[The nightmare continues. The unthinkable has happened. Hera has gained control of the power of Olympus. She freed Set after Moloch and Dahak killed each other trying to escape their captivity. Set is her consort now and the Olympians, her slaves. Hell is here. Death is no longer a threat but a blessing. But the Queen of Darkness will not let some die.]

The tall warrior looked up the corridor's ramp toward the door at the other end. He checked his sword for any flaws that might make it break in battle then put on the helmet that would hopefully shield any blows. Death was really not the issue. He would welcome death, but the problem was wounds. If they were serious enough, the healing would be long and painful. No doubt she would make the process more gruesome because of his failure to win.

Hercules smiled grimly, thinking about the helmet. When did he start using such a thing? He had never worn helmets, or a breastplate for that matter, but now he was encased in metal, head, torso and shins, with his arms bare to give him freedom of movement. The heavy gate at the top of the long corridor began to rise and the warrior began his ascent into the arena. He wondered who is opponent would be and whether he would have to kill the warrior or she would show mercy today. Hera did every once in a while. He had tried to resist this appalling service but when he did, she ended up punishing the innocent. Children in some village would die of plague or fishing boat would be overturned to let that simple sailors die. She would make him watch. So the hero did his ghastly part, like the other men and women who were summoned to the arena. At least the ones who came were usually seasoned warriors. Each did their duty with grim resolve and Hera had promised it would be no more than once a month. So far she had kept her promise as the year since she had come to power dragged by.

Hercules walked out into the light of the arena, the air was beginning to have the chill of fall. He was cooled for a moment but knew that once the battle began, he'd warm up. He looked up at the gallery where the Queen of Heaven sat. Beside her sat the dark, reptile-like Set. Both had a slight smile on their faces. Around them were various parties. Some human, priests and warlords who had been loyal to her before the fall; and some were creatures from other realms, demons, apparitions of other dimensions, and dark souls who gathered around the strong power of Hera and Set. At Set's feet was the beautiful Aphrodite. She had a sad smile on her face as she sat at the knee of her lord.

Hercules said nothing. He looked up at the audience with a face devoid of emotion and nodded once that he was ready.

From the other gate, a man in a tunic emerged. He had a leather breastplate on with one shoulder covered with a bronze shoulder plate. Leather bracelets on both arms strengthened the wrists. He had laced boots that came half way up his calves. No greaves though. And leather strap were wrapped around his hands to help with the grip of the sword. He was shorter than the half god but had the look of a veteran. His dark hair was short, and he had the beard of a man who had been on campaign and had not had time to shave in days.

The other man knelt down on one knee, driving his sword into the sand of the arena. Hercules thought that he was going to pray but instead the soldier picked up a handful of soil. He rubbed it in his hands, smelling it briefly then dropped it all and stood up again. He wiped the rest off his hands, took his sword up, and began to walk toward the hero.

"My name is Hercules," the taller man said as they faced each other.

"I am Corum," the man replied.

"Corum? I once knew a dragon by the name. He was great warrior," Hercules answered back.

The man smiled grimly. "I hope I can be the same. The fate of the cohort that I command on the island of Atlantis depends on my victory I have been told."

"First time?" Hercules asked, turning and looking up at the gallery.

The other man did the same and nodded his reply.

"Hera, is it true that you will sacrifice this man's soldiers if he loses?" Hercules asked. Corum turned toward him frowning.

Hera smiled, looking almost compassionate. "Ever the hero," she said patronizingly. "Well, what will you do to fix this one, Hercules? Will you sacrifice yourself to save the soldiers of a strange land? So typical."

"The deal was that if we come and fight," Hercules replied, "you'll leave the innocent alone."

Set laughed under his breath but the sound sent a chill through both men. "There is no such thing as 'the innocent,'" he replied.

"How would you know?" Hercules replied angrily. "You wouldn't recognize innocence in any form, you're so twisted up with evil."

The other man began to look concerned. He did not want trouble more than he had. He reached out and touched Hercules on the arm. "Don't make matters worse," he whispered.

Hercules began to laugh to everyone's surprise. He turned toward his opponent. "I don't know you but I suspect that under different circumstances we would be comrades in arms. Corum, a word of advice, things can't GET any worse." Hercules turned back to the gallery.

"A deal, Hera?" he asked. "The two of us give you a good show and no one else gets hurt. One of us is leaving this arena on a stretcher, that should be enough for you."

Hera giggled. It was a disgusting sound under the circumstances. "Deal," she replied.

A woman swept into the tent of the officers of Atlantis. She had the grace and movement of a person of quality but on closer look one could tell she was not fully human. She had an elfin look like that of the Dryads. She was tall and willowy with black hair and eyes of darkest green. In her entourage, large and well armed soldiers attended her, but it was her own power that kept the enemies that glared at her in their places.

Behind a campaign desk sat the officer in charge. He was young for a man of such rank, and had a youthful face, but the thirty odd years of his life had accumulated much more hardship and battle than one man should have to endure and the look of it was evident in his hardness of his eyes. He got up slowly, hesitating to rise as a small sign of insolence. He nodded to her, straightening the protective leather straps that hung from the bottom of his breastplate. His hair was cut in the Atlantean fashion of the soldier. Very short and feathered across the forehead. He was handsome with dark hair and blue eyes. He and his officers were outfitted for war even though their enemy was beyond battles and war machines. They were ready none the less, dressed and organized in camp in a fashion which would one day in the future be rediscovered by a civilization called the Romans.

"Well," the woman said, waving her hand. She motioned and one of her troopers brought a chair from the side of the tent. She sat down regally, looking around and the men who stared back in stony silence. She was enjoying the audience. "I am nothing if not merciful. Hera has called one of your warriors to her service. I'm sure Corum will do his part to serve the Goddess but if he loses, some of your men will die. I am doing you a favor by taking men into my service. I will take only a few and I will leave soon." She watched the commander's jaw tighten.

Then a flash of light startled them all. In their midst, standing between her and the commander, a tall man had materialized. The bodyguards moved to intercept and then froze as the form solidified into the dark War God.

"You'll take no one and leave now," he said curtly.

