CHAPTER 9

 

Nikandros took Hephaistion to a famous brothel of pórnai prostitutes, in other words, prostitutes who were slaves not like the hetairas who had social status and some degree of independence. This brothel was located in a big house that in old days had belong to a noble who had fallen in disgrace and had been force to sell it.  In any other circumstances, and if Hephaistion had been sober, he would have refused to go into a place like that, but in that moment it didn’t sound like a bad idea.

 

They arrived by a solitary street full of cats, a giant Celtic slave with blond hair and braids, was guarding the door, but said nothing when he saw them. Inside, the walls were full of images of Aphrodite, and couples having intercourse in many different and peculiar positions. Hephaistion giggle when he saw the images and his brother hit him.   Voluptuous sculptures, and many oil lamps and candles adorned the corridor.

 

For Hephaistion’s utterly surprise, the owner of the brothel knew his brother very well.

 

I don’t know why do I bother –thought Hephaistion—I know how Nick is, I wouldn’t be surprise if he had his own room here.

 

- Master Nikandros! –said the brothel owner sweetly, a big fat woman that wobbled inside a yellow tunic, that made an outrageous contrast with her make up. She was known in the business as Matron—What can I do for you tonight? Livia is free; if it pleases you I can have her ready for you in a moment.     

 

- Thanks, but I didn’t come just for that –Nikandros took Hephaistion by the shoulder—This is my brother, and I want something special for him.

 

- By Eros and Cupid! What a handsome boy –Matron exclaimed, putting her hands together in front of her round face—Of course we are going to take good care of him. Do you have something in mind or would you like to take a look at the girls? 

 

- Is Messalina(1)  free tonight? –Matron smiled and shook her finger in front of her face.

 

- Good choice master, but you know Messalina’s services are not cheap.

 

- You offend us, Matron –Nikandros threw her a small leather bag. The woman counted the money, and once she was sure it was the right sum she recovered her sweet girlish smile.     

 

- I’ll bring her in a moment –Matron left them alone.

 

- What was all that? –Hephaistion couldn’t see straight anymore but he had the sufficient brain activity to know what was happening… or at least to have some idea.

 

- Messalina is the most famous whore in Pella, and seeing how green you are it would help you to be with a professional who can teach you one or two things –his brother explained—What’s wrong? Why do you look at me like that?

 

- Did you have sex with her? –something told Hephaistion that he didn’t want to hear the answer.

 

- Of course, that’s how I know she is worth every dracma –said Nikandros—She honors her fame.

 

- Do you want me to sleep with a woman who had been with everyone in Pella? –Hephaistion was outrage.

 

- How exaggerate, she hasn’t been with “everyone”, not everyone can afford her –his brother clarify with all calm, as if that statement solved everything—Don’t be delicate Phai, you are not marrying her…

 

- And if you were dragging me with a harlot, why didn’t you buy a hetaira?

 

- First of all, don’t say “buy” you sound like a newbie, and second, you can’t learn from a hetaira what you can learn here. Here –he extended his arms—Is the real good stuff…Oh! Here she comes.

 

Messalina walked to them behind her huge mistress. She was young, maybe 26 years old, long brown chocolate hair, brown eyes, voluptuous curves and an arrogant air of someone who knows is good in her work. She was dress in an almost transparent tunic, open at her sides, letting her perfect legs un-covered to be admired.

 

- Well? Does she please you young master? –Hephaistion’s gray eyes stopped in the generous breast of Messalina. She smiled; Hephaistion was the most beautiful man she had ever seen and she had seem many different men in that business.

 

- Perfect! –Nikandros exclaimed—Where is Livia?

 

 

Messalina took Hephaistion to one small and clean room on the second floor. For the young man it was the most uncomfortable thing to hear the moans and groans from the other rooms. He was grateful when Messalina closed the door, but then he didn’t know what to do, so he crossed his arms.

 

- Would you wish some wine, master? –Messalina offered him a cup.

 

- Sure, why not? –he emptied the cup in one drink. He was nervous and hadn’t the slightest clue of what else to do.

