Kevin steadied himself again as another wave of dizziness took him, he shook his head a little trying to clear it, he was due out on the set but he seemed to feel so tired and weak all of a sudden.
A young man poked his head in the trailer door, "We are ready for you Mr Sorbo!" he muttered and then disappeared again, it was his first day for work experience on the set and his was in so much awe of the actor.
Kevin splashed some cold water on his face and then steadied himself once more. There were some visitors on the set to greet and producers to keep happy, he couldn't afford for them to see he was not feeling well again.
Swaying slightly he made his way to the ready scene, another fight, Michael stood chatting to a pretty young assistant waiting for him, several stuntmen practiced their falls one last time. "Okay Kevin is here places everyone!" Michael yelled, in his role of guest director.
Kevin lurched a little but he made it through the fight scene easily enough, he was breathing heavily when he had finished the fight. Thirstily he drank from an offered bottle of water. He hadn't felt this bad since he was sick. Michael walked over to him and took his arm, "Hey Kev, you okay?" he asked low enough just so Kevin and no one else could hear.
"Yeah, yeah I am fine, just tired!" he muttered trying to look happy and cheerful, "So where are these visitors I would like to meet?" he asked putting his hand on Michael's shoulder.
A dark haired young woman with intriguing eyes of green with gold flecks through them, watched excitedly. She stood slightly apart from the others in the group, taking in everything around her.
He stared at her for a moment, she was bewitching. Slowly her walked over to her, ignoring for a moment the other visitors. "Hi I'm Kevin Sorbo!" he said trying to sound his most cheerful.
"Hi Mr Sorbo my name is Shawna Madder!" Shawna introduced herself, offering her hand. As she took his large hand, Shawna paled and looked up at him pulling her hand away. "I-I am sorry Mr Sorbo" she whispered
flashes of her in a far away place came to his mind at their contact, shocked he looked at her closely for a moment, until a call back to the set caught his attention. "Can you stay a little while?" He asked wanting just to talk to her and not worry about anymore shooting the episode today.
The rest of the visitors stared at her angrily, they had their autograph books ready, one woman held a photo of Kevin close to her breast and glared at Shawna. Suddenly they were bustled away and offered walk in extra parts on the show, Shawna was hustled with the rest of them. Tall and with a sporty build Shawna fitted the costume of a female warrior easily. She was going to actually do a scene with Kevin. Trying to concentrate on the instructions for the scene, was hard for her as her as she kept stealing a glance at him, he was talking to his wife Sam, Shawna could feel the bond between them, sighing slightly she still held a small fantasy of being his wife, like all of his other female fans.
Shawna steadied herself and waited for her directions, she could hardly believe it when she found out not only was she with Kevin Sorbo in a scene but Michael Hurst was directing it.
The scene was one where they had to touch again, Shawna stared up at him, as they embraced, in character, she saw a far away time and place, she felt the pain and confusion he was in. His clear blue eyes held her captive longer than needed, both caught up in something more than just filming a scene.
When they finally broke their embrace, a loud cheer erupted from the cast and crew, his wife Sam watched with detached interest, as long as it was just for the scene she was not worried. Though this time it seemed a little different. Sam watched a little more carefully, as her husband and the young Australian woman talked for a moment and then made their way over to her. She regarded the woman evenly, they were around the same age and height, though she thought Shawna carried a little more muscle. Her eyes were so unusual, gracefully she held out her hand and greeted the woman, then she looped her arm through Kevin's and held him tight.
Shawna smiled secretly at the small act of jealousy and then smiled broadly at the couple. She needed to explain to them what was happening. Kevin needed to be told but how was she to do it without making herself seem like a lunatic.
Their home was so beautiful and rustic, Shawna moved around careful not to disturb anything, she could hardly believe it in a way that they had invited her to dinner, but then she did know. She had seen it all before. This was going to be the hardest part. Convincing them.
Shawna told them of life in Australia, growing up in the country, both were interested so the dinner went along quickly and quietly. After the meal they sat with coffee on the verandah, this was the time to tell them.
"I am not sure where to begin!" Shawna started speaking nervously,"I needed to talk to you!" sensing their suspicions and their rising distrust, Shawna laid a reassuring hand on both their arms, "please listen to me, I am not a fanatical fan, or a crank or anything, I could feel the pain you are in, Kevin, I can feel a lot of things when I touch people, call me psychic if you will or gifted if you like, sometimes I feel cursed!" she took a big breath and decided that going on without waiting for them to respond would be the best way to go. "The pain and the feelings you are experiencing Kevin, are coming from a distant force, I am sorry please don't take me for a crank I truly want to help you!" Shawna stared at Kevin then at Sam, needing to hear their reasurance.
