CHAPTER 80

 

- This is not working –said Alexander panting, on four over his beloved.

 

- What? –Hephaistion’s question was half sighed, with voice drowned in desire.

 

- You are making too much noise –the blond observed.

 

- You love that I always make too much noise –Hephaistion answered, panting, his hair was deliciously disheveled, half covering his glassy eyes and his flushed cheeks.

 

- Yes, but not when Aki is in the house –the blond complained. It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and the last time they checked, the boy was playing in the living room of their new house. 

 

- That’s what I told you and you didn’t care because you are like a cat in heat –his beloved reminded him, straightening on his elbows. Almost all their furniture and things were still packed, and they were lying on a bed without sheets and blankets, but that had been the last of Alexander’s worries when he jumped over Hephaistion.

 

- That’s your fault.

 

- How can this be my fault? –Hephaistion couldn’t believe what he heard.

 

- You were the one who insisted in cleaning the garage –said Alexander, his cute red spots burning his cheeks—Do you have any idea of how difficult was for me to watch you, with your wet T-shirt cleaning the garage, bending over and sweating with this heat? 

 

- You are insane –Hephaistion laughed, and brushed his hair back. He, the same as the blond, was half naked, only wearing his T-shirt, and thanks to all their foreplay, very aroused. But Achilles was in the house and that was an impediment for him to do everything his hormones were demanding—We should forget this, it was a terrible idea. 

 

- No, no, no…we can’t stop now…I have an idea –said the blond, his entire body was screaming to have Hephaistion beneath him, to feel his skin against him—What if you put a pillow over your face? You know, to drown your voice.

 

His beloved watched him through narrowed eyes.

 

- You want to make me love having a pillow over my face? –he asked slowly. Oh, the blond was so dead. 

 

- Ok, that was a bad idea –Alexander said quickly trying to mend his mistake, but the truth was that the heat in his body didn’t let him think correctly—But… –he kissed his beloved’s cheek again, leaving a trail on his way to his neck—I want you so badly –he whispered against his skin, tickling him with his eyelashes.  

 

Hephaistion cocked his head and smiled. He had to admit that he also wanted to finish what they had started, even if the more rational and responsible part of his brain kept telling him this was a bad idea. He laid again on his back and spread his legs, bending his knees to his sides, completely exposed in front of Alexander, breathing heavily and watching him through narrowed eyes. 

 

The blond felt a stab of pleasure watching him like that. He kissed his beloved one more time, slowly, taking his time to enjoy his lips when they heard the sound of glass breaking coming from the living room and Peritas barking.

 

Hephaistion stood up so quickly that he hit Alexander in the process, and hurried to look for his jeans. The blond ran a hand through his face, trying his best to calm down the savage beating of his heart, and his boiling hormones.

 

- I hope its not Aki –said the blond, reluctantly getting dress; all his plans ruined now.

 

But as things were, it was Achilles. He had broken one of living room’s big windows, and was standing in the middle of the boxes and packed furniture with “guilty” written across his face. 

 

- Aki, are you ok? –asked Hephaistion kneeling in front of him, and the boy moved his head up and down.

 

- I’m sorry.

 

- What happened? –asked his father.

 

- I was playing with my ball and I hit the window –explained Achilles ashamed.

 

- Aki, how many times have we told you not to play inside? –said Alexander, looking at the mess, shatter glass everywhere and Peritas running and barking in the garden.

 

- I’m sorry…—said the boy again, not daring to face them, both hands gripping the edge of his shirt.

 

In other circumstances Hephaistion would have grounded him, but he had to admit they were the ones to blame for not paying attention to what was the boy doing; at least Achilles wasn’t hurt.

 

- Some way to spend the first day at our new house –mutter Alexander, checking the window frame.

 

It had been almost a year since Alexander proposed to Hephaistion at the ER; and, in that time, many things had changed. The blond had a dream, he had always wanted to be in a Metal band, like Metallica, be famous with an army of fans screaming his name, traveling around the world, conquering the popularity lists, passed into history as the best band ever, and doing 2 of the things he loved the most: play the guitar and sing.

 

He already had a band, called Reign, with: Kleitos in the bass, Ptolemy in the drums and Perdikkas in the second guitar, with such a unique style that they had created a new type of Metal, never heard before. They played faster, louder and stronger than everybody else and were very well known underground; but it was almost a year ago that they got a contract to record an album with one of the most famous Record Labels in the world: Persia Records whose CEO was no other than Darius Achaemenid, the father of Achilles’ best friend. In fact, it had been thanks to this friendship that Alexander had recorded his first album: At the Gates of Eternity.

