Primavera, Part 3

Primavera and Zephyrus carefully approached the cave’s mouth. The path was slippery and uneven, but torches mounted on the ragged cliffside cast a flickering light to guide them. As they neared the entrance, the shadows deepened. Primavera froze. She could have sworn one of the shadows growled. Zephyrus took another step forward but quickly jumped back when a pitch-black jaw with stark-white teeth snapped at his ankles.

The shadows stood up and morphed into five black hounds. Their bodies shifted with the flickering light as they inched forward. Their dark eyes were fixed on the intruders. Whenever Primavera or Zephyrus moved slightly, they snarled and snapped at their legs. Primavera was frozen to the ground, not entirely sure she was breathing.

‘Pálin!’ a sharp voice called from inside the cave. The hounds fell back, taking position on either side of the path.

A woman in dark-grey robes appeared in the entrance. As she moved, her shadow seemed to trail behind her in two ever-present silhouettes. It made her seem as shapeless and intangible as her hounds. It was disillusioning. Primavera had to blink to make her eyes focus on what she assumed was the primary figure.

‘What do you want?’ Hecate asked, staring them down with her head held high. Her black eyes seemed to be piercing their souls.

Primavera felt naked despite her flowing peach-colour robes, their brightness completely out of place in the gloom. She gulped and stepped forward, eyeing the hounds still glaring at her.

‘Great Hecate, we apologise for disturbing you,’ she said, gritting her teeth at the quiver in her voice. She cleared her throat and continued, ‘Demeter sent us for your help to enter the Underworld. I’ve offered to get Persephone back from Hades so that Demeter might end the drought.’

Hecate burst out laughing, her hand shooting to her chest. Her laughter was a surprisingly soothing sound; it reminded Primavera of the flickering stars. She felt the tension in her shoulders ease even as she blushed at Hecate’s reaction.

Hecate finally calmed down and smiled brightly at Primavera. ‘I must compliment you. I am an old goddess, older than most of the Olympians, and today, you have surprised me. I never imagined I would see a day when a mere valley nymph would brave the Underworld for the sake of saving spring.

‘Tell me what you need, and I will gladly help. Demeter’s grief has touched me deeply. I respect her devotion to her daughter, even if I agree that she might be holding on too tight. Still, no mother deserves to have her child snatched away like Persephone was.’

Primavera smiled back and took a few steps forward, forgetting about the hounds until the nearest one growled again. Keeping a sidelong eye on its fluid figure, she said, ‘Thank you, Goddess of the Night. Demeter said you could give us something to slip past the gates of the Underworld unnoticed.’

Hecate nodded and walked forward, silhouettes trailing after her in a blur. ‘I can help you. Give me room.’

Primavera and Zephyrus stepped back as Hecate neared the cliff’s edge. They weren’t very high above the ocean’s surface. The rumbling of the waves crashing against the rocks below echoed in the air and a faint spray of foam spilled over the edge. It mixed with the mist that had gathered with the deepening night, glowing silver in the moon’s half-light.

Hecate closed her eyes and began chanting. Mist and foam swirled in waves around them. Primavera had to resist the urge to reach out and touch the waves as they swept past her and Zephyrus. Some of the spray splashed against their faces and she closed her eyes. It was cool and refreshing against her sun-beat skin. She felt Zephyrus slip his arm around her waist and she glanced up at him. He smiled at her before looking back at Hecate, who was completely lost in her trance.

The swirling mist thickened as Hecate continued chanting louder and louder. The waves shot into the sky and stretched out in two large cloaks of fine cloth against the moonlight. Hecate’s chanting softened and she held out her arms. The cloaks floated down and draped themselves over her forearms, shimmering softly.

She turned around and handed the cloaks to Primavera. They were soft and cool. Primavera couldn’t help worrying that she would rip them if she moved too quickly. Hecate read her hesitance in her face and smiled.

‘Don’t worry, they are quite strong. Mist and moonlight woven with ancient magic possess a resilience that even the gods underestimate. But keep them from direct sunlight or they will evaporate. You need to don them as you enter the Underworld. You will find the entrance at a cavern near Tenaerum. The cloaks will make you appear as old spirits. Charon will ferry you across without a second thought. They will also hide you from Hades’s gaze.

‘However, they do not mask your scent. Since spirits should not have a scent, Cerberus will still be able to pick up on you when you pass him. You will have to find a way to distract him or hide your scent. This will be particularly important when you leave; Cerberus’s main purpose is to keep living souls from leaving.’

