"Dios mio," Rex breathed as he took in the sight before him. Even as a veteran firefighter, he'd rarely seen something so grotesque or fast. The smell alone....

Rex shuddered in revulsion. This was bad. Very bad. This abuse of power, this horrific murder. All for what? Bracelets? Power?

He grimaced again but squared his jaw when Hercules turned to him. "I can try," Rex said with a nod, although there was no certainty there. He had two ideas in mind, two things that could potentially work together to cover all bases.

"For the word of God is quick..." Rex began reciting the verses that could bring forth the sword of the spirit again. A person with a magical booby trap was just a person with magic on him, right? His sword would probably be able to cut that too. Rex had found that stabbing himself with the sword cut off his ability to call on magic, so maybe that would work here too.

As the light sword burst forth into his hand, Rex began another recital. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” As before, he felt power go out through him and then coalesce into an invisible shield upon his other arm. The shield nullified energy that struck it. If the fire was magic, his sword would stop it, but if it was natural, his shield should do the trick.

Rex stabbed the sword into the man, who only felt warmth where the blade impaled him. Rex nodded at Hercules to continue.

William was still watching the burned corpse; the smell took him back to the night he and Hercules met and he... lost his lunch. The wheel chair turned abruptly as the young teen proceeded to throw up on the floor next to him. Hercules immediately moved the boy over a few inches before returning back to the burned corpse. He took off his shirt and draped it on the corpse. ”Do not dwell on it for long young William.” he said placing a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

”Now tell us!” Hercules said after getting the go ahead. The sword summoned by Rex was slashed at the man and he was now supposedly free from any magical traps. ”You are safe now.”

“Safe!?!?” the man squeaked into a nervous laugh looking around and trying to free himself from the statues grip. “He just stabbed me with that sword.” he looked to the sword but felt no pain. Just the nervousness of the questioning. Everyone knew what happened to someone who talked. He looked to his partner who was now covered by a shirt.

His eyes locked on to Hercules’s tattoos which were swirling. “To think, you were what the boss was after all this time.” he chuckled nervously and tried to pull himself from the grip of the statue. It didn’t budge. “I don’t want to talk about it though.”

Hercules flexed and started to glow, his expression was dark. ”Shall I show you why you sought my power? Hmmm?” he took a few steps closer.

Rex arched an eyebrow at the man's complaints. "You're still alive," he said a bit sardonically. The light blade was still buried inside the man's chest, just in case magic was actively cast on him from afar. From Rex's experiments, the blade would disrupt new magical influences that attempted to target who or what he impaled on the sword. If someone hurled mundane flames instead, well, that's what his invisible shield was for.

The arched eyebrow returned to it's customary frown position as Hercules hot agitated, if his tattoos, which were now blatantly on display thanks to the man's shirtlessness, were any indication.

"Step back, Hercules," Rex said as he shifted his position until he was partially blocking Hercules's path to the captured man. Hercules would have to go through Rex and his sword first, although for now the sword remained buried in the man's chest. He stared at the bigger man for a moment and then turned back to the prisoner.

"You will talk eventually," Rex informed the man. "Law enforcement is on the way. They are trained in getting people to talk. I, however, am a firefighter and a man of faith. I am trained to put out fires, to listen to people, and protect who I can." Rex nodded down at his blade. "I cannot keep this up for long, though. Will you speak now, while I can shield you from retribution? Or will you wait until the interrogators drag it out of you, condemning you to a hellish death?"

"The choice is yours."

The prince of power adored Rex of the Inferno, wielder of flames. He was a good man, one who did his best to help people, save them. If anything Rex was the ideal candidate for a master and someone to help him protect all humanity. However, at times. Hercules felt his more direct methods were to intense for his friend. Even William was glaring at the firefighter when he stood in Herc’s way.

The blue spectral owl shimmered on William’s shoulder at the ready. Hercules sighed and stepped back and folded his arms flexing his anger in protest. William did the same folding his far smaller arms the owl ruffled it’s feathers.

It seemed all who wasn’t Rex or the man who was gripped by the statue was angry at the situation. Until Rex finished talking. William was the first to speak up now that he knew what was going on. “He’s right...” Hercules snapped his head to William who was rolling his eyes at Hercules now. “This disrupts magic from what I can tell and that curse... Well... when you do talk it seems... permanent.”

The stared down at the fire sword, “I’ll die either way when the sword is pulled out then... they aren’t someone you can cross. They are connected. They have power...” at this point Hercules chimed in, ”More power than the son of Zues!?!?” Hercules flexed and glowed brightly behind Rex. It would have been far more intimidating if he pushed through Rex of the flaming sword but knew that their friendship would become... strained. Something the ancient behemoth wanted to prevent from happening.

“A smart man would speak now. We might even let you run after. Won’t we?” William asked to both Rex and Hercules. The boy was starting to figure out this guy was nothing more than a grunt. He didn’t wield the flames. Not like Rex, nor this... Prometheus.

Rex's eyes were fixed on the man caught in the statue's hand. His face was stern but not lacking compassion. He was a man with conviction. The man impaled on his blade was one as well, if a rather self-possessed conviction.

Pausing only a moment to glare at Hercules for his show of force, Rex turned back to the man. "You will not speak, will you?" he said, searching the man's eyes.