 

Nobody knew how to catalog Reign’s style, the blonde’s songs were about war and the glory of the battlefield, some critics had said the band was like DragonForce, or Ex Deo, because of the lyrics, but his style was something never heard before, others said that Alexander was the new Dave Mustaine, Megadeth’s founder; they thought he was the entire band, after all he was the undisputable leader and the one who dictated their fate, but no one could denied the talent of his band mates. In short, no one knew what was Reign, but they were kicking asses all over the world.

 

Now, their first single: Marching Through the Path of Glory, was at the top lists of the world and the critic said it had the most powerful riff since Kashmir of Led Zeppelin; and of course the album was also a great success, platinum in one week. Not bad for a new band.

 

No-one can destroy the metal

The metal will strike you down with a vicious blow

We are the vanquished foes of the metal

We tried to win for why we do not know

(Tenacious D, The Metal)

 

 

For other bands had taken years of hard work and hardships, but for Alexander and Reign had been relatively easy; the blond appeared to have been born with an overdose of good luck, that, and the fact that he was truly brilliant had made Reign a very famous band in less than a year. And since Fortune was smiling at him, he had bought a house and moved to Athens with his small family.

 

Alexander cell phone rang, and the blond took the call while Hephaistion went to look for a broom to clean this mess. So much had happened in so little time, and his beloved still had troubles adjusting to his new life.

 

- Phai! –exclaimed Alexander excited, while his beloved cleaned—Phai, leave that; my manager wants to see us.

 

- By “us” you mean you and the band? Or you and me? –asked Hephaistion, sweeping.

 

- You and me, I told you that my manager wants to talk to us about our wedding –said Alexander and his beloved sighed.

 

He had already forgotten that they couldn’t get married until the almighty manager said it was ok. After all, since Reign was getting so famous in such a short time, the manager was trying to maintain the image of the band.

 

- Give me 15 minutes –said Hephaistion, leaving the broom.

 

Hephaistion didn’t know the fabulous manager of Reign, he had only heard how great he was. He had the entire band with their mouths open, and Alexander talked about him a lot: “My manager says this, my manager thinks that, my manager did this other” He only knew that the manager was Italian, Roman to be more exactly, 10 years older than them, a brilliant politician, a great lawyer, gifted orator, and pretty much a genius in finances, administration and law making. The manager was the other reason why Reign was so famous so quickly; he always knew what to do at the right moment, and was also thanks to Alexander’s good luck that they had found him.

 

At least now I’m going to meet the man –thought Hephaistion after taking a shower and getting ready to go. 

 

They arrived to a very fancy restaurant, 30 minutes later, with Achilles, and Alexander lead the way to a table, where a very handsome man of blond short hair was dictating to his secretary, while checking his MacBook and talking through his blackberry. Only he appeared to be capable of doing several things at the same time.   

 

- Sorry to keep you waiting –said Alexander. The manager lifted his head and smiled, the most charming smile Hephaistion had seen, and that made him burn in jealous. He left his blackberry and closed his MacBook.

 

- Don’t worry; you gave me time to finish with my pending things. Apparently Perdikkas got himself married with a stripper and I’m trying to fix this –he said, his beautiful yet strange blue eyes with a darker ring around them, settled on Hephaistion—I guess he is your fiancé –he stood up.

 

- I’m Hephaistion Amyntoros –he introduced himself.

 

- Julius –said the manager, shaking his hand. His Greek was perfect and according to Alexander he also spoke several languages—And the young man must be Achilles.

 

- Nice to meet you –said the boy formally.

 

- Alexander told me you work for the Greek government –said Julius to Hephaistion, taking a seat again.

 

- Yes, I work for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Parmelio –answered Hephaistion. He was extremely serious and that caught Alexander’s attention, his beloved was usually a very nice and kind person.

 

- A diplomatic career –said Julius nodding—An interesting choice. I met Parmelio years ago, I think his son…Philotas is now working at his office too.

 

- That’s correct –said Hephaistion coldly. He didn’t want to talk about Philotas, he had many problems with him since Parmelio’s son decided to blackmail him in order to force him to sleep with him. He didn’t want to worry Alexander and hadn’t said a word about this.

 

What is wrong with Phai? –thought Alexander, frowning.

 

- I have good news, Alexander –said Julius, changing the subject when he noticed that Hephaistion didn’t want to talk about himself—The album is an overwhelming success in Egypt. The Siwah Newspaper had named you the next Metal God, and Reign has been nominated as the best new Metal band of the year. 

