NO EASY VICTORY

Euphonius



Iolaus froze in sudden agony, caught in the process of reaching for his sword by the blue bolt of energy thrown from Gilgamesh's out-flung hand. His legs gave way and he sank to his knees. Desperately, he struggled to breathe, to move, to do anything at all, as he watched Nebula stride up the stairs to confront the Sumerian King.

He had trouble keeping his mind on their words, as he fought to regain control over his body, slowing his heartbeat as much as he was able. Despite his efforts, his need for air quickly became acute. Just before he blacked out, he heard Gilgamesh tell the pirate queen that Dahok had plans for her.


As consciousness seeped back into his mind, Iolaus found himself lying on a rough stone floor, his hands held together above and behind his head in what felt like metal shackles. For a moment more, he continued to play dead, listening, wanting to find out what was happening before letting anyone know he was awake.

"I go to prepare for the sacrifice, sister." Gilgamesh's voice, but stranger, deeper than it normally sounded. "I'll leave you here with your little friend, until all is in readiness. You can say your last farewells."

"Gilgamesh, please. You can't do this." That was Nebula, sounding much less assured than usual.

"Oh, but I can, and I will. When Dahok receives the sacrifice of your warrior heart, he will once more return to this world. I'll have a place of honor beside my Master, for making it possible. That place will be doubly assured, because I gave him my own sister as the means of his return."

Harsh laughter, and the sounds of movement. Then the slam of a heavy door. Iolaus slitted his eyes open. Yep, a dungeon cell, just as he'd expected. The woman he loved stood motionless, still staring at the door.

"Nebula?" he said softly.

She turned, then rapidly knelt by his side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I guess so." He tried to sit up, but there wasn't enough slack in the chains binding his hands to allow him to do much more than thrash about from side to side. With all his strength, he strained against the manacles, but succeeded only in forcing the metal edges to bite into his wrists.

"Guess that won't work," he said, relaxing back down against the floor. He tried for a cheerful smile. "We'll have to think of something else."

Nebula took no notice of his smile. She was staring off into the distance. "I don't think there's any way out of this. I'm not afraid to die, but to die in order to give power to Dahok ---" She shivered and her voice trailed off, but he thought he heard more fear behind the brave words than she would be likely to admit. If the proud and courageous pirate queen was afraid, they were in deep shit. Iolaus had heard about what Dahok had done to Gabrielle, but it sounded as if the demonic creature had even more ambitious plans this time.

"My own brother," the woman went on, the edge of despair in her voice growing sharper. "I can't believe he'd do this."

"Don't even go there," Iolaus said quickly. "Gilgamesh is not the brother you knew. He's been corrupted by his evil Master."

"He was a good man, once. How could he -- ?" Her expression changed to determination. "We don't have time for this. We've got to do something."

"I'm open to suggestions," he replied lightly, jerking the short chains that held him captive.

"What about Hercules? Do you think there's any chance he'll come after us?"

"Oh yeah, he'll come. If he's alive." What was it Gilgamesh had said when Iolaus had demanded to know where Herc was? Something about the one god being good to him? Considering that Dahok was the god under discussion, Iolaus found himself contemplating the very likely possibility that the demi-god was dead. If Hercules were alive, he'd never have allowed Gilgamesh to come back to carry out his twisted plans.

He forced off the back wave of despair that threatened to engulf him at that thought. Firmly, he pushed it away, locking it in the back of his mind. He'd deal with that later. If there was a later. Right now there was Nebula, facing the prospect of her imminent death. He knew it was entirely likely that he'd be killed also, but her fate would be much worse than simply dying. He had no idea what exactly it would mean to be the one sacrificed to Dahok, but there was one thing for sure: it couldn't be good. He had to do whatever he could to help Nebula face this horror, even if he might not be able to save her from it.

Just now, seeing the look on her face as she obviously came to the same conclusion about Hercules' probable fate as he had, the only thing he could think of to do was encourage her not to give up.

"Nebula, don't let him get to you," he said earnestly. "Don't concede the battle before it's even begun."