 

Seeing his indecision, Messalina took control of the situation. Poor Hephaistion had “virgin” written on his handsome face, and that cute expression of shyness and his outstanding good looks work magic in her. Hephaistion was irresistible, and inspire her to anything with him. She would have paid a fortune to be with him, and then she was, about to be the first time of the best specimen of the other sex she had ever seem. And he paid her! That night Messalina was the luckiest girl in the world.

 

Hephaistion let her do her job. He wasn’t scare with her, he knew he was stronger and she couldn’t hurt him, and thanks to that he let himself feel for the first time in his 16 years old. With Alexander he always felt a warm tickling but nothing like this burning desire; and all was because he wasn’t afraid, not now. Hephaistion closed his eyes, and soon it wasn’t Messalina’s lips or hands on him, soon it was Alexander who was there, touching him; and then he understood something: he loved Alexander, but not only that, he liked him and desired him with all his heart, but he was too scare to realize that…

 

Almost at dawn, both brothers arrived to the soldier’s barracks and fell asleep like dead men in the room they shared.

 

xXx

 

- Phai, move your cavalry to the other side! –shouted Alexander.

 

- I’m trying.

 

- Phai, look out!

 

Hephaistion was sitting in front of his laptop, playing Age of Empires online with Alexander. His ipod was plugged in and playing Stricken by Disturb.  

 

- Alex, this is the third time you destroyed my city, and the fifth that you beat my army –his friend complained, speaking on his headset. Hephaistion moved his virtual soldiers with his mouse—I’m not playing again Age with you. 

 

- What? Why not? –exclaimed Alexander outrage.

 

- Because I suck at this, you should have been a general in your other life –said Hephaistion, when something on the screen caught his attention—You change your username… Sikander the Conqueror? What the hell is that?

 

- Something I read, cool, eh?

 

- If you said so –Hephaistion sighed—Whatever, the point is I’m not playing again.

 

- But you are my best friend, my soul-mate, my other-half, you can’t abandon me…

 

- How dramatic, why do you want to play with me? Perdikkas is better at this –said Hephaistion, looking for another song.

 

- Yes, but I like to spend time with YOU –said Alexander and his friend smiled; he wasn’t looking at the blond but he knew what expression he had—I let you win next time.

 

- Don’t you dare to do that! I would never forgive you –said Hephaistion and the other laughed.

 

- I know, just kidding –Hephaistion’s cell phone rang.

 

- Alex, Leon sent a text message.

 

- What does he said?

 

- He said that he had the tickets for Troy –said Hephaistion, answering the text message.

 

- Cool! What time?

 

- 7 p.m., did you asked your parents for permission?

 

- Dad is not here, he is at the army headquarters, and I said to mom that Leon was coming with us and she asked no more –said Alexander and his friend heard voices on the other side of the headset—AFK (2)

 

- Phai! –Antigone called her son, arriving at the door with a basket of clean clothes—Honey, have you clean your room?

 

Hephaistion leaned back his head.

 

- Er…not yet –Antigone frowned.

 

- Phai, if this room is not clean by the time I came back, you are not going to the movies.

 

- Who’s going to the movies? –asked Berenike, eating a very big and very orange lollipop.

 

- I am.

 

- What are you going to watch?

 

- Troy.

 

- With Orlando Bloom? I want to go to –asked his sister jumping.

 

- Sorry, Perdikkas already bought the tickets –said Hephaistion.

 

- MOM!

 

- You and I can go later, princess –her mother smiled—And you young man, I want to see this room shining.

 

- Yes, mom.

 

As soon as his mother and sister were gone, still arguing about the movie, he heard noise on the other side of his headset.

 

- Damn! –Alexander exclaimed furious.

 

- Wow! What happened?

 

- Can I go to your house? I pick you up and we can go out, I need to talk to you –his friend was clearly angry.

 

- Ok.

 

Hephaistion saw Alexander off-line on the screen and he turned off his laptop. If he didn’t get hurry and cleaned his room in record time he wouldn’t be able to go outside. 

 

In 10 minutes he arrived at the first floor of his house, putting on his black jacket. His grandfather was reading the newspaper, Lysanias was playing with his NintendoDS, and his mother was speaking on the phone while checking the oven.

 

The front door opened and Nikandros appeared.

