Page 26 of The Trickster's Heart

“Umm…about that…” Hercules bit his lip and struggled with his own nervousness.

He’d known fear before, but going up against a god of Hades’s magnitude stirred some primal fear response in him to run. Hermes seemed to sense this, placing his hand on Hercules’s back in quiet support.

“Be honest,” Hermes encouraged. Hercules took a deep breath and nodded.

“No,” he shook his head, “I am no son of Zeus. I never knew my father. I wanted a chance to gain immortality, and the easiest path was to convince Zeus I was one of his bastards.”

Hades’s eyebrows shot up as his face contorted in surprise.

“Is that so?”

“Yes,” Hercules nodded eagerly.

“How did you manage that?” Hades leaned in closer, giving Hercules his rapt attention. Hercules shrugged.

“It wasn’t hard,” he chuckled awkwardly and got a smile out of Hades in response. “I made sure I was impressive as a mortal, someone Zeus would want to claim as part of his lineage. I appealed to his vanity.”

Hades looked between Aeëtes and Hercules, obviously alluding to the fact they were still half naked, covered in dirt and oil.

“Impressive,” he snorted, taking a step back.

Hades clapped his hands together, causing most of the group to jump as thunder echoed in response. Hades began laughing, a rich, bass sound that echoed throughout Hecate’s courtyard. He laughed and laughed, increasing in its intensity until Hercules thought the god had snapped.

Hades finally straightened up, wiping at his eyes as if he’d been laughing so hard, it made him tear up. He looked at Hercules with a grin that rivaled Hermes in its deviousness.

“If you’re fucking over Zeus,” he started as his upper lip curled, “then by all means, you can take Cerberus.”

11

Hercules nearly fell to his knees as Hades’s offer sunk in. He could hardly believe it; his feelings about the gods had been tested over the past few days, and now, they were utterly decimated. A strange sense of confusion wrapped its way around Hercules’s heart alongside his crushing relief. It must have been written all over his face as Hermes squeezed Hercules’s shoulder a little tighter and answered for him.

“Hades…” Hermes’s voice was deathly quiet. “Do you mean it?”

Hades nodded solemnly. “Of course.” His grin threatened to split his face in two. “Have you ever known me to say anything in jest when the opportunity to spite my dear brother is on the line?”

Hermes conceded, “This is true.” He turned to Hercules. “Are you alright, pet? You look a little pale.”

Hercules couldn’t speak; thoughts of his mother rushed forward. The payoff of ten years of effort was now in his grasp. At what cost? He didn’t know what he wanted anymore. Hecate interrupted the silence, much to Hercules’s relief as words were still proving difficult in the dawn of one too many revelations.

“We’re going to slip out.” She motioned towards herself and Aeëtes. “We’re overdue for a night in Colchis anyway, visiting Aeëtes’s parents. Isn’t that right, love?” Hecate turned to her partner, and Aeëtes looked confused.

“No?” He started speaking slowly. “We just saw them last—oof!” Aeëtes was cut off by a swift elbow to the ribs from Hecate. “Yes! Yes, we’re so overdue. We should leave immediately.” He plastered a wide smile on his face and gave Hercules and Hermes a thumbs-up.

“Exactly,” Hecate continued. “Hermes, why don’t you two stay at my place tonight? It’s late, and I’m sure Hercules can get Cerberus in the morning.” Hecate looked at Hades with a pointed expression.

“Consider it done.” Hades waved a hand in the air, causing dark clouds of smoke to begin congregating a few paces away. Hades held out his hand for Persephone, who slid her hand in his without hesitation as they walked towards the portal forming in the smoke.

“It was lovely to meet you, Hercules,” Persephone smiled sweetly, stepping through the invisible doorway and vanishing before Hercules could summon a response. Hades put one foot through and paused, turning to study Hercules.

“You’ll do great things as an immortal.” Hades’s voice dropped even lower. “I would be happy to see you join the ranks of the Underworld.”

Hades slipped away as Hercules’s eyes widened even further, frozen to the spot as he watched the king and queen of the Underworld disappear.

“We’ll take that as our cue.” Hecate looped her arm through Aeëtes’s and snapped her fingers. In an instant, Aeëtes appeared clean and clothed, making Hecate sigh wistfully.

“It was fun while it lasted.”

“Rematch.” Aeëtes smiled, pointing at Hercules. “I’m not done with you yet.” Hercules was finally able to gather his wits enough to respond, his voice sounding unsure.

---