Chapter 4
It was late by the time Hephaistion got back to his room, he had planned to stay with Alexander but he had drunk so much that Hephaistion and the others had to carrying him back to his room to sleep it off.
He fumbled around in the dark for something to light the candles with and once he had lit one he used it to light the rest he didn't see Cleitus sat naked in the chair next to the bed.
He jumped when he turned around.
"Cleitus what are you doing here?" he asked a bit annoyed at the intrusion
Cleitus never said a word as he stood up and began advancing towards him with fixed and unblinking eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Hephaistion asked again
He looked down and saw a flash of steel which made him nervous
"Look we can talk if you want just put the knife down." Hephaistion said gently but his plea fell on deaf ears.
He slowly made his way towards the door but Cleitus followed him he tried talking Cleitus down but he still came towards him with that blank stare.
He found himself begin backed into a wall and Cleitus stopped so close that he was pressed right up against him.
Cleitus pushed his face closed to his and began rubbing his cheek against his own Hephaistion could hear him sniffing.
He tried sliding out and away but without breaking contact Cleitus put up his arms boxing him in.
Hephaistion filched as Cleitus continued to touch and once or twice he flicked out his tongue it was as if he was collected memories.
Hephaistion wasn't going to let that happen he managed to draw up his knee and caught Cleitus in the stomach causing him to break contact and stumble back.
Hephaistion ducked under his arms and ran for the door but Cleitus recovered quickly and picked up a small but heavy wooden curving and hurled it at Hephaistion.
It hit Hephaistion in the back with enough force to send him crashing to the floor before he could find his feet again Cleitus was pulling him up and slamming him face first into the wall.
Before Hephaistion could fall Cleitus pulled him up and supported him.
"If I can't have you," he spat "Then no one will."
Hephaistion felt the cold blade of the knife come into contact with the soft flesh of his abdomen and the hot run of blood as Cleitus added a little twist before pulling it out.
He tried to stop the bleeding with his hand but there was just too much blood and his limps started to refuse to obey blood began to fill his throat and trickling down his chin.
He started to fall and Cleitus was long gone before he hit the floor.
What have I done thought Cleitus as he watched Hephaistion trying to stop the bleeding.
He dropped the dagger and stared at his blood covered hands.
He had to get far away from here he let go of Hephaistion and ran taking the quickest way out of the palace.
He found some clothes that had been left hanging out and took them.
They were too big for him so he had to find something to hold them up with.
He finally stopped running when he was far away from the palace as possible, he had no idea where he was or where he should go and it had started to rain heavily.
He found an abandoned hut, the door hung off its hinges and there were holes in the roof but at least it would keep him dry.
He huddled down in the corner and rested his head on his knees and thought of what he had done he looked down at his hands and before he could stop himself he begin to weep.
Hephaistion woke to pain, he felt something wet underneath him he slowly moved his head and found that it was blood
The shock of waking up in blood hit him and he tried to stand up but found he couldn't as it sent bursts of pain all over his body. He laid there listing to his own ragged breathing he faintly remembered Cleitus and the knife Cleitus had stabbed him and then ran away.
Despite his pain that maybe him angry he rolled over on to his side if he couldn't walk then he would crawl to help.
He put one arm out and pulled himself along the floor he bit down on his lip to stopped himself crying out as he pulled his stomach making more blood ooze out but he ignore it and continued to pull himself across the floor.
He managed to reach the door and found it shut summoning all of the little energy he had left he tried to stand but collapse when he found his legs couldn't support him any more.
He felt his eyes lids getting heavy again and this time it felt like it was going to be forever, so in a last disparate attempt he began scratching at the door.