Good And Evil

Author's Note: Written for Halloween, 2002. Many thanks to my dear friend, Bob, who inspired this story with a dream he had, even though he can't remember it :)

Iolaus grit his teeth, bracing himself for the impact with the hard, rocky ground. But a strong hand around his arm halted his descent, pulling him back upright and steadying him securely before letting go.

“Thanks, Herc,” the hunter sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glared at the root in the ground that had snagged his boot. He glanced up at his partner, flashing him a grin. “And to think, I was just about to yell at you for hovering over me.”

The demigod smiled back at his friend, but his blue eyes glinted with concern in the fading light.

“Are you all right? Do you want to stop and make camp?”

“No, I’m fine,” Iolaus replied. He sighed again as the demigod kept scrutinizing him, unconvinced. “Maybe I’m a little tired, but I can make it to Chalcis. It’s not much farther, right?”

“Just a few more miles,” Hercules promised. “We’ll be there by nightfall.”

“Then let’s go.” The hunter set off again, walking determinedly but carefully scanning the road for obstacles. He was feeling fatigued and not quite his normal, agile self, so he made sure to compensate by stepping carefully. One more trip and Hercules was likely to insist on stopping for the night, and Iolaus was most definitely looking forward to a hot meal and a soft bed that evening.

The remainder of their journey passed without incident, and the two warriors soon found themselves in the bright atmosphere of the warm inn in Chalcis. Iolaus slid onto a stool at the bar and ordered a mug of ale, leaving Hercules to arrange their accommodation for the night, shaking his head slightly as his partner immediately handed over the required amount of dinars without even trying to haggle. It was no wonder the demigod never had any money, always paying full price for everything. Hercules disappeared upstairs to the room he had rented, wanting to clean up a bit before they ate. Iolaus felt that he should do the same, but lacked the energy, so instead he found a table and ordered a meal for himself and his friend.

Hercules quickly returned and joined his partner at the table, watching him closely as their food was served. He began to relax a bit as the hunter dove into his dinner, the worry leaving him as he realized that Iolaus was all right. There was nothing scarier than when his voracious friend lost his appetite, for it meant that something was seriously wrong. As in six days ago, when the hunter had fallen ill while they were isolated out in the wilderness. They’d holed up in a cave, leaving Hercules to watch and worry as Iolaus had lain curled in a painful heap, consumed by fever and refusing to eat. There was still a hint of paleness to the hunter’s face, and a touch of dark shadow under his eyes, but he grinned happily, laughing and joking as he ate with his old exuberance. The demigod was finally able to let out the breath he’d been holding for what seemed like forever, convinced that his friend was truly out of danger and well on his way to complete recovery.

“Here,” Hercules offered, sliding his plate across the table as the last crumb disappeared from the hunter’s own.

“Thanks, Herc.” Iolaus helped himself to the warm bread, topping it with fresh cheese. Taking a large bite, he leaned back in his chair, taking an appreciative look around the inn. It was homey and welcoming, short on frills yet meeting all the needs of a weary traveler. A huge fireplace warmed the large dining area, and a line of torches along the walls cast plenty of light over the room. The tables were all covered with brightly colored cloths, and a simple crock holding a few wildflowers adorned each one. It was a clean establishment, with fast service, cold ale, and good food. The hunter reflected that he could not ask for more. Well, maybe one thing more, he thought as he polished off the remainder of his partner’s dinner, catching the eye of a pretty girl who had just entered the inn.

“That’s Calliope,” the innkeeper told him, following Iolaus’ gaze as he came to their table to clear away the empty dishes. The hunter and the demigod both shot him a look. “Not the muse, obviously,” the man grinned. “Although she’ll give you that impression. She wants to be a famous bard, and she thought taking on the name of the muse she idolized would help her win fame. Bit of a diva, but she’s not a bad kid so I pay her to work here a few nights. She does tell a good story, if you boys are interested.”

“What do you think?” Hercules asked his friend. “Want to listen for awhile?”

“I think I’m just going to call it a night and head upstairs,” the hunter replied, stifling a yawn and unconsciously rubbing a hand over his full stomach. He stole another quick look at the girl, who was taking her place next to the fire. She was very attractive, but her posture made it clear she was there to work, not flirt. And the diva remark the innkeeper had made didn’t do anything to encourage him. Maybe if he had his full energy he would consider it a challenge to win her over, but he was tired and an empty bed was looking mighty inviting. Iolaus pushed his chair back and rose from the table, stretching and failing to hold back a second yawn. “Good night, Hercules.”

“Hercules!” The innkeeper almost dropped the stack of dishes he’d gathered as he whirled around to stare at the customer still seated at the table. “Not *THE* Hercules?”

“The one and only,” the demigod replied, shifting a little uncomfortably in his chair.

“I had no idea,” the man stammered. “Imagine that, Hercules sitting right here in my inn. Was your dinner ok? Can I get you anything else? Do you need anything? All you have to do is say the word.”

“No, everything’s fine. And the meal was fine. Great, in fact.”

“My wife will be glad to hear that,” he grinned. “She’ll fall over into her stew pot when I tell her she’s been cooking for the great Hercules.”

“Please, I’m just Hercules,” the demigod told him, feeling awkward. “And I don’t need any special treatment from you or your family.”

“Calliope there tells some incredible tales about you,” the innkeeper confided, setting the dishes back on the table and sliding into the chair that Iolaus had vacated. “Are the things she says really true?”

“I doubt it,” Hercules said with derision. “Its been my experience that bards tend to take quite a few artistic liberties with my life. By the time most of them get done with a story, I don’t even recognize it anymore.”

“But you do have the strength of the gods,” the man pressed.

“Yes, that much is true.”

“And you do kill monsters?”

“When I have to,” the demigod answered. “When there’s no other choice.”

“Then it may be Chalcis’ lucky day,” the innkeeper murmured to himself.

“What do you mean?”

“Over the last few weeks we’ve been getting reports from travelers about a monster lurking up in the mountains. They were scattered at first and we didn’t really pay any attention. You know how it is, in the dark anything can become a monster. But people kept coming in, telling the same story.”

“What were they saying?”

“That it was big.” The innkeeper puffed his cheeks full of air and blew it out in long sigh as he tried to recall what his visitors had told him. “Long arms and legs. Spindly, like. Huge claws and teeth. One fellow said seeing it was worse than any nightmare Morpheus could come up with.”

“They’ve all gotten away from this creature?” Hercules inquired, his brow wrinkling in thought. “Is it attacking them?”

“Chasing them, apparently, but I don’t think its really hurt anyone yet.”

“Yet,” the demigod echoed softly.

“Please, Hercules, will you go and deal with this beast? Who knows when it will decide to come down here to the town, and even if it doesn’t, the survival of Chalcis is dependant upon traders bringing supplies over that mountain pass. If this monster drives them away, then we’ll all be in big trouble.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Hercules promised. “I’ll go up there in the morning and track this creature. If it is dangerous, I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you.” The innkeeper smiled gratefully, waving away the coins that the demigod offered to pay for the meal. “Don’t even think about money while you’re my guest here. Everything is on the house. After all, if you are going to risk your life for us, it’s the least I can do.”

“Our lives,” Hercules thought grimly, looking up as the innkeeper scurried away to inform his family of their important guest and catching sight of Iolaus standing a few feet away with his arms crossed, grinning like an excited child who had just been given a new toy.

“So, monster hunting it is,” the hunter declared with a satisfied shake of his head. “I was going to suggest fishing, but I see you’ve already booked our morning. Not nearly as tasty as fish, but a lot more exciting. Count me in.”

The demigod sighed as his friend turned and began heading up the stairs. He knew that his resilient partner had recovered well from his illness, but he also knew that fighting a fever for days on end left the mark of weakness, no matter how resilient. Weakness that the stubborn hunter would be desperately trying to hide until he recovered all his strength. Hercules was not so convinced that Iolaus was up to facing a potentially deadly monster, but he was certain that he would not be able to stop his friend from trying. He couldn’t help wishing that the hunter had just continued on his merry way to bed and not lingered to hear the innkeeper’s tale. Then he could have left early in the morning, and sought out the beast on his own. Sure, Iolaus would have been royally ticked off at him, but he would have gotten over it in time. And he would have been safe. But the fates had their own plan, so Hercules resigned himself to the fact that he would just have to keep an eye on his friend and be ready to act in case Iolaus wasn’t as well as he tried to let on. Sighing again, the demigod accepted a refill of ale in his mug from a lovely serving girl before moving closer to the fireplace to listen to the epic poems of Calliope.

