Obsession

By Ronan

Hercules fitted another block into the wall then stood back to wipe the sweat from his brow. He didn't know why he was building the damn thing but at least it gave him something to do when he was home. It also kept his hands busy but left him able to think of other things. He had a lot to think about right now.

The messenger drew his horse to a halt in front of Hercules. "I have a message from King Iphicles for his brother Hercules," he stated.

"I'm Hercules." He accepted the scroll the messenger handed him. "Would you like a drink or something to eat before you head back?"

The man shook his head. "Unless you need to send an answer, I can't stay." He patted his saddle bags. "I've got a couple more of these to deliver before I go back."

"I don’t think there'll be an answer, but could you wait for a moment while I check?" Hercules asked. When the man nodded, he unrolled the scroll and quickly skimmed the contents. As he finished, he sighed and looked back up. "No need for a message, but could you please tell Iphicles we said thanks for his help?"

The messenger smiled. "Will do." He urged his horse into a trot as he waved farewell.

Hercules watched the man for a moment, then turned back to the scroll Iphicles had sent, slowly rereading it. Once more he sighed when he reached the end.

"Let me guess, the scroll says that no one has ever heard of the girl before." Aphrodite appeared in front of him. "It's as if she never existed."

Hercules stared at her. "How did you … "

"Know?" Aphrodite shrugged. "Easy, bro, I checked her out."

"And?" Hercules asked impatiently.

Aphrodite frowned. "Curly is in a lot of trouble," she told him. "You ever heard of Lamia?"

Hercules snorted. "Who hasn't? Zeus seduced her and Hera punished her by making her destroy her own children. According to most of the mothers in Greece, she became some sort of monster that preys on children." He shrugged. "I don't see what she has to do with Iolaus. He's hardly a child."

"That's because you only know part of the story," Aphrodite explained. "Two of her daughters escaped. That didn't sit well with old horse face, so she cursed the girls as well."

"That sounds like Hera," Hercules grimaced. "So what happened to the girls and what does this have to do with Iolaus?"

Aphrodite glared at him. "That's what I'm trying to tell you."

"OK, I promise, no more interruptions, just please, make it the short version," Hercules promised, trying to force himself to be patient.

"You always know how to spoil a good story," Aphrodite glared for a moment, then sighed. "Anyway, these two chicks now have to feed on men's emotions in order to survive."

"You mean like Bacchae? Only emotion instead of blood?" Hercules asked, confused.

"You got it, big bro," Aphrodite stated grimly. "It gets worse. One of the two learned that men's emotions were most potent during sex and became addicted to the strength of them. She'd do anything to get a man to make love with her."

Hercules shook his head. "I still don't understand how this is a danger to Iolaus." he wished Aphrodite would get to the point, trying to follow her conversation was going to give him a headache.

The goddess sighed in exasperation. "Don't you get it? When they drain a man, they do it completely … there's nothing left … zilcho … zip … nada … " She began to pace. "The poor sap usually ends up wandering off and dying or locked up as a loony."

"And you're saying Theia is one of these … these … creatures?" Hercules asked incredulously. 'Please, let me be wrong,' he thought to himself as fear for his friend started his heart racing. "Why hasn't anyone ever heard of them before?"

"What's to notice about a guy falling in love and getting married?" Aphrodite shrugged. "Once that happens there's no help for him."

Hercules paled, the creature was insidious. He sagged against the half finished wall, his heart racing, trying not to panic. Who would notice anything wrong with that picture? At least Iolaus was still unsure of his feeling for the girl, he tried to console himself. There was still time. "How do I stop her?"

Aphrodite stopped pacing and stared at him. "Sorry, big guy, if you're thinking about killing her, forget it. Not even a god can kill one of these things," the goddess explained.

"Why not?" he asked shortly.

"Duh, like, Zeus is her father, too?" Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Remember his little 'no kill rule'?" She shrugged. "Besides, she's immortal."

"You mean she's my sister?" he asked incredulously. Lovely, just lovely. Another member to add to his wonderful family.

"Well, half sister anyway," Aphrodite confirmed. "Look, bro, even if you tried to fight her, you couldn't." The goddess sighed. "Have you thought about what she could do to you?"

"Do to me?" he echoed. All he could think of was what she was doing to Iolaus. There had to be a way to stop her. He had to save his friend.

Aphrodite shook her head. "You sure are slow sometimes," she told him. "She feeds off emotion." She started to pace again. "Get it?"

Fear filled his heart as the implications became clear. "There must be a way to drive her off, at least," Hercules protested desperately.

"Sure there is," Aphrodite agreed. "But we can't do it. Iolaus has to."

"Iolaus?" Hercules questioned skeptically. "But he's the one under her spell … "

"Exactly," Aphrodite interrupted. "So he's the only one who can break the tie binding them. If you can make him see her for what she is and repudiate her, she'll lose her hold on him and have to leave."

Hercules groaned. How could he confront Iolaus about Theia? It would be Xena all over again. But if he didn't try something, his friend would die. He had to do something. He looked up to find the goddess grinning at him. "What?"

