Hope for the Underworld

38

Cora wandered outside of the palace, more and more often drawn to their slowly expanding garden. She knelt in the dirt next to the neat rows of seedlings they had planted a few days ago and was astounded to see that they had grown so much already.

'Remarkable!' she muttered under her breath and leant forward, resting both her hands on the ground, palms down. The soil felt soft and warm. Closing her eyes she breathed in deeply, enjoying the sensation of earthy scents drifting up towards her.

Opening her eyes a few minutes later, she gasped in disbelief, because in that brief time the plants had grown considerably. She was eyeing them questioningly, as if suspecting that someone was playing tricks on her. She looked around, but the barren landscape couldn't provide cover for anyone. Yet, suddenly, she very distinctly felt someone's eyes on her. 'Who's there?!' she challenged, getting back on her feet. She scanned the area carefully but saw nothing.

She knew that the dead were not dangerous to her, and Hades' subjects knew better than to even think of stalking her, but she was also aware that the Underworld was home to many other beings and she was well aware, not all of them wished her well.

'I command you to show yourself!' she attempted to sound as authoritatively as she could, all the while her heart hammered heavily against her ribs.

There was a strange shift in the air, and something appeared a few paces from her; first, she could only see the fiery glowing eyes and then, a massive body of an animal materialised itself from the shadows. It was a three-headed hound, with its sharp teeth bared menacingly and tendrils of smoke escaping its nostrils. Cerberus' heads turned slowly towards her, appraising her with curiosity. He remained absolutely still, but his glowing eyes followed her every move attentively.

Cora knew that Cerberus was Hades' guardian and answered to his master without question, but what she wasn't sure of was how he would react to a living human. Hades had mentioned the hellhound before, but she never thought she would have to face the animal on her own. In an entirely instinctive gesture, she placed a hand on her stomach, as she considered her situation.

Cerberus' attention shifted and all three heads rose, sniffing the air. Then he made a tentative step towards her.

She had to do something. 'Cerberus,' she spoke gently, not wishing to present a challenge to his superior strength. 'We have not met. My name is Cora.' A snort was the hound's only response, but she continued, nevertheless. 'Lord Hades told me how you helped him in finding the one responsible for poisoning me.' She hoped the animal possessed enough intelligence to understand her; if not the words, perhaps the emotions at least.

On hearing Hades' name, the hound's heads rose again, and he seemed to be looking around for his master. Then, his fiery gaze returned to the human in front of him.

In her mind, she was screaming for Hades, but outwardly she could show no fear, so she slowly extended her hand, palm open, towards the animal; in the same way as she would towards the unknown dog. It was shaking a little, but she persevered.

Cerberus stepped closer and sniffed her hand noisily, leaving slobber all over her skin. Then, to her astonishment, he waggled his tail and licked her fingers.

Hades materialised beside her, just as she was gently stroking one of Cerberus' heads. 'What's happened?' he asked breathlessly; worried eyes scanning the area in search of any danger.

'Nothing, it seems,' Cora answered calmly, stroking the appreciative animal with both hands.

'I sensed you were terrified!' Hades' heart started slowing its crazy rhythm.

'He just startled me, appearing from the shadows,' she explained. 'And I wasn't quite sure how he would react to a human.'

Leaving Cora for the moment, Cerberus stepped to Hades and bowed his heads before the god.