Iolaus was up with the sun in the morning, eager to be off on the hunt. Hercules packed up their few supplies, getting more specific directions and a small parcel of food from the innkeeper as his friend paced impatiently by the door. As they set off, the hunter bounded along, a step ahead of his partner, chattering away happily. He appeared to be fully recovered, but the demigod decided he was entitled to ask, and then he would let the matter drop.

“Are you sure you’re feeling up to this? You can stay here in Chalcis and relax if you want to.”

“Hercules, I’m fine,” Iolaus told him, a trace of annoyance in his voice. “I feel great, and I’m more than able to go after this creature. However, if you are going to persist in asking me if I’m ok every five minutes, then I will be tempted to stay here.”

“That was the last time,” the demigod promised.

“Good,” the hunter said, satisfied. “Then let’s pick up the pace. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover before lunch.”

The two warriors made it halfway up the mountain trail before stopping to partake of their midday meal, well before the sun had reached it’s noon position. Iolaus had been complaining he was growing weak from hunger, and as always, Hercules gave in to his companion. They ate quickly, then resumed their journey, moving cautiously into the rocky area where the beast had reportedly been sighted.

“What do you make of that?” Hercules asked his friend, nodding skyward at the black clouds that were beginning to roll in fast and thick, blocking out the blue sky and masking Apollo’s golden sun.

“Storms come up pretty quick here in the mountains,” Iolaus reminded him, squinting up at the sky. “Maybe we ought to find some kind of shelter until it blows over. But on the other hand, a heavy rain is sure to wipe out any sort of trail that our monster would leave.”

“I’ll look around and see if I can find anywhere to hole up if we need to,” the demigod suggested. “You scout around and see if you can pick up any tracks.”

The hunter nodded and began slowly walking further up the trail, his sharp eyes scanning the area for any signs of a large beast. But the mountainous terrain made tracking difficult, as it was mostly rock dotted with a few scraggly shrubs. He kept searching, shivering slightly as the wind picked up, moving nimbly among the boulders until Hercules called out his name. Iolaus scampered back down the path to rejoin his friend as a loud crack of thunder sounded overhead and the first icy drops began to fall.

“I found a cave just off the path over here,” the demigod shouted in his ear over the roar of the wind. “You want to wait this out?”

Iolaus nodded vigorously and followed his partner over the rocks to the cave. The hunter ducked in and Hercules squeezed in after him. It was a bit cramped, but at least they were out of the weather. They sat in silence as the storm raged, the violence of it making both of them uneasy. Bright flashes of lightening ripped through the sky, preceding deafening blasts of thunder that seemed to shake the entire mountain. The rain poured down, sending a river of water cascading down the mountainside. And the formerly bright afternoon was cast into darkness, the eerie black gloom only broken by the sudden bursts of lightening. It went on seemingly forever, and then it was over as suddenly as it had come, leaving only a light drizzle behind.

Both warriors scrambled gratefully out of their tight shelter, relieved to be free after hours of tense waiting. Hercules stretched his stiff muscles, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks as his partner followed suit.

“By the gods, it felt like we were in there for days,” Iolaus muttered.

“I know what you mean,” the demigod agreed. “It had to have been a few hours at least. Look at the sky.”

The hunter glanced up, taking in the gray clouds that remained. What light they let through was already fading, signaling the approaching evening.

“Well, it’s been a productive day,” Iolaus sighed. “What do you want to do now?”

“I don’t know,” Hercules said in frustration. “It seems a waste to go all the way back to Chalcis and then come back in the morning. But its not going to be a very pleasant night camping up here.”

Iolaus looked disapprovingly at the water still streaming down the mountainside, flowing over the hard rocks, then glanced back up at the sky.

“We have a little time left. We could look around here for another hour or so, then head back down to the valley and make camp. The ground would at least be a little softer there.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” the demigod concurred. “Who knows, we might get lucky.”

But the resulting search failed to produce a monster, or any indication of one. They thoroughly went over the mountain pass, examining the trail and the rocky outcrops beyond, but came up with nothing.

“Not too surprising,” Iolaus said finally. “That rain was enough to wash the whole damn creature away. If it ever even existed. I’m personally starting to have my doubts.”

“Well, we might as well call it a night. We need to get a good start back down the trail before it gets too dark. Besides, it looks like another storm is coming in.”

They both looked up at the black clouds that were once more starting to form, neither one wanting to get caught in the encroaching tempest.

“We might have to go all the way back to Chalcis,” the hunter told his friend as they began their descent back down the trail. “With all the rain, the valley may be flooded.”

“We’ll deal with that when we get to it,” Hercules decided. “Let’s just get out of here while we still have a little bit of light to see by.”

Both warriors were suddenly halted in their tracks as a scraping noise sounded very close behind them and a scattering of gravel rolled down past their feet. They whirled around simultaneously to see a large creature emerging from the rocks behind them.

“Still having doubts?” the demigod asked his stunned partner.

“No, I think I’ve just joined the choir of believers,” Iolaus declared. “What in the name of Tartarus is that thing?”

“You’ve got me,” Hercules murmured. “But it sure doesn’t look too friendly.”

The beast clambered up on a large boulder, eyeing the two warriors warily. It resembled an insect, but had two legs and two arms and walked upright like a human. Strongly hooked claws took the place of hands and feet and its face tapered into long, gaping jaws that looked like they could bite a man in half. Its black eyes covered most of its head, shining flat and dead in the dimming light. All in all, it was a fearsome sight.

“So, what do we do?” the hunter whispered to his partner when it became apparent that the creature was not going to make the first move.

“I hate to just kill it,” the demigod whispered back. “Maybe we can convince it to relocate?”

“Um, Herc,” Iolaus protested as his friend took a step toward the beast. “I don’t think this is one of those monsters that will listen to reason.”

The creature apparently agreed, for as Hercules advanced, it let out a loud hiss and sprang down from the boulder, flying through the air to collide with the demigod. Its impact bowled him over, and he went tumbling across the rocky ground. Iolaus was beside him in an instant.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah,” Hercules groaned, accepting the hand up his partner offered. “Just knocked the wind out of me.” They fell into their familiar back to back stance, facing the creature that was hovering a few feet away, watching them intently.

“What is it doing?” the hunter asked, puzzled.

“Maybe its trying to figure us out,” the demigod suggested. “Why we aren’t running away.”

“Oh, I have no intention of running.” Iolaus shifted slightly, getting a firmer grip on his sword before raising a hand to shove a tangle of curls out of his face, absently noting that the wind had picked up.

The beast hissed again in annoyance and began to stalk slowly toward them. With instinct born of long association, the warriors automatically separated, giving the creature the opening it was looking for, and hopefully the distraction they needed. It took the bait, going after the larger target, but it seemed content to just leisurely follow the demigod. Hercules let it come at first, then he feigned a strike, trying to make the beast attack. It did with another loud hiss, the slashing jaws narrowly missing its prey. Iolaus took that opportunity to launch his own attack. He darted in, his sword whistling through the air. The stroke was steady and true and sliced cleanly through one slender arm. A stream of foul, black ichor spurted from the severed appendage, and the enraged creature turned on the hunter.

Iolaus was already making his retreat, but he had the misfortune to hit a patch of loose stones, made unstable by the heavy rains. As the ground gave way under his feet, he struggled to keep his balance, but lost the fight as a sharp claw raked across his arm. He went down heavily on his back, the monster looming over him as it closed in for the kill.

“Iolaus!”

The hunter picked up the warning in his partner’s voice. He brought his legs up to his chest and did a reverse somersault, tumbling out of the way as a large boulder came sailing in their direction. The projectile caught the creature in the midsection, knocking it over and pinning it to the ground. Hercules ran up to survey his handiwork. The beast was twitching, the massive jaws clacking together furiously, but it was crushed and obviously dying. Satisfied that the monster was no longer a concern, the demigod hurried to check his partner.

“Am I allowed to ask now?”

“One time,” the hunter conceded, grimacing as he clamped a hand over his arm.

“Are you all right?”

“I don’t think its too bad.”

“Let me have a look at it.” Hercules pried his friend’s hand away and strained his eyes to examine the bleeding gash through the darkness. “I think you’ll live. I’ll bandage it up for now, until we can get back to Chalcis and take care of it.”

