CHAPTER 145

 

I can see that your face changed when I mentioned Ecbatana. You want to know if that city makes me feel something? Well, it’s hard to explain. The few vampires left of my own age can’t remember how was to be alive, they stopped being humans long ago and transformed themselves into something else. Some say we become more…divine, almost Gods, others, like the members of the clan Salubri, insist we are demons. You can pick the one that suits you better but, in the end, the truth is that we are no longer humans, we don’t think like mortals and, certainly, we don’t behave like them.

 

Why? Think of it, does your grandfather think like you? No, because he was born in other time, now imagine how is like to have been born 2 millennia in the past. And not only that, we are special: too beautiful or too ugly, too strong or too intelligent, too fast or too agile to be considered mere humans. To begin with, we shouldn’t be here. Take my case for example. I should be dead, my body just ashes after 2 thousands years, but I’m here, talking to you. Our existence is a betrayal to God since the moment we are living in a time that it’s not ours, not to mention that we steal life from the mortals to keep our false existence.

 

We are murderers, thieves, liars, deceivers…Everything about us is false, a false life, a masquerade. 

 

But I’m changing the subject again. You must forgive me. I was saying that it’s very easy to forget that we started our existence in this world as mortals, but there are very few of us that never forgot, very few that carry something from our past that haunt us every night. I never forgot thanks to the love I feel for Alexander, he never let me forget my mortal life and I recall everyday I was with him as if it had been just yesterday. Can you imagine what is to exist, to be immortal, without a reason to live?

 

That’s my curse.

 

Alexander was my reason to live, and now I only exist to bring him back.

 

After so many years it’s easy to forget that once we were humans and that once we die in order to become what we are now. But, even if I recall my mortal days I never think about my own death, nobody likes to remember such a thing and many vampires avoid graveyards conscious that we are not so different from the bodies decomposing underground. They don’t want to admit it but they are afraid to be reminded that we are walking corpses. We don’t breath, our heart doesn’t beat, and our skin is cold as winter mornings…

 

I can’t care less about this, after all, I am a necromancer, I have spent years wandering in graveyards and inside tombs. But my own death it’s different. I never came back to Ecbatana since I became a Tzimisce. I have traveled around the world for more than 2 thousand years, I have gone to Iran many times but never anywhere near Ectabana, you can say that this place is a reminder of my own mortality. Yes, I’m immortal now, but I’m not eternal: the sunlight, the fire, a sharp sword and 2 millennia of existence would be dust in the blink of an eye.   

 

I can’t die, not until I have seen Alexander again.

 

And now, I have to talk about that place, a place where not only I found my end, but that also became the tomb of Parmelio…But I’m changing the subject.

 

Ecbatana, what can I say? The same as all the imperial Persian cities it was an imposing place of great luxury, but here we didn’t find so many riches as we did back at Babylon or Susa or Persepolis and this thanks to Darius. He had arrived before us, while we were at Persepolis, and taken with him the treasury. In Ecbatana you could hear all sort of rumors about him, some as spectacular as improbable, but others true and very alarming.

 

As many cities of that time Ecbatana was surrounded by great strong walls, rising proudly to defend the city in 7 circles, one within the other. “Of the first circle the battlements were white, of the second black, of the third crimson, of the fourth blue, of the fifth red: thus were the battlements of all the circles colored with various tints, and the two last had their battlements one of them overlaid with silver and the other with gold”(1) Of all the royal palaces, this was the strongest and easiest to defend in case of an attack, constructed for protection before luxury, it was situated on a hill and looked more like a fortress than a palace. 

 

Again, Alexander’s officers were housed in the palaces of the Persian nobles, treated like Kings, and the army left to camp outside the walls to finally rest after the savage march they had to endure to reach this place. Hephaistion and his very sick son were staying at the palace again, but this time, instead of arriving like triumphant conquerors the Macedonians’ mood were dark and gloomy. Why? Because of the terrible journey through the mountains. 

 

They were now in the interior of the region of Persis, the heart of the Persian Empire, the center of everything and the birth place of Cyrus the Great, and the army had to march through a pass perpetually covered with ice and snow, a hostile territory were the weather was their enemy.

