" Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!" Lina yel ed, too shocked to remem ber to switch to Italian as the earth at her feet opened. She windmil ed her arms to keep from tumbling forward, then hastily grabbed Eurydice by one cool, transparent hand and began to scramble back, pulling the girl with her. She'd only retreated a couple feet when four ebony-colored stal ions surged from the opening. Snorting fire in an awesome display of power they converged on Lina and Eurydice.
"Goddess, help me!" Eurydice shrieked.
The girl's terrified voice snapped Lina out of her slack-jawed stupor. She dropped Eurydice's smal , pale hand and stepped forward to meet the horses. The lead stal ion chal enged her with a piercing squeal, his ears turned flat against his massive skul . He was the first horse she approached. Mental y crossing her fingers that her gift hadn't been left behind in her body, Lina dropped her voice to a playful level and held her hand out to his dangerous looking muzzle.
"Wel , hel o there you handsome boy."
The horse faltered, mid-fiery snort. His ears pricked forward so that he could be certain to catch every sound she uttered.
Lina smiled. Obviously, her gift belonged to her soul and not to her body. She breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how large or fierce, they were just horses, and like al animals, horses adored her. Lina made soothing clucking sounds with her tongue against her teeth as she caressed the magnificent animal's velvet muzzle.
"You certainly are a big boy," Lina cooed.
"Who dares to disturb the souls of the dead and to touch the dread steeds of Hades!" The voice broke like a whip over her, and Lina jerked her hands away from the smooth muzzle, glancing guiltily up in the direction from which the deep voice originated. Lina swal owed hard. She was such an idiot! She'd been so entranced by the horses that she hadn't even thought to look behind them.
The man stood in a bril iant silver chariot the color of moonbeams, holding a large, two-pronged spear in one hand and thick leather reins in his other hand. His massive body was swathed from neck to ankle in night-colored robes. A cloak rippled around him and Lina's little light il uminated its folds so that it shone with shades of deep purple and royal blue. His long hair was tied back in a thick queue. It, too, was black and the light showed its slick sheen. Lina's eyes moved to his face. His coloring was dark and exotic; his skin was a mixture of gold and bronze that gave him the intimidating look of a statue that had come alive. He was staring at her with eyes that blazed above high cheekbones and a strong, wel -defined chin. His nose was hawkish. He was stern and angry and... magnificent.
God, she thought numbly, he's like an ancient Batman - minus the mask and the Batmobile.
"I'm sorry," Lina said nervously. "I-I didn't mean to disturb anything. The dead were just, wel , glad to see me and - "
One of the "dread steeds," obviously annoyed at the lack of attention, blew in her face, obscuring her view of the man. Automatical y, Lina clucked reassuringly to him and stroked the muzzle he offered.
"Again, you dare to touch a dread steed." This time the deep voice sounded more confused than angry.
Lina had to shove the stal ion's head aside so that she could peer at him from under the horse's neck. "Apparently, he doesn't realize he's a dread steed." She smiled fondly at the horse and it lipped her shoulder. The other three animals had begun to stretch their heads toward her, too, eager for their share of the attention. "Wel , that's not total y true. It's just that I have this thing with animals. They like me. A lot." She reached another muzzle and gave it a quick caress. "So I'm sure that they're stil dread steeds, just not at this particular moment." And then the man's words real y registered in her mind. He'd said "the dread steeds of Hades." Lina ducked her head behind the nearest horse. Merda! That meant that Batman was real y Hades. She closed her eyes and counted to three, took a deep breath and stepped back from the knot of horsy affection.
"I'm sorry, it's rude of me not to introduce myself. I'm Persephone, Demeter's daughter. I think she sent word that I was coming for a visit." The man's eyes widened, but he didn't respond. Lina barreled on. "I real y didn't mean to disturb the dead. I apologize if I've done something I shouldn't have." Stil the God remained silent. Lina's stomach fluttered. "You must be Hades. I hope I haven't come at an inconvenient time."
"I recognize you now, Goddess," Hades said. "And I did receive word of your coming." Lina felt a little start of surprise. He recognized her? She hadn't expected Hades to know Persephone. Demeter certainly hadn't mentioned anything about the two of them knowing each other.
"You did no harm. It is just that the Underworld is not usual y visited by immortals. The dead are not used to the presence of other gods," he said stonily.
Lina tried to smile. His hard gaze made her want to squirm uncomfortably.
