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Hades sighed again, quel ing the frustration he felt at having to share Persephone. But would he real y have it any other way? No, he wanted the Goddess to be accepted within his realm, and with that acceptance went the responsibility of sharing her attention. Reluctantly, he moved from her side to reach for a length of dark material that hung from the wal behind him, which he wrapped, toga-like, across his body.
"I'm coming," Lina said, hurrying to catch Eurydice as she scampered through the door and along the pathway. Hades strode beside her, and Lina felt his presence like he was a live wire, humming in time to her own electricity. She was energized by his closeness and by the lingering thril of his touch. How long had it been since a man had made her feel breathless and excited? Too long, she told herself, ignoring the little voice of reason that counseled her to think about what she was rushing into, that reminded her that she was only there to complete a job and that she didn't know anything about immortals, or the Limoniades, or nectar, or...
The path turned abruptly around the corner of the stable and then it opened onto the expanse of the palace's rear gardens. Lina stumbled to a halt, drawing a deep, surprised breath. Shapes made of incandescent light fil ed the first tier of the trel ised lawn. As Lina came into sight, the glowing forms trembled, and then with a noise that sounded very much like the coo of doves, they surged forward until they surrounded Lina, Eurydice and Hades. Lina stared at them in wonder. Naked women! Her mind registered that the lights hovering and cooing around her were fashioned in the shapes of hundreds of naked women. They were tiny and delicate, the tops of their bright heads barely reached Lina's shoulder, but each one was unique and beautiful in her own right - like flakes of snow, or petals on a flower. And sprouting from the back of each spirit was a pair of sparkling, gossamer wings that looked as fine as mist.
Eurydice giggled. "Why are none of them dressed?"
The echo of Eurydice's youthful laughter rippled through the Limoniades like water over a pebbled brook.
"Look closer, child," Hades' deep voice answered Eurydice. "They are dressed in light and laughter and the bril iance of their souls. It is the only dressing spirits of flowers and meadows require."
"I think they're perfect," Lina said.
The sound of the Goddess's voice sent a wave of excitement through the group, and several of the spirits twirled and leapt in glee.
"Join us, Goddess of Spring. Bless the gathering of nectar, which wil become the ambrosia of the Underworld."
They spoke with one melodic voice that was magnified magical y on the soft breeze.
"Come with us, Persephone. The flowers await the Goddess of Spring." Their voices were enchanting. Instinctively, Lina's body responded. She stepped away from Eurydice and Hades, joining the Limoniades. Musical notes and the whir of hundreds of wings engulfed her. On feet that felt like air, Lina moved with the spirits out into the flower-fil ed grounds.
The Limoniades began humming. It was a sound that thrummed through Lina's blood, reminding her of the feel of warm summer nights, the smel of newly cut hay and the taste of fine dark chocolate. Entranced, she watched the glowing forms separate and descend upon the listening blossoms. Wings blurring, they hovered above the ground like elusive hummingbirds, and then, as one they dipped their fingers within the open blooms.
Lina watched the nymph spirits draw beads of golden drops from the flowers. Hades was forgotten. Eurydice left her mind. The only thought that fil ed her body was how very much she would like to join the Limoniades.
"Yes! Cal the nectar to you. Take your rightful place as Goddess of Spring amidst the Limoniades." The whisper within Lina's mind sounded restless and impatient. It was the final goad she needed. Her heart drumming in time with the song of the Limoniades, Lina approached a cluster of milkcolored tulips. Their stems were long and thick and their blooms opened to expose the crisp yel ow of their pistils.
