Subj: Vampires, Gods and Time 2 of ?
Date: 10/29/99 6:22:29 PM Central Standard Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Home of Hercules, near the city of Athens-

Hercules walked over to the window and stared at the sky. For quite some time he stood there gazing at the white, fluffy clouds and then he slowly turned to his guest. "Just how do you come to this time, Mr. Collins?"

Barnabas said, "Please call me Barnabas. I-- I used the I-Ching wands. But I had no idea of their power."

"Oh great! You used the I-Ching wands? How did you come by them?" Hercules said with surprise.

"We found them in Quentin's---" Barnabas stopped because he knew Hercules would not have a clue as to whom he was referring to. "in a room in a deserted wing of our home. It belonged to a man who for some reason was haunting the halls of the house, and forced my entire family to leave and move into the other mansion on the estate. The wands were found with a book of I-Ching and the Egyptian Book of the Dead."

"But those wands were never supposed to leave Mt. Olympus. Hermes created them as a joke for Aphrodite so she could get away from her husband Hephastes when she was bored. I had no idea that they found their way into our world. And the Egyptian Book of the Dead???? What is that?"

"I'm not sure. Professor Stokes, an old friend who knows a great many things about these kind of artifacts knows more about that than I. But it seems that our ghostly ancestor had a great deal of knowledge of this type of artifact as well." Barnabas replied.

Hercules looked at Barnabas and then finally said, "If the I-Ching wands are what you used to come here, then perhaps I can persuade Hermes to allow you to return ----- "

"Hercules!"

"Now what?" Hercules said, somewhat annoyed. He moved back to the window just in time to spot Iolaus running towards the house. "Let me in, Herc! and make it fast will ya?"

Hercules moved quick as lightning to the door and opened it just as a small diminuitive man raced inside. Hercules looked down the path but saw nothing. "What are you running from Iolaus? Spooks?"

"Cute! I hardly think so!" Iolaus said somewhat out of breath. "There is a wanderer in town. One I have never seen before, but this man has real power, Hercules. He---" Then Iolaus saw the man sitting at the table in rather strange clothing. "Who is this?"

"Oh, sorry, Iolaus. This is Barnabas Collins. He is here from-----" Hercules stopped short. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to involve his best friend in this latest and sure to be an interesting adventure. "England. And he simply stopped for some rest."

Iolaus looked at Hercules and then walked over to Barnabas and shook his hand. "Hi. nice to meet you." Then turning to Hercules he began to unravel the tale of a strange wanderer. "You remember the Enforcer? The one that whipped your butt?"

"Did not whip my butt!" Hercules exclaimed quickly, and then added, "well, not completely!"

"Yeah, sure. Anyway, this wanderer is worse! He has the power of mind control. He can make people do whatever he wants them to do."

Hercules, intrigued said, "Well, I guess we had better go into town and see what we are up against."

"I'm going with you. I have a bit of experience in this mind control." Barnabas said as he began to rise from the chair.

"Look, Barnabas, I'm not so sure this is such a good idea. You are a bit weak from your, uh, voyage, and besides, Iolaus and I are pretty good at taking care of the villagers."

"I don't mean to be rude Hercules, but I really think I can help you. Let me try." Barnabas said emphatically.

Iolaus looked at Hercules and then shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if he thinks he can help, Herc, maybe he can."

Hercules looked at Iolaus with a pained expression. "You always seem to get me into more trouble than I need don't you old friend?"

Iolaus snickered and with an impish expression said, "Yeah, and you love it too!"

Hercules face broke into a smile and then he chuckled. "Yes, I must admit I usually do. Come let's go."

---------------------------------------------------------------

Athens, Greece a tavern

"Now then, my dear. You will go back to the house and remember nothing. And thank you for your help. I will call you if I need you further." the dark-haired stranger said as he stared into the beautiful blonde woman's eyes. He moved his hands across her face which suddenly changed from one of stone to animation. She turned away and walked out of the room.

Iolaus, Hercules and Barnabas had walked into the tavern just in time to witness this little display. Barnabas froze as did Hercules when they heard the man's voice. Suddenly the stranger turned around. He was an extremely handsome man, with long black hair with silver streaks that was tied behind, dark piercing eyes and a rather large dark black moustache.

