Prologue
Heracles walked through the Greek countryside, humming to himself. The hot Mediterranean sun blazed above his head, but the hero kept walking calmly, without so much as a drop of sweat on his forehead. He carried his club in his right hand, a great, one and a half meter long weapon. He wore a short tunic, made of wool, and sandals. And above this, draped over his back, with its jaws framing his face, the pelt of the Nemean Lion, that golden, indestructible skin which Heracles had obtained by slaying the beast. Its front paws were tied before his neck, holding the pelt, while the rest of it fell down his back like a golden cape.
By a rope he dragged the body of the giant Cacus, the three-headed shepherd who terrorized the countryside through massacres and rapes. The citizens of Naupactus would be beyond themselves with gratefulness and joy.
It had not been very difficult to kill Cacus. Heracles had worn the wool of a sheep, as he had known the monster had a poor eyesight. Subtly, silently, Heracles had approached him his sword in his mouth and his club hugged close to his body. When the giant had reached down to pet the seemingly harmless sheep, Heracles jumped out, cut the monster's hand off, and drove his blade into his stomach. He had then broken his knees with his club, and the creature fell, completely taken by surprise. A single blow to each of his heads had finished Cacus.
Heracles was a young man, having turned 18 a mere week ago. He was tall, measuring little less than 2 meters. His white skin was slightly tanned, and his hair was light brown. He had green eyes, an alluring face which was shaved clean and a perfectly toned body.
A flock of birds flew past, over the hills and into the distance. Heracles couldn't wait to arrive at Naupactus, not because of glory or tributes, which were sure to come, but to see Megara, beautiful, sweet Megara, his wife. She would be waiting for him, to welcome the hero with the rest of the city. They would make the sacrifices to Zeus, and to Athena, and a feast would ensue, courtesy of the locals. They would then retire to the solitude of their chambers, to make love, enjoying one another till the break of dawn.
He smiled to himself, and fastened the pace, anxious to get there.
In less than three minutes he had jogged the 10 kilometers that separated him from Naupactus.
From the city walls, a cloud of dust could be seen approaching rapidly.
-It's Heracles! – shouted a sentinel – Heracles is back with the monster Cacus!
Soon, the entire population of Naupactus rushed to the gates, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mighty and revered hero. Shouts and cheers carried throughout the countryside. In a few minutes, the whole coastal city was alive with celebrations and reverie.
***
Hera, Queen of the Gods, frowned upon her throne, angered, her heart blazing with fury. As hard as she tried, she couldn't seem to vanquish the great Heracles. She had done everything she could think of. The Hydra, the Nemean Lion, which he had so mockingly skinned and donned as armor, cyclopes, tribes of murderous centaurs, sea monsters... he managed to slay them all, singlehandedly, as if it was some sort of game or sport. Hera's rage boiled stronger and stronger each time, and her desire for revenge was so overwhelming she felt she would explode if she didn't satisfy it. Her fist came down hard on her throne's arm, causing an earthquake in southern Italy.
From where she sat, she could see Heracles, and his wife, that little slut Megara, hugging him, and kissing him at the banquet in Naupactus. They were feasting in the city's agora, in front of the temple of Zeus. Megara, the petty little wench. He seemed so happy when he was with the slut...
Hera smiled. She had suddenly been stricken with an idea. One that seemed so far much, much better than all of her monsters and curses combined.
With a devilish grin on her lips, great Hera descended down to Earth, to Naupactus, taking a human form. Suddenly, there she was, in the midst of the celebrations, surrounded by worthless mortals, drinking and laughing and dancing around the agora. She had taken the body of a young, pretty woman, with blue eyes and dark hair, wearing a light dress which subtly revealed her feminine curves. She had a jar of wine in her hands. Lightly, she walked over to the table were Heracles dined, his strong arm around Megara's waist. Hera had to give it to the slut. She was pretty. She had blond hair, round honey eyes, a soft, innocent-looking face with rosy lips. She was Heracles's age, and they had just been married for a month. Hera had tried to stop the wedding by sending a giant hawk to abduct Megara, but Heracles had simply felled the bird with a stone to the head.