Nights of Babylon

Thanks for the reviews. I'm happy you liked the last chapter. Hope, you'll like this one, too.

Disclaimer: Well, you know.

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Chapter 20 - The lull before the storm

A blood red half-moon hang over Babylon bathing the city below in a lurid light.

Four winged corpses were bound to wooden poles on the palace walls, a banquet to the crows and vultures. Their once beautiful

faces had lost all their grace and charm in death, their wings hung limp, carrion-flies swarmed around their slowly rotting

flesh and the cool night breeze carried the stench of death with it.

Ellestias sat on the roof of a nearby building, watching the corpses in silence, rage and hatred seething within her. She had

come to the palace to claim victory over the human race, to make them recognize her superiority. Instead she had been

defeated, had nearly been killed by the traitor Alexis and had lost three of her warriors - and her son.

The fool had lost against a mere human. Hephaistion. The name echoed through all the streets and was chanted by the citizens

of Babylon. They worshiped this young warrior as a hero and praised his courage and fighting skills.

Hephaistion. How she hated the sound of that name. It was a pain to her ears, nearly as loathsome as Alexis, at least as

disgusting as Alexander and even more nauseating as Serena.

Four names she had to wipe out, four enemies she had to eliminate.

Ellestias looked at Tessos ugly face, half eaten by the crows, and flexed her claws. It was unbelievable how stupid this

hideous brute she called her son had been. If she hadn't squeezed him from her womb herself she wouldn't have believed that

this brainless fool had been her pup. Well, it for sure was all his father's fault. Unfortunately she had killed him right

after mating so she couldn't make him pay now.

The pale succubus wasn't mourning for Tessos. She had never felt anything but disgust for the brute. However, he had been

quite useful as he obeyed all her wishes without hesitation. She was angry because she had lost a tool and she was seeking

revenge for the loss of her possession.

Now that the humans knew about the secret passages that led to the palace they had sealed most of them. Ellestias had sent

Jelaia as a spy but the youngster hadn't returned with the news Ellestias wanted to hear and had dearly payed for it. So had

all of the pups stupid enough to cross her way.

When the sky started to glow softly red in the east and the fire of the sun crept over the horizon Ellestias left the roof

and the city behind. A new plan was forming in her mind and this time she was determined to win.

There would be no open attacks anymore. She would hide and wait until the prey she sought came to find her. And then the trap

would be ready.

Ellestias smiled evily.

She knew she could count on the king's pride.

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The dreadful sight of the four dead demons including Tessos had soothed the mob's anger and the people had left the streets

hardly listening anymore to the priest of Nusku who still preached against the blasphemers ruling Babylon until he had used

up Alexander's patience and fear of his god and "accidentally" slipped in a lonely alley and broke his neck.

Alexander had held a speach promising his people to fight against the demons and to hunt them down, cost what it may. So now the

citizens of Babylon cheered at him again, assured that their new king wouldn't let them down. Everybody was perfectly

happy.

Everybody except for Serena.

"A dress?", Serena sulked. "I'm not going to wear human clothes. You can't make me!" She crossed her arms in front of her

chest, throwing a challenging look at Hephaistion.

The brunette had known he was handed a difficult task when Parmenion had insisted on a dressing code for the winged

predators. Now that Serena was sitting cross legged on his bed presenting the glorious sight of her pussy to him Hephaistion

had to admit Parmenion had a point. Although she didn't intend to seduce him right now, but looked and acted more like a

spoiled brat, the young warrior couldn't stop his body from reacting to the wicked sight of Serena's rosy womanhood.

He had chosen an apron-shaped piece of mossy silk for her which covered her breasts and pretty ass but left her back bare so

that she could move her wings freely. The fabric of the cloth was smooth and cool on her skin and the colour went perfectly

with her crimson hair and her pearly white complexion.

"Please at least try it on", Hephaistion asked her kindly. "I had it made specially for you." He lay the dress on the bed

next to Serena, the sunlight glittering on the fine cloth, but Serena just tossed it to the floor, not even looking at the

young man's gift. Hephaistion sighed when he picked the dress up and lay it on the armchair next to the fireplace. It had

been far easier to persuade Alexis to wear the wide shaped trousers he had chosen for the incubus.

