Beyond Hades: The Prometheus Wars (30 page)

An Olympian sword easily cleaved her beautiful neck, her head toppling to the side and falling to the ground with a soft thud. The mists filling his mind parted, but horror still filled Talbot, swiftly replaced by rage, and he launched himself at his beloved's assailant, reaching for eyes, anything to avenge his stolen passions.

"Control yourself, human," commanded his target, quickly securing his flailing arms. Talbot tried to bite him, but found himself spun to face the object of his desire. "Look at what you were about to embrace," the voice hissed, forcing his gaze down.

Lying before him on the rough shale, a hideous carcass mocked Talbot, and he frantically searched for the body of his beloved to no avail. The wonderful sunlight which had glowed only moments before had also disappeared. He looked at the
thing
once more, noting the torn and shabby ashen shift it wore, empty, drooping gray breasts hanging from an emaciated ribcage. His eyes moved down, noting with horror the vulture-like legs which sprouted from the creature's waist, wasted remnants of feathers where the pubic region should have been.

The arms were human, apart from the blackened claws extending from the fingertips, something green and toxic-looking dripping from their ends. Talbot's gaze moved to the decapitated head, wisps of gray hair sticking out in clumps from its irregularly-shaped cranium, the face -

Oh dear GOD!

A sharp, hooked beak protruded from the center of the creature's face, full of horrific, shark-like teeth. The teeth themselves shone green and gangrenous, saliva dripping from them and hissing slightly as it touched the stone. Wrinkled gray skin folded around a scabby and diseased face, several malignant-looking warts sprouting from the cheeks. And then Talbot saw the eyes....

They were the eyes of the woman who had sung to him, entrancing him with the most wondrous emotions. Those eyes appeared completely out of place, and Talbot struggled to comprehend what had happened.

"It is called a seiren," explained his captor, loosening his grip slightly, but not completely. "Her song entranced you."

Talbot looked around, panicked. "Where is Wes?" he asked.

"I do not know," replied the man holding him. "What is a 'Wes'?"

"He's my companion," said Talbot. "Let me go, I promise not to attack you again."

"Well that shall save me many sleepless nights," mocked the man. Talbot felt the grip on his arms release.

Talbot turned to find himself staring straight into the chest of the man. A black leather-like vest and dark pants swathed a frame second only to that of the late Heracles. Talbot stared up, noting this man stood only a couple of inches shorter than Heracles had. Black hair cascaded down to his muscular shoulders, surrounding a face of almost feminine beauty, which radiated an emotional aloofness bordering on haughtiness.

"Who are you?" asked Talbot, though he felt sure he already knew the answer.

The man smirked. "I am Hades, lord of this domain."

"Well, aren't you a lucky fucker," called the voice of Wes.

Talbot turned, spying Wes sitting on a rock about twenty yards away, the sword of Chiron in his hands, and the head of a second Seiren at his feet.

"Hey Hades, is this your girlfriend?" asked the commando. "Because she was a bitch!" Talbot glanced at Hades, noting with some small satisfaction that the self-proclaimed 'lord' appeared slightly perturbed.

"How did you overcome a seiren?" asked Hades, trying to conceal his discomfort.

Wes stood up, kicking the hideous head away like a soccer ball. "It's not hard to see a bitch for what she really is," he said maliciously, glaring at Hades. Talbot heard the hidden insult beneath the words and the stare, and he glanced at Hades. The Olympian had understood the challenge as well.

"I saved your companion from her sister," remarked Hades. "He was about to succumb to the seiren's kiss."

"Yeah well, he's one of those scientist types. They don't get laid much." Wes made a point of shining his nails on the front of his commando fatigues. "Now me on the other hand... well, I don't like to boast, but I've had more fluff than a vacuum cleaner. You know what I mean?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about," admitted Hades. "Did you actually answer me amidst everything you just said?"

Wes rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, mate. It's simple, the bitch was calling, but I didn't want to listen. It's easy to see through things when you know what to look for. Take you for example."

Hades raised a questioning eyebrow, seeming to puff himself out slightly as well. "Yes?"

"You're a snobby, spoilt kid, who decided he wanted to be a king," said Wes, twirling Chiron's sword absently. "Now you're the king of this place, but it don't mean shit because this place sucks. So you're trying to impress us and make us think you're something special, when the truth is you need
us
much more than we need
you.
"

Hades took a step back in shock, causing Talbot to think nobody had ever dared to speak to him with such insolence before, but he also guessed Wes had hit pretty close to the mark with his assessment.

"
How dare you?
" roared Hades.

In a move of amazing speed, Wes suddenly had the large man on his knees, the sword of Chiron forced close to his throat. "I dare, fuck-head," hissed the commando. "I put up with Heracles acting a bit special because I liked him. I
don't
like you, you arrogant prick. Let's just get that clear from the start. We need your assistance, but don't think for a second I'll scrape and bow just because you imagine yourself to be some sort of god. I'll be able to suck my own dick before the day arrives when I show respect for a bitch like you."

If Hades had any difficulty understanding what Wes said, he definitely had no trouble recognizing his actions. Sweat beaded on the bigger man's brow, and his features were etched with pain as Wes held his wrist in a lock with his left hand. Chiron's sword appeared in the other, ready to plunge home at the slightest indication of resistance from Hades.

