It was past dusk when the stranger arrived, stepping into Kora's with his heavy leather cape swirling around his ankles. Tangles of the night's early mist followed him in, some melting like cobwebs as they brushed against the burning candles on the nearest tables, others clinging stubbornly to his sleeves and back.
"We're closing in a few minutes," Kora told him, "but the kitchen's still open if you want something quick."
The stranger pushed back the hood of his cape in a one quick moment, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to be seen. Dark hair bare, features illuminated by candles, he looked surprisingly young.
"Actually," he said, leaning an arm against the counter, "I just wanted directions. Is Cheiron's Academy around here?"
"Oh, are you a new cadet?"
Kora meant the question as polite chitchat, but the stranger drew back, eyes clouding.
"No," he answered finally. "I'm just looking for someone. Maybe you know him? His name's Hercules."
Kora eyed the newcomer a bit more closely. She had the nagging feeling that he looked familiar for some reason.
"Everybody around here knows Hercules," she said, her tone not quite deciding whether that was a good or a bad thing.
Again, the stranger's expression darkened.
"Do you know where I could find him? We're old . . . friends."
The man didn't seem anything more than mortal.
"You're in luck," she decided, giving him a quick smile. "He's right over there. I'll show you to the table."
"Thanks," the stranger said and trailing behind as if he might bolt at any second, followed her to the corner table where three figures were laughing heartily.
Fighting chuckles, Hercules held up a hand for silence and continued the story. "So then she said: 'Why don't you come in and meet daddy?'"
"How was I supposed to know her father was the Constable?" Iolaus protested. "Or that he had invited Cheiron to dinner that night?"
Lilith rolled her eyes. "And you really thought that Cheiron would buy that you had wandered out after curfew in a delirious fever and thought her house was the Academy?"
"No, I expected that to buy me a few minutes while Hercules set up a distraction," Iolaus countered. "But I didn't think he was going to let the entire police station's stables free!"
"It wasn't my idea," Hercules groaned. "I still have hoofmarks imprinted all over my body."
"Oh, so that's what's wrong with your face."
Hercules shot him a glare. "That's the gratitude I get? Didn't I spend the whole night helping you collect the horses?"
Iolaus offered him a cherubic smile. "But that wasn't exactly your idea, was it? What did Cheiron say again: a wise warriors must learn to hold his horses?"
"He never -"
The rest of Hercules' reply dropped away as a shadow fell across the table.
Lilith looked up into the face of a man maybe four years older than herself, with tangled dark hair and darker eyes.
Well, what do we have here? she thought.
And then she noticed that Hercules and Iolaus had both gone quiet, eyes wide, all traces of festivity wiped from their faces.
"Hercules, I found someone to see you," Kora said into the sudden, crowded silence.
"Hercules," the stranger greeted the half god, not moving a muscle. His expression was noncommittal, but Lilith thought she caught a trace of wariness in his voice.
Poker faces had never been Hercules' strong suit. Shock painted his features - shock and happiness.
"Iphicles," he breathed.