Instead of his sister he was open to Hephaistion's arguments.

Next to the importance of hiding the demons' charms the clothes made it easier for the Macedonian soldiers to distinguish

Alexander's new winged mascots from the rest of the demonical brute. Alexis could see that Hephaistion was rigth, Serena

simply didn't want to see it.

"You're trying to humanize me", the dainty female accused the brunette when he sat down next to her, putting an arm around

her narrow shoulders.

Hephaistion wished Alexis was here. Serena's brother had a way to persuade her to anything he wanted - mostly by fucking her

to earthshaking orgasms as a matter of fact, however, it worked. But the raven-haired incubus was discussing matters of war

with Alexander and how to make the palace a safer place. For three days they hadn't seen a hint of Ellestias and her pack,

despite Alexis doubted the assault was over. It was the famous lull before the storm.

"You don't like being amongst humans, do you?", Hephaistion asked, pushing crimson strands from the sulking girl's face.

Serena took a deep breath. "Well, honey, it's not easy, you know. There are all these yummy people all over the place and

they just smell so good. The air is so soaked with their testosterone that I'm turned on all the time and I haven't Alexis'

self control." She sighed and nestled against Hephaistion, her head resting at the crook of his neck she sniffed him. "Oh,

and you do smell so wonderfully good, too."

She straightened again, keeping her distance, something Hephaistion had never seen her do before. She was a horny little

whore and always took what she lusted for. Hephaistion had experienced this sizzling pleasure several times during the last

days when Alexander had let go of him. The king took his exercises very serious. Like always Alexander had taken Alexis'

remark about him needing more practice as a challenge and was determined to show the incubus who was the better lover. And

Hephaistion was the last to complain about Alexander's eagerness.

"How can I help you?", the young warrior asked softly, taking the succubus' hand.

"You can't. We're just not made to live amongst humans. You cannot keep us like pets." She looked deeply into his eyes, the

gold of her orbs shaded with tears. "I do my best to keep the beast locked inside, like Alexis calls it. Gods, he can be such

a damn nuisance with all his good advices and lectures. I sometimes feel like slapping him."

"Maybe you should listen to him. Alexis is fine around humans."

"No, he isn't. He just keeps his predatory self in control thanks to fifty years of practice how to deny his true nature",

Serena corrected. She shook her head in puzzled amazement. "Weirdo!" Then she got serious again: "But still it's hard for him

as well. He has never lived amongst humans for such a long time and it is likely that we both will cause harm sooner or

later."

"Fifty years?", Hephaistion gasped. Both Alexis and Serena didn't look older than their early twenties. Serena looked daggers

at him so Hephaistion hurried back to the actual topic. "I understand", he said slowly. "But you cannot leave if you don't

want to endanger yourself. The palace is the only safe place for you as long as the other demons are out there."

"But we can't stay either if we don't want to endanger you", Serena sighed, putting her hand on her belly, a gesture

Hephaistion had lately noticed her to do quite often. "I wish Mr. Reasonable could see this. He overestimates his

self-control and thinks that love is all he needs to keep the beast in the shadows. But he's wrong. He thinks I don't know

that he has lost control before and killed some blind girl precious to him. Well, you know, he just can't keep things from

me. I always know. Guess, it's because we're pups of the same brood. I always thought he was a weirdo and couldn't understand

him but now I know you and Alexander and I guess I at least have some idea of how he must have felt. I assure you, you don't

want to experience him losing against the beast again."

"What if we could find a place for you within the palace where there are no humans?", Hephaistion suggested, trying hard to

soothe the beauty's fears. He remembered Alexis' battle against his darker side when they first had made love quite well and

agreed with the crimson-haired female.

Serena snorted. "Should be a damn big place. The whole city is steaming with the stench of humans."

Thoughtfully Hephaistion nodded, picking up Serena's dress from the armchair. He had forgotten that the winged predators had

extremely good noses. "We better should win this war soon so that you can go back to your place. I do hope Alexis and

Alexander have come to a decision what to do."

Serena nodded, her golden eyes shiny with tears. "I hope so too."

Hephaistion looked down at the silky cloth in his hands. "Now, are you going to be a good girl and wear the dress?"

