Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(26)

"It is the color of the Underworld," Hades explained. "White represents the purity of death."

"I thought black was your color."

"And so it is. Each black animal owes al egiance to me. The black of night and shadows were birthed in my realm, as is the black of that little death known as sleep. White and black - the most perfect of colors. They both belong to the Underworld."

"White for the purity of death. When you explain it like that, it makes perfect sense, but until now I wouldn't have associated white with He" - Lina caught herself, cleared her throat delicately as if she'd experienced a tickle, and continued - "the Underworld." Hades looked pleased as he guided the chariot along a section of the path that branched from the main road. It angled around behind the palace and led to a long, narrow building made of the same black marble, obviously an opu-lent stable. They halted before it, and four spectral men emerged from the building, each wearing black livery garments bearing the same silver devices as the flag, and each took charge of one of the stal ions.

"Treat them well ," Hades commanded the ghostly men as he helped Lina and Eurydice from the chariot and gestured for them to precede him to the palace. "They have had an" -  he paused, glancing at Lina and raised his dark eyebrows -  "unusual day." Lina blinked, surprised by his teasing tone. Then she said, in a voice staged loud enough for the stablemen to hear, "Wel , they certainly scared me. Boy, they aren't cal ed the Dread Steeds of Hades for nothing." She elbowed Eurydice. "Right?"

The girl stifled her smile and nodded vigorously. "Yes, Goddess!" Hades snorted.

One of the dread steeds nickered like a colt at Lina, causing his stableman to send the Goddess a bewildered look. Lina covered her laugh with a cough and quickened her steps to keep the dread steeds from embarrassing themselves.

Chapter 9

"It's even more beautiful on the inside," Lina said, so fascinated she couldn't stop staring around her.

They entered the palace from the rear, going through an intricately carved wrought-iron gate and then crossing a wide hal that led to an impressive courtyard that seemed to have been built in the center of the palace. In the middle of the courtyard there was a huge fountain, as intimidating as Rome's Fontana di Trevi, except that the god depicted rising from the waters in the back of the chariot wasn't Neptune, it was Hades in al of his grim splendor, pulled, of course, by the famous steeds of dread. White flowers grew in clumps around marble benches - the ever-present narcissus, as well as a delicate blossom Lina didn't recognize.

"What is that flower?" she asked the god.

"Asphodel," he said, giving her an odd look. "It surprises me that you did not recognize it, Persephone."

Oops. Lina avoided his keen gaze by bending down and pretending to study the little plant. The Goddess of Spring should know her flowers.

She laughed nervously. "Of course, I recognize it now. It must be the unusual light here that made it appear strange to me." She held out one arm so that the soft, blush-like light glowed off the alabaster of Persephone's skin. "It's so different from sunlight. It makes everything seem somehow changed, even things that should be familiar." She smiled at the irony of implying that the arm she held out was anything like familiar.

"The light in my realm was created by me, and it is as different from Apol o's orb as I am from the God of Light." Hades' voice sharpened and he became instantly defensive.

"Oh... well ..." Lina said uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to imply that I didn't like it. On the contrary, I think it's beautiful. It's just different, that's al ."

Hades didn't reply, he just watched her steadily with those intense, expressive eyes. Lina thought it was little wonder that he didn't get many visitors; his moods were like an amusement park ride. Up and down, they changed with dizzying speed. Maybe she'd talk to him about that before she left. She might as well help Hades out while she was there, as well as whatever she needed to do for the dead. Actual y, the thought was satisfying. What little she had already seen of the Underworld was far too beautiful to be buried in superstition and misinformation. And Hades was nothing like the uninteresting god Demeter had described. Lina looked slantwise at him. He was a sleek panther of a man, volatile and intriguing. What Hades needed was a good marketing campaign to bring about a change in image. Lina couldn't help smiling secretly to herself. She had always been excel ent at marketing.

The three of them walked slowly across the large courtyard. Soon, Lina found herself completely engrossed in her surroundings. Beautiful statuary of nude gods and goddesses dotted the area. They were crafted so expertly from cream-colored marble that they appeared to be living flesh. Lina hoped that her temporary job wouldn't keep her too busy to enjoy the garden. It would be the perfect place to sit, sip wine and daydream.

"After your journey I imagine you would enjoy some refreshments," Hades said suddenly. "I would be pleased if you would join me." Then he added hastily, as if he expected her to refuse him and he wanted to provide her a credible excuse. "Unless you are too fatigued, which would be understandable."

"I'm not tired at al , and I am very hungry," Lina smiled at the somber God, wanting to put him at ease.

"Very well then," Hades said, his expression relaxing a little. "I wil have you shown to your room." He nodded at Eurydice. "And you to yours, child, which you can be certain wil be near your Goddess."