The Martyr of Antar-COMPLETED

[ñusta]

Chapter 271


Eucippides stood in front of the temple with the reins in his hands. The second the door opened, he handed them to the priestess by the stairs and raced up to meet Mihaelis. The boy rushed to him and fell into the ilarch’s arms. Eucippides crushed him to his chest and then held him away to look at him. Mihaelis smirked and the ilarch laced his fingers in his hair as he cupped his chin and kissed his lips. Mihaelis had made Alkestis wish quite a few times she were a man, and this was one of them.

- May I take him with me? - Eucippides requested.

- Of course you can! - Alkestis answered with a wistful smile.

Mihaelis went to her and she bent to kiss him, faintly tasting the ilarch on his lips. She gave him a squeeze and pushed him to his friend.

Eucippides walked the horse along the marble platform in front of the temple which happened to be the perfect height and the boy got on, holding the reins for the ilarch to climb the stairs and use the same means to mount. When Mihaelis felt the man’s warm body against his back, he knew he was home. The ride to Eucippides’ was in perfect silence, the ilarch’s arms around the boy’s tight body, giving him the control of the animal and feeling his loins rub the child’s round bottom, had him speechless. He used that precious time to recall his luck since Karidis came to him and these last weeks.

The battle had been fierce, but he had an advantage: he had been a plain child; no one ever paid him any attention, being smallish and not much to look at. But he was strong and intelligent so the lack of distractions turned him into a killing machine which helped him rise in the army faster than anyone else apart from also working with the stratetogoi, who valued his advice. His height was an asset in battle, because his shield covered him completely and he had developed this unfailing technique, ducking and cutting off a foot to receive the falling man’s throat, almost always severing the whole head. It was the first thing he would teach the boy, though when he reached his full height, it wouldn’t be as easy. It would be their secret move. In battle no one had time to check out how the others fought so he was safe with the exclusivity. Mihaelis…he was all he would have wanted to be, and Maximenes reminded him of himself, that’s why he pitied the boy and put up with him, knowing he would also be after Mihaelis’ ass in due time. Mihaelis had been in his mind all through the fighting, just wishing to go back to him and coming out with just a shallow cut on his forehead actually done by his helmet when it stopped a brutal sword slash over his shield. He had arrived in Sparta bringing up the rear, so he had to wait for General Perditas to allow him to visit the temple later that night. Alkestis welcomed him like the friend they had become through the boy, and took him to watch him sleep. He was quite alarmed to see him moaning and tossing, but Alkestis put him at ease, telling him about what he had been through. She was sure Mihaelis would be fine when he felt he was there with him. Then he had crouched by the bed and kissed him, running his hands all over his back, his ass and thighs unashamedly, sure of Alkestis’ approval. She had been right, the boy whimpered and sighed and visibly relaxed, whispering his name. “I’m here, I’m fine, but tomorrow I’m leaving on a peaceful visit to the people from the surrounding areas of the battlefield, to help them go back to their normal life as soon as possible, so that I can come back to you as fast as I can.” He had kissed the boy again, loving how the child’s full lips kissed him back and smirked as he got up to leave. He had left at the crack of dawn and had just returned to find Heitias fuming with fury when he told him what had happened, so he had headed for the temple. Still, he would have to visit Alkestis to get her own version.

Mihaelis had missed Eucippides very much those weeks he had been away. Of course he lacked no extra food, thanks to what he “stole” from his family. The stream was a poor version of Eucippides bath, though in theory, it was almost the same thing, except for the privacy of the walls and the pleasant company. No wonder his temper was on edge and on a shorter fuse than usual, and his outburst could have been prevented by the ilarch’s advice and back up. Still, he was glad he had let it off his chest, and Alkestis had assured him he was safe from the god’s wrath. Heitias was another story, he knew he would have been lashed mercilessly if he got back with him, but that only meant he would still get it when the vengeful paidonomos got his hands on him, like later on, when he returned to the camp. He remembered that night, when Eucippides had come to him. He had desperately tried to wake up, knowing he was right there beside him, but the fever and the pain had left him very weak and try as he might, he couldn’t open his eyes. But he heard his voice and felt his love in his kisses. He didn’t want him to leave, but there was nothing he could do. He felt all this activity up his ass and though it hurt some, it was mostly uncomfortable, so it couldn’t be the god…the god had been… excruciating! The sound of a voice had sounded familiar and he recognized the iatros, of course, it had to be him. He was burning up with fever, his whole body ached and then there was this coolness running up into him and easing his pain. Everytime the fever rose, the cool rush came to his rescue. He heard Alkestis’ soothing voice and her touch, and several gentle hands…the priestesses…there for him. There was this buzzing everywhere, like on the background, it sounded like thousands of voices shouting and the clash of metal, he guessed it was a battle, and after a long time of this unending din, it was quiet and the heat started leaving his body. Then he heard laughter and rejoicing, and he knew everything was alright, except…Eucippides was not there, he wasn’t with him. He desperately wanted to feel him, to hear him, Alkestis told him he was alright, he was on his way back to him, something about a messenger confirming it, but it wasn’t the same, he craved for the physical reassurance. A long time later, a rough bristly man came to him with the joyful news of their victory, the vibrations he felt were positive, but he would have wanted to hear them from Eucippides. Then, at long last, he heard him, returned his kiss and he finally felt alive. But then he told him he had to leave, for just a short while, and he would be back soon. He was dying to see him, and he couldn’t open his eyes. When he could, it was too late. He asked Alkestis if it had been a dream, but she assured him it had been true. And now they were together again, and arriving at his home.

Once at the bath, Mihaelis poured out his heart to Eucippides, telling him exactly what Alkestis had said to him and what she had done. Eucippides’ respect for Alkestis knew no bounds and he was thankful that the temple of Priapus was in her hands. He loved her for the way she had enlightened Mihaelis in the sexual facts and knew she totally approved of him as he did of her. That evening, Mihaelis was lashed severely by Heitias for putting them all in danger from the god’s wrath, and that night when the boys of his ila went to him to caress him and console him as soon as Heitias left them alone, he didn’t reject them, not because he was too hurt but because of Alkestis’ words.

Eucippides would make the most of his time with the boy, passing on to him his war experiences like no one else could, teaching him to fight, and mostly showing him what love was about. He pleasured him like Alkestis did, though the boy wanted him all the way, insisting he was ready for him. Then one day, Mihaelis went to Alkestis to vent his frustrations and she promised to help him, sending a priestess to summon the ilarch. Sure that Eucippides would come right away when he was summoned, Alkestis had spent the wait pleasuring Mihaelis and preparing him for the real thing he was about to get. When she heard the horse approaching, Alkestis led the boy to the grove, stripped him, pushed him down, and using the iatros’ instrument, lubricated him with the god’s thick olive oil before leaving. She received Eucippides and told him Mihaelis was waiting for him in the grove behind the temple, because he needed some male guidance in a matter the boy had insisted he would only discuss with another male, that’s why she had sent for him. The day was warm and she gave him a sweet wine which had strong somniferous effects and had been spiked with a potent aphrodisiac. It was used by the priestesses when they requested the god’s services and assured them the perfect satisfying dream they had asked for. Alkestis had once, out of curiousity, asked the iatros if the effects would be the same in a male, or if it would only work with the female hormones. He had told her it was safe on either sex because it had no direct effect on the hormones. The unsuspecting ilarch consumed it and went to find the boy lying naked by the pool, on his stomach but kind of sideways, apparently fast asleep. The ilarch lay beside him, and the boy snuggled back against him. Eucippides rolled on his side and spooned the boy from behind, not being able to help getting excited, but that happened to him all the time with Mihaelis, so there was nothing new. The boy bucked against him and the ilarch chuckled and gave him a nudge as he always did. His eyes were feeling heavy, so he decided it was alright to take a nap with the boy. Mihaelis was not asleep and when he heard the soft snores against his hair indicating the iatros was far gone, agile as a cat he writhed and squirmed until the head of the ilarch’s cock was kissing him right where he wanted. Then all he had to do was shove his hips back hard, and bite his lip at the sharp pain of the penetration. Eucippides was doing just that in his drug induced dream and following his instincts, he hugged the boy tighter to his front and pushed unstopping. He felt the child’s tight insides giving as he forced himself into him, he heard Mihaelis’ gasps, grunts, moans and whimpers until he was all the way inside him. He stopped, knowing that even in his dream, he would spoil it all by coming with the slightest movement. The grip of the boy was driving him out of his mind, so he stalled until he was back in control. Then he pulled out just a little and slid it back in. The boy’s breathe hissed through his teeth. A little more with a moan and a sob, the next move got him a whimper and a grunt when he thrust it back in, then a growl and another grunt as the boy bucked to receive him deep. He pulled out again, almost out, and plunged in, now all the way out to bury it to the hilt…grunt and moan, and he was sliding in and out smoothly, the heavy lubrication making him heedless of the resistance from which his pleasure was coming. The interaction was exquisite, such as he had never felt before in his life, the boy was literally squeezing it out of him and when he came, it was unending, he thought he would never stop. He felt himself shooting with incredible force into the child’s warmth and when it was over he was surrounded by a feeling of peace and completion. The sweet smell of the boy’s hair under his nose was much too real, as was the body in his arms. Eucippides slowly opened his eyes, and the gold flecked locks that met them were unmistakably Mihaelis’, all his senses told him he had him in his arms. But something was wrong, and he just couldn’t place it. Then the boy moaned and moved, and his still hard cock slid out about half an inch. Eucippides realized he was truly inside the boy, this was no dream. He stiffened and started unwrapping his arms from around him, but the boy held onto them tightly, letting out another moan of protest.

- Mihaelis!...No! No! What…? - He knew he wasn’t making any sense but at the same time he was sure the boy understood him.

- No please…stay inside me…please! - Mihaelis begged.

- I’m hurting you! - He struggled to free himself from the boy’s amazingly strong grasp.

His shock was having direct effects on his cock and it started to slide out.

- No…no please, don’t leave me…- Mihaelis pushed back not to lose the contact.

- Mihaelis! I’m so sorry! I never…I don’t know how…- Eucippides for once in his life was at a loss of words.

- Now I’m yours…you can’t refuse me again. - The boy whispered over his shoulder and Eucippides couldn’t help leaning forwards and kissing his lips.

Eucippides’ tears ran down his face, falling on Mihaelis’ shoulder. He didn’t dare move, with just two inches still inside him.

- I’m full with your love…it’s what I wanted. - Mihaelis sighed.

And his life did another head spinning flip, turning the nightmare into a world of pleasures he shouldn’t have been ready for, that he still didn’t quite understand, but definitely was learning to enjoy, with both Alkestis and Eucippides. But there was a darker side too. One night, when they were all sleeping, Heitias came and whisked Mihaelis, still asleep, over his shoulder, taking him to the shed where they stored the blunt weapons for the training. Once there he bent him over a barrel like container that lay sideways and raised his chiton eating him out. Mihaelis thought it was Eucippides, but when the man roughly inserted his finger, which had a jagged nail, the sharp pain woke up the boy. He tried to get up and away from his attacker, but Heitias pressed his hand into the small of his back and held him down.

- Let me go! - Mihaelis hissed.

- Alright, I’ll let you go and go to the first ila to get me someone there. - The paidonomos knew how protective Mihaelis was of the other boys and would constantly stand up for them earning their punishments, so he was sure to get him this way.

- No, I didn’t know it was you. I want to stay. - Mihaelis lied, quite conscious now of what was going on.

He allowed the man to rape him, because even if he consented to the act, he was against it. Heitias did it three times, and took him back finally unable to do it again, and knowing it would soon be dawn. He cleaned Mihaelis up the best he could and warned him that if anyone found out it was him, the boys in the first ila would pay for it. When the boy went out in the morning, the back of his chiton was bloodstained, as well as the inside of his thighs. He went on as everyday, and got several lashes because he “wasn’t doing his best.” When he lay in the cold stream, it stung as if he had a lit torch inside him, so he lay there shuddering until it somewhat subsided, enabling him to walk back without limping. After their puny “breakfast”, he started off to Eucippides’s but never made it. All he remembered was the ground suddenly rising up to his face, turning it aside just in time. He came to, lying over the ilarch’s horse, in front of him, as he took him to the temple. A priestess was sent running to get the iatros as they cleaned him up and showered him with questions. He said a half truth. That he didn’t see his attacker because he was behind him all the time, and told them the warning before he left. He made them promise it was between them or he would simply deny it. Boys were never raped at the training camp; it was unheard of, unprecedented! Mihaelis was right, if it came out in the open, the consequences would be disastrous and Spartans would become a laughing stock. Anyone could be the criminal, from the paidonomoi to the older boys, so it was hopeless. The iatros arrived at a run, quite a feat for an older man in his mid-forties. He examined Mihaelis and found he was bleeding steadily but not profusely. A digital examination showed Pheigias that the boy had a fairly bad scratch inside him, so Mihaelis told them how it had been done. The iatros produced a horn with a part missing but had to carve it a little longer to match the scratch, so he could cauterize just what was needed. Eucippides held the boy in his arms and Alkestis grabbed his hands while Pheigias worked on him. Then she sent one of her priestesses to the camp to inform that she had found Mihaelis passed out and badly hurt, bleeding severely as the result of having been raped. The boy hadn’t seen his attacker as he was behind him all the time, but he was being taken care of at the temple by the iatros Pheigias. The paidonomoi and the Illustrious Ilarch Palimenos could come and speak to the iatros to confirm it anytime they wanted. Of course, Palimenos was the one to come, being in charge of the camp, and Pheigias and Alkestis met him outside the temple, not allowing him to see the boy. He knew they were speaking the truth, and had to accept Mihaelis’ confinement until he healed properly. This time Eucippides did not leave his side, and the boy slept in his arms every night until it was time to return.