With a sulky look on her pretty face she snatched the dress from his hands. "Oh, o.k., if it makes you happy!"

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The number of the men assembled around Alexander's throne made Alexis feel very uneasy. And it wasn't only their curious,

anxious and hostile stares or the angry murmurs that worried him.

Not all of Alexander's generals welcomed the king's decision to lodge two of the winged beasts who had killed so many humans.

An old man called Parmenion and Cleitus had voted against the blond's decision, but after Alexis and Serena had rushed to

Hephaistion's help Alexander was deaf to all arguments against his new found winged friends.

The argument had already lasted for several hours and the crushing stench of human sweat and urine, wine, cooking fat and

various spices first made the golden-eyed demon dizzy then awfully sick. He just wished they would finally come to a

decision.

The incubus knelt next to the king's throne, half hidden by the shadows and as motionless as one of the marble statues, his

eyes half closed he watched the humans carefully and listened to the discussion.

"There haven't been any attacks lately", Cassander just said. "Maybe they have given up."

"I wouldn't count on that. They plot something. Can't say how I know this. I just do", mumbled Nearchus.

"We should put an end to this. Wipe them out", Parmenion insisted. He gave the present winged predator the evil eye. "ALL of

them."

"Parmenion is right", Cleitus stated. "They are a risk we cannot allow to lurk behind our backs."

"That's why we'll attack them", Alexander said, ignoring Parmenion's suggestion. "There's an old cemetery outside the city

walls. There the beasts have their hiding place in catacombes deep under the earth. That's where we'll fight them."

"I don't think this is a good idea", Alexis said, breaking his silence for the first time during the discussion. His soft

baritone voice sent shivers down the humans' spines and the smell of fear and malevolence increased instantly. The bewitching

power of the demon's mere presence and the reactions of their bodies to his beauty - no matter how straight they thought they

were - frightened them. Normally this was a funny little game but today amongst all these warriors it made Alexis quite

nervous.

"Why not?" Alexander sounded pissed off. He never liked his tactics to be questioned especially not by Alexis. The king had

challenged himself to a competition with the golden-eyed incubus and was determined to show that he was the best. "I'm not

going to stay here and hide like some fearful bunny in its burrow. I am Alexander!"

The incubus rolled his eys but bit his tongue. "Down there is a dark labyrinth of tunnels and passages stretching beneath the

whole city", Alexis explained patiently. "They could be anywhere and they know the place. You don't. You would be lost within

no time."

"We won't if you guide us." The way Alexander said this he tolerated no disobedience.

"The tunnels often are very narrow. You can only go in single row, sometimes you will have to crawl on all fours. It's a good

place for various traps and a bad place if you seek an open fight."

Cleitus got up stepping closer to the demon, planting himself before the kneeling male. "Do you know what this sounds like to

me?"

"No. But I'm quite sure I can't stop you from telling me", Alexis hissed. He rose slowly from his kneeling position. The

hostility was nearing boiling point, some of the men reached for their weapons.

"It sounds as if you intend to protect the murderous brute. You want to prevent us from going after them."

"I always said, they cannot be trusted", Parmenion shouted. "I bet they are spies. Or even assassins."

"Nonesense", Nearchus muttered, not understanding what all the uproar was actually about. He thought the two demons were

really nice persons - especially the pretty red-haired girl. "The lad and the lass saved Hephaistion."

"They want to lull us in a false sense of security", Cleitus said. He eyed the raven-haired demon suspiciously, keeping out

of his claws' distance.

"Please stay reasonable", Ptolemy tried to cool down the heated situation. "Serena and Alexis could have killed the king

easily on several occasions - but they didn't. We have aboslutely no hint why we should not trust them."

"Exactly", Alexander roared. Everybody fell silent when the king rose from his throne. "And that's why we will rely on them

when they lead us to the catacombes." Alexis sighed deeply. This wasn't a plan. This was madness. Unfortunately he knew

Alexander well enough by now to know that the king wouldn't listen to any arguments no matter how reasonable. Still he had to

try.

Obviously there were others who - in contrast to Alexander - weighed the consequences. "But", Parmenion started, his words

cut off by one of the king's evil glances.

