Hope for the Underworld

36

Waiting for Hermes, she considered the situation. Why would she react to Barry with such a frightening ferocity? He was to be pitied; he was miserable and dead, after all. And Eris? Cora disliked her already, but that feeling of a piercing white-hot hatred was something new to her.

Was she, somehow, affected by the dark shadows?

She was aware of the black flames appearing all over her body during the encounter in the Great Hall. But their servants have never been malevolent! They were... protective...

What, or who they were protecting her from?...

'Lady Justice...' came in that familiar voice. 'Lord Messenger has arrived...'

'Please, let him in.'

Very soon, there was a knock on the door and Hermes entered. His demeanour was quite serious, and she was sure Hades had informed his nephew about the latest development. 'Auntie Cora,' he started however, in a light tone, bowing with his trademark mock respect. 'How could I be of service?'

'Messenger.' She rose to meet him. 'I wish to see the Oracle.' There was no point in sugar-coting it. 'Can you help me?'

'Of course, but...' he hesitated briefly. 'I will do all in my power to assist you. But don't you think that my uncle should be the one to be there with you? He seems... hurt.'

'I know it's hard, but I need to do it alone.'

'Why? You are stronger together!'

'I...' she paused, as if searching for the right words. 'I worry that I'm changing,' she confessed. 'I don't think I can deal with it, worrying about him as well.' She scrunched her nose in frustration; it wasn't exactly what she meant, but she wasn't able to verbalise it properly.

'Very well.' He just nodded and extended his arm.

The trip wasn't as smooth as she was used to with Hades, and it left her dizzy; she felt nausea returning and only with great effort she regained full control over her body.

'I will wait here.' Hermes raised his hand to ring a bell, but even before that the door opened and a novice beckoned Cora inside.

She followed the girl, concentrating solely on the experiences of her body, adamant to retain control at all costs.

The Oracle's chamber was in semi-darkness, the old woman barely visible in her chair by the fire.

'Welcome, Lady of So Many Names,' the Oracle spoke first. 'I've been expecting you.'

'You have?' Cora stood in front of her with, what she hoped was an impassive face.

'Please, take a seat,' continued the Oracle. 'You look tired.'

'Thank you.' She gratefully fell into a chair.

'May I offer you something to drink?' The Oracle measured her guest with taxing eyes.

'No, thank you. Do you know why I am here?'

'Yes, of course.' She smiled thinly. 'But I am surprised that you need me to explain it. I assumed you would have figured it out by yourself by now... You are so very clever, after all.'

'I am changing...' Cora's voice was weak in her own ears.

'Of course, you are. You are the Lady Change herself.'

'But changing into what?' Cora couldn't supress her frustration. 'Just tell me!'

The Oracle did not respond straight away. Instead, she slowly rose from her seat and started picking some herbs, then deliberately grinding them in her mortar. 'How long has it been since you returned to the Underworld, I wonder?' she mused conversationally, not taking her eyes from the task at hand.