[ñusta]

Chapter 271


Eucippides stood in front of the temple with the reins in his hands. The second the door opened, he handed them to the priestess by the stairs and raced up to meet Mihaelis. The boy rushed to him and fell into the ilarch’s arms. Eucippides crushed him to his chest and then held him away to look at him. Mihaelis smirked and the ilarch laced his fingers in his hair as he cupped his chin and kissed his lips. Mihaelis had made Alkestis wish quite a few times she were a man, and this was one of them.

- May I take him with me? - Eucippides requested.

- Of course you can! - Alkestis answered with a wistful smile.

Mihaelis went to her and she bent to kiss him, faintly tasting the ilarch on his lips. She gave him a squeeze and pushed him to his friend.

Eucippides walked the horse along the marble platform in front of the temple which happened to be the perfect height and the boy got on, holding the reins for the ilarch to climb the stairs and use the same means to mount. When Mihaelis felt the man’s warm body against his back, he knew he was home. The ride to Eucippides’ was in perfect silence, the ilarch’s arms around the boy’s tight body, giving him the control of the animal and feeling his loins rub the child’s round bottom, had him speechless. He used that precious time to recall his luck since Karidis came to him and these last weeks.

The battle had been fierce, but he had an advantage: he had been a plain child; no one ever paid him any attention, being smallish and not much to look at. But he was strong and intelligent so the lack of distractions turned him into a killing machine which helped him rise in the army faster than anyone else apart from also working with the stratetogoi, who valued his advice. His height was an asset in battle, because his shield covered him completely and he had developed this unfailing technique, ducking and cutting off a foot to receive the falling man’s throat, almost always severing the whole head. It was the first thing he would teach the boy, though when he reached his full height, it wouldn’t be as easy. It would be their secret move. In battle no one had time to check out how the others fought so he was safe with the exclusivity. Mihaelis…he was all he would have wanted to be, and Maximenes reminded him of himself, that’s why he pitied the boy and put up with him, knowing he would also be after Mihaelis’ ass in due time. Mihaelis had been in his mind all through the fighting, just wishing to go back to him and coming out with just a shallow cut on his forehead actually done by his helmet when it stopped a brutal sword slash over his shield. He had arrived in Sparta bringing up the rear, so he had to wait for General Perditas to allow him to visit the temple later that night. Alkestis welcomed him like the friend they had become through the boy, and took him to watch him sleep. He was quite alarmed to see him moaning and tossing, but Alkestis put him at ease, telling him about what he had been through. She was sure Mihaelis would be fine when he felt he was there with him. Then he had crouched by the bed and kissed him, running his hands all over his back, his ass and thighs unashamedly, sure of Alkestis’ approval. She had been right, the boy whimpered and sighed and visibly relaxed, whispering his name. “I’m here, I’m fine, but tomorrow I’m leaving on a peaceful visit to the people from the surrounding areas of the battlefield, to help them go back to their normal life as soon as possible, so that I can come back to you as fast as I can.” He had kissed the boy again, loving how the child’s full lips kissed him back and smirked as he got up to leave. He had left at the crack of dawn and had just returned to find Heitias fuming with fury when he told him what had happened, so he had headed for the temple. Still, he would have to visit Alkestis to get her own version.

Mihaelis had missed Eucippides very much those weeks he had been away. Of course he lacked no extra food, thanks to what he “stole” from his family. The stream was a poor version of Eucippides bath, though in theory, it was almost the same thing, except for the privacy of the walls and the pleasant company. No wonder his temper was on edge and on a shorter fuse than usual, and his outburst could have been prevented by the ilarch’s advice and back up. Still, he was glad he had let it off his chest, and Alkestis had assured him he was safe from the god’s wrath. Heitias was another story, he knew he would have been lashed mercilessly if he got back with him, but that only meant he would still get it when the vengeful paidonomos got his hands on him, like later on, when he returned to the camp. He remembered that night, when Eucippides had come to him. He had desperately tried to wake up, knowing he was right there beside him, but the fever and the pain had left him very weak and try as he might, he couldn’t open his eyes. But he heard his voice and felt his love in his kisses. He didn’t want him to leave, but there was nothing he could do. He felt all this activity up his ass and though it hurt some, it was mostly uncomfortable, so it couldn’t be the god…the god had been… excruciating! The sound of a voice had sounded familiar and he recognized the iatros, of course, it had to be him. He was burning up with fever, his whole body ached and then there was this coolness running up into him and easing his pain. Everytime the fever rose, the cool rush came to his rescue. He heard Alkestis’ soothing voice and her touch, and several gentle hands…the priestesses…there for him. There was this buzzing everywhere, like on the background, it sounded like thousands of voices shouting and the clash of metal, he guessed it was a battle, and after a long time of this unending din, it was quiet and the heat started leaving his body. Then he heard laughter and rejoicing, and he knew everything was alright, except…Eucippides was not there, he wasn’t with him. He desperately wanted to feel him, to hear him, Alkestis told him he was alright, he was on his way back to him, something about a messenger confirming it, but it wasn’t the same, he craved for the physical reassurance. A long time later, a rough bristly man came to him with the joyful news of their victory, the vibrations he felt were positive, but he would have wanted to hear them from Eucippides. Then, at long last, he heard him, returned his kiss and he finally felt alive. But then he told him he had to leave, for just a short while, and he would be back soon. He was dying to see him, and he couldn’t open his eyes. When he could, it was too late. He asked Alkestis if it had been a dream, but she assured him it had been true. And now they were together again, and arriving at his home.

Once at the bath, Mihaelis poured out his heart to Eucippides, telling him exactly what Alkestis had said to him and what she had done. Eucippides’ respect for Alkestis knew no bounds and he was thankful that the temple of Priapus was in her hands. He loved her for the way she had enlightened Mihaelis in the sexual facts and knew she totally approved of him as he did of her. That evening, Mihaelis was lashed severely by Heitias for putting them all in danger from the god’s wrath, and that night when the boys of his ila went to him to caress him and console him as soon as Heitias left them alone, he didn’t reject them, not because he was too hurt but because of Alkestis’ words.

Eucippides would make the most of his time with the boy, passing on to him his war experiences like no one else could, teaching him to fight, and mostly showing him what love was about. He pleasured him like Alkestis did, though the boy wanted him all the way, insisting he was ready for him. Then one day, Mihaelis went to Alkestis to vent his frustrations and she promised to help him, sending a priestess to summon the ilarch. Sure that Eucippides would come right away when he was summoned, Alkestis had spent the wait pleasuring Mihaelis and preparing him for the real thing he was about to get. When she heard the horse approaching, Alkestis led the boy to the grove, stripped him, pushed him down, and using the iatros’ instrument, lubricated him with the god’s thick olive oil before leaving. She received Eucippides and told him Mihaelis was waiting for him in the grove behind the temple, because he needed some male guidance in a matter the boy had insisted he would only discuss with another male, that’s why she had sent for him. The day was warm and she gave him a sweet wine which had strong somniferous effects and had been spiked with a potent aphrodisiac. It was used by the priestesses when they requested the god’s services and assured them the perfect satisfying dream they had asked for. Alkestis had once, out of curiousity, asked the iatros if the effects would be the same in a male, or if it would only work with the female hormones. He had told her it was safe on either sex because it had no direct effect on the hormones. The unsuspecting ilarch consumed it and went to find the boy lying naked by the pool, on his stomach but kind of sideways, apparently fast asleep. The ilarch lay beside him, and the boy snuggled back against him. Eucippides rolled on his side and spooned the boy from behind, not being able to help getting excited, but that happened to him all the time with Mihaelis, so there was nothing new. The boy bucked against him and the ilarch chuckled and gave him a nudge as he always did. His eyes were feeling heavy, so he decided it was alright to take a nap with the boy. Mihaelis was not asleep and when he heard the soft snores against his hair indicating the iatros was far gone, agile as a cat he writhed and squirmed until the head of the ilarch’s cock was kissing him right where he wanted. Then all he had to do was shove his hips back hard, and bite his lip at the sharp pain of the penetration. Eucippides was doing just that in his drug induced dream and following his instincts, he hugged the boy tighter to his front and pushed unstopping. He felt the child’s tight insides giving as he forced himself into him, he heard Mihaelis’ gasps, grunts, moans and whimpers until he was all the way inside him. He stopped, knowing that even in his dream, he would spoil it all by coming with the slightest movement. The grip of the boy was driving him out of his mind, so he stalled until he was back in control. Then he pulled out just a little and slid it back in. The boy’s breathe hissed through his teeth. A little more with a moan and a sob, the next move got him a whimper and a grunt when he thrust it back in, then a growl and another grunt as the boy bucked to receive him deep. He pulled out again, almost out, and plunged in, now all the way out to bury it to the hilt…grunt and moan, and he was sliding in and out smoothly, the heavy lubrication making him heedless of the resistance from which his pleasure was coming. The interaction was exquisite, such as he had never felt before in his life, the boy was literally squeezing it out of him and when he came, it was unending, he thought he would never stop. He felt himself shooting with incredible force into the child’s warmth and when it was over he was surrounded by a feeling of peace and completion. The sweet smell of the boy’s hair under his nose was much too real, as was the body in his arms. Eucippides slowly opened his eyes, and the gold flecked locks that met them were unmistakably Mihaelis’, all his senses told him he had him in his arms. But something was wrong, and he just couldn’t place it. Then the boy moaned and moved, and his still hard cock slid out about half an inch. Eucippides realized he was truly inside the boy, this was no dream. He stiffened and started unwrapping his arms from around him, but the boy held onto them tightly, letting out another moan of protest.

- Mihaelis!...No! No! What…? - He knew he wasn’t making any sense but at the same time he was sure the boy understood him.

- No please…stay inside me…please! - Mihaelis begged.

- I’m hurting you! - He struggled to free himself from the boy’s amazingly strong grasp.

His shock was having direct effects on his cock and it started to slide out.

- No…no please, don’t leave me…- Mihaelis pushed back not to lose the contact.

- Mihaelis! I’m so sorry! I never…I don’t know how…- Eucippides for once in his life was at a loss of words.

- Now I’m yours…you can’t refuse me again. - The boy whispered over his shoulder and Eucippides couldn’t help leaning forwards and kissing his lips.

Eucippides’ tears ran down his face, falling on Mihaelis’ shoulder. He didn’t dare move, with just two inches still inside him.

- I’m full with your love…it’s what I wanted. - Mihaelis sighed.

And his life did another head spinning flip, turning the nightmare into a world of pleasures he shouldn’t have been ready for, that he still didn’t quite understand, but definitely was learning to enjoy, with both Alkestis and Eucippides. But there was a darker side too. One night, when they were all sleeping, Heitias came and whisked Mihaelis, still asleep, over his shoulder, taking him to the shed where they stored the blunt weapons for the training. Once there he bent him over a barrel like container that lay sideways and raised his chiton eating him out. Mihaelis thought it was Eucippides, but when the man roughly inserted his finger, which had a jagged nail, the sharp pain woke up the boy. He tried to get up and away from his attacker, but Heitias pressed his hand into the small of his back and held him down.

- Let me go! - Mihaelis hissed.

- Alright, I’ll let you go and go to the first ila to get me someone there. - The paidonomos knew how protective Mihaelis was of the other boys and would constantly stand up for them earning their punishments, so he was sure to get him this way.

- No, I didn’t know it was you. I want to stay. - Mihaelis lied, quite conscious now of what was going on.

He allowed the man to rape him, because even if he consented to the act, he was against it. Heitias did it three times, and took him back finally unable to do it again, and knowing it would soon be dawn. He cleaned Mihaelis up the best he could and warned him that if anyone found out it was him, the boys in the first ila would pay for it. When the boy went out in the morning, the back of his chiton was bloodstained, as well as the inside of his thighs. He went on as everyday, and got several lashes because he “wasn’t doing his best.” When he lay in the cold stream, it stung as if he had a lit torch inside him, so he lay there shuddering until it somewhat subsided, enabling him to walk back without limping. After their puny “breakfast”, he started off to Eucippides’s but never made it. All he remembered was the ground suddenly rising up to his face, turning it aside just in time. He came to, lying over the ilarch’s horse, in front of him, as he took him to the temple. A priestess was sent running to get the iatros as they cleaned him up and showered him with questions. He said a half truth. That he didn’t see his attacker because he was behind him all the time, and told them the warning before he left. He made them promise it was between them or he would simply deny it. Boys were never raped at the training camp; it was unheard of, unprecedented! Mihaelis was right, if it came out in the open, the consequences would be disastrous and Spartans would become a laughing stock. Anyone could be the criminal, from the paidonomoi to the older boys, so it was hopeless. The iatros arrived at a run, quite a feat for an older man in his mid-forties. He examined Mihaelis and found he was bleeding steadily but not profusely. A digital examination showed Pheigias that the boy had a fairly bad scratch inside him, so Mihaelis told them how it had been done. The iatros produced a horn with a part missing but had to carve it a little longer to match the scratch, so he could cauterize just what was needed. Eucippides held the boy in his arms and Alkestis grabbed his hands while Pheigias worked on him. Then she sent one of her priestesses to the camp to inform that she had found Mihaelis passed out and badly hurt, bleeding severely as the result of having been raped. The boy hadn’t seen his attacker as he was behind him all the time, but he was being taken care of at the temple by the iatros Pheigias. The paidonomoi and the Illustrious Ilarch Palimenos could come and speak to the iatros to confirm it anytime they wanted. Of course, Palimenos was the one to come, being in charge of the camp, and Pheigias and Alkestis met him outside the temple, not allowing him to see the boy. He knew they were speaking the truth, and had to accept Mihaelis’ confinement until he healed properly. This time Eucippides did not leave his side, and the boy slept in his arms every night until it was time to return.