The woman pursed her lips and looked up smiling. "You're not Mommy's equal anymore. You serve her like the rest. I want just three for my collection. They will probably die anyway. No mortal man has won yet against Hercules."

"No duel is ever decided until one man lays down his sword and … your collection is of no consequence," Ares replied. He crossed his arms over his chest and beginning to pace before the campaign desk of the commander. "Hera doesn't know about your little thefts here and there and I won't tell her, but you leave these men alone." He stopped and looked at her. "These are soldiers under my command and I will need them for her service." He put slight emphasis on the word "her" although it made him want to wretch. And the statement was a lie but the Dryad wouldn't know unless she spoke to Hera and she wouldn't. The game of intrigue that he once enjoyed so much was now maddening.

The Dryad Usurper got up and walked over to the tall man. She slid her hands up his chest and over the leather embroidery of his jacket. "Ares, my gorgeous warrior, your tone is so harsh and your eyes so cold. Can't we kiss and make up?" She put her face up to his to kiss him on the lips.

He sighed loudly and took her hands down, pushing her away from him gently. He began to speak and then stopped, thinking again. "Just go," he said quietly. "Please." The word almost stuck in his throat but he had to be careful not to be too hostile as she could be a formidable enemy. He had to weigh the good of the many against the overwhelming joy of strangling the life out of her.

She pouted affectedly and ran her fingernails over the stitching along the front of his jacket. Then she let her fingers trail down his chest from his neck to his belt. "Well, all right. I'll leave you your beauties but remember that I did you this favor!" She vanished in a blaze of light, taking her entourage with her. The aftermath had the smell of burnt flesh. One could cover evil with finery but the stench was always the same. Ares wondered if he left that smell behind when he vanished. The thought worried him for a split second then he felt the young commander at his back.

"Sir?"

"Drusas, at ease. Resume command." Ares turned around and patted him on the shoulder. "Well, done. Keep the men calm and in order. The camp looks good. How many forward scouts do you have out right now?"

"We have a unit of six men on horseback. The surveillance is slow due to the terrain but we have a good idea of the placement of most of the enemy though we aren't sure about what they are," Drusas replied, showing the War God the map that had been laid out on the campaign desk. Officers closed around them as the two men looked it over.

"You haven't seen the enemy yet?" Ares asked.

"We have not engaged them in battle yet, sir," Drusas replied.

Ares thought for a moment. "It is my considered opinion that these creatures have come here from another dimension. I think they may have gained access to this plane without my mother's knowledge," he said. "Otherwise, I think, though I cannot be sure, that she would have informed me of this problem and had me intercept them. However, my sense is that they do not have any mystical powers that will not respond to the judicious use of steel." He smiled as the officers laughed under their breaths at the joke. "I want this threat removed completely, understood?"

Drusas nodded. "Understood, sir."

"Good. Carry on." Ares nodded back turned to where the dryad had vanished. He sighed again and vanished

Ares materialized in his fortress. He stood alone for a moment in the great throne room. He looked down at his emblem emblazoned on the marble beneath his boots. The emblem looked so powerful. It represented both the courage and the savagery of war. It represented him. He thought about the dark turn of events. His mother had finally gotten her way. She had formed a pact with the Three but in the struggle between this dark group, Moloch and Dahak had killed each other. Ares suspected that Hera had given this conflict a little nudge as it meant that she would have only one of the Ancient Ones to contend with. Set was the weakest of the three. He had the viciousness of the snake but was too addicted to the ways of the flesh to be disciplined. Hera was able to keep him occupied.

When the conflict began, Ares had quickly surmised the gravity of the situation. The gods of Olympus had come to him for help, at least the ones that had not fled to other realms. Suddenly, as happened in times of crisis, he was the golden boy, their hero. This never lasted though but the War God didn't mind. They came to him when their needs fit his abilities and the Lord of War Lords knew it was his duty to oblige them, not just for them but now for all the warriors who defended all the peoples of his world. It did not take a great strategist to figure out that he would need aid even beyond his own brothers and sisters. He had called out to the Ancient One, Bastet, his mentor on the spiritual journey he had undertaken. She had told him that she would be there when he needed her but so far, his petitions had gone unanswered. Ares watched and waited. One thing he had learned in the years since his apprenticeship to Bastet, and his choosing of Kendaa, his mate, was patience. He would wait for a time when the tide would turn his way, when he received the help he needed, or when there was no more hope.

The great force of nature herself was struggling to keep balance. The dark haired Zd'a had been called from another plane to usurp the throne of the dryads. It had made Gaia sick. The Queen of the Dryads, Kendaa, had relinquished her place rather than start a war that would only end in the wholesale destruction of vast tracks of land. So Kendaa had chosen to surrender her crown. Zd'a knew that the Dryad Queen would be plotting her downfall so the Usurper had the Amazon warrior and most of the Forum members, an elite group of Amazons, exiled to another plane of existence. Ares was still trying to locate them but had so far had no success.

He turned and walked out of the throne room to rally his troops. He was now no better than a commander of the guard and his own hand picked and well trained soldiers were the palace errand boys of Hera, who had moved her seat of power from Olympus to a place far in the East, a pinnacle of mountain that dwarfed any peak in Greece. She had made allies of the curious and unpredictable Eastern gods and goddesses, bringing them under her command with the power of the Ancient One.

As Ares walked out into the courtyard of his fortress, he saw soldiers readying themselves for service. Twenty or so men and women were dressed in the black and silver of the War God were checking their swords, bows and arrows, maces, whips, knives, javelins, and staffs. Ares smiled despite the gloom of his mood, there was no end to the things these wolves could use as weapons. This was half his private troop. The other half were on guard at the palace in the East.

Someone behind him cleared their throat. The War God turned to see a woman known as the Whisperer standing behind him. She was a woman of average height for an Amazon, tall for a normal woman. She had brown shoulder length hair pulled back and brown eyes. She was slender and well built, her face was pleasant with a slight smile. In short, she was the type of warrior who would blend in and be unnoticed which belied her position as Ares' second in command.

The Whisperer gave orders which were always clearly heard but rarely spoken in more that an speaking voice and often just above a whisper, which gave her her name. She had a calmness in battle that was legendary and was an expert in most of weaponry. When she fought, she had that slight smile on her face and made each movement look effortless. To a struggling enemy, it was unnerving.