"Do you understand me?"

Hades ceased struggling and nodded. Wes released him and stepped back, wielding Chiron's sword in case Hades attacked with the weapon he still gripped in his right hand. The larger man did not attack, however. In fact he looked totally broken; his gaze refusing to meet Wes or Talbot, his shoulders slumped forward.

"What you are saying is true," Hades finally admitted. "I need you to seal the rifts my people once opened. I am impotent in this matter, just as I am impotent in this realm."

The large man sighed heavily. "I asked to rule this place in the hope I could build up an army powerful enough to return home and seize control of Olympia from that fool, Zeus. The inhabitants of this place - the race of beings like Kharon - were intensely powerful, but also easily misled. I don't know why I tell you this, perhaps because you are the only creatures who haven't held me in awe... or at least the first in many years. I assume it's been years, since time does not occur here in the same way it does elsewhere."

"What do you mean?" interrupted Talbot.

Hades looked up. "Time does not exist in this place. Why else do you think I would choose to stay on here once my subjects were killed and the rifts were closed by the people of Olympia? In this world I am immortal!"

"Yeah," said Wes, "you're an eternal pain in the arse, that's for sure. How about you tell us something useful, instead of whining about how miserable your life has been up until this point. Time might be unlimited here, but that doesn't mean my patience is."

Hades shook his head and stood. "We must go to my citadel where I can send you through the gate and into Tartarus."

"But you won't be coming, of course," mocked Wes bitterly.

Hades's gaze snapped up, shock evident upon his features. "Me enter Tartarus? Are you mad?"

Wes shook his head, scorn evident upon his features. "At least Heracles had some balls. The rest of you clowns make me sick. Well, how are we going to get there, ladyboy Joe?"

If Hades understood the insult, he chose to ignore it. Lifting his fingers to his lips, he emitted a shrill whistle. Within moments, Talbot felt the ground vibrating under his feet and snapped a glance at Wes, who appeared tense, the sword of Chiron held firmer in his hand and his eyes fixed on Hades. The lord of this dead world merely stood waiting.

Two enormous black horses appeared on the horizon, hauling a golden chariot, similar in crafting to the one the bronze Khalkotauroi bulls had pulled. As they got closer, Talbot realized the beasts also resembled the bronze bulls in engineering; presumably also created by Hephaestus.

The ebony horses were not as bulky as the bulls had been, but Talbot had a feeling their speed would be greater, evidenced by the rate at which they approached. Within seconds of Hades whistling, the horses had arrived, halting beside them, their glowing red eyes further evidence of the power sustaining them. All three climbed into the chariot - Talbot somewhat awkwardly - and Hades swung a small gate closed before collecting the reins.

Hades snapped the reins, and the two powerful beasts exploded into their harnesses, their matt-black metal hides rippling like flesh, their replicated muscles flowing beneath. Even after seeing the workmanship of the bronze bulls, Talbot was still in awe of these incredible creations. Hades's golden chariot - while somewhat gaudier - boasted the same design as the one hauled by the bulls, obviously built more for performance than comfort, with no chairs to sit upon.

And their speed!

Talbot had assumed the horses were designed to be faster than the bulls, but hadn't realized how much that would be the case. The landscape became a blurred smudge as the air whipped at his eyes, causing them to water painfully. The difference was like switching to a Lamborghini after bumping along in the back of a pickup truck. The ground shot by, the gray stone perfect for such speeds, its smooth surface helping the well-lubricated wheels to -

The
rocks beside them suddenly exploded outwards in a massive eruption of slate and ash, causing the chariot to lurch heavily to the left. Wes instantly covered Talbot's body with his own, chunks of stone raining down all around them, clattering against the metal of the chariot and its horses. Talbot heard several large pieces hit the back of the SAS commando, but Wes didn't flinch, reminding him of Captain Benedict's final sacrifice. The hail of stones petered out, only for a horrific screech to fill the air, causing the horses to bunch their engineered muscles once more, bursting forward in panic - or their mechanized semblance of self-preservation.

Talbot glanced around, panic threatening to overwhelm him as well. He fought to force it away, remembering Wes's advice. This was not the time for fear; this was the time for action!

At first, Talbot thought the thing attacking them was a gryphon, but then he noticed several differences. The first was the size of the creature. While large, it was nowhere near as bulky as the enormous gryphon which had first attacked him on the Super Stallion, and then on the ground beside Ayers Rock. He gazed at it closer, taking note of everything he could while looking for some kind of weakness they might exploit.

Flying low to the ground in pursuit of them, the beast glided on the wings of an eagle, spreading from the body of a giant cat - possibly a lion - its tail some kind of snake. The face was that of a beautiful human woman, eyes dark and contemptuous, but all the more striking as a result, lips plump, parting to reveal...
a mouth full of fangs!

Talbot pointed back at it. "What the hell is that thing?"

Hades glanced behind them. "Damn!" he yelled. "It's a sphinx!"

"What? You mean like that statue thing in Egypt?" queried Wes. "But that doesn't have fucking wings."

"I don't think now is the time to argue the finer points of sculpture," shouted Talbot over the roar of the chariot. "Can we kill it?" he asked Hades.

"I doubt it," replied Hades. "Even with the power of Chiron's sword, I don't think you'll get a chance. They are the greatest hunting beasts of Tartarus."