[ñusta]

Chapter 272

Mihaelis was left alone for a few days but on the fifth, it happened again, only this time, Heitias took him straight to the ilarch Palimenos, who shared him with the paidonomos, making sure the boy wasn’t wounded in any way to get them in trouble. Mihaelis kept quiet about it and it kept happening every three days or so, with the two men. After almost five months, the “illustrious” Palimenos, suffered a crippling stroke as he was having lunch in his room, and a replacement was needed. Eucippides told Mihaelis he had applied and been accepted but under the strict conditions that he could not change anything of the established laws of the training camp. The only change they accepted was making the gruel a little better tasting and nutritious by adding honey. His tampering with the system would mean his immediate dismissal. So he could not prevent the vicious floggings Mihaelis particularly endured, the paidonomos knowing his closeness with the ilarch didn’t dare enjoy him, so frustrated, he took it out on him every chance he had, laughing on the inside at the ilarch’s helplessness in the matter. Eucippides now had to live at the camp, so the only time he could still enjoy with Mihaelis was his help riding his horses which he had moved in with him. Mihaelis kept “stealing” all the food he needed and there was still the stream, which the ilarch was glad to share with him in spite of the jealous looks he got for it from all the paidonomoi. Eucippides was no fool and he had noticed the looks Heitias gave the boy, so he started suspecting him. One evening, he surprised the paidonomos, telling him he wanted to have a boy brought to him, so Heitias bit the hook, and stupidly said:

- Mihaelis, right? - Smiling conspiratorily at his new superior.

- Of course, is there any other one you can suggest? - Eucippides insisted, baiting him.

- No, there’s no other one worth it. - Heitias said confidently.

- Then, go get him! - He ordered and Heitias rushed out of the room.

A few minutes later, Heitias brought the sleepy boy over his shoulder and dumped him on his side on the ilarch’s bed. He stood there smiling smugly at Eucippides, expecting the same treatment he got from Palimenos, watching the boy roll over on his stomach, spreading his thighs and pushing up on his knees, making it quite obvious what he expected to happen.

- Why are you still here? - Eucippides asked annoyed, ripping the chiton off Mihaelis and sliding his hand up high between his thighs, noticing the man was almost drooling and itching to go to the boy.

- Pali…the ilarch Palimenos allowed me to share…- Heitias hesitated, hoping he hadn’t said too much.

- Well, I won’t. You’re dismissed. - Eucippides gestured towards the door and watched the man’s face go red with rage.

Heitias left closing the door just a little too hard, and Eucippides sat on the bed by Mihaelis. He cupped his cheek and turned his face to him.

- It was him and Palimenos, right? - He wasn’t asking, he was stating a fact.

The boy didn’t need to speak, the pain in his eyes were more effective than words.

- How long? - Eucippides was determined to find out the truth and he trusted the boy would not keep it from him.

- It was Heitias who raped me. The first time with the ilarch was a few days after you brought me back when you found me hurt. - Mihaelis looked him straight in the eyes.

- How often? - He persisted.

- About every three days. - He lowered his eyes after he spoke, knowing what the next question was.

- Why didn’t you tell me? - Eucippides found it hard to believe.

- I didn’t want you to know and I was glad you didn’t ask me. - Mihaelis admitted.

- Would you have told me if I had? - Eucippides raised Mihaelis’ face up to his.

- You know I would have. I couldn’t have lied to you. - He whispered.

- But you did! When I suspected something was wrong with you, and I asked you if you were alright! You said you were! - Eucippides exploded.

- I said it was the usual thing, lashes and all, and that I was alright which was true because only I got hurt and the others were safe from them. I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you the whole thing not to make you sad. There was nothing you could do about it. - Mihaelis was totally sensible.

Eucippides was impressed by the young boy’s maturity and sense of protection for his companions. Even for him…a grown man…the boy was protecting him from psychological harm. The god had been absolutely right. Mihaelis was so special! He reached out for him and pulled the boy into his arms.

- You’re staying with me all night. And I will take you back myself. Every night! Is that clear? - He whispered against the boy’s shoulder.

- What about Heitias? - Mihaelis whispered back.

- He made a fool of himself tonight, and he knows that now I know about him. I’m sorry I can’t stop him from beating you, but he won’t dare rape you again. At least I can witness the lashings and decide when it is enough. I’ll take care of you here, when I bring you over. - Eucippides assured him.

He reached out for him and the boy fell into his arms. Then the ilarch eased himself down with Mihaelis over him, gliding his hands up and down his back. The boy felt the bloated member under him and the man’s needs.

- You want me…- Mihaelis whispered, rubbing against him, not wanting him to have to ask.

Eucippides chuckled and slid the boy’s body higher up off of his erection, then he grabbed his velvety thighs and spread them, so that they straddled his body. Easing the young body back down, he pressed his hard cock against the boy’s tight opening, teasing and allowing his pre-cum to start flowing. Mihaelis felt the slick moisture and bucked hard, pushing the head into him. Both the man and the boy grunted at the same time, Eucippides holding the shuddering Mihaelis hard against him, his fingers digging into the silky inside of his thighs. The ilarch waited, whispering endearments until the boy started relaxing. Then he bent his legs together and raised them slowly, easing himself gently into the tight encasement of Mihaelis’ warm gripping insides. He felt himself sliding into him, inch by inch, listening to the boy’s heavy breathing, fighting to control the pain, until he was as deep inside him as he could possible go. He stalled again until the boy writhed against him, ready to take it, then he started thrusting smoothly in and out of him as the boy, using his knees as hinges, matched his movements. He was so tight, that it wasn’t long enough before the ilarch felt the rush of his seed rising out of him and shooting deep into the narrow passage. Mihaelis sobbed and whimpered softly into the hairy chest as the hot sperm filled and coated him. Eucippides was chanting his name and kissing his hair, thinking how lucky he had been to find this amazing lover.


Mihaelis’ life followed this pattern until he turned 10 years old. He constantly visited the temple when Alkestis summoned him, which was at least twice a week, pleasuring him in the grove under the god’s statue as a recurrent sacrifice to stay under his protection. Only the priestesses were allowed in this sacred grove, except for sacrifices with the god’s active participation, so this was only between Mihaelis and Alkestis. Eucippides had no problems with it because he knew both the priestess and the boy asked the god for his protection too. By the time he reached his 10th year, Maximenes was 13 and 3 months, and sent him a message with one of the friends of the family that provided his cousin’s “stolen goods”. That night Mihaelis told Eucippides about Maximenes wanting to see him, so the ilarch paid him a visit next day at the polis, where he studied with the strategoi. For lack of privacy, Maximenes just expressed his desire to see his cousin, and the ilarch complied, telling him that the next day, he would ride with Mihaelis to his property, which was being looked after by two elderly trusted servants, so he could go and meet them there in the early afternoon. When the boys met the next day, Eucippides could see that they were the same height, but Maximenes was still very thin. They were lost in a close embrace and then Maximenes was nervously trying to tell him something but shying at the ilarch’s presence. Mihaelis told him whatever he told him, he would tell Eucippides so it was alright to speak in front of him, because he trusted him with his life. Maximenes wasn’t very convinced but he realized that he had no choice. Looking down at his hands, stuttering and unable to look up even to his cousin’s eyes, Maximenes, very embarrassed, confessed he was having wet dreams about Mihaelis every night.

- Maximenes, almost all the camp has them too, except the ones still too young to know about sex. Maybe you should visit a porna, or better still, a hetaira I know…- Eucippides began.

- NO! - Maximenes screamed, regretting it immediately. - I…I couldn’t…I would feel as if I’m doing it to my sister, or my cousin…-

- I’m your cousin! - Mihaelis chuckled.

- I mean girls, you know what I mean! - He said, quite upset.

- I’m just teasing you…so what’s the problem? - The boy smirked and shrugged.

- I…I want to…to make them real. - Maximenes shut his eyes tight and visibly tensed, expecting Eucippides to grab him by the hair and toss him out of his house.

- It’s up to you, Mihaelis, I can’t come between family. - The ilarch said calmly.

Maximenes could hardly believe his ears. He stared at his cousin as if he were afraid the boy would disappear because he was just a dream. Mihaelis went to him and smirked invitingly.

Maximenes reached out for him expecting him to move away but he didn’t, so he grabbed the younger boy’s shoulders and leaning forwards, kissed him on the lips. Mihaelis kissed him back and led him to the bedroom, where the “luxurious bed” consisted simply of thick sheared lamb’s wool from the ilarch’s flock, covered by a large soft woven linen blanket, just like the one he had in his room at the camp. Mihaelis stopped in front of the “bed” and waited until Maximenes stood behind him, unsure of what to do.

- Take off my chiton… - Mihaelis whispered over his shoulder.

Maximenes did so and slid his hands down his cousin’s back, squatting and kissing his buttocks, first the right then the left. Then he did the same with his thighs, in the same order, wrapping his arms around them and pressing his face to the boy’s ass. Mihaelis dropped to his knees on the blanket, pulling Maximenes with him, and stretched out on his belly. The older boy let him go, feeling his cock rising to its full size as he watched his cousin spread his thighs and push his hips up on his knees, exposing himself to him. Then, not being able to contain himself, Maximenes raised the front of his chiton, tucking it up with the belt and simply pounced on the boy. Totally inexperienced, he roughly started ramming into Mihaelis, who grunted with pain and protested.

- Owww! What are you doing? -

Eucippides, who had stayed outside to give them privacy, ran into the room to find Mihaelis struggling to push Maximenes off him as the older boy kept shoving blindly, trying to stick it into his cousin. The ilarch grabbed the neck of the chiton and tugged the persistent aggressor away.

- Maximenes! No! No, that’s not the way…it’s your first time, right? - Eucippides couldn’t help grinning at the inexperienced boy’s insistence.

- What’s wrong? What am I doing wrong? - His confusion showing in his eyes.

- He’s not ready…you’re hurting him unnecessarily. Here, let me show you… -

Very patiently, Eucippides took him through the steps he needed to take before the consummation. He showed him how to use lubrication, how to pleasure him with his mouth and hands to prepare him, how to enter him so he would like it even if it hurt, what angle would take him deep and which one would rub a sweet spot inside him, how to penetrate him slowly, all the way in, and wait for him to get used to having him inside, how to make him writhe with pleasure, how to make him want more, how to read his body language to know he was ready to take his load, and to wait inside him until he was soft enough to pull out without causing him too much pain. Maximenes nodded eagerly at everything the ilarch told him, but he still was not so sure he would get it all right.

- Do you want me to show you? - He asked, reading his doubts.

Maximenes frowned but nodded, so Eucippides did just that, while the older boy watched open mouthed and wide eyed, not missing a detail and proving how well he had learned the lesson when Mihaelis was ready for him after a reasonable rest. He did quite well until he was all the way inside him, then it took him less than a minute to lose it. He was very disappointed not to have been able to last as much as he had wanted to, but Eucippides told him it was normal and he would get better each time. The secret meetings went on once a week but never on the same day, not to arouse suspicions, and Maximenes proved to be a very avid learner. After a couple of weeks, Eucippides decided to give them absolute privacy and left them alone without reasons to be jealous. He was sorry for the weird boy, mostly because he reminded him of his youth, and wanted to help him all he could to overcome his awkwardness and give him confidence. Once a month, he would also arrange for the rest of his family to visit him at his vacant property and let the boy enjoy their female love and company for a change. So Mihaelis trained as hard as the rest of the boys, was the most lashed and desired in the camp, and though everyone knew it shouldn’t be happening, they also knew he was the ilarch’s boy. Nobody dared mess with Eucippides, but Heitias was patiently waiting for his chance to discredit him and bring his “secret” out in the open to get rid of him altogether and pursue his chance to have the boy again.

[ñusta]

Chapter 273


And he waited patiently for almost two years until his chance finally came, surprisingly from where he least expected. All this time, he had been trying to bribe someone to find out about what went on at the ilarch’s property, but as soon as he told them where he wanted them to go, they refused, afraid of the ilarch’s status, and of course, he had not enough means to convince them, their pay being as puny as the food they served the boys. But his sister married an ilarch, as powerful as Eucippides, and craving for a place of such importance as that of the head of the boy’s camp. Mostly because they didn’t have to go to war any longer, being in charge of the future warriors, not that Eucippides was war-shy as Archelaos seemed to be, elder and with a horrid scar where his left ear had been torn off by a sword slash in Smyrna. In Palimenos’ case, he had been banned from war by a deformed foot when he had stepped on a sword in the hands of an already dead Athenian and had almost lost the foot. The limp that ensued kept him away from the battlefields for life, and to the relaxed life at the boy’s camp, where he had found his revenge on the boy who happened to have Athenian blood in his veins. Archelaos was Heitias’ perfect ally to get rid of Eucippides, catching him still inside the boy after Maximenes had finished enjoying his cousin. The older boy’s luck had been that he had just left the place a few minutes before, hurrying back to the strategoi. Archelaos and Heitias took them back to the camp on separate horses and gave the boy the worst lashing of his life, making Eucippides witness it. Then he tossed them in one of the shacks with two slaves standing guard. He knew Eucippides could only worry about the state he had left the boy’s ass in, and he sent the iatros to make sure the boy didn’t die on them. Then he went to the Gerousia, the council of elders, so they could summon the ephors, kalokagathoi and the strategoi to make a proper acusation and open trial on Eucippides. Maximenes was working quietly with one of the eldest and most experienced strategoi, who was also a friend of his family, when the news spread like wildfire and it was all over the place. Kitias watched Maximenes pale and hang on to the table he was working at, immediately suspecting what had probably happened. He took him to a place where they could speak in private and soon got the whole story out of him. Kitias’ mother had been a Theban, like Maximenes’ grandfather, whom she had almost married, and had always spoken highly of him in spite of his fateful mistake. Out of respect for them, Kitias thought it his duty to help Maximenes’ cousin and the ilarch, who had been a friend of his son and had fought with him in many battles, until he became a war casualty. Kitias had known Eucippides since he was a boy, together with his late son in the same ila. He owed it to him too. Kitias took Maximenes home where he had to tell the whole story to his family’s shock, and then the strategoi had one of his helot slaves infiltrate the camp in the dead of night pretending to be drunk and carrying several flasks of strong spiked wine. Alkestis, hearing the rumours, sent the iatros Pheigias to the camp but he was not allowed in, so he went to Karidis to offer his help in any way he could. He spiked the wine with his strongest somniferous drug and the two guards, taking advantage of the “drunken” helot, took his flasks away and sent him off, threatening to hang him from a tree. They were sitting on the floor and snoring heavily a few minutes after they consumed the wine. Then Kitias took Pheigias and Maximenes, who insisted in going, with a group of slaves, and took the culprits away. Kitias kept them hidden in the cellar of a small property he had on the outskirts, knowing there was no way he could be linked or put under suspicion. Pheigias took care of the boy’s wounds and fever the best he could and after a week he was healed enough to flee with Eucippides just after midnight on two horses that Alkestis provided. They took a rarely used road, which the Perioci did not include in their rounds, riding one of the horses with the other one in tow, carrying what little food and stuff they had been given by Kitias to take with them. Eucippides had Mihaelis wrapped in his arms in front of him, as the boy was still in severe pain and not completely healed. They headed for Argos, sleeping in natural shelters, like caves, that they found on their way, during the daytime, and travelling at night. Five days later, they were far enough to take shelter with some shepherds who took them in like family. When they offered to help Eucippides tend to Mihaelis’ wounds, the ilarch received a surprise.

