DA : Chapter 22: The Fallen III

"You know what I did," Hercules replied as he looked at Percy. "I murdered her and our children."

"But you were cursed," Percy countered.

"Then I should have been stronger!" Hercules snapped back before taking a deep breath.

"I should have been stronger but in the end I was made a puppet. So, for my crime, I forced myself to forget her and my children's names … I don't deserve to even utter them."

...

Percy watched, stunned, as one of the greatest heroes should him a side he doubted any ever knew existed.

This, was the man behind the legend, a man who had lost what he cared for most … but then where did the legend come from? I didn't look like Percy would have to wait long to find out.

"Anyways …" Hercules said after a few minutes. "After I met her, well, what can I say? She was perfect. Kind, gentle, understanding, patient, and most importantly, loving.

Fiery too if you managed to get her upset enough and let me tell you, that woman could throw a slap hard enough to even knock my thick skull! She was everything Garic used to tell me about finding in a woman and I was more than happy to settle down with her after a few years.

Father visited again and was angry that I was wasting my potential though, saying that his son was above a mere mortal … that was the first and last argument I had with him. But a few years later the curse of that queen," Hercules said venomously.

"came and you know what happened after."

Percy remained silent for some time as he digested the story he'd just heard. So Hercules had not even been remotely close to what the myth said … or was it? He had to know so he asked one question that concerned him.

"You do know that she can't cause madness, right?" he asked in an even tone, not trying to anger the god and risking the chance of losing the knowledge that he wanted.

Hercules scoffed before looking at him with a 'are you serious' face. "Of course I know it wasn't just her. Her orders, sure, but we both know what disgrace of a god actually implemented the madness. If I could get my hands around that porker's neck …" Hercules seethed while making strangling motions with his hands.

"So then … what happened with the labors?" Percy asked after Hercules set his hands down. "I mean, all the accounts I've heard go back and forth with you being arrogant, prideful, and a general ass."

"You go through having your family killed and being left alone to serve a punishment for a crime you didn't willingly commit without indulging in as many vices as possible to drown the misery," Hercules replied soberly.

"I sort of knew that it was the Olympians, not just the queen and the bastard drunk that did it. They watched on and did nothing … but in the end I couldn't really go against them so instead I became like them.

I flaunted my linage, drank and claimed many women, and even cheated in some of the labors. I just wanted them done so that the Olympians would leave me alone."

"And Nightshade?" Percy asked in an edgy voice. She had been so heartbroken thanks to Hercules and had her life ripped apart because of it. Depending on how Hercules answered … well … the Olympians might end up short a god.

"Nightshade," Hercules echoed as he furrowed his brows in thought. "She was … a Hesperides, correct?"

Percy nodded firmly, waiting for the explanation. Hercules sighed before speaking softly, "I do feel guilty about that but at the time, as I said, I just wanted to be done with it. I didn't think Atlas would have punished her so gravely and when she ran to me, crying while begging for me to take her with me … I just couldn't."

Percy noted the look in Hercules' eyes and recognized it instantly. It was a look he'd seen in the mirror so many times, especially when he knew a battle or dangerous quest was coming.

"You didn't leave her because she would slow you down," Percy murmured as he looked at Hercules, "You left because you were scared that you would grow attached … and then fail to keep her safe."

Hercules slumped as he nodded slowly. "It sounds like you know the feeling."

"Swear to it," Percy suddenly said making Hercules look at him strangely. "Swear on the Styx and your immortality that everything you just told me is the whole truth," he continued gravely.

Hercules looked at him unwaveringly for some time before answering.

"I swear on the Styx and my immortality that everything I have just told you was the truth and nothing but the truth."

A loud thunder crack sealed the deal and nothing happened to Hercules in the next five seconds. Percy let out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding.

'Nyx was right … he really was different from the legends,' Percy thought as he stood up and dusted off his leather pants. He then turned to face the god as he remained sitting.

"Well … a deal is a deal," Percy said before he pulled back his hood and revealed his face. Hercules narrowed his eyes at him for a moment before they shot wide as he gaped at him making Percy.

"Yup. Percy Jackson, holder of too many titles to count or care, guy that helped bury your ass in fruit and whole hams after besting the senile water god you have living on the other side of the island with a daughter of the love goddess. How's it going?"

Hercules continued to gap at him for a few seconds before asking, "How? They said you disappeared from the face of the earth after the war and no one could find you."

"Didn't look hard enough," Percy answered with a snort before digging into his pocket and then tossing Hercules an obsidian marble.

Hercules looked at it curiously before Percy explained. "You were treated unfairly and left here to rot after what the Olympians did. If you want your freedom and wish to join me, crush that marble and I'll come to break the seal on this island."

"You're … going against Olympus?" Hercules asked incredulously. "But why? You're their hero."

Percy gave him a smile devoid of warmth before replying, "Let's just say that they did something similar to me … and I refuse to continue on with their abuses. I won't ask you to fight for me if you do chose to be free … but please consider my offer. Also I would ask you the favor of not revealing who I am … but that's up to you too."

He was taking a gamble here but Nyx had convinced him that the payoff was worth the risk. Getting the legendary Hercules to remain neutral would go a long ways to helping resolve this future war quickly and if he actually joined to fight, all the better.

Hell, Hercules had beef to pick with Dionysus and Percy would gladly had over the bastard to him.

"I'll be on my way then," Percy said as he raised his hood again while aiming one last glance at the silent god as he stared at the marble in his hand.

He silently walked to the nearest shadow of a palm tree before dissolving into the darkness. His travel was short as he thought of his last destination for his little recruitment drive.

Soon he materialized at the borders of a familiar river. The ghostly wails and screams of the damned echoed in the distance as a familiar chill permeated the air.

Percy sighed as he looked at his uncle's domain before turning his attention to the river and walking forward until his toes barely scrapped the black waters of the river of hate.

Percy took a deep breath as he chanted mentally, 'Need to get her attention. Need to get her attention!' With that he slowly started to walk into the hellish waters, his skin already tingling as the acidic liquid tried to eat away at him.

He kept his face blank as he slowly walked, biting back the screams of pain that desperately wanted to come out.

'This hurts more than the first time!' he complained as he moved through the waters till they were at his waist.

He was starting to breathe harder and he knew that it was a matter of time before the water ate past his skin. He was focusing his raw power throughout his body to resist the effects of the river but that was draining as well, and it did nothing for the pain.

He was already starting to feel light headed and ready to step out but then he heard an amused giggle come off his right side.

His face turned, his flaming black eyes meeting a pair of swirling green and black streaks staring back at him.

"Lady Styx," he said with a small smile even as he contained his grimace from the pain. "How lovely to see you. I was wondering … are you interested in an offer I have for you…?"

================

if you want to support me or just to read ahead of the public release, you can join my p@treon :

p atreon/Moonhorse