Week Twenty One: Lerna Part I

  Vile stepped onto the beach in anticipation. Hera was confident that this reincarnated version of Heracles was going to be there waiting at the cave. Vile was glad that hardly anyone was at the beach. If he had to 'kill' someone in front of the whole city he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Then again, the original Lernean Hydra didn't care about mortals. That must be Vile's down fall. 

  When Hera told Vile about how Heracles had died the first time, Vile wasn't surprised. Love was powerful and so was jealousy. What made Vile's spirits somewhat happy was that he was the key to killing this new Heracles. As he approached the cave, Vile's blood began to boil. Tightening his fist he remembered what Hera had warned him about. 

  He wanted vengeance. Heracles had killed him in his past life and even though Vile didn’t actually remember his past life he’d feel obligated to avenge himself. As Vile got closer to the cave Vile remembered the eight headed hydra that had come to attack him and his brother. Why was he remembering them now? Vile’s eyes widened. He had never heard of a land hydra. But, he had never run into any other Hydra. Feeling a cold chill down his spine he could hear Hera’ voice at a distance.

  What is it warrior? She asked.

  It occurred to me that I’ve never seen another Hydra nor a Hydra on land. There was a hydra my brother had saved me from. He consumed its heart and that’s what lead to this whole mess. Do you think…?

 Hera was silent. Vile rolled his eyes as he stood in his tracks.

 Hera. Do you know of any other Hydras in Greek Mythology? I mean, I can’t recall any but I don’t know much about my heritage.

  Suddenly, one of the voices from Atlas screamed. Descendant! Help us!

  Surrounding Vile were shadows. Vile cursed under his breath as his eye glowed a luminous blue. Hera made a bold comment to correct Vile’s terms as he changed into his true self. In Greek, these shadows were not called shadows, they were called shades. To Vile, it didn’t make a difference but apparently, if he called him shadows they would get even more aggravated with him.

  Letting out a warning screech, Vile checked his situation. Slash his tail out, Vile watched as the shades passed through his attack. Frustrated, Vile tried another tactic. Slashing his wings to send the air as a blade Vile watched and hissed. If a physical attack wouldn’t work, how would he get a solid hit to them? Smiling, Vile’s eyes met one of the blank faces of a shade. If he couldn’t touch them, then they couldn’t touch him, hypothetically speaking.

  Landing on his back, Vile cursed again. The shades could touch him but he couldn’t touch them? Angry, Vile looked at the Shades’ feet. Shouldn’t a shadow have, well, a shadow? Vile checked around to looked at the other Shades as the flew at him. They also didn’t have shadows.

  The time was twelve in the afternoon and the sun was overheard. Shades without shadows? Or a shadow not having a shadow? These had to be cast somehow. Vile looked down at his own palm claw in curiosity.  In the background was nothing, only the sand. Standing, Vile charged at one of the shades. He had no other choice. Running through it with no luck, Vile twisted around and slammed his tail through them. He was supposed to be the guardian of the Underworld. Why were these shades attacking him?

  Roaring in aggravation Vile searched his memory for anything that would help. If he ran into Heracles now the shades could attack him but then again, would they? Scanning the area Vile wondered where the reincarnated Heracles was. After all, Vile only had one head to slay and he didn’t want to find out if he turned into a two headed hydra if the guy did cut his head off. He didn’t want to live with explaining the predicament to his brother.

  Shaking his head, Vile’s eyes narrowed. Nothing around him had a shadow, but, that might be the key to taking these lunatic shades out of his way. Laying low to the ground, Vile looked up at the sun. He was going off speculation. Vile sighed, then again most of what he had done in the past twenty four hours had been off of speculation. Standing around him, the shades waited for Vile to move. Seeing that he wasn’t planning on it, they struck and to Vile’s surprise, one began to dissolve as he touched it leaving a glimpse of a shadow behind. Alarmed the other shades began to his. Vile brushed his tail out as it laid in the sand and he swapped his claw with the sand to the shades in front of him. Lurching out, Vile growled at the remaining shades. In the back of his mind, Vile could hear the spirits of Atlantis.

  Home! We’re home! The exclaimed and Vile rolled his eyes. Oh thank you descendant. We are forever in your favor! Slowly, the air around Vile began to loosen and Vile’s head began to spin, glancing at the water, despite the shades standing in front of him, Vile leaped into the water. Feeling the cool water hit his skin, Vile’s head turned to face the beach where he had parked.

  In the distance was a man of six foot tall. Vile didn’t know the guy’s exact height but he could tell that he was taller than himself. Lashing his tail back and forth, Vile slipped deeper into the water to watch the man. The eyes were an oceanic blue, his hair was a golden blonde, and he had broad features. Next to him was a shorter man, still taller than Vile. The man had to be at least five foot eight inches. In his hand was a bow and on his back were some arrows. Vile cringed and watched as they approached the cave. As a dragon, Vile never felt like a snake but today, as of the moment he hit the water, that’s how his actions made him feel. He was watching the two as they set down and spoke to each other probably about their days. Hera didn’t mention Heracles having a partner in his journey, digging his claws into the sand underneath the water, Vile attempted to calm himself. If he acted rash, he’d lose the opportunity to hear his heartbeat again. Looking away from the two for a moment, Vile brushed away the thought of the Hydra and its offer of immunity. Did Vile want to be immortal? Raising his head up, Vile hissed and ducked as something emerged out of the water next to him.