 

Alexander smiled, not even for a moment he doubted of his album success.

 

- I’ll tell the boys, they are going to be ecstatic. Julius, do you have news about our wedding? –asked Alexander, coming back to the subject of his interest, while Achilles swung his legs on the chair and watched them carefully.

 

- Yes –Julius dismissed his secretary with his hand— I think it would be better if you get married before the World Tour…

 

- World Tour? –Hephaistion interrupted, turning to see his lover— What World Tour?

 

- I…er…We are going on a World Tour next month to promote our new album –Alexander explained quickly.

 

What Hephaistion wanted to do in that moment was to stand up and yell: “and when did you plan to tell me this?” But he wasn’t going to embarrass him in front of his manager, so he said nothing.

 

- So, you want to schedule our wedding in a month? –asked Alexander.

 

- 2 weeks –Julius corrected him.

 

- 2 weeks is too soon, I was… –said Hephaistion, arms crossed.

 

- It’s perfect! –exclaimed Alexander, delighted with the news—We already waited 11 months—And the party? 

 

- A big party should do –said Julius—That would attract the media, and keep the public interest in the band.

 

- Big party? –Hephaistion didn’t like the idea—How big?

 

- 500 guests –said Julius and Hephaistion’s eyes doubled their size. 

 

- Excellent –said Alexander at once, loving the idea. His beloved wanted to hit him, 500 guests? If it were for him, he would choose to get marry like Romeo and Juliet, just Alexander and he alone in a small chapel. Period.

 

- Is that a good idea? –said Hephaistion very serious—I mean, Alexander is getting married with another man, is a good idea to make such a fuss about this?

 

- Rob Halford, the vocalist of Judas Priest, is gay and that didn’t stop him for being one of the number one icons in Metal music –Julius explained with simplicity. 

 

Hephaistion didn’t even know why he was there, between Alexander and Julius chose everything: the location, the date, the important guests…it was clear that both like notoriety and had a flamboyant taste to do everything as big and flashy as they could… for Hephaistion utterly dismay. 

 

XXX

 

- I don’t like you manager –said Hephaistion, once they were back at their new house.

 

- Why not? –Alexander couldn’t believe his words—The man is awesome.

 

- Exactly for that, he is just too perfect –his beloved left his keys on a table, and the blond smiled.

 

- Are you jealous?

 

- What do you think? –Alexander’s smile widened, he was enjoying the moment. This was new, Hephaistion was never jealous of him.

 

- Phai, don’t be silly, I love you –said the blond taking his hand—And we are going to get married. Besides, Julius is not gay and has no interest in me, believe me, he is a womanizer, he only dates supermodels and actresses, and so far he had married 3 times.

 

- How do you know all this? You talk as if you know for a fact that the man has no interest in you –his beloved questioned him, arms crossed over his chest.

 

- We like to talk –Alexander explained.

 

- And why you didn’t tell me this? –Achilles turned on the TV, completely oblivious of their conversation.

 

- Phai, I always tell you everything. You knew I like talking with him –said the blond.

 

- You tell me everything? I didn’t know you were going on a World Tour next month –his beloved reproached him.

 

- He told us yesterday.

 

- And you have almost 24 hours to tell me such big news.

 

Alexander sighed.

 

- You are right –he gave up— I’m sorry, happy now?

 

- Dad, daddy, Krateros in on TV –said Achilles, sitting on the only unpack sofa.

 

They both turned and saw Krateros in the program I Bet You Will, agreeing to eat from a bucket with disgusting things for 100 dollars.

 

Only Krateros –thought Hephaistion.

 

XXX

 

- Phai? –asked Alexander on his cell phone next week.

 

- Alex, I have an emergency and I can’t go for Aki, could you please go and pick him up from school? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- But I’m with Julius and the band.

 

- Alex, please, I can’t go, Parmelio has a meeting with the ambassador of Turkey, but the ambassador of Iran just show up at the last minute, and I’m trying to fix Parmelio’s agenda without insulting someone –said his beloved in a hurry—Besides, and you are closer to the school –the blond sighed.

 

- Fine, I’ll go.

 

- Thank you –said Hephaistion feeling relieved— I love you.

 

- I love you too.

 

XXX

 

Achilles might be 4 years old but he was in elementary school; all his classmates were older than him, but he knew how to be a very charming boy and had a lot of friends. By the time Alexander arrived, Achilles was the only kid left in the class room, he was reading while his teacher, a very beautiful woman with long dark brown hair, was arranging the books on the shelves. 