"I do recall you already questioned my decision at Gaugamela", the blond man growled, clenching his fists. "If you had done

how I told you Darius would alreay be defeated." He marched towards the doors making clear that he didn't wish any more

discusions. Alexis hurried after him, not eager to stay with the other men.

"I'm sorry", Alexander said at the sound of the incubus' soft footsteps close behind him. "My generals were more than just

unpolite."

"They fear Serena and me. It's because they don't know us. Humans always fear what they don't know."

"I don't", Alexander stated.

"That's why your kind will find it hard to understand you and your visions. That's what makes you Alexander the Great."

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When Serena landed on the palace roof next to her brother his jaw dropped open at her sight.

The mossy silk of her dress fitted her snugly, clinging to the soft outlines of her round boobs, her nipples pressing against

the smooth texture. Although the cloth was meant to hide away the temptations of her nude form it gave a sizzling clear idea

of the promises Serena's body held.

And Alexis was to make sure she kept her promises. A low growl rose from his chest, his eyes melted to a rich copper and

Serena found herself on all fours kneeling in front of him before she had even touched the roof with her feet. He actually

grabbed her out of the air.

After a long fruitless discussion with Alexander she was exactly what he longed for. He wanted to feel her tight walls clench

around him, wanted to experience her smooth softness and hot moistness and the pleasure she always was eager to grant him.

Ignoring the soldiers on the wall and towers and their exposed position on the roof Alexis lifted her skirt and bumped into

the dainty female before Serena could even scream in surprise. Her gasped cry was greeted by the cheer of the watching guards

who had forgotten about their duties.

A few moments later Cleitus' furious bark sent the guards back to work and the demons' lovemaking from now on was accompanied

by the bearded human's threats to shoot the depraved couple down if they didn't stop at once. He wasted his time and breath

as none of them cared much.

"Don't stop, don't stop", Serena moaned, her breath ragged, her lewd mouth shaped to a laschivious form. She arched her back,

pressing harder against her brother's hips to take in all of his length and girth.

She loved the feeling of his sharp nails clawing at her back, the violent thrusts when he bucked his hips against her and the

demanding impatience of his quickening pace.

She felt the familiar sizzling sensation forming within her, shaking her very being when the blazing orgasm washed through

her body. When her tight walls clenched in wild spasms around Alexis' throbbing dick the friction got too much to bear for

him. He cried his ecstasy out to the evening scy, turning his head to throw a wide evil grin at a very furious Cleitus.

"Did you enjoy the show, Cleitus?", Alexis shouted.

"You depraved bastard", the dark-haired warrior roared. "Take that bitch of yours and get out of my sight. You disgust

me!"

"Bah, he's always so gloomy. He needs a decent fuck", Serena stated while she tried to adjust her boobs to her new dress

which was a bit wrinkled after Alexis' rough treatment. "Perhaps I'll have a try."

"Don't", Alexis whispered to her pointy ear, licking the outline with his rough tongue. "He will hurt you."

"Oh, you know. I like it hard and brutal." She sighed and the girlish grin vanished from her face making place for a worried

expression. She started to prick at her dress. "I hate this thing."

"I love it. It's damn sexy." His hand glided down her front, the smooth texture felt cool and soft under his touch.

Finally Serena started to like her annoying dress.

The smile didn't return to her pretty face though. Alexis watched her closely. During the last days Serena had lost all of

her light-heartedness and although this part of her character had often annoyed him he missed it dearly. He felt it was his

fault that she now knew what sorrow meant.

"It's not the dress that worries you." He stated a fact and Serena knew she couldn't avoid a honest answer.

"We can't stay here", she blurted out.

Alexis sighed. "I know."

Serena was perplexed. She hadn't expected him to agree. "Really?"

"We can't live amongst humans."

"What?" The crimson-haired succubus couldn't believe her ears.

"We can't live amongst humans", the raven-haired incubus repeated sadly.

Serena still couldn't trust his words. She had expected him to throw some very reasonable arguments at her about how to

manage to keep the beast under control. "Could you please repeat this?"

"Oh, stop it, Serena. I'm serious."

"I'm sorry. I just can't believe you said this. But I'm so happy you did. I talked to Hephaistion about our situation, you

know. And I was very worried you wouldn't share my point of view." She grinned at him. "I always thought living in peace and

harmony with mankind is what you really wanted", she added in a mock-tone.