The Whisperer, or Whisper to her friends, was an Amazon who had been born and raised in the Amazon Nation but had chosen to come and join the elite troop of Ares. Ares had been pleasantly surprised when she had come to enlist, but suspected that she had left the Nation with a secret. It was unlike any Amazon to leave her sisters. She quickly rose in his ranks, and was respected by all the warriors, males and females alike. Fortunately, she and Kendaa, Ares' Chosen, got along very well. Whatever dark past that had made the Amazon leave her Nation did not seem to interfere with her relationship with her sisters who were members of the Forum.

"Sir," Whisper said, "the second unit is ready."

Ares smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Good," he answered, realizing now that he was tired. "We certainly wouldn't want to keep our masters waiting."

"No, that would never do," she replied quietly. She turned and motioned to the soldiers who were now ready and next to their horses. Everyone got onto his or her mount. With a nod of the Second in Command, the unit pulled into double file. Ares mounted up on his steed as did Whisper, and the troop began to pull out. They filed out through the gate and as the last of the soldiers went through, the gate closed. Ares spurred his horse with a whistle, and the entire group went into a canter. Before them, mists of a celestial highway began to form and the horses leapt up into the mist as each of the soldiers came to it. The troop began their ascent into the sky to travel to the Palace of the Queen. Thousands of miles would be transversed in an instant. Ares could have willed them all there but he liked the excitement of the ride. The horses did not seem to notice that there was no visible ground beneath them but the troopers had a mixed reaction to being able to look down and see the land below like a distant map. In a few moments, Ares and Whisper saw the palace shining on the pinnacles of the mountain that would some day be known as the tallest peak in this plane. Below them the world was under a cover of clouds. The palace walls, made of the whitest marble veined with red, were dazzling. It would have been a truly glorious sight if it did not hold the darkest of souls.

Darkfall: Part Two

The sand of the arena was spotted here and there with the blood of the two warriors. Hercules lunged with his sword to get under Corum's thrust and the Atlantean just barely got away from the blade. Corum backed away and rolled his shoulders to stretch the muscles that had become tightened from stress.

Hercules approached and thrust but Corum parried quickly. The two circled for a moment.

"Come on," Hera shouted. "Stop dancing about like a couple of virgins on their wedding night."

For a moment, both men glanced up at the woman with disgust. Both were bloodied with a dozen little cuts and slashes. Bruises spotted both men's arms.

Corum sighed turning away as if to rest, then spun around quickly and lunged hoping to throw Hercules off. The tall Greek was ready though and saw an opening. He didn't know whether the soldier was being careless or had finally become too tired. Hercules knocked the sword out of his opponent's hand with the flat of his blade and lunged one more time so quickly that Corum fell backwards. Corum rolled to get away but Hercules came down hard on the Atlantean's back with a blow that knocked the wind out of the man. The Atlantean lay face down spitting blood into the dirt and trying to catch his breath. Hercules stood near him, still breathing heavily himself. He dropped his sword by his opponent's. Corum looked over at the weapon and then up at Hercules. He got up on his hands and knees, then grabbed both blades and stood up. With the last of his energy, he swung them in an arc and sprang at the Greek one more time. Hercules dodged him, jumping to the side. Corum lost his balance, going to his knees as Hera and her entourage screamed for his blood.

Hercules now stood behind his opponent, watching him. Corum was still on his knees, breathing hard and swaying slightly with fatigue. He dropped the swords and fell to the side, losing consciousness.

Hercules went over to the downed man. He dragged Corum up by one arm and hauled him onto his shoulders. He turned and looked at Hera as she drew a breath. Set glanced over at her, smiling slightly.

"You said one of you would not leave the arena alive," Hera said.

"I said one of us would be leaving on a stretcher," Hercules corrected. "And that we would give you a good show. This man is dead on his feet and he's lost a lot of blood. That should be enough for you."

He turned and walked toward the gate that led down to the cells below. Hercules didn't wait for a reply but as he walked, he could feel the two staring at him. It chilled him and he could feel his stomach churn from disgust mixed with anxiety. He spat on the ground to clear his mouth of the taste of bile. He disappeared into the shadows of the rooms below, glad to be leaving the sight of the dark ones and relieved to have lived through one more contest. He had no illusions that Hera and her consort would be searching a multitude of realities for opponents worthy of the fight against him. The contests had become more and more difficult though the half-god was surprised that she had put him up against a mortal again. Corum had done very well and Hercules suspected that the exchange between the two of them prior to the duel may have robbed the soldier of some of his dispassion. Hercules took the man down to one of the holding rooms. He laid him on a shabby cot and saw that Corum was now regaining consciousness.

"Stay here," Hercules said, "there's water around here somewhere and some bandages." He turned to go find the supplies he needed but a small figure covered completely in black robes came into the room with a basin and towel. "Oh," Hercules added. He turned back to the man who was sitting up at the side of the cot now. "I guess Hera sent him to help." The Greek turned and left, saying nothing. As he turned the corner into the main corridor, he heard the soldier curse and crockery break. The robed figure came running down the hall past him and disappeared in the shadows. Hercules smiled and made his way to the main hall to take off his armor, wash, and leave.

Ares and his troopers arrived at the palace. The gates were open and the courtyard, unlike the craggy peaks and snowy cold on the outside, was a tropical paradise. Bright green foliage lined the area, dotted with flowers of every color and shape. A path meandered through the garden wide enough for riders in pairs. The entrance to the palace proper was not visible when one entered the gate.

The other half of his troop was on guard. Two soldiers stood at the entrance on guard and as Ares glanced up, he saw guards walking their duty stations along the parapet above. He nodded as he went by the guards on the ground and each nodded back. Ares had, for all his military upbringing and discipline, an aversion to saluting. His troopers communicated their deference to him subtly. The command structure was hard to read for an outsider but anyone who had been with these warriors in battle knew that the hierarchy was clear to those in the troop. This unit was closely knit and completely loyal to each other and to their officers but maddeningly insolent to any outside. Foreign officers dreaded working with them.