She shook her head hopelessly. "What would you like me to do? We're doomed."

"Well, you could kiss me." He smiled suggestively. "For starters."

Her dark eyes widened. There was no way he could tell if she was pleased or angered at his bold words. "You're not serious?"

"Yeah, I am. Would you rather waste what little time we have left by weeping and wailing in terror? If we're going to die, let me die with the feel of your lips pressed against mine, and the memory of your love in my heart." He smiled again, even more winningly. "What do you say? Are you up for it?"

Tentatively, she returned his smile, then ran her eyes over his body, stopping at his crotch. "Shouldn't that be my line, lover?"

"Now, that sounds more like the Nebula I know."

She leaned down to kiss him. As the kiss turned from gentle caring to hungry desire, her hand wandered down to rest where her eyes had been. She broke off the kiss on his sudden intake of breath.

As her hand continued to play with him through the leather codpiece, she smiled. "I guess you are up for it, aren't you?"

"Yeah." Once more, he jerked against the chains that held him, then exclaimed in frustration, "Damn! I hate this. I can't even touch you."

"Since when is that a problem?"

She pulled off his boots, then her own. As she unfastened his belt and started sliding his pants down over his hips, Iolaus laughed softly. "You know, they may be watching us," he pointed out.

Stopping what she was doing, Nebula glanced around the cell. Her eyes narrowed and her luscious mouth spread into a fierce grin. Reaching behind her back, she unfastened and removed her top. She leaned forward over him, hands cupping her heavy breasts, the dark nipples already tight.

"Then I say, let them enjoy the show."

She held one breast within reach of his mouth. Iolaus took the hint.

After that, neither of them said much of anything, the man because he had his mouth full and the woman because she was too busy getting his pants off and then removing the rest of her own clothing, while simultaneously trying not to pull too far away from him.

Never one for shy advances, Nebula took hold of his erect cock and began teasing him, one finger moving delicately over the sensitive foreskin and touching the head of his erection, which had already begun to extend out from its covering. The rest of her hand circled his shaft, moving slowly back and forth.

Unable to do much else, Iolaus re-doubled his efforts at working on her breast, alternately sucking and playing his tongue over the taut nipple until they were both squirming with desire. He was rather amazed to find that it was just plain exciting to be unable to determine the course of the action, as he usually would have done. To be at the mercy of his partner was unsettling in a way, but it was also damnably erotic. Maybe he should have tried this more often. Maybe Nebula would be into experimenting --

Maybe Nebula would soon be dead, or worse. That thought caused him to falter momentarily. But the woman's hands were doing too good a job of arousing him for such a consideration to stop his growing desire. She shifted, offering her other breast to his willing mouth. Her hand left off ministering to his cock as she reached back to cup his tight sac, squeezing and playing with his testicles.

Suddenly, she released him, then sat back on her heels.

His eyes devoured her naked body as she lifted one muscular leg to straddle his hips. She sank down until she was just touching, then rubbed against him, masturbating herself on the head of his erect cock.

Iolaus fought the urge to push upward. He wanted this to be good for her, more than good for her, so he held back his own need, wanting her to be ready. The feel of her soft, wet flesh sliding against the tip of his cock, and the slight increase of pressure when he'd hit her engorged clit rapidly became more than he could stand.

"Nebula --" he said softly in warning.

She held still. "Ready, lover?"

"Do you really need to ask?"

For one frozen moment, they both grinned at each other, heedless of what the future might bring.

Nebula sank down abruptly, taking his cock inside her in one smooth motion. He arched up to meet her. After a few thrusts, they found their rhythm, moving smoothly together as she leaned forward over him and pressed her mouth hard down onto his.

The kiss broke apart as Nebula let out her breath in a low moan, her body convulsing tightly around his shaft, driving him toward his own orgasm. The world went blank around the long-familiar but always incredible blaze of sensation that centered in his groin, but filled his entire body with glory.

"Oh, Nebula, oh, gods –" he gasped against her ear, as he arched upwards beneath her.

