The fire filled the air turning it black William coughed up a fit and crawled to the burning wreckage where his parents were located they weren’t moving. He could see that much. “M-Mom! D--ad!” his legs hurt he was in pain. He coughed through the smoke. “Help! Mom! Dad! Get out of there!” the young teen tried to push himself up in shock he managed to get to his knees then collapsed again. His free hand reached out to them.

A demi-god opened his eyes for the first time in a century. ‘Could he be the one?’

William knew the hand signs, the sigils. What was needed. The fire roared before him, his parents weren’t moving. Tears streaked down his face. They were going to die... he was watching his parents die and he couldn’t do anything. His hands moved dropping the odd looking relic, why he stole it from the party he didn’t know. He just knew he wanted it.

Now all he wanted to do was save his parents. The boy didn’t have chalk or a marker, he was bleeding though. The images raced through his mind, the ones his parents taught him. Summon. It was all he could do. His hands touched the blood and then his hands moved. They drew on his body and then the ground before him. William ignored the people gathering around the accident trying to get him to stop. They were saying he was hysterical. He was crying but he knew what he was doing.

“Save them! Please. Their my parents! I’ll give anything for them. My mind! My body! My soul! Whatever it takes just save them! Please!” someone was grabbing him trying to get him to calm down. William fought them away then yelled, “Whatever it takes!”

The relic lifted from the ground near the boy startling everyone in view including the summoner. Then flew towards the car pileup. A form appeared in the flames, a massive hulk of a man. William’s eyes grew heavy from the power being sapped. “Save them.... please....” ”I WILL!” cried the demigod who was now aware of the situation. He had a glow about him it shined brighter than the flames illuminating the smoke as the car where his parents were located finally caught fire.

The giant hefted a car and sent it flying then another and another. He finally reached the vehicle that was where the parents were. ”NEVER FEAR MORTAL! FOR I AM HERE!” his voice echoed boomed over the roaring flames. William’s eyes grew heavy then passed out as a the car door was ripped from the vehicle.

Tears rolled down his face when he exited the smoke, the flames still covered the vehicles giving a putrid metallic burning smell that reminded him of Hephaestus forge. How he hated that smell, burnt oil lingered far too long in the air for his liking. Two bodies lay limp, one over his shoulder the other in his arms. The demi-god gently set the man down, his face bruised and bloodied and no sign of life while the woman on his shoulder kicked and screamed briefly before passing out. He laid the parents both next to the young boy who summoned him. ”I am sorry... Even gods can’t fight death.” he could but it wouldn’t be the man the young boy lost.

The boy didn’t stir. Hercules heard a scream from the wreckage behind them and wiped his tears streaking down his face. It was always the hardest when he couldn’t make it in time. Now that he was here however he quickly got to work opening up the metallic boxes and pulling the people from the vehicles. Flames licked his naked body while his tattoos glowed. It was always awkward at the first summon. Mosty masters had clothes ready for him but the Demi-god was sure this wasn’t prepared.

“Look there he is!” someone called out as the firetrucks and ambulances arrived. Hercules didn’t know what they were just that they were similar builds to the metallic coffins he just pulled all the people from. “How many people is he carrying!?” another voice shouted. It was in English. Hercules had English masters before. ”Is anyone a medic!” he shouted trying to recall the words for healer before setting down an armful of people before running back into the wreckage. “Why is he naked?” “His clothes must have burned off!”

Hercules ignored them and moments later returned with the remain people and one dog in the flames. The dog licked his face aggressively as he tried to set him down. ”That’s enough.” he forced a chuckle and then silently prayed to his father and to his uncle Hades. ’Watch over the young boys father. Another life I failed to save. May he find rest and be reborn again.’

The big red metallic truck started to spray water as a handful of men and women in uniform held onto a hose that sprayed water. There were flashing lights and someone handed him a blanket. Hercules looked down and wrapped his lower torso. He almost forgot how modesty was a thing. What a shame too. His build was perfection a gift he’d prefer to share with the masses.

A shorter woman rushed to him caring something in her hand waving it at him like she had a torch. Hercules was more distracted by the floating light that was following her. “Why did you rush in there to save them!?!?”
Hercules blinked at the question his attention shifting from the floating light which wasn’t floating but being carried by a portly man. ”Why wouldn’t I?” he asked back turning to look for his new master. A couple in blue lifted him and his mother onto separate stretchers. Someone was abducting his master!