Iolaus nodded and remained slumped on the ground as his partner ran off to find the bag of supplies that he’d dropped. The hunter suddenly felt drained, and he rubbed a hand tiredly across his forehead as the rain began to fall once again. Hercules quickly returned and wound a clean strip of cloth tightly over the wound.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” he asked worriedly, sensing his friend’s exhaustion. “Can you make it back to Chalcis.”

“I can make it,” Iolaus said determinedly. He adjusted the bandage around his arm slightly and picked himself up off the ground. “Let’s get going. Maybe we can beat the worst of the storm.”

A loud crack of thunder exploded in the sky, as if to vehemently refute the hunter’s words. Hercules was preoccupied with his partner, and as they set off down the trail, moving cautiously through the dark and mindful of the rain slicked rocks, he did not even give the fallen creature a backwards glance. Maybe if he had, he would have seen another pair of eyes watching them intently, eyes that gleamed with evil anticipation, and he would have known that their battle had only just begun.

“Hercules!” The innkeeper pushed his way through the crowd of people as the demigod came through the door. “What happened? Are you two all right? Did you find the monster?”

“Yes, and its one monster you don’t have to worry about anymore,” Hercules told him distractedly, his eyes taking in the throngs of people packed into the place. “What is going on here?”

“Travelers,” the man replied. “Looking for shelter from the storm.” The innkeeper ducked his head suddenly, fiddling with the strings on his apron. “In fact, I have some bad news for you. I rented your room out.”

“What?”

“Well, I didn’t know when you were coming back,” the innkeeper quickly defended himself. “And all these people kept coming in. I couldn’t just turn them out on the street.”

“It’s all right,” the demigod sighed. “I understand.”

“I’ll ask around,” the man promised. “Maybe someone would be willing to give up their room to the two heroes that just saved the town from a monster. Or at least share. Find yourself somewhere to sit down, and I’ll bring you and Iolaus something hot to drink.”

That proved to be easier said then done. The inn had long since run out of available rooms, and most of the floor space was occupied by people who were just grateful to be out of the weather. Hercules carefully picked his way through the crowd towards the fire, where Iolaus had headed as soon as he’d walked in the door. Being of a more compact size, he’d been able to worm his way through with relative ease and snag a spot close to the warm blaze. The demigod found the task to be increasingly more difficult, but he took the utmost care not to step on anyone. Though he did garner quite a few dirty looks from the people he brushed by. Not that he blamed them. He and Iolaus had fought the storm most of the way back to Chalcis, and he was dripping wet and covered in mud. Hercules was also cold and hungry and tired from pushing against the howling wind, and he could only imagine how his mortal partner, who didn’t have the benefit of godly blood to dull the discomforts, must feel.

“We have a slight problem,” the demigod announced, finally making it to where his friend was huddled.

“Stop right there.” Iolaus held out a hand and glared at his partner. “I know what you’re going to say, and I don’t want to hear it. Not now. It will literally kill me.”

“I’m sorry,” Hercules murmured apologetically, even though it wasn’t his fault that they no longer had a room.

“We should have just stayed up in that damn cave,” the hunter muttered bitterly. The demigod winced slightly at the anger in his friend’s voice, but he knew that it came from fatigue more than anything else.

“Come on,” he urged, putting a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let’s try and make our way to the bar and get something to drink. Maybe we can work something out.”

Iolaus followed him, too tired to even attempt to put up a fight. One of the patrons at the counter gave up his stool and the hunter slid onto it, not protesting as Hercules unwound the soaked bandage on his arm.

“It doesn’t look too bad,” the demigod announced. “I don’t think it needs stitches. We’ll just clean it up and wrap it back up.”

He managed to get the innkeeper’s attention, who brought him a bowl of hot water and clean bandages, via his request. The man also slid a mug of hot tea under the hunter’s nose, but Iolaus was almost asleep, his chin propped up with his hand, and didn’t even notice until Hercules nudged him.

“Drink some of that,” the demigod commanded. “It will help warm you up. I’m going to go look around and see if anyone has a spare blanket we can borrow.”

Iolaus nodded wearily, picking up the mug to sip at the hot liquid. Hercules watched him for a moment, the worry returning to his heart. His friend had already been weakened from his recent illness. Exhausting himself out in the bone chilling rain certainly could not have done him any good. But the demigod knew that for the moment, all he could do to help his friend was to try and get him warm and let him rest. Hercules began picking his way back through the crowd, inquiring if anyone had an extra blanket or cloak they would be willing to lend. But the ones that had those items to spare had already distributed them to those that were lacking. The demigod started to think that Iolaus had been right, and that they should have just stayed up in the mountains in the shelter of the little cave.

“Excuse me, Hercules.”

The demigod turned to greet the man at his elbow. He was a stocky fellow, with sandy hair and sparkling hazel eyes. Hercules guessed him to be in his early twenties, but he had an innocent face that may have made him appear younger than he actually was.

“My name is Thyiades,” he began. “I just heard about your situation and I think that maybe I can help. I live, and work, in a castle just outside of Chalcis. I usually come here on my night off, and I got caught in the storm tonight. I was trying to wait it out, but I don’t think its going to be stopping any time soon. Anyway, I was just about to head back, and I’d be more than happy to take you and your friend there, if you’d like. My master is a bit... eccentric, but he’s a generous man and I know he’d be delighted to have two of Greece’s heroes as his guests.”

“That’s quite an offer,” Hercules said hesitantly. “But how can you be sure he won’t mind...?”

“I’ve been his personal servant for the last five years,” Thyiades told him with a warm smile. “Believe me, he’ll be happy to have you both. He’s very wealthy, but isolated, and he adores having company. There’s plenty of room, and I know he’ll feel it’s the least he can do for what you did up on that mountain.”

“Let me just run it by my friend and see what he thinks.” The demigod pushed his way back through the crowd and filled his partner in on the invitation he had received.

“A castle?” Iolaus questioned. “As in warm, dry, food, bed, servants? That kind of place?”

“I don’t know,” Hercules shrugged. “I would assume so.”

“Then I’m in.” The hunter drained the last of the tea from his mug and slid off the stool.

“It means another trek through the storm,” the demigod reminded him.

“We can’t hardly get any wetter,” Iolaus pointed out. “Besides, what’s the alternative? Staying here, fighting for floor space, and being miserable all night? No, thanks.”

“You don’t need to convince me.” Hercules put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, steering him over to where he’d left Thyiades and making the introductions. The threesome quickly departed, mutually wanting to get underway and get the trip over with as soon as possible. It was not a pleasant journey, by far. The cold rain pelted them fiercely, stinging their skin and making the roads slippery and treacherous, which was made all the worse by the blackness of the night. They went carefully, fighting against the howling wind for each step. Iolaus trudged dutifully along next to his partner, but he was shaking with cold and his legs were beginning to feel rubbery from exhaustion. He was just starting to wonder if he would be able to make it, when Thyiades touched his arm and pointed ahead.

A jagged bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the silhouette of a castle perched on top of the hill before them. It looked black and foreboding, and the shiver that ran through the hunter had nothing to do with cold. A feeling of danger rushed through him, but then the momentary flash of light faded and all he could see was the darkness once again. Hercules and Thyiades were already beginning to climb the path that led up the hill to the castle. Telling himself he was being silly, the hunter broke into a trot to catch up with them.

The inside of the castle was blissfully quiet after the raging roar of the storm. For a moment, the three men just stood in a bit of a daze, as if they hadn’t quite realized they had made it to their destination and that their arduous journey had ended. Thyiades was the first to recover with a slight shake of his head. He led his two companions through the entrance and into a large greeting room, bidding them to sit and make themselves comfortable while he sought out his master.

Iolaus collapsed down on the hearth, getting as close as he could to the fire without actually touching the flames. He clenched his teeth together to keep them from chattering, and tried to distract himself by scoping out his surroundings. As they had come up to the castle from the outside, he felt that sliver of fear return to him. There was just something ominous about the building, they way it stood tall and proud, its spires reaching up into the sky as if it were embracing the tempest that threatened to destroy the earth. But inside, he could see nothing that added to that childish fancy. There was a large, gleaming chandelier overhead, and the walls were lined with golden candelabra. Unlike many castles, which tended to be gloomy and drafty, this one was bright and warm. Beautifully woven tapestries decorated the walls, exquisite pottery lined the mantle, elegant furniture accentuated the room, and thick, plush rugs covered the gleaming stone floor. There was even a faint scent of sandalwood floating delicately in the air.

