On the night of the fourteenth of November, in Memphis, Egypt, there was a grand celebration. Alexander III of Macedon had been crowned the Pharaoh of Egypt a few hours before as the sun had set beneath the sand. Because of this, Alexander was currently sitting in his new throne surrounded by the people of this already old nation, taking in the music and colors and people of this land he so admired.

He leaned closer to Hephaestion, his most trusted Companion and lover. Hephaestion had been standing just to the right and slightly behind Alexander's gold throne and so excused himself from talking to Cleitus, who was another of Alexander's Companions who had been his father's most trusted friend besides. Having done that, he turned his full attention on Alexander, bending down on one knee to better hear and see him.

"Is it not amazing, Phai?" Hephaestion smiled at the sound of breathless wonder in Alexander's voice, a sound he had become well acquainted with over the years.

"It is, my Pharaoh," Alexander looked over at his beloved and saw grin break over the man's countenance as he said the word "Pharaoh." As it was, the new title sent a shiver of excitement down Alexander's spine.

"The music, the colors, the people! I am nearly overcome with it all!" he fell back into his chair, hand to forehead in a dramatic gesture as he turned away, head turned to the right, away from Hephaestion.

Rolling his eyes at his lover's display, Hephaestion accepted a cup of red wine from a passing slave girl and took a sip, all while deciding to create a display of his own. Instead of swallowing the alcoholic drink, he quickly took a hand and placed it along the side of Alexander's face, on the side that was turned away from him. When Alexander responded questioningly by lowering his arm and turning back toward him, Hephaestion swooped down and kissed him, allowing the sip of wine he had taken to slip into Alexander's mouth. His long hair shielded them from prying eyes, and then he straightened quickly, his lips wine-stained as he gasped.

Alexander sat stunned for a moment, cockeyed on his throne, before sitting up fully with a reprimand on his lips, "Phai!"

"It's all right, Love. No one cares. You are Pharaoh here and thus half god to them. You may do whatever you wish. See?" he swept an arm as if to draw Alexander's attention to the room and when Alexander looked, he found that his love was right. No one was even looking in their direction. Except for one boy, Alexander found. He was far off- nearly in the corner of the room. As Alexander's blue-gray eyes connected with his, his dark green ones did not turn away. Intrigued by this bold boy, Alexander looked him over.

His skin was of a very light brown color, and his head was shaved except for his Lock of Youth, worn on the right side of his head and plaited into a short braid. His physique was slim and Alexander guessed him to be at most five feet tall. His waist was covered by an aquamarine shendyt, and his legs were so thin Alexander nearly winced at the thought of them breaking from any slight pressure. His calves, while not large, seemed to be well muscled.

"Phai..." Alexander drew his companion's attention from where he had settled at Alexander's feet and had been lazily massaging his legs.

"Hm?" his lover hummed relaxedly.

Alexander silently pointed in the direction of the boy, and Hephaestion followed his gaze and finger, and gasped at the sight of the boy.

"Will you bring him here, please Love?" Alexander kissed the underside of Hephaestion's jaw softly.

With one last soft peck, Hephaestion got up from the floor gracefully and, making his way through the throng of people, made his way over to the boy. Alexander watched them as Hephaestion spoke to the boy and pointed back at him. Seeing that it was the new Pharaoh who wanted an audience with him, the boy went willingly with Hephaestion just behind him.

When they both reached him after a few moments, Alexander reached out to the boy, who cast himself at Alexander's feet in a low bow.

"Lord Pharaoh, you wished to see me?"

"Indeed I did, Child. Tell me, what is your name?"

"Apep, Lord Pharaoh. After the evil serpent."

"Yes, I am aware of the tale. You, however, do not look evil to me at all. Tell me, how old are you?"

"I am fourteen years of age, Lord Pharaoh."

Alexander looked at Hephaestion, who was again settled at his feet. Hephaestion nodded silently and then Alexander turned back to Apep.

"Come to my chambers tonight."

Apep's eyes widened in shock before he regained his composure and bowed low again before being dismissed, feeling both the Pharaoh and his lover's eyes on him as he retreated once more to his solemn corner of the room.

AN: Apep in Egyptian mythology is the personification of Evil, and is seen as a snake that battles the Sun god every night. If Apep wins, the sun will not rise. I do not know if Apep is just in the Ancient mythology or in current mythology as well. If someone wants to elaborate on this myth for me, please do. And if I got it wrong, please correct me. On another note, you will soon see why I named the boy this. Hope you enjoyed!