 

- Where are you going? –asked his older brother, taking off his sunglasses.

 

- I’m going out with Alex –answered Hephaistion, checking his pockets to see if he had money—And you? Where were you?

 

- At the university, I went with Philotas to present an exam.

 

- Nick! When did you arrive? –asked Antigone, cleaning her hands on her apron.

 

- Just a moment ago.

 

- And where are you going, Phai? –his mother wanted to know.

 

- I’m going out with Alex…I already clean my room, before you ask –someone called at the door and Hephaistion immediately knew it was his best friend.

 

- I’m going, see you later –he kissed his mother and left.

 

- Close that jacket; outside is cold –said Antigone.

 

- Yes –was the evasive she heard before the door was close.

 

- You arrive fast –said Hephaistion, looking at Alexander. The blond was wearing a dark red t-shirt with the legend DRAGONFORCE on it and jeans.

 

Alexander smiled.

 

- Come, I have a surprise for you –his best friend took him to the street, were a black Mustang with a white tribal symbol on its hood, was parked.

 

- Nice, who’s?

 

- Mine –Hephaistion saw him as if he didn’t know him.

 

- You are kidding.

 

- No, my father gave it to me as a gift –said Alexander proud.

 

- No way! –his friend exclaimed, walking to the car to admire it.

 

- The guy wanted to sell it to my father, but he ended up buying it for me–the blond explained.

 

- Cool!

 

- Want to go for a ride?

 

- You bet.

 

Once inside, Alexander turned on his ipod, and started the car. They had just advanced two blocks we the blond’s favorite song started…

 

We are riding for the battlefield in force tonight

Fury of the darkest evil cry for war

Far beyond the boundaries of hell and starlight

On the road to lands unknown forever more

(Dragonforce. Fury of the Storm)

 

- I named the car –said Alexander.

 

- And how did you named it? –asked Hephaistion, his elbow on the edge of the window.

 

- Boukephalos –his friend laughed.

 

- You are crazy, are you going to tell me now why was you angry? –Alexander’s expression darkened.

 

- My mother said that I spend too much time with you and that I don’t date girls –said the blond angry.

 

- Auch!

 

- She is insisting that I go out with the daughter of one of her friends, a girl called Callixeina.

 

- Is she pretty?

 

- Hephaistion –Alexander scolded him.

 

- Don’t get mad, I’m just teasing you –Hephaistion smiled—You know how your mother is, she doesn’t stand me, you shouldn’t be surprise if she is now saying that thanks to me she will never had grandchildren.

 

- Even so, I don’t want her intruding in my life –Alexander complained—Is my decision whom I date, not hers.

 

Hephaistion caressed his cheek with two fingers.

 

- Don’t get angry, you know I will always be with you, after all we are the same soul in two bodies and…

 

Soul mates never die… 

 

xXx

 

Hephaistion opened his eyes with infinite laziness.

 

What a crazy dream, what was ALL that? It will mean something? Maybe I should ask someone –Hephaistion tried to turn but he couldn’t. He blinked several time and found a bunch of blond hair in front of him. It was Alexander. He smiled and embraced him, closing his eyes. It was so delicious to have him at his side in those cold mornings in Mieza… Mieza?

 

He started to remember: the tavern, the brothel, the prostitute… weren’t he and Nikandros sleeping at the soldier’s barracks? He opened his eyes.

 

Damn –he thought, shaking his friend to wake him up. But Alexander was very sleep, so he moaned softly and curled up against him. It was as if someone had pressed the “turn on” button on Hephaistion. His last night experience was like magic, Messalina had wakened up his damage and abused hormones and at last he could feel like a normal teenager. 

 

I must be nuts to be thinking this –thought Hephaistion, his cheeks burnings while admired the sleep figure of his friend.

 

He licked his lower lip, and took his hand down to the Prince’s butt. Alexander’s face rested on the angle of his neck, his warm breathing, hitting his skin, made him shudder. Hephaistion caressed him and couldn’t avoid comparing him with Messalina. Alexander was much stronger and that fascinated him. The Prince’s lips curved against his skin and the arc of his eyelashes trembled.