"Go on please Shawna!" Sam urged silencing her husband's protests with an annoyed look. She was intriguied, no one else knew of the pain and turmoil Kevin was feeling except herself. Now this young Australian woman comes out of the blue and tells them all about it.
With a skeptical air, Kevin sat back and stretched his long legs, "well go on!" he finally said with a grin.
"Like I said it is from a distant source, someone is attacking you, your ancient soul, if it is destroyed then you will cease to exist!" Shawna a little annoyed with his attitude blurted it out sooner than she had wanted.
"What did you say?" Sam asked increduously.
"Something that is very powerful is attacking Kevin through his ancient soul, slowly robbing it of his life, so much so there will be no more lives and Kevin will not live in his present day form!"Shawna tried to explain the best way she knew how.
Kevin sat up and showed a little more interest in what she was saying.
"So if what you are saying is right, then how do we stop it?" Sam asked with a half believing tone. Shawna looked at them feeling like she hadn't explained herself at all well, Kevin shook his head and stood up, "look if you want to believe in all this airy fairy spooky stuff, fine by me but I am going to bed! early start tomorrow, catch you later Shawna, night sweetie!" he said kissing Sam gently, just as he went to go inside, he stumbled dizzy, he felt so lightheaded and sick, vaguely he stared at the women, he could just make out their outlines, when he started to keel over in a dead faint.
Sam and Shawna propped him up from either side, and helped him to his chair again. Shawna tok his hand and concentrated on him for a moment, her eyes went a little glassy and she stared at a place just behind his head. It was if she was watching another scene take place.
Sam watched in horror as Kevin broke out in a cold sweat and shivers, he was running a high fever by the look of him, and Shawna appearing to be in a trance was totally oblivious to them both.
With a shudder Shawna came out of it, and looked sadly at Kevin and then at Sam, "he needs help now Sam!" she said quietly, taking the other woman's hand she looked at her a moment longer trying to think of saying something reassuring. "He is getting weaker what ever is feeding off his ancient soul is robbing him of his life now, I can help him go through an astral travel to find what is happening and why, then we can stop it before he ceases to exist altogether!" Shawna turned her attention to Kevin, who was sitting back trying to hear what was being said. He felt as if his life was literally being sucked out of him.
"What do I have to do?" he asked weakly, trying to sit up a bit more. He couldn't be sick again, they needed him on the show and that was all there was to it.
"sit back and try to relax!" Shawna started as she found a comfortable spot for herself, "Sam I am going to need you to watch us both, if there are any signs of danger or anything that doesn't look right, bring us back quickly, it will be a meditation, so talk loudly and directly to either or both of us!"
Sam nodded her head she felt so helpless and confused but she realised that it maybe the only thing that helps her husband.
"Now Kevin have you ever meditated before?" Shawna asked as she settled herself down so she was comfortable and facing him.
"Ah yeah I guess once or twice I tried it!" he mumbled still feeling dazed and out of it.
"Okay let's get on with it! now Kevin stare out at the lake behind me, and just concentrate on the water, how calming and soothing it is, now as you concentrate on the water and the stillness of it, relax your body, slow your breathing down and just focus on the water!" she watched as he followed her instructions then she slowly took his hands in hers, and while he went into a deep relaxation she slipped easily into an almost trance like state. "Now close your eyes and just concentrate on your breathing then as you breath out imagine a soft cloud hovering over you, it is soft and almost transparent, as it gets closer to you feel yourself be drawn towards it, let it take your shape, you can look down and see yourself sitting there totally at peace and totally painfree......now let yourself drift up, relaxed and calm, look over and you will see me coming towards you, that is it ........take my hand!" Shawna stopped talking but Kevin could hear her words so clearly, he had never felt so free before or weightless, looking down he could see Sam sitting with him and Shawna, he didn't feel worry or concern but floated towards the glowing cloud form of Shawna. Taking her hand he felt a flood of warmth and happiness. Swirls of colour went by them and what appeared to be thousands and thousands of shooting stars. He trusted her so easily it startled him a little but instinctively he knew she was doing everything she could to help him. After what only seemed like seconds they stopped Kevin looked questioningly at Shawna, smiling she pointed below them.
Looking down he could see himself again, though this time it was not as himself but as a different man, he could see the differences but it was him. Kevin gazed over at Shawna, "Yes Kevin, feel the tug? let yourself go down to him, he is your ancient soul he is Hercules!"