Chapter 6
Alexander hand picked several of his strongest and smartness men to accompany the four Indians in their search of the hooded man.
It was early morning and only the company, the morning guard and Alexander were up, he wished them all the fortune of the gods smile on their mission before turning on his heels to stay and keep Hephaistion Company.
He returned to Hephaistion's tent where he found him sound a sleep, since the visit from the Indians Hephaistion had been put on the road to recovery, Alexander hadn't asked how but he was very grateful that it worked.
He went over to the table where the remains of yesterday's meal was waiting to be cleaned away and started to picked at the meat still left, occasionally looking over his shoulder.
All was quiet but it was soon to be shattered by a sudden yelp from the bed, Alexander spun around to find Hephaistion stood at the side staring at it wide eyed shaking, chest rising and falling very quickly.
Alexander rushed to his friend's side and placed a hand on his shoulder calling his name softly. It took some time for him to get any response Hephaistion throw himself into his arms and griped tightly to him digging his fingers painful into his upper arm.
"Bad Dream?" he asked
Hephaistion nodded his head against his chest before he was unhooked from Alexander's arms and held by the shoulders.
When Alexander suggest sitting on the bed he shook his head furiously and asked to sit some where else, far away from the bed as possible in the small space.
Alexander led Hephaistion over to the chairs by the side of the table. Hephaistion took the one facing the bed and watched it with sharp eyes.
Alexander looked over his shoulder "Are you going to tell me about the dream?" he asked turning his attention back to Hephaistion.
"I dreamt he was here and he made the bed covers come to life and hold me down while he…." Hephaistion trailed off.
Though he hadn't finished telling Alexander knew the rest, the answer was in in the way Hephaistion sat, hunched down making himself as small as he could.
They were silent for a moment before Alexander asked
"Who is he? The hooded man."
Hephaistion shudder but answered none the less
"I don't know, a man but not as we know men he is not of this world."
Alexander would have laughed if it wasn't for the serious look that Hephaistion gave him so he bit the inside of his mouth.
"All men are of this world Hephaistion." he said
"Not this one." Hephaistion replied darkly pulling his robe closer to him as a small shudder travelled down his body.
Alexander lent forward so that he could comfort Hephaistion for the next question.
"What happened to you?" He asked
Again a small shudder followed by an "I don't remember." He looked away
Alexander used a figure under Hephaistion's chin to make him face him.
"Try." he said
"I'm not sure I won't to." Hephaistion said in a small pleading voice "Please don't make me."
"Please."
Hephaistion looked deep in to Alexander's eyes and bite his bottom lip and slowly nodded his head.
"It's mostly feeling and tastes, nasty bitter herby tastes, a thick metallic taste , the feeling of melting like being made out of water followed by the dragging scrape of the ground which was followed by burning rope, wondering hands, pains and words that had no meaning to them, after that nothing.
"And of the hooded man?" Alexander asked "What do you remember of him."
"I only remember him in brief moment when the feelings faded " wearing that garb never showing his face, although I think I did catch a glimpse of it once all scarred and deformed."
Alexander began to understand why Hephaistion had been insane for so long, He had been choose to become this things plaything , where he was pushed breaking point
"Have no fear," he said "We have some allies in the hunt for this fiend."
Hephaistion shook his head and looked down to his shaking hands "They will never catch him, he far too clever the shadows are his friends and they provide him with cover."
Alexander didn't know how to react to Hephaistion's lack of optimism.
"We shall see. He said "we shall see.
It was several days before the company returned, there were fewer men than when they had stared out with and all were weary and their faces should the hardship they had endured.
When news of the company's returned Alexander rushed out to meet them and come face to face with the fiend that had been the cause of Hephaistion's sickness.
His smile faded when he saw that they had returned empty handed.
He found on of the Indians in the care of a doctor having his arm bound close to his chest. His fine silks were torn and dirty, with mud, sweat and blood.
"What happened, where he is?" Alexander asked
"We were ambushed; he knew we were coming so he fled leaving a small army of his minions, a madding race who will fight with anything, we barely managed to get out."
Alexander looked around certain people were missing including one of the Indians.
"I am sorry for your loss." he said
"Thank you, but his death as with all those who died are in vain for it is still out there."
"I told you that you wouldn't catch him." said a voice behind Alexander
The Indian looked up and he turned to find Hephaistion stood being supported by a servant.
"Didn't I warn he would slip away?" Hephaistion continued
He was about to say something else when he suddenly stopped. He lifted a trembling arm and pointed to what the Indian was holding.
"What's that?" he asked his voice on the edge of panic.
The Indian lifted it up so that all could see. It was a black rose, its cruel sharp dripping with dark red blood attached to it was a scroll of yellow, and blood stained parchment.
When Hephaistion saw the token he went a deathly pale and began to cry out in fear
"No, no please." Over and over
He would have collapse to the floor if it hadn't been for the servant and Alexander who had rushed forward thinking Hephaistion had slipped back into madness caught him and lowed him to the floor.
"What is it?" he asked shaking Hephaistion by the shoulder's before snapping around to face the Indian with evil glare " What have you do, what is the meaning of this."
The Indian tried to explain that he had no idea what it meant that the hooded man left it behind, he always leaves one behind though it's true nature is unknown.
"It means death," Hephaistion said darkly
"How do you know?" Alexander softly
"He told me; use to tell me all the time I remember he use to touch me with them and even used my blood, When the Black Rose is given, I shall returned to claim your life."