Primavera carefully folded the cloaks into her bag as Zephyrus thanked Hecate. The ancient goddess left them with a map to Hades’s palace and blessings for the rest of their journey.

Tenaerum was only a few hours’ flight across the Mediterranean. Primavera couldn’t keep her eyes off the ocean as it passed by beneath them. The dark waters were perfectly still, reflecting the glittering constellations above like a vast mirror. She felt like they were flying among the stars, far away from the problems of the dying earth.

Dawn was peeking over the horizon when they landed beside the cavern just outside a small village on the Peloponnesian shore. The air around the cave felt heavy and sombre. Absolutely no sound echoed from within the cave mouth or dreary plain beyond it. The chill emanating from the darkness cut into Primavera’s marrow, and she stepped back, bumping into Zephyrus. He stood studying the entrance with a slight frown.

‘Should we enter now?’ Primavera asked, glancing between him and the cavern with her arms wrapped around her.

Zephyrus shook his head. ‘No, let’s wait for a bit more light. There may still be too many spirits on the other side coming back from wandering throughout the night. We may have a way of looking like them, but let’s not risk testing it.’

Primavera nodded, trying not to release the breath she had been holding too loudly. ‘Then just before sunrise?’

‘Yes, that should work. We’ll be the last spirits to return.’

They found a spot a short distance away where they could keep an eye on the entrance. Now and then, they saw a flicker of movement passing into the cave mouth. It was barely visible, only a slight distortion of the rocks and tree husks as a spirit entered. The movements became less and less as the sun neared the horizon.

When the first rays of light appeared above the ground, Primavera and Zephyrus got up and went back to the cavern. They stashed their belongings between some boulders and took the cloaks out. Clutching the thin, cool material, they stared into the empty darkness, finding it extremely hard to take the first step.

‘We still need a way past Cerberus,’ Zephyrus said, not removing his eyes from the cave.

‘I’ve been thinking about that, and I may have an idea.’

Primavera gently laid the cloak on the ground and knelt beside it. She dug her fingers deep into the sand, closed her eyes, and let her energy pour into the ground. Lavender, valerian, and gardenia flowers bloomed around her hands, breaking through the monotonous browns in purple, red, and white.

‘We can use these to put him to sleep. I’ll grind the petals and roots into a powder.’ Primavera sat back on her heels, smiling brightly at her little garden.

‘That’s incredible,’ Zephyrus said with a broad grin. His smile faltered for a split second, and he looked away. ‘You’re the only nymph I know who can create life where there is none.’

Primavera scoffed. ‘Just barely. I couldn’t even keep one small leaf alive in one of Boreas’s gusts. So we’d better move fast before these flowers wither.’

‘The only reason that leaf didn’t survive is because you’re not a goddess,’ Zephyrus answered, kneeling next to her with his eyes fixed on the flowers. ‘Your energy is limited. But if you were a goddess, you’d be a very powerful one. Certainly one who wouldn’t need me.’

Primavera glanced up at him and frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

Zephyrus shook his head and met her gaze with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ‘Nothing. But I think I know of a way we can have some more fun with this distraction.’

He dug his fingers into the sand beside her, inhaled deeply, and blew softly on the ground. Vines shot up in between his fingers and twisted into three large balls. Once the balls were complete, the vines opened to reveal a smaller sphere in the middle.

‘You can put the powder in that sphere, and I’ll create a breeze to carry the balls to Cerberus and tease him with it. Every time he knocks one, the powder will fall in his eyes until he falls asleep.’

Zephyrus crossed his arms with a satisfied smile, and Primavera nodded. ‘Perfect.’

They ground the flowers and roots together, filled the spheres, and completed the balls. Then, they put on their cloaks and slipped into the cave entrance. It became colder and colder as they followed the tunnel deeper underground. The air was thick and hard to breathe, and the shadows seemed to come alive and flash by them wherever they turned.

Each step was slow, deliberate, their breath caught in their throats as they prayed not to disturb the lurking shadows. Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel. It opened into a large cavern with a few torches fighting to light up the dark. The light reflected on a lake that seemed entirely frozen. Peering over the edge, they could see movement deep beneath the surface as lost spirits drifted aimlessly through the depths.

A soft lapping sound caught their attention, and they squinted into the darkness. They could barely make out the silhouette of a wooden boat. A tall, cloaked man stood at the stern, dragging his long pole methodically through the water. The movement barely caused a ripple.

When he neared the shore and saw the two spirits hovering there, he huffed and grumbled, ‘Late. Always one or two late. I should refuse to take you across.’