“Nice place,” the hunter murmured, obviously understating. He was not really one for the trappings of wealth, but the design of the castle was not to flaunt the riches that it contained. Rather, it was an exhibition of elegance and class and refined taste, and Iolaus couldn’t help but approve. And Hercules heartily agreed as he plopped down on the hearth next to him, not wanting to sit in one of the rich, overstuffed chairs in his current state as they waited for their host.

The wait turned out to be a brief one. From what Thyiades had told them, Hercules had assumed the castle’s owner to be an old man. But the man that came to greet them appeared to be close in age to his own. He was not at all what the demigod, or the hunter for that matter, had been expecting, but he was exactly the sort of man that would have such a castle. Just like his home, he was elegant and polished and refined. He was tall and broad shouldered, obviously muscular though his frame was draped with a scarlet cape. Yet he moved with a sinewy grace of someone much leaner, seeming to glide effortlessly into the room. His bronze skin was flawless, and his long, black hair hung in an immaculate braid down his back. He was truly a beautiful man.

“You must be Hercules.” His voice was deep and there was a slight accent to his words, though he annunciated everything perfectly. He took the demigod’s hand in a firm grip. “And you are Iolaus.” Turning, he faced the hunter, shaking his hand in a similar fashion. “Thyiades has explained your plight to me. You are both most welcome here, my friends.”

“Thank you,” Hercules told him, glancing at his partner. “We appreciate your generosity...”

Accurately reading the hesitant pause, the man smiled, his soft, full lips parting to reveal his gleaming, white teeth.

“I’m so sorry. Forgive my lack of manners, but I don’t often have guests here and I’m afraid my social skills grow rusty. I am Belial. And while you are in my home, I beg of you to think of it as your home. Anything you desire, ask and it shall be yours.”

“Thank you,” the demigod repeated. “That is very generous, and we really do appreciate it. We’re sorry to just drop in on you like this...”

Belial interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

“It is my pleasure,” he assured them. “But enough talk for now. You are both wet, and I’m sure you are hungry after your travels. I’ll have Thyiades show you to your rooms where you can find dry clothing, and then if you wish to return here, I’ll see that a meal is waiting for you.”

“You shouldn’t go to all this trouble,” Hercules protested, but he was again silenced with a dismissive wave.

“It is no trouble, my friends. Now, go with Thyiades, and remember, anything you wish, just ask.”

Hercules and Iolaus obediently followed Thyiades, who had appeared in the doorway on command, already in dry clothes. He led them up an immense spiraling staircase to the second floor and down a hallway that was lined with doors, stopping next to one and pushing it open.

“This is your room, Iolaus,” he announced. “Hercules, you are a few doors down. I think you’ll both find everything you need at your disposal, but if there’s anything else I can get you, don’t be afraid to ask.”

“So,” the demigod said to his friend. “I’ll come back in a few minutes and get you, and then we can go down and eat?”

“Actually, Herc, I think I’d rather just call it a night,” the hunter admitted.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Hercules asked, a note of concern in his voice. They hadn’t had anything since lunch, and that was an eternity for his perpetually starving partner.

“I am, but I think I’m too tired to chew right now,” Iolaus replied. “And I certainly wouldn’t want to offend our gracious host with anything so rude as falling asleep with my head on the table.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” the demigod grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want anything? I could ask him to send something up.”

“No, I just want to go to bed. I can always make up for it at breakfast.”

“Ok,” Hercules told him, giving him a companionable clap on the shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Herc.” Iolaus let himself into his room as Hercules walked down the hall to the door where Thyiades was patiently waiting. The hunter closed the door behind him and leaned up against it, for a moment not believing what he was seeing. His room for the night was bigger than his entire house back in Thebes, including the forge. A giant bed stacked with pillows and swathed in silk covers lined the far wall. The east wall sported a balcony, and the west held a large cupboard. In the center of the room was a cluster of chairs and a long couch, banked by a table that sported a heaping fruit bowl and several varieties of wine, and a plate of fresh bread and assorted cheeses.

The hunter helped himself to the food and poured a little of the dark, sweet wine into a golden goblet. Out of curiosity, he opened the doors of the cupboard to reveal a cache of clothing. There were all manner of expensive garments; pants, shirts, tunics, togas, chitons, and even boots. Pulling out a pair of black trousers, Iolaus held them up against his body and determined they were the perfect size for him.

“For someone that doesn’t entertain much, he sure does have all his bases covered,” the hunter murmured to himself. A gentle knock on the door interrupted his explorations, and he replaced the pants neatly in the cupboard before going to answer it.

“Forgive the intrusion,” Belial began as Iolaus opened the door. “Hercules said that you were not feeling up to dinner. I just wanted to know if I could get you anything or be of any assistance.”

“No, I’m fine,” the hunter told him. Belial kept looking at him, his dark eyes seeming like they could read his mind. “I don’t mean to offend you by refusing your hospitality. I really appreciate the offer, but its been a long day and I think I need sleep more than anything at this point.”

“You’ve gotten chilled,” the elegant man stated quietly. Iolaus wrapped his arms tightly around his chest. He’d been trying to hide his shivers, but he hadn’t fooled anyone. “Come with me, my friend. You need to get warm, and this is the fastest way.”

The hunter sent a longing glance toward the massive bed, wishing he could just curl up under the blankets. But he really didn’t want to offend his host, who had been treating them so kindly. Belial was already moving down the long hallway, and Iolaus suddenly realized he wanted to go with him, hurrying to catch up. At the end of the hall, they descended down another staircase, passing by the first floor and going further down, until they were below the ground level. The hunter was just about to question his host when they reached a door. Belial swung it open and held it for his guest.

Iolaus looked in somewhat warily, and his breath caught in his throat. The room was huge, and made entirely out of marble from the floor to the ceiling. A large pool had been built into the center of the floor, and curls of steam were rising up from the clear water. It was gleaming and pristine and inviting, and the hunter had never seen anything like it. He looked at Belial in wonder.

“There is a hot spring that runs under this hill,” he explained. “I discovered it quite by accident, but once I realized it was here, I used it to my advantage. The system is my own devising. Water flows in from this side, and flows back out on the opposite side. I’ve been known to host parties down here, but it’s all yours tonight, if you wish.”

“Thanks,” Iolaus murmured. “This is perfect.”

The hunter knelt down at the edge of the pool, trailing his fingers through the warm water. That was all the encouragement he needed, and he immediately kicked off his boots and stripped off his sodden leathers, sinking down into the pool with a happy sigh. The heat began to seep into him, driving away the cold, and he leaned back, resting his head against the edge of the pool as his exhausted body relaxed. So much so, that Belial’s handclap startled him. But the noise was forgiven as a trio of beautiful women entered the room, each one bringing him a tray. One was loaded with sweet fruits and cold ale. Another bore exotically scented soaps and long handled sponges. And the third carried a stack of soft towels and silk robe. She deposited the items and gathered the hunter’s wet clothing, whisking them away. But the other two woman remained, ready to serve their guest at his command.

“That is not easy to do to yourself.” The water rippled as Belial climbed in beside him. “Let me help you.” He moved behind the hunter and placed his hands on Iolaus’ back, where he had been unconsciously kneading it. Belial began rubbing gently, then aligned his fingers precisely and gave one quick jab to the nerve that the hunter had been groping to find. Iolaus gasped, feeling a jolt shoot through him. His back had been bothering him where he had fallen while battling the monster on the mountain. But now the pain was gone. He reached back and rubbed his hand over the area.

“So, you’ve been to the East.” He turned to face his host with an appreciative grin.

“I’ve been many places in my travels,” Belial replied, a bit cryptically. “But I have spent considerable time in the East. I’ve picked up some of their customs. They really have an extraordinary culture. Everything is about tradition and ceremony. And the people are so wonderfully contradictory. So gentle and peaceful, and yet they can be fierce and deadly. Yet everything, even battle and death, is all based in beauty and grace. You have to admire that.”

“Mmm hmm,” the hunter sighed. He was definitely feeling overwhelmed by his luxurious surroundings, but he was captivated by his gracious host. Belial demonstrated the epitome of charm, his dark eyes radiating passion. There was something magnetic about him, and Iolaus couldn’t help but be drawn to him. He was suddenly very glad that they had accompanied Thyiades to the castle, and he was proud to count Belial as his newest friend.