Barely had the last delicious shudder passed from their entwined bodies when the door to the cell creaked open and a scornful voice said, "Very nice show, sister. Such a performance."

Gilgamesh shook his head in mock horror, striding across the cell to stand over them. "And from someone who would be queen. Whatever would your subjects think, if they could see you now?"

Nebula remained defiantly where she was, as she looked up and answered, "Do you think I care?"

Tangling one hand in her hair, the King pulled her to her feet, then looked down at Iolaus.

"You know," he remarked to the naked man, "I almost interrupted you two lovebirds sooner, but thought better of it. It occurred to me that it might be more amusing to let you watch your lady love go to her death, with your seed fresh inside her body."

Drawing Nebula closer to him, he ran one hand up from her hip to cup a breast. Looking into her furious eyes, he squeezed hard enough to make her wince as he glanced back down at Iolaus and suggested, "Perhaps it would be amusing if she were to carry my seed with her to Dahok also."

"She's your sister!" Iolaus objected, pulling vainly at the chains that bound him. If he could only get free --

"Is that supposed to make a difference?"

Iolaus struggled harder, with no better results than before. Blood ran down his arms from the shackles, yet still he kept trying.

"Oh, that idea bothers you a lot, does it?"

Gilgamesh released Nebula, shoving her into the arms of several guards. He knelt down beside Iolaus, raking his eyes over the exposed body. "Not too bad," he remarked casually, "for a little runt."

Iolaus' eyes flashed hatred at the remark, but he didn't say anything. He simply stopped struggling and glared at the other man.

Gilgamesh laughed. Then a very different expression spread over his handsome face. "On further consideration, perhaps it would be even more amusing if you were to watch her die with my seed inside you. Would that be more to your liking?"

The hunter froze as Gilgamesh grasped his flaccid penis and scrotum in one large hand.

"No!" Nebula screamed, starting toward her brother. The guards kept hold of her, but only with difficulty, as she tried to fight her way loose.

Gilgamesh ignored her.

"What do you say, Blondie?" A finger moved further back to push between his buttocks and against his anus. Iolaus fought the impulse to squirm away. "I've heard rumors that you're Hercules' little catamite. Surely, if you can take on Hercules, you're not afraid of me, are you?"

If he'd had only himself to think of, Iolaus probably wouldn't have answered the taunt, even though it was essentially true. However, he didn't have that luxury. He faced the King directly. "You'll leave Nebula alone?"

Of course, he knew full well that such a promise from Gilgamesh could mean nothing at all. And how much did it really matter, at this point? After all, Nebula was no trembling virgin, and Gilgamesh had far worse things planned for her soon enough.

"No, Iolaus," Nebula pleaded, interrupting his thoughts. "Don't. Please don't."

He glanced over at her. Despite her words, the look in her black eyes said something else, and being raped by her brother might just be the last straw, the one thing that would tip her over into terror and despair. If there were any chance at all that they'd get through this, the one thing she must not lose was her courage

"I won't touch her," Gilgamesh promised, the pressure of that stroking finger becoming even more compelling.

"Do it," Iolaus replied shortly, his lips compressing into a thin line.

Gilgamesh grabbed the smaller man with both hands, lifting him up and turning him over. The chains had just enough leeway to twist and let Iolaus rest some of his weight on his elbows, as he was pulled up onto his hands and knees. At least in this position, he wouldn't have to actually look at his tormentor. He squeezed his eyes closed, trying to prepare himself for what he knew was going to happen.

With no further preparation, no lubrication, and no consideration at all for his victim, Gilgamesh forced himself into the other man.

Iolaus clenched his teeth on what would have been a scream, willing his body not to tighten around the intruding organ. He'd done this before, many times, with Herc and with other men, but never quite so brutally. And the knowledge that Nebula was watching certainly didn't help. He tried to turn his head away so that he wasn't facing her. At least she wouldn't be able to see how much it was hurting him.

Gilgamesh grabbed his hair and forced him to turn back. "No, Blondie. I want her to see your face." He thrust in hard, his crotch tight against the other man's ass. "I want her to hear you scream."