- Who did this to him? Don’t tell me, the Spartans…- She spat the word despectively.

Eucippides confessed they were Spartans and they had fled the place because he couldn’t stand the way they punished the boy. They were very sympathetic and two days later, when one of them was leaving for Sparta with his sheep, to sell them in the market, he offered to take a message to their families very discreetly, of course. They sent it to Maximenes, who told the shepherd he wanted to go with him, he was also sick of Sparta and missed his cousin. So after he told his family his plans, Maximenes left with the shepherd before the sun was up. Almost a month after they had last seen each other, the cousins were reunited, but the shepherd brought back his own news to his tribe. Eucippides and the boys were startled when they came to them and very respectfully, the eldest couple went to where Mihaelis was lying, resting in the sun, and knelt beside him placing their hands on the boy’s back and kissing the palms that had touched him.

- Alkides says he was told in the polis that you were sacrificed to a god. It is an honour to have you with us. - The old man said.

- It gave Sparta victory over Athens. I don’t know if it was worth it any longer. - Mihaelis frowned.

- It means very much to us. Don’t belittle yourself for it, where are you travelling to? Let us help you. - He offered.

- We are bound for Thebes. Maximenes has relatives there. We shall have to cross the Corinth Gulf. - Eucippides informed him.

- That means you will have to take a ship. My brother-in-law is a fisherman and he trades with Thebes. He travels there once a month and my son will go with you taking some sheep to his uncle and put you on his ship. Please, do not refuse us; it is an honour to us. - His stern face was very serious.

They thanked him and accepted his proposal. A week later, when Mihaelis was fit to travel again, they took off. Mihaelis rode all the way, using a soft sheep skin as a saddle, and Eucippides, after starting off riding with Mihaelis, decided he would leave the horse to the boy and took to walking with Aramenos and Maximenes. It was a long journey and they spent most of their nights with tribes of shepherds who knew Aramenos and took them in with them. When they arrived at the port, Aramenos found his uncle Salkias and they sailed two days later. Eucippides had enjoyed watching Mihaelis loving the sea and lying in the sun, his skin turning a deeper gold. Maximenes and him preferred the shade and they spent those two days in peace and happy. Once they took to sea, Maximenes and Eucippides spent all night throwing their guts out and barely taking water. Mihaelis on the contrary, took it quite well, and slept all night long. Next day, they had made their peace with Poseidon, taking a little food and walking around the ship. Salkias and Aramenos could pass for twins, with reddish hair and almost black eyes, both bearded and hairy. They were a jolly pair, entertaining their guests with their tales and drinking wine with hardly any effect on them. They arrived in Boeotia and headed for Thebes, passing for shepherds. When they finally arrived, they said their thanks and farewells and went to find Maximenes’ family. It was ironic that they were practically going through what Ramthidides and his family had, when they left Athens to go to Sparta. The rivalry between Sparta and Thebes was almost as old as the one with Athens, and the ilarch confessed he had always admired the discipline of the Theban army without the excessive cruelty of the Spartan training. Chalkydias, the head of the family, was in his late forties and the youngest ones were already in their twenties. He told Eucippides he would take him the very next day to the illustrious General Aekipas, who was sure to take an interest in his plight and find him a place in the army. Mihaelis, having just turned twelve, could continue his training and Maximenes would be placed with their strategoi, who would be very interested in what he could tell them about the Spartan tactics.

The next day, Chalkydias took them to an abandoned house just outside the polis, and told Maximenes that it had belonged to his grandfather, and when he had been forced to flee, it had automatically become his father’s as the next of kin. Eocritos’ other property, a larger house, was inhabited by Chalkydias’ oldest son and his wife, to keep it inhabitable, and as a favour to him, not used to being separated from the family. The rest of Eocritos’ relatives had been exhaustively interrogated and cleared of all responsibility to the authorities’ satisfaction, and were left alone. Because of this, Eocritos’ properties were given to them and none of their properties were confiscated, so Chaldydias told them he would send five slaves the next day to have it cleaned and ready to be inhabited, and they could have it. Chalkidias gave them a slave, assuring them he had chosen a very discreet one.
The next day was a busy one, but Chalkydias got the three newcomers established on their new lives. Things were very different in Thebes. Neither Eucippides not Mihaelis had to live with the army. They just had to be there very early to start the training. They had both impressed the Thebans, taking down effortlessly all the locals they had to fight with, to prove their worth. Mihaelis was already a little taller than Maximenes, and he easily looked fifteen, which was the age of the boys he had had to fight with. When Eucippides heard Epicles say that he was better than the Theban boys his age, he laughed and told them he was just twelve. They found it hard to believe, but both Eucippides and Maximenes assured the Theban that it was true and the man had no reason to doubt them. Eucippides was given the chance to prove himself by putting him in charge of the training, as Epicles was already old enough to retire but had not found anyone to replace him until then. The strategoi were equally satisfied with Maximenes putting him through a series of situations, successfully handling each one.

Life was kinder to them than it had been in Sparta. They all slept together in a big “bed” like the one Eucippides had in Sparta, thanks to a dozen sheep that Aramanos had given them as a farewell gift, and both enjoyed Mihaelis all they wanted without the fear of being found. Their privacy was respected and the ex- ilarch was still touched by the boy’s protective behaviour. Mihaelis would lie over both of them, half over him and half over Maximenes, his arms stretched on both sides hugging them. The boy would bury his face on the crook of Maximenes’ neck and then do the same with Eucippides as they also hugged the boy to them, turning his face from one to another throughout the night, his thighs pushed between his bedmates’ legs. Eucippides would automatically wake up at the break of day and rouse Maximenes, who was a light sleeper, with just a nudge. They would roll the boy first on one side then on the other, sliding from under him, as Mihaelis moaned in protest. Then they would pounce on him, tickling the sensitive inside of his thighs or nipping at his ass, or eating him out. Either way, they would finally manage to wake him up and their servant would bring them fruit and fresh milk, still warm from the cow. Mihaelis always had the one that had cooled out, and then Eucippides and the boy would ride to the camp as the servant took Maximenes to the strategoi, in the cart.
Eucippides was impressed by the perfection of the Theban army. He had always heard their efficiency in the battlefield was because it consisted of couples, the older one, the erastes, the mentor, always on the right side, the spear side, considered the side of honour, and the younger one, the eromenos, on the left, the shield side, who even if he was taller or stronger, would never ask his partner to change sides, out of respect. As far as their sexual status was concerned, they were very discreet and were surprised by the public demonstrations of affection and familiarity from Eucippides and Mihaelis. The boy would go to where his mentor was sitting, during a break, and sit on his lap with his back to him as the man wrapped his arms around him and placed his hands on Mihaelis’ thighs. The boy would reach back and place his interlocked fingers behind Eucippides’ neck as the man rested his chin on his shoulder. Then during practice, when Mihaelis’ attack was too daring, endangering him, Eucippides would punish him swatting him on the ass with the flat of his sword, and the boy would wince and smirk. Mihaelis’ skill with the horses immediately landed him in the cavalry, where he mastered a huge dark chestnut, almost the colour of red wine, so far untamed, by earning his trust. They trained with the Sacred Band, but it would take some time to be able to actually become one of them, the boy still being too young and Eucippides’ knowledge of the Spartan tactics too valuable to lose in battle, paired with a partner who did not meet his needs. Eventually they would travel to the shrine of Iolaus, Herakles’ charioteer, where they would make their vows to one another and become part of the Theban warriors. The scuffles were mostly to keep the Athenian allies at bay from the south, and those siding with the Thessalians and Macedonians from the north. The real enemy armies still had not dared march against them. Then they received the news of travellers asking for them and were surprised by the visit of the boys’ families. Their house was full and Eucippides was accepted as part of the family. It seemed things had been a little trying, particularly for Ramthidides, and they took off one night, following the road towards Argos, and then to Corinth and the coast, as the shepherd had informed them on his meeting with Maximenes. They found Salkias, who had also taken them on his ship safely across the Corintian Gulf. Once back on land, Salkias had sent them to Thebes with his sheep and Aramenos himself, who was received by the ex-ilarch and the boys with the friendship and respect he had shown them when they had stayed with his family. Eolidas was at first ill at ease to be in his father’s land for the first time of his life, but Chalkydias assured him the Thebans could not hold him responsible for what his father had done before he was born. When Mihaelis and Maximenes asked about Parthenos, they were told she had decided to stay, being too old to travel, which would probably be the death of her, specially the sea-faring part, Sparta was home for her and her years would surely be respected. Chalkydias offered the larger house that had belonged to Eocritos, and his son and daughter-in-law were glad to be able to return with the rest of the family. So Eolidas and Ramthidides settled down with their families in the large house, and began to make themselves at home. Ramthidides was introduced to the strategoi, working with his son, and his experience as an Athenian general was as valuable as was Eucippides’ when it came to the Spartans. It would help them be ready to face the dreaded day of a massive attack from their enemies. Things were working out fine, Eucippides would arrive with the two boys to have a great evening meal and then leave to the small house they shared, their relationship totally accepted in an age and culture where bisexuality was their way of life.

[ñusta]

Chapter 274


One mid-morning, their training was interrupted by a slave who came running to warn them of an army of Thessalians who had been spied marching towards the camp, trying to surprise them. They were just mile away and coming strong from the North, which gave them time to get in armour and go to meet them. Eucippides saw his chance and insisted on going with them. They couldn’t refuse him but Mihaelis was forced to stay. He begged Eucippides to take him but it was useless…he was too young. He accepted and went to the pen where the horses were grazing, apparently sulking, but as soon as he was left alone, he bridled his horse, quickly and expertly attached the breast protection, and leapt the fence, racing to catch them up. He only had on himself the training sword which was blunt, a breastplate and one of Eucippides’ Spartan helmets, with a blue crest. He arrived at the plain on the left as the two armies approached each other. He rode towards the back of the enemy undetected as their eyes were locked in front, their side view limited by their helmets, with each army checking out its enemy. As they charged, screaming their paeans (victory chants), he also charged, riding down easily the two last lines from left to right, who never saw him coming. Then he swerved to the right and rode down the next line, the screams of the fallen unheard in the din of the shouting warriors. When he reached the left side again, leaving three lines of soldiers stunned and useless on the ground, the battle had started and it was all he could do on horseback because now, Thessalians and Thebans alike were all together. He leapt from his horse, letting it go safely away and picked up the shield and sword of one of the fallen Thessalians. He circled the mass of struggling soldiers to the rear of the Thebans trying to find Eucippides, who insisted on wearing his Spartan helmet with the bright yellow crest. The Thebans now outnumbered the Thessalians who had lost too many of their men to Mihaelis and his horse, and the enemy was all engaged, enabling to boy to arrived behind the battle itself on the Theban left side. A Thessalian cut down his enemy and the man fell at Mihaelis’ feet with his sword arm cut off at the shoulder and his throat slit, his mouth open in a silent scream. The enemy turned to find the boy and charged him. Mihaelis, quick as a flash, held up his shield and ducked as the man’s sword jolted it and tried to find the Theban behind it. He never expected his foot to be cut off and falling helplessly against the boy’s rising sword, almost taking off his head. Mihaelis kept circling, having to face two more enemies and getting past them in the same way, before he finally spotted Eucippides. He cut off both feet off a Thessalian who was about to attack his friend from behind, probably thinking he was a Spartan mercenary siding with the Thebans, because of the crested helmet. He wasn’t too far off, though, and as he raised his sword to strike, the ground seemed to go from under his feet. The next and last thing he saw as his back hit the ground was a beautiful young boy bending over him and slashing his throat from ear to ear. Mihaelis knew he had sustained at least three wounds in the area of his exposed back, not meant for him, because he was still standing, mostly soldiers dropping practically dead, after being cut down, their blades finding him accidentally as they fell. His back was burning in two places and so was his thigh. Eucippides felt a back against his own, but it was expected, as it was the way the Sacred Band fought, and how they trained. Probably a Theban, who had lost his partner and seeing him alone, had sided with him. Anyway the battle was over; the few Thessalians standing were running off the field the way they had come. He turned to his partner and his eyes doubled when he saw his Spartan helmet with the blue crest that Mihaelis had been wearing when they left.

- Mihaelis? - His voice barely audible with shock.

The boy took off the helmet and smirked, wincing.

- By all the gods! Are you alright? - He took him in his arms, pressing him against his body.

Eucippides gave a start when his hands felt the wetness on the naked back and raising his hands to his eyes over the boy’s shoulders, they came up bloody. He whirled Mihaelis around and saw they were shallow cuts, just messy and ugly looking. He turned him back to face him and was about to start screaming at him when he noticed Generals Albidocles and Oenikas, who had led the army, were beside him. They both stared at Mihaelis with awe and pulled a soldier from behind them who confirmed why. The man fell on his knees in front of the boy and thanked him, kissing his hand. Eucippides was totally confused, specially when the two generals reached out for the boy and hugged him one after the other, professing their gratitude.

- I rode down three lines at the rear before I joined the fight. - Mihaelis told Eucippides, watching his mouth opening wider with each work.

