Nights of Babylon

@pharaohskitty

Thanks a lot. *beams and cheers* I haven't read any of Anne Bishop's works yet, but I might do after your remark. I do the

best with grammar and spelling I can - well, I know there are still more than enough mistakes I don't even notice *sighs*.

Maybe I should get a beta-reader... I really think about sending Serena and Alexis to another setting as I really love the

characters (hmph, now this comment is a spoiler, isn't it?). You suddenly made my day with your comment on the plot.

@Marie:

Hope you haven't cracked yet. Enjoy this chapter. ^_-

@lucious:

Welcome back. I already started to miss your reviews.

@Queendel:

Hi again. I'm glad you liked the last chapter.

@Jorya:

I do plan to complete the story. I don't know yet how much time it'll take, though.

@angstman:
:
Wow, the whole story in two days. You spent some time in front of your pc, didn't you? Thanks for your review.

Disclaimer: The movie Alexander doesn't belong to me, King Alexander himself is an historian figure. I do not intend to earn

money with my story. I just want you to enjoy it.

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Chapter 25 - Game over

Hephaistion's body felt unnaturally cold and stiff. He was shivering madly in his soaked clothes and his teeth were

clattering. But only one heartbeat later when his eyes met those of the raven-haired incubus the molten gold of the demon's

eyes, so full of love and devotion, seemed to return the warmth to his body, as if Alexis held him in a caring embrace.

With some effort and Ptolemy's help Hephaistion struggled to get to his feet. He still felt dizzy and a sudden vertigo nearly

sent him to the ground again. It was Serena's heartbreaking sob which left Hephaistion wide awake.

"No!", the crimson-haired succubus wailed. "Leave him be!" She cradled her brother protectively, her frightened gaze never

leaving the oily black water of the lake. The wraiths were hovering above the pool, their spidery fingers still outstretched

they drew closer as if swept to the shore by the icy breeze which now howled through the cave. Ghostly strings of light

emitted from their fingers. The cords connected with the unconscious incubus' trembling form, absorbing his life energy from

him. Serena tried to wipe off the strings of pale light, but winced and withdrew quickly when the icy touch blackened her

skin. Still she didn't release him from her embrace, her hot tears pearling down her cheeks in a current flow.

"Good gods!," Ptolemy exclaimed, trying to drag his companion with him, away from the black pool and out of the dreadful

cave. Hephaistion shoved him aside, stepping forward and blocking the wraiths' way to the two demons, cutting the deadly

cords as he did so. Their touch was pure agony, still he was willing to endure it. Alexis risked his life for him out of

love, returning hope and warmth to the young warrior's heart with his self-sacrificing action. Now Hephaition wouldn't let

him down. There was little hope that he could still save his beloved, but he wouldn't back down without a fight, not minding

if he met his own death while defending the golden-eyed incubus. And he knew he was not alone when Serena reached out to take

his hand.

The tantalizing touch was only brief, much briefer than Hephaistion had expected. Then suddenly the pain was over when the

cords snapped back, returning to the wraiths. Also the ghosts themselves seemed to retreat. Still silent their black mouths

were opened to angry soundless screams, their dead faces wore shocked and surprised expressions. Again they tried to catch

hold of their prey, but they could neither touch the winged demon nor his sister or the human protecting him.

The pale strings hit an invisible wall when they shot forward, bouncing of the barrier that magically had formed around the

two predators and the warrior.

They stood together, risking their most precious possesion, their lifes, for each other's sake, a sacrifice caused by

friendship and love, and made possible by a high devotion and courage. Their emotions reeked of warmth and pleasantness which

had never before been present in the black cave. It drove the dead away as they only knew hatred and wrath and it shielded

the friends and lovers from the frenzy of the forgotten.

Instead of sinking back to the black pool the wraiths suddenly rushed forward like a ghostly flash of light, past the trio

which had defeated them, past a trembling and very pale Ptolemy and through the monster's mouth which built the passage to

the tunnels of the catacombes.

