Awaken

thoughtful.

“I’d grab some Ragu, parmesan cheese, and a fork,” I giggled. He laughed and turned me around to face him. His dark features softened as his earnest gaze captured my undivided attention.

“What if you are the strongest person I know and I’m certain you don’t have it in you to fail?”

he grinned at me. His comforting words soothed me and I felt the panic dissipate into only a slight ripple of anxiety.

“I wish I could be as confident in me as you are.”

“Which is exactly why you will succeed. Modesty is an important virtue that always leads to courage. This won’t be the first time you’ll rise above adversity and come out stronger. You have no idea how amazing you are, Anastasia.” He gave me another hug as I breathed him in. “Let’s go inside and give you the weapon you’ll be concealing on your journey.”

“Weapon?” I questioned; perplexed. A kickass cat woman suit with hidden ninja stars and exploding diamond earrings popped in to my mind. He smiled wickedly at my question.

“Knowledge.”

Chapter 17

“It’s like the map in the Legend of Zelda game!” Phoebe squealed. She was met by our vacant stares as she glanced around. “You know the Wii game? Twilight Princess? Except Stasia isn’t Link, I guess she’d be considered the princess, who’s actually Zelda…” She trailed off in deep thought.

“Your talking privileges have been revoked for the rest of the night,” Carmen declared solemnly, right before Phoebe threw a pixie stick at her. “Mmm…red. My favorite.”

“There’s only one way in and one way out,” Finn divulged to me in all seriousness. “Both of which will test your character and fortitude. Once you reach the entrance, Persephone will be your first challenge.”

“This could so be in the Legend of Zelda game,” Phoebe muttered. Carmen shot her a look as I prayed Finn wouldn’t mention the whole part about dying in order to reach the Underworld. I didn’t want my roommates to completely freak out and insist I back out. This was too important to just give up on. I was hoping we could discuss the details of my imminent demise at a later time. I shuddered as I contemplated my own death and urged myself to pay attention as Finn kept talking, pointing down at the map with insistence.

“Persephone will have to approve your entrance; allowing you to pass through the groves and continue on towards the river.” His piercing gaze was somewhat daunting. Or maybe it was the fact that I was not looking forward to coming face-to-face with the infamous Queen of the Underworld.

Something told me we would never be ‘besties’.

“Will Persephone know she’s there, or does she need a big banner to announce her entrance?”

Carmen asked as she vigorously jotted down notes. Willow had a pink highlighter poised above the map, ready to highlight at a moment’s notice. I couldn’t help but smile at their devotion.

“Persephone will know. She always knows when a soul enters her groves,” Finn affirmed despairingly.

“So, what exactly are the Groves of Persephone?” Phoebe asked, scanning the map intently.

This would be the perfect time to develop a photographic memory. Unlikely at best.

“It’s where the pomegranate trees grow right?” Willow presumed. Finn nodded.

“The only trees in the Underworld are located in Persephone’s grove. Before she was trapped in the Underworld she was the goddess of spring growth, so it was only natural she have her own grove. The variety of trees is immense, however Willow’s right; it’s mostly dominated by pomegranate trees.” Finn ran his hands through his hair, “Unfortunately, her decision to allow a soul passage is truly her own. She’ll decide based on what she sees within that particular soul.”

“So that’s it? She either lets you in or she doesn’t?” Carmen attested; clearly appalled at Persephone’s undisputed power. “I think that’s crap,” she said as she crossed her arms in defiance.

“And it is, but the chances of her denying Stasia entrance are pretty slim. Only the most broken of souls are turned away. Stasia is anything but broken.” He smiled at me, alluding to my declaration several months ago on the beach. No matter the level of his certainty, I still viewed myself as broken. I’ve chipped away at my self-doubt, but I couldn’t be sure if I’d ever live up to the elevated image Finn had of me. I frowned at his handsome face.

“But I’ll still have to talk to her regardless right?” I maintained.

“Yes,” he answered simply, with a gloomy undertone I didn’t miss.

“Excellent.” The prominent sarcasm dripping from my voice had Finn chuckling.

“She’s not that bad,” he claimed, but I’d believe that when I saw it. He scooted to the edge of his seat and indicated an invisible path on the map that Willow promptly highlighted. “Once you head north and through the grove, you’ll run right into Charon’s Marsh. It’s where he collects the souls and takes them to the parts of the Underworld where Persephone has decided they belong.” A disparaging, crushing feeling settled over me.

“Wait. Is she going to decide where I ‘belong’?” I asked, holding up air quotations at the word belong. The last person I wanted deciding where I belong would unanimously be the jaded Queen.

“Your soul will still be technically attached to a body in this realm. You wouldn’t be permitted to enter the parts of the Underworld where body-less souls reside, so you won’t need to worry about that.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“So tell me again what four sections of the Underworld the body-less souls are sent to?”

Phoebe pulled her hair back in determination and tapped the highlighter against her chin.

“The Asphodel Meadows is where normal, everyday human souls reside. It’s the largest section of the Underworld,” he explained.

“So…basically heaven?” Phoebe guessed, setting a bowl of roasted almonds down on the table.

“I guess you could call it that,” Finn grinned at her connection. “It’s an expansive space full of springs and life, definitely the kind of place humans would consider to be heavenly.”

“Then there is The Vale of Mourning. It’s a section reserved for those who take their own life; commit suicide. Unfortunately the number of souls resting there is much higher than you would imagine.” His face fell in despair for those tragic souls, and I hopelessly fell in love with him all over again. I shook myself, trying to focus. This was not the time to be drooling over him. I needed to remember this.

“The Elysian Fields is what I’m the most familiar with. It’s where the souls of Gods and Goddesses reside. Namely, your mother,” he watched me knowingly. “There are no words to describe the grandeur and majesty of the Fields.” His features turned wistful and he seemed to smile to himself, as if remembering a fond memory. I wished again that I had the ability to see in to his mind.

“Finally there is the section called Tarturus.” His eyes flitted toward Phoebe, “Or as humans would call it: Hell.” Phoebe gasped and Carmen choked on her Gatorade mid-sip as he continued, “I’ve only seen it from afar, but it’s not a place you ever want to find yourself. Raging fires and continuous pain follow every soul; torturing it for eternity. But it’s only reserved for the most demented of souls. I don’t believe any of us fall into that category.” He glanced around at his immediate company, then continued, “No need to worry, the rivers of the Underworld divide the different sections, making it impossible to get anywhere without Charon’s assistance. You couldn’t get into Hell if you tried. Metaphorically or literally.”

“Comforting.” I shook my head in astonishment, but Finn just laughed and popped some almonds in his mouth.