Subj: Vampires, Gods and Time 4 of ?
Date: 10/31/99 5:28:33 PM Central Standard Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Hercules home near the city of Athens--

Barnabas looked out the window at the countryside. The sky was so very blue, with light, cotton clouds. The grass was so green and the flowers so exotic in appearance and the fragrance reminded him somewhat of home. Yet his home was never like this. There was so much peace here. So much simplicity. It made his feel good to be alive.

He glanced to his left and saw his host coming back from depositing their well eaten meal. This Hercules, that he had recently met was an incredible man. Of all the stories he had read of Hercules, this man hardly seem to be the same. He was a kind, caring, and gentle man. He had a great deal of love and compassion. Yet, he was strong in other ways besides just physical strength. And the Hercules he had read about was not very intelligent, but this man had a great deal of knowledge. He found himself admiring him more and more with each passing moment.

Hercules walked along the path towards the front door, lost in his own thoughts. Where had Ares taken Iolaus, and for what purpose other than to lure him to somekind of danger. Why, would the gods never stop! They would never leave him alone. And glancing up he saw Barnabas standing near the window and nodded towards him. Hercules smiled and thought about his guest. He sensed the same kind of dispair from this man similiar to his own. Perhaps that is the reason why he wanted to help him, he felt a kindred spirit.

Hercules walked in the front door and put his spade against the wall. Moving over to the chair he sat down. Barnabas had turned and said, "It is so simple here, Hercules. I envy you, your life and your strength."

"Don't envy me that, Barnabas! That strength and my heritage is a curse to me." Hercules replied. "But--I still survive, hoping with each day the time will come when I will be left in peace."

Barnabas sensed a feeling of dispair and yet strength from his towering friend.

"I understand what you mean, Hercules. In my life, I lost my family to a witch. A jealous, self-centered, but incredibly beautiful woman who only wanted her own way. She tried trickery of the worst kind and wound up destroying my whole life. It is hard to continue when you have nothing to continue to."

"I'm sorry for you Barnabas." Hercules said with saddness in his voice. "What exactly happened?"

Barnabas walked over to the other chair and sat down. He began to tell Hercules of the story of Angelique, the witch he met in Martinique and how she had been his undoing. She had caused the death of his Uncle, his fiance, his would-be bride whom he loved dearly lost to his uncle- his beloved mother, his aunt, his adorable sister, and the countless women whom he met throughout the centuries that he cared for, all for the sake of love. A love that only *she* understood. When he finished, Hercules rose and said,

"You have indeed suffered much my friend. I can understand that." Hercules said again in a voice filled with emotion. "I, too, have lost much but mine comes from my heritage."

Barnabas began to feel a brotherhood with Hercules, as if he were almost a real brother. "Please tell me, Hercules."

Hercules looked at Barnabas with tears in his eyes and said, "My Father, Zeus, lusted for my mother. She was only a mortal to him, but he did really love her. Of course, being King of the Gods, he could not live with her, but he did try to help her all he could. When I was born, his wife Hera, Queen of the Gods was determined to destroy me and all those who attempted to help me or loved me. Hera hates my guts because I am the constant reminder of my father's infedelity. There is somekind of decree that came from my Father that no god can harm me, but that didn't stop Hera from trying to hurt those whom I loved or cared for. In a blinding fireball, she destroyed the only woman I loved, Deianeira, and my two sons, Klonus and Aeson." Almost choking, Hercules continued, "and my adorable little girl, Ilea" Regaining his composure, Hercules looked at Barnabas. "I do understand pain, Barnabas. It seems we have a great deal in common, my friend."

Barnabas rose from his chair and put his hand on Hercules shoulder. "Yes, I agree. And that is why we have to find out what Nicholas is up to. I want to help you. Please let me."

Hercules put his large hand over Barnabas' and smiling at his friend said, "I would be glad to have your help, my friend." Then moving away, Hercules said, "How do you know Drakon? And you call him by a different name. Nicholas or something?"

Barnabas nodded, "Yes, in my time he goes by the name Nicholas Blair. He is a warlock, and is responsible for many of the disasters that took place in Collinwood. But he makes mistakes, Hercules. Because of his love for a woman, he got into trouble with Satan, his master and thus was sent back to hell."

Hercules smiled. "Yes, I know. Drakon got into a lot of trouble with Hades when he let Cerberus escape. He really caught not only Ares but Hera's wrath for that one and had to spend quite sometime in Tartarus. But he does manage to get back into both Ares and Hera's favor somehow. It's that silver tongue of his. We have got to find out what he is up to."

All of a sudden it hit Barnabas. "Hercules, I know what Ares is up to. He is going to try to separate you and your friend, Iolaus. Breaking you up and causing you to lose faith with each other. And I have a feeling that I am going to somehow be the catalyst."

Hercules looked at Barnabas with a puzzled look. "I don't understand. How could you be the one to cause Iolaus and I to betray each other? We would never do that. He is my best friend. I would never disbelieve him."

"Yes, you would, Hercules. If Nicholas has the ability to talk Satan into allowing him to come back to earth, do you think he couldn't talk Iolaus into believing whatever he wanted? Take care, Hercules. Be wary. We have got to find Iolaus before his mind is turned. Where do you think Ares could have taken him?"

Hercules turned towards the window. "Somewhere on Mt. Olympus I suspect, but we have no ability to get there."

"You might, if you asked the right person,"

Hercules wheeled around and said suddenly, "Father!"

Barnabas stood there with his mouth gaping. Zeus? Then he smiled. Well, you can't go wrong with the King of the Gods help.

THE KING OF THE GODS, LORD ZEUS APPEARS BY SPECIAL PERMISSION OF HERA