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Alexander lay as still as if he was dead, pretending to be still unconscious. He knew very well that if Ellestias noticed he
was wide awake she would send him to his everlasting sleep. So he played his very uncomfortable role, trying hard to come up
with a plan. To his annoyance he always ended up with hoping that Alexis would rescue him. Someone less stubborn at this

point would have admitted that he was stuck in a hopeless situation. But Alexander refused to give up.

He felt the bitch's weight on his belly, shifting impatiently. She by now surely was pissed off, her unnerved growls gave her

away. She patted his cheek, then slapped him in the face and Alexander nearly jerked. But he managed not to stir.

"Damn", Ellestias hissed. She started to wonder if she had killed him already, but she could hear his heartbeat and she was

sure he was still breathing. She leaned down to check his breath and was welcomed by a wide awake and surely alive Alexander.

The moment her face hovered over his head the king suddenly sat up, smashing his forehead as hard as he could against the

demoness' fragile nose.

Ellestias yelled in pain, her hand covering her broken nose, blood spilling through her elegant clawed fingers while tears

shot to her icy grey eyes, blurring her sight. Alexander didn't waste any time and threw the bitch off. As soon as he was on

his feet again, he granted Ellestias with some kicks aimed against her head, before he dived for his sword which lay near by

on the dusty ground.

But time wasn't on his side. Just when he swirled around to introduce the damned witch to his sword, Ellestias was back

again, blood spilling from her nose, her fangs bared at him in an ugly snarl. "Bastard!", she screeched, launching herself at

the human in front of her.

Alexander dodged more easily this time, as the demon seemed still dulled by his former assault. His sword scratched over her

rips when he twisted himself from the danger area and the bitch howled in frenzy and pain. Her jump had catapulted her out of

the room into the tunnel, so Alexander was now caught in a trap like a mouse in its hole with the cat waiting in front of

it.

Ellestias grinned triumphantly, while Alexander got ready for her next attack. But suddenly something down the tunnel caught

Ellestias' attention. Alexander could see a dim light, very cold and pale, creeping along the rough stone walls of the

catacombes like long spidery fingers. Ellestias froze, staring down the tunnel, her eyes narrowed, while she tried to figure

out what was approaching her. The moment when realization hit her it was far too late.

Alexander saw, how the fury dropped from the succubus' face and was replaced by pure death fear within instants. She swirled

round to run for her life, but the ghostly fingers shot forward and grabbed her, winding around her wrists and ankles, coiling

around her waist, chest and neck. Where the lurid cords touched her, her skin blackened as if attacked by frostbite.

Alexander retreated in horror, until the wall stopped him. "What new evil is this?", he whispered to himself, his sword

shaking in his trembling hand. He was so frightened that he nearly wet himself. (Something he never admitted when he later

told the story of his adventures to his generals).

Ellestias screamed. Her high-pitched cries were so painful to the human's ears that he dropped his weapon and pressed his

hands to his ears, trying to block the agonizing sound from his hearing.

When he looked up again, he wished he could cover his eyes, too. Pale figures crept down the tunnel, their movements awkward

and clumsy as if their limbs were stiff and strangley misshapen. With them they brought an icy coldness which extinguished all

warmth and made Alexander shiver. His torch hissed and then the flames died and the horrified king was left alone in the

darkness. Only the pale withish light of the wraith now illuminated the horrible scene luridly. As the ghosts staggered

towards the screaming succubus their glowing extended fingers shrank back, but never let go of their miserable victim.

Ellestias fell to her knees, helplessly captured in the icy embrace of the wraiths. Her cries grew even louder, a desperate

sound of tantalizing agony, then they died away and what was left was silence. The pale wraith gathered around the succubus'

corpse, not willing to losen their grasp, until the blackened body started to glow slightly. It was as if they were pulling

at something, as if they were trying to pull something from the dead body. Finally the pale shimmer grew stronger and left

the dead succubus, froming another of the pale wraiths.