 

- Someone woke up horny – whispered Alexander with husky voice.

 

- Your fault, you are the one who came into my bed –with the tip of his pink tongue, the Prince tasted Hephaistion’s salty skin. He licked, kissed and bit his neck and was rewarded with a long and soft moan that shook his nervous system; he had never turned Hephaistion on so quickly, he even thought once that his best friend didn’t like him, but now he was very happy to see he was wrong. 

 

Nikandros moved on his bed and Hephaistion bit his lower lip, he couldn’t do a sound.

 

- Mm…—Alexander let escape and his friend hit him to make him keep silent.

 

- Phai… –Nikandros murmured, half asleep.

 

Damn –Hephaistion panicked and tried to push Alexander away from him, but failed. Nikandros stretched lazily—Damn, damn, damn…—in a desperate attempt he bit Alexander.

 

- Auch! –exclaimed the Prince.

 

- Alexander? –Nikandros had one eye more open than the other. The Prince turned to face him—What are you doing here? 

 

- I came at the dawn looking for Hephaistion, but he was so sleep that I couldn’t wake him up, so I decided to stay –explained the Prince.

 

- Did something happen? –Hephaistion whispered and his friend nodded.

 

- Are you hungry? Let’s go for something to eat –said Alexander.

 

xXx

 

When they were near the forest, comfortable sitting under a big tree, Hephaistion asked:

 

- Why did you look for me at dawn? –Alexander finished his piece of bread before answering.

 

- I had a fight with my mother –he said, too serious for his friend’s liking—She and my father hired me the services of a hetaira, maybe you have heard of her, she is quite famous, her name is Callixeina.

 

Hephaistion coughed, choking with the bread.

 

What did he said? –he thought, remembering his dream.

 

- Last night when I went to my room I found her there: beautiful and radiant as an Aphrodite –Hephaistion felt a stab of jealousy when he heard him, even if he had no right to feel like that. Haven’t he sleep with the most famous prostitute in Pella?

 

- And… is she good in bed? –Alexander saw him as if he didn’t understand the question and then he started laughing.

 

- You are jealous.

 

- No I’m not –Hephaistion defended himself poorly.

 

- I never thought you could be jealous, after all you are the one with the highly valuable butt.

 

- Shut up –Alexander smiled happy.

 

- Well, as I was saying, when I saw this goddess in my bed, I ripped her dress with my bare teeth and threw myself to her –the Prince described—So she opened for me like a flower in spring.

 

- Ah –was the cold answered of Hephaistion, and Alexander laughed again. 

 

-Ah? That’s all?

 

- I could ask for the details or reproach you for not introduced her to me, but for the time being lets leave it at “Ah” –said Hephaistion coldly—Why are you smiling?

 

- You are a moron; do you really believe for one second that if I had slept with her I would be in your room for a fight with my mother? –said Alexander.

 

He had a point –thought Hephaistion.

 

- What happened with your mother? –then he remembered his dream—Did you refuse to sleep with Callixeina and your mother blamed me?

 

- Wow! How did you know? –exclaimed Alexander, truly impressed—You are going to leave Aristander, the official seer, without a job. Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I took her out of my room and went to the women’s quarters to speak to my mother –he made a pause, choosing his next words.

 

- It’s all right, you don’t have to disguise the facts, just tell me –said Hephaistion.

 

- My mother hates you –said Alexander—Somehow she knows everything that happen between us, I suspect she had her good spies in Mieza. She said that we spend too much time together, and that I don’t pay attention to girls, she even called me a ginis.

 

Hephaistion raised both his eyebrows.

 

- Wow! I can’t believe it –that was the equivalent of saying that Alexander was effeminate.

 

- I looked for you at the barracks, and found you deeply asleep –Alexander continued, he was angry, so Hephaistion leaned his head on his friend’s shoulder.

 

- I don’t want to cause you problems with your mother –Hephaistion whispered.

 

- You don’t, she is the one looking for trouble –the Prince round his waist.

 

They fell silent, hearing the birds sing and the wind moving the tree’s leafs.

 

- You know that I will always be with you, right? –said Hephaistion and Alexander embraced him tightly.

 

- Sometime I feel that you are the only one who keeps me sane.