 

It was such a discouraging spectacle: rock, ice and snow, it was easy to lose your way in this place, and the freezing wind piercing their cloths making them feel as if they were naked, with almost no food and no water. More than one of the exhausted soldiers was prey of their most terrible fears thinking that they had reached the end of the habitable world, that they were suffering the wrath of the Persian Gods who were trying to annihilate them, and what could they do? So far away from home, could father Zeus protect them in the land where Ahura Mazda reigned supreme?

 

Hephaistion remembered standing at the side of his horse, wrapped in a very heavy and warm fur coat, surveying the distance only to find a desert of ice. “Everything was deserted and without a trace of human cultivation, and [the soldiers] demanded that they should return before even the daylight and the sky should fail them”(2) It was a difficult situation but what worried the General more than anything was his son.

 

Alexander had divided the army in several units, taking with him only the best troops, but he had insisted in also taking Achilles with them. 

 

- I don’t trust anyone else to protect him –had been the King’s explanation.

 

- What do you mean? Do you suspect that someone is trying to kill him? –that sounded as incredible as the possibility of sighting flying cows, in Hephaistion’s opinion, who would bother to kill Achilles? He was just a child.

 

Alexander shook his head.

 

- I don’t know, but I don’t want him away from me. He stays with us –that had been the King’s decision, and even if the General thought he was paranoid, he said nothing…until he saw how difficult was the journey ahead of them.

 

They were in the middle of July, it was summer, and it crossed nobody’s mind that this pass through the mountains would be covered with snow and ice. And as soon as Hephaistion saw this he tried to convince Alexander of sending Achilles back to Persepolis. 

 

- You are going to kill him –had said the General the 2 nights after they reached that forgotten place—Aki won’t survive this, half of the time he can’t breath and his lips have an alarming hue of blue. You have to send him back.

 

The King had taken his time before answering. He knew how bad was the boy, he had seen Achilles that afternoon, and he too was worried. When Alexander decided to take his Prince with them he never imagined the boy would be this bad; of course he knew he had a delicate constitution, but this?

 

- It looks like I’m always endangering my son’s life –answered the blond softly, taking his beloved aback—First at Gaugamela, then at Persepolis and now this –he rubbed his face with the palms of his hands—Does that make me a terrible father? –he raised his head to hold Hephaistion’s gaze.  

 

- No –the General’s voice was calm—Just a really reckless one –that made the King laughed—It’s not too late, send him back. 

 

- I can’t –said Alexander, truly regretting his words—There is nobody left at Persepolis, nobody that can protect him in a city hostile to us; the rest of army is marching through the Royal Road with the baggage train and the camp followers in direction to Media, and it would be more dangerous to send Aki all the way back alone than to have him here. 

 

- You can’t spare some men to escort him? –it was a foolish question but the King said nothing because he understood how worried was Hephaistion. 

 

- Phai –the King stood up and sat at his beloved’s side—We are in Persis, everything around us is hostile territory, and you know, as well as I, that the only way to really protect Aki would be to send half the army with him –the General nodded slowly and Alexander kissed his cheek—I’m sorry my love, I truly am, but Aki will have to stay with us.  

 

And Achilles stayed with them. Some days his father feared he wasn’t going to make it others the boy looked better; the Prince couldn’t travel on a wagon, the pass was too narrow and too rough for that, so he had to ride, too covered with coats and blankets that, from a far, he looked like a giant bump. Alexander had given Achilles his own coat, feeling really guilty for dragging the boy to this place, and seeing his concerned Hephaistion had decided to say nothing more to his King regarding the boy’s health.

 

Everybody was aware of the boy’s delicate condition, but everybody had to admit that the Prince behaved gallantry, never complaining.

 

As always, in that hard situation, Alexander had set the example, dismounting and helping to break the ice with a mattock, but, by the time they reached the city, all of them, from the rank soldiers to the high officers, were exhausted and sick of the ice and the snow, longing to see the beach and feel the sun, it had been a while since the last time they saw the sea.

 

- How are you feeling? –asked Hephaistion, the same night they arrived at Ecbatana, taking personally his son to his bed, covering him with the blankets and brushing his hair aside to see his eyes.

 

- Better, at least here it’s warm –said the boy, smiling and breathing normally after a month of hard march.

 

- I’m glad to hear that –the General smiled back.

 

- Daddy, I’m sorry.

