Chapter 8

For many days and nights Hephaistion kept the curtains closed. Sometimes he would peeked out of the corner out to see if the hooded man was still there, naturally he was day or night, rain or shine always there never moving.

This went on for sometime and by now Hephaistion was use to living in a semi darken room, if any of the other asked why they were closed he simply replied, the sun was distracting him from his work and he was to lazy to open them. After so long of this lie Alexander came in and opened it himself leaving Hephaistion to feel very exposed.

"You lazy, ha what rubbish." Alexander said as he started to push it aside.

Hephaistion cursed silently, his lies never had any power over Alexander. What was he to do; Alexander was taking away the barriers that keep him outside and him safe within. He stood nibbling the end of his thumb.

"There is someone out there," he said "Watching."

Alexander stopped opening and spun around

"They're watching me." Hephaistion contained

"Do you know this ma…? Person?" Alexander asked

Hephaistion slowly nodded.

"Do I know him?" Alexander asked

A slow node.

"Is it… Something to do with what happened to you in Indian?"

Another slow node.

With that Alexander marched out onto the balcony and looked around. The street was half empty except for the odd market stall. Everyone was going about their daily business, haggling, trading, buying, selling, even the odd disagreement which was soon settled by the fist. Alexander couldn't see anyone watching.

"Well, there is no one here now." he called to Hephaistion leaning as far as he could go.

"Not again." he said under his breathe as he took baby steps towards Alexander.

Once onto the balcony he hung back till Alexander turned around and waved him forward "Come see, look."

He found himself taking hold of Alexander's hand and shakily approached the edge.

Like when he had pointed the hooded man out to Cassander and Ptolemy on parade there was no one there. Hephaistion didn't know if he should be pleased that he had gone or disappointed that Alexander had not seen what he saw.

"But he was right there." Hephaistion protested "He's been there for the last couple of days."

"Are you sure it was him?" Alexander asked

"Yes, yes of course I am sure."

Alexander looked back down at the street he was thinking.

"You do believe me don't you?" Hephaistion asked suddenly

Alexander didn't answer straight away hoping that Hephaistion hadn't noticed the pause.

"Of course I do." He putting a calming hand on his friend shoulder and squeezing "Of course I do."

"Then why did it take so long for you to reply.

Again Alexander hesitated but he didn't get with it this time Hephaistion demanded a quick answer.

"Well… there is the off chance it might not have been."

Hephaistion banged his hand down the balcony making no attempt to hide his frustration before going back inside with Alexander trailing behind.

"It was him." Hephaistion said forcefully

He was getting angry now and Alexander could see it. In attempt to keep the peace he quickly changed the subject.

"Maybe we should leave it now, talk about something else."

"No, don't change the subject" Hephaistion snapped "You don't believe me do you?"

"I told you, yes I believe you but there is no one fitting your description stood where you said so."

"So what!"

Hephaistion was getting worked up and so Alexander put his hands up

"I'll tell you what; I call out the guard to do a search, is that what you would like me to do."

Hephaistion puffed out his cheeks and slowly nodded his head.

Alexander called one of the guards patrolling the corridors to send word to the head guard of his orders. He wanted every inch of the palace searched. It took them a while and they found nothing.

"Everything is as it should be my lords." said the head guard

"See, everything is ok." Alexander said to Hephaistion who was sitting down.

He looked over to the open curtain.

"Yes everything is how it should be."