Iolaus only clamped his lips more tightly.

"No, huh?" Gilgamesh moved back, pulling his heavy cock almost all the way out of his victim's body. One hand slid around and under, and strong fingers tightened around Iolaus' scrotum, squeezing painfully, forcing a moan from between his clenched teeth.

Laughing, Gilgamesh rammed himself home again.

Iolaus kept silent.

"Okay, maybe you'd rather she see how much you enjoy this instead?" The fingers on his balls moved gently now, and a hand reached around his chest to stroke and pull at one nipple. Gilgamesh held still as he toyed with his victim.

"You like this, don't you? You give it to Hercules all the time. Does my sister know what she's been screwing, little man?"

Oh, gods! Did she? He couldn't recall ever actually telling her.

"I know." Nebula's voice, cold, frozen.

Iolaus slitted his eyes open to look at her, fearing the expression he might find on her face. His body was responding to Gilgamesh's touch, rough though it was. His cock rose against the other man's hand. "Nebula," he said, forcing the words out, "it makes no difference in how I feel about you."

"I know that too, lover," came the calm reply.

He was adjusting to the pressure in his ass now, and he knew full well he'd come if Gilgamesh continued stroking him. He didn't want that to happen, not in front of Nebula.

Nebula. At least he could console himself with the thought that he was sparing her from carrying into death the soul-numbing memory of being ravished by her own brother, even if he couldn't spare her from watching this.

Gilgamesh began thrusting into him again, his movements timed to what his hands were doing.

Resigned to the inevitable, Iolaus closed his eyes, trying to imagine it was Hercules' hand around his engorged penis, Hercules' cock up his ass. Herc would never be this brutal, but the image worked to block out the reality, as Gilgamesh fucked the unresisting body beneath him.

Abruptly, the King released his hold on Iolaus' cock, grabbing his hips and forcing him back hard against his groin. Iolaus could feel the shudders run through the other man's body as Gilgamesh came, shooting his cum deep into him.

He himself was on the edge of orgasm. But only on the edge, not yet over it. He had to stop himself from whimpering in frustration as Gilgamesh abruptly pulled back and out of him.

"Did you really think I would let you come, once I had made my point?" the King said scornfully. "Nebula knows you wanted it. That's enough. I don't have to let you enjoy it too."

He gave Iolaus a smart whack on the buttocks with his open palm. The blow was sufficient to push the smaller man forward off his knees and head on into the wall, hard.

Gilgamesh wrapped his fingers in his hair and turned his face up. "Unless you want to beg me to finish you off, of course. I might do that, if you ask nicely."

"Shove it up your ass, pal," Iolaus gritted, trying his best to sneer through the blood trickling down over his forehead. His cock was still hard, but that blow on the head had very effectively knocked him back from the edge of orgasm.

Gilgamesh just laughed, releasing him. He rose to his feet and strode over to Nebula. "Now, sister, it's your turn."

Nebula stiffened and tried once again to fight her way free of the guards, horror and loathing clearly written on her face.

Iolaus shook his head, trying to clear the haze from his brain, and the blood and sweat from his eyes. "No," he protested, without any real conviction. "You can't. You promised."

"And you were stupid enough to believe my promise, little man?"

No, not really, Iolaus admitted to himself. As he watched Gilgamesh fondling Nebula's breasts, he felt the tight clutch of despair upon his heart. He was totally unable to save the woman he loved, either from this or from the far worse fate yet to come. If only he could get free of these accursed manacles, he could do something. If only he weren't bound and helpless –

You're tongue isn't bound, Iolaus. Think! What does Gilgamesh want? And what does he fear?

"I believed you, Gilgamesh," he said gently. "I trusted you to keep your promise."

"Trust? Do you speak to me of trust? You're a fool." The King continued his attentions to Nebula, despite her struggles.

"Not as big a fool as you are."

"What are you talking about?"

"I believed the word of someone who was once a good man, a just and compassionate ruler. I trusted someone who once knew the meaning of honor and integrity. Who did you trust, Great King? Whose promises have you believed? Dahok's?" Iolaus laughed scornfully. "Tell me, which of us is the bigger fool?"