As Ares entered, he heard the roar of a tiger. Whisper sighed, shaking her head. She knew that the roar was that of Tosh, the tiger that had come to live with Calico, one of the Amazons. The woman glanced over at her Lord and Ares knew her thoughts. He looked at her and nodded.

"The tiger is safest here," Ares said.

"Safety is not his concern. He searches for his human friend," Whisper said, "for her and the others."

Ares turned back to look at the doors of the entrance to the Grand Hall. "As do we."

Whisper saw his jaw clench as he came to the stairs and reined his horse to a stop. "And until the time is right, we wait," he added, dismounting.

The troopers dismounted also, and followed Ares up the stairs. The doors to the Hall opened magically as he approached, revealing a hall that was breathtaking, even for a god. The hall was lined with living plants that wove themselves into walls and a ceiling of browns, whites, yellows, and every shade of green imaginable. The hall was airy and bright as the branches let in the light of the sun but did not allow the in the cold. Flowers grew along the base of the walls. The floor was clear like crystal. Beneath the clearness ran a deep blue that appeared to be ocean. Bright fish darted through the waters. There were no furnishing until one came to the stairs at the other end. On a raised dais, sat two thrones of crystal that shone like pure light. Behind the dais was the sign of Hera, an ancient and full bodied female torso and thighs and wrapped around its waist with the head looking up between the breasts was a snake.

The troopers walked the length of the hall. They were the only souls there. The soldiers were careful to be quiet and had learned to stay behind Ares. Whisper walked at this side. She looked around with a slight scowl on her face. "A bit overdone but I like the nature theme," she said in her usual quiet voice.

Ares glanced at her as he continued toward the dais. "And you wish to be the first trooper crucified on one of these tree limbs?" he asked.

"Well, that would add a military look to the place," she replied. Soldiers behind her laughed under their breathes.

The War God stopped at the foot of the dais. He took a deep breath. "I guess we wait."

A flash of light blinded everyone but Ares for a moment, then the thrones were occupied by Hera and Set. The temperature in the room dropped slightly. Hera was not pleased.

"So are you here for the changing of YOUR guard?" she snapped.

"I'm here because you ordered me to come," he replied wearily.

"I ordered you to come over an hour ago!" she answered. "What took you so long?"

Ares saw the suspicion in her eyes. She was always suspicious these days, slightly nervous at the immense power that she had accumulated and now just barely controlled. Her eyes had a wildness about them that worried him. The last thing that this plane needed was a supreme being who was insane. Ares got down on one knee, looking up at her with the best look of submissiveness that he could muster. "May I approach?" he asked.

Hera's look softened. "Come to me, my son," she replied. She held out her hand.

The War God got up and walked up the steps. He bent and kissed her outstretched hand.

"I am here now, mother," he said. "What is your bidding?"

The Queen of the Heavens smiled indulgently. "I have work for you. You will leave your troopers here with me and go on alone. I will give you your orders later. Await my summons." She and Set vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

Ares bowed his head slightly to acknowledge her order but she had already disappeared. Whisper came up behind him.

"I …," she started.

Ares held up his hand for silence. He looked around, taking a deep breath and reached out with his senses. When he knew that his mother was gone, he turned and looked at his second.

Whisper's face betrayed more emotion than she was in the habit of displaying. "You aren't actually going to obey?" she exclaimed.

Ares looked down at the handsome woman. "And my other choice would be?"

Whisper opened her mouth to reply, then stopped and snorted. She turned and walked back down the dais as the men and women of the troop began to grumble.

"She is obviously trying to separate us," Ares said. "She does not want me with my forces. She keeps Set close to her." His face registered surprise. "She's a better strategist than I gave her credit for. She uses the best warriors in the arena to wear them down and create dissention amongst mortals. And I think she's allowed a large but unorganized force to invade the island of Atlantis to occupy the army there, the army that I would call upon if I needed one." He looked over at Whisper. "Well, mother is becoming quite the little soldier, isn't she?"

Whisper rolled her eyes. "Give a few minutes with me in the barracks."

Hercules walked along the thoroughfare. After the battle in the arena, he had gone to a room where he bathed and put his own clothing back on. Then, by magic, he was transported back to the city of Thebes. Like the other warriors that Hera summoned, he had been taken from whatever he was doing and deposited in the halls under the arena where he was to dress, get armored, get his weapons, and do his part in the bloody entertainment. When done, he was dismissed like a whore after coupling. It was demoralizing.

Hercules heard a laugh behind him and turned to see Iolaus walking toward him with a smile. Hercules smiled and began to laugh himself despite his mood. The two men shook hands.

"Hey," Iolaus said, slapping his friend on the arm, "where the Hades have you been?" He grinned then suddenly his face fell as he saw the marks on his friend's arms and chest. "Another contest?"

Hercules nodded. Iolaus shook his head and put his hand on his friend's arm again. "To the death?"

Hercules shook his head. "No, thank God." Iolaus said nothing in response.

The two men turned and walked down the way together. They had missed each other's company and fell in together as if no time had passed. Hercules heard his name called and turned with his friend to see a young woman calling to them from a doorway. She was shabbily dressed. She shook from fear and cowered back into the shadows when the two men approached.

"Are you Hercules?" she said from dimness of the entrance.

"Yes," the tall man replied, "and this is my friend, Iolaus. Are you alright?"

The woman stepped forward a little and tried to muster a smile. "I'm sorry for being afraid. I just don't come out into the street very often. My mother usually comes out to do our business. I stay inside now that the goddess has come."

Both men frowned at the reference. Iolaus looked up at his friend, then back at the woman. "Why is that?"

"Those of us who practice the old ways, you know, those of the ancient ones… we have to be careful," she replied. Her eyes darted from one man to the other. She looked around the street and then stepped back again into the shadows. "I've said too much. My mother will kill me when she hears that I have spoken to you."

"Then why did you?" Hercules asked. His voice was emotionless. Iolaus frowned.

"My mother," she replied. "She hasn't come back for several days. I'm running low on food and supplies to keep our store open." She wiped away a tear. "Please help me." She reached out.

Iolaus stepped forward and began to speak but Hercules pulled him back.