"Theia's been playing with his dreams but I have something here that just may help." She held out a small leather pouch.

Curious the demi-god opened it and glanced inside. "Oh, no … " Hercules tried to give the bag back to her. "That will not help."

"Sure it will," Aphrodite grinned. "It's not like the other one. Discord got a hold of it."

Hercules looked at the pouch, thinking. "Discord, huh? Up to her old tricks?"

"You got it." The goddess laughed. "Only this time her tricks may just save Sweetcheeks."

Hercules tossed the bag in the air and then caught it again. "Thanks, Aphrodite. That gives me an idea."

"Go get 'em, bro!" the goddess cheered as she vanished.

Hercules studied the pouch in his hand and smiled grimly. "Oh, I will." Not wanting to waste any more time, he set off immediately for Iolaus' home. He only hoped that his friend would be there.

Hercules surveyed the deserted farm, dread pulling at his heart. Surely Iolaus wouldn't have left without telling him? Where could his friend be? Was he already too late? Relief flooded him when he caught the sound of Iolaus' giggle coming from the road. Unable to wait, he started down the road to meet him. The sight that greeted him nearly stopped his heart.

Iolaus had his arm around Theia, his blond head close to hers. As Hercules watched, horrified, the hunter stopped and pulled her into his arms to kiss her soundly. Sternly controlling himself, he cleared his throat loudly.

"Herc!" Iolaus broke off the kiss, grinning hugely. "What are you doing here?" he asked. He held Theia against him as the two came forward to greet Hercules.

"I … uh … " Hercules tried to think of a good explanation for his presence.

"Never mind," Iolaus interrupted him. "Congratulate me, buddy! I'm getting married!"

Hercules felt his jaw dropping in shock. "You're what????"

"Getting married!" Iolaus repeated. "You know, tying the knot, getting hitched." He smiled at the girl in his arms. "Theia has agreed to marry me," he continued. "And I want you to be best man at the ceremony." He turned back to Hercules, still grinning. "What'd you say?"

"I, uh, I'm in shock," he told Iolaus. "This is kind of sudden."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Iolaus acknowledged. "But I couldn't let a great girl like Theia get away, now could I? She's one in a million."

"You can say that again," Hercules muttered under his breath. An idea occurred to him. Pulling out the pouch, he handed it to Iolaus. "I guess that explains Aphrodite's visit."

"Aphrodite?" Puzzled, Iolaus glanced from the pouch to Hercules and back again.

Hercules shrugged. "She showed up a little while ago and told me to give that to you," he explained, thinking quickly. "She said it was a present and you'd know what to do with it."

Iolaus opened the bag and frowned as he pulled a golden apple out. "I don't understand. Why would Aphrodite think I needed this?" He glanced at his friend in puzzlement. "Theia and I are already in love."

"What is it, Iolaus?" Theia asked curiously.

Quickly Iolaus explained the apple's powers. How the one who possessed it could cause whomever they wished to fall in love with them; how if two people touched it at the same time, they would be soul mates forever. He carefully glossed over how he'd found out about it. Hercules saw greed cross the girl's face and smiled to himself. This just might work.

"Shouldn't we accept a gift from the Goddess of Love, Iolaus?" Theia seemed to choose her words carefully. "I know we don't need it, but wouldn't it be nice to know we were soul mates?" she finished wistfully.

Iolaus smiled at her. "You're already part of my soul," he told her. "But if this is what you want … " He held out the apple.

Hercules held his breath as Theia reached out to touch the apple. The moment her hand touched it, Iolaus cried out in horror. Dropping the apple, he stumbled away from her. Hercules kept a careful eye on Theia as he helped support his shaking partner.

Iolaus shrugged off Hercules' hands, forcing himself to face the creature that had nearly devoured him. The moment her hand had touched the apple, he'd known her for what she was, known what she had done to him, had planned on doing. "Who … What are you?"

"Iolaus?" Puzzled by the change in him, Theia reached out to touch him. He shied away from her. "Iolaus, what's wrong?" He couldn’t bear the thought of her hands on him. He saw the realization dawn on her.

"No!" Rage contorted her features as she realized he'd seen through her. "You are mine!" she screamed in fury. She glared at Hercules. "You!" she hissed. "This is all your fault!" Hands crooked into claws, she attacked the demi-god. He grabbed her wrists, trying to keep her nails from gouging his face. Iolaus grabbed her around the waist and the two men struggled to hold her.

Suddenly Theia stopped fighting them. She tried to caress Iolaus' face, but he drew back from her. "Iolaus, think of what you're doing," she told him. "I can be anything you desire … any way you desire … " Her voice was hypnotic, mesmerizing. "Remember your dreams, Iolaus?" she prompted. "I can be that for you … do that to you … whatever you want … "

Iolaus heard Hercules' voice trying to tell him something but he was lost in a wash of images. Theia wrapping her legs around him, voice urging him on as he entered her… "Yes, Iolaus, remember." Her hands stroking his cock … "Yes, oh yes" Sprawled wantonly at his feet, dark eyes inviting … He trembled at the strength of the lust that rose in him. "Remember." Watching her face as he thrust brutally into her mouth … "Whatever you want, Iolaus." Fear filling her eyes as she ran from him …

"NO!" With a cry of revulsion, Iolaus thrust her violently into Hercules' arms and stumbled away. His insides twisted themselves into knots as he fought her compulsion. The dreams, his dreams. She was the cause of the dreams that had wracked his nights, tormenting him with their images. His stomach lurched and he began to heave.

