Mania

***********

The darkness was impenetrable. It surrounded and suffocated him.

Iolaus closed his eyes and clenched his fists, attempting to remain calm. All he had to do was keep quiet and slow his
heart rate, as he was taught in the east, and he wouldn't smother. He'd done it many times during his journeys but on this
occasion it was so hard to keep focused. This was a place made for the gods - those who didn't really have to worry
about oxygen - not mortals. He was in a prison designed for someone like ... Hercules.

But, no. That was nearly inconceivable. If there was ever a man he trusted to not just keep his word but to be faithful and
far above whatever the gods threw at him, it was Hercules. The son of Alcemne. His best friend. His brother. The person
who was trying to murder him.

"Hercules. let me out, please!" Iolaus cried. No answer. He's deaf to me .... The hunter-warrior could feel his eyes brim
with tears, This can't be happening. It just cannot be happening!.

Iolaus could see it developing two days ago, while he and Hercules were in Julipus. The village was known for it's spices,
particularly mint, and the foods he and Hercules were served often tasted of strange herbs. Even the liquids had an after
taste.

Little did either he or Hercules know that Ares was at play again. The war god had somehow managed to spike Hercules
mug during dinner, the simple well water his friend always imbibed, with a mind-altering concoction. The drink was bitter,
Iolaus recalled Hercules mentioning, and even then he was curious as to what his friend was talking about. Iolaus hadn't
tasted anything abnormal in the ale he was tossing down. Of course being where they were, in a friendly Greek village,
the two heroes never suspected foul play for a minute. Everything tastes just a little strange here. Iolaus could hear his
own voice in recollection. What a fool he'd been!

Then, that evening, Hercules started to become agitated and violent. He man-handled a simple beggar for no reason and
even took a swing at Iolaus when he thought he was speaking too sweetly to a pretty tavern maid. Hercules was quick to
apologize, of course, but even then Iolaus could see the mania in his expressive eyes.

Why didn't he take action while he had the chance? Why did he hold back when he knew something wasn't right? The
following morning Hercules began to accuse Iolaus of aggressive acts and lewdness. He talked crazily about women and
children and how Iolaus was evil and he didn't think they could continue there friendship if he, the hunter, was going to
continue to act like a fool.

Iolaus could feel something tug at his soul and a prickly feeling made its way from his spine to his scalp. Hercules was
hexed. He knew it but didn't know how to cure him. There was no way Iolaus was going to beat him in a fair fight,
especially when his best friend was gripped with paranoia. And, Iolaus had to be honest with himself, he couldn't find it in
his heart to put Hercules out of commission permanently. He just meant too much to him. There had to be another way ...
something simple he could do with him until the drug made its way through his system. But how ... how and where could
he put Hercules?

Then Aphrodite, in all her pink and sparkling splendor, materialized. An ally. She could see what was happening, the
dementia in her brother as she spoke with him and, pulling Iolaus aside, she agreed to help. He could see she was
sympathetic to his dilemma and offered to lure Hercules to her temple just outside of town. 'A brother-sister talk, Curly'
she said sweetly but even Iolaus could see the fear in The Goddess of Love. Hercules, after all, was not just her brother
but a strong demigod, having powers beyond even some immortals.

A plan was hatched. They would get him inside and lock Hercules in a windowless cell to the back of the temple. Iolaus
had been curious as to why there was such a place in a monument to Aphrodite and she gave one of her typical tittering
laughs. The love goddess mentioned how some foolish lower-gods were jealous of her popularity. They liked to go inside
and steal some of her most prized possessions. She and Hephestus decided awhile back that all her temples would be
equipped with at least one cell, just until the nosy renegades learned there lesson. A prison for gods ... and that was what
they needed for the strongest man in the world.

But somewhere something went wrong. Hercules apparently had suspected treachery upon entering the temple. The next
thing Iolaus recalled was his friend grabbing a hold of Aphrodite's shoulders and tossing her aside, then picking him up -
over his head - and throwing him into the cell. He hit hard against the far wall and the door slammed shut behind Iolaus
and the only thing he could hear was Aphrodite screaming as ... as ... what? Iolaus didn't know. Wasn't sure he wanted to
know ....What was Hercules doing to her?

Then he fell unconscious. The next thing Iolaus knew, upon waking, was that he'd been tied into some form of torturous
jacket. He couldn't move his arms and the heat surrounding him was intense. He was burning up and stuck in a prison
inside of a prison.

"Oh gods ..." Iolaus could feel the tears spring to his eyes again.

He pounded vainly on the door with his body, hoping and praying Hercules could hear him. If the demigod could just latch
onto that small portion of his mind that was still sane, recall his friendship with Iolaus and what the two men meant to
each other ... Iolaus could then get out and help -- "Hercules!"

Aphrodite had stopped screaming and Iolaus was both relieved and terrified. Had she gotten away ... or did Hercules
murder her with his unrestrained strength? Or ... was it something equally unthinkable? No! Iolaus shook his head back
and forth in the darkness. He couldn't think of that. Not Hercules ... never. But still, if Hercules could assault a goddess
then what about all those innocent people in Julipus? They didn't stand a chance! He had to do something ... he had to
stop him ...

"Oh gods!" Iolaus gasped, "I have to restrain him! I have kill him! Hercules, let me out! Let me out!!"

~~~~~

Hercules sat silently in the throne room of Aphrodite's temple, his head lowered, his arms balancing on his knees, fingers
laced. When the screams started again he lifted his head, glancing first at a nervous Aphrodite then at the door where the
nearly animal-like sounds originated.

"It's going to be okay, little bro." Aphrodite spoke lowly, less than her bubbly self. "Curly is a strong guy and he's going to
get through this just fine." But she could not keep the pain or sympathy from her tone. "Poor little warrior ..."

It had been Ares doing, slipping that drug into Iolaus' ale mug. A sick joke. Something cruel to while away the hours as he
watch the best friends go at each other. Something only Ares and his minions would think funny. Making Iolaus insane
and watching Hercules react to it. Oh yes, lots of laughs.

He should have known something was amiss when Iolaus attacked that beggar and nearly assaulted that pretty girl in the
tavern. But the topper came when he began to accuse his best friend of any number of insane acts, none of which were
true.

Then, when Aphrodite showed up and offered her temple as a solution, Hercules seized the opportunity. By that time
Iolaus had been so wracked with delusions, so intent on an insane salvation, Hercules had no choice. Besides that,
Hercules honestly didn't know what was going through Iolaus mind but he could only pray it was, as his sister assured,
something he could get through.

"By tomorrow, Herc." Aphrodite assured, moving from where she sat to kneeling at her brothers side. She winced when
they heard another round of horrid cries from the cell, "It will wear off by tomorrow and he'll be the same Sweetcheeks
we all know and love."

"I hope you're right, Aphrodite."

With regret, Aphrodite leaned her head against Hercules muscular arm and sighed, "I am."

THE END

Written July 2000