Page 24 of The Trickster's Heart

“Are you two done yet?” Hecate interrupted. The goddess was now sitting on a small stool she had conjured, and Hercules realized as he walked closer that it was made of bones.

“I’m ready if he’s ready.” Hercules grinned, stepping inside the carefully drawn circle. Aeëtes was waiting for him, jumping up and down to warm up with a wide smile on his face.

“Don’t worry about me.” Aeëtes stopped moving and dropped into a starting position.

Hermes stood next to Hecate, looking awestruck. Hecate flicked her hair over her shoulder, addressing the fighters with a feline grin.

“You know the rules,” she purred. “No biting or scratching of the eyes. One point for every shoulder, hip, or back that touches the ground.”

“And hands off each other’s good bits,” Hermes added quickly, pointing to the men. “Or you’re no good to either of us, and what has this all been for?” He crossed his arms over his chest with a smirk, some of his telltale mischief returning.

“Excellent point,” Hecate agreed. “Are we clear?”

“Clear.”

“Let’s get on with it already!”

Hercules and Aeëtes responded in earnest, already slowly circling each other.

“Go!” Hecate and Hermes yelled out in unison, gripping each other’s hands tightly as the men launched themselves at each other.

Their bodies collided with a wet, heavy thudding sound, and they grappled to the floor. Hecate and Hermes leaned forward, eyes going wide as Hermes leaned on Hecate’s shoulder. For a few blessed moments, the scene in front of them was an indistinguishable mass of limbs and shining torsos, matted hair, and sweat-soaked thighs.

“This is the greatest idea you’ve ever had,” Hermes sounded breathless as he watched Hercules wrestle out of a headlock and flip Aeëtes on his back.

They were both coated in oil, dirt, and sweat, grinning like madmen and taking no personal offense to every shove and grapple.

“I’m a genius,” Hecate whispered in agreement, biting her lower lip with almost a dazed expression on her face. Aeëtes managed to get Hercules on his back, straddling his waist and catching Hercules’s fist in his grip before he could land a punch.

Hecate was about to call the match when the light in the sky flickered like a torch flame. The earth shook and caused Aeëtes to lose his balance, falling to the ground in a mess of muddy limbs. Thin, curling wisps of black smoke began emerging from the atmosphere itself, painting the sky like spilled oil.

“Gods damn it,” Hecate hissed, standing to her feet and pointing her finger at the sky. “I’ll have your balls for disrupting my fun!”

Aeëtes laughed in response while Hercules looked to Hermes in confusion. The men slowly detangled themselves and attempted to dust some of the debris off their bodies.

Hermes let out a long sigh. “Prepare yourself, Hercules…”

“For what?” Hercules went to Hermes’s side while Aeëtes took Hecate’s abandoned seat. A smooth, low voice cut through the atmosphere and answered Hecate.

“Hecate…what could you possibly be up to now?”

The voice was everywhere at once, like the very air they were breathing. As it finished speaking, the black smoke began congregating, forming a dark cloud in front of the small group. Hercules watched in awe as Hades himself stepped out with a large thunderclap.

He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the imposing presence of the god of the Underworld, when he noticed Persephone slip out from behind Hades. Her face lit up at the sight in front of her as she turned towards Hecate.

“Oh, what have you been up to?” she repeated Hades’s words, shamelessly taking in the sight of Hercules and Aeëtes.

“Seph,” Hades growled. He stepped towards his consort and wrapped an arm around her waist protectively, as if reminding her that he was there. Persephone giggled quietly and picked her head up to look at Hades.

“Yes, my love?”

“That’s not why we’re here.” Hades was stone-faced, and Persephone looked delighted.

“Mm, fine,” Persephone smirked, sliding her hand over Hades’s and giving it a squeeze before removing herself from his grasp.

She turned her attention towards Hercules, and anxiety rose in his chest; Persephone was intimidating, even when she was dressed as springtime, and she studied Hercules for a minute too long.

Hermes stepped in front of Hercules, his face pulled tight.

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