“Did you lose your clothes in the fire?” Hercules looked down to the small device in the woman’s hand and then back to her. ”Uh....” the doors shut behind his master as they were loaded into the white boxed metallic coffin with flashing lights. ”Where are they taking them?” Hercules pointed to the vehicle then walked off ignoring the two that wanted to ask him questions.

“Easy there big guy! Got some que” ”WHERE ARE THEY TAKING THEM!” Hercules cut the man in blue off as he quickly threw his hands up to calm the behemoth that was Hercules. “Whoa, they are injured and are going to the hospital. You know them?” not sure what to say he looked down to the officer, ”I request to accompany them! They are... important!” “Alright, come on. I can question you on the way.

As Hercules climbed into the back of the metallic coffin slouching as best he could he heard the words chirp from the woman who was questioning him, “New York City, is the city of heroes. You heard it hear first, back to you Jim.”

”New York City. The city of heroes.” he was truly in the right place!”[/color]

If it wasn’t for the machines keeping the young child alive Hercules would have destroyed them, the constant beeping and not seeing a change in his new young master (agreement pending) was starting to get to him. His hands shook, not because he was upset (he was) but because of the coffee the beautiful attendants (nurses) kept bringing him. They wanted him to sleep but Hercules unless he was sure his master was safe could not. What kind of hero slumbers when a child needs his help? The bad kind.

There was a sudden exhale, it was slow and Hercules feared the worst. His hands shot up and he realized he wasn’t fading his hands were still strong enough to crush boulders. His young master stirred and then opened his eyes. Hercules managed to move inches from his face. ”Boy! Thank the fates!” Hercules was so overjoyed he was crying again. William not sure where he was focused on the giants face then yelled out. “Help!”

”What do you need master!?!” Hercules stood tall then gave a slight bow in a greeting. ”I’m so glad you’re alright! I was worried my summons to this time was a short one.” Hercules stood tall and flexed almost tearing the scrubs that one of the ‘orderlies’ offered him when he first arrived to the hospital. “WHo are you! Where am I? WHERES MY MOM AND DAD!?!?

”Relax, boy.” he said sternly to get him to focus. No, calling William a boy was wrong. Boys couldn’t summon him. It took someone with power and a will.... Hercules chuckled to himself and then corrected himself, ”Sorry, I meant William.” he learned the name from his paperwork. He also learned that the boy shattered both legs in the accident.

Not sure where to start he started with what he knew. ”My name is Hercules, son of Zeus. Demi-god and protector of mortals. You summoned me from my slumber to this time. I don’t know how you did it no child has ever summoned me before.” the boy was fidgeting, looking for something and apparently found it. William aggressively started pressing the device.

Nothing happened yet so Hercules continued, ”It’s something to be proud of young William! You called for help and I answered the call, pulling all those people from the wreckage.” Hercules puffed out his chest, ”It’s something you should take great pri-” “Where are my parents!?!” the giant’s smile faded and he deflated a bit, ”William.... I....” his eyes watered. How would he tell him?

Just then two woman arrived one in a white coat and one in pink scrubs that looked like the same material Hercules was wearing. “Glad to see you’re up and moving! How are you feeling?” the woman in white smiled and then reached out to William then to Hercules in a handshake. Hercules was the only one who accepted. It seemed his new master could use some manners. “You’re uncle here has been watching over you this whole time. He’s very... animated.” she continued, “Do you know where you are?”

“My uncle?” William looked confused then looked over to Hercules then back to the nursing staff. His eyes picked up on a few of the sigils and runes tattooed on the behemoth's body. Maybe he knew his parents. William never heard about a ‘Hercules’ before but there was a more pressing matter. “My parents!?” the doctor looked down at his chart then sat on the bed next to him trying to examine his casted legs. Hercules stood off to the side ready to pounce if this ‘Doctor’ tried to harm his master.

“You’re mother is here. She’s in the room next door, she.... well she was put into a medically induced coma.” she started letting the words sink in. It was clear Hercules had no idea what that was. He wiped a tear from his cheek as she continued to explain, “Between the burns on her body and the broken bones we had to put her under so she wouldn’t be in so much pain. She’s healing, it’s just a matter of when.

”You’re mother was truly a sight to behold despite her injuries she tried fighting me off of her when I pulled her from the ‘car’.” Hercules offered still struggling with the concept of the automobile. What was wrong with horses?