"It was my mother's idea," Lina said, and was instantly sorry. She sounded like an insecure teenager. Quickly, she added, "And I thought it would be nice to get away." Hades raised one dark brow, just as Lina imagined Batman would have done.
"Demeter told me that the Underworld is fil ed with magic and beauty," Lina repeated truthfully.
"I'd like to see for myself."
"There are many wonders in my realm that go unnoticed by the immortals above," Hades said slowly.
"Then you don't mind if I visit?"
Hades studied her with dark, unreadable eyes. But before he could answer the stal ion nearest to Lina suddenly laid his ears flat against his head, and with a squeal he bared his teeth dangerously at the smal , pale form that had been silently approaching Lina.
With a terrified cry, Eurydice leapt back. Instantly, Lina stepped into the stal ion's path, causing the huge animal to pull up short in his attack.
Hands on hips she scolded the massive beast. "That was a very mean thing to do! Eurydice was just coming to me. She wasn't doing anything wrong. I'm ashamed of you. You four have already scared away the rest of the souls. I'd think you'd know better."
Chagrined, the horse hung his head and blinked at Lina with the sad, calf eyes. Incredulous, Hades watched as the young goddess chastised his steed. What had she done to the horse? Had she cast a spel over him? Hades' gaze took in the other three stal ions, each of whom was hanging his head and looking lovingly at Persephone. What kind of magic did the Goddess of Spring possess? He had glimpsed her only a few times in his infrequent forays to the surface. What he had observed was a beautiful, but frivolous, fun-loving young goddess, and he had given her as little thought as he gave the rest of the immortals. Yet the woman before him appeared calm and carried herself with a definite air of maturity. And she had enchanted his steeds. Hades shook his head in disbelief. What was this feeling she had awakened within him? Curiosity? It had been eons since he had felt even mildly curious about another living being. How intriguing... the very thought of him finding the Goddess of Spring interesting made him want to laugh aloud. He abruptly made his decision and forced himself to speak before he could change his mind.
"You are welcome in the Underworld, Persephone," Hades said. Lina looked up in surprise. The God's voice had changed, as had his somber expression. He was looking at her with an intensity that made his gaze feel almost tangible. His eyes were no longer remote and unreadable, they glistened with what she would almost swear was curiosity and, if she hadn't known he was God of the Underworld, something she recognized as good humor. Batman - sexy, sexy Batman - on a good day when the Joker wasn't bugging him, and so damn male that he radiated power. Demeter's hasty description of Hades had definitely not prepared her for the reality of the God's presence.
"Wel , thank you, Hades. I appreciate your hospitality," she said a little breathlessly.
"Come, then. I wil show you to my palace." Hades gestured magnanimously to the open space next to him in the chariot.
Lina glanced back at the silent horses. "First, I better make things right with them." Hades watched as without any hesitation or sign of fear, the Goddess stepped into the middle of the massive stal ions so that she was surrounded by living horseflesh. An odd little bal of light fol owed her, causing the animals' slick, black coats to glisten and shine while encasing the Goddess in an il uminated globe so that her face was clearly visible and Hades could see her grinning girlishly as she patted each horse in turn. Where was the flighty, self-absorbed Goddess of Spring? This wel -composed, horse-loving Persephone was not what he had expected.
"Oh, you're al good boys. Don't be sad. I'm not mad at you." Hades stil found it hard to believe, but his dread steeds nuzzled her and whickered softly. Like they were tame ponies.
Final y, laughing, she emerged from the nest of horseflesh. She felt his eyes on her again, and smiled up at him. "I love horses, don't you?"
The radiant expression on her face caused his stomach to tighten. Had a goddess ever looked at him like that before? His mouth felt dry. He swal owed hard.
"Yes."
Lina thought she could get lost in that one simple word spoken in Hades' rich, deep voice. For some ridiculous reason, she felt her cheeks warm with a blush, and she turned hastily back to stroke the stal ion's slick neck. What the hel was wrong with her? She seriously needed to get a grip on herself. She was a grown woman. There was no reason for her to get al limp-kneed and goo-goo eyed just because Hades hadn't turned out to be a bore or a trol . She glanced at him. Jeesh, he made her nervous. "Reclusive and somber," merda! Demeter had failed to add gorgeous. She needed to start thinking of him as nothing more than an upper-level executive. An incredibly powerful upper-level executive. Business - this trip was meant to be business. Remember that, she told herself firmly.