"I'm sorry," Hercules answered, "we can't help you." He grabbed his friend by the arm and began to walk away. Iolaus balked, pulling away and Hercules had to tighten his grip to keep hold of him.

"What the Hades is wrong with you?" Iolaus asked angrily. "You use to want to help people."

"I still do," Hercules replied continuing to guide him along as the two proceeded down the street. Iolaus looked back to see the woman staring back from the shadows. Her eyes were wide with surprise and then she disappeared into the darkness of the building.

Iolaus walked along with the tall man for several blocks. Neither said a word. Finally Iolaus stopped and turned to Hercules.

The shorter man took a deep breath and spoke. "But not her?" Iolaus asked.

Hercules looked down at the man with whom he had shared so many joys and tragedies, one of the few people that he trusted to back him up in a fight. "I just didn't like the look of her. There was something about her that made me nervous. Not everyone who asks for help is helpless."

He turned and walked on leaving Iolaus to stand and think for a moment. The blond warrior remained still, hands on hips, contemplating his friend's comments. Then he ran to catch up with his friend as they continued their journey.

"Well?" Hercules asked.

"Well what?" Iolaus replied.

"Well, aren't you going to ask me if I've lost my nerve or my mind or something?" Hercules responded angrily. He was having difficulties controlling his overwhelming feelings now of helplessness in the face of what had happened in his world.

"No, I like having all my limbs," Iolaus replied, making his friend smile. "I think you've lost your innocence."

They continued to walk until they reached a tavern. Iolaus nodded to his friend and Hercules acknowledged the look that meant this was a place with decent food and comely bar maids. Iolaus had a sixth sense for such things. The two went inside and sat down. Hercules put coins on the table and Iolaus motioned to a large man behind the bar for two tankards and some food. The man nodded and called to someone in the back.

Hercules looked over at his friend. "You're right," he said. "I've lost my innocence." He thought for a while and an handsome woman of middle years brought them drinks, a large plate of bread, cheese, and bowl of thick soup that they could share. She took the coins and winked at Iolaus who smiled and went directly into a frenzy of eating. Hercules laughed, sitting back and watching.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked.

"This morning. I knew I'd run into you. I just knew it. So I've been scouring the town for you so we could eat together."

Hercules frowned and then began to laugh. He took a deep drink of the ale. "And you have no money," he answered.

Iolaus grinned between mouthfuls. "And I have no money."

Hercules let him devour the meager meal without interruption. He was still thinking about the woman in the doorway and his sense of danger. He had once gone to the aid of someone he thought was in trouble and he had ended up under the spell of a power sorceress, completely under her control. He shivered remembering those days that dragged by in torturous slowness like the days that dragged by now in a world that felt all wrong but looked so normal. Hercules was lost in thought when his friend let a belch escape.

Iolaus laughed, embarrassed. "Sorry, it was more like last night when I ate last."

Hercules laughed. He took the last of the food, a small piece of bread and a sliver of cheese, and popped them in his mouth, swallowing after a few chews. "Do you?" he asked.

"Do I what?" Iolaus asked, swallowing a mouthful of ale.

"Do you think I've lost my nerve?" He sat forward, crossing his arms on the table and leaning on them. He didn't look up.

"Oh, please," Iolaus answered. "Come on, Herc. You have to go with your gut. If that woman gave you an uneasy feeling then go with it. You're right. Not everyone who asks for help needs it."

"I guess you're right," the warrior replied. He looked around the room, thinking. "I'm so damn discouraged. I can't believe that she has won. Ares reduced to no more than captain of her guard. The Amazons Nation dispersed and the Forum, God only knows where she's spirited them away to. Xena in the far East. You'd think she'd get her ass back here to help. And most of the good warriors are fighting each other in the arena like slaves." He sighed and sat back rocking his chair back so that he could lean on the wall. "I'm just so discouraged."

"Maybe that's what she wants," Iolaus replied. "To wear you down." Then he slapped his friend on the toe of his boot which was perched on the edge of the table. "Come on Herc, don't worry. Something or someone always comes along to help. It's in the hero's manual."

Hercules laughed and took another drink of ale. He motioned for the barkeeper to bring another plate of food. He was finally getting hungry. "How can you be so positive?" he asked, seeing his friend's face light up at the prospect of a second helping.

"Easy, I'm eating!" Iolaus grinned.

Darkfall: Part Three

Hercules stirred from a troubled sleep. He and Iolaus had decided to spend the night in an inn. In the world where he had come from, the chill of fall was approaching but here back in Thebes, the days and nights were still hot. The town had lost its breeze and the air was stuffy. The tall man got up from his bed and went to the window. The touch of the fresh air relieved him a bit. He stood in his linens looking down at the street below. At the late hour, the streets were deserted. Nothing stirred but the moon. A cat ran across the street into the shadows. Hercules smiled but the smile was sad. He recalled the small tabby that lived with the Amazons who was in fact an ancient sorceress. He remembered the acerbic exchanges that Iolaus had with the cat and the deep regard that both men had developed for her. Like so many, she had disappeared. He wondered if she was with the Amazons somewhere. He had heard that the warrior women had been spirited away to another world, another loss that gnawed at him.

Hercules took at deep breath, grimacing at the oppressive heat. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm and ran his fingers through his hair, now damp. Then he thought about the girl that they had met in the afternoon. He thought about her ragged clothing and her sad look. When he had peered into her eyes, he had had a consuming feeling of dread. He had the feeling so often now that he wasn't sure at first if it was she he was reacting to or his general sense of helplessness but a second later, he had decided that the sense was of her in particular.

He looked over at Iolaus blissfully asleep. The man experienced everything with equal passion. When he ate, he relished his food. When he was with a woman, he abandoned himself to the pursuit of his pleasure and hers with astonishing focus. Now, as he slept, he seemed not just to slip into the arms of Morpheus but embrace slumber with the same zeal that he did other experiences. He fought the same way. Hercules envied him. The hero always held back. He maintained that posture of a man aware that he was on display, slightly guarded and careful of the status of … he thought for a moment, the status of a half god. He was not a regular mortal man but he did not have the rank of the lofty Olympians. Nor did he have their power. Now he wondered whether they did either. The turn of thoughts brought him back to a dark mood. He had a knot in his stomach. He thought about the girl again. She kept coming to his mind.

