Awaken (14 page)

             
“I believe that’s what your notebook is for,” Finn inserted; chuckling at their heated debate over his legitimacy.  Carmen crossed her arms at him and a smug grin spread across Phoebe’s face as Finn continued.  “What Stasia needs to concentrate on are the major landmarks, the path leading to the river, and most importantly, the passageway leading back to this realm.”

             
I inspected the map once more and began to feel a numbness crawl up my fingers and into my arm.  I couldn’t do this.  The farthest place I’d ever been to was the High Society of Atlanta with its embellished etiquette and society rules.  I’d never even been to a foreign country.  Now I would be travelling to a different realm?  By myself, no less.  At that little jewel of self reassurance, my entire body succumbed to the numbness and a determined panic scratched its way into my heart.  It wrapped its prickly fingers around me and stifled my ability to breathe.  I stood deliberately and walked back out onto the balcony in a debilitated stupor.  The light wind coming off of the ocean swirled around my face and I tried to take several deep breaths.   The roar of the dark waves gradually filled me with a peace like nothing else could…well, almost nothing else.

             
“You can do this, Pasha.”  Finn’s sure voice caressed my ears as he stepped behind me and wrapped his warm, steady arms around my shaking body.  He leaned down and planted a kiss on my cheek, and then stared out at the ocean with unwavering certainty.

             
“What if I can’t?”  His unwavering confidence in me continued to leave me flabbergasted.

             
“What if you can?” he disputed my doubt with amusement.

             
“What if I let everyone down?”

             
“What if the ocean dries up and sharks become the new higher intelligence?” he speculated; his tone serious and reflective.  The panic in my throat turned to slight hysteria as a bubble of laughter fought its way out. Finding a chink in my armor, he kept going.

             
“What if my hair falls out and I grow a head of spaghetti instead?” he questioned me; still deeply 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.”

              “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.

             
“So all these rivers feed into Charon’s Marsh; right in the middle of it all,” Willow gestured at the squiggly lines on the map that signified the different rivers. “Which one will Stasia have to find?”

             
“There are five rivers in the Underworld,” Finn contended, “They all feed into Charon’s marsh in the middle; which is how he carries the souls to the different sections.  The rivers are not to be taken lightly, however.  They each shelter secrets of their own between their unassuming banks.”

             
“What do you mean?” Phoebe asked, completely entranced.

             
“Three main rivers circle the different sections of the Underworld.  The River of Fire surrounds Tarturus and-“

             
“The River of Fire!?” Phoebe’s eyes widened in fascination.

             
Carmen looked at him skeptically, “Is it actually a river of fire?”

             
“I guess it would be better described as a river of lava,” Finn shrugged his shoulders, as if a river of lava were no big deal. “Let’s just say you don’t want to fall in it.” He chuckled at himself, but Phoebe’s face paled at his words.

             
“The River of Forgetfulness surrounds The Vale of Mourning,” he paused; anticipating more questions.  Phoebe didn’t disappoint.

             
“Forgetfulness?  So does that mean it makes you forget things?  Is that why it’s around the Vale of Mourning?  So those souls will forget whatever made them kill themselves?”

             
“Only if a soul drinks from its water, will they forget.  The amount they drink will determine how many memories will be erased.  It can be very tempting for those souls who have many memories they’d like to forget.”

             
“But if you erase the bad, how will you be able to appreciate the good?” Willow pondered.

             
“I have a million memories I’d like to forget, but they also made me who I am.  I wouldn’t want to forget them,” I divulged quietly.

             
“I agree, but unfortunately the souls of the Vale of Mourning have succumbed to their pain.  They are weak and the river is all too tantalizing,” Finn stated.

             
“How sad…” Phoebe gushed, as he described the third important river.

             
“The River of Unbreakable Oaths surrounds the divine Elysian Fields.  It’s also called the River Styx.” He nodded his head at Willow, who quickly turned it a bright neon pink and tapped her chin in deep thought again.

             
“So how exactly does Stasia get there?“ she asked studiously.

             
“She’ll need to reach the end of the groves, where she’ll run right into the marsh.  Following along the marsh to the east, the River Styx will be the first river she’ll come to.” He pointed to the place where the River Styx met Charon’s Marsh on the map. “The mouth of the river meets the marsh in spectacular fashion, creating a large waterfall.  So, she’ll need to follow the banks of the river until she can no longer hear the waterfall.”

             
“Large waterfall…” Willow mumbled, as she set to changing more of the map to pink.

             
“So how does it work?  Does she run and cannonball into the river or simply stick a toe in?” Carmen asked, scribbling again in the notebook.

             
“She’ll have to completely submerge herself in the waters of the river.  But the torrent is extremely strong.  Hence the swimming lessons.” He raised an eyebrow at me.  Carmen had been tasked with giving me swimming lessons. And I was dead set on putting them off for as long possible.  Finn turned his attention to me, “You’ll need to avoid any rocks or boulders, as you flow down river.  Then you’ll go over the waterfall; landing in the marsh and ensuring your immortality.”

             
“Did you just say I’d have to go over the waterfall?” I asked; dumbstruck and praying I had heard him wrong.

             
“That’s exactly what I said,” he looked up at me, his face solemn.  I could tell he didn’t like this any more than I did, but his resolve had grown into an understanding and acceptance of what must happen.  Alternately, my resolve was still crawling around in diapers.

             
“Right.  Go over massive waterfall.  Got it.” I swallowed and tried not to start shaking again.

             
“You’ll make your way out of the marsh, and walk west along the River of Forgetfulness.  But no matter how thirsty you are, do not drink from it.” He looked at me with intensity, “When you see the groves of Persephone appear to your left, you’ll know you’re almost to the Gates of Horn and Ivory.”

             
“The Gates of Horn and Ivory are real?” Willow’s big blue eyes grew impossibly larger.  Finn shook his head in confirmation.

             
“I can assure you; they’re all too real.  And Stasia will need to pass through them in order to get back to this realm…and her body.” My stomach lurched and I held down the queasiness that ensued.  I had no idea what the Gates of Horn and Ivory were, but I could only hope they weren’t lined with flesh-eating spiders the size of buses busily spinning webs; perfect for capturing detached souls.

             
“Let me guess, there’s a big fire breathing monster she’ll have to slay with her sword in order to get the golden key and save the princess?” Carmen’s eyes darted toward Phoebe who crossed her arms and glared back at her.  Finn just rolled his eyes.

             
“The only big monster Stasia will have to face is herself.”