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Cerberus released a low whine, and nudged her gently.
“You really shouldn’t be here. Shadow needs you.”
Cerberus barked in protest. But Zoe shook her head sadly.
“I’m afraid I can’t join you. I’m locked in here with no way out.” Zoe cursed as she stubbed her toe on a nearby crate. “And it doesn’t help that I can hardly see a thing in here, either.”
Cerberus skittered across the metal floor, before he buried one of his heads in Zoe’s satchel. She groaned as his snuffles filled the air, and tried unsuccessfully to haul the dog away.
“Hey, there’s no food in there for you. Now quit it! You’re slobbering all over my things.” Zoe stumbled backwards as Cerberus’ head emerged from her satchel. “Hey, what’s that you’ve found?”
A small glowing creature emerged on the tip of Cerberus’ nose. It buzzed in greeting, until its golden light radiated through the darkness, lighting the gloom of the truck.
“So much for being locked alone in here. You two are a couple of stowaways.” Zoe studied the will-ó-wisp as it danced in the air before her. “You and your friends need to escape while you can. You’re no match for Mr. Gravesend’s machines.”
A defiant buzz filled the air, as the creature flashed in annoyance. Zoe watched in surprise as it danced around her, weaving its gentle light through the air. She felt the air stir with magic, and gasped in surprise as she felt the weight of a crown form on her head.
“What the…” Zoe marveled at the beauty of the object, made from the delicately woven branches of the pomegranate tree. But despite its grandeur, she sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m no Queen of the Underworld. And as long as I’m stuck in here, I’m powerless to help you.”
Zoe watched in confusion as the will-ó-wisp gently fluttered towards the centerpiece of the crown, where a single red bud lay nestled within the woven branches. The creature danced through the air, the fluttering of its wings creating a beautiful melody that spoke to Zoe’s very soul. With each movement, its golden aura increased, until it bathed the crown in its radiant light. Zoe gasped as the ruby-colored bud stirred to life, until it slowly grew from the will-ó-wisp’s magic.
“That’s impossible…” Zoe looked in wonder as the bud transformed into a single pomegranate seed, that sparkled with the magic of Persephone’s gift. “You woke it from its slumber. But why?”
Zoe recalled the magic that resided within the forbidden fruit. A magic that transcended the worlds of the living and the dead. As the will-ó-wisp floated onto Cerberus’ forehead, exhausted from its efforts, Zoe drew a startled breath as realization struck her. She might not be able to escape her makeshift prison as a mortal. But with this magic, anything was possible.
Zoe gazed at the crown, knowing that she had to make a choice. A choice to return to her world, and forget about the magic that existed here. Or a choice to stay. To save the Underworld, and fight for the man she loved. To live.
“You’re right. This is my kingdom, too. And it’s up to me to save it.” Zoe carefully plucked the pomegranate seed from the branches, and held it to her lips. “Well, here goes nothing.”
An explosion of flavor filled Zoe’s mouth. At once, a cloud of mist filled the air, while golden lights flickered from her skin. Zoe gasped as she felt the magic course through her veins, until her mortal body dissolved, and her feet floated above the ground.
“Huh, I guess that did the trick.” Zoe smiled as Cerberus offered her the crown from his jaws, before she carefully placed it on her head. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s save the Underworld from these fleshies!”
At once, she sped towards the steel walls of the trailer, before she burst through to the other side. She sighed in relief as the truck sped over the bridge, where the River Lethe sparkled with its magic, before it disappeared into the mortal world beyond.
“Well, that’s one disaster averted.” But Zoe’s relief was short-lived as she turned her gaze to the motel. “Although something tells me that was just the tip of the iceberg.”
As night fell across the Underworld, a powerful snow storm raged across the skies. Within the howling winds, dozens of spider-like machines scuttled across the landscape, their spindly legs clattering over every rocky surface in their search for the source of the power. Zoe watched in horror as they drilled deep into the earth and fed from the magic of the land. And as they made their way to Persephone’s Tree, she knew it would only be a matter of time before the Underworld fell.
“Time to put these flying lessons to the test.” Zoe smiled as the will-ó-wisp buzzed in readiness. “Now let’s go!”
At once, Zoe sped across the Underworld. She rode across the winds, her golden light carving through the darkness like a shooting star, while Cerberus bounded across the frozen ground below. Onwards they raced, passed the Bubbling Bog, and through the cactus fields, just like they’d done before. Only this time, the stakes were far greater.
With a burst of light, Zoe sped across the makeshift finish line, and through the gates of the Underworld Motel. In the distance, Shadow constructed a wall of thorns to protect Persephone’s Tree, entombing it within his darkness. Before her, Swindleton barked orders at the workmen and their machines, who carved a path carved through the wall of thorny vines, and inched closer to the motel. She called for them to stop, she tried to block their path, but she cursed as they passed straight through her body, oblivious to her presence.
“Dammit, they can’t see me. Something tells me we’re going to need all the help we can get.” Zoe floated through a gap in the vines and into the motel, peering into the empty rooms in confusion. “But where is everyone?”
Cerberus sniffed the air, before he barked in recognition. Zoe followed the pooch through the corridors, and into Misty’s saloon, before her eyes widened at the sorry sight before her. Spooks lay sprawled on the bar, glumly drowning his sorrows with spoonfuls of jelly, while Misty wept to the wailing tunes of the Phantom Fiestadores.
“What the…” Zoe grimaced as the sounds of the violin screeched through the bar. “Why are you sitting around?”
“Madame?” Spooks looked at Zoe in surprise. “What are you doing here? And why are you positively un-fleshie?”
“I came back here to fight. To save the Underworld, before it’s too late.” Zoe placed her hands to her ears to drown out the Phantom Fiestadores’ mournful melodies. “But I need your help. Now, come on!”
Silence fell across the saloon. Zoe watched in disbelief as Spooks spooned himself another helping of jelly, while the Phantom Fiestadores glared at her from beneath their sombreros.
“What are you all waiting for?” As the sound of the workmen’s chainsaws filled the air, Zoe looked at the despondent spirits in confusion. “Don’t you want to save the Underworld?”