Primavera’s heart began racing, but Charon pulled the boat up to the dock and nodded them over. They stepped onto the small boat, praying it wouldn’t rock with their weight. Luckily, the water was too dense to pick up on the unusually heavy spirits, and Charon began the journey without hesitation.

The air gradually became lighter, but no less cold. Primavera watched the cavern walls pass as they drifted calmly along the river. The walls looked like jet-black diamonds, glowing faintly as the eerie light from the spirits crept up them. The journey seemed to last hours, but finally, they arrived at the second dock and got off. Charon turned around and paddled back without another word.

‘It’s so quiet here,’ Primavera whispered.

‘I don’t suppose the dead have much to talk about,’ Zephyrus answered as he scanned the tall, stone gate. ‘Where do you think Cerberus is?’

They braved a few steps forward. A massive boulder beside the gate shifted, and a big head lifted off the ground, sniffing the air. Two more heads followed and twisted to look over their shoulders. The gigantic hound got up and turned slowly as each head scanned a different part of the cavern.

‘We should probably start with the game,’ Zephyrus whispered from the corner of his mouth, not daring to turn his head.

‘I think you’re right,’ Primavera answered through the breath she was holding.

Zephyrus inhaled and blew softly until a light breeze filled the cavern. Then, he lifted the two balls he was carrying and let them rest on the current. Primavera grabbed one as they passed by her.

‘Just one for now; we only need him dazed. We’ll need more powder to put him fully to sleep when we leave.’

Zephyrus nodded, releasing the remaining ball to drift towards Cerberus. The three heads frowned and growled slightly at the strange, floating object. The middle head leaned forward to sniff at it. The ball darted away to the right, hitting the second head on the nose. The head grumbled and shook itself, then snapped at the ball. But it only bit air. The ball shot up and hovered a short distance higher. Cerberus lunged after it, hitting it with a massive paw and sending powder across all three heads.

The heads sneezed and blinked before looking back up and continuing their pursuit. Whenever a paw reached out to grab the ball, more powder rained over the hound. Cerberus’s movements became more sluggish, but he refused to give up the chase. He stumbled after the ball, just barely missing it as Zephyrus let the breeze suddenly change direction. The wind god had to clench his teeth to keep from sniggering.

Finally, Cerberus lay down, shaking all three heads as the powder took effect. Whining softly, he rolled on his back and wriggled into the ground. Zephyrus let the ball hover within reach of his paws and then dropped it. The hound barked happily, rolled back to his stomach, and began pushing the ball around. He got up and chased after it, swaying side to side as he ran.

‘Come on, let’s go,’ Zephyrus said, taking Primavera’s hand and pulling her towards the gate. They slipped through and entered Hades’s domain without Cerberus looking up from his drowsy stumbling.

A myriad of paths led in every direction when they crossed the gate. They had to study Hecate’s map closely to avoid getting stuck in the darker corners. Their progress was slow with a few wrong turns along the way. However, they soon realised that the closer they got to Hades’s palace, the warmer it became.

The rumbling of water met them as they neared the end of the path. The darkness that had surrounded them the entire way gradually faded into a soft red glow. They found themselves at the edge of a cliff overlooking a rocky island radiating with a fiery glow. The four rivers of the Underworld plummeted over jagged cliffs, merging in a large lake that encircled the island in an unending torrent. Vast stone bridges connected the island to the rest of the Underworld.

The palace loomed in obsidian splendour, its dark stone adorned with gleaming pearls and black diamonds that sparkled like captured stars. Intricately carved gargoyles guarded the bridges and each of the five tall towers. The air was warm, but not stifling. It was surprisingly pleasant. However, there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze drifting about; everything remained motionless.

Primavera gaped at the scene before her. Zephyrus’s palace had already seemed big and impressive, but this place took her breath away. She gulped as she wondered which one of the many rooms Persephone would be in. Zephyrus gently touched her back and nudged her forward. They crossed the marbled cobblestone bridge, not able to tear their eyes away from the palace.

There were no guards at any of the gates or doors, and they slipped into the palace without meeting a living or dead soul. Zephyrus nodded towards a staircase that led to the central, tallest tower.

‘I suspect we’ll find Persephone at the top. It would be the hardest place for her to escape from.’

Primavera scowled sidelong at him. ‘You’d know a lot about that, wouldn’t you?’

Zephyrus chuckled and walked over to the staircase. They followed the winding trail until they reached a sturdy wooden trapdoor. The wind god broke a small piece of vine from the remaining balls, hardened it, and tampered with the lock until they heard it click. They swung the door back and Primavera winced as it hit the floor with a loud thud.

