Abandon All Hope
Chapter Ten
It wasn't long after their confrontation with the man, whom Hercules knew deep down was his friend's kidnapper, that Jason and the Argonauts finally caught up with the son of Zeus, Iphicles, and the King of Thieves and when they did, Hercules could see from their expressions that they had had just as much luck as the rest of them, but he also saw confusion and concern as well. Hercules knew what those emotions were for and waited for the first question to be thrown out.
However, before their friends could ask, Jason spoke up first saying, "We weren't able to find him or find out anything that could lead us to him. It's as if Iolaus has vanished off the face of the earth."
Hercules looked around him, then stared off in the distance through the trees surrounding the city, and responded, "He's around here somewhere. We just have to keep looking."
"The question is, where do we go next?" Domesticles asked. "If anyone around here is responsible, then they're really good at the game of deceit."
"Listen, Hercules, we know Iolaus and know that he would never be what the people throughout this city are saying about him or do all the terrible things they claim he has done, but where have these rumors and accusations come from?" Archivus asked finally without taking out his quill and writing pad as he would usually do, knowing that if Hercules agreed to tell them what was going on, that Iolaus would not wish for his story to be written, as their had made clear last night at the celebration. "Because we were out of the country with your brother, we don't know much. We asked Jason, but he told us it wasn't his place to share with us what really happened."
Phoebe nodded and then added, "If we have any chance at finding him and helping him, don't you think we ought to know the truth? If you're afraid we won't think of Iolaus the same way, don't worry. He's like a brother to me; to us. That could never happen."
The son of Zeus lowered his head, then raised it up again slowly, and answered solemnly, "You're right. There are some things that you should know. I'm just not sure where to begin."
"Just start at the beginning, with your fight in Samaria against Gilgamesh and how Iolaus died a hero," Jason replied as he stood back to listen to their friend.
"Iolaus and I were approached by an advisor to Gilgamesh, the king of Samaria, who asked us to join him on his journey back home to help the king fight a war that they were losing against their gods," Hercules began. "Iolaus tried to talk me out of agreeing to help them, but at the time, I felt that because I am the son of Zeus and have helped so many others, that it was my duty to help Gilgamesh and his people as well. So we went. To make a long story short, Gilgamesh betrayed us and used us to gain the power to destroy their gods and become one himself; thanks to help from Dahak."
Domesticles quickly asked, "You mean the stronger than god, monster that caused chaos and fear throughout most of Greece while we were gone?"
Hercules nodded and continued, "In order to free Dahak, Gilgamesh needed the heart of a warrior and planned to sacrifice his own sister to get it, but when he drove the dagger toward her, Iolaus jumped in the way to save her. The blade pierced his chest over his heart. All he had time to say was my name before he died. There was nothing… I couldn't save him no matter what I did to try. What I didn't know until sometime later, was after he died, Iolaus' soul did not go to Dumuzi, the Samarian god of the underworld, but that he had been taken by Dahak and seduced into agreeing to set him free. What Iolaus didn't know was that by agreeing to do so, Dahak was able to take possession of his body so that he could do all of what you've heard. All Iolaus wanted was to help save and protect the world from evil. Instead, Dahak destroyed all the good he's done, except in the eyes of those that truly know what's in his heart. He blames himself, for everything."
"Now I understand his reluctance and fear to tell us the truth," Phoebe spoke up again after a moment of silence as they all allowed what Hercules' was telling them to sink in. "And you destroyed Dahak and Iolaus was finally at peace."
"That is, until he came back to life, which we already know the story of, as Jason did tell us that," Archivus quickly added as he put all the pieces together. "But unfortunately, the people here in Corinth only see the monster that had once controlled Iolaus and not the good man that he is."
Domesticles said, "Which is why someone, or more than just someone, kidnapped him so that they can torture him before they kill him to make him pay for all the evil that Dahak had done."
Hercules nodded and was about to respond until he noticed Aphrodite standing nearby, motioning for him to come over so she could talk with him in private. He walked away from his friends and met up with the goddess near the city's border and away from prying eyes of the bystanders around them.
"Listen bro, I'm so sorry about Curly," Aphrodite said as he quickly leaned into him for a hug, as a gesture of comfort. "I couldn't help, but eavesdrop on that conversation you had with the rest of your friends just then. What he's gone though, it's just so awful!"
"You're right," Hercules agreed. "But none of it's his fault."
The Goddess of Love nodded as she answered, "I know. I've tried to find him myself, but I can't. It's as if he's no longer in this world."
Hercules looked at her quizzically as he replied, "This doesn't make any sense. You're the second person to say that, but he has to be here, unless…"
"Unless Hope is behind his disappearance too," Aphrodite finished his sentence for him. "She's obviously clouded my power and your abilities to find him, but why?"
"Because the last time she tried to get rid of me, Iolaus got in her way and battled Callisto to save me," Hercules responded. "She underestimated him, so now she's somehow using him in hope to finish me off for good this time."
It was then that Hope suddenly appeared to them as she spoke up saying, "You're right, Hercules. I have done as you've said and your friend is once again paying the price for your actions."
Hercules turned to her and asked angrily, "Where is he? What have you done?"
"It is not all my doing, but that of many of the people throughout Corinth, who blame Iolaus for his evil while under Dahak's possession," the Great Evil answered calmly as she revealed a window into what was happening to his friend by using her powers to create the portal.
"Why isn't he even trying to fight back?" Aphrodite asked fearfully as she and Hercules watched as three men, including Ariclytus, were taking turns afflicting him, his pain evident on his face. "Curly always has fight in him, no matter how much trouble he's in."
Hope spoke again as she replied, "He knows that he deserves to suffer."
As she snuffed the portal, Hercules moved to attack her until she disappeared in a cloud of smoke and swiftly reappeared behind them, then Hercules shouted, "Enough of this! Iolaus isn't to blame for anything Dahak did. He doesn't deserve to suffer anymore. If anyone's to blame, it's me. Let him go!"
"Are you truly willing to give your life for his?" Hope asked as she smiled.
"No, Hercules, you can't," Aphrodite quickly cut in before her brother could respond. "You're a son of Zeus and a protector of the world. I know how much Iolaus means to you, but you can't sacrifice your life for his."
Hercules glared at the goddess as he asked, "And what if I do?"
Aphrodite reached out and gently touched her brother's cheek as she answered softly, "Think about Iolaus. Think about what he would feel if you did this, for him. Do you really think that your sacrifice would help ease his pain? It would only make it worse, knowing that you died for him, just as he died fighting for you. Of all people, surely you can understand this, Hercules."
"Think about my offer," Hope said finally. "I'll be back for your answer soon. Just know that only you can save him, Hercules."
"I don't know what to do, Aphrodite," Hercules replied fearfully as he finally looked into his sister's eyes.