WAITING FOR THE NEW LIGHT TO BREAK THE DAWN

Out side the Roman ruled city of Serdica

Autolycus carried on running watching as Amica held his arm tightly as they carried on moving up the steep woodland ridge. He could see the smoke and hear the screaming still coming out from Serdica which was far off in the distance. The two huge spires could be seen even from this distance. The hundreds of winged being were still fighting above as building bellow caught fire. Autolycus looked at the trees around him as he breathed in deeply they were far enough away from the city now to watch from a distance. It had been Tartarus getting out, the buildings had been falling down and people had been running in all direction desperately trying to flee the destruction.

Amica had him led down a small underground passage which went on for miles under the city. It wasn't a very nice place to be, it had been filled with skeletons and they'd both been up to their knees with water. Most of this water was pouring down from above from all manner of things like fountains and broken villa pools. They'd gotten out along with a huge number of other people who knew the escape route as well. He breathed in again looking at his trousers they were ruined. He looked up eyeing the small blue eyed woman's robes which were also ruined he would need to have buy new clothes for her once they got past the borders and back in to Greece.

Sadly he'd need her to keep her ruined clothes for now so he could say that she was gift from a roman noble. Once back in Greece she would be considered free under the new illegal slavery laws. He just had to make up some story that owned her and was now freeing her after which, he'd have sigh her documents and there was nothing that Rome could do about it. He stroked his beard he didn't know that he'd be leaving with a young woman today but what did it matter. He eyed the city for a long moment before turning back to Amica seeing the fear in her eyes. He breathed in realizing that as much of a gentle man as he was he had no idea where to start with her.

Slaves didn't use the same protocol as the free women he was used to speaking to. For once he wished that he had Xena around she was good at this, since she was used to dealing with captured slaves. He spoke keeping his tone gentle. "I think it's safe." He put a hand on her arm. "You don't need to worry I don't think they'll fly over here." The young woman lowered her head speaking in a small voice. "They have wings." Autolycus held her arm tighter bringing her towards him not really thinking about his actions. "I made it this far with your help, so I think we'll be fine." He gave her a slight smile watching as she made a half smile which seemed unsure.

He turned only to stop as a rumbling hit the air which caused the trees branches to sway as the cobble stone under his feet vibrated violently. He turned back to the city nothing about this was good he could feel it in his gut. He looked up sharply watching in confusion as both locked spires started to vibrate. He felt the breath get caught in his throat as a huge crack moved across the white pillars stone, it carried on moving outwards. The huge white spire was beginning to crack apart which was causing it to grind against the black pillar. He looked down at the city realizing that it was too late for any one left to escape fate had now made up its mind up for them.

The huge white pillar's middle cracked fully the whole section began to slide as it came down shattering the black spire which had been supporting it causing black stone to rain down over the already broken city. The massive broken white pillar groaned as it came down shattering through its black counter part the broken black and white mass creaked as it finally fell sideways. He wanted to close his eyes he could hear the screaming as it all came down smashing through buildings and temples destroying and killing everything in its wake as it sent a dark smoke cloud upwards. He looked up only to blink in confusion as both armies of winged beings started to designate away in red and white light, disappearing in to nothingness as the sun broke through the now parting clouds.

The opening where the black spire had come through was closing up, the broken black spire was designated away in to dust along with its white counterpart revealing the dead bodies and shattered homes which it had fallen on. He looked down hoping that this what ever in Tartarus this had been that it had been was over. He didn't get a chance to comprehend that thought as a black opening appeared above the city. It was right in the centre of where both pillars had been locked. A huge black form moved through it like a dark ghost its many red eyes blinking it opened its strange wings which were hard to make out as they flowed like black smoke.

The strange demonic creature flew slowly over the city ignoring everything as it carried on moving not looking back as the black portal closed behind it. Before he even got a good look at it, its body seemed to turned in to black smoke making it impossible to see as it became no more than a distant speck on the horizon. He breathed in feeling confused for once in his life he could honestly say that he had no idea what was going on. He turned holding Amica's hand tighter he'd had enough of this! He was getting out of Rome and Amica was going to come with him. That was the last time he'd ever bother stealing from Serdica, the place was bad luck. He turned eyeing the young woman who was holding his hand well may be not all bad luck.

