Chapter One

Abraxas hurried through the city, slinking into shadows and being as quiet as possible as the gravel shifted underneath his tender feet. He had always been a swift runner as a boy, and now at the age of 19, he was in his prime of fitness. His light chocolate colored skin perspired, not with fatigue but with anxiety about whatever was following him. No man had ever scared Abraxas. He towered over most people at six foot, three inches. He had lean, hard muscles that made him quick in combat and beautiful to look at. He stopped to slink into a doorway and hide in the deep shadows, hoping that whatever or whoever was tailing him would pass him, unnoticed. His deep green eyes sought a light source as he swept his loose black hair out of his eyes and smoothed it back down around his shoulders.

He tried to still his ragged breath and beating heart. His body pulsed, every vein had a heartbeat. His adrenaline rushed through him and he was angry at himself for feeling this way. He had no idea why such a feeling of dread came over him, but he knew that he didn't like whatever was after him.

"Hello, Abraxas" said a silky voice from the opposite corner of the stone doorway where he stood. Abraxas swung his fist in the direction of the voice but his hand was caught in a powerful grasp. Not a grasp intended to hurt him, just intended to stop him.

"Who are you? What do you want of me?"

"I only seek your company. You see, I find you beautiful to behold and your scent, your body, your hair, all of you is enticing to me. I seek pleasure, and I think I have found it in you."

Despite the thrill of fear that seared through Abraxas' body, he couldn't help but be wooed and flattered by the velvet voice and tender compliments of his stalker.

"Tell me Abraxas, are you afraid of me?"

"Yes."

"That is wise, but I don't think you are afraid enough yet. You have no idea what I am or what I could do to you."

Abraxas could only stare now at this creature. He knew he should run or scream for help or fight, but he could not make his body move to do any of these things.

"No, my friend. You cannot fight me. I wish to have you now, and I am growing tired of the chase, though I could continue to chase you for eternity. You could never hide from me, or run from me or leave me if I want it."

"Who are you?"

"I am Orphée. It means darkness. Rather appropriate, don't you think." At this Orphée moved into the light of the moon and smiled a small, sad smile.

Abraxas looked at the man who had been following him and couldn't immediately decide whether he was looking at a night terror or an angel. Orphée was a tall man, nearly as tall as Abraxas. He was the color of a ripe blackberry with large, deep brown eyes. His blue-black hair hung in ringlets around his face and shoulders and his smooth, taut body was covered only in a exomie made of red, fine linen. His skin showed no signs of sweat as Abraxas' did, but was creamy and smooth.

Orphée smiled a great, menacing smile as Abraxas studied the man from his feet to his face. Orphée's teeth shone white and brilliant, especially in contrast to his onyx colored skin. The whites of his eyes also shone clearly against his skin and made them look like the eyes of an innocent doe.

Without warning, Orphée grabbed Abraxas by the throat and thrust him against the stone wall opposite the door. Abraxas tried to scream but the grip on his throat was so strong, he was sure his neck would snap. Orphée put his face close to Abraxas' face and smelled his scent; musk, sandalwood, man.

Abraxas clawed at the strong hands holding his neck, cutting off his windpipe, but Orphée grinned once and ripped open Abraxas' toga also tearing the flesh from his chest in four jagged claw marks. Then Orphée bent his head and licked Abraxas' wounds which seared like fire from a branding iron.

Orphée slung Abraxas to the gravel road and before Abraxas could right himself, Orphée was on top of him, holding him down by the wrists and sitting on his torso. Orphée again leaned over Abraxas' heaving chest and bit hard on his left nipple; so hard that he almost severed it. He began to suckle the nipple and each time his tongue passed over it, a sickening spasm would form in Abraxas' gut and the wound burned like white fire.

"Don't kill me please!" Abraxas managed to whimper.

"Kill you? No, I would never kill you, this is only a mild poison", and he spit on Abraxas' chest. The place where the saliva hit burned like an inferno and Abraxas knew no more.

When Abraxas woke, he was lying on a Kline with a linen rolled pillow under his neck. He looked around his bed and saw only an ornate chest and a few stools occupying the sunny room. His body burned with fever and his jaw chattered with chills.

"Ah, don't you love Greece?" a dreamy voice asked him.

Abraxas looked in the direction of the voice, but his neck hurt too badly to move much. His eyes burned and watered and he couldn't quite make out the form advancing towards him.

"Well, I love Greece, whether you have grown to appreciate it or not. I like the people and the heated discussions and the swarms of philosophy buzzing around." Abraxas could only stare at this figure as he recalled what had happened to him that night. "Everyone has a new idea about something, don't you think so, Abraxas?" Abraxas couldn't speak, his mouth was too dry and felt like it might rip open at any moment.

"Abraxas? Oh, well, you will have your voice back soon enough. Look at that sun! It is beautiful, life giving and warm. We should be outside, enjoying this day. Well, we must see to it that you get well first", and with that Orphée laughed and strode out of the room.

Abraxas felt a tear slide down his hot cheek and wondered when he had last cried.