sure easy to fol ow."

"Goddess?" Eurydice looked confused.

"Oh, it's just a saying. It means our way is clearly marked." Lina started walking, Eurydice at her side and the bal of light floating between them. "And I would real y like it if you would cal me by my name."

"But you are a Goddess." She sounded shocked at Lina's request.

"And I have a name. Anyway, Goddess sounds so stiff and formal. After al , I am the Goddess of Spring, and spring is anything but stiff and formal." Lina listened within as she spoke and it seemed that the echo of Persephone was pleased by what she had said. Suddenly Lina wondered about the woman whose body she inhabited. What was she like? Lina glanced down at herself. That she was beautiful was obvious, but was she also arrogant and selfish? Or was she a benevolent goddess who treated others kindly?

"Then I wil consider it an honor to cal you Persephone."

Eurydice's voice broke into Lina's thoughts, but she smiled encouragement to the girl. "Good!" At least it was a start.

They walked on in companionable silence and Lina studied the land around them. She was beginning to distinguish between the levels of darkness on either side of the road. At first glance, it seemed that everything was wreathed in the black of a starless night, but as Lina's eyes grew more accustomed to the lack of light, she could see that there were shadows and shapes within the black. The land that stretched away on either side of them reminded Lina of a dark moor, she could even make out the feather-like shapes of gray-toned foliage and clumps of thick grasses mat waved unerringly in the non-wind.

Then a shape flitted past, catching Lina's eye as it swam into focus. It was an old man, bent almost in two with age. He took one limping step toward the road, but his next step was backward, then he took another forward. His rheumy eyes blinked sightlessly at Lina. Just as she was wondering if she should help him, another shape took form out of the darkness. It was a woman. She looked to be about Lina's age and she was crouched on the shadowy grass, cringing in terror from an invisible attacker. Lina's first instinct was to go to her, but the voice within echoed throughout her mind.

You cannot help them. They are Old Age and Fear. Look about you. Grief, Anxiety, Hunger, Disease and Agony wil join them.

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.

They are al a part of mortal existence. They cannot be helped. They can only be overcome. Do not tarry here.

Lina realized that she had slowed almost to a stop and Eurydice was staring fearful y 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 al , in the Land of the Dead. Did she actual y 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.

"Wel , 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.