 

- About what? –Hephaistion frowned, not understanding him.

 

- I couldn’t be of help during the journey –said the boy, ashamed, as if his sickness had been his fault.

 

- Aki, what are you talking about? You were sick –said his father.

 

- Yes, but I don’t like to be sick –said Achilles, his voice full with frustration—I saw dad helping to break the ice, and the men follow him even in those terrible conditions because he shares the hardships with them. But I can’t do that! Why can’t I?! –the boy sobbed—I’m going to be a terrible King. 

 

- No, Aki you will not –the General looked for his son’s hand under the blankets—You have to understand that Alexander is Alexander, not all Kings are the same, and you can’t be like your uncle but that doesn’t mean you won’t be a good King, just a different one –the Prince kept sobbing but paying attention to every word—You have to know yourself, of what you are capable but, more importantly, to learn what you can’t do. There is no shame in admitting your faults, on the contrary, not all men can admit when they are wrong and that will make you a wise King.

 

- You truly think so?

 

Hephaistion patted his hand.

 

- Of course I do –Achilles nodded, but his father noticed there was something more bothering him. His son had looked very sad since they left Persepolis but during the march he had had no time to ask, too worried thinking the boy would die at any moment—Aki.

 

- Yes, daddy?

 

- Why are you so sad? And don’t tell me its because of the march because I know there is something else –said the General, holding his gaze.

 

The boy took a deep breath.

 

- I had a fight with Cyrus before leaving Persepolis –he said at last.

 

- Why?

 

- Because of the burning of Persepolis –that told Hephaistion everything he wanted to know, but he said nothing and listened—The fire was too much for him, and he…he called dad a brute and a barbarian, among other things.

 

- That doesn’t surprise me –said the General—And what did you say?

 

-  Nothing. I didn’t say a thing –answered Achilles taking his father by surprise— He is right to be angry, daddy. I understand why dad did what he did even if I don’t like it, but Cyrus…He would never understand dad’s motives. It was better this way, to let him shout all he wanted until he got tired.

 

Hephaistion knew Cyrus was the only friend his son had of his own age, his best friend, and the he also understood how difficult was this for Achilles, to fight with his best friend over a serious thing like this. How he wished that his son lived a happy and peaceful life, not sharing the hardships of an invading army and taking part in discussing deciding the fate of an entire city. But it was too late for regrets now.

 

- I’m glad you think like that, son –said the General—You did the right thing –those words made the boy feel much better—You’ll have to wait, give Cyrus times and he’ll see that you are not the person to blame to what happened.

 

The Prince nodded again.

 

- Yes, daddy.

 

But Achilles’ health problems and his discussion with Cyrus were just 2 of the several things that worried Hephaistion these days, Seleucus had been in his mind for days now. Until the tragic night of the burning of Persepolis’ palace complex, he had never paid attention to the officer of unnerving blue eyes. The only things the General knew about Seleucus were his name and the fact that he was a lesser officer. He had seen him just once in a meeting, during the siege of Helicarnassus, and 2 times during the long marches, that was all. 

 

He had no idea of how old was Seleucus, from where he came, who was his father or the kind of man he was, but he knew that he liked Achilles and that didn’t make him happy. After observing him with his son that night, outside Persepolis, his inner father-alarm had started to sound. He knew, all too well, the look in Seleucus’ eyes, the way he behaved around the boy and he didn’t like it one iota. He hadn’t said a word so far but on the top of his ‘to do’ list was to have a very long conversation with the officer.

 

The other one who concerned the beautiful General was Alexander. The King had taken a very important decision and Hephaistion feared the reactions after next day’s announcements. There were so many things inside his head that even his dreams were troubled. He couldn’t sleep that night. It was very late, his body was tired but inside his head the turmoil tormented him without pause. The General rolled again over the King’s big and soft bed, feeling the silky sheet against his naked arms and legs, trying not to wake Alexander up even if he knew that it would take an army of musicians and acrobats to accomplish that; he could hear him snoring and that made him feel a little envious, after all, the King was the main source of his worries and he was sleeping as if nothing troubled him in the world. That was unfair.

