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********
There were enough dry twigs and grass inside the cave to put together a comforting yet very small fire. Gabrielle was cold
and shivered while trying to warm her hands over the modest blaze.
Iolaus sat next to her, against the cave wall and carefully put an arm around Gabrielle. "Better?" he asked and was rewarded
when her arms slipped around his waist and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Much." With a sigh, Gabrielle looked out of the cave entrance and noted how the rain was coming down in sheets. "Makes
no sense, Iolaus. No warning at all. It's like ..."
"... something the gods would conjure up?"
"Maybe, but why?"
Iolaus shrugged. He had long sense given up wondering why the gods did anything they did. Then he smiled, "We were
paying a lot of attention to those ducks. Maybe they were sacred."
Gabrielle giggled now, "Wouldn't surprise me." She then picked her head up off his shoulder when recalling something,
"Poor Xena. She's at her friend's farm, waiting for sneak thieves. I hope she doesn't get soaked."
"She's probably inside their home, drinking something warm." and as he said this Iolaus had to admit it sounded good.
Anything warm sounded good about now. His arms tightened around Gabrielle as she burrowed a little deeper, absorbing his body warmth. "I wish our fire was a little more ..."
Suddenly, as if on command, the flames ignited brighter, startling the couple.
"Must have been a breeze." Gabrielle suggested, glancing toward the cave entrance.
"Or me."
"Serena?" Gabrielle stood.
Iolaus quickly following her example.
The woman approached from the shadows and was attired in the same outfit she wore in the restaurant. No cape or shawl
covered her shoulders and she seemed very relaxed and possibly too comfortable as she smiled and appeared to size each up now that she had their attention.
Iolaus noted the attitude and at the same moment a lightening strike was heard from outside the cave a hunch also consumed
the hunter. 'So," he began, "how's your husband?" he asked as if anticipating her answer.
"Well ..." Serena nearly simpered as she began a gentle pace in front of the fire, on the other side of the couple, " ... he's no
Hercules." Then she giggled as she saw the realization come over the hunter's face. "Well played Iolaus." she commented.
Her laugh Iolaus knew only too well. A cackle that faded in and out on itself, at one time feminine then completely out of
their mortal world. "Gabrielle," Iolaus spoke carefully and took his companion's arm, pulling it so she was forced to step back, "get behind me."
The warrior-bard was confused but also felt slightly patronized, "You *are* kidding, right?" she asked. By now Iolaus
should know that her own warrior skills neared his own. If there was going to be a fight she was ready.
"He's being chivalrous, Gabrielle. You should let him." Sin spoke in a lady-to-lady manner. "It's one of the few things mortal
men of his type excel in -- protecting their women."
Iolaus hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she made her first appearance, "What do you want, Sin?"
"Sin?" Gabrielle was more confused than ever.
"A nic name." Serena's double spoke with a deceptive gentleness, "I go by many names but I think my favorite it
Mephistopheles. It just rolls off of the tongue so well ..." and as she spoke her voice changed, becoming rough - nearly masculine - but not at all human.
Gabrielle sighed her comprehension, "I take it this isn't Serena." she stated, just a little behind Iolaus. Slowly, she reached
down to draw her knives, just to be safe.
"No, this is a monster." Iolaus spoke unequivocally, his jaw set firm.
For an instant Sin's expression was tight and unforgiving then a smile, forced though it may be, appeared and the voice was
again gentle, "Iolaus, now that's just rude. Keep talking about me like this and I may just shut you out of the great deal I'm willing to offer you -- and your little girlfriend."
"We're not interested."
"Hear me out first. It could make the difference between eternal bliss and suffering."
"And you know all about making people suffer." It was Gabrielle's turn to offer a cutting remark. She was not really sure
who this lady was but if Iolaus' defenses were up she could not be good news. "Iolaus, who is she really?"
Sin answered for herself, "We've never met, Gabrielle, but you have visited my realm. I had rather hoped you'd stay awhile.
I watched you and admired your spirit, the venom in your words, as you spoke with Calisto." Sin then rolled her eyes and spoke reflectively, "Calisto. What a disappointment."
Gabrielle's breath caught in her throat.
"Yes, I am the ruler of hell and you are privileged. You will both be my guests on an incredible journey of discovery."
She had ceased to be Serena, the beautiful image of Hercules lost love. Suddenly the form grew several feet and became
virile in appearance. It had also grown horns and hooves with its hairy nearly beast-like body. Mephistopheles lifted his hands and waved effortlessly.
Iolaus and Gabrielle felt the earth open up beneath their feet, a brightly radiating light engulfing their bodies and minds. Their
own screams echoed in their ears as they were pulled downward.
Mephistopheles looked to the cave entrance and snorted. The rain stopped immediately.
**********
The sensation of falling and not knowing where it was they might land, was probably less frightening than the mental images
intruding into each of their minds.
Iolaus felt something brush across his shoulder and he swiped at it as he raised his arms to establish how long and fast he
and Gabrielle were falling. Again, he brushed at something - - this time it ran across his chest. A spider, oddly enough. He hated spiders. Had ever since he was a child. They gave him the creeps. He and Hercules' run-in with Arachne a couple years ago hadn't strengthened his resolve. Then, suddenly alarmed, Iolaus saw another bug resting on the hem of his purple vest -- then another racing down his pant leg. Where were they coming from? Why were ...? Iolaus, in barely the wink of an eye, suddenly realized thousands of the horrid little creatures were covering him! Panicked, he slapped and shook but it did little good. Dozens more just came to take the places of the ones he'd knocked away. They were biting him now, drinking his blood and dispensing their deadly venom.