- Let’s go home. - Mihaelis whispered, snuggling in Eucippides’ arms.

A shrill neigh broke the silence, and Mihaelis broke free from his mentor to give a just as shrill whistle as the sound of hoofs approached them. The horse stopped almost on top of them, making the older men take a step back, but the boy met him straight on, wrapping his arms around the animal’s neck as it arched his neck and nipped at the boy’s butt, making him arch away and chuckle.

- You better see to those cuts, son. - Albidocles ordered sternly.

- Yes sir. - The boy answered, serious now, every inch a soldier.

- Did you take any men on foot? - Asked Oenikas, full of curiosity.

- Yes, three on my way to find Eucippides, oh, and the one who was about to strike him. - Mihaelis nodded.

- Four on his first battle! Not counting all the ones he rode down! Philip is bragging about his son, he’ll have a stroke when news of this reaches Macedonia! - Albidocles laughed aloud.

- They better not, I want to repeat it. Anyway, the ones who might know what happened are still there on the field. None of them could run away. They will only hear for their defeat, but not how. - Mihaelis smirked, and they realized he was right.

They watched Mihaelis heave himself up effortlessly on the animal’s back in spite of his wounds and the march back started.

- Who is Philip, and Macedonia? - Mihaelis asked Oenikas, who was nearer.

- Philip is the king of Macedonia, he spent some time with us as a royal hostage, when his elder brother Perdikas, made a treaty with us, and had to send him as security. This was many years ago, now his son Alexander, who is seventeen years old, is already a great warrior, he is said to have killed his first man at the age of twelve, like you, in a scuffle siding with the Skopians. He killed two men, but the fighting was between hillmen, not armed soldiers like you just have. - He scoffed, but not with disrespect, everyone feared Alexander in a battle.

Mihaelis nodded and then he was sent ahead to be taken care of and give the good news.

After that, Mihaelis’ strategy was used in the typical skirmishes that plagued their lives, where no enemy cavalry was involved, just infantry soldiers, but now carefully planned and correctly armoured. The survivors of his onslaught were unable to flee, most of the surviving ones with badly sprained or broken ankles, the latter lame for the rest of their lives. They became prisoners and slaves of the Thebans, so the tactic remained so secret that historians never heard of it. Eucippides would be checking out to see the horse leave the field and then work his way to meet Mihaelis, knowing before hand from which direction he would join the fighting and victory would be for the Thebans. No major armies got that near, because of their size, they would be immediately detected and identified by the slaves left on the lookout. The Thebans treated their slaves fairly, so they would rather stay with them, and have a reasonably quiet life, without the need to die on a battlefield. Because of this, enemy cavalry was totally out of the picture, being even more obvious than the foot soldiers that could easily and swiftly hide in the surrounding wooded and rocky areas in absolute silence, trying to surprise the Thebans. Their invincibility stayed intact, growing with their latest victories as the respect they now felt for Mihaelis. And by the time Mihaelis turned thirteen, he was already taller than Eucippides and Maximenes, who were about the same height, his blue crest towering over Eucippides’ yellow one, easily in sight of friend and foe during the fighting.


A week before he turned fourteen, he had travelled with Eucippides to make his vows at the sacred shrine, and was ready to fight his first real battle. Thebes was in the middle of every conflict in Greece, so its army had to be very strong to keep its supremacy. They were famous for it, just as Sparta was by controlling practically the entire Peloponnese peninsula.

For some time now, they had been getting warnings from their spies that the Athenians were preparing to come after them. That night, Mihaelis had a specially sexual night and the god Priapus came to him in his dreams. Next day, he went to have a new breast protector made for his horse. He instructed him to make it double, at least three inches apart from each layer, the outer one had to be made of a single piece of bronze, bent at the middle in a wedge, and the space between the layers would be filled with thick sheep’s wool. When the rest of the cavalry found out what Mihaelis had asked for, they had it done for their mounts too. They trusted the boy’s judgement and when they saw him try out his invention, they knew why. The shape made it difficult for the spear to pierce it, and made the points slide sideways. The ones that managed to pierce the bronze layer got snagged in the thick wool and didn’t go far before the spearhead was broken off the shaft; the second layer hadn’t even been touched. Albidocles was impressed and had the infantry shields made in the same way. They were heavier; the front layer thicker than the original one, but practising every day, made their shield arms stronger and they soon mastered it. About a month later, the Athenian army was seen coming to challenge them from the South and the Thebans rallied to meet them at a plain two days’ march away.
They left at dawn and slept in their small tents under the stars the following night. Eucippides had pitched their tent not so close to have some privacy, as in spite of the pairings, the tents were individual, except theirs. Eucippides had no problems being quiet during the lovemaking, but Mihaelis tried but couldn’t, and the chuckles from the nearest tents told them they knew what was going on. Next morning, Mihaelis woke up to find Eucippides already gone. Once at the camp, he went to Eucippides and called the two generals.

- They will also use a phalanx, we can easily break theirs by forming into a wedge as we get to them, we can practice as we march today, when we change the paean, we change the shape, that should work. - The three men looked at each other and nodded. The two general exchanged a glance that clearly said they couldn’t believe the solution had come from the boy.

- How do you know they will use a phalanx? - Albidocles asked.

- Sometimes I dream with the god, and he shows me things that will happen. - Mihaelis said simply.

Of course they knew he had been sacrificed to Priapus and given Sparta a crushing victory against Athens as a result.

- Thank you Eucippides, for making him dream with Priapus. - Oenikas said with a chuckle and a wink, making him blush furiously while Mihaelis just smirked, quite amused at his mentor’s reaction.

Mihaelis watched from his horse as the infantry practiced the movement to perfection in a very short time, being used to discipline. The cavalry rode behind, at an easy walk not to tire the horses. By the next evening, they could do it with their eyes closed. After eating frugally getting ready for the battle the following day somewhere about mid-morning, Eucippides decided to retire right away. Hearing several voices suggesting he made sure Mihaelis dreamt with Priapus and gave them the victory, Eucippides just waved without turning and got the boy into the tent with him. He decided to give them what they wanted and made sure the boy was noisy enough to reassure them. Next morning, sure enough, Mihaelis had news for them.

- They have a large group of archers, so our cavalry will be at risk. Their cavalry will stay behind the archers and wait for the outcome, before they move in. We need a closed phalanx against the rain of arrows, and keep our cavalry away until the archers run out. - The generals nodded and got the men formed. He told them the phalanx would be closed, that meant the shields all around would be on the ouside, and the rest within, would overlap overhead. They had done it many times before and didn’t need to practice; they just had to make sure they didn’t leave any gaps when they went into a wedge.

- There’s something else, they will have the sun behind them and that is their advantage. I suggest we stall until the early afternoon so the sun will be behind us. They started marching back until midday, with the cavalry in front, constantly sending scouts to find out where the Athenians were. The enemy kept marching on, looking out for them, so Mihaelis suggested the Theban scout let himself be seen and followed. The Athenian scout following him kept a safe distance not even suspecting he was being set up. When their scout arrived well before the Athenians’, they just turned around to give the impression they were advancing. Once the scout left, they turned back again and just waited. By the time the Athenians caught up with them, in was already an hour past noon, and the bright sun was in their eyes. The archers’ aim was off, because of the glare and their arrows fell short. It took them too long to adjust their aim, and by then, the archers had almost run out, the rest fell harmlessly on the shields covering the Thebans’ heads. By the time they were just a dozen yards away, the Athenians noticed the solid Theban phalanx seemed to be wavering, and by the time they realized what was happening, it was too late. The wedge rammed into the front of the Athenian phalanx and tore through it giving the Athenians no chance at all. The Athenian generals at the back, yelled for the cavalry and that was Eucippides and Mihaelis’ cue. The Athenian horses were frightened and uneasy by the glare of the sun on the Thebans’ polished bronze shields as they held them over their heads. Their riders had been struggling to get them to move forwards and had strayed too far behind as their infantry advanced. Now that the glare was gone as the battle ensued, they began to gain back their confidence, but the Theban cavalry had rushed around the battlefield and were coming at them, cutting them off from their infantry. The Thebans rode like demons, yelling their paean and raising their shields over their heads, caught the glare of the sun again. The terrified Athenian horses turned tail and fled, some taking their reluctant screaming riders along with them, though most of them had fallen as the horses swerved away, to be trampled by the Thebans. The triumphant cavalry returned, Mihaelis and Eucippides tilting their shields to the sun, and changing the paean, signalling the waiting generals to start backing up their unbroken phalanx. The few Athenians still standing turned to flee and met the cavalry head on so they didn’t know what hit them. One of the fleeing Athenians, who still had his shield, raised it instinctively as Mihaelis rode into him and hit his horse on the nose, making it lose its balance and falling on the man. The boy fell face first in front of them and the sword of a dying enemy beside him, slashed his hip as he scrambled to his feet. He rushed to his horse, helping it up and checking he was alright, the man under it was dead, his neck twisted aside. He got on, wincing with the burning pain, satisfied his horse wasn’t lame or worse. Eucippides and the rest of the cavalry came to a stop when they ran out of enemies, and on turning back they noticed Mihaelis wasn’t with them. Looking towards the battlefield, they noticed him cantering in their direction, wondering what had happened. When the boy caught up with them, Eucippides noticed his bleeding hip and scratched cheek.

- You’re hurt! - He exclaimed, reaching out to touch the wound.

Mihaelis told them what had happened and they rode together back to the phalanx, which was slowly coming apart. They were all unscathed, Mihaelis being the only one sustaining an injury. Eucippides had him lie over his lap as the slash went backwards halfway over his buttock, as Oenikas washed the wound with fresh water and poured wine over it. It burnt some but that was all. Oenikas’ father had been an iatros and had wanted his son to be one, but he just didn’t have it in him. Still, he had helped his father for quite some time before he was old enough for the army, and many times after that too, so he knew what he was doing. Both generals decided that they would start marching back as far as they could just in case, and when it started getting too dark, they made camp. Oenikas went to Eucippides’ tent to find the boy lying over him as he held him in his arms. The man’s worried look told him Mihaelis was not well. The boy was burning with fever and delirious, calling to his lovers and cursing the ones who had hurt him during his short life. Oenikas soaked in wine the cleanest strip of cloth he could find and tied it tight around the boy’s hip, keeping the wound and closed as possible. Then he brought water from the cool stream by which they had made camp, and used another piece of cloth to bathe the boy’s sweating body and face throughout the night. Neither men slept until Mihaelis’ strong nature prevailed and the fever finally broke about two hours before dawn. They slept for a few hours until they heard the camp coming to life. Four soldiers had been standing guard all through the night, taking two hours turns, and they sent the scout to find out if they were being followed. They rested until he came back saying all was clear. By then it was midmorning and Mihaelis started stirring. He was slightly feverish, which was normal with the wound he had taken, but conscious and coherent, eager to go back home. They started marching again, and Mihaelis rode with Eucippides until he felt strong enough to ride by himself, as the army was marching at an easy pace. By nightfall, they decided not to push it and camped again barely a couple of hours away from Thebes. Oenikas went to check on Mihaelis but he was fast asleep in Eucippides’ arms. He felt still a little warm, but he was sleeping quietly. He had washed and tended to his wound three times that day, each time they stopped to take a break and when they set camp again, satisfied that it was healing nicely from inside out. Next day, when the sun was climbing up in the sky, they set out for home and arrived a little before midday. They were received as the heroes they were, and Eucippides and Mihaelis went straight to the boy’s family where Maximenes had been staying during their absence. The iatros Nikeas cleaned the wound again and pushed clean thorns through the whole length to make sure it wouldn’t open again and so the scar would be thin and smooth. Eucippides was received as part of the family and during the following week, Lysandra and Vilania wouldn’t leave Mihaelis alone until the men came home from work. Karidis and Aristheia kept checking on them while they cooked and cleaned, finding the boy asleep most of the time with his sister and cousin rubbing his back and legs or just watching him sleep, holding his hands. When Eucippides and Maximenes arrived in the late afternoon, the girls would leave the boy to them, and they both noticed the particular reluctance in Vilania and the last wistful look she gave the boy from the door. This had been happening since they came to live in Thebes, and she would always find sometime during the day to spend it alone with him. It seemed her mother and aunt fully approved, keeping Lysandra busy with them to leave the young couple alone. Mihaelis’ two male lovers had discussed it and decided it was about time they asked the boy about what was going on.

[ñusta]

Chapter 275



The next day, they found a way to come home a little earlier. Eucippides went to get Maximenes and they rode the cart that had been sent to get the boy, tying Eucippides’ horse behind it. When they arrived, they couldn’t find either Mihaelis or Vilania. When they asked Lysandra she just giggled and pointed to the back of the house where a small dirt road led to a grove by a stream. They walked noiselessly and took the last bent arriving at the stream and the sight that met their eyes left them wide eyed, open mouthed and dumb. Mihaelis lay naked over Vilania having sex with her. Before they were discovered, and moving as one, they crouched behind a thick bush and watched for a few minutes. The way Mihaelis moved, sliding in and out of Vilania, as his plump muscular ass rose and fell, was making them very horny, even the way the girl was smiling and whining in pleasure had them ready to pounce on the boy and fill him too. Their breathing was getting a little too loud for safety, so Eucippides nudged Maximenes and pulled him by the back of the neck back to the road and out of hearing range.

- I knew this would happen any time since they arrived. - Maximenes shook his head, seething with anger. - My sister kept giving him these slutty looks! -

- Maximenes! The fact that we don’t seem to like women doesn’t mean that some men do…remember how Mihaelis liked spending time with Alkestis, but it didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy being with us. He likes both, so what’s the problem, we give it to him, and he gives it to them. Fine with me…- He punched the boy’s arm and raised his eyebrow waiting for his decision.

- Alright! Fine with me too! - He nodded frowning.

- And don’t take it out on your sister! She’s a lovely girl and I’d rather have Mihaelis fooling around with her that with a porna! Not even a hetaira, who may be the same but are cleaner and much better looking. Still, that would mean he would go away from home and there was no way we could interfere, so it’s much better this way. - Eucippides decided.