 

Hephaistion, lying on his back, opened his eyes and sighed watching the outline of the ceiling in the darkness. He rested one arm over his forehead and stayed very still, as if trying to merge himself with the night. He couldn’t hear a thing besides of Alexander’s snoring that was starting to unnerve him; in the quiet of this peaceful and warm night that noise sounded amplified several times, almost echoing through the walls, and once again he felt envious, and a little angry. 

 

What will happen now? –that was the question he had been asking himself over and over again.

 

They had reached a crucial point, they had achieved what all Greeks had only dreamed for centuries, they had crushed the Persians and became the masters of Asia. As Alexander liked to say he had surpassed his father, they all were now the richest and most powerful men of the known world, any other in the King’s place would be more than satisfy, ready to call this enterprise the success of a lifetime, and looking forward to rest among riches, luxury and the memory of outstanding victories…But not Alexander, all this wasn’t enough for him.

 

Hephaistion not only loved Alexander as a person, he admired and respected him as both, as a King and as a General, he trusted his decisions and will followed him even to the deepest part of Hades; but he was also well aware of his faults and something that worried Hephaistion was that his King didn’t know when to stop. 

 

At my time ambition wasn’t a fault or a sin, it was exactly the opposite, it was a virtue and more than one admired Alexander because of his endless ambition, because of the overwhelming force his life irradiated. I never thought that being ambitious made my King a bad man, but I was worried because he had his head so full with dreams of everlasting glory and stories about Gods and heroes that sometimes he lost track of reality.

 

The men wanted to go back home, to enter Pella proudly in a parade, displaying their best armors and the war spoils, the riches and magnificent goods they were bringing back from distant lands with unpronounceable names, to show their families and friends of what they were capable, to let them all know they were unstoppable and to tell their sons endless and fantastic stories of far away countries and exotic people. So far Alexander had a pretext to continue with his campaign, after all Darius was still alive and he was still a threat, but…What would happen after Darius was captured?

 

Alexander let out an especially loud snore and the General shook him. It had been enough for one night. He didn’t expected to wake the blond up just to make him stop but, to his utterly surprise, the King opened his eyes, blinking several times and trying to know where was he, what time was, and what was happening.  

 

- Phai?…What’s wrong? –he asked, half asleep with hoarse voice.

 

Hephaistion knew he should feel guilty for waking him up like that, but he wasn’t surprised to feel otherwise. If he couldn’t sleep nobody would…All right that was childish but he couldn’t help it. 

 

- You were snoring –it was his simple explanation. 

 

- Oh!…Sorry –even if the King had just woke up and the room so dark that he could barely distinguish his beloved’s silhouette, something told him the General wasn’t fine, so many years together and he could read his beloved’s moods easily. He turned, resting on his side, feeling the soft bed conform to his body, and caressed Hephaistion’s naked arm with his fingers—Can’t sleep?  

 

- Something like that –the General sighed and turned to face him, even if he couldn’t see his lover’s face he felt more comfortable this way.

 

- What’s bothering you? –the King yawned.

 

- How do you know that something is bothering me? –despite the darkness the blond knew his beloved was smiling.

 

- You always have insomnia when you are worried –Alexander kissed his arm, his voice was soft and a little sleepy, like a caress, making the General relax a little.

 

When people were surprised after hearing the amazing tale of how the King had tamed Boukephalos, the man-eating horse, Hephaistion always thought it couldn’t be that difficult with a voice like his. So strong, so sure of himself, so calm…Every time Alexander spoke in whispers like this the least you could do was to feel a little of the King’s overwhelming self confidence. He never could explain why but Alexander was able to make everything simple, no matter how difficult you think a problem was, he always made the impossible look easy.

 

Hephaistion sighed.

 

- Are you sure about the Greeks? –his beloved asked for a millionth time since he knew about his King’s plans.

 

- That’s bothering you? –Alexander chuckled.

 

- Alex, the Greeks have fought for you in every major battle, they are an important part of the army, are you sure you want to send them back home? –the General seized this chance to let him know what he really thought about this—You are sending back even the Thessalians, those are Parmelio’s men, what is he going to say?

 

- Parmelio won’t need them anymore –the King slid his lips over his shoulder, filling the room with wet kissing sounds.

 

- What do you mean? –the General frowned. Alexander was planning something he had no idea of what and that only served to increase his collection of worries.

 

- I’m planning to leave him here, at Ecbatana –the King answered, speaking against his skin, leaving a trail of kisses.