They popped their heads through the door and found Persephone standing straight and rigid by a canopy bed. She stared at them with wide eyes, poised to run despite the circular room with only one door. When she realised that she didn’t recognise the faces, she relaxed a bit.

‘Who are you?’ she asked sharply, eyeing them through narrowed eyes as they climbed into the room.

Primavera took a few steps forward and smiled. ‘I’m Primavera. Your mother sent me to get you out of here and back to her. This is Zephyrus, God of the West Wind; he’s helping.’

Persephone’s frown deepened. ‘Why would a nymph and a wind god break into the Underworld to rescue me?’

‘Because your mother is holding the world hostage with a devastating drought,’ Zephyrus explained. ‘She refuses to let the seasons change until you’re back, and Zeus is being as stubborn as usual. As representatives of spring, we want to make sure the drought ends, which means saving you.’

Persephone’s mouth fell open. ‘My mother is holding back spring? That’s horrible! She knows how much I love it.’

‘She does, and I suppose that’s part of the reason why she won’t let it come,’ Primavera said, walking up to Persephone and placing a hand on her shoulder. ‘She misses you terribly, and spring reminds her too much of you. If we want things to go back to the way they should be, you need to come with us.’

‘How will you get me out of here? This palace may seem like it doesn’t have any guards, but spirits are good at remaining unseen. I can’t just walk out of here with you.’

Primavera held up the cloaks they had slipped off when they had entered. ‘These are from Hecate; they make us look like old spirits and hide us from Hades’s gaze.’

Persephone took the cloak Primavera held out to her, but her eyes kept flicking to the second cloak and Zephyrus. ‘Are there only two?’

‘Yes,’ Primavera answered.

‘But there are three of us. How will the third person leave?’

Primavera opened her mouth, but then her blood ran cold. ‘We didn’t think of that…’

She glanced at Zephyrus, who seemed to have turned into a statue, gaze fixed on the cloak in Persephone’s hands. ‘This is a problem,’ he said.

‘One of us will have to stay behind. The only one who absolutely has to get out is Persephone. She is the reason why we’re here,’ Primavera pointed out.

Zephyrus nodded slowly. ‘I’ll stay.’

Primavera shook her head. ‘No, I should stay. You’re only here because of me and who knows how long you’ll be trapped here. The outside world needs the west wind.’

‘You are not staying behind,’ Zephyrus said flatly. ‘Look at this place; you would lose your mind here.’

He gestured out of the window. Primavera looked out at the view and winced. The tower allowed for a broad panorama of the Underworld. Most of it was black with thick shadows that never stopped moving. Spirits drifted aimlessly along the winding roads. The only light was a harsh red glow to the one side of the horizon, marking Tartarus, and a softer golden glow on the opposite side, indicating the Elysian Fields. Beyond black, red, orange, and bits of gold, there wasn’t much colour.

‘It’s breathtaking, but it is very dark and dreary,’ Primavera admitted. ‘I would miss the flowers once spring returns, but your entire palace is covered in flora. This will drive you just as mad as it would me.’

‘I can conjure illusions, which helps us in two ways. Not only will I be able to see spring whenever I want, but I can mimic Persephone’s presence here, giving you two more time to get as far away as possible.’

Primavera wanted to argue, but had to admit it would be a good advantage. ‘Hades won’t be pleased if he discovers you.’

‘No, but I’m a god, just like him. He can harm me less than he can you if he discovers you here,’ Zephyrus countered.

Primavera grimaced and sighed. ‘Fine, then it’s settled. You will stay, and Persephone and I will get back to Demeter as fast as possible.’ She turned to Persephone, who was watching the exchange keenly. ‘Are you ready?’

‘Absolutely. I miss feeling the sun on my face.’ Persephone closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly up.

Primavera gave her a tight smile. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll feel the sun again. And after half an hour, you’ll be begging for shade. It’s become quite relentless.’

Persephone cocked her head and frowned slightly, but Primavera was already heading back towards the trapdoor. She let Persephone put on her cloak and slip out first. Lowering herself through the door, she hesitated as her eyes lingered on Zephyrus, standing awkwardly in the centre of the room.

‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘and be careful.’

Zephyrus flashed her a broad grin, and a gentle breeze played against her skin, ruffling her hair. She smiled.

‘I’ll see you again,’ he said. ‘Put the lock back on the door when you leave.’

She nodded, put the hood of her cloak up, and climbed down the rest of the stairs.

Written: December 2024