The man gave a bitter glance. "Ain't worth it," he said. His shoulders slumped and he seemed to just hang from the statue's hand. "Not what I signed up for but not worth running out on. They can find anyone anywhere. It would only be a matter of time before they got me." Then the man's eyes shut.

Rex nodded. "Very well," he said, opening his hand. The sword of light vanished and Rex ceased his focus on his shield, letting all the magic disperse. Then he put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Whatever curse you were under is gone, torn asunder by the sword of the spirit. We will not force you into anything, especially something that can cause you harm. I only hope that you find the courage within yourself to stand on the side of truth and do the right thing. Until then, may God watch over you and have mercy on you."

The man opened his eyes and Rex met his gaze with a sadness about himself. "I wish I could do more for you," Rex said, before stepping back.

As he turned to face Hercules, ready to intercede if the giant were to aggressively approach the captive again, the man whispered, "Wait."

Rex paused.

"Ask the boy. He knows what happened. He was there."

Rex's gaze fell upon William.

William watched as Rex’s sword vanished. The words still ringing out in his ears.

>>> "Ask the boy. He knows what happened. He was there."

What did he mean? Did he know who was behind this attack? The one behind his mothers? The one who killed his father? The day of the summoning was a blur to the boy. So much happened in such a short amount of time but he still tried to rack his brain as Hercules shouted at Rex for releasing his sword. ”Rex!”

The prince of power sometimes wished that Rex wasn’t who he was. The man was far to forgiving and kind. The best humanity had to offer, one of the reasons Hercules adored the man. Truly an inspiration... but now was not the time to be soft. William needed answers. The man had them. Hercules stepped forward knowing all too well it might mean that he and Hercules would have to fight. Part of him wanted to back away but William... he made a promise to the boy. One the disgraced Olympian intended to keep.

Hercules ignored the information the man had to offer and stepped forward each step was heavy. He didn’t make eye contact with Rex his friend. His eyes started to well up with tears as he continued to move forward. “Wait...” William said as he finally spoke up. “Herc... let him go...”

The last foot fell a few feet from Rex as a weight was lifted from Hercules. His shoulders perked up and his gaze turned to William who looked... confused. Hercules rarely saw that look on the boy. He was usually so sure of everything. “Let’s get out of here. I... don’t want to be here anymore.” The boy turned his back and started to wheel away as the blue spectral owl vanished.

”But... he has the answers you seek! Surely we can not let him get away!” Hercules was desperate to fulfill the promise he made to the boy on that day of his summoning, the day William lost everything but his life. “Herc.... he’s right... I think I do have the answer to who killed my dad and who put my mom in the hospital....” William stopped moving forward and grabbed his pants. “....who did this...”

”As you command... master....” Hercules turned to the man who had given them little and spoke plainly. ”There will not be a second time... should you attack the boy again... my judgement will be swift.” the glowing faded finally and he looked to Rex clearly relieved he didn’t have to fight his friend then turned to William and caught up to the boy.

Rex stood his ground as Hercules shifted forward, his arms loose at his side. He'd dismissed his sword already. There wouldn't be time to call it forth again and stop Hercules. It took seconds and seconds to say the word - it would take Hercules no more than a moment to cross the few scant feet between them and kill the man, regardless of Rex's presence.

It was terrifying and Rex second-guessed his decision to let go of the sword.

He still didn't flinch, even as the giant yelled at him. Instead, he stiffened his jaw, preparing for what was about to happen.

However, it seemed that God had other plans.

A small voice stopped Hercules and as the man obeyed William's commands, Rex let out a shaky breath and reflexively crossed himself. His heart was pounding in his ears, even as the other's man's posture suddenly lightened, as if relieved of a heavy burden. What a burden it must be to wear Hercules down.

Rex returned his gaze to the boy. "Then we should get you somewhere safe," he said. "Then you need to tell us what you know."

Then Rex looked at Hercules and met his eyes, gladdened to see the fading light. "We'll get to the bottom of this," Rex said softly, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. "As God is my witness. We will find answers."

The boy usually contained his composure, very rarely would Hercules see William lash out emotionally but Hercules could see tears well up as William tired to fight them. To come so close and be forced to stop and reevaluate the situation they were in. The revenge they sought. Even the god was frustrated, he however was easier to read than William.

Tears formed and fell as Hercules watched William struggle with his feelings and thoughts. The boy was doing his best and he a god was to just stand by and watch someone he cared about struggle. It was infuriating. The prince of power wanted to hit something... shout... anything was better than watching this. ”Rex of the flaming sword is right.” Hercules finally said letting the tears fall from him silently. ”It has been a trip to the fields indeed! We require nourishment!”. The ancient greek wasn’t really hungry but knew of William’s sweet tooth, his teenage appetite and the fact he was more willing to talk about anything on a full stomach. ”Might I suggest waffles?”

William’s back was to the pair of them his chair squeaked as he moved. “That’s.... sure...” the boy finally said. Hercules was already moving. Grabbing the back of the chair and guiding it to the exit, ”I see a mound of whipped cream in our future and I for one am looking forward to it. Rex! What say you? After a battle like that? Should we not fill our stomachs?” the power of waffles. Wiliam’s favorite breakfast food.

William looked over his shoulder briefly at Rex’s words. “.... Thank you.” the boy might not have believed in any god, summoned or no but he appreciated the offer for help. “Herc was right. You are a good person.” with that the wheels squeaked as Hercules continued to push the boy to the exit.