A shadow crept along a thin line of an old path. Lust, green and wild grass had grown all over the walkway. The once bright golden path was now taken over by the green. Only glimpse of the once proud track could be seen through the blades of grass as Alexis' foot pushed against it. His eyes scanned across the over grass plains as faint images played in his head. The sounds of laughter, tears, joy and sadness filled his mind. Every corner he saw, soft images of childhood came to light. A deep sadness entered his heart as the memories flowed, like short clips of his life. Alexis took in a deep breath. 'Wow, so much have changed. I guess no one took care of this place.' Sadness entered his heart. The world moved on when the hero had passed. Guilt had crept inside of Alexis. He had abandoned this place that he had once called home. He continued to walk along the forgotten path until he reached the iron gate. Alexis gazed up at the old gate. Time was not kind to the metal structure. Rust had eaten its way through the bars and vines choked on them. The once proud bronze men that were plastered on the gates were covered in the earthly element. A rusted heavy chain bound the gates together with a lock. Alexis wondered over to the right side of the gate. He reached up and removed the nails from the gate. Alexis pressed his hands against the old, rusty bars. The gate groaned and the dirt resisted, leaving just enough space for Alexis to wriggle between wall and the gate.
Once freed, he gazed at the land that had laid before him. A flood of sadness had filled his heart as he walked along the path. The old leaves covered the trail and plants grew uncontrollably. Years have taken its toll on this old villa. It was once a proud building but now it was dressed in vines and dirt. The soul of the place was no longer there and all that was left remained in ruin. The white pillars that surround half way around the villa were unrecognisable. They stood like a wild hedge and the only life within them came from the insects and small birds nested within in them. Alexis walked passed it and echoes of his family's laughter entered his mind. Memories that had faded with time began to stir within the man. He marched to the wooden door. Once it was thick and strong, now filled with holes and weaken by the elements. With a loud resisting creak, the door was opened, and Alexis walked in.
Dust and dirt caked the old house. The walls crumbled with faded paint and artworks barely seen. The sounds of breathing and Alexis' footsteps echoed through the place. No evidence of any life living in the villa was to be seen. Alexis sighed and continued to walk further into the old villa. 'Wow, its like as if time had stop here.' He pondered as he looked upon the old stair case. How many times did he and his brother rush up and down those stairs? He saw the old couch and remembered how he used to fall asleep on it. He was trying to stay awake waiting for his father to return home. Only to wake up back in his bed and Hercules waiting down stairs for breakfast. He had longed for those days again. He walked up to the old family room. Lounges had not been moved, Meg's old scroll still lay open unto it. An old game half played and untouched was nested on the table. Alexis walked to up to the old fireplace and his hand reached for an old urn. With a gentle stroke of hand, revealed an old painting of his family. He sighed as he gazed upon it. It was a simple picture. Two adult figures, one the great Hercules and the Beloved Megara, each holding their precious treasures. Two little babies being held by each parent. It was impossible to tell who was held who. A small tear fell from his eyes. He shook his head and placed it back. 'No time for this, I gotta…'
'Alexis? Aexis?' The sounds of his brother's calls echoed through the house. Alexis' eyes widen as he turned around. 'Zack? How did he..?' The sons of Hercules were face to face with each other. Zack sighed in a mixture of relief and frustration. Alexis looked at Zack. 'How did you know where I was?' Zack folded his arms and raised his eyebrow. 'Are you kidding me? You had clippings and drawing all about mysterious sightings of dad. And all of them pointing to home. Plus, I gotta feeling that you would come here. We must go. Something is not right here.' Alexis groaned and rubbed his forehead out of frustration. 'Look, I know it sounds strange but know Dad is here. Maybe not his body, but his spirit or something.' Zack sighed and placed his hand on his forehead. His fingers rubbed against his forehead. 'Alexis, please, stop this endless quest. Dad is gone and so is mum. You are only gonna hurt yourself.' Alexis shook his head. 'I know he is here. I can feel it. Why else would there be any sightings of him?' Zack sighed and rubbed his arms. 'Alexis…'
Bright light flooded the room instantly and the brothers raised their hands to shield their eyes. As soon as that brightness entered, it flickered away. 'What was that?' Zack turned to his brother. A faint glow barely caught the eye of Alexis, as it flickered at the top of the stair case. Alexis placed a finger on his lips to silent Zack. Alexis quickly but quietly walked over to a hidden door just under the staircase. He gently pushed it out and pulled out one of Hercules' old swords from the small room. As a child, he remembered how Hercules kept a few weapons in that room just in case the family was attacked. Zack pulled out his own sword that he smuggled from Persia. Two men slowly walked up the old staircase, following the light.