 

- Alex.

 

- Hm?

 

Hephaistion straightened up and saw him, he was feeling extremely guilty.

 

- I er… best friend share everything, right?

 

- Yes, what happened?

 

- Well… Nick and I went out last night, and, well, we… we went to a brothel –Hephaistion was so ashamed but the Prince laughed.

 

- I can’t imagine you in a brother –Alexander’s voice drowned in laughter.

 

- Moron…it didn’t bother you? –asked his friend with caution.

 

Alexander took a deep breath.

 

- It doesn’t make me happy to know that you prefer to be with a prostitute than with me, but it was just that: sex, it will bother me if you choose to love someone else –he said with intensity.

 

Alexander took him by the arm and held his gaze, his uneven eyes shining with intensity. The wind blew and made his hair dance in front of his face. 

 

- I love you –Hephaistion opened his eyes in astonishment. It was the first time he heard those words and he didn’t know what to say. Two words so simple and with a deep meaning. His heart beat with fury; it was something in Alexander’s voice that had the power to strip his soul.

 

Silence.

 

Hephaistion knew he had to say something, but he couldn’t. What he could say? Obviously, I love you too, but for some reason he couldn’t.

 

- Alex…

 

- Alexander!

 

Saved by Leonnatos –thought Hephaistion.

 

- Phai, thank gods you are here too –said his friend without breath—The King…the King wants to take Hephaistion with him to Byzantium.

 

- What?! –exclaimed Hephaistion, standing up in one jump.

 

- Where did you hear that? –asked Alexander.

 

- At the palace. I don’t know much; one of the pages told me he heard your father talking with Melas Kleitos about incorporating Phai into the Ile Basilike –Leonnatos was still talking when the Prince ran to the palace.

 

- Alexander! –but the Prince ignored his best friend—Leon, are you sure of this? 

 

- Yes, that’s why I came looking for Alexander, I thought he knew nothing of this –said Leonnatos.

 

- Great, great, great…

 

xXx

 

- I disagree –said Parmelio, at the King’s study—I think you are wrong in taking Amyntor’s son.

 

- I have already taken his son to other campaigns, Krateros said good things about him in Thrace –said Philip, watching the map before him with his only good eye.

 

- You know perfectly well of which of his sons I’m talking about.

 

- And May I ask why do you disagree?

 

- All Pella knows that Amyntor’s boy is the Prince’s eromenos –Parmelio explained—Alexander kissed him in the corridor in front of us, if you take him with us, the army is going to be buzzing with gossip. That, without mentioning that you are antagonizing your son directly. 

 

- He antagonized me first! –Philip raised his voice, hitting the table—Alexander knows that I like the boy, that’s why he kissed him on my face.

 

Parmelio sighed.

 

- I’m no one to tell you what to do, but I think that taking Hephaistion to Byzantium will be the same as destroying the relationship you had with your son –Parmelio spoke with calm.

 

Philip threw the map to the floor. His general was right, he was childish but he could avoid it, he was fascinated by Hephaistion and couldn’t stand the idea that his own son had deprived him for that pleasure.

 

Besides, Alexander challenged me first when he kissed him. Who did he think he is? He must never forget that I’m the King –thought Philip.

 

- By all the Spirits of the Underworld! –the King exclaimed with frustration.

 

And, as if things couldn’t get even worst, Alexander chose that moment to appear.

 

- Father, I want to talk to you –said the Prince with seriousness improper of someone of his age.  

 

Parmelio immediately thought that he was there because of Hephaistion, so he walked to the door.

 

- Parmelio stay, this wont take long, what do you need? –asked the King to his son.

 

- Are you taking Hephaistion to Byzantium? –straight to the point.

 

Philip crossed his arms and lifted his chin.

 

- Yes.

 

- Why?

 

- Because I’m the King and I have all the right to take with me whoever I want –with that answered and the tone of his voice Parmelio knew that, if there had been a remote possibility that Philip could reconsider his decision, now all was lost.

 

- Hephaistion is my eromenos and my syntrophos! –Alexander raised his voice, hitting that poor table with both hands—You have no right to take him with you.