“There is another custom from my own culture that I’ve found useful in soothing the pain of an injured back.” Belial leaned in to whisper confidentially in the hunter’s ear. “Tell me, my friend. Are you shy?”

“Me?” Iolaus couldn’t hold back a wave of giggles. “I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but shy is definitely not one of them.”

Belial grinned back and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the two serving girls joined the men in the pool. The hunter couldn’t hold back a soft moan of pleasure as one of them slid behind him, her strong fingers expertly massaging his tired shoulders.

“You should be careful with your hospitality,” Iolaus warned his host blissfully. “Any more of this kind of treatment, and I’ll give up my life on the road. Then you’ll never be able to get rid of me, my friend.”

Hercules narrowed his blue eyes, a strange feeling constricting around his heart. Belial and Iolaus were so caught up in their riotous conversation, they didn’t even notice him in the door. He turned away as they began a splashing match with the two lovely, and very naked, giggling girls. The demigod stomped up the stairs, a little mad at himself for feeling so hurt, but then giving himself permission to do so as he justified his reasons. He’d been worried about Iolaus, who had looked positively worn out that last time he’d seen him. Out of concern for his friend, he’d stopped by his room, only to find him missing. Hercules’ worry mounted, imagining all sorts of horrible things that could have happened to his partner. He finally found Thyiades, who told him of the hunter’s whereabouts. And Hercules had come upon his friend, who was looking anything but tired as he laughed and joked and grappled with his “new friend”. The demigod couldn’t help feeling hurt, and spurned and neglected. Over the last few days, all of his thoughts and concerns had been directed at his friend. But it seemed that Iolaus didn’t have a thought to spare for him. And that was a heavy weight on the demigod’s mind and heart. But more unsettling was the feeling of jealousy that was nagging at him. Jealousy toward his best friend. He couldn’t explain it, but Hercules was left wishing that it was his company that Belial had sought, instead of Iolaus’.

Iolaus woke, stretching languidly and loving the feel of the soft, cool silk against his skin. He felt a little sore, which was understandable after the rigors of the previous day. Rising, he stretched again and moved over to the window to look outside. It was late morning, and he was starving. Going to the cupboard, he selected some clothing that suited him and dressed quickly. The castle was bustling, in contrast to the quiet of the previous night. Servants were scurrying around, carrying out their daily chores, but all of them smiled and greeted the hunter as they passed. Iolaus made his way down the stairs after checking Hercules’ room and finding it empty. He found more servants, but no familiar faces until he spied Thyiades.

“Have you seen Hercules or Belial?” he asked.

“They aren’t here,” Thyiades told him. “They went out a few hours ago.”

“Out where?”

“Hunting. Belial has very expansive hunting grounds behind the castle.”

Thyiades went about his duties, leaving Iolaus standing in stunned silence. He loved hunting more than anything, and he couldn’t believe that Hercules would have gone without him. Suddenly finding his appetite gone, he wandered through the castle, finding himself out on the balcony that lined the entire rear wall of the castle. The sun was bright in the soft blue sky, all traces of the raging storm gone. Yet a new one was beginning to rage within Iolaus. He stared out over the dense, green forest that spread as far as he could see. His friends were out there, engaging in his favorite activity. And they had left him behind. He wasn’t wanted, and that cut him deeper than any wound.

Iolaus spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon pacing around the castle, until Hercules finally returned. The hunter was roaming the second floor hallway when he heard them come in. His partner traded a few good natured barbs with Belial, and then he came jogging up the grand staircase.

“Hey,” he greeted, starting a bit when he spied his friend waiting for him in the hallway.

“Have a good time?” Iolaus couldn’t keep the ice from his voice.

“Yeah, I did. Belial’s a great hunter. I think he knows even more tricks than you do.”

“Really?” Iolaus trailed after his partner, who had disappeared into his room. “I guess we’ll never know, seeing how I wasn’t invited to go along.”

“We thought you could use the sleep,” Hercules said casually. “Belial and I decided not to wake you.”

“Well, that’s just great,” the hunter muttered. “Just don’t do me any favors.”

“Iolaus,” the demigod called out as his friend flounced out of his room. “Come on, don’t be like that. We got a big stag, and we’re having roast venison for dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.” The shout was punctuated by a slamming door.

“Fine, go ahead and sulk,” Hercules muttered. His features darkened for a moment, then he decided to forget about his stubborn partner for the evening. Turning toward the cupboard in his room, he began going through the assortment of garments for something to wear to dinner.

Iolaus threw himself down in one of the soft chairs in his room and rubbed a hand wearily over his forehead. He felt so hurt and so betrayed... and yet something in the back of his mind was eating at him. Hercules was his best friend, and it wasn’t normal for them to be at each other’s throats over something so petty. The hunter wanted to go back and talk to his partner, and try to work out whatever was going on between them. But he still felt upset, so he decided to give himself time to calm down and get a grip before he confronted the demigod. Suddenly very tired, Iolaus dragged his aching body from the chair to the couch and curled up in a tight ball, drifting off to sleep.

When he woke, the hunter was immediately aware that something was wrong. The room was dark, so he got to his feet a bit unsteadily and lit a few of the candles on the table. Things seemed hazy to his eyes, and he was shaking with chills once more. He lifted his hand to his forehead, brushing away beads of sweat. Fever, no doubt about it. Iolaus carefully rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and unwound the bandage from the cut on his arm. It looked raw, and the skin around it was red and hot to the touch. The hunter let out a mild curse. He hated being sick, and a wound infection on top of the illness last week just didn’t seem fair. But he was stuck with it, no other choice but to ride it out. With a stifled groan, Iolaus made his way over to the bed, crawling into the softness and burrowing under the covers, the cool silk soothing his fevered body. He knew that Hercules would get worried about him before too long, and would be along soon to check on him. Herc would take care of things, like he always did. That thought comforted the hunter as he faded back to sleep.

But Hercules didn’t come. And that scared Iolaus more than any infection could. He began to have terrible thoughts that something had befallen his partner. After all, the demigod had never failed to come when he’d needed him before. It was that thought that got the hunter up and moving down the hallway, clinging to the wall for support as his legs shook mightily beneath him. Somehow he made it down the grand staircase, his determination to find his friend driving him on. Sounds of music and laughter greeted his ears as he reached the first floor, and he turned down the left wing, following the noise. He tracked the sound to the large banquet hall, which was full of people. A small band of minstrels were playing in the corner. Couples were dancing, and others were feasting at the grand spread that stretched out along the banquet table. Wine was flowing freely, and the lovely young ladies all giggled and blushed as the young men tried to win them over with their charms.

Iolaus was having trouble focusing, his vision swimming in and out. But finally he spied his friend, curled up in a cosy nest of cushions by the fireplace, a raven haired beauty feeding him grapes. With all the strength he had left, the hunter made his way through the great hall to stand in front of his friend, whispering his name.

“Iolaus.” Hercules beamed up at his partner. “It’s about time you joined the party.”

The hunter sank down to the floor, his traitorous legs giving out.

“Is he all right?” The girl murmured in the demigod’s ear, licking his earlobe as she did so. “He looks sick.”

“He does, doesn’t he.” Hercules tore his eyes away from his female companion to study the white, pallored face of his friend. “Iolaus, if you aren’t feeling well, you should go upstairs and lie down. I’ll ask Belial if he can send some tea up for you.”

The hunter felt sick, but not from the fever. He felt the nausea rising up from his gut, unable to believe what he was hearing. Iolaus couldn’t say anything, and all he wanted at that moment was to get away. But as he tried to scramble to his feet, he swayed broadly and his vision started to fade to black. A pair of strong hands caught him, holding him. Desperately fighting to stay conscious, the hunter managed to shake his head and regain his sight. But it wasn’t the demigod’s face he saw. Hercules was still reclining on the cushions, the girl in his arms.

“Iolaus, you aren’t looking well.”

The voice was familiar, but the hunter gasped in horror at the sight before him. Belial’s beautiful face was grotesquely swollen and discolored and lumpy. His hair flared out in a wild, knotted mane. And a band of fire encircled his forehead. He smiled, his lips stretching back to reveal a mouth full of jagged, sharp teeth. Iolaus cried out and began to struggle, pushing away at the thing holding on to him. Fear gave him strength, and he managed to break free, crawling along the floor away from the hideous image. The hunter lashed out as Belial came toward him, but he dodged the clumsy blow easily and laughed. Iolaus made one last, desperate attempt to escape, but the darkness began closing in on him. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was a gnarled, clawed hand reaching for him.