 

- Sorry I’m late –said the blond, entering the classroom.

 

The teacher turned and smiled. 

 

- You must be Aki’s father.

 

- Alexander Argead.

 

- I’m Celine, Aki’s teacher –she smiled adorably.

 

Achilles saw Alexander and started to pack his things, coughing while doing it. The blond frowned. Achilles was a boy with many allergies: to molds, to pollen, to several plants like pines, to cats…but his worst allergy was to bees. He wasn’t a sickly boy, he rarely fell sick, but his allergies were something that had his 2 fathers on edge, they had always with them an Epinephrine injection in case a bee were near them, because last time they had to run to the ER with an almost blue Achilles.

 

- You know Mr. Argead –said the teacher catching his attention—You should consider the possibility of taking Aki to extracurricular activities, like painting or music classes…other things in order that he can find something he likes. He is very smart and shouldn’t have too much free time. 

 

That makes sense –thought Alexander.

 

- I’ll think about it –Celine smiled and when the blond turned to see if Achilles was ready, she dropped one book on purpose.

 

- Oops! –exclaimed the teacher, and the blond bent over to pick it up.

 

Celine stretched his neck to admire that beautiful butt, nodding her approval; he thought Alexander could won a international price thanks to his butt: To the Extraordinaire Derrière; she definitely would give him a 10. The oblivious blond gave her the book, and she just smiled, as if nothing had happened. 

 

When Alexander arrived to his car, his cell phone rang again, for a moment he thought it would be Hephaistion, checking that he had picked Achilles up, but the number was of someone else.

 

- Hi Cloe, what’s up? –asked his brother, while Achilles fastened his seat belt on the back seat. Alexander’s smile abandoned his face and the vein in his forehead pop up—Are you insane? –the tone of his voice made the boy jumped, he knew that tone, his uncle was furious—No, no, you listen to me, you were the one who didn’t want him and now, you want him back?…I don’t care if you thought things carefully or if your husband is dead, he is not a dog to give away and then ask back…I said NO –he threw the phone through the window and hide his face in his hands.   

 

He couldn’t believe it. Cleopatra wanted Achilles back now that her husband was dead.

 

Over my dead body –thought Alexander. And the blond was so concentrated in his new problems that he didn’t see the group of men standing near the car, watching them closely.

 

XXX

 

When Hephaistion woke up he was alone in Alexander’s magnificent bed, months after the battle of Issus and he just couldn’t get use to this magnificent room. Every time he had a dream like this he felt confused and lost, but this time, he also felt worried and anxious, something was going to happen to the King, and the only thing he could think in that moment was in going at his side.

 

He got dressed very quickly, dismissing the servant that ran to help him. It was so easy to forget they were in a military campaign inside this portable palace, Hephaistion understood the Persians did this because they wanted the Great King to be as comfortable as possible, but in his opinion, this also served to lose the perspective of things; after all, if you are not suffering hardships, how are you going to understand your own men better or have a better idea of what’s going on in the camp. This tent was also like a burble, stepping inside it took you to another world and, once inside, you could easily forget about everything.  

 

Or maybe I just think too much –said the General to himself, and went to look for Alexander.

 

Hephaistion walked for a few minutes while eating an apple, his only breakfast, and after asking a few questions, he found the King surrounded by his officers giving orders, while the rank soldiers worked around Old Tyre like ants, filling the place, running from side to side. Hephaistion had no idea of what was happening but he didn’t want to intrude. Sometimes it was so difficult, he was so used to Alexander than more than once he had felt the urge of kissing him, or embracing him as a hello in front of everyone; but the rational part of his mind was stronger and he always restrained himself from embarrassing the King. 

 

He waited until the King was done with his officers and walked to him. 

 

- About time you woke up –said Alexander, teasing him.

 

- What happened? –asked the General, brushing his hair with his fingers.

 

- I told you that my dream would convince the men that we can take Tyre –said the King with self-sufficiency, walking with him.

 

- You didn’t! –exclaimed Hephaistion.

 

- I did –he said proudly—And Aristander immediately pronounce my dream as a good omen, saying that Tyre would fall after labors worthy of Herakles himself.

 

- Of course he did –his beloved muttered. He disliked Aristander the same way he disliked all fortunetellers and seers, but he had to admit that in this particular case, he had been extremely useful—What now? How are we going to take the island without a fleet, genius?

 

- Easy, we are going to build a mole half a mile long across the strait –the King answered as if he were talking about building a small altar.