The light escaped through the cracks that surrounded the door. Both brothers recognised that room. It was their old bedroom. Alexis and Zack went on opposite sides of door. A rush of air was sucked into Zack's lungs. He raised his hand. Alexis slowly grabbed the door handle. He looked at Zack. Zack did a silent count down, as his fingers went down from three…two… one. Alexis pushed the door wide opened and both men leaped into the room. Then they froze and their jaws drop. There a faint figure stood, looking over the old beds that the men once slept in. A glow surrounded the figure and appeared to be a man. Strands of reddish-golden hair flowed from his head down to his neck. A blue cape draped down the strong, broad shoulders of the faint figure. Zack's eyes widen and his mouth was as dry as a bone. 'Dad?' A faint voice escaped Zack's lips.
The figure quickly disappeared the moment the sound was made. Alexis gasped and reached his arm out. 'No wait, come back.' He reached for the spot where it was. Zack couldn't believe his eyes. 'That was…no…it can't be.' Alexis looked at him. 'See, I knew I wasn't crazy. You saw dad. He is here.' Zack shook and rubbed his head. 'But it doesn't make any…' Then Alexis went flying into the wall. 'ALEXIS!?' The figure reappeared again, this time he was more solid and held Alexis up against the wall. Alexis gasped as he saw into his face. His signature reddish-golden hair sat as it always does. Even his sweat band circled around his head. Alexis stared straight into his eyes…but none was there. Hercules' blue and kind eyes were gone. All that filled in the eye sockets was golden light, his eyes were nowhere to be seen. Fear shook Alexis' body as he poured into…this ghostly figure's eyes socket. Zack leaped onto this glowing ghostly figure. 'DAD, STOP. IT IS US.' He grabbed his arm and tried to get it to let go of Alexis. 'WE'RE YOUR SONS.' The figure then turned his head to other man. The arm, that Zack was pulling on, gripped Zack's shirt. He lifted Zack high into the air as if he was nothing more than a feather. Zack's widen eyes and held onto his hand for dear life. He stared into the soulless eyes of this…whatever this thing was. 'AAAGGGGHHHH!' Zack screamed as he was sent flying through the wall. The force was so great that Zack crashed through three walls. He groaned as he landed on his old parents' bed. 'ZACK!' Alexis yelled and lifted his feet. He placed them against the figure's chest. He pushed with all his might. The figure stared at him and raised it eyebrow. Alexis' effort was completely pointless. Alexis gulped as the figure stared into his eyes. 'Listen, I don't know if you are in there. But you gotta remember. It's me, Alexis. I know I've grown a lot. But I am your son. You remember right? You used to play with us, Heroes and Monsters. I broke my leg, when I fell off Pegasus. I still have the scare of my leg. See? You refused to leave my side and felt so bad that I fell. Even to the point, where you yelled at Phil. You remember Phil? The satyr that trained you. Please you gotta remember who we are. Who you are. You would never hurt us. Please remember.' Alexis' voice begged and pleaded with it. The figure looked at him and his glowing eyes slowly soften. His hand still held the mortal. Alexis' felt being moved away from the wall. But the Hercules figure did not loosen his grip. He came to open his mouth to speak.
BLAST, the figure went flying to other side of the room. Alexis fell onto his old bed. The structured cracked and snap in half. Years of decay have taken its toll on the bed. Alexis turned saw what looked a female warrior stood there. Her skin glowed a perfect blue and an aurora surrounded her. A blue helmet sat upon her head, with her firm face showing. Her blonde hair flowed out of her helmet as a ponytail. Her azure blue chition was covered by a sapphire breast plate, matching her cape. It flowed off her shoulders and down her back. Dark blue arm bands wrapped around her forearms. Against her black belt hung her bronze sword. She drew it from her side and marched forward. Alexis' eyes stared at her in shock. 'Zinera?'
'You won't harm him.' The goddess spoke. Alexis looked up at her, in awe and shock. His examined her as she walked forward into the bedroom. She looked at Alexis with her deep ocean eyes. 'Run.' A voice echoed in his mind, almost in a whispered. Alexis noticed that her wrist slightly flicked. SWOOSH, 'AHHH!' Alexis flew out of the room and into the corridor. BANG! The door slammed shut. Strong lights of blue and yellow exploded against the door. Alexis ducked as the lights blasted through the door. Rocks crumbled around him and he slowly looked up. A massive hole showed the battle down on the earth. A mixture of blue and yellow light and the sound of clashing metal echoed. Alexis' mind raced. All this time. She was a goddess and is battling his father's…. spirit (whatever it was) on the field. 'I have to get down there. I gotta save him.' Alexis turned to grab his sword. Then a soft sound just barely made his ear. 'Alexis.' He turned to the whisper. His brother lay on the floor, holding his side. Alexis bit his lip. He turned and saw the battle, raging on. Then looked back at his twin laying on the floor.