Alexander didn't dare to breathe. He feared the thundering of his frantic heart could give him away. It sounded like

battledrums in his ears and he was sure the dead could hear him. There was no chance they would miss him. He couldn't move,

was frozen to the place where he had sunk to his knees and trembled like a frightened deer.

Time stretched to eternity while he waited for the wraiths to claim his soul and all he wanted to do was cry. He had never

before felt so weak, never had death's face seemed so ugly. Unbearably slow the ghosts turned and started to flow into the

tomb, closing in on the panicing king.

Suddenly Alexander's thoughts snapped to Hephaistion and now hot tears spilled down his cheeks. "Not him!", he whispered. "Oh

gods, please help him, help me! Please don't allow this to be his fate. Take me, but spare him! I beg you! Hephaistion!" He

started to whisper his lover's name like an incantation over and over again.

Ther wraiths hovered in front of him, but none stretched out its cold dead hands. Instead they started to draw back, until

they had left the cave and continued their way down the tunnel.

Alexander collapsed.

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After an agonizingly high-pitched scream had echoed through the labyrinth, tearing the silence to pieces, Cassander and

Cleitus left the tomb they had set up as a trap. They didn't have to walk far until they met the scream's source.

Cassander could still hear the cry long after it had died away. He could have sworn it shook the earth - on a second thought

his trembling knees might have given him this impression. Neither the lifeless form of his king lying on the dusty ground in

front of him did do any good to calm down his fear nor did the black corpse of one of the winged demons lying right in the

entrance of the tomb.

First Cassander had thought the beast had met the fire, but there was no hint of the awful stench of burnt flesh. With the

crumbled skin it looked very much like a dried plum. The body was stiff and couldn't be moved as if it was frozen to the

ground. The mouth with the long fangs was widely opened to a scream. It looked as it the jaw was dislocated. The eyes were

gleaming in the skulls sockets, covered with a thin layer of ice.

"What has done this?", Cassander asked hoarsely, although he was quite sure he didn't want to know.

Cleitus shook his head. "I don't know. There is far too much unknown evil down here. I have seen many things during my life,

but never have I seen something like this and I hopefully won't ever again. Curse this demon brute. May they rot in hell,

because that's where they surely came from." Cleitus bent down to check the lifeless form of his king.

"Is Alexander dead?"

"No, he's just unconscious." Cleitus answered with relief. He patted Alexander's cheek and the blond man's eyes flutterd

open. He blinked, confusion vivid on his very pale face. then recognition hit him and a small smile graced his lips.

"Cleitus", the king croaked. "Cassander." The smile widened, but faded as fast as it had appeared. "Where's Hephaistion?"

"We haven't found him or Ptolemy yet."

"Hephaistion! I have to find him. I have to save him!" Alexander sat up. He felt weak, his knees were wobbly and if Cleitus

hadn't helped him he would have fallen. He struggled to his feet again and this time he could rely on his own strength. His

gaze fell on the wasted corpse and memory flooded back to him. "Good gods! We have to hurry!"

"What has killed the beast?", Cleitus asked. He didn't like the panicing expression of Alexander's features.

"The dead", the king whispered and his voice was shaking. He inhaled deeply to calm himself and his frantically beating

heart. "At least they looked dead. They simply touched her and she died slowly and painfully. And then they turned on me and

I thought I was lost, but they suddenly retreated. Their coldness stayed, though."

Alexander was right. Their breath hang in the air like little clouds while they spoke and the frostiness made them shiver.

"How does one fight those who are already dead?", Cassander asked timidly.

"I don't know, my friend, but if they have harmed Hephaistion I will find a way", Alexander said, determination shining in

his eyes. "We have to find the way back to the arena. From there we can follow Hephaistion's track."

"He seems to forget that Ptolemy and Nearchus are somewhere in this maze, too", Cleitus stated gloomily, while he followed

the king and Cassander. After some time they found a shattered pot of clay from wich a clear liquid had spilled to the floor

which smelled like urine.