"I'm ready now." She straightened her shoulders, gave the stal ion a final pat, started to join Hades and then stopped. She had just been scolding the horses for their bad behavior, and here she was, reacting to the presence of a handsome man like a sil y schoolgirl and forgetting al of her own manners.
"Eurydice," she cal ed, stepping away from the chariot so that she could see the spirit who was standing nervously a little way down the path. "Come on. Hades is going to give us a ride." Eurydice's eyes were wide and frightened. "Oh, no, Goddess. I could not go with..." The young spirit's words ran out, leaving her silent and helpless.
Lina thought she looked like a pale, frightened little fawn.
"Honey, I wouldn't think of going on without you. You've been a wonderful guide and a good friend." Lina turned to Hades. "Isn't your palace on the way to the Elysian Fields?'
Hades nodded.
"So it would be fine for Eurydice to ride there with us?" She asked the God. Instead of answering her, Hades shifted his attention to the little spirit and spoke directly to Eurydice.
"Do not fear, child. You may join your Goddess."
His voice had changed again. Lina thought that now he sounded like a father coaxing a shy child to his side. His expression had softened, too, and gone was the intense look with which he had been studying her. In exchange his face was kind, and he looked suddenly approachable and understanding - and somehow older than he had original y appeared.
"As you wish, my Lord." Eurydice's sweet voice answered Hades. She even managed the shadow of a smile as she skirted around the four stal ions to join Lina. "You don't have to worry about them now," Lina told her, forcing her eyes from Hades' shifting face and nodding her head at the horses.
"They'l behave."
Eurydice sent the four beasts a nervous glance, and she was careful to keep the Goddess between herself and them, even though they gave no sign of striking out at her. They were too busy whickering at Persephone and sending her adoring looks.
The lip of the chariot sat wel above the ground, and Lina grateful y accepted Hades' help to climb aboard. His large hand engulfed hers in instant warmth, and Lina was surprised to feel the roughness of wel -worn cal uses against Persephone's smooth palm. She wondered what work Hades did with his hands, but she didn't have time to ponder the God's habits long because as soon as she pulled Eurydice up next to her, Hades barked a command and the chariot lurched forward, whipped around in a tight circle and plunged back through the jagged opening in the earth. Glancing over her shoulder, Lina caught sight of the crevice closing behind them. She gulped and drew Eurydice in front of her and grasped the smooth ridge that ran along the top of the chariot, effectively locking her within the circle of her arms so that she could be sure the girl didn't tumble off.
Lina's bal of light kept pace with them, hovering just above her right shoulder, but its il umination wasn't needed. Torches blazed from silver wal sconces, lighting the smooth, high sides of the dark tunnel through which they flew.
"It is like the Bat Cave."
Lina realized she'd spoken her thoughts aloud when Hades' head tilted down in her direction and he gave her a questioning glance.
"I was just wondering if there were bats in this cave," Lina said sheepishly.
"Yes, often there are." Hades said.
Lina watched his cape bil ow behind him. "I'l bet they're big bats," she said wryly. Hades snorted, sounding much like one of his dread steeds. "Do you fear bats, Goddess?"
"I've never thought about it," she said honestly. "Actual y, I don't know much about them."
"It is normal to fear that which you do not know," Hades said. His tone was stil fatherly, and, Lina thought, slightly patronizing. She raised an eyebrow at him. If she'd adhered to that belief system, the events of the past day would have paralyzed her.
"I don't think it's normal; I think it's a sign of immaturity," Lina said. Hades snorted again, irritating Lina with his condescension. "Thus says a very young goddess."
"Maturity cannot always be measured by years," she retorted. He might be Mr. Tal Dark and Batman, but he was certainly going to be in for a surprise if he tried to treat her like she was young and stupid.