Without much thought, he dressed quietly and departed, leaving the rest of the coins that he had on the table beside his friend. He knew that Iolaus would be furious at being left behind especially since the two men had talked about plans attend to some problems on the northern border of the city state, and then take a long overdue fishing trip. With any luck, he would be back before his friend awoke in the morning. He was not even sure why he was leaving.

Hercules smiled as he went down the hall, thinking about their "vacations." Their fishing trips rarely were relaxing, usually resulting in some fantastic adventure from which the two would escape destruction by a hair's breadth and collapse in the end at the home of a friend. It was just as well they didn't go. The tall man went out the front door and down the empty street. In the shadows, cat feet padded silently behind him at a distance.

Ares sat in the anteroom of his chambers. The night was late. Hera had spoken to them hours ago and then was gone. He did not sense her on this plane or on the others that he could give only the most cursory of scans. He looked into the firelight that danced in the hearth and drifted off into thoughts of his Chosen. They had quarreled when he last saw her. The quarrel was over the same thing that it always was about, whether she would join his army. He wondered now even as he had thought then why he pursued this issue when he knew that she would never compromise on this point. He knew that he asked too much. She had given him everything, her love, her body, a glimpse of her soul. She had borne him a beautiful son who had the best of both of their natures. He realized fully for the first time that if she put on the colors of his troop, he would lose something precious. He thought of other Amazons that he had enlisted and trained. He valued their loyalty, even if he had to share it with the Amazon Nation. But with Kendaa it was different. His expectations of her were different. She was - he looked into the fire's light and formed the thought that had been at the tip of his consciousness for years. She was his equal and yet his opposite. She was moon to his sun. She was earth and he was fire. They were like the elements, both necessary to the other.

A chill ran down his spine. He was not alone. His senses detected another close to him who had come in before he knew it. He turned and looked into the shadows of the room. There the tall figure of Set gazed at him with predatory intensity.

"It is customary to ask to enter another's room," Ares said turning back toward the fire.

"You're afraid," the Snake God said. "I can feel it. I have come upon her little soldier while he played unaware and I scared him." He laughed a deep, quiet laugh that sounded like the hissing of a snake.

Ares felt an anger rising to offset the fear that Set sensed. He took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. " 'Little soldier.' Funny that you should use that phrase. It keeps coming up," he answered.

"Your mother is going insane, you know," Set said. "She will be a liability to this plane soon."

"Your concern is noted," Ares replied. "I'm puzzled that you even care."

Set laughed again under his breath. The sound sent a second chill up the War God's spine. "Oh, I don't. But if she loses control and disrupts my plans, I will have to kill her." The words came out with oily smoothness.

Ares turned and looked up at Set who was standing next to him now, close enough for the War God to smell the slight scent that was always around him. Ares had not been able to pinpoint what this odor was but it was not pleasant. "And you are telling me this because…?"

"Because power is the business of men, not women," Set replied. "Women are the soil upon which we germinate all creation but it is OUR creation to do with as we please."

Ares stared up into the dark eyes now glowing with emotion. "It must have just busted your balls to lose to Sekhmet, didn't it?"

Set's eyes became wide with anger. Ares saw the blow coming and started out of the chair but the ancient one caught him by the throat, throwing him with one hand backward across the room against the far wall. The scroll cupboard that he hit fell forward with a crash, spilling maps around Ares as he got up slowly. He stood looking at Set as the ancient one stared back.

"Fight me, you worthless coward," the Snake God growled. "You're the War Lord of War Lords, the first soldier! Show me what you're made of, boy."

Ares laughed under his breath, wiping the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "Having a boring evening, are you? The pleasures of the flesh are just not doing it for you tonight so you go pick a fight with one of the palace guards?"

Set snarled in disgust. "You are not worth fighting," he growled. He turned and walked toward the door which exploded before him at the force of his fury. Bits of wood and metal clattered onto the floor of the hall and smoke cleared as the ancient one marched away angrily.

"Whatever," Ares answered tiredly. He looked around at the room, now in disarray. "I don't think Mommy is the only one losing her grip," he muttered. Then he realized with suddenly clarity that this exchange had truly been no more than a passing entertainment for the ancient one. Ares had been correct that Set was bored. The thought sent a wave of anxiety through him.

Ares picked up the map at his feet and unrolled it. It was a map of northern Thrace, one of his favorite places. He rolled it up again and began to clean up.

Hercules stopped in the middle of the street. He felt again the clear sensation of someone or something watching him. For a moment, he panicked, thinking that he was being summonsed again to the arena then shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Steady," he whispered to himself. He leaned forward to start walking again, then stopped so abruptly that he almost fell forward. The absurdity of the move made him laugh, despite himself. He turned around and looked down the street. Now a cat sat in the middle of the street, her black fur aglow in the moonlight. Hercules' heart leapt thinking that the cat was the ancient one, Bastet, but as he neared it, he realized that the glow was not supernatural. The cat looked up with at the man towering over it. Its green eyes were almost luminescent.

Hercules put his hands on his hips, looking down at the beast and saying nothing. He realized that if this was just an ordinary cat, he appeared foolish. But he waited, hoping that this being was some messenger from the Ancient One, or perhaps a relative of the sorceress. "You remind me of the sorceress called Waart, no, wait a minute, now she's called Bastet." He paused thinking about her again. "She's was a good friend of mine," Hercules replied.

"And mine," said a voice behind him. Hercules jumped and twisted around to find Iolaus behind him. The half god rolled his eyes, putting his hand on his chest.

"Great gaping gods, Iolaus," he cried out, "you scared the Hades out of me."

"As did you to me when I woke up and found you gone," Iolaus replied, returning his friend's frown. "What am I now, a street walker? You feed me, you take me to your room and afterward you leave money on the table?"

Hercules was laughing now. "I was leaving you the money for breakfast. And 'afterward?' After what? You sure didn't do anything for me worth fifteen dinars," he said, trying remove the frown from his friend's face.

"Well, you could have woke me," Iolaus answered, slightly angry. "There's so damn much going on right now. You and I need to stick together."