His eyes flashing red fire, Gilgamesh pushed Nebula away scornfully and knelt again beside the bound man. "You don't know what you're talking about. Dahok will bring a new freedom and salvation into the world. You have no idea at all of how truly powerful he is, or of what he can offer. When you have heard the voice of Dahok in your heart, and seen what he can offer, then you can talk. Right now, you know nothing of this. Nothing!"

A shudder ran through Iolaus' body at the intensity in the other man's voice. And yet, did he not hear something else beneath the fervent words? Something that sounded all too much like doubt, or even fear?

"You're right," Iolaus admitted. "I don't know anything about that. But I know about love – and trust. And so did you, once. Nebula is your sister. You don't have to do this. At least keep your promise to me, if nothing else. The day may come when you'll be glad you showed even that small amount of compassion and honor."

Gilgamesh's eyes flared brighter with that awful red fire as he stared into the other man's azure eyes. Almost, Iolaus flinched away from what he saw in that red glare. Almost, he shrank from the power radiating from those eyes. Before that gaze, his soul felt as naked as his body truly was. Behind those eyes, he saw something that caused even his own strong heart to falter, and his courageous spirit to quail in fear.

"Yesss," Gilgamesh hissed. "You think you see it now, don't you, little man? But you see nothing, only the merest reflection of the truth."

Despite what he felt, Iolaus held his voice steady as he pressed his point home. "How much do you trust the Darkness, Great King? Are Dahok's promises worth any more than yours?" And he saw the fire flicker, just once, as the other man blinked. "Gilgamesh, for the sake of any goodness still left in you –"

He was silenced by the back of the King's hand smashing across his face. "Shut up! One more word out of you, and you're dead right now."

Gilgamesh stood up. Straightening his tunic, he regarded Nebula thoughtfully. "My desire for you seems to have left me, sister. I'll grant you that one small reprieve." Turning to the guards, he waved one hand at Iolaus without even looking at him and ordered, "Clean him up, dress him, and bring him to the ceremony. And be quick about it. There's not much time left, and I want him to be there to watch the sacrifice, and to see Dahok's true power."

He motioned to the guards who held Nebula, her face now set in a mask of sheer hatred. "Bring her along. It's time to prepare her for her destiny." Then he strode regally from the cell.

As the pirate queen was being led roughly after her brother, she turned to Iolaus, locking her eyes with his for as long as she could. He saw the desperate terror in those black eyes, terror he knew would never reach her lips.

"Nebula!" he called out, "Whatever happens, the Darkness can't claim you unless you let it! Don't let it! Fight!"

One of the remaining guards kicked him to shut him up, but it was too late. She had already heard his words. Resisting the impulse to curl up defensively against any further abuse, he fought to keep his eyes on her as long as possible.

A wolfish grin spread over Nebula's face as she replied defiantly, "You can count on that, lover." As they pulled her through the door, she drew herself up taller and said calmly, "Dahok will have no easy victory here."

Iolaus sank down on the ground with a sigh. It had worked, but at what cost? The awesome evil he had seen in Gilgamesh's eyes had shaken him badly. What was it that had enslaved the spirit of so great a man? He didn't really think he wanted to know. And yet, that was what Nebula now faced, with nothing more to defend her than her courage – and his love.

The guards wasted no time obeying their King's orders. Very rapidly, Iolaus found himself dressed and on his feet, his arms bound tightly with thick rope.

As they took hold of him and dragged him out of the cell, he pushed all pain and doubt out of his mind, knowing he had to be alert and clear-headed in order to take advantage of any possible opportunity that might arise in the coming confrontation.

He wasn't fooling himself about the odds of succeeding, but he knew he had to be ready to try to save the woman he loved, whatever the cost.

And if you fail, Iolaus? he asked himself. And if Herc is dead too?

He pressed his lips together into a determined line.

Well then, if that's the case, I can at least make sure I force them to kill me also, he thought grimly. Death won't be so bad. After all, I've been there before, haven't I?






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