- You don’t know how bitchy my sister can be! - Maximenes snapped.

- So can you…so bear each other, you’re siblings! - The older man scolded him and Maximenes had to give up with a resigned sigh, knowing Eucippides was right.

They were interrupted by Vilania’s giggles and the sound of splashing and they couldn’t help taking a surreptitious look. They were in the water hugging each other and kissing. The “spies” could see Mihaelis’ back, the water halfway up his thighs and his body thankfully covering Vilanias, as her hands slid up and down his back as low as she could, her nails leaving red welts in their wake. Maximenes scoffed and Eucippides chuckled. They did it to the boy too, so it was impossible to trace which ones were hers. When the bathers started turning towards the shore, Eucippides turned away to find Maximenes’ hands going up to cover his eyes not to see his naked sister.

- That’s enough, let’s go. - Eucippides whispered, dragging the currently blind Maximenes away and snatching his hands from his eyes lest he stumbled and gave them away.

Soon after, they heard them coming up the road whispering softly to each other.

- I’ll do the talking. One word from you and both Mihaelis and I will make sure you keep quiet if we have to gag you. Is that clear? - Eucippides said sternly, and Maximenes paled.

When the couple rounded the bend and found the two men sitting side by side on a rock, Mihaelis smirked, pushing a sobbing Vilania behind him.

- So, what are you going to do to me? - Mihaelis’ smirk turned into a grin, biting his lower lip.

- You just wait and see, but you’re sure going to get it! - Eucippides chuckled in a definitely sexy way. - Are you alright Vilania? -

The soft caring tone of the older man’s voice had the girl sobbing even louder. Eucippides patted Mihaelis’ cheek and went around him to get the girl. His demeanor was that of a father or even a very dear older brother, taking her in his arms and letting her vent her fear.

- There, there, it’s alright. We love him too, we understand. Come with us, we just want to talk with you; you know you’re safe with us. Ride with Mihaelis, I’ll take the cart with Maximenes. - Eucippides soothed and coaxed her.

Mihaelis received her back in his arms and they walk back to the stables. He got on Eucippides’ horse and her lover heaved her up behind him. Vilania clung to the boy for dear life, not used to being on a horse at all. Mihaelis put his hands over hers and pulled them a little away from him. He tilted his head back over her shoulder and turned his face to kiss her cheek.

- Easy, I need to breathe…- He chuckled and made her smile. They rode behind the cart, ending in Eucippides’ property.

The slave came out to meet them and received the cart and the horses. Once inside, they saw it was all as clean and fresh as if they had never been away. Philokas was a good man, and much appreciated by the three males. They went to the bedroom and Mihaelis sprawled on the “bed”, turning on his side and pulling Vilania to sit by him. The girl felt very uncomfortable being the only female and wouldn’t take her eyes from Mihaelis’. Eucippides and Maximenes sat on the other side of the “bed” keeping their distance and the older man put her at ease again.

- We just want to know how this thing between you started. We’re not going to do anything to you or forbid you in any way to see him or be together. Please tell us. - Eucippides said gently.

- I…I’ve always liked him, since they came to Sparta, we slept together until they took him away. I missed him so much I cried every night. And then when I saw him at your house in Sparta, we could never be alone, I wanted to tell him how much I loved him but I never could, but the way he looked at me, told me he felt the same. I was sure. No one knew but Alkestis. I told her and she said I should let him know. But you had already left for Thebes. Lysandra suspected and teased me all the time. When we came here, I was so happy because I would see him again. He was even more beautiful than I remembered, much taller and even stronger. I wanted him to sleep with me again like so many years ago. I thought we would all live together, but then he was living with you and my brother. I was so disappointed, so one day when he paid a visit, I pulled him to our room while Lysandra was helping at the kitchen and I told him how I felt. I said I knew what you did to him and I was alright with it, if he liked it, but I wondered if he also felt like doing it. Mihaelis told me he didn’t feel like that with either of you. So I told him I meant me, if he wanted to do it with me. I will never forget the look in his eyes. He told me he would never hurt me. I asked him if you hurt him, and he said it hurt, but he liked it. I told him it wouldn’t hurt me, because Alkestis had given me something to make it numb. He asked me why, not understanding, so I told him what Alkestis had told me and what I already knew: that girls have a thin piece of skin in there that has to be torn the first time, so it only hurts once and then it’s all pleasure. The herbs she had given me to cook them and rinse me in there, would make me completely numb. They used them on the virgins who were sacrificed to Priapus, and the herb spiked water made them enjoy it, but Alkestis said I wouldn’t need the other herbs to enjoy Mihaelis. She seemed quite sure of it. She also gave me this other herb to use it every time, which would prevent me from getting pregnant. It grows wild everywhere, and there’s plenty along the stream here. I told him to come with me and took him to the grove, where you found us. I kissed him and he kissed me back, so sweet, his hands were in my hair and I was touching him and wanting him so much! I told him I would meet him next day here, at this time, and if he didn’t come, it would mean he didn’t love me, and ran back to the house. Next day, when I arrived, he was already there, coming out of the pool, dripping wet. He lay on his himation, dangling his hands into the water and I could hardly breathe at the sight of his body, exposed to me. I went to him unheard and knelt between his thighs, placing my hands on them. He whispered my name and I slid my hands all the way up to his shoulders and back down again. Then I bit and licked him here…- She stretched out her hand and cupped his buttock. - I wanted to know how you felt when you touched him, so I licked him…there, too…and I could tell I had excited him. I felt bad, not being able to give him what you could, so I lay beside him and he lay over me and opened my robe. He kissed my breasts and I could feel how ready he was. He asked me if I was sure so I said yes, and as I kissed him I felt him pushing into me, but once he was going in, I felt nothing. The herbs were powerful! He was the one wincing as he went in, and I caressed his face smiling at him to reassure him until our bodies met. He said it was the first time he did it like this, and I was glad to be his first one this way, at least I was his first girl. I could see his pleasure on his face, his eyes closed and his lips parted, breathing heavily. I grabbed his ass and loved to feel his muscles working under my hands. Then he went real tight and shuddered, and I knew he had finished. He lay there, shivering and moaning with his face on my breast. After a while, he started getting up and I caught his arm and got up with him, knowing there would be some blood and he would feel bad. I pushed him back into the water as I kissed him and when we reached the deep part which covered my breasts, I knew the blood had been washed away. I told him I would always be at the grove at that time, so he could come when he wanted me. I couldn’t wait for the next time, to feel the pleasure and I told him so. He came the very next day and it was so good! The herbs seemed to also have healing powers because I hadn’t been even sore afterwards, early next day, when I wasn’t numb anymore. I just had this itch that was craving for Mihaelis. He came the very next day and it was so good! When he entered me again, I knew I couldn’t live without him anymore. I would never stop wanting him…please, don’t take him away from me! -

Vilania was sobbing and shaking. Mihaelis covered her with his body and kissed her until she calmed down. Maximenes looked on with a frown, but Eucippides’ look was full of pity.

- No one’s taking him away from you, but you have to understand that we love him too. - Eucippides said kindly.

- You have him every night! - She exclaimed.

- And you can have your afternoons, whenever you want. Is that alright with you? Both of you? - The man smiled at them.

Vilania smiled back, but when she turned to Mihaelis, her eyes were hopeful but unsure. Mihealis smirked and nodded, and her smile returned and crushed him down against her. Eucippides got up and kicked Maximenes’ ankle, gesturing towards the door. The older boy sighed dramatically and followed him outside. Soon after, the youngsters emerged and Mihaelis took her home. Vilania smiled back, but when she turned to Mihaelis, her eyes were hopeful but unsure. Mihealis smirked and nodded, and her smile returned and crushed him down against her. Eucippides got up and kicked Maximenes’ ankle, gesturing towards the door. The older boy sighed dramatically and followed him outside. Soon after, the youngsters emerged and Mihaelis took her home. As they rode into the yard before the house, Aristheia and Karidis came running out with Lysandra in tow and a slave with a torch. Aristheia received her daughter as she dismounted, with Mihaelis easing her down tightly gripping her wrist until she was safely on the ground.

- By the gods, we were so worried! What happened? - Karidis scolded her son.

- I’m sorry, we went for a ride and ended talking at the grove by the field beyond the temple, before we knew it, it was getting dark so we came back right away. We stopped at Eucippides, on the way, that’s why we got delayed. We did not mean to worry you. We are deeply sorry. - Mihaelis hated lying to his mother but it was part true, they had been at a grove, and then at Eucippides’ house which was by the field beyond the temple.

He could see his sister standing behind her mother, giving Vilania this wicked grin that said clearly: “I expect you to tell me everything...to the last detail!” Mihaelis knew how close the two girls were and when she turned to him, giving him this knowing smile, he just smirked and nodded. He was now sure she knew everything and definitely approved. As siblings, he and Vilania were very close, very loving and caring, just as the two girls were, being cousins and spending most of their lives together.

Karidis was hugging her son’s leg to her breast shaking her head and frowning. But she could never stay mad with him.

- I better go before they come looking for me. - He smiled down at her, fondly.

He loved his parents dearly, actually all his family, even his quiet broody uncle. He would give his life for any of them without the slightest thought or doubt.

- Take care. - Karidis kissed his thigh, smiling back at him.

Mihaelis leant down and kissed her lips softly as she turned her face up to him.

She reached up and gave his hair a tug, before she let go of his leg. Mihaelis chuckled and slowly rode away.

When he arrived, the servant had cooked a fine meal consisting mostly of fresh eggs, vegetables and milk. They still had some sweet honey cakes that Lysandra had made for them a couple of days ago. Once in bed, Mihaelis surprised them by saying:

- I will marry Vilania as soon as I’m old enough. I don’t want her married to anyone else. Maximenes, would you find out for me if I can claim her now to make sure no one else does? She doesn’t mind waiting for me. - He was quite serious.

- Oh well, then you’ll be my cousin and brother-in-law. We will be bonded for life! – He laughed. - And of course I’ll still be your lover too. -

Eucippides was unusually quiet, following the interaction between the cousins. Then Mihaelis turned to him smirking.

- Lysandra, right? - He nodded and watched him blush.

- Will you leave your sister out of this? Haven’t you got enough dragging mine into our lives? - Maximenes scoffed frowning.

- Are you so blind or just plain stupid? - Mihaelis grinned at his cousin mischievously.

- What? What does she have to do with this? - Maximenes was confused following Mihaelis’ eyes in the direction of the clearly embarrassed Eucippides.

- What? - Maximenes insisted, growing impatient as his cousin chuckled and shook his head.

- She’d be in the best hands possible; I love you for it, really. - Mihaelis grinned and Eucippides took his face in his hands and kissed him.

As they broke the kiss, they turned to Maximenes’ perplexed expression and broke up laughing.

- He wants to marry my sister, you idiot! - Mihaelis laughed.

- They were pressing me to marry when we had to leave Sparta. I was already thirty three, way past the time to find a wife. It was having a very hard time getting away with it. Because of my love for Mihaelis, the only woman I would agree to take as a wife would be his sister, to always have him by me, sure that she would accept us. But she had just become old enough when we had to flee. I’ve been trying to have the courage to do something about it for the last two years, so afraid to lose her but even more afraid that I was wrong and she wouldn’t want me, or Mihaelis wouldn’t think me worth it…but now it was he who had the courage to bring it out in the open. - Eucippides had been looking down at his hands, not daring to look up and meet the boy’s eyes.

Mihaelis took his hands in his and gave them a squeeze. Eucippides finally looked up and saw the love in his future brother-in-law’s eyes. He took the boy in his arms and sobbed.
That night he made love to Mihaelis as many times as he could, giving Maximenes the chance while he got ready again. They left the boy sleeping and smeared thick inside and out with the ointment Pheigias had given Eucippides at the temple, saying any iatros would identify what it was made of just by feeling it or smelling it. And he had been right; Nikeas was able to provide him with exactly the same mixture, which Eucippides asked him for a “sore he kept getting on his foot”. The iatros complied with a knowing scoff, but Eurippides didn’t care as long as it worked for Mihaelis. At the camp, he said the boy had woken up with a slight fever from riding after dark back from his family in a wet himation. They pretended to buy it since they all knew the boy was very tough and never got sick, hurt, sure, but never ill. They all knew Eucippides had fucked him hard, and of course, he needed to sleep and rest to recover. Mihaelis was far ahead from them so he wouldn’t miss anything at all in spite of the fact that they would soon be fighting the Macedonians, who now had supremacy over Greece, thanks to Philip’s famous son Alexander. Eucippides must have sent Philokas to get Vilania and Lysandra, because Mihaelis woke up in their arms as both girls lay snuggled into his sides. He kept still, feigning sleep to hear them giggling and chatting about him and Eucippides constantly giving Lysandra the eye. She said she wished he would make up his mind because she was just so ready to accept him. He loved her brother and that was reason enough for her to love him too. But the girls knew their brother and cousin too well, and in the midst of a bout of giggling they pounced on the unsuspecting boy pushing their hands between his thighs and tickling him silly until he opened his eyes and admitted he was awake. They spent the whole day with him babying and rubbing him until Maximenes arrived before Eucippides and they decided it was time to leave. Mihaelis had been having these weird dreams lately, since he heard he would meet the famous warrior in battle. He dreamt Alexander was holding him in his arms, with tears falling from his eyes. He was in excruciating pain, yet feeling the Macedonian’s arms around him made it worth it and welcome, as long as it kept Alexander with him. He said nothing about them, not to make Eucippides or Maximenes feel left out. He just wanted the battle to be over so the wedding arrangements would be made. Eucippides had promised him he would go and speak to his family to ask for his sister’s hand as soon as they came back from fighting. But destiny was about to change their plans.