In central Athens Greece.

Hercules didn't think as he swung the sword slicing it through the limb of the un-dead warrior who snarled as he pulling back showing very little pain over his severed arm. Iolaus didn't think as he kicked another warrior out of the way these warriors were annoying because they just wouldn't die no matter how much you stabbed them. He breathed they were walking zombies and they never seemed to stop coming it was also obvious now that they had no back up. Aphrodite had told them both that Xena and Gabrielle weren't on the Greek shores and apparently nether was Ares. When Hercules had asked where they were she didn't want to say which was unusual for Aphrodite.

It seemed clear that she knew but for a reason that nether of them could fathom, she was keeping the truth very close to her chest. The only good thing was that they'd managed to mass at least four armies from four cities whose kings Hercules had helped in the past, but their numbers were low. That was all to clear now no matter what their numbers it meant nothing. When Tartarus had spilled open everything had come out and it wasn't just waves of a hundred or so un-dead. There were thousands coming up from the underworld most were ether zombies or skeletons and all were very hard to kill. If this was going on all over the world then he couldn't imagine what the other lands were going through.

The only thing he was truly sure of was that every thing had turned to darkness there was no more sun light breaking the clouds. The more freighting part was this darkness was in every part of Greece. That was what Aphrodite had said and he knew for a fact that this wasn't there first time. They'd both seen the red and black eclipse in the sky which had happened less than a season ago and that had done just the same thing turning the whole of Greece in a place of eternal night. It was just such a shame that when they'd gotten to the valley which had been close Messene three days later they'd found nothing apart from a war torn battlefield with a hundreds of dead werewolves lying on it, but nothing which pointed to the source.

Oddly enough that had been the worst part about this season they seemed to getting to events to late only to find that the problems had been fixed. Frankly he was beginning to think that it was just a bad season, not that it was helped by the fact that Hercules was finding himself having to deal with slavery disputes. He was sure that the bigger man was just getting worn down by all the council meetings which he had to sit through, that was the price though to make slavery illegal in every state in Greece, it meant playing the boring part of the political field. The part that meant ten days in councils at a time trying to get both sides to first agree and then sigh the parchments.

He swung his weapon again only to pull back as white lightning blasted through the zombie coming at him. It carried on moving ripping apart the others who cried out as they designated away in to red ash. Hercules turned sharply watching as his father came in to view, the king of the gods narrowed as he pulled up another lightning bolt. He turned as his father came closer throwing his lightning bolt at the other zombies opposite killing them instantly. "You're late." Zeus eyed his son as another lightning bolt formed is his hand. "I was busy killing these vile un-dead in Crete you'll have to excuse that my lateness." He threw another bolt killing more of the un-dead.

He shrugged his shoulders this was rather fun although he would never admit that openly. He eyed his son again watching as red ash floated past him. "Every god on Olympus is now fighting in every region of Greece my son and we will win this war, this un-dead army will not make it in to central Greece!" He pulled out his hand watching as shock wave of white light blasted outwards sending thousands of skeletons flying in to mid air. He tensed, yes this was rather enjoyable it reminded him of the days when he had been young and had been full of rage which he couldn't always control and hadn't used well.

This had been a very long day he had done nothing but fight the un-dead and he wasn't sure if they were winning. All he did know was that every one in Greece mortal or god was trying to stop these armies. He had never seen so many mortals take arms and a small part of him was proud of that, at least he would know no that should Greece ever need to rise for any great war that they would with out question. He didn't think as he threw another huge lightning bolt watching as tour through more un-dead like a hot knife through butter. He felt his fingers tingle. This strange feeling carried on moving up his arm he turned sharply seeing all un-dead freeze in mid motion like statues unable to move forward any further.

He turned slowly just in time to watch as somewhere in the far distance the green and white spire of light from the underworld flew skywards hitting the clouds. He blinked watching as the clouds instantly parted causing the sun light to pour in the spire turned in midair moving downwards it hit the ground causing white light to fill the sky as the sun carried on breaking through. The un-dead warriors started to scream as the sun light fell upon them, there bodies all started to sink slowly in to the ground. They began to struggle violently. Zeus found a smile forming on his lips as he watched them all sink further in to the ground. He ignored their screams of anger as they were forced back in to the underworld.