"Maybe. I don't know. It's all very complicated." The incubus smiled weakly. "And what do we do now?"

"You're the one who makes the plans, remember? I'm the little fool who follows."

Alexis didn't answer for a long time, just holding his sister in a tender embrace. "Alexander wants to attack the pack down

in the catacombes", he finally said not sounding happy with the king's decision at all.

"Did you tell him this is an incredibly stupid idea?"

"Yes. He thinks it is brilliant." Alexis rolled his eyes. "And I can't let him and Hephaistion go down there alone."

"And I can't let you go down there alone", Serena sighed. Alexis opened his mouth to say something but she put her hand to

his lips to silence him. "I know what you're going to say about me being pregnant and keeping me out of danger. And I really

think it's sweet that you try to protect me. But I cannot live without you and I rather die with you than stay here all

alone, got it?"

Alexis smiled at her, kissing her softly. "Alright then."

"Good." Serena snuggled against his chest, watching the sun go down in a symphony of red, pink and orange. "Did you hear

this?", she suddenly said. She pricked her ears. Muffled sounds rose to the night sky from below. Then there was a gasped cry

followed by a loud and lewd moan.

A wide grin spread over the golden-eyed incubus face. "They're at it again."

"Boy, they're like bunnies", Serena giggled girlishly.

""You may well say so."

"Is Cleitus still there?"

Alexis glanced at the nearest tower. Cleitus stood there and watched them with eagle eyes, arms crossed in front of his broad

chest. "Hm, yeah."

A truly wicked grin appeared around Serena's mouth. "Want to annoy him again?"

Instead of answering Alexis planted a soft kiss on her satin lips, deepening it when Serena willingly opened her mouth to

welcome the caressing of his tongue.

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"Why is Cleitus shouting at the top of his lungs?", Alexander yawned. His head rested on Hephaistion's bare chest and he

curled one of his lover's brunette strands around his index finger.

"Don't know", the young warrior answered sleepily. He was totally exhausted thanks to his king's sexual insatiability.

Although Alexander was eager to learn submissivness he couldn't stop himself from ordering Hephaistion around when it came to

his lovemaking lessons. "Don't care."

"Well, it certainly isn't important." Alexander started to kiss his lover's chest in circles towards his nipples, biting

softly at the sensitve and already sore flesh.

Hephaistion moaned softly. "You're hopeless."

"Don't know what you mean", Alexander whispered against his lover's skin.

The brunette slapped him playfully. "Are you never satisfied?"

"Not if it is you. I'll never get enough of you." He flickered his tongue against the hollow of Hephaistion's throat, tasting

the salty flavour of his sweat. Sucking softly at his flesh as he worked his way up to Hephaistion's sensitive ears. "I want

to please you, I want to taste you", he whispered to Hephaistion's ear. "Just lay back and relax."

While Alexander's hands and lips explored his body, squeezing his flesh, stroking his smooth skin, tracing wet kisses around

his navel and nipples, Hephaistion closed his eyes and did as his king had ordered him. He relaxed and his body melted under

his lover's tender touch. Cleitus voice faded from his mind as did the room surrounding him with all the furniture and the

flapping of the painted wing above Alexander's bed. Until all what was left was the feeling of his own and Alexander's body

united.

The moist heat of his lover's mouth felt wonderful around his erect length, the tight walls of Alexander's throat pleased him with a sizzling friction. His fingers entangled with Alexander's golden curls he urged the blond man to swallow him even deeper, gliding in and out of his lover's lewd shaped mouth.

It was Alexander who controlled the pace, taking care that Hephaistion got all the tenderness he deserved, driving him slowly mad with a boiling desire. To the king the young warrior's moans and gasps of pleasure were the sweetest music he had ever heard. And he had the power to add new tunes to Hephaistion's symphony which would end with the thundering beat of a kettle-drum.

Later that night when the red moon was already dancing across the night sky Hephaistion lay still wide awake listening to his lover's low breathing. He knew that Alexander had decided to attack the pack down in the catacombes. He also knew that Alexis thought this was madness.

However, now Hephaistion was safe and the world seemed peaceful.

Although the peace was treacherous he clung to it.

This was only the lull before the storm.

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