“You’re father....” the doctor continued, “I’m sorry will, he didn’t make it.” she paused for a moment then Hercules started to cry again followed by punching the wall next to him. His calloused knuckles indented the drywall. ”I wasn’t there in time.... I’m sorry...” he chose not to make eye contact with anyone still feeling shame and regret more than anything. His first order from his new master and he failed.

William looked down at his legs then to the doctor clearly in a state of shock. Hercules had to commend him on his composure though. “My legs are broken. I can’t feel them.... will I be able to walk again?” The doctor nodded her head, “It should be a matter of time. There is a lot of swelling but the x-rays showed that the damage wasn’t beyond repair. You’re lucky -” she was cut off by Will who scoffed, “Lucky!?!? My father....” it was then everything seemed to click. “Please.... leave me alone for now.”

The doctor and nurse nodded and gave William a sympathetic smile before exiting, “We’ll come check on you in a bit. Have you’re uncle come get us when you’re ready to talk.”

The room was silent. Except for Hercules sniffing and crying. He should have been faster he was too busy focusing on everything that was different than the task at hand. In the past not noticing lead to more issues. It was his way of adapting over the years. New master, meant new era meant new things he had to look out for. Unfortunately for him he had been summoned so many times in his life time it was second nature at this point.

“Why are you crying?” William asked.

”Beacuse I’m sad.” Hercules stated.

“My father said it’s okay to cry.”

”It most certainly is. Sadness is just one of the many emotions you mortals can experience.” he said sitting back down in the chair next to William who was staring at his feet. ”Medicine has come a long way from what I have seen so far. I have no doubt you will make a speedy recovery. Your mother as well!” Hercules said confidently.

“How can you be so sure...” William didn’t look up but rather shook his hips trying to move his legs fighting back his tears and frustration. ”I’m a god. You live long enough to see miracles you start believing anything is possible.” he said even more confidently placing a hand on the bottom of Williams feet. ”Rest.”

“You’re a god?” the teenager asked raising an eyebrow tears no longer welling up. It was like he turned it off, ”Aye, and you summoned me.” “I summoned a god?” ”You did.” “So you can fix me and my mom right?” William asked almost looking hopeful for a moment.

The tears stopped flowing down Hercules’s face. ”No, William... I... I’m not that type pf god. I protect, I can’t heal. For if I could you’d be walking and your mother would be up and moving.” “Can you bring my father back?” William asked looking hopeful but then regretted asking when Hercules started to cry some more.

”No, William. Once a soul passes they enter the realm of my uncle. Even if I brought him back it wouldn’t be the same. Whose to say he didn’t move on from there.”

“Hercules.... so hades?”

”Aye...”

“So what good are you?”

His tears stopped and the behemoth started laughing, so loud in fact one of the nurses passing by poked her head in to make sure everything was okay. ”William! HA!” Hercules boomed taking his finger and wiping away the tears, ”Merley you jest! You summoned the strongest god in all of the pantheons and ask what good is he!?!” his booming laughter shook the cart with the water on the other side of William’s bed.

”You, a child! The one who summoned me? Disappointed in me. A god! Ha!” Hercules continued laughing while William just raised an eyebrow ”This truly is an auspicious day! A child disappointed with summoning a god!” he continued to laugh, ”Those who sought out my power have trained for lifetimes and failed to summon me. Many even died thinking they had the mental fortitude to make a pact with me....”

“We didn’t make a pact.”

”Oh ho! So you noticed! Well the timing wasn’t right to stroke up a bargain with you I could tell you were in distress and feel your pain. I didn’t have time to wait! I’m a god of action! So I rescued your mother and pulled your father from the wreckage and then waited till help arrived to bring you hear. While I haven’t formed a pact with you I have been siphoning your magical abilities to give myself form. Just enough to not cause you any discomfort until we speak our stipulations!”

William shook his head trying to understand it eyeing the tattoo’s shifting on Hercules’s arms and neck, they were moving. Some of the sigils looked familiar like the manacle he was holding in his parents car before the accident. “So... these stipulations... you steal my power and what do I get out of it?”

Hercules grinned and stood. ”Me! The strongest of gods in all of the pantheons! No god can rival my tenacity and willpower! My strength alone has been sung about for ages! Have you not heard of the trials of Hercules!?! Or maybe Heracles? I have gone by many names over the centuries. My deeds etched into ancient poems and stories!”