"Ah", Cleitus said happily. "Now I know, where we are. This way please." He pointed down a tunnel and took the lead,

searching for the equipment he had dropped earlier.

"Cleitus tried to confuse his pursuer", Cassander offered a whispered explanation, since he caught Alexander's puzzled

expression. He didn't dare to talk louder and even Alexander detered from shouting Hephaistion's name at the top of his

voice. Down here one could never know what one might rouse. And none of the warriors would have been surprised if they had

found Zerberus waiting around the next corner.

But for once luck was on their side. Instead of meeting the hell hound they entered the arena just in time to see Ptolemy,

Hephaistion and Serena, who cradled her brother like an infant in her arms, entering through one of the passages. The

raven-haired incubus looked pale, his body littered with black marks.

Alexander didn't care much for how the incubus looked or if he was hurt. He didn't care for Ptolemy or Serena. All that

counted was Hephaistion - a shaken and soaked Hephaistion who shivered in his wet garment.

Before Hephaistion knew what happened, Alexander lifted him from the ground and showered his face with kisses. "My beloved,

my Hephaistion. I am so thankful that you have returned to me safely."

Hephaistion struggled to free himself. "Alexander, please, we have to leave. You don't know what we have roused! The dead

have risen from the black pool..."

"Don't worry, my love. They won't hurt me! I stood face to face with them and they withdrew. They couldn't harm me. I will

protect you, my sweet Hephaistion."

"Like you protected him from Ellestias and her lot?", Serena remarked sourly. Her brother's low breathing and his faint

heartbeat made her want to cry, and Alexander's stupid behaviour made her want to slap him across the face. The king was very

lucky that she carried Alexis. "When Hephaistion was in trouble - the trouble YOU pushed him in - you were nowhere to be

seen. It is due to Alexis that Hephaistion is still alive. Now shut your big mouth for once and stop being so damn arrogant!"

She hadn't wanted to cry, but now she did.

Alexander's mouth dropped open, but his perplexity faded quickly. His irascibility was about to take control when Hephaistion

spoke in a soft voice. "She is right, Alexander."

"But..."

"She is right. And now put me down and let's get the hell out of here, because Alexis is hurt and he needs help."

"Alexis", Alexander whispered to himself, sounding enormously pissed off. He had expected that Hephaistion would be happy to

see him, that he would tell him how much he loved him. But all his hopes were blown away thanks to that damned incubus.

However, he did as his lover told him. "Alexis, the winged perfection."

He wished he could get rid of the annoying incubus for good. Hephaistion was his, but lately he failed to prove it.

With Serena's help they quickly left the maze behind and when they finally reached the steps leading them from the tomb warm

rays of sunlight guided their path. Serena had never before been so happy to see the sun. As she stepped from the cool

darkness of the tomb the midday heat hit her as if she had run against a solid wall. Still she was greatful for the merciless

heat, as it quickly drove the chill from her body. And it would also warm Alexis.

She hurried past Nearchus and his soldiers, who cheered when they saw their generals exiting the underground catacombes, and

rested Alexis' stiff and frosty body on a flat white marble stone, brooding in the sun. "Please", she begged. "Please stay

with me." She brushed his silken black strands from his cold face and kissed him, pressing her soft satin lips to his icy

ones. Her fingers trailed over his body, stroking his cold flesh.

She cried when she felt the warmth return to him and a wave of relief made her shiver. She had nearly lost him to the worst

fate she could imagine. The wraiths had tried to rob him from her and they had nearly succeeded. Now she rested her palm on

her brother's chest and felt the throb of his heart against her skin.

Alexander stopped Hephaistion when he wanted to join Serena. "I am hurt, too", he sulked, knowing that he sounded extremely silly. "I have quite an ugly swelling at the back of my head."

"This is not the time for a demonstration of your selfishness or jealousy", Hephaistion said rather coldly. And he freed his hand from Alexander's grasp.

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