Free Goddess of Spring by P. C. Cast Page A

beloved daughter to be harmed. Lina looked deeply into Demeter’s clear, guileless eyes and realized with a start that she trusted the goddess.
    â€œDoes he know you’re sending Persephone down there?”
    â€œHades will be pleased to have your assistance. Do not worry so, all will be well.” Demeter squeezed her shoulders firmly before resuming her trek through the trees. She gestured impatiently at Lina to catch up with her. “It is time for you to meet your spirit guide.”
    When Lina still didn’t move, Demeter turned and raised her distinctive brows questioningly.
    â€œSaying that Hades will be pleased to have my assistance doesn’t mean that you’ve told him I’m coming.” Lina knew business rhetoric when she heard it. She’d just fired an accountant who specialized in it. “In other words, he has no idea I’m coming and not a clue that I’m there to mess around with the management of his realm. Right?”
    Demeter’s expression was wry. “You are experienced enough to understand that not everything can be spoken outright. Especially when dealing with men.”
    â€œYou’re right. I do understand what you’re saying. So here’s my request. I’d like you to send him word that your daughter is coming for a”—Lina gestured vaguely—“a little vacation. From a purely business standpoint it’s always a good idea to keep the lines of communication within management as open as possible.”
    Demeter considered her request. Perhaps the mortal was correct. Hades should be told of Persephone’s coming; even if the dour god didn’t deign to bestir himself to welcome her. Still, it was only polite for one god to contact the other when entering another deity’s realm.
    The goddess raised one hand and pursed her lips, letting loose a series of melodic birdsong. Before the lovely sound had died on the wind, a flutter of wings burst overhead and an enormous raven circled Demeter once before gliding down to perch on her outstretched arm.
    â€œTake the news of my daughter’s arrival in the Underworld to Hades,” Demeter said to the bird. “Tell him that the Goddess of the Harvest appreciates his hospitality and his protection as Spring visits the Land of the Dead.” Demeter threw up her arm and the raven lifted gracefully into the wind, disappearing amidst the trees.
    â€œDoes that satisfy your sense of responsibility?” Demeter asked Lina.
    â€œYes, thank you,” Lina said as she hurried after the stern goddess.
    Demeter came to a rise in the land that signaled the end of the tree line. There she waited for Lina and Eirene to join her, but Lina’s eyes were not on the goddess. They were focused on the incredible sight before them.
    â€œOh!” The breath left her in such a rush she felt dizzy. “I’ve never seen . . . this is . . . is . . .”
    â€œIt is Lake Avernus.” For once Eirene’s voice had lost its caustic edge. “Beyond it is the Bay of Naples.”
    â€œIt’s so beautiful,” Lina said, at a loss for words to describe the awesome view. The lake stretched before them like a vast liquid mirror the color of sapphires. Light glittered and danced magically over its surface, breathing life to its face so that its perfect, glassy cover sparkled playfully. There were no trees near the lake’s edge, but lacy ferns framed it with the soft touch of earthy green. Beyond the lake waited the ocean, its lighter shades of aqua and turquoise making it appear like it was the feminine complement to the darker, land-bound body of water.
    â€œYou have only begun to know the wonders of this world, Lina,” Demeter said.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    THE goddess’s knowing steps found a small dirt path that appeared to circle the lake. Demeter turned to her right and followed the path around a gentle bend, which led directly to the mouth of a tunnel-like