 

- What? Why? –Hephaistion moved away his arm, straightening himself and resting his weight on his elbow. He knew Parmelio was planning something, not exactly what, but something that wasn’t good for his lover and he had been watching the old General for sometime now, since he had that strange dream; and this news put all his senses on alert. 

 

The sudden movement took Alexander aback, but he recovered quickly.  

 

- Why? I thought that was obvious, he is too old –answered the King, unable to see why the fuss —2 days ago was his birthday number 70, I think is fair that he stays here as the area military commander. 

 

- He is not going to be happy –now the General had another thing to worry about, and he felt the tension in his stomach, like a knot.

 

- Maybe not but he can’t complain –Alexander was sure of every word—He is old, and I’m not throwing him away like a dog, I’m leaving him in command of one of the most important areas, an strategic place, and also as a very rich man. Besides, he will have under his command 6000 mercs and the task to pacify the tribes around here, especially to deal with the Cadusians; he will have plenty of things to do.

 

- You are leaving him in command of the mercs?

 

- Yes, but Harpalos is going to be the one in charge of their pay –Alexander sat—Phai, I know you are worried because you think what I’m doing is a mistake but trust me, this is the only way to have MY army, not my father’s. I don’t need the Greeks with me because the crisis back home is over, I no longer need them as a guaranty of the Greeks’ good behavior, and I can finally get rid of Parmelio.  

 

His beloved took a moment to choose his words; he could see Alexander’s point, but still…

 

- I understand everything you say, but about the Greeks… —Hephaistion shook his head—They fought for you and it doesn’t feel right just to discharge them –he insisted.

 

- I’ll give them the option to stay with me if they want but as mercs –the King explained—Phai, think of this, without Parmelio and the Thessalians, I can start training a highly professional army loyal only to me, an unstoppable machine capable of anything. 

 

Hephaistion nodded, forgetting that the blond couldn’t see him in the dark. He had always knew that his King didn’t know when to stop and was sure that he wasn’t going to turn back home after capturing Darius but now he had hard evidence that he was planning ahead: new conquests, new adventures, new enemies, if not, why the need to train a highly professional army?

 

- I guess you are right –he sighed, resting again on his back, amidst the sheets’ rustling. He would have to stop worrying and trust that his King knew what he was doing, at least he was sure of his decisions—What are you going to do about Darius? 

 

- You heard the spies yesterday –said Alexander, laying at his side, looking for his waist to pull him closer—He is assembling an army again: 3000 horses, 30, 000 infantry and his loyal mercs, 4000 of them…That’s an considerable force, besides he took 7000 Talents from Ecbatana and the Bactrian cavalry, the cataphracts, are still with him. He is heading to the Caspian Gates, through the mountains…—he felt silent for a moment, remembering every word his spies had said—We’ll chase him through the Caspian Gates in a week I think –he caressed his beloved’s tunic with his index finger and thumb, resting his arm on his waist.  

 

- We are not staying here for your birthday? –asked Hephaistion, so close to him that his blond hair was tickling his nose. It was July and a couple of weeks it would be the King’s 26 birthday.

 

- We don’t have time for that –they fell silent and Alexander looked for his lips, leaving a soft kiss over them—Phai –he whispered against his skin—There is nothing to worry about as long as you are with me –the King kissed him again, parting his lips with the tip of his pink tongue, but those words, intended to make his General feel better, left him thinking instead.  

 

The blond had always been a man sure of himself, about his goals and his ideas, but now, after all the incredible victories he had achieved, after all he had been capable of, now that he was not only King of a small place called Macedonia but also Pharaoh and very close to become a Great King, now his confidence had reached astronomical proportions.

 

And that left Hephaistion thinking… He didn’t want that Alexander reached a state of overconfidence just as Darius did, but, in those moments, the only thing he could do, was hoped for the best.

 

He didn’t know when it happened, perhaps it was between kisses, or perhaps it was under the spell of his King’s caresses, but at some point, feeling the warmth of his lover so close to him, Hephaistion finally fell asleep…

 

XXX

 

Berenike, sitting on Alexander’s and Hephaistion’s bed with her legs crossed in meditation position, her elbows on her knees and her face resting on her hands, observed how her brother packed his things inside a big and very blue suitcase. She sighed.  