Hades' only comment was a piercing look. He shouted another command to his horses and they increased their speed, making further talking impossible. Lina focused on holding onto the chariot and making sure she didn't lose Eurydice's little spirit body during one of their blindingly fast turns. Just as she was beginning to think that her hands might have formed permanently into claws from clutching the railing so tightly, Hades raised the two-pronged spear to the roof. A flash of light exploded from the spear's points, causing the tunnel to open and the floor to twist upward. With a thunderous roar the chariot shot from the newly exposed exit and, in a rain of impressive sparks from the hooves of the dread steeds, they slid to a halt. Lina gazed around her in wordless awe. The first thought that struck her was that it wasn't dark anymore. The sky above them was bright and cheerful. Though there was no sun to be seen, it glowed a palette of luscious pastels - colors that ranged from the softest of violets to Caribbean turquoise and buttercup yel ow. She could hear the lyrical cal ing of songbirds, and the breeze that caressed her face brought with it a sweet, familiar scent. Lina inhaled deeply. Where had she smelted that wonderful fragrance before? Her eyes moved from the subtle beauty of the sunless sky and her question was answered.
Tal , stately trees Lina thought she recognized as cypress lined the path on either side of them, but instead of growing out of marshy land, the area beneath them was carpeted, not in moss or swamp, but in flowers. Huge, moonlight colored flowers, the likes of which Lina had only seen one other time.
"They're narcissus flowers!" Lina exclaimed in surprise.
Hades glanced down at her "Yes, the narcissus is the flower of the Underworld." The God drew in a deep breath. "I never tire of their sweet scent."
Lina clamped her mouth shut and said no more, but her mind kept circling around the irony of Demeter using the flower of the Underworld to exchange her soul with Persephone's. So, the Goddess of the Harvest had simply answered her invocation? She had just wanted to help out Lina's bakery as if she were performing a divine Good Samaritan act? Demeter had no hidden agenda, like... perhaps... a send-Lina-to-Hel -in-Persephone's-place plan? She glanced surreptitiously at the God who stood beside her.
He didn't seem apt to leap on her and rape her. But he also wasn't the wooden god Demeter had described. In a very short time he had been intense, sexy, intimidating and kind. Definitely not a boring, asexual, disinterested god of the dead. What was Demeter real y up to? Wel , Lina wasn't some foolish young girl who had just fal en off the damn turnip truck. She'd keep her eyes open and her guard up. She had a job to do. She'd do it and then she'd go home. Hades snapped the reins and the chariot started forward again. This time, Lina was relieved to note, at a more sedate speed. The woods on either side of them were thick and ancient looking. Exotic birds flitted playful y within their boughs and cal ed to one another with melodic voices. The cypress roots were mantled in deep tapestries of the distinctive narcissus flowers, and occasional y Lina would hear the liquid whispering of a stream and catch sight of a crystal pool reflecting the watercolor sky. From time to time Lina thought she saw the flickering shapes of spirits, but when she tried to focus on the elusive images they disappeared, and no other souls traversed the road with them.
"It is so very beautiful," Eurydice said in the hushed voice of a child in church.
"It certainly is," Lina agreed. Then she glanced at the globe of light that hovered above her shoulder. Opening her hand, she held it, palm up, in the direction of the little light. "It doesn't look like we need you now." Instantly, the light reacted by diving into her palm, and with a popping noise it disappeared back into Lina's skin. Her palm tingled, and she had to force herself not to wipe it against her robe. Instead, she smiled brightly at Eurydice and pretended that it was normal for semi-sentient bal s of light to pop into her skin.
"See," she told the girl, "you were right not to be afraid. There's nothing horrible or scary here." The dark God beside mem nodded in agreement and smiled kindly at the little spirit. "For such as you, child, death need hold no terrors. You shal spend eternity enjoying the delights of the Elysian Fields, or, if you so choose, you may drink from Lethe, the River of Forgetfulness, and be reborn to live another mortal life."
Lina tried to hide her surprise. Souls could choose to be reborn? She looked at the girl who stood quietly within the protection of her arms. She'd died so young; surely she would want the chance to be reborn and to live a long, full life.
"That sounds wonderful, Eurydice. You could rest for awhile. Maybe lol about the Fields like you're on a mini-vacation - like I am!" Lina grinned at her. "Then drink from the forgetful river and have a whole new life to live."
Lina's grin faded as she watched Eurydice's already pale face blanch to an almost colorless white. Her eyes clearly reflected an inner terror.
"What is it, honey?" Lina asked.
"Why can I not stay with you, Persephone?" Eurydice pleaded desperately. "I don't want to be reborn. I don't want to, even if I forget my past life I might make the same mistakes, might choose the same - " Her voice broke off on a sob and she buried her face in her hands. Lina looked helplessly at Hades as she wrapped the girl in her arms. The God was studying the young spirit with knowing eyes.