There was a look of recognition, if not for the names but for the slight glow Hercules was demonstrating as he boasted about his name and heroic deeds. That or William was realizing there was a siphon on his magical abilities either way the boy now seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.

“I don’t want you.”

The demi-god blinked and processed the comment then started to laugh again his laughter now shaking the bed. ”I didn’t know you were such a comedian!” Hercules said the laughter coming from deep inside as he shrugged off the ridiculous notion that someone didn’t want to summon a god on command. Especially him.

”I’ve toppled cities, single handedly fought back armies and decimated titans! Even the fire that seemed to try and pull you’re parents back into the crash was no match for me!” he said folding his arms and leaning back into his chair near the bed. That seemed to catch the young teenagers attention.

“What do you mean?”

”Hmmm? The flames? They were enchanted, they grew quickly and consumed the air faster than normal. Did you not see the shapes in them?” Hercules asked figuring the boy was a little distracted to see the shape of horses in the flames. Some would have thought it was a trick of the smoke in the firelight. Hercules knew though. He punched one into oblivion. Flames typically didn’t have a thick as form or hold a shape like those that he had encountered after the crash.

The look changed on the young teenager as the information was given freely he suddenly had a look of shock. “You’re telling me.... someone tried to kill my parents and me?” Hercules shrugged, ”While I can not attest to what has happened in the past I can tell you what I saw and felt. The air was thick with magic that night and not from you just summoning me. Maybe you summoned me to protect you?” Hercules mused as he too changed his facial expression though instead of concern like William, Hercules’s look was more smug. ”And protect you I shall!”

Hercules stood up and offered a hand to the young boy. ”I have protected kings, queens, gods and man everyone dies eventually, except me. You however, with my protection shall not have to worry about dying early.” The boy didn’t take his hand, “Inspiring words....” he looked down then out the window thinking.

Sitting back down Hercules waited in silence, ”As long as I deem you worthy of my power, you shall have it. I too will give everything to protect those I love.” William didn’t make eye contact but rather stared at the hole Hercules put in the wall. Only now did William realize there was a metal stud dented behind it.

“What are the stipulations?” the boy asked finally.

”They are more of goals, to live by in my case. They also give me an idea of who I am serving. While my main focus is you young master I am a god, one who is known for protecting mortals. From themselves, each other and from those who wish to do them harm. To only protect one person.... I tend to go stir crazy. So my first stipulation, Allow me to protect others than just yourself. Like I said you will always come first being my first master to this era.”

“Can you stop calling me that?” the boy asked clearly uncomfortable with the word.

”Second stipulation, allow me to continue to prove myself to both you and myself. I’m a god of strength and must test it regularly. If not I tend to get bored. Things get broken when I’m bored.” he as a massive figure, even in this age. He could level the hospital they were in if he chose to.

”And finally the third, if for any reason I deem you unworthy of my protection I shall sever our bond. Should I have another master my powers will shift to them making them the primary. If I don’t have one I shall cease from this plane of existence rather than serve someone I deem evil!” he said his smile fading. There were three masters he had in the past that he severed his connection to, they were all painful experiences.

Hercules was about to speak then William spoke clearly as if he had been aware of what he wanted all along. “I want to know who killed my father and tried to kill me and my mom. I want them to pay for what they did to us. I will do anything to make it so.” Hercules didn’t give the boy the lecture about digging two graves but rather held his tongue. This was an important moment for them both.

“I want my mom back. If you can’t give me my father help me figure out a way to get her back.” William didn’t say anything else but offered his hand to the demi-god a fierce look of determination and will behind it. Hercules stood, tore his shirt off with ease and flexed offering his own hand to shake with William. ”We have a pact then! I Hercules, god of strength and will shall protect you. I shall become whatever you need, friend or weapon! May I call on your power as you call upon mine!”

The air seemed to grow thicker and the lights seemed to dim as Hercules’s tattoo’s started to glow. It was soft at first but then became blinding as he held the handshake. The power Hercules’s was siphoning was great. WIlliam’s body grew heavy and his eye lids started to drop as if he was suddenly exhausted. After a moment Hercules let go of the hand and then gently caught the boy before he fell backwards onto the pillow.

”You have much power for one so young. You will grow stronger with our pact. I look forward to see the man you grow into young master!” Hercules said beaming with pride as he sat back down in the chair. ”Now rest, no harm shall come to you while I exist. This I promise and I’m a god of my word!”[/color]

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End