 

- I so envy you, Phai –she said after a while, cocking her head and dropping her hands on her knees—I can’t believe that after 13 years together Alex can still be this romantic.

 

Her brother smiled, and stopped folding a T-shirt.

 

- And you don’t even know the full story of this trip –he said in a mysterious tone that instantly caught Berenike’s attention. She sat upright and watched him as a dog that had just found his prey.

 

- What…Why? I thought Alex is taking you out because it’s your anniversary –she said.

 

- Well, yes, but you don’t know why we are going to where we are going –Hephaistion’s smile widened.

 

- You are going to Cancun, right? 

 

- Yep.

 

- Why is that so special?

 

Her brother left the T-shirt over the back of a chair and sat in front of her. Just one look at his face told Berenike that he was dying to tell this story and that only served to increase her curiosity. Hephaistion wasn’t the kind of person who liked to talk about his private life, especially when it involved Alexander. No matter how many times she asked him about his married life, or even worst, his sex life, it would be easier to ask the walls of his bedroom. So, what was different now? 

 

- Do you remember there was a time when Alex didn’t have money and he was in debt to all his credit cards? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- Yes –Berenike nodded—Before he got this super duper contract with Persia Records.

 

- Well, when we moved together he wanted to take me on vacations abroad –said her brother—I told him he was crazy because we didn’t have money to waste like that, but you know him, once he has made up his mind there is no way to convince him otherwise.

 

- Where did he want to take you?

 

- Cancun –Berenike laughed, imagining where was this going. 

 

- It was a disaster, wasn’t it?

 

- Oh, yes –now it was Hephaistion’s turned to laugh—Since we arrived at the airport I knew this was going to be a trip I wasn’t going to forget.

 

- Why?

 

- We missed the plane –his sister saw him with wide opened eyes.

 

- You are kidding me!

 

- No, we arrived late thanks to Alex’s mother who decided to call in the same moment we were leaving to the airport –said Hephaistion—I still think she did it on propose. 

 

- And? What did you do?

 

- Alex had a very long talk with the airline guys and we could aboard the next plane, the bad news was that we had to wait 8 hours –her brother smiled remembering that—But not all was bad, I met Publius at the airport.

 

- Really? –Berenike leaned to the front, very excited—What was he doing there?

 

- Waiting to take a plane back to Rome –answered Hephaistion—I was hungry and I went to buy something, I was looking for money when he paid my food before I could do something to stop him.

 

- Honestly Phai, I hate you! You are more popular with cute guys than me –Berenike chuckled—And how was that Alex didn’t kill him on the spot?

 

- He didn’t notice, he was too busy arguing with the airline guys –said her brother—But by the time Alex came back I was laughing and deep in conversation with Publius. You can imagine his face passed from red to purple in a second. He strode to where I was, grabbed my arm and dragged me far from Publius.

 

Berenike laughed out loud.

 

- I love my brother-in-law, he is so jealous that is cute –she smiled.

 

- Maybe cute for you –Hephaistion sighed.

 

- And what happened next? Did you have a good time? –Berenike asked.

 

- Hardly, since we didn’t have much money we stayed in the most horrible and cheap hotel –they both laughed—We didn’t have one big bed but two small put together, so when Alex turned, wanting to embrace me, the beds moved and he fell in the middle during the night –Berenike laughed harder—At end it was such a disaster that it started to be funny and Alex promised me that one day he would take me again, properly.

 

- Oww! See? My brother-in-law is cute –Berenike insisted. She patted her brother’s arm—So, now you will travel like a rock star; have a great time Phai! And don’t worry about Aki, is mom taking care of him?

 

- No –Hephaistion sighed and brushed his hair back—He is staying with Olympias.

 

- Why? –asked his sister as if that were the craziest thing she had ever heard in her life.

 

- Because every time we go out mom stays with Aki and Olympias made a tantrum, so this time we couldn’t refuse –it was clear that this news didn’t make Hephaistion happy.

 

- Well, if I can say something in your mother-in-law’s favor, is that she truly loves Aki –said Berenike—She is going to spoil him, Aki will be fine.

 

- I hope so.

 

XXX

 

(1) Herodotus, Histories, 1.98-99

(2) Quintus Curtius. Taken from Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army by Donald W. Engels, page 74