"Be at ease, child," Hades said. "As long as your Goddess remains in the Underworld you wil have access to her. Hush now, your tears are not necessary. Elysia is different for each mortal spirit -
your Elysia wil simply be found at Persephone's side."
Lina smiled her thanks to Hades. Eurydice was just young and frightened. If Hades al owed the girl to stay with her that would give Eurydice six months to become settled. By the time Lina had to leave, the girl would be so used to the Underworld that she wouldn't be bothered by the absence of her Goddess. Maybe Lina could even talk her into being reborn once she relaxed and gained some confidence. Lina wondered what had happened in her short life to cause the girl such pain, and made a mental note to talk with her about it when the little spirit was feeling more secure. Eurydice raised her face. "Truly? I may stay with Persephone?" she asked Hades.
"Truly. You have the word of the God of the Underworld," Hades replied solemnly. Eurydice's face blossomed with joy. "Oh, thank you, Hades! I promise to serve my Goddess wel ." Lina chucked the girl under her chin. "Friends don't serve one another, Eurydice." The girl thought for a moment before speaking. "If you wil not al ow me to serve you, wil you al ow me to look after you and be certain that you are wel cared for?" Lina opened her mouth to assure the girl that she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but Eurydice's desperate expression stopped her words. The girl obviously needed someone on which to focus her attention. Maybe it would be best, at least for a little while, that she be kept busy.
"I'd be honored to have you look after me, Eurydice," Lina said, returning the girl's enthusiastic hug of thanks. "My mother has often told me that I need a keeper." Actual y, it was her grandmother who had made the comment on the occasion of the zil ionth time she had spil ed some kind of food on herself - and she had made the comment in Italian, but Lina refrained from sharing the rest of the sentiment with Eurydice.
"As you wil see, child, my palace has many rooms. You shal have one near your Goddess." With a flourish, Hades swept his arm ahead of them and the two women looked up. "Behold, the Palace of Hades."
They had come to a place where the road made an abrupt
T. The left-handed fork disappeared quickly into the thick forest, but it was the right-handed branch to which Hades drew their attention. It curved gracefully, circling a magnificent castle. Lina's jaw dropped open. She told herself to close her mouth, but she couldn't keep from gawking like a bumpkin. The castle was built of the same black marble as was the path they had been fol owing. It rose above them, stretching impressive, peaked towers and sweeping, balustraded roofs up into the violet sky. It, too, appeared to be made of a single piece of stone. Tal , arched mullioned windows were gaily lighted from within, giving the huge structure an inviting appearance. From the top of the tal est of the circular towers flew a great, black flag. Lina squinted and shielded her eyes with her hand so that she could see the coat of arms depicted in flashing silver. On one side of the flag was an ornate helmet; on the other was the figure of a rearing stal ion. Lina smiled. The stal ion looked very familiar.
"One of the dread steeds?" she asked Hades, pointing to the flag.
"Yes, it is Orion." Hades nodded in the direction of the lead horse, who turned his head and pricked his ears at the sound of his name. "He is, indeed, one of my steeds, though today he was only dread in theory."
"I think he is very dread," Eurydice said.
"There you have it," Lina cal ed to the black stal ion. Orion tossed his head and nickered in response. "Your reputation is safe."
Hades made a sound of disgust, which Lina ignored.
"Your palace is amazing. I can't wait to see inside," she said.
"It is a wonder that few immortals have experienced."
Hades sounded like a fond parent speaking with pride about a favored child, and it was easy to understand why. Lina had certainly never seen its like. Not in the old oil mansions of Tulsa, and not in the magnificent ancient structures of Florence.
The God pointed the chariot down the road that wrapped around the palace and as they turned the corner Lina gasped. Beautifully manicured gardens stretched in tier after tier behind the palace. Lovely fountains bubbled in happy voices. Hedges were trimmed to form perfect geometrical shapes. Rowers bloomed in profusion. Lina saw many she recognized, orchids, lilies, roses, and, of course, the ever-present narcissus, as wel as several plants that were total y unfamiliar, but they al had one thing in common.
"Al the flowers are white," Lina said.
Not that they were al the same. She hadn't realized until then how many different shades of white there could be, but al of them blazed before her - from the pure, bright white of newly fal en snow to the subtle iridescence of pearls - each with its own unique pigment range within the lightest of colors.
"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 wel ," 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.