 

Hephaistion stopped and turned to see Alexander as if he had gone mad.  

 

- Are you out of your mind?! –he exclaimed.

 

- That was exactly what Kleitos said, and with your same expression –said the King with calm—You know what? At this point you should be used to dating an insane person.

 

- This isn’t funny Alex; we can’t do it –of all the possible solutions to their problem this was definitely the last one Hephaistion would have thought about. A mole?

 

- Says who? We have everything we need around us, I have issued orders to demolish Old Tyre to provide stones and rubble, and I sent a party inland to fetch timber –explained Alexander, it was clear he had thought about this carefully—Of course, I have also see that the grain supply would be sufficient, the men are going to work hard and they must be well feed. 

 

The General fell silent for a moment. The King had an idea, a well establish plan and knew what he was doing. This wasn’t the desperate plan of a man blind by pride and rage. He shook his head. 

 

-  I still think you are insane, but if you are sure we can do it, I believe you –said Hephaistion.

 

- I’m sure –the King didn’t hesitate. 

 

They kept walking, watching the men working with fast efficiency.

 

- Why you didn’t wake me up? –asked his beloved changing the subject, he felt a little embarrassed after sleeping until late when everybody else were working so hard.

 

- You looked tired and I didn’t want to disturb you –Alexander wanted to embrace him, kissed him and lost himself for a moment in his arms, but he could do it, not there in front of his men.

 

Ranker soldiers thought a Great Man was the one who didn’t depend on anyone but on his own strength, they would never understand that Hephaistion was his weakness and his pillar of strength, they would only think that his beloved manipulated him and that he was weak enough to let him do so. He couldn’t show himself as a mortal man to his men, he had to be a God for them, and Gods didn’t have weakness.

 

XXX

 

One week later the men were getting used to the work. The young engineer Artorius was in charge of the mole project and he divided each taxei of pezetairoi in groups, along with the mercenaries and the allied forces, and each group was assigned to different aspects on the construction of the mole, taking turns day and night. The hetairoi cavalry didn’t work like the rest, but that didn’t mean they do nothing, they were sent every day to look for supplies and timber.

 

Alexander always kept a group of arm forces guarding the perimeter in case the Tyrians organize an attack by land, but so far things were going smoothly, without troubles and the moral were high, even if their task seem almost impossible to accomplish.

 

The King had taken the habit of checking the construction of the mole every afternoon and, going to the beach every night to observe Tyre and think about his strategy. Some nights Hephaistion could accompany him, but not tonight, his beloved had to settle a dispute between 2 of his men, and the King took this opportunity to spend some time alone with Achilles. 

 

- A King needs to be the best among men, Aki; because if not, what makes him different from the rest? –said Alexander, walking with the boy far away from the camp. Only Eurycliedes was with them, and that because Hephaistion had insisted that the King shouldn’t go alone. The guard, knowing the King wanted some time alone, was following closely enough in case he had to act, and far enough to give them privacy, making as little noise as possible—A King doesn’t have weaknesses and has to be the first in doing what he asks from his men, to set an example.

 

The boy moved his head up and down.

 

- Dad, is the Great King a bad King? –asked Achilles, watching the night sea. It had always impressed the boy how was that the sea could be blue during the day and black during the night. 

 

- What do you think?

 

- I think he is a coward –said the boy without hesitation, dragging his feet on the sand to leave a trail—He ran away from the battlefield.

 

- For some men, the fear to die is stronger than their will to fight –said the King.

 

- Why? We are all going to die someday –Alexander turned to see him, he hadn’t expected to hear such hard words from someone so young. Achilles was a sweet boy, but he wasn’t naïve and was a great observer. 

 

- That is true, but not everyone can accept that fate so easily. Men who fear death are doom to fail, to die forgotten, because the only way of conquering death is showing it indifference… –the King made a pause— Do you want to be a King, Aki? –he had never asked him, and he wanted to know what he thought.

 

Whoever listen to the way in which Alexander was talking to the boy, would think he was talking to an older person. The King had never liked people who thought slowly, and for him it was unthinkable that his beloved’s son wasn’t able to follow a conversation like this; he was Hephaistion’s son and therefore he had to be as intelligent as his father. In other words, Alexander never treated Achilles as a child, he treated him as he did with any other adult.

 

- I want to be like you –said Achilles, making him smile.

 

- I thought you wanted to be a hero.

 

Achilles was going to open his mouth to answer when they heard a scream. Alexander stood in front of the boy and drew his sword, all his senses on alert.