Zack groaned as he was being lifted. He slowly opened his eyes. His hand been lifted and wrapped around a head. His heavy body leaned against another built frame. 'Easy Zack. I got you.' Alexis carried him down the stairs. One arm wrapped around Zack's side and held him against his body. He could hear the battle raging on and on. He tried with his all his strength not to give in to it yet. He needed to get his brother safe first. Alexis carried Zack down into the storage unit of their house. All of Hercules old weapons were stored there and bits of old furniture. Dust was eating away them. He saw an old couch and laid Zack on there. Zack groaned and held his side. He looked up at Alexis. 'What the hell is going on here? What the hell was that thing? And the battle? Was that a goddess? It looked like Zinera.' Alexis sighed. 'I don't know. I don't know. Oh gods, I wish I did.' Alexis held his hair and slightly pulled at it. Zack sighed and groaned. 'Alexis, how did it so…messy?' Alexis took a deep breath and grabbed a sword. 'I'm gonna clean it up. Stay here.' He marched to the door.
Zack felt a chill down his spin. He gripped a hidden dagger, that just lay beside him. 'DUCK.' Zack threw the dagger and Alexis dropped to the floor. 'AAAHHHGGGHHH!' A high-pitched scream echoed the room. The dagger glowed a hot red and a smoky, shadow appeared. 'You brats.' A hissed escaped from the wall. Alexis gasped and quickly stood up. He glared and held the sword in hand, aiming to the darkness. Yellow, seductive eyes appeared on the wall. An outline of the figure appeared, a slim and seductive female body. The shadow's head slowly pushed off against the wall. It became more solid and her facial feature appeared. Her perfect, red lips smirked. 'Well, well, how the little boys have grown.' Her purple, left hand reached over and removed the dagger from her right hand. The golden handle of the dagger had the symbol of a lightning bolt on it. The cut on her hand, simply vanished, with no trace of blood. She smirked and floated toward Alexis. Her whole body was a light shade of purple and her lilac dress hugged her body. It flowed down and the bottom curled like smoke against the wind. Her black hair flowed like it was under water. Being pushed up and twisting and turning into the air. Alexis glared. 'Stop there. Which crazy goddess are you?' She smirked and placed her hand on her hips. 'Oh, didn't daddy tell you about little old goddess of Chaos?' Zack glared and tried to sit up. 'Eris, I know all about you. You start an international war.' Eris smirked and disappeared. 'And it was glorious. All that chaos, that started with a little apple.' Her voice rang in their ears as their eyes searched for her. She smirked and her ghostly form reappeared behind Zack as he lay on the couch. Her smoky hands slowly moved down from shoulders over his chest. 'Did someone get hurt by daddy?' She whispered seductive against his ear. Zack tried to suppress a groaned as her hand pressed against his wound.
Alexis glared and reached for the dagger. He threw it at her. 'Don't touch him.' She vanished before it hit her. 'Oh, very protective about big brother.' She appeared behind his back against his body. 'Tell me, Alexis, what is it you want? Your brother all healed up? To be a hero?' She whispered against his ear. 'To have your father back?' Alexis froze at the mention of that. She smirked. 'I can bring him back. Make him remember who you are to him.' Alexis' body slightly soften. His mind racing through that possibility. Hercules was alive, maybe he could have him back. Hebe would finally have her father. They could connect and be a family once again. Zack looked at him, very worried. He knew no good would come of this. He can see Alexis giving into the temptation. 'No Alexis. Don't listen to her...' Eris waved her hand and Zack could no longer speak. His voice had vanished. She smirked as Zack gasped and tried to make any sound. Eris gently cupped Alexis' cheek and made him turned to face her. 'I can bring him back to you, Alexis. After all, I sent you to him. All those scroll they were from me.' Her hand ran through his hair and stroked his cheek. She lifted his chin and made him look into her eyes. 'I knew you would be the one to see the truth. Not even, your own brother believed you. And yet, here we are. You saw him, it is really Hercules. Just lost, but we can help him find his way.' Alexis looked at her, being more drawn into her spell. He knew that she wanted something more from him. This was not the type of goddess that would give freely. There is always a catch He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. 'You always have a price. What is it?' Eris smirked at him and gently raised her two fingers near his face. 'Oh, just two small things, you won't even miss them.' Then she gently tapped his nose, twice.