Hercules' smile vanished. "If you stay with me, you'll end up in the arena. You might even end up fighting me."

"I won't fight you and you wouldn't fight me for the pleasure of those monsters," Iolaus replied.

The cat looked from man to man as they talked. The faces of the two warriors became more and more tense and they had seemed to forget completely that she was there.

Hercules began to walk away from his friend down the street. Iolaus stood in the street watching his friend stride away, his back stiff from anger.

"This whole thing is not my fault," Iolaus shouted after him. "Why are you mad at me?"

Hercules kept walking for a moment then stopped, squaring his shoulders, and turned around. "I'm tired of losing things," he shouted back. His voice was shaking with emotion. Iolaus could see the pain in his eyes even in the moonlight. "I lost my wife. I lost my children. I lost two wives!" He paused for a moment to look up and take a deep breath, composing and calming himself. He didn't want to make a scene in the street and bring others out at this late hour. He walked back toward Iolaus until he was close enough to speak quietly. Iolaus saw the tears receding in his eyes. "My mother is gone. I have no idea where my brother is. The Amazons have been exiled some god awful place. I don't want to lose you."

Iolaus sighed and looked down, putting his hands on his hips. "We have had this conversation more times than I can count," he replied, looking back up. "Herc, no one lives forever. I don't care what the so called gods say. We don't know which of us might die first, we could both go tomorrow. I can't live my life trying to prolong it. I have to live for today, every warrior does. And we have to stick together. It won't do you or me any good to go our separate ways. If they want to get to you through me, shutting me out will not stop them."

Hercules looked away and then down at the cat. He had forgotten it was there. He smiled sadly. "He's a lot wiser than he looks," he said to the cat. Iolaus smiled.

The little creature mewed softly, licking its side once and then trotting off down a side alley. Hercules watched it walk away then looked at his friend. They both followed the small animal, agreeing on the course of action without a word.

Darkfall: Part Four

Ares picked up the last map and threw it on the pile that he had made on the bed. Though he could will all of the mess back as it was, he felt that he needed to place each item back in its place the way the mortals did it as a means of centering himself. He picked the cupboard up and put it back up against the wall. He looked over at the scrolls on the bed and began to will them back but then stopped. One fell on the floor. He smiled and shook his head at his indecision. He went over to the scroll and picked it up.

He unrolled it and something fell out onto the floor. He picked up the small object. It was an ordinary stone, round and smooth, but has he held it in his hand, he felt it vibrate with an energy that excited him. Ares looked at the scroll that had contained the odd thing. It was a map of a temple city in an isolated part of the desert Land of the Pharaohs. The War God frowned at the coincidental nature of the finding. The image of the tiny black cat surrounded by blue light came to his mind. He thought for a moment that he heard the tinkle of a tiny bell then realized that he was creating it out of his wishful thinking. He smiled.

"Talk to me, mistress," he whispered. He walked over to the fire and picked up the chair that had been pushed over when he was thrown against the wall by his enemy. He put right and sat down, scooting it closer to the fire. Then he looked closely at the map of the temple complex.

It was a simple map. The map had four square temple outlines at the four corners of the compass. The temples were connected by a wall that formed a circle that enclosed a temple in the middle. At the north, a large central building had the symbol of Osiris, a formidable ancient one who had been slain by Set and his brothers, and through that had attained a unique place with men and gods as a symbol of death and resurrection. The temple to on the south side of it was the temple of Isis, Osiris' mate. To the west, was a small temple with the symbol of Anubis, another powerful ancient one and to the east, a temple with the symbol of Bastet, the cat goddess. In the middle, was the temple of Set, with the dark symbol of the snake on it. But the picture was odd though, because the snake was not in the vertical rearing stance but in a prostrate position looking up. A thrill went through Ares. Could this be the sign he was waiting for? He took a deep breath, folding up the map and putting it inside his vest. A smile crossed his face then the God of War vanished.

Hercules and Iolaus went down the alley where the little cat had led them but as they followed it, the alley became darker.

"This is not good, Herc," his friend said. "I can't see the cat at all now."

The taller man grunted and put his arm out to catch Iolaus before the two rounded another shadowy corner. "Wait."

Iolaus stopped and looked back. "Wait for what?" he whispered. "We're kind of committed now." He nudged the half god on the forearm. "Look."

Hercules turned around to see that the way they had come was now blocked by a wall that had appeared magically. "Oh, yes," he answered. "This is not good."

They turned around again to see the cat sitting at the edge of the corner, almost glowing in the dimness of the light. The little creature stared up at them. "Mew," it said, quietly and disappeared around the corner.

The two men followed and were relieved to find that around the corner was not the traditional gang of thugs or slimy multi-headed monster but the door to an inn tucked away in the maze of alleys of the city.

Hercules turned to his friend. "As my consultant on lodgings in this town, are you familiar with this establishment?"

Iolaus frowned. "I know most of the places here, but this one is not familiar. I have..."

"... a funny feeling about this," his friend finished. The two men looked at each other with the same frown. "Well," Hercules added, "someone has gone to a lot of trouble to bring us here. I think this is connected to the girl today. Also, this cat…"

"What is it with this cat thing?" Iolaus said. "I like pussies as much as the next man but…." Hercules looked down at his friend with an affect that made the smaller man begin to giggle. "You know what I mean," Iolaus added. "Why are there always cats around? Why not a dog or a salamander or …"

"The cat is believed in ancient lore to be the guardian of the underworld," said a smooth, deep woman's voice. Both men turned to see a handsome, dusky skinned woman standing in the door of the tavern. She was as tall as Hercules, slender and long limbed, dressed in a linen vest loosely worn and cropped just above her waist, and a long skirt with the hem tucked into the belt on the right to reveal the whole length of one leg. She was unusual as she was bald with the striking features of the royal woman from the land of the Pharaohs. Hercules had the distinct feeling that he had met her before though he knew that he would have remembered such a striking beauty. He could not place where he had met her. He walked up to the woman who stepped aside to let him through the door. As he brushed past her he looked squarely into her eyes. They were large, ringed with a thin line of black kohl in the fashion of the Egyptian women and deep green.