[ñusta]

Chapter 276



Mihaelis woke up feeling feverish, but he kept it to himself. The dream had been amazingly real this time. He was still shuddering with the vivid pain. The night before, they had dined with the family and then after kissing them all goodbye, Mihaelis and Eucippides had left to sleep in the camp because they would leave at the break of day. Maximenes stayed with the family and Eucippides’ place would be taken care of by Philokas until they returned. They had gone to sleep early after a gentle lovemaking in the small tent. Mihaelis mounted, still half asleep, and they set off southward bound, to the plains of Chaeronea. Both Albidocles and Oenikas agreed it was there that the Macedonians would wait for them. Even the Athenians, under the great Demosthenes, had requested the Thebans’ support to stop Philip and the invaders from the north. This time they would fight on the Athenian side. It would take them three days to get there, and Demosthenes would not move until the Sacred Band was there beside them. They camped the first night choosing the proximity of a stream as they usually did. It was midsummer and the night was warm in spite of the outdoors. The activity in Eucippides’ tent was obvious and the men just chuckled and let them be. The following morning, Mihaelis and the rest of the cavalry took their horses to water before they left. Mihaelis had both his horse and Eucippides’ who was going over the strategy in front of Albidocles’ tent.
Mihaelis stretched out on the floor to drink some water and splash his face when the typical nervous nickers of Antares, his horse, made him push up and bounce to his feet in a second. He stood beside the horse noticing he was the only one uneasy. Then the bushes opened and several dirty looking smallish men, shepherds by their woolly clothes and armed with short bows, stepped out. The one who must have been the leader approached as the others stopped and waited. The element of surprise was still there as the only one who had seen them was the tall young boy. Mihaelis and his horse were standing facing them as the rest went on talking, sitting at the shore with the reins in their hands as they watered their mounts. He saw the man open his mouth in a grin that showed missing teeth and some rotting ones left. Then the filthy shepherd took aim at Antares’ chest. Quick as a flash, Mihaelis yelled “NOOO!” at the top of his voice alerting the others who immediately let go of the reins picking up their shield and swords that were lying beside them. Mihaelis was unarmed as he had taken two horses, so he just turned hugging the horse’s neck and shielding him with his body. He felt the burning arrow bury smack on his butt on the left side, and the alarmed voices of the other soldiers. They had made a straight line with the speed of their training, rushing like a midget one line phalanx, at the shepherds who were now the surprised ones. They loosened their arrows and watched them stopped harmlessly by the shields as the Thebans started closing in on them. With amazing speed, they disappeared back into the bushes as the rest of the camp came running to see what had happened. Eucippides hurried to Mihaelis, who was holding himself up holding his horse’s neck. Eonikas rushed to them and eased the boy face down over a large rounded stone by the side of the stream. As Eucippides held him, the general searched around until he found what he was looking for. Then he picked a handful of leaves from a small bush and washed them in the stream. He took two stones, washed them too, and pounded the leaves until the green juice started flowing. He gave them to Albidocles who had come to give him a hand, and gesturing to Eucippides to hold Mihaelis down, he yanked the arrow out. He had noticed from the arrows on the ground that the tips were barbed, but were thin and wouldn’t be too hard to pull out. Mihaelis grunted and shuddered in Eucippides’ arms, watching over the boy’s shoulder as Oenikas bared the boy’s ass and pressed the leaves against the wound, keeping them there under his hand. Mihaelis moaned and writhed with the burning pain of the caustic juice of the leaves.

- Yes, it stings, but it’s stopping the bleeding. Hang on, just a little longer. - He whispered soothingly.

A few minutes later, when he removed the leaves, the wound was clean and just weeping small drops of blood. He wiped them away with the leaves and tossed them into the water. On the other side of the stream, he spied several aloe type plants and he sent one of the soldiers to cut off a piece. He wiped it with a clean cloth and broke off about an inch from the tip. He smeared the gooey substance that oozed from the plant over the wound and ordered the men to get ready to leave.

- Just let it dry and it will hold the wound together and keep it clean too. - He helped the boy up, tucking the torn chiton into the belt to allow the jelly to dry. Mihaelis could walk with barely a limp and they arrived at the camp to see the soldiers donning their armours. Mihaelis lay by the tent, waiting for the sticky stuff to finish drying while Oenikas kept checking it as he got ready. When he was finally in full armour, he checked again and chuckled, spanking the boy on his good side and helping him up. Mihaelis reached for his armour but Oenikas placed his hand on his shoulder. Mihaelis didn’t like the way the general was looking at him.

- I’ll have Zalkas ride back with you; it’s not safe to stay here for us to come back. - He said, looking very serious.

- No!...Sir…This is nothing! I’ve been through worse. I’m not staying. If you leave without me, I will follow you. You can’t stop me. I’m sorry, I can’t obey you in this! It’s not fair! - Mihaelis protested.

Oenikas sighed. He knew how determined the boy was. If he had survived the god Priapus when he was just seven, this was a flea bite in comparison. To force him to stay behind was truly an insult. The boy was too valuable.

- Will you be able to ride? - He knew he didn’t need to ask.

- Yes sir! - Mihaelis smirked to hide a wince as the armour grazed the wound.

Once ready, he heaved himself over the horse’s back and slid his leg over, biting his lip.

- Are you sure you’re alright? - Eucippides asked him, doubtful.

- Yes, the wound is not making contact with the horse, it’s higher, not by much, but it’s clear, not even rubbing. - Mihaelis assured him.

Eucippides knew it was useless arguing with him, it would get him nowhere. Mihaelis was determined to go on. During the day, he kept glancing at him every now and then, but the boy wasn’t slouching or leaning at all, though he caught him wincing a few times. They had three breaks before they arrived at the plains and sent a scout to Demosthenes to announce their arrival. When he returned, he guided them back to the Athenian camp and the two generals went to pay their respect to the leader. After a frugal dinner, the Thebans went to sleep to be ready for the next day. Eucippides held Mihaelis in his arms but no sex transpired between them that night. The older man wanted the boy to heal as much as possible, and Mihaelis was exhausted with the effort of holding back the pain. Oenikas came to check him and found the wound clean, still covered in the dried gel and just pink around the edges, not red enough to suspect infection. He preferred not to touch it and left. As soon and Eucippides had Mihaelis naked and lying over him with his smooth cheek over his hairy chest, the boy fell into a deep troubled sleep which his lover considered completely justified and thought nothing of it. Oenikas coming to see how the boy was doing, woke them up and soon they were ready in full armour. The cavalry felt much safer with the breast protection invented by Mihaelis.
They didn’t have to wait long before the Macedonian army made its appearance. Philip with his warriors had the right as tradition called, for the king, the weapon side being more honourable that the shield side, so it was obvious that the èlite corps to meet the Macedonian left side would be the so far undefeated Theban Sacred Band. They would face his son Alexander in command of the cavalry. Philip faced the Athenians, cunningly pretending to retreat and making them descend from their advantageous higher ground. This mistake cost them dearly, losing ground to the Macedonians and eventually even Demosthenes fled the field. Alexander saw his chance and charged the Theban phalanx, which was on this day, the closed square, having no need for the wedge, as they were facing the cavalry, which thanks to their long spears, had no advantage whatsoever. The horses simply woudn’t go near enough to cause them any considerable damage. Eucippides and Mihaelis led their cavalry surrounding the phalanx and surprising the Macedonians as they appeared from both sides. The fighting was fierce, Mihaelis had mastered on horseback what he did on foot, he charged a rider ducking behing his shield in the last second and slashing the enemy’s foot off at the ankle. Eucippides coming behind him slashed the falling man’s throat, as he leant over to check out what had happened to him and lost his balance mostly from the shock to see his foot gone. Alexander had not missed the way Mihaelis and Eucippides were cutting down his cavalry, thinking at first that they were Spartan mercenaries from their helmets, then just accepting the fact that they had probably taken them as spoils from battle and wore them to prove their worth. Spartans had no place in the Theban army, specially with the Sacred Band. He had also noticed the Theban cavalry’s breast protectors and as soon as an enemy soldier fell, he rushed to take the riderless horse’s hanging reins and moved on it. He signalled to his five closest warriors to follow his example and soon led a wedge formed attack on the phalanx, all of them riding Theban horses, safe from the long spears which failed to stop them. He broke the phalanx and the Thebans immediately took their battle formation for that unusual case, making their stand back to back. The Macedonian infantry immediately charged and the real battle started. Mihaelis and Eucippides had decimated the Macedonian cavalry but theirs had just half a dozen men still riding, the riderless Theban horses that had not been captured by the attacking group of Macedonians, had fled to safety. They rode to their companions, dismounting and getting into battle stance. Alexander followed suit, having no further use of the horses, his group of five dismounted, joining the infantry in the battlefield. One by one the Thebans fell, to the Macedonian much larger army, refusing to surrender in spite of being totally surrounded. At the end, only Eucippides and Mihaelis were standing, Eucippides had a couple of slashes on his shield arm and one on the calf of his leg on the same side. Mihaelis, being the foremost rider on their double game, had sustained several sword slashes on his left thigh, not very deep, but still bleeding and painful. The kneehigh leather boots he wore, his privilege for having been sacrificed to Priapus, had protected his lower leg. As he charged the chosen enemy rider, his shield protected the upper front of his body, but the lower was exposed on the left side. The cuts had been just by chance, at the speed he was riding, finding the swords on his way, during the charge. Alexander was impressed by the last standing couple, the Macedonians keeping away from them, not risking coming too close. Alexander tried to reason with them, asking them to surrender, their whole army was gone. Mihaelis yelled back that the word “surrender” must be Macedonian, because they didn’t know its meaning. Philip, on the opposite side, was getting tired of waiting and sent for an archer. The man went down on one knee and expertly sent an arrow just below Eucippides’ helmet strap and just above his adam’s apple in an upwards direction. He was instantly killed as the barb entered his brain. Mihaelis felt his lover’s weight bearing hard against his back. Alexander wasn’t aware of what his father had done, covered by the last two Thebans.

- Eucippides? - Mihaelis whispered, thinking he was using body language to convey a message he didn’t understand.

When he didn’t answer, Mihaelis, not daring take his eyes away from the Macedonians in front of him, stepped aside to try to catch a glimpse of his mentor and make the message clearer. Eucippides fell back heavily on the ground, his dead open eyes staring up at the sky. Mihaelis winced and thought of his sister, without a future husband and then of Vilania, begging her forgiveness for failing to return to her. He stepped astride the fallen man’s chest and stood his ground. He would die hard, they could be sure of that. They would eventually have to dare face him. Even in his current situation, he was sure they wouldn’t carry on a cowardly attack from the back. The look on Alexander’s eyes said clearly he wouldn’t allow it. The Macedonian spoke again.

- Join us! It would be an honour. You don’t need to die today! - Alexander was begging, with his voice and with his eyes.

Mihaelis would have liked to charge him, in the proper way, but his left thigh and buttock were burning, the previous wound had opened and was bleeding too. Gritting his teeth not to limp, he advanced towards Alexander raising his sword.
This time Alexander didn’t need to see, his ears heard the sound of the flying arrows and he watched open mouthed, as the boy stopped and jerked. His eyes shut tight and he winced as the arrow hit his left shoulder, just over his lung. He bit his lip as another slid between his lower ribs, barely missing his lung and spleen. The air hissed in through his gritted teeth as the next dug into his hip, under his kidney. He grunted and moaned as a fourth barb buried in his buttock just under the wound he already had. His eyes opened and narrowed as he flinched and lowered his sword when still another arrow hit him in the thigh. Alexander was furious. He pointed with his sword in the direction of his father and screamed for the archer to be brought to him. Two of his companions dragged the man over as Philip just watched, seething with anger. As the man stood in front of Alexander, the look in the king’s son’s eyes made him pale, and when he opened his mouth to beg for mercy, Alexander’s sword cut his head off in one clean swipe. He looked up to see the boy was still standing, breathing hard and shuddering, struggling not to fall until he just couldn’t take it anymore. He ripped off his blue crested helmet, throwing it to the ground without dropping his sword and shook his gold streaked hair. Then he stepped back with his good leg and dragged the other one after it. It took him three steps in which Alexander approached him warily, not sure what he would do next, Mihaelis dropped to his knees, astride his dead lover’s. He looked down at him and slowly, using his right arm, which was unharmed, but still holding his sword, he lowered himself over Eucippides, kissing his dead lips before he buried his face into his neck, covering him with his body. Alexander grimaced at the sight of the five shafts sticking of him. The look he gave his father, even with the distance between them, made Philip shiver. Then he went and sat beside the lovers, and very gently, he slid his hands under Mihaelis’ chest and pulled him over to him.

- Don’t…touch him…- The boy whispered, biting off the words.

- I am sorry, I meant no disrespect. - Alexander whispered back.

He held the boy in his arms and heard him gasp as he pulled him in closer.

- What is your name? How old are you? -

- Mihaelis…I am…fourteen…-

It was Alexander now, who gasped. So it was true! This was the boy who had been sacrificed to the god of lust Priapus, and had given the Spartans the victory over the Athenians! He had heard the rumours, but of course, he hadn’t believed them. But the name, and his youth…it had to be the same boy. He had to know.

- You are a Spartan. - It wasn’t a question.

- My mother’s…Spartan…my father’s…Athenian. - Yes! That confirmed it, the rumours were true!

-You were sacrificed to Priapus, right? - It was only in question form, not to sound too eager.

- Yes…long ago…-

Alexander felt the boy shudder and take a deep breathe to control the pain.

- Just…tell my family...I didn’t…put them to…shame. -

- The archer was my father’s best, none of your wounds will kill you. -

- I’m dying…it will be…slow. I want to…stay with you…all I can…-

- No, you’re not…- Then it hit him.

He looked for the boy’s right arm and noticed it was tucked under his body. Where was his sword? He had it in his hand as he went down. He was sure! Slowly, he reached with his left hand following the boy’s arm and pulled it away from him. The boy’s forearm and hand were drenched in bright red blood. Now he knew where his sword was, he had aimed it at his gut and let his lover’s dead body push it into him as he lay over him. He was right. He would die slowly and in a lot of pain. Was that what he had said? To stay with him longer? The boy wasn’t making sense. He had said something about not putting his family to shame. How could he possibly think that? This boy would put anyone to shame from what he had seen and heard of him! And he had chosen to die slowly to stay longer with him! Yes, he was sure that’s what he had said. He wished he could save him and spend the rest of his life with him! He gestured for Philip’s iatros and when the man approached, he ordered him to save the boy’s life. But Mihaelis heard him.