Iolaus was that boy again, crying and defenseless, trying to save himself from another disaster he'd gotten himself into. He
never should have crawled onto that wood pile! Skourus warned him ... And now the web! It was all over him, binding his legs together and sealing his lips closed so that he could not cry out. "No!" His nose was being covered. He could not breath ... Hercules! Save me! "Heeercules!"
Gabrielle, startled by his outcry, reached for Iolaus. He seemed to be in another world and it was so unlike him to surrender
to hysteria like this. Their situation could be worse, she thought. It seemed to her as if they were falling in slow motion, nearly floating, and she could see the terror on Iolaus face clearly. She couldn't even begin to imagine the thoughts going through his head -- but she soon realized a horror all her own.
When her palm touched his upper arm Iolaus began to change. The shiny, bronzed skin had taken on a green hue and the
blond waves disappeared to be replaced with a slimy mass of tentacles .... "Gabrielle ..." it gurgled her name, the tone sounding seductive yet sick. She was looking at a monster. There was no other description that fit. The beast, angered by her rejection, grasped Gabrielle's wrist hard. Talons punched into her flesh, drawing blood. It's scaly face, with a degenerate smile, moved in on her as if demanding a favor she could not possibly grant. She tried to fend it away but the harder she pushed the closer it came.
"What did you do to Iolaus?! How ...?" She could feel it's hot breath on her cheeks as it now held her in a demanding
embrace -- and she could feel blood and slime envelope her. What could she do? "Xena!" she screamed, feeling helpless and beyond all hope, "Oh gods! Xena!"
Then they were on solid earth, falling hard onto the floor of an underground chamber. Amazingly, neither broke a bone or
even managed a bruise, although the impact had been - as anyone in the same situation could attest - bone-shattering.
Groaning, Iolaus sat up quickly and looked down at himself as if for the first time. He sighed. No spiders. He then looked
over at the confused Gabrielle who was sitting cross-legged and examining her right wrist, as if she expected to find a wound. He almost laughed when she gaped over at him, as if to ask what that was all about, then came to her own conclusion and simply shrugged.
Slowly they got to their feet and studied their surroundings. Steam or fog arose from various apertures about them, as did
the faint sound of whips and screaming. Directly in front of the couple stood an altar. Blood dripped over the sides of the decorative platform, as if there had been a recent sacrifice.
"Yeah." Gabrielle nodded, as if to clarify, "This is the hell I remember."
Iolaus grimaced. "One day you'll have to tell me how you, of all the people in the known world, spent time in hell." When
their eyes met he added, "If there was ever a person destined to become and angel ..."
Despite their grave situation Gabrielle managed a shy smile.
"Greetings, my friends." Mephistopheles approached from a cave opening beside Gabrielle, his voice deep and
reverberating. "I hope you had a pleasant trip."
Falling back on what their host would have called chivalry, Iolaus once again took Gabrielle's arm and pulled her a little
closer to him, "I don't know what you hope to prove by doing this but if we're dead I wish you would just ..."
"You're not dead, Iolaus. Neither of you. I told you. This is a voyage of discovery. I want to show you what I have to offer
and when we're done you can go back to your dull little mortal world or ..."
"Or?" Gabrielle repeated, awaiting an inevitable catch.
"Or, if you like what you see you can stay here and live out the rest of your existence's in luxury and splendor, doing
whatever it is you wish."
Gabrielle and Iolaus glanced at each other. Too strange.
"Why would you offer something like that to us?" the hunter-warrior asked, incredulously.
"Because I like you, Iolaus." Mephistopheles spoke but it took on a tone that sounded exactly like Hercules. "And you,
Gabrielle." this time sounding just like Xena.
"An impressive mimic." Gabrielle complimented, off-handed, "But the look is all wrong."
"Is this better?" Perdicus, Gabrielle's dead husband suddenly stood before her. "I've missed you, my love."
Startled, she shuddered and stepped back, feeling Iolaus comforting hands on her shoulders.
"Or this?" Nebula, pirate and Queen of Sumeria, winked at Iolaus.
He stared at her, stone faced but obviously stunned.
"Or maybe I should just settle for an old standby." Again, Serena stood before them, smiling at humor neither seemed to
appreciate. "I want to make you happy. I know that's hard for you to believe but it's true. And I need you. You'd be an asset to my kingdom. You both have impressive fighting skills and an undercurrent of wisdom that I truly appreciate."
"Tell the truth." Iolaus stated, "You want us down here because Hercules and Xena are up there," With his thumb he pointed
up to the stone ceiling, "And you somehow believe our absence will make the difference in the souls they manage to save."
"Too many souls." Sin snarled unexpectedly, all humor gone from her face. "It's just so sad that with all their good deeds,
with all the people Hercules and Xena have saved from my realm, they will be unable to save their best friends." Sin continued to stare at the couple, unwavering. "That's right, both of you are destined at the end of your lives to come here. Why? Because you will both do something so horrible in the future, so unforgivable ... The Light will have no choice."
"I don't believe you!" Iolaus shouted, feeling Gabrielle's shoulders stiffen beneath his hands.
"It doesn't matter." Sin's voice grew low, "You are damned."
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