Hercules watched helplessly as his partner retched. He wanted to go to him, help him, but he didn't dare let go of the girl. He was forced to stand and wait while his best friend fought for his soul and his life. 'Come on, Iolaus,' he urged silently. 'You can do this. I know you can. Fight her.'

Slowly Iolaus lifted his head and stared at the girl. His clear blue eyes were filled with revulsion and loathing. He wiped a hand across his mouth, then slowly climbed to his feet. "You're wrong," he spat at Theia. "That's not me! I don't need what you're offering."

Theia's face once more contorted in rage. "You will regret denying me!" she hissed. "My touch is on your soul. You belong to me!"

Slowly, deliberately Iolaus shook his head. "No," he denied, "you are no part of me."

"It's over, Theia," Hercules told her grimly.

She twisted in his arms to glare at him. "Over?" she laughed bitterly. "It will never be over for me." Her eyes narrowed. "Hera set me up, didn't she?" Theia hissed.

The two men stared at her in shock. "Hera?" Hercules whispered. "What does Hera have to do with this?" he demanded.

"As if you didn't know!" Theia sneered. "I should have known something was wrong when Hera told me of Iolaus." She glared. "She had to send you to stop it."

"Hera didn't send me, Theia," Hercules told her quietly, shaken by her revelation. He could tell she didn't believe him. He looked up as Iolaus spoke.

"Why, Theia?" the hunter asked. "What you did … "

"Was what I had to do," the girl stated defiantly. "Do you think I like this?" she demanded suddenly. "Being forced to feed off men's emotions just to survive?" She smiled bitterly. "At least I try to give them something in return," she told them cynically. She once more reached out to touch Iolaus' face. "Was it really so bad?"

"Don't." Iolaus grasped her hand and pushed it away. "You made a choice too," he told her grimly.

Theia shook her head. "I never had any choice at all," she denied.

"Theia, let us help you," Hercules interrupted. "There has to be a way to break Hera's curse." Once more Theia twisted around to stare at him. He could see shock at his offer in her eyes. "Please … " he urged. As he watched, shock was slowly replaced by despair.

"Theia … "

As Iolaus spoke, she turned once more to look at him. "No," she whispered, interrupting. "It's too late … " She touched Hercules' arm. "Far too late … " Ignoring Iolaus' pleas she sent a whisper of power coursing through the demi-god. "I'm sorry," she told them as she met the hunter's gaze.

A wave of lust enveloped Hercules. He was aware of Theia's soft body pressed against his, her scent filling his nostrils. He had to have her … take her … He would tear …

"Hercules, NO!" Iolaus shout shattered the images in his mind. Disgust filled him. Without thinking, he thrust Theia away from him. Immediately the girl vanished. He felt Iolaus touch his arm and looked down. The hunter's blue eyes were filled with understanding and compassion. 'Was that what Theia had done to him,' he wondered.

Shaken and disturbed by what had happened, the two men stood silent for a long moment. Finally Iolaus stirred. Reaching down, he picked up the apple and turned to Hercules. "Give this back to Aphrodite the next time you see her, Herc." He tried to smile as he handed it to his friend. "Tell her … Tell her thanks."

"I will." Hercules watched as Iolaus turned towards his home. His friend was hurting. "Iolaus?" he called softly. Iolaus stopped and turned to him. "Do you want to … talk?" he asked.

"No." Iolaus shook his head. "No, thanks, Herc." He paused for a moment. "Maybe later … after … Not now."

"I understand." Hercules sighed. "If you need me … "

"I know where you'll be," Iolaus managed a sad smile. He turned back to his empty house and slipped inside.

Hercules sighed again, then turned and slowly made his way to his own home. He needed to explain to Alcmene and Jason what had happened.

Iolaus stood in the doorway and watched Hercules walk away. His friend had wanted to stay and help him, he knew, but right now all Iolaus wanted was to be alone. With a weary sigh he closed the door. For a long moment he simply stared blankly at the room, his emotions in turmoil. Every where he looked, there were signs of Theia's presence. His heart ached … for himself … for her … for what might have been …

Slowly he made his way to the table and collapsed. The house echoed emptily and he wondered if he would ever truly find someone to share it with again. A flash of color caught his attention. With a trembling hand, he reached out and pulled the material to him. Theia must have been working on it, he realized with a pang.

The color matches your eyes.

Aphrodite sniffed, watching as Iolaus finally broke down and cried. "Oh, Curly," she spoke quietly though the hunter couldn't hear her. "I promise, someday there will be someone special for you." With a soft caress of his hair and a last sniff, the goddess disappeared. "I promise."

The End.