Iolaus opened his eyes, struggling to recall where he was and what was going on. He remembered that he’d been sick, but he was drenched in sweat, indicating that his fever had broken. The silk sheets that had been so comforting to him were clammy and sticking to his damp skin. Reaching up a shaking hand to the table next to his bed, he found a mug of tepid water. The hunter managed to hold onto it long enough to swallow the liquid, relieving the dryness in his throat. It was then that he remembered. Iolaus turned his head toward the empty chair on the other side of the bed. Hercules should have been there. He had always been there before, fretting and worrying and caring for his partner. And he had always been there to give him that relieved smile when he woke up.

The hunter had a few hazy memories of Thyiades sitting in that chair. Of Thyiades forcing liquids into him and bathing his fevered body with cool water. Thyiades gently shushing him as he called out for Hercules. But the one person Iolaus could always count on had abandoned him. He wasn’t there when the hunter had needed him. A deep ache formed in the hunter’s chest as he curled on his side, tears of heartbreak wetting his pillow as sleep claimed him once more.

The next time Iolaus woke, he felt better and his mind was clearer. He was still very weak, but the malaise of the fever had left him and he was thinking more logically. His heart still ached when he thought about Hercules not being with him while he had lain so ill. But, he tried to push those feelings aside and tell himself that there must have been some sort of misunderstanding. After all, this was Hercules. His best friend would never willingly abandon him. He must not have known, or else something urgent had come up to distract him. Whatever it was, the hunter resolved to find his friend and talk it over with him.

Very carefully, he got up from his bed. His legs were shaking, but they compliantly held him upright. A bowl of water had been left for him on the table, along with a crock of lukewarm broth and some bread. Iolaus splashed the water over his face and chest, bathing as best he could and got dressed before eating the simple meal. The water and the food made him feel even better, and he felt strong enough to go down the hallway to his friend’s room. His knock went unanswered, so he pushed the door open and peeked in. It was empty. The hunter went back to his own room, not hearing anything from downstairs and lacking the energy to go down and search. He went out onto the balcony, enjoying the fresh air for awhile before the tiredness got the better of him. Stretching out on the soft couch, he fell back asleep.

The hunter slept peacefully through the night, and he felt a great deal better in the morning. He went down the staircase, where a servant informed him that Hercules and Belial were out on the grounds, but would be back soon. Iolaus decided to pass the time by revisiting the luxurious bath, although he declined the company of the serving girls this time. The hot water did much to invigorate him, and he felt like a new man as he returned to his room. His own clothes had been cleaned and left in the cupboard, and Iolaus gratefully slipped back into his leather pants and his familiar vest. He went back down the stairs, taking a seat at the table as the servants placed a savory breakfast before him. The hunter was just finishing his meal when Hercules walked in.

“Morning,” the demigod greeted him casually. “You look a lot better.”

“Oh?” Iolaus struggled to keep his voice calm. “You saw me when I was sick?”

“I checked in on you.” Hercules slid into the chair across from his partner, the servants immediately putting a plate before him. He dove into his meal, but then looked up and caught the expression on his friend’s face. “What?”

“Why weren’t you there?” the hunter whispered. Everything he had planned to say to the demigod went out the window as his heart did the speaking for him. “I needed you, Herc. Why didn’t you come?”

“There was nothing I could do.” Hercules gave a small shrug of his shoulders and went back to his breakfast. “Belial made sure you were taken care of. I didn’t see why I should spend my time just sitting there with you while you were unconscious.”

“But...” The protest Iolaus had been trying to make got lost behind the lump in his throat.

“What?” The demigod gave him an indulgent grin. “You think I should have been there hour after hour holding your hand?”

“No.” The hunter cleared his throat, finding his voice. “I’m sure you had much more important things to do with Belial.”

“Well, he doesn’t fall ill every other day, like some people I know.”

The offhanded words stung more than a slap in the face would have.

“Yeah, well don’t worry about it, Herc. I’ll just take my frail mortal body and get out of your hair. Then you and Belial don’t have to give me another thought.”

Iolaus pushed back his chair and bolted out of the room, and was dealt the final blow when Hercules did not come after him. There was no mistaking the message he’d been given.

The demigod sighed, toying with the food on his plate. He did what had to be done, but he still felt a pang of regret. Despite all of Belial’s suspicions, Hercules still had an appreciation for the things Iolaus had done for him and for the good times they’d shared, and he wished he could have found a way to get rid of the little guy without hurting his feelings. He only hoped that someday the hunter realized that this was what was best. For all of them.

But unknown to the demigod, Iolaus didn’t leave. Oh, he’d started to, packing his meager belonging and marching out of the castle door. Hercules had made it perfectly clear that he no longer wanted him around, his words and actions crushing the hunter completely. But as he made his way down the hill, Iolaus suddenly realized just how absurd that was. They had been partners, and they had been friends. Even more than that, they had been brothers. What in Tartarus had happened to change that? Reaching the bottom of the hill, Iolaus left the trail, passing through a stand of trees, reaching a small stream. He sat down beside it, letting the gentle trickling of the water soothe his troubled soul as he tried to make sense of what was going on.

Hercules was not acting at all like himself. But to be honest, Iolaus had to admit that he hadn’t been, either. The flare of anger and the bout of jealousy he’d felt when he learned Hercules and Belial had gone hunting without him were not normal reactions for him. There was something sinister going on inside that castle. Which could only mean there was something sinister about Belial.

The hunter shivered, remembering the horrifying image he’d had of their host just before he’d collapsed. He’d been trying to tell himself it was just a fever induced hallucination, as he couldn’t bear to think about the alternative. But deep down inside, where his primal hunter’s instinct ruled, he knew that what he’d seen had been true. As much as he didn’t want to face it, he could no longer deny that the charming, friendly, generous, elegant man was really a monster in disguise. One that had managed to drive a wedge between two seemingly inseparable partners. Why and how were the questions Iolaus was left with, and he decided it was time to get those answers.

He made his way back to the trail and began climbing back up the hill. The light of day did nothing to quell the hunter’s unease as he looked at the looming castle. It appeared just as ominous and foreboding as it had the night they had arrived during the storm. Iolaus now wished he’d had the sense of mind to listen to his instinct then and turn tail, dragging Hercules along with him. But that was the curse of hindsight. He had never been one to dwell on the mistakes of the past, choosing instead to focus his energies on fixing them in the present. And he vowed that he would fix this one. For his partner’s sake.

“They aren’t here,” Thyiades told the hunter, coming up behind him as he searched the castle. “They’ve gone out for the afternoon.”

“That’s all right,” Iolaus replied. “I think you can help me with what I need.”

“I’m at your service,” he grinned. “So what can I do for you?”

“You can start by telling me about your master,” the hunter commanded. “Who is he really, and just what is he up to?”

“I don’t think I know what you mean,” Thyiades stammered, looking away nervously.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean,” Iolaus said coldly, a hard note creeping into his voice. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll tell me what I want to know. Who is Belial? I know he’s no ordinary man.”

“He’s not a man at all,” Thyiades whispered. He glanced nervously down the hallway and took the hunter by the arm, leading him into a small alcove room and closing the door behind them. Waving a hand, he motioned for Iolaus to sit, but he chose to stand, his manner hesitant. The hunter perched on one of the chairs in the room and looked pointedly at the servant.

“If he’s not a man, then what is he?”

“Evil.” Thyiades ran a hand through his sandy hair and sighed. “Belial is ancient. Older than the gods. Older than the titans or even Gaia. He’s been alive since the beginning of time, spreading his evil throughout the centuries.”

“Spreading his evil how?” Iolaus asked, trying not to show how creeped out he was getting.

“Through his lies,” the servant explained. “Belial has a presence. He’s magnetic, and people are drawn to him, almost against their will, as you have seen. It goes beyond love or adoration. They NEED to be with him. As much as they need food or water, they need to be the center of his attention, and they will do anything he asks of them just to keep his favor. They give him their loyalty, and their trust, and it is then that he strikes. He poisons their minds with lies, making them blind to the truth. Blind to the deception in his beauty. Blind to everything but him, and his version of reality. And then he leads them to their destruction.”