"Nicholas Blair!" Barnabas exclaimed-- and at the same time--

"Drakon!" Hercules exclaimed

Iolaus looked from Barnabas to Hercules and said, "Well, which is it? Drakon or Nicholas Hair or whatever?"

"Well, well, well. My two favorite nemesis. Barnabas Collins and the Mighty Hercules!" the dark stranger replied.

"Nicholas, what are you doing here? How did you get here?" Barnabas shouted

"I'm sure he got permission from Hades to wreck havoc again in the world of the living. I thought you had been banished from this world when you allowed Charon to be wounded??"

"Not quite that big a punishment for that truly unfortunate accident, Hercules. But then, I guess I didn't do a very good job, which is really Hera's fault. She gave me incorrect information as to the whereabouts of Cerberus, which you of course were so kind to restore to his rightful place at the gates of Hell."

"What are you doing here now, Nicholas?" Barnabas again asked in irritation.

"Would somebody please tell me what the hell is going on?" Iolaus said in confusion.

" I am here to simply enjoy the countryside and the people of this village. Nothing more."

"Now why do I find that hard to believe Drakon? Don't you ever tire of these games?" Hercules said with a weary tone.

"What does your master want you to do this time Nicholas? Start a new race of humans devoted to Satan?" Barnabas quipped

"I really wish that someone would tell me just who the hell this fool is and why we are even bothering with him?" Iolaus said in irritation, not liking to be left in the dark.

"As usual, you are very closed-minded Hercules. You don't see the whole picture and the complete potential. But you will. You and Barnabas as well. But I am sorry I must leave you, I have to meet with a very important person." And walking over to Iolaus, he took ahold of his arm, and said, "And now my Lord Ares, if you please---" Iolaus was stunned and before he had a chance to react both he and Nicholas/Drakon disappeared in a shimmering of light.

"Iolaus! Iolaus!" Hercules shouted then turning to look upward he saw that telltale sign, those peacock eyes staring down at him and the cry of that bird that always signaled trouble. Hissing between his teeth he said contemptiously, "Hera. Will you gods never stop!"

Barnabas did not see what Hercules saw in the sky, but he did know that Nicholas had a great deal of power. And just who was this Ares?

Turning to Hercules he said, "Where in the hell did Nicholas go with your friend?"

"To Mt. Olympus I suspect and the throne of Ares." Hercules replied.

"Who is this Ares?" Barnabas asked.

Hercules looked at Barnabas and said, "He's my half-brother, the God of War who only delights in causing trouble wherever he goes. Starting feuds and wars all over the earth. I knew that Drakon would always be trouble, but I had no idea that he was working for Hera." And he started walking towards the town gate.

Barnabas hurried after Hercules and after a few minutes he said, "Hercules, where are going? How are we going to get your friend back? We have to do something."

"I am going to do something. I'm going to Hera's temple!"

Barnabas was beginning to understand what was going on. He was somehow transported into the past and all the stories of mythology that he loved reading so much as a boy were in reality truth. Hercules did actually exist and so apparently did the gods. And to think that Nicholas Blair was working for one of them! But he also remembered that Hera had always tried to kill Hercules at every turn. If she was responsible somehow for taking away his friend, then going to her temple was only going to provoke her further.

"Hercules, wait! Perhaps this is not the best way to start." Barnabas said, grabbing Hercules shoulder.

Hercules turned to face Barnabas. "Look Barnabas, I realize that you are trying to help but you have absolutely no idea how cruel Hera can be. If she has sic'd Ares on Iolaus simply to get me then I will just offer myself for her."

Barnabas stopped and then said calmly, "If that is what she wants, then why make it so easy for her? She won't hurt your friend right away because she wants to lure you to some kind of danger. It would be better if you waited to cause her or Ares to make another move. Then you will know what they are up to. I know Nicholas. He makes mistakes, Hercules. We just have to wait for him to screw up."

Hercules stared at Barnabas for a minute, then broke into a smile. "Your right, Barnabas. For someone who is from the future, you know a great deal about the gods. And you are right about Drakon. He makes mistakes eventually because of his vanity." Then looking up to the sky Hercules sighed and said softly, "Hold on, Iolaus, my friend and be patient. I will rescue you soon." Then turning to Barnabas, Hercules put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Come, my friend, let's go home and try to figure out what is going on here."