 

- I have all the right. We are at war, and one day he will be a hetairoi it will be good for him to start learning –said Philip.

 

- Fine, I’m going too.

 

- Oh, no. You are staying as Regent with Antipater as your adviser –said the King with cold calm.

 

- You are doing this because you are angry that Hephaistion has chosen me –Alexander’s voice was full of arrogance and superiority, and that even bother Parmelio.

 

The general had no love for the Crown Prince, and if he was against the King behavior it was because he wanted to save problems to the kingdom. He could imagine what their enemies in Greece would say if they knew about this situation: There is the man who wants to unify the Greeks against the Persians, but he can’t unify his own family. 

 

- No Alexander, I’m doing this because I can –was the ugly answer—And you have no choice but to obey me.

 

The Prince clenched his jaw, he was so furious that he would have rip his father’s throat with his teeth if Parmelio’s wasn’t holding him.

 

- He will never be yours. Do you hear me? NEVER!

 

They needed 3 guards besides Parmelio to take the Prince out, he was like a wounded beast: dangerous and lethal.

 

- Bloody lad! –exclaimed Philip, when door was close.

 

xXx

 

- Phai, please stop walking; you are making me nervous –said Leonnatos, sat on the steps outside the palace.

 

- It’s late, what if Alexander is in trouble? –asked Hephaistion preoccupied. 

 

- Alexander is no fool, besides he knows his father, I don’t think he could do a stupidity –Hephaistion stopped.

 

- Have you ever see him angry? When he is angry he looks like possessed by some daimon, and he stops being rational –said Hephaistion, imagining the worst.

 

- There he is –Leonnatos stood up.

 

Holy Mother &%/”& With &%/# On top! –thought Hephaistion—He is beyond fury.

 

- What happened? –askes Leonnatos. When Alexander turned to see him he felt shivers and had to take away his gaze. 

 

- The King –not “my father” noticed Hephaistion—Is determined in taking you to Byzantium –his uneven eyes fixed on his best friend, he was breathing heavily.

 

Hephaistion had all the reasons in the world to be angry, he wanted to yell, curse the gods and beat the living hell out of Philip, but seeing Alexander that angry made him calm. Someone had to be calm.

 

- And what did you said? –the Prince told him and Leonnatos everything, and his friends saw him with alarm.

 

- And what did the King said? –asked Hephaistion, his mouth dry.

 

- He said that I’m staying as a Regent and that you are going with him –said Alexander.

 

- Well, at least –the Prince saw him as if he had gone mad.

 

- You don’t care if you are leaving with the King? –there was a bit of harshness in his voice.

 

- I didn’t say that, but after all you yell at him he could have done something to you –Hephaistion sighed—I don’t want to cause you problems. You are the Crown Prince and your father is leaving you as a Regent in his absence, which is great, and I don’t want you to ruin it because of me. If I have to go with the King to Byzanthium, fine; I prefer that than knowing that I’m damaging you.

 

Alexander started to calm…a little. He leant his head to one side and sighed.

 

- Alex, we had no other option.

 

- I know, and that’s precisely why I’m so angry –the Prince grumble.

 

- When are you leaving? –asked Leonnatos.

 

- Nick said the army is leaving in a week –said Hephaistion.

 

- Son of a Bad Mother! –exclaimed Alexander, and if Hephaistion hadn’t hate Philip so much, he would scolded his friend for talking like that of his own father. And poor Leonnatos was so scared of his friend’s fury that he decided to say nothing.

_______________

 

(1) This is a personal joke. Valeria Messalina was the wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius, and the rumors said she once competed against the most famous prostitute in Rome, to see which one could pleased more men in one night. Messalina won, after 25 men. 

(2) Away From Keyboard.

 

I’m sorry for writing less than last time, but I promise to update next week.

Again, many thanks for reading ^_^

 

In the next episode… We are going to war! Hephaistion is still trying to say Alexander he loves him, Philip’s jealousy will increase to a dangerous levels, other girl will show an especial interest in Hephaistion (and who can blame her) and Hephaistion will suffer a rape attempt at the hands of some barbarians… Mm, I shouldn’t tell the last part. Anyway, have a very nice week ^_^