“Why?” the hunter murmured. “Why would someone as old as creation waste time with a few trivial lives?”

“It is the nature of evil. To turn love to hate. He feeds off of it, and grows stronger with each soul he corrupts. Belial has no fanatical designs to rule the world. He finds much more satisfaction in destroying the inherent goodness in man. For just as there is evil, there is also good, and it is his enemy. Each time he turns a good heart toward evil, he triumphs. And his greatest victory lies in the razing of a pure soul, the slaughter of pure love. Which is where you and Hercules come in.”

“What do you mean by that?” Iolaus demanded.

“It’s no accident that you are here,” Thyiades confessed. “Belial’s been watching you for some time.”

“Watching us?”

“His eye extends far beyond these castle walls, as does his power. And he has the creatures of darkness at his bidding. That beast that Hercules killed on the mountain was one. But from the first time he saw you two, he’s been planning for your arrival. Belial can see into the hearts and minds of men. He knows what scares you, and he knows what is closest to your heart. You and Hercules have a special bond. He is the most important thing in the world to you, and you would gladly give your life for him. Hercules feels the same about you. Belial cannot allow this type of unconditional, unselfish love to exist. And destroying it would add greatly to his strength. So he crafted a storm to trap you in Chalcis, and then he sent me to the inn to bring you here.”

“I don’t understand,” the hunter protested. “If Belial is as evil as you claim he is, then why would he see that I was taken care of when I was ill? Why wouldn’t he just let me die?”

“Because he doesn’t want you dead,” Thyiades told him. “That would accomplish nothing. He only wants to kill the good in you. And he’s well on his way with Hercules. Somehow you’ve managed to break free of his spell, Iolaus, and see him for what he really is. You need to get away from here while you still can.”

“And leave Hercules here?”

“Belial has already ensnared him in his web of lies. Forget about Hercules. He no longer exists, not as you have known him. Just go, and save yourself.”

“I can’t leave here without him,” Iolaus insisted. “You said so yourself. He’s the most important thing in the world to me, and I can’t just walk away and let some demon from the dawn of time destroy his soul. But I don’t expect you to understand that.”

“I understand more than you know,” Thyiades said sadly, his eyes growing moist. “I was once in your very place. The girl that I loved became entranced by Belial. She was so sweet and gentle and loving, and it shattered my heart to see her become so hateful, acting out his cruel whims. I begged him to release her, and take me in her place. So he did. He let her go, and I became his servant. Sentenced to a lifetime of helping him lure in more innocent victims. Belial couldn’t turn me against her, but he found another way to destroy my soul.”

“Is that why you’re telling me all of this?” the hunter asked gently.

“Maybe.” The man wiped a hand over his eyes. “I do know what you’re going through. But you should listen to me. I speak with experience. There is no way to win against Belial. Please, Iolaus, just go. Before something terrible happens to you.”

“Not without Hercules,” he repeated with determination. “There has to be a way to defeat Belial.”

“He cannot die,” Thyiades revealed. “But a fatal wound in this plane would send him back to his own realm, and he would lose the power he’s acquired here. Eventually he would return, but he would need to wait and regain his strength for a time.”

“Then that’s what I have to do.”

“Iolaus, wait!” Thyiades grabbed the hunter by the arm as he headed toward the door. “Belial is not going to be easy to defeat. He has an unmatched strength, and the forces of darkness behind him. He never tires, and his energy never flags. A mere mortal is no match for a demon of his power.”

“Maybe not. But a mortal and a demigod together should give him a good fight.”

“Haven’t you been listening?” the man cried out. “Hercules is lost to you! His loyalty is with Belial now, and I have seen him move the purest of hearts to destroy human lives. And Belial will take great pleasure in seeing you dead by the hand of the one who had loved you the most.”

“I heard everything you’ve said,” Iolaus told him quietly. “And its just a chance I’m going to have to take.”

The hunter simply couldn’t believe that Hercules would ever knowingly take his life. It just was not possible. However, there was a time when he believed his friend would never have abandoned him in a time of need, either. But running away was definitely not an option. He could never leave his partner in the clutches of a monster, just to save his own skin. At the very least, he had to try and get Hercules away from this demon. For he’d much rather die as a noble warrior than live a hundred years as a coward who gave up on the brother of his heart. Iolaus could only hope that it wouldn’t come to that, but he knew that a showdown was eminent, and that the night was destined to turn bloody for one of them.

“Iolaus. This is a pleasant surprise.” Belial’s voice was even and friendly. “Hercules told me you’d gone.”

The demigod jerked his head around, so preoccupied with his companion as they entered the room he’d failed to notice the hunter sitting patiently in the corner, waiting for them.

“I did, but I forgot something, so I had to come back.”

“Really.” Belial flashed a gleaming grin, knowing exactly what game the hunter was playing and rising to the challenge. “And what is so important that you had to come back for?”

“My friend.” Iolaus rose from his chair and approached them. He kept his own voice even and friendly as well, but there was a dangerous flash to his cerulean eyes. “Hercules, its time to leave.”

“You go,” the demigod told him flatly. “I’m staying here.”

“Herc, listen to me,” the hunter urged, trying to catch his friend’s gaze. “We need to go. Think of Greece. The people out there need your help.”

Hercules finally looked at him, his eyes cold and hard as he focused on his partner. With a sinking heart, Iolaus realized that Thyiades was right. Belial had indeed ensnared the demigod, and Hercules was trapped in the demon’s power.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said firmly. But Iolaus refused to accept that as a final answer. He turned to Belial, his calm control beginning to wane.

“I’m taking him out of here, and I’m taking him now,” he insisted.

Belial curled a possessive hand around Hercules’ shoulder and leaned in close to him.

“I told you so,” he murmured in the demigod’s ear.

“What are you telling him?” the hunter demanded angrily. “Hercules, don’t believe anything he says. He’s been lying to you all along.”

“He wouldn’t do that to me,” Hercules cried forcefully.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Iolaus muttered, grabbing his friend by the arm. “Let’s go.”

Instantly, Belial stepped between them, putting a gentle restraining hand on the hunter’s arm. He was barely touching him, but an electric wave of pain shot through Iolaus, and he reacted instinctively. Swinging hard, his fist connected with the demon’s chin. Belial collapsed melodramatically to the ground, and Hercules sprang into action, hoisting the hunter into the air by the front of his vest.

“You see, Hercules, I was right. Iolaus can’t be trusted. He’ll betray you. He’ll betray us both!”

“Get out of here, Iolaus,” the demigod snarled, dropping the hunter to the ground. “Get out of here now, and don’t ever come back.”

“That’s not good enough,” Belial continued, rising from the ground and moving slowly toward the demigod. Hercules reached out to help him, and the demon leaned heavily against the offered arm. “He won’t listen to you. He’ll bring others here, and they’ll take you away.”

“They can try,” the demigod snorted. He glared at the hunter, still slumped on the floor. “This is your last chance, Iolaus. If you don’t leave now...”

“What?” the hunter demanded, getting to his feet. “You’ll kill me? Well, you might as well get it over with, Herc, because I’m not leaving here without you.”

“You have to do it, Hercules,” Belial whispered in his ear. “There’s no other way.”

The demigod took a menacing step toward Iolaus, who backed up quickly.

“Wait, Herc. Just listen to me for a second. You don’t really want to do this. Cold blooded murder isn’t in your heart. And you don’t want to kill me. I’m your best friend, remember? Think about all we’ve been through together.”

Hercules lunged forward toward the hunter, who just barely managed to dodge out of his grasp.

“Damn it, Herc,” he yelled. “Would you just think about it? I’m your friend. We’ve fought back to back since we were kids. We’ve battled monsters and taken on the gods together. I stood by you after Serena died. And remember when I was killed by Hera’s Enforcer? You went to the underworld and made a deal with Hades to bring me back. We’ve always been there for each other. Don’t listen to Belial’s lies. Listen to your heart, Herc, and you’ll see the truth.”

Something wavered in the demigod’s face. He looked hesitantly back and forth from Iolaus to Belial. The hunter could see he was getting through, and he grinned smugly at the demon. A bit prematurely, as the game was far from over.

“Remember Xena,” the demon said quietly. “Iolaus betrayed you then, and he’ll do it again. He’ll hurt you, like he just did to me. He cares nothing for you...”

Belial was interrupted by the sudden attack of the enraged hunter.

“Rot in Tartarus, you lying bastard,” he hissed.