- No…my lover’s dead…I don’t…-

- Live for me! - Alexander sobbed, shamelessly.

- It’s…too late…-

Mihaelis winced and moaned as the iatros carefully rolled him on his right side, and shook his head in denial.

- At least try! - He ordered.

- I can pull out the arrows, even the sword, but I will have to burn the wounds, put him through too much suffering for nothing because the stomach wound…- He shook his head again. - There’s nothing I can do about it. -

- Try! For all the gods! - Alexander demanded.

The iatros squeezed Alexander’s arm and nodded. He waved at his helpers and they brought the long body length shield that Philip used, to keep all of himself covered. Alexander recognized his father’s shield and turned to look at him. Philip nodded and Alexander nodded back his thanks. The boy was carefully eased face down because of the protruding arrows, on the king’s shield and carried to a nearby shepherd’s hut. Alexander preceded the procession and had the family paid generously for the use of their shelter for as long as they needed it, then asked them to be left alone. Phaetrus was the best iatros Philip had ever had, he had saved the king’s life when the arrow pierced his eye, and Alexander trusted him. If anyone could save the boy’s life, it would be him, if he couldn’t, then no one else could have done better. Of that he was sure.

[ñusta]

Chapter 277


Phaetrus gently rolled Mihaelis on his side again, as Alexander pressed his body against the boy’s back, careful not to jolt the arrows. The iatros had tried to tip one of his flasks of pain dulling drugs into Mihaelis’ mouth, but the boy had turned his head away, refusing it. Phaetrus’ helper, an emaciated man whose pallor had him close to being an albino, had gone straight to the small hearth and pushed his cauterizing rod into the burning coals, knowing what the iatros had to do. He turned the boy as far on his back as he could, using Alexander’s body under him to keep the arrows from touching the floor. Alexander held the boy tight in his arms as Phaetrus pulled the sword out of him. The boy whimpered softly and pressed his sweet ass into Alexander’s crotch, and he couldn’t help shivering. Mihaelis raised his right arm over his head and pressed his mouth into it as Phaetrus used his iron to burn the wound closed. Then he poured a bucket of cold water very slowly letting it slide over the burn to the dirt floor, off his tilted body, soothing the burn the best he could. While he did that, he sent another helper for aloe, and smeared the traumatized flesh just as Oenikas had done less than a day before. He placed a strip of clean cloth over it, just to put Alexander at ease, thinking it wasn’t fair either, to give him hope; no one could survive such an injury, no matter how strong.

- Now, remove the arrows. - Alexander told him. - Help me roll him. -

Once Mihaelis was again on his side, Alexander got up and walking around him, lay on his back beside him to receive him over him. Beginning with the one in the boy’s shoulder, Phaetrus pushed in against the barb, a thin flat blade, razor sharp on both sides, and cut left and right, allowing the barb to be pulled out without tearing the flesh. Alexander pressed the boy to his chest, his right arm carefully holding him between the arrow in his ribs and the one in his hip. Mihaelis buried his face in his neck, like he had with Eucippides before they took him away. Alexander’s other hand was buried in the boy’s silky tresses, and he felt the young body tense when the barb was removed. All Alexander heard was a muffled sob, and a whimper. Then when Mihaelis felt the red hot iron, he went as hard as a marble statue and a low growl rumbled in his throat.

- It’s alright, son, you can scream all you want, there’s no shame in it. - The iatros said, kindly.

- It hurts…the same. - Mihaelis whispered, his back and face beaded with sweat.

Phaetrus squeezed his shoulder and proceeded to remove the barbs in his ribs and hip. When he got to the one in his butt, he noticed the other healing wound right above it.

- Who shot you here? What, two days ago? - The iatros asked.

- Shepherd…tried to…kill my horse…- Barely above a whisper.

Phaetrus locked eyes with Alexander over the boy’s shoulder.

Alexander respected the boy’s love for his horse, just like he loved his own Bucephalus.

- I want the boy’s horse brought here safely. It’s a big dark chestnut, the colour of red wine, with golden mane and tail. If it has come to any harm, I’ll kill whoever did it! - Alexander sent one of the Macedonian soldiers who were standing guard at the entrance of the hut.

Phaetrus could see the difference between the two wounds. The barb inside the boy was much thicker and wider, that’s why the other one was healing without the need of burning. A shepherd’s barb was just for wolves while the Macedonian ones were made to penetrate armours. This one was very painful to remove and cauterize, because the area was already hurting. The boy shuddered and moaned, his breathing coming out laboured, broken by gasps. Phaetrus gave the boy a break, to help him gain back some strength. The barb in his thigh was the most dangerous, being so close to the big artery, which would bleed the boy out in a minute, if pierced. The iatros thought it would be the best that could happen to him, but Alexander would not understand it that way, and he wasn’t risking his neck in the fit of rage it would give the king’s son.

- Please…take out the…last one…I can take…it…- Mihaelis pleaded.

He knew he was dying, and he wanted just to be left alone with Alexander, who would not let the iatros leave until all the arrows were removed.

- Don’t you want to rest a little? - Phaetrus’ voice was full of pity.

- Just do it…so I can…rest…- The boy pleaded.

Phaetrus sighed and eased the barb’s way out with extreme caution. The bleeding was the one he expected, nothing excessive. The artery was intact. The iatros scoffed in frustration. He knew the boy was slowly and painfully bleeding inside, since the point of his sword had entered low in his belly, the blood would soon be finding its way out of him, surely from the nether opening, running down his thighs and eventually, in the end, it would find its way up to his mouth. Mihaelis took a deep breath and Alexander felt him relax just a little, now that the torture had ended. He caressed the boy’s back, gliding his hand up and down on the right side, safely away from his wounds. Phaetrus decided to check the boy before he left the hut to give them some privacy. Of course he would stay right outside, in case he was needed. Very gently, he spread the boy’s right thigh wider and kept spreading further up for signs of blood, but there still were none. He went to get a small amphora and scooped some thick clear greasy stuff and pushed his slick finger slowly into the boy. Mihaelis grunted and clenched, surprising the iatros with his strong grip.

- What are you doing to him? - Alexander asked.

- I’m checking if he’s bleeding inside out. - Phaetrus answered with sad eyes.

- Don’t anger the god! Be careful! - Alexander warned him.

- What do you mean, Alexander? What god? - The iatros wondered.

- When was the last time you prayed to Priapus? - Alexander grinned.

- Priapus! I’m too old for…Priapus? - He repeated, as it slowly dawned on him. - You mean he’s…-

- He was sacrificed to Priapus. He gave the Spartans the victory over Athens seven years ago. - Alexander nodded.

Phaetrus had visibly paled, pulling his finger quickly out of Mihaelis, eliciting another grunt. After making sure there was no blood on his finger, he whispered a quick prayer to the god, not to incur in his anger, just in case.

- He bears the scars to prove it. - He confirned, tracing his fingers over the two scars, one towards the back and the other in the opposite direction, both on the left. - The boy must have twisted his body defensively when the god consummated the penetration and he tore him very bad. He must have bled just as bad to please Priapus enough to give Sparta such a crushing victory. His erastos was a lucky man, the boy healed well, I don’t understand how he still feels like a virgin. Why would Priapus suddenly want a boy? I don’t understand it. -

- It was a challenge. A young Spartan future warrior, what better sacrifice? From what I have seen, he must have taken it as the man he is. No wonder Priapus was so pleased. It’s such and irony…half Spartan, half Athenian and to fight to his death with the Thebans! It makes no sense. Such a waste of courage and beauty! - Alexander was distraught, unable to understand the god’s reasons for such injustice.

The boy had fallen into a feverish state of semiconciousness, moaning and whimpering softly, stiffening with pain everytime he writhed.

Alexander whispered endearments and encouragement, as Phaetrus left them alone.

- Please don’t die, I want to get to know you better…- Alexander pleaded.

The boy was unresponsive and Alexander feared the worst. He was still warm and cuddly in his arms, he couldn’t be dead!

- What do you want to know? - Mihaelis’ voice was low and sounded drowsy.

Alexander chuckled and kissed the boy’s hair. It smelled fresh, as the child he was, still diving into the stream they had camped by, every morning, and rinsing the sweat and dust out of it.

- Do you have a family? - Alexander asked.

- Yes, my parents and an older sister. Eucippides was going to ask her to marry him as soon as we returned. -

- Eucippides? -

- My erastos, my mentor and lover. -

- And he was going to marry your sister? -

- Yes, he was a good man; I wanted her to be in good hands. -

- You love her very much…-

- Yes, we live with my aunt, my mother’s sister, her husband and my cousins. Maximenes in three years older than me, and my lover too, then Vilania is a year younger than him and we love each other, I was going to marry her as soon as I could. She is waiting for me. -

- She knows about her brother…and you? -

- Yes, she understands; so does Lysandra, my sister. -

- You have a great family, I’m so sorry this had to happen. It’s not fair! We shouldn’t have met like this! -

- It was my destiny. There was nothing anyone could do. -

- Yes, as usual, the gods decide. - Alexander sounded bitter.

- It’s no one’s fault. It’s not yours either. I could have died in the battlefield, alone, with no one with me. -

A loud neigh interrupted him as the soldier asked permission to enter the hut.

- Antares! - Mihaelis called, and was answered with another neigh.

- The horse is outside, not a scratch on him. I found him grazing in the woods beyond the battlefield. -

- Feed him and water him. He is under my protection. -

- Yes Alexander. - The man saluted and left.

- He is yours now. Don’t let him see another battlefield. Promise me. - Mihealis gasped and Alexander felt his lap flood with warmth.

- I promise. - His eyes were full of tears.

- Keep a piece of cloth stained by my blood close to you, so you will always feel me there with you. -

- I’ll always keep it under my armour, against my flesh. - The tears were now running down his face. - May I also have a lock of your hair? -

- You don’t…need to ask. - Mihaelis began to find it hard to speak as the pain suddenly flared.

He shuddered and moaned, ending in a sigh. Alexander propped himself up on his elbow, the position tilting Mihaelis’ face up to his. He leant down and kissed his lips.

- Do you want me to help you turn over? - Alexander asked.

- No, don’t…turn me over. I’m…comfortable like…this. That’s how…I sleep. I want to…look asleep…not dead. Don’t…burn me…please…-

The boy’s liquid honey coloured eyes met the concern and love in Alexander’s. It was the last thing Mihaelis saw as he died. Alexander kissed his eyes shut. Then he slid from under him leaving him face down as he had asked him to.
He went to the door of the hut and informed that he wished to be left alone. Phaetrus started rising, but Alexander held him down.

- There’s nothing you can do now. - He said, his tears obvious to everyone.

- Alexander…- The iatros insisted.

- No, Phaetrus. I want to stay with him. Antias! Prepare the funeral for the Sacred Band, tomorrow, by noon. I want a marble statue of a lion to mark the spot. Take care of it. -

Alexander stepped back into the hut, turning away from the soldier’s salute. The sun was setting and the hut was almost dark. Alexander lit a fire in the hearth, lighting up the small room, then he lay beside the dead boy. He looked asleep, just like he wanted, quite peaceful except for a slight wince, a reminder of his painful death. A pool of blood lay between his thighs, looking as if the god Priapus had possessed him again. The boy’s arms lay parallel to his body and Alexander interlaced the fingers of his right hand with the boy’s left. He raised his other arm and pillowed his head on his forearm.

“I wish I could have loved you, at least once. I want to conquer death to be with you, and love you like I wish I could. I’ll find a way. I promise.” His eyes close in sleep and suddenly he found himself in a totally foreign place. Nothing was familiar. He was standing looking down into a stream with flowing water of an unusual colour, looking down a steep but not impossible way down to a secluded beach hidden by the hillocks. The boy’s voice startled him.

- C’mon, let’s go down. No one can see us there. -

He decided to follow his advice and started climbing down as the boy followed. When he arrived at the bottom he had only to reach up and receive the boy in his arms, pressing his warm back into his chest.

- Strip me…- The boy ordered and he complied.

The status had somehow changed, the boy was of Royal blood here, and he was an important visitor.

They ended in the water, which was bubbly and refreshing. Then they lay on the sand and had sex, the first time, hard with the urgency he had to possess the tempting body, and the second time slow and gentle.
The dream was recurrent, during the whole night, and when Alexander woke up as he usually did, at the break of day, he somehow knew it hadn’t quite been a dream, but it had really happened in another time, in another place, he couldn’t explain it. All he knew was it had been real and gave him hope to be able to reach someday that different dimension and enjoy the boy once more.
Alexander kept his promises: Antares never saw a battlefield again. He was taken care and lacked nothing during his life. Alexander took Mihaelis’ blood soaked chiton and shoved it into his own, keeping it close to his flesh, and always wore a part of it under his armour, feeling the courage of the boy seep into his veins through his skin during every battle. All the Thebans were burned in a huge funeral pyre, except Mihaelis, who was buried face down as he had died, and covered with the ashes of the army he had fought with. Alexander himself carefully placed him on the king’s shield and had him carried to his grave, jumping in and receiving the body to place it as he had been asked to. The marble statue of the lion, the symbol of their courage, was placed over their tomb, and still stands in Thebes.

The whole group couldn’t resist the urge to blink simultaneously and they were back in the Chamber Pod. Their eyes went immediately to where Michael lay asleep. Ramthis could tell they were about to go to him and stopped them.

- No! Let him sleep, he needs it. He has proved what he is even without the need of Antares powers. He won’t fail you, ever. He’s ready. I must go, but I leave in good hands…Ser’eeah’s hands, rejoicing at seeing my son well and ready to fulfill his destiny.” Ramthis closed his eyes and his body became translucent just before he disappeared.

- Alright then, we’ve been through one very elaborate experience and thanks to