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“There sure is, sugar.” Misty broke into a smile, and pointed at the frozen ground. “Look!”
Zoe peered at the earth, until her eyes widened at the sight before her. Small shoots of green grass punctured the pristine white blanket of snow, emerging after years of their slumber. She looked at each of the fragile blades in wonder, before she shook her head in confusion.
“I don’t understand...”
Zoe turned as a cold breeze swept around her, until Shadow emerged, his arms wrapped around her waist. His eyes gleamed in the light of the sunset, until he plucked a delicate flower from thin air.
“It seems the Underworld is awakening from its slumber.” Shadow broke into a smile as he handed Zoe the flower. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
Zoe drew a startled breath, before she looked at the courtyard once more. She looked at the green shoots of grass, to the slowly melting icicles, and realized Shadow was right. Life was returning to the Underworld.
“Well, I, for one, think this gives us something to celebrate!” Spooks swung upside-down from the tree branches, and flashed the group a wide grin. “How about a lap around the usual track to see who’s the real King of the Underworld?”
Shadow folded his arms, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And what tricks can I expect from you this time?”
“Tricks? Master, you insult me!“ Spooks shook his head, before he broke into a mischievous smile. “I just thought that since you and the fleshie got to compete as a team last time, then it’s only fair the rest of us can do the same. Isn’t that right, Cerberus?”
Cerberus released a bark of agreement, while the Phantom Fiestadores gave a hearty cheer of approval. But as the ghosts teamed up to compete in the race, Zoe felt her heart sink. Compared to the other competitors, she felt like a weight, chaining Shadow down to the earth.
“You go ahead without me. Someone has to stop Spooks’ jelly parties with the Titans.” She forced a smile and glanced back at the motel. “I should head back and see if we’ve had any more visitors to the website...”
“Work can wait.” Shadow broke into a devilish smile. “Besides, we have a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
“Consider it a thank you for putting this place back on the map again.” Zoe glanced at the group of ghosts uneasily as they broke into a broad grin. “Misty, could you do the honors?”
With a smile, Misty clicked her fingers, summoning a red velvet cupcake into Zoe’s hands. She admired the rich crimson hue of the cake, while her mouth salivated at the generous swirl of cream frosting. But despite the irresistible scent of the cake, Zoe couldn’t help but feel something was amiss.
“I don’t understand...” But Zoe’s eyes widened at the sight of a red berry that glistened within the luxurious frosting. “Is this what I think it is?”
“One pomegranate seed remained from the Spectral Soirée. And after everything you’ve done to help the Underworld, we thought it was only fitting that it belonged to you.”
Zoe’s breath caught in her throat. This was no ordinary gift. Each of the ghosts had willingly sacrificed an evening of life to give this to her. She shook her head in bewilderment, before she met their gaze.
“Thank you, really. But I...” She glanced at the pomegranate seed uncertainly. “What will happen to me once I eat it?”
“Persephone’s magic works both ways.” Shadow’s eyes gleamed in the sunset, until swathes of night filled the sky. “If it turns spirits into flesh and blood, then by the same logic...”
Zoe drew a breath in understanding. “It would turn me into a ghost?”
She paled as she glanced at the cupcake. But despite her concern, Shadow gave her a reassuring smile.
“It would only be temporary, just until the break of dawn. But it would give you the chance to experience the Underworld our way. To ride through the breezes. To harness its powers. To be connected to its magic.”
A flicker of excitement raced within Zoe at the thought of experiencing the true magic of the Underworld. She gazed at the red seed as it gleamed with its inner power, tempting her with its godly gifts.
“Well, what do you say, Zoe?”
Zoe drew a breath, and gazed at the group before her.
“Thank you, all of you. This is the most magical gift I’ve ever been given.” She drew the cupcake closer, and inhaled its rich scent. “Well, here goes nothing.”
Zoe took a bite of the cupcake, relishing the rich taste of the velvety crumb, combined with the luscious creaminess of the frosting. Her eyes widened as she swallowed a mouthful of the cupcake, before she turned to Misty.
“This is good. Really good!“ Zoe’s eyes widened in surprise as her stomach rumbled, and a shimmer of light danced across her skin. “Oh!”
A cloud of mist engulfed Zoe’s vision, until all she could see were the flickering lights that sparkled from her body. Lost in the mists, she felt her senses sharpen, until she could hear the faintest whisper of the wind in the trees, and could feel every caress of the breeze on her skin. She drew her hands to her face, only to blink in bewilderment as their vibrancy faded, until they became nothing more than a translucent glimmer of light. She gasped as her skin shimmered like rays of sunlight on a pool of water, and yelped in surprise as her feet left the solid ground, before she floated in the air.