Without a word, both men went to a table and sat down. The woman walked over to the bar and picked up two tankards and a jug, moving gracefully over to their table. She poured a heady ale into each tankard.

"Well, shall we go first or do you want to explain why were are here," Iolaus said after taking a deep swallow of his ale.

"I know you, don't I?" Hercules added. The woman smiled. It was then that Hercules noticed that she had one small gold earring in her right ear. He felt his heart speed up. "Ancient One?" he asked in a whisper. Iolaus looked over at him with a surprised frown.

The tall woman smiled down at him and sat down. "Hello, blessed ones," she said. "I apologize for taking so long by your standards to respond to this situation."

"This situation!" Hercules said, with more irritation in his voice than he had intended.

The Ancient One nodded, understanding his anger. "I know you are upset."

"We passed upset a while ago," Iolaus grumbled.

"I know. And to you, those on higher planes must seem indifferent but you must understand that time moves differently for us. Also, we have been faced with struggles of our own once the intrigues of Set were detected."

"Huh?" both men said in unison.

"This is not the grand plan of Hera?" Hercules added.

"Well, on this plane, the so called Queen of the Heavens appears to be amassing a huge amount of power and does look as though she is controlling the Snake," Bastet said quietly. She poured Iolaus more ale.

"But she is not?" Hercules asked, hoping he did not sound too desperate.

The Ancient One fixed him with a stare from her green eyes that completely captured his attention. He felt as though he was surrounded by her. For the first time in a long time, he felt secure. He smiled at her. She smiled back and he felt a warmth wash over him. The feeling was novel. "She is not," Bastet responded. She looked over at Iolaus who had been glancing from face to face. She smiled at him and he had the same comforting feeling.

Iolaus grinned. "Wow," he said and all three laughed.

Bastet sat up, stretching her shoulders and chest slowly, reminding the two men of the grace of a cat. She closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to sleep but then opened them again and peered over at Hercules. "I am going to ask of you a great favor, perhaps the greatest deed of your life and requiring of you a service that you never thought you would render," said the Ancient One. Her beautiful face was grave.

Hercules swallowed and took sip of his ale, then emptied the tankard. He looked over at her.

"In order to defeat Set and take him from this plane, we must insure that he does not corrupt the balance of powers here," the Ancient One explained. "He is planning to kill Hera and assume her power. That cannot come to pass."

Hercules felt a chill go through him. He could feel Iolaus looking over at him with widening eyes.

"You must safeguard Hera," Bastet finished.

"I... " Hercules started to respond then stopped. A wave of anxiety washed over him. He swallowed and looked at the mystical woman, hoping that she would give him an alternative if he waited long enough.

"Why not let Ares do it? After all, she's his mother," Iolaus said quietly, coming to the aid of his friend.

"Ares has his task also," the Ancient One replied. "Even now, he is …" She closed her eyes and smiled.

A flash of light startled both men, making them jump. In the center of the empty tavern, the God of War appeared. He looked over at the Ancient One who turned slowly to meet his gaze.

"Welcome, my son," she said. "I see that you have found my message."

Ares walked over to the table, nodding to each man. Then he sat down. He looked over at the Ancient One with a look that bordered on adoration but then back at Hercules. The affect of his half brother had not gone unnoticed. "What's the matter?" he asked frowning.

Hercules took a deep breath. "It seems that I have the task of saving your mother from Set's clutches."

"My mother has made her bed, let her lie in it," Ares replied curtly.

The Ancient One raised a disapproving eyebrow. "Your mother's death will upset the balance of powers on this plane."

"We'll survive," the War God said. "I called to you. I've been calling for months."

"Time moves differently where we are," she repeated, unaffected.

"I know that and I know that you have other fights right now but all of them are related to this fight and we needed you," he answered, pausing for a moment. "I needed you."

The Ancient One closed her eyes again, seeming to sleep. She sighed after a moment. "I know you are disappointed, angry even. There are reason for my actions. I ask you to trust me," she said not opening her eyes.

"Of course I trust you," Ares replied. "I just don't understand."

"I know." She looked back at her protégé.

"Now, as for who will take care of dear mommy," he went on, leaving the mystery of her actions and reasons to return to what he knew. "I am actually in a better position to do so. Set has already told me of his plan to kill my mother so it would not look unusual for me to keep a closer watch on her. Also, you cannot ask Hercules to do this. You just can't."

Hercules and Iolaus looked over at him surprised.

Bastet also seemed surprised but for a different reason. "He has told you of his plan?"

"Yes. He thinks of me as insignificant," Ares sneered. "He views my 'transition' as a weakness."

"He never did get that concept," Hercules added quietly remembering the dismal time he spent is a gray, bitter world of battle, endlessly fighting the same fight. "Pride, that's his weakness. The Three never learned to see us a danger."

"You have the stone?" the Ancient One asked.

Ares pulled the map from his vest and unfolded it, pouring the stone onto the table. It rolled over and rested before Hercules. The half god picked it up and felt that same vibration of power.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It is part of a key that will unlock the prison that will hold Set," the Ancient One answered.

"The prison on the map?" Ares asked.

"Exactly."

"Let Hercules take the map and go to the Land of the Pharaohs," Ares said. "He and Iolaus have been there before. They can enlist help from the young Pharaoh."

"He owes us a favor," Iolaus said, thinking out loud.

"Hercules must be available in case Hera calls him for the arena," the Ancient One countered. "It is important that we act in secret."

Ares smiled. "You have been following our entertainment, I see. Well, you take his place. Assume his form." Bastet looked over at him again with renewed surprise. The look was so unexpected that Ares laughed. "This had not occurred to you?"

"No," she said. "You astonish me, my son. I think you are becoming my equal."

Ares laughed again, now a little embarrassed. "Hardly, but when it comes to intrigues in this plane, I dare say, I am the king. It is about time I used this skill to serve rather than destroy."

Hercules looked from one face now to the other. "So?"

The Ancient One looked over at him. "To Egypt with you, my son. And you." She looked over at Iolaus.

"Can you tell us where the Amazons are?" Iolaus asked.

"They are relatively safe at this time."

"Relatively?" all three men said in unison.

"No one is completely safe," the Ancient One answered quietly. "Not even the Ancient Ones."