She needed to cal the nectar to her. Lina squinted her eyes, dipped her finger into one of the tulips and concentrated. The first blob of golden liquid spurted from the bloom with such force that Lina yelped in surprise as it flew into her hand and disintegrated into a sticky mess. The deep base of Hades' chuckles framed the light, tril ing sound of laughter that trickled through the watching Limoniades. Lina glanced over her shoulder at the God. His eyes sparkled at her. She tossed her long hair back and sent him a saucy look. Then, a thought drifted through her mind. She felt alive and sexy and incredibly, amazingly seductive. With a wicked smile Lina caught Hades'
gaze. She arched one brow up, raised her hand and let her soft, pink tongue slowly lick a trickle of the sweet, syrupy nectar from her middle finger. The Limoniades responded with appreciative coos and tril s as Hades froze, slack jawed and speechless.
" Gently, Goddess, gently," the Limoniades purred. " The nectar already desires to come to you. You need only coax it, not command it. It is not a god ..."
Without looking at Hades' reaction to the nymphs' words, Lina stifled a smile and turned back to the cluster of tulips. She tickled another blossom with the tip on one slender finger and sent the gentle thought to it that she might Like the nectar to come to her, please. A pearl of gold drifted from the center of the flower to perch on the tip of her extended finger. Lina smiled triumphantly at it.
"The gathering, Goddess. Join the gathering."
Stil smiling, Lina gazed around her. Each spirit nymph was creating a pile of glowing golden drops beside her as she flitted from flower to flower, cal ing the nectar forth. Okay, Lina thought. She could do that. And she began weaving her own pile. Without stopping to think or understand or question, Lina used Persephone's perfect voice to harmonize with the spirits of the flowers, and when she joined the Limoniades in their song, Hades' garden seemed to inhale with a tangible sense of joy and then erupt into glorious full bloom. Every flower opened itself. Every blossom dripped golden drops of nectar, aching to be harvested. Amidst it al , Lina shined.
Hades couldn't take his eyes from her. In his entire existence he had never desired anything as much as he desired Persephone. He was becoming consumed by her, and the thought made his immortal soul shiver.
What would happen when she left? She would, he reminded himself. She was the Goddess of Spring. She belonged to the world above. He was the dark God of the Underworld, scorned by everything living.
Everything except Persephone. But for how long?
The ache within him pulsed and took on a life of its own, and the God gave name to it, final y understanding what it was that caused him such elusive, unending pain - what it was that Persephone had awakened along with hope.
Loneliness.
Hades clenched his jaw against his inner turmoil and turned blindly away from the sight of the lovely young Goddess frolicking joyously amidst the spirits of his realm. He ran right into Eurydice. Hades stifled his groan of frustration as he caught the little spirit and kept her from tumbling to the ground. He forced his stiff face into the semblance of a smile. "I was not looking, child." He changed his path of retreat, but Eurydice's voice gave him pause.
"But, you aren't leaving? What shal I tel Persephone?" she asked in her sweet, shy voice.
"Tel her," he ground his teeth, "that I had the business of my realm to attend." Eurydice's eyes were large and round and they seemed to reach into his soul. Her disappointment was obvious, as was her concern for her Goddess. The God raked a hand through his hair. "And tel your Goddess that I wish her to ride with me on the morrow."
Eurydice's face lit in a smile. "Persephone wil enjoy that very much." Wil she enjoy it enough to stay with me? the God wanted to rant and rage and roar. Instead he pulled the familiar mantle of sternness over his features and made certain that when he spoke his voice was free of his seething emotions.
"I wil send Iapis to escort her to the stables after daybreak."
"Yes, Lord."
Hades strode away, muttering under his breath about goddesses and young girls. As soon as he was out of sight, Iapis materialized beside Eurydice. She glanced at the daimon, her look betraying no surprise at his sudden appearance.
"How goes it?" Iapis asked her.
"I am pleased," Eurydice said, sounding wise beyond her years.
"Do you think he took my advice and thought of her as one of the dead?"
"Not for long," Eurydice said enigmatical y, remembering her Goddess's flushed face and the heat with which Hades' eyes fol owed her. "Not for long..."
The daimon smiled and took the little spirit's hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed her gently. Eurydice's pale cheeks pinkened slightly, but her large eyes gazed steadily at him. She returned his smile.
