Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(41)

"Check into one thing, Hades. This Aeneas guy. I'l bet you one of your diamond chandeliers against one of Demeter's golden crowns that he's in Elysia. And that would be the same Elysia Dido just manipulated her way into. I'l also bet that he's a new arrival, which is what has instigated her sudden interest in moving into Elysia."

Hades' chuckle died and his eyes flattened. "Perhaps the young Goddess of Spring would like an opportunity to do more than observe and comment. The next judgment is yours, Persephone. Fate wil , in turn, judge how well you choose."

Lina nodded tightly. Two words passed through her mind. Oh and shit. Iapis struck the God's spear against the marble floor, and it rang its somber knel like it was heralding the end of the earth.

This time not one, but several shadows disengaged from the entryway and approached the dais. Lina counted almost a dozen spirits. Her heart pounded and her sweaty hands gripped the armrest of her chair. This wasn't one or two lonely petitioners, it was an entire herd. They were al women, but were of various ages, and their spirit bodies were in varying states. Some of them were almost as substantial in form as was Eurydice, and some were so transparent, they were practical y nonexistent. They moved as a group like frightened sheep, at first hesitant and unsure, then they caught sight of Lina in her chair next to Hades, and a definite change came over them. They lost their timidity. As one they walked purposefully forward, their steps becoming more eager the closer they drew to the dais. When they were at the foot of the stairs they stood silently, gazing in open fascination at her. Then one spirit, a woman who was obviously the oldest of the group, dropped to her knees and bowed her head. The rest of the women fol owed her example. For what seemed to Lina to be a long time, no one spoke, then Hades' strong voice cut the silence. .

"What petition have you brought form today?"

The oldest woman raised her head. She spoke her response to Hades, but her shining eyes never left Lina.

"We have no petition, Great God. We have come in supplication to the Goddess of Spring, thanking her for answering our orisons. We have been too long without the presence of a Goddess." The old woman motioned with her hand, and several of the younger women stood and moved forward. They carried within their skirts bunches of freshly cut flowers, which they placed at Lina's feet. Hades was looking at Lina with one brow quirked upward. He remained silent, apparently remaining true to his word and al owing her to handle the situation.

She cleared her throat and forced her hand to stay clamped to the arm of the chair when it real y wanted to twirl frantical y at her hair. She was a goddess, she reminded herself for the zil ionth time, and goddesses didn't pull nervously at their hair - at least not in public.

"Wel , this is certainly a surprise. I do appreciate you coming, and the flowers are lovely." She tilted her head toward the little spirit who stood by her side. "Eurydice wil put them in water for me, and I wil cherish them."

The women smiled and made happy, breathless sounds. Lina began to relax. They seemed like nothing more than happy well -wishers. Even a baker from Tulsa couldn't mess this up.

"You wil not be leaving the Underworld soon, wil you Persephone?" the old woman asked.

"No," Lina said firmly. "I wil not be leaving soon." Six months was certainly not "soon." The spirits whispered together in happy relief.

"We are so pleased, Goddess..." The old woman began, but her words trailed off as an amazing sound floated through the chamber.

Lina blinked in surprise. The sound surrounded her. Music. It was incredibly beautiful music. Entranced, she listened to notes that rose and fel like an impossibly complex birdsong. As the sound moved closer it became musical water. Some of it glided smoothly over pebbles in a clear brook, some tumbled along the slick bank of her hearing and stil other notes cascaded powerfully over a rhythmic waterfal of tinkling sound.

"Iapis?" Hades' voice intruded on the music, causing Lina to frown and wish he would just be stil .

"My Lord I do not - "

The daimon was interrupted as the musician entered the Great Hal . He walked toward the God's dais and the women parted to let him through. Lina studied him, stil amazed at the beautiful music he produced. He was an average, normal looking young man and he was playing a smal wooden harp that was gilded with gold. The gold was reflected in his hair and in the fine cloth that draped over his body leaving one tanned, muscular shoulder bare. He continued to pluck magic from the harp as he approached the dais. He was humming a lilting melody, and Lina was surprised when she noticed that his attention was not directed at Hades or at her. Instead his eyes blazed at a spot directly to her left.

"Why does a living man dare enter the Underworld?" Hades' voice sliced through the music, instantly silencing it.

Lina felt a shock of recognition. No wonder he looked so normal to her. He was alive.

"Who are you?" Hades thundered.

The answer came from the little spirit standing to the left of Lina.

"He is Orpheus. My husband."

Chapter 13

Eurydice's voice was brittle with shock-Lino's eyes flew to her face. The girl was staring at her husband. Her eyes had gone huge and round. Her face was completely devoid of color.

"By what right do you enter the realm of the dead?" Hades demanded. Orpheus tore his eyes from his wife. He bowed low, first to Hades and then to Lina. Then he ran his fingers lightly across the lyre, as if testing its readiness. When he spoke his words were accompanied by gossamer notes, and his voice was the magic that held them together: