Cassander listened to Hephaistion crying in the bathroom, heard him retching and coughing, cursing out and praying. He heard all of it. He glanced down at his hands, that were responsible for so many deaths, and with a reluctant sigh he thought of what he had done.

It was he who had given Hephaistion dirty water. Water so unclean and murky it wasn't fit for pigs to bathe in. It was he who had insisted Hephaistion drink more of it, it was he who wanted to see Hephaistion's life come to an end.

He had watched in the last months how Hephaistion shrunk in size, how he barely ate, and barely left his room if only to see Alexander. He watched Hephaistion's eyes lie to Alexander every day about how he was really feeling. He watched this man fall apart.

Groaning, he went down to the party where there were plenty of guests. The wine was over flowing and the food was rich and plump with texture and taste. He bit into an apple and all he could taste was bitterness.

Was he angry at what he had done to Hephaistion? Or was he merely impatient for the overall outcome? Whatever it was, he didn't want to think about it, and would hang around in the back of the room, watching the goings on of the celebration, and realizing, at any moment, this celebration could end in the worst way possible.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Alexander was partying to heavily it didn't register that Hephaistion wasn't in the room yet. He was laughing and cheering on Ptolemy who was having a drinking contest with Craterus, Craterus who was once so poor and now he was covered in jewels.

The smile that was on his face was that of unmistakable happiness and relief. Joy that he had come to the end of his nightmares, his worries. That all things were going to be great from here on in. He perused the room, and there hunched in the corner was Hephaistion.

"Hephaistion!" Alexander called his name excitedly, "I was expecting you sooner, my lover!" he boasted and the other men all laughed and cheered.

Hephaistion couldn't raise his head, he was feeling that sick. Alexander beckoned him but he refused to move, stuck in a place where he could keep his head from swimming, stuck in a place where he felt he could keep himself together.

"Hephaistion, honestly!" Alexander hollered, and came over to him. Hephaistion raised his eyes to meet Alexander's, and Alexander looked at him quizzically.

"What is wrong with you?" Alexander asked, and abruptly the party stopped.

"Drinking too much all ready!" Ptolemy laughed and Alexander shushed him.

"Did you start ahead of me, Hephaistion? I thought you barely drank…"

Hephaistion felt his throat become dry and crackly as he tried to answer,

"Yes" was all he could say. Thinking that he was in trouble, Hephaistion cowered a little, but all he heard from Alexander was laughter.

"Sweet Zeus, you had me worried!" Alexander chuffed, and the others all laughed. Cassander watched on, watching Hephaistion try to smile. It was then he had to get out of there, it was then he left the room.

"Someone send this man to bed!" Ptolemy shouted, and a few of the servants came and escorted Hephaistion away.

" I love you, Alexander" Hephaistion whispered, and Alexander smiled at him.

"You too" Alexander said softly turning back to the party. As Hephaistion was dragged up the stairs and dumped in his room, he threw up on the floor, mix of blood and bile spilled across the surface, he cried, tears burning his eyes cheeks as he clambered into bed.

"… This is it" he thought dismally, trying to call for Alexander to come.

"Here is the end" he thought,

"I love you…" Hephaistion muttered, closing his eyes. The sound of Alexander laughing sent him to sleep, as his fate rested on those above and not below.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.