Chapter 10 – Gauntlet thrown

For the next two days things went pretty civil, with Heracles and his men making merry with the Amazons – talking and practicing their combat skills, namely honing said skills in the training grounds.

Heracles had initially wanted to sack Themyscira the following evening, but after the talk with Ares he decided not to act just yet. That way he and his men could place the Amazons in a falser sense of security, as well as put to rest any suspicions the Amazons might still have towards him and his men.

Plus, there was also the Amazon's eunuch friend to consider, and while Heracles was many things, leaving anything to chance was not one of them…

For Kal, Menalippe and Aella the makeshift trio kept their guard up and their eyes sharp. They were polite towards the demi-god and his posse when needed, but that was as far as their kindness went.

Fortunately the trio found other allies in several other Amazons as well and as they told the latter parties what Heracles was very well planning, the Amazons agreed with coming up with as many strategies as possible, that way when Heracles made his move, they would be ready for them. The tricky part though, was how to keep up the pretense that all the Amazons were not suspicious of Heracles and his men by this point. Not only that, but since a great deal many of the Amazons were already taken with Heracles and his men, that made it difficult for Kal and the others to get ahold of every Amazon, much less convince them what Heracles was really planning.

Despite not knowing know how to go about it initially, Kal did encourage the idea of preparing for every possible scenario. In fact, throughout the whole process Kal couldn't help but wonder if this was the kind of thinking Bruce had when he came up with a plan – even though in Kal's case, his own processing of information worked at a level much faster than Bruce's.

But then again, I know what Heracles is planning to do. So it's just a matter of trying to come up with ways to counter it or if not, have him spring his trap but have it to where he ends up getting caught in it.

As Kal was doing this, he couldn't help but see Heracles try to charm Hippolyta at times which bothered him. Although Kal wasn't attracted to the Queen in a romantic sense, that didn't mean he was oblivious in any way, for he could easily see that Hippolyta was a stunning woman, and one whom any guy would be fortunate enough to have. But somebody like Heracles – and even if the latter wasn't planning on sacking the city – Kal could already tell that the demigod was the kind of guy who would take advantage of the Amazon Queen's kind nature. And that was something Kal wasn't going to stand for.

I just hope we can stop Heracles before it's too late.

After he was done training at the grounds – with some Amazons watching from a distance – Kal then headed back over to his makeshift lodge and then headed over to the gardens since he had kind of promised the Amazon gardeners he would help them out, which he did, which once again surprised the Amazons with his skill. After that he then headed over to the bath-house, but upon seeing that Heracles' men were there, Kal then snuck off to find a spring outside the city, in hopes that no one was there. Fortunately there wasn't so he was able to wash up there.

When he returned, he found Theseus of all people coming to him saying that Heracles had requested to speak with Kal as a way of breaking bread and making peace after what happened a few days ago. Despite his misgivings about the whole thing, but not wanting to arouse suspicion, Kal agreed.

"Ah, just the man I was looking for!" Heracles said jovially as Kal and Theseus entered the makeshift quarters Heracles was using for his stay in Themyscira.

"You wished to speak with me?" Kal asked, not giving away anything in the tone of his voice.

"Yes." Heracles said. "I know we still have some time before the Amazon's big gathering tonight, but I just wanted to speak with you personally to make some peace over what happened a few days ago. I won't deny that I was brash, but one could say it is a…character flaw I have, particularly whenever I am in the heat of battle." He then paused for a moment before taking a goatskin filled with ale and poured himself a mug before handing it off to Theseus, who poured some for himself.

"But fortunately though, I do tend to think things clearly after the fact, especially when one has good drinks on hand."

"So what say you Kal? Shall we let bygones be bygones?" Heracles asked as he put his hand out.

Kal wanted nothing more than to take Heracles' hand, crush it to gravel, and then punch him halfway to the moon, but knowing he couldn't give away that he was on to the demigod's plans Kal reluctantly shook Heracles' hand. "Very well." He lied.

"Wise choice." Heracles said. "But I certainly hope this does not mean you would turn down a chance to spar with me, I hope?" Heracles wondered. "I always am one to seek and relish a challenge when it comes along."

"Well, perhaps tomorrow we can spar."

"Then let it be so!" Heracles called out boisterously. "And in fact, to mark this occasion, let us drink to it!" He then reached for another goatskin and poured a drink for Kal, which he then handed to him.

Kal then took the drink and wondered if he should even bother, but in needing to keep up pretenses, he then took a sip of it, not realizing what it was he was drinking, nor noticing the cruel grin on the demigod's face after the former drank some of the ale.

"So how is the ale?" Heracles asked, trying not to grin so widely at how Kal just drank it so easily, but if the latter was suspicious of him and tried not to show it, he would drink it, and that was something Heracles was counting on.

"It feels…" Kal said as he tried to complete his sentence, but then he dropped his mug and collapsed to the floor, holding his stomach a he cried out in pain.

"I'm sorry, I did not hear that. Care to repeat yourself?" Heracles asked with a taunting tone. "Well, I must say, you seem rather ill. But don't worry, the pain will subside in due time. It just won't be for the moment."

"How…did you…?" Kal strained as he tried to fight to speak.

"A parting gift from my distant relative Ares, and I do mean distant." Heracles replied mockingly. "I have been planning on giving the Amazons something quite…special tonight, but then Ares told me that there was a…unforeseen hitch in the plan, particularly you being that hitch, although I cannot wonder why." Heracles explained. "But it doesn't really matter at this point, especially since the enchantment in the drink is doing its job, and quite well it seems."

"You…are…not…going to…succeed…"

"Are you so certain of that?" Heracles asked as he nonchalantly picked up Kal by his neck. "My men have already charmed their way into the Amazons' hearts, including Hippolyta and her sister Antiope, so what exactly makes you think I won't succeed? Unless you're just jealous that I managed to gain not just the Amazon's trust, but their affection."

Kal just glared at Heracles.

"Either way, I plan on teaching Hippolyte and her sisterhood a lesson for the former's boasts about me, and I have no intention of allowing anyone to prevent me from carrying it out!"

"And yet…you haven't…wondered…if those so-called boasts…are untrue, do you?" Kal said as he strained his voice, but it wasn't because of the grip Heracles had, but because of the magic poison coursing through his body.

After Kal spoke, Heracles' eyes boiled with rage as he slammed Kal against the wall.

"If you really believe that a woman is incapable of spouting lies, then you truly are blinded by Hippolyte's teachings."

"The only one…who's blinded here…is you." Kal retorted.

"So you say," Heracles said dismissively as he then dropped Kal. "But as much as I would like nothing more than to teach you a lesson outright for your insults towards me two days ago, I have something better in store for you. I will allow you to live with the realization that you can do nothing to help these harlots, I want you to hear their cries for help, their pleas to stop, and only after I and my men are done breaking them completely, then I will come back here, and I will end you."

Kal's eyes then narrowed in rage, which would normally cause his cerulean eyes to glow red, but the poison seemed to react to how he was feeling and flared up more, causing him to shout in pain as he doubled over.

"But in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the true festivities to follow. Come Theseus! We have a party to celebrate."

And so Heracles left along with two other men who had been waiting outside and Theseus following close behind, the latter now feeling a great sense of guilt as he looked at Kal one more time before closing the door and heading off to deal with the Amazons once and for all.

As Kal strained to get up despite the burning pain coursing through his body, the only thought going through his mind was one thing.

Sometimes I really, really hate magic.