Before the demon could react, Hercules had wrenched Iolaus off of him. The hunter found himself slammed hard on the floor, with two abnormally strong hands clamped around his throat. He clawed futilely at his partner’s fingers, but the demigod had him in an iron grip, his face a mask of hate.

“By the gods,” Iolaus thought to himself. “He’s really going to do it.” A sense of loss for his failure welled up inside of him, but he felt no anger toward his friend. He knew that Hercules would never willingly hurt him, and he sent out a silent prayer to whomever might be listening that the demigod would never snap out of it and realize what he’d done, for the magnitude of it would destroy him. Black spots began to dance in the hunter’s field of vision, but he made himself focus on his friend, his lips moving to whisper Hercules’ name.

The demigod released him abruptly, falling back as Iolaus gratefully sucked air into his lungs in huge, coughing gasps. When he’d more or less caught his breath, the hunter pulled himself up a bit woozily into a sitting position. Hercules was still crouched on the floor in shock, a look of utter horror on his face. Iolaus looked over at the enraged face of Belial and spoke quietly, if a bit hoarsely.

“You lose.”

“I never lose!” the demon roared in anger. The sound was enough to jolt Hercules back to reality. He glanced at Belial, and recoiled in revulsion. The handsome, refined face had given way to the terrifying sight with which Iolaus was already familiar. And he had to admit, it wasn’t any less repugnant the second time around. But there was no time to dwell on the grotesque image of their foe, for he was already attacking.

Iolaus skittered to his partner’s side, Hercules turning slightly so that they were at each other’s backs. They fought to repel the demon, but it was all they could do to avoid his advances. Both warriors realized that he was not going to go down easily. Belial’s strength was even greater than Hercules, and he was quick and agile and relentless. The hunter had been confident they would be able to defeat him, though now he wasn’t quite sure. It didn’t matter though, he realized as the demon caught him, claws digging into his arm and sending his sword clattering to the ground. All that mattered was that Hercules had come back to him.

“No!” Thyiades burst into the room, a dagger held high. “I can’t let you do this, Belial.”

The demon looked down at the small man in his grasp.

“So, not only do you ruin my plans for your friend, but now I see you’ve also inspired the faithful to turn against me. I will enjoy crushing the life from you, Iolaus.” He shoved the hunter away from him, sending him flying across the room. “But first I must deal with the traitor.”

“I can’t let you hurt any more innocent people,” Thyiades declared, nervously, but with conviction. “I don’t care what you do to me. But someone has to stop you.”

“Ah, but you do care about your beloved,” Belial reminded him with an evil smile. “If you break our deal, she’ll be right back where she started. And I’ll enjoy making her my concubine.”

The former servant lost his temper at these words and charged his master. Belial effortlessly plucked the dagger from his hand, catching the young man up in his arms. With a quick flick of the wrist, he snapped Thyiades’ neck, killing him instantly.

“It’s so hard to find good help these days,” he lamented.

“You won’t have to worry about that for much longer,” Iolaus told him icily, the sight of the man who tried to help him lying crumpled and lifeless on the floor serving to steel his resolve. He rushed the demon, darting in a zig zag fashion as he tried to get close enough to use his blade. But Belial was faster, disarming him and restraining him.

“Well, Hercules,” he began pleasantly. “What about you? Any deals you’d care to make for the life of this mortal?”

“No deals,” the demigod vowed. “Iolaus and I are leaving here, and you are not.”

The demon laughed at the unwavering confidence of the two warriors, even though defeat was pressing in on them. Hercules took advantage of his momentary distraction and charged, catching him by surprise. He hit hard, his momentum causing all three of them to sprawl across the floor, Iolaus breaking free of the demon’s grip. Instantly, the demigod was on top of Belial, and they began to grapple fiercely. He had the advantage over the demon, but he knew that was momentary. But a moment was all Iolaus needed.

“Herc! Now!”

Hercules released his hold and rolled away as the sharp blade came down, impaling Belial through the heart, the force of the hunter’s blow pinning him to the floor. The demon howled in unholy rage, his hands clutching the blade in his chest, trying to pull it free. But it was too late. Hercules and Iolaus watched in satisfaction as the demon began to disintegrate, melting away into dust as his power was stripped and he was banished back to his realm. Finally there was nothing left of him, and the sword clattered noisily to the floor.

“Uh oh,” Iolaus groaned as the castle walls began to shake. “That can’t be good.”

“Let’s go!” Hercules began running for the door, his partner right behind him, only hesitating long enough to pick up his sword. They barely made it clear of the castle before the entire building collapsed into a heap of rubble.

“What a waste of a beautiful castle,” the hunter sighed. “Although, I can’t really say I’m sorry to see it go.”

“Me either,” the demigod agreed.

“I guess we should go back to the inn in Chalcis,” Iolaus suggested, looking up at the sky where the sun was beginning to set. “Maybe we can have our room back by now. And I don’t know about you, but I’m getting drunk tonight.” He grinned cheekily and began walking along the trail that led down the hill.

“Iolaus,” Hercules said as fell into step beside his friend. “Are you all right?”

“Fine,” the hunter replied, glancing down at the claw marks on his arm. “Just a few scratches. They’ve already stopped bleeding.”

But the demigod hadn’t been looking at the superficial cuts. He’d been looking at the dark bruises on his partner’s neck. Bruises that he had personally inflicted with his own two hands.

“I’m so sorry,” Hercules burst out. “I don’t know what came over me, Iolaus. Everything got so turned around in my head. Belial somehow convinced me that he was the only one I could trust, and that you were my enemy. And then... I don’t know. It was like I was outside of myself, looking down, and I saw what I was doing to you...”

“It’s all right, Herc,” Iolaus reassured him. “It wasn’t your fault. I understand.”

“How can you say that?” the demigod asked. “After what I let him turn me into?”

“Belial was strong,” the hunter reasoned. “He was the master of manipulation and deceit. Thyiades told me that he had the power to draw people to him. You couldn’t have resisted him, Herc. Nobody could.”

“You did,” Hercules pointed out softly.

“By accident. I’m not sure why, but I think somehow it was because of the fever. It brought out my subconscious more, and it allowed me to see Belial for what he really was. But the thing is, even after that, I still didn’t want to believe what I had seen. Something inside me wanted to forget about it and go back to him. I was still drawn to him, even though I knew him to be a monster. So I know the kind of power he had, and I know you couldn’t help what you were doing.”

“But I tried to kill you.” The demigod hung his head, barely able to whisper the dreaded words.

“Hercules.” The hunter stopped walking and laid a gentle hand on his friend’s arm, waiting until the demigod reluctantly met his gaze. “That time that Fortune took my memory and I was feeling so ashamed for having done all those terrible things, do you remember what you said to me?”

The demigod shook his head slightly.

“You told me that my heart drew the line at real evil. That I could never have taken your life. Did you mean that?”

“Of course I did.”

“Well, I mean it to. I knew that when it came right down to it, you wouldn’t be able to kill me. No matter what kind of spell Belial had you under. I never lost faith in you, big guy.”

“Thank you, Iolaus.”

The two warriors began walking once more. Hercules glanced at the cheerful hunter beside him, yet again amazed by his bravery, his strength, and the power of his heart. No matter what Iolaus said, the demigod knew his friend had risked his life to save Hercules’ own soul. Few would have done so, and no other could have succeeded. For they brought out the good in each other, and the love they had for one another was much stronger than any evil.

“What do you think happened to all those people that were in the castle?”

“They were all Belial’s servants,” Iolaus reasoned. “Maybe they went with him.”

“I hope that wherever that is, he plans on staying a long time.” Hercules gave a slight shudder. “I just wonder if there are more like him here, doing the same thing.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” the hunter shrugged. “There is always going to be evil, in one form or another. We’ll just have to make sure that it’s balanced with enough good.”

“You’re right,” the demigod grinned. “But I’d say that as long as the two of us are together, that’s more than enough to tip the scales.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Iolaus laughed. “Come on.” He began to sprint, bolting down the road toward Chalcis, feeling that he had definitely earned a hearty meal and a few drinks at the village inn. The hunter even speculated that he might be up to trying to ingratiate a certain lovely young bard with a diva complex. After the battle with Belial, he was more than ready for the challenge.

Finis

Disclaimer: No beautiful evil demons with killer pads were harmed or banished to other realms during the writing of this story; however, one icy bard was suitably thawed :)

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