Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(86)

"Persephone! You have to listen to me." He shook her until her head bobbled and Cerberus whined his distress.

The Goddess's lips moved.

"Yes! Speak to me," Hades cried.

"Too many mistakes. I can't..." Her voice cracked, and her words became inaudible.

"You can't what?" Hades prompted, shaking her again.

"Can't find my way. My body isn't here. I've disappeared."

The emptiness in her voice terrified Hades. Her face was blank. Her eyes were glazed. The Persephone he knew was not there. It was as if an echo of her spirit was speaking through a shel . And suddenly nothing mattered to him except bringing her back. He didn't care if she thought of him only as a job her mother had charged her to complete. He didn't care that Apol o was her lover. He didn't even care that she was going to leave him. He cared only that she was herself again.

Hades cupped her cold face in his hands. "Your way is here. You must come back to those who love you."

Persephone blinked.

"Come back to us, beloved. Come back to me."

She took one deep, rasping breath and Hades watched as her hand lifted to grasp the glowing amethyst flower. Then she blinked and struggled to focus on his face.

"Hades?" she croaked his name.

Dizzy with relief, he pulled her into his arms. "Yes, beloved. It is Hades, the foolish, arrogant God who loves you."

"Take me away from here," she sobbed, and buried her face in his chest.

Chapter 24

The women watched silently as the Lord of the Dead carried their Goddess into his palace. Though the God's face was grim, Persephone's arms were wrapped securely around his broad shoulders and her face was pressed into his neck. Relief passed through the spirits. She would be herself again. The God's love assured them of that. Like wind sloughing through wil ow branches they murmured softly to one another and departed the palace grounds.

"Eurydice!" Hades bel owed as he entered the palace. The spirit materialized instantly with Iapis at her side. "Draw the Goddess a bath. Make it very hot."

"Yes, Lord," she said and disappeared.

Iapis kept pace with Hades. "What can I do?"

"Go to Bacchus. Tel him I must have his most potent wine. Something to soothe the soul of a goddess." Hades said.

"I wil , Lord." Before Iapis disappeared he touched Persephone's head. "Be well , Goddess," he whispered, and was gone.

Hades carried Persephone quickly to her chamber. Fragrant steam was already escaping from the bathing room and Hades entered the moist fog to find Eurydice hurrying around, pul ing thick towels from shelves and choosing soft, plump sponges.

There was a well -cushioned chair near the mirrored wal . Reluctantly, Hades placed Persephone in it. Her arms slid lifelessly from around his shoulders and she sat very stil . Her eyes were closed. Hades knelt beside her.

"Persephone, you are home now," he said.

A tremor passed through her body.

"Beloved, can you hear me?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"I can hear you." Her voice was flat and expressionless.

"Do you know where you are?" he asked.

"I'm at your palace."

"Yes," he smiled encouragement, ignoring the dead sound of her voice. Iapis materialized in the room. He held a crystal bottle of ruby-colored wine and a matching goblet. He poured the wine and an intoxicating scent drifted from the glass. It smel ed of grapes and meadows, of ripened wheat and summer nights under the full moon.

Iapis offered the goblet to Persephone. "Drink, Goddess. It wil revive you." She tried to hold the glass, but her hand was trembling so violently that she almost dropped it. Hades wrapped his hand around hers, guiding the wine to her lips. She drank deeply. The magic of the immortals' wine began warming her almost instantly. Soon, the trembling in her hands subsided so that she could drink without the God's help.

"Go, now," Eurydice said, taking charge. "The Goddess needs her privacy to bathe." Hades stood, but hesitated to leave the room.

"My Lord, I wil cal you when she is ready," Eurydice assured him. Stil Hades hesitated. "Persephone, I wil not be far away." The Goddess looked up. "You don't need to worry. I'm back now," she told him. Even though her voice was expressionless, Hades nodded and he and Iapis reluctantly left the room.

Hades paced in the hal way outside her chamber. How long did it take to bathe? Would the spirit never cal him? He wanted to thrust open the door and order Eurydice from the room. Then he would make Persephone listen to him. She had to hear his apology. He was a stupid, inexperienced, jealous fool. Hades sighed. She knew him. It shouldn't be difficult to get her to believe that he had blundered into such a terrible mistake.

The door opened and Eurydice stepped into the hal . She closed the door gently behind her.

"How is she?" Hades asked.

Eurydice looked up at the God, searching his face before she answered him. When she did she sounded much older than her years.

"She is sad, Lord."

Hades raked his hand through his hair. "I have caused this."

"Yes, you have," she said simply.

Hades nodded tightly and turned to the door. Eurydice's pale hand halted him.

"Be patient. Treat her carefully. It's hard for a woman to love again after she has been hurt." Iapis materialized beside Eurydice. He slid his arm around her and the little spirit leaned into him.