Hades power had returned and it was obvious that his brother was using it to its full force. The zombies and skeletons warriors sunk even further in to the earth there arms flailing as they struggled powerless against his brothers full might. The first vanished followed by others he looked up again at the sun light which was now spreading fully across the sky. He could feel the relief as he put his hands together ignoring his son and his friends surprise, C'thulon had shown them mercy. He closed his eyes this had felt like the longest day of his existence and a part of him had done nothing but pray for the sun to return once more. He opened his eyes enjoying its warm rays, where ever Ares was in Mexica he hoped that he was safe.

Hercules lowered his weapon looking at the empty field now in front of them. "What just happened?" Zeus breathed in deeply as he put his hand through his beard. "The elder god has shown us mercy." Iolaus looked around him in confusion. "Then you mean this is over and Hades now has his power back?" Zeus nodded as he looked up. "Yes Hades powers have returned, the underworld can now be closed and its un-dead put back to sleep." Hercules turned watching as the warriors fighting around them stopped confused by the whole situation. Some how he hadn't expected this to happen. He breathed deeply lowering his sword feeling the sweat and blood which was running down his shoulder from an earlier wound which had been a very lucky shot by an un-dead warrior.

He watched as Iolaus lowered his weapon breathing in deeply as he tried to get his breath back, they'd been fighting almost all day. It had been a truly long day he leaned over patting his friends shoulder. A part of him was truly relived that this had ended at long last but it was not was without conscience. Three cities had paid the price for the fighting two were almost destroyed and would have to be rebuilt the others had been set on fire. A fire which would burn in to night until it was finally put out. He knew that before he would have a chance to fix things here him and Iolaus would have to go there to help those who hadn't been as fortunate.

In the central city of Thebes in Egypt.

Anubis roared as golden fire blasted past him it turned the yellow sands in to shining glass plates which cracked as the fire dissipated. He turned eyeing Sekhmet in disgust he watched as her face which that of a lion formed a smile filled with razor sharp teeth. He narrowed his gaze. "Watch, where you aiming!" Sekhmet sneered slightly. "Yes well it's a shame I missed, after all I wouldn't be out of bed if it weren't for you. Here I was having such a nice nap and then Isis ends up walking in to my bed chamber with out knocking and it's all your fault!" She twitched her clawed fingers looking up at Thebes's huge wall which stood behind them.

So far five cities had fallen due to the jackal gods out of control werewolf army. The worst part of it all was that they'd ransacked a place then kill all the men. After that they would took control over the cities remaining inhabitants. That was how Anubis liked to work with his enemies in that he killed them off but kept their women and children alive so he could get them to worshiping him. She pushed her head dress further down feeling her huge mane under it as she turned seeing the huge army waiting behind them. Every man who could fight was now making a final stand in Thebes. Almost the entire army of Egypt the ones that hadn't died had also took up position here awaiting this final stand.

The gods had, had no choice but to step in now and fight along side them, Thebes could not fall. Cleopatra the first ever female pharaoh and now the owner of the upper and lower kingdom she had said that she wouldn't allow it to happen. She would put every man on the line to stop the un-dead werewolf army which was now on its way here. The only good thing was that the normal un-dead didn't care for fighting they were walking around causing no damage. Ironically the only reason for this was because the elite werewolf army was out in force and in the underworld their job was to guard them. So the were so whipped that they were behaving despite that the elite army had no control over what it was doing.

Trust the stupid bastard to create something he couldn't control, she shifted her weight feeling her clawed feet move across the sand as she swung her long lion's tail. Anubis sneered eyeing the lion goddess who was dressed in long white robes with its golden, red and purple jewelled belt. "Oh please it's not like you ever do anything important other than sleeping." He sniggered slightly. "Obviously you were getting your rest before going out at night to walk along with all the other pet cats?" He moved his clawed fingers. "Being the lazy fat cat that you are it must be easy to sleep all day." Sekhmet flicked her tail. "This coming from the idiot, who can't even control his own armies this isn't the first time where've had to clean up your mess. If I'm not mistaken your reputation for trouble is matching that of Ares the Greek war god." Anubis roared in anger as he turned to her. "We are nothing alike!" Sekhmet twitched slightly watching as his ears lowered as he pulled back his gums showing off his white teeth. "Actuality you are, you're both idiots who think of nothing more than ruling the world. It's pathetic you should grow up and realize that your nothing more than a guardian of the damned!"

"Silence your selves!"

Ra turned eyeing both the jackal god and lion goddess who licked her teeth in disgust before looking away. "You are not here to squabble you're here to save Thebes!" He turned his head slowly to face the god next to him who was quite and calm as always. His white glowing eyes staring out in to the distance as he raised his hand with it dimmed golden gauntlets. "Can you feel them?" Osiris nodded playing with his simple white long robes with its long sleeves as he adjusted his red material belt. He eased up his crown with its white feathered edges on both sides. He was not a man who cared for jewels what did jewels matter anyway they held little material value to him. He moved his hand in a gentle flowing motion as he turned Ra. "They are coming."

Ra eyed the un-dead god whose job it was to rule paradise unlike Anubis who ruled the damned. Both had lost control of there un-dead but Osiris's un-dead along with Anbuis's were being well behaved and causing no trouble. They were all scaring people though by walking back in to there homes inside the cities without realizing that they were un-dead. He turned hearing the rumbling in the distance the rumbling of a million clawed werewolf feet hitting the sands. He breathed looking at the dark sky what he wouldn't give to see the sun come out once more. The only real light was coming from lit torches from the city above. He took in a deep breath hearing the rumbling get louder.

He looked up instantly seeing the mass of red eyes and un-dead werewolf bodies appeared over the horizon in there thousands all bearing weapons and amour. He could hear them roaring as they carried on coming like a swarm of locusts undeterred by anything in there way. There un-dead bodies tensed as they got ready for battle. He raised both his hand slowly reading himself he hated cleaning up Anbuis's mess, but then what was new he was constantly having to clean up after him because he was a bigger a pain as the bastard Greek god of war. So maybe it wasn't all that surprising that he'd create an un-dead werewolf army which he had no control over.

Osiris moved his hand in a slow flowing motion, hearing all the weapons behind them move in to position ready for battle. Along with the sound of the weapons shifting in to place as every warrior took up position on the wall. He paused watching as the werewolf army thundered closer like an unstoppable swarm this was going to be intriguing. He moved his fingers watching as the golden light flowed out of them only to stop as sun light suddenly broke through the dark clouds above. It moved outward lighting everything. He ignored the murmurs of confusion from the mortal army. He felt a smile creep across his face as he watched the confusion appear in all the faces of the werewolf army.

They seemed to slow as they got closer a blast of sand flew through the air as thousands of clawed feet stopped all at once on the hot sands. He eased up his hand eyeing Ra and Sekhmet who were about to throw fireballs. "Stop do not fire!" He watched as the last of the sand flew past revealing the huge army which had come to a complete stop with in a meter of them. He moved his hand watching as the light disappeared. "My powers have returned I feel them." He watched as the fire disappeared as both gods stopped there actions as he turned to Anubis. "Do you not feel your powers returning?" Anubis didn't think as he shoved past Sekhmet ignoring her snarl of anger he moved towards his elite army commander.

He didn't think as he smashed his fist in to his face hearing his howl of pain as he hit the floor hard. "You foolish un-dead werewolf, I did not command you to destroy cities!" He grabbed him by the throat heaving him in to mid air before throwing him with all his might in to the others. He didn't think as he roared watching as they all stepped back the fear and terror in their faces. "You will repair the damage you have done or so help I will make the remainder of your un-dead lives miserable!" He turned watching as they stepped back further as the sun came out fully he had no idea what had happened today but it was never going to happen again! He eyed the other gods and the armies who were lowering there weapons, he moved his clawed finger he was going to find out what had caused this mess who ever had played with his army wasn't going to get away with it!

End of part 121

Silvermoonlight

The end scene is a nod to Return To Me by DMX.