Subj: Vampires, Gods and Time 13 of ?
Date: 11/18/99 8:39:50 PM Central Standard Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

A Cave near Athens---

Drakon paced around the cave. Where had Iolaus gone? He knew that Hera had seen to it that no god had any knowledge of where they had taken Iolaus. Now, who had suddenly whisked him away?

Ares was going to be furious, not to mention Hera! This was as bad a situation as the one he had been in when Angelique had 'tattled' to his master about his being in love with a mortal woman. A mistake he had not made a second time.

Drakon looked about and then started to leave when a sudden whoosh of air forced him to turn around. There before him stood his worst nightmare!

"My Lord Ares!"

Looking about at the empty cave and then at the nervous face of Drakon Ares eyes became ablaze with fire. "Where is he, Drakon? Have you misplaced our captive?" And catching Drakon by the tunic neck he said in a low, but full of venom voice, "Where is he?"

Drakon backed away a bit from Ares grasp and said, "I do not know, my Lord Ares. When I had completed your task, I came immediately back here. I am not responsible for the fact that someone else came and took the wretched warrior away!"

Ares was tempted to break every bone in Drakon's body, but then realizing that it was not possible for him to know just "who" had taken Iolaus, he let go. "Someone took him and is protecting him." After a moment's pause he looked directly at his companion and said in anger, "Find him Drakon, or your head will not be on your shoulders for very long!"

Drakon looked at Ares and spat out with venom of his own. "I will not, my Lord Ares. Has it not occurred to you that someone of greater power than yourself has Iolaus? And if that is true, which it must be, I can be of little use to you. I am tired of you gods and your problems. I refuse to bend to your wishes again. I am returning to my own time."

But before he could leave, the cave suddenly grew ablaze with light. "NEITHER OF YOU IS GOING ANYWHERE. YOU WILL REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL THE TRIAL. PREPARE YOURSELVES. AND BE PREPARED FOR PUNISHMENT. ESPECIALLY, YOU MY SON."

Neither Ares nor Drakon was able to move. They both looked at each with total terror on their faces. Zeus had sealed them in this cave with no possible means of escape and no way to fetch another god to help them either.

Ares, lifting up his head skyward cried out in anguish, "MOTHER!" And then-----the cave was silent.

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

Mount Olympus---Royal Bedchamber--

As the golden light of Helios' chariot began to move upward across the sky, Hera's eyes fluttered. And then, the great goddess opened them fully. There was activity outside the door. The great wooden door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

"Hera! What have you done? You have defiled our bedchamber!" Zeus's voice boomed so loud that the entire Mountain shook with its vibration.

Hera glared at Zeus and said, "Well that is hardly something new, my husband. How many times have you done that to me?"

"With other goddesses and mortal women, my wife, but never with your children! How dare you!"

Hera looked at Zeus and started to laugh. "What in the world are you babbling about, Zeus?"

"With whom do you lie, Hera? Who is the man in the bed with you?"

Hera laughed and said, "It's a mortal man, Barnabas Collins, who has shown me more courtesy and love than you could ever have done, Zeus!"

"Really?" Zeus said, and then walking over to the bed moved the covers to expose the naked body of none other than his son Hercules. "I think that for a goddess you have a real problem with your eyesight, my wife."

Hera looked down beside her and saw the sleeping form of the bastard son of her husband. The mortal whom she hated with every fiber in her blood. "What trickery is this? What have you done, Zeus?"

"The more obvious question is, what have you done, Hera? And I might add, what were you planning to achieve?" And then he heard the cries of an infant. Looking over across the room he saw the crib. Walking over to the crib, Zeus picked up the infant and held it up high.

"Zeus, do not harm my son!" Hera threatened.

Zeus merely grew more angry. "So, you would have a son, by MY son! What a wicked woman you really are. You have no right to be here in this royal bedchamber!"

At this last booming sound, Hercules suddenly stirred and woke up. When he saw his father and the fact that he was naked, he pulled the covers around himself and started for the door.

"Just a moment, my son." Hercules stopped in midstride and waited for his Father to reach him. "What have you done, my son? Why have you defiled the royal bed?"

Hercules bowed his head and said, "It was not my fault, Father. My stepmother, Hera told me that if I would come to her and bed her that she would stop the endless and non-ceasing attacks on my friends, family and to me as well. That she would stop creating the creatures that threatened not only my life but those of my friends. I had no choice, Father. I had to obey."

Zeus frowned and then said. "Is this your child, my son?"

"No, Father. He is the son of Barnabas Collins and my stepmother Hera!"

Hera stood over by the window and was ready to fly out when she was caught by Apollo and Hermes.

"Let me go you insignifigant swine! I am your Queen! How dare you handle me as a common mortal!"

"For what you have done, Hera, you deserve to be treated with much less kindness!" Zeus walked over to the door, the infant still in his arms.

"Get yourself dressed, my son. And the rest of you, we will meet in the Royal Judgement Hall at Noon! And as for you Hera, Your powers as of this minute are no more. If you are innocent in your trial, I will restore them. If not, I will exact punishment!"

Hera glared at her husband. She had no real fear of him. There were many gods that would come to her aid. And so she showed no sign of trying to escape.

"Hermes, Apollo. If you let Hera out of your sight, your fate will be the same as hers. Obey me!" And with that Zeus left in a mighty gust of wind and thunder.

Hera continued to glare at the bastard son of her husband. "Hercules, how could you do this to me? You lied to your Father. That will not be tolerated!"

Hercules smiled at Hera, dropped the covers he held around him, and stood tall, proud, and showing off his perfect body. "Did you want to use me one last time, Hera before your trial?"

Hera moved to grab Hercules with her hands, her long nails ready to pierce the skin, but was prevented from doing so by Apollo and Hermes.

"Oh, I guess you are a little tied up right now huh? Well, maybe later!" Hercules winked at both Apollo and Hermes, who broke out in intense laughter. For the first time in his life, Hercules was relishing this.

Not far down the hall, Zeus chuckled to himself. "Well done, boy. You are indeed my son!"

HERA, QUEEN OF THE GODS WAS NOT SEVERLY HURT OR INTENSELY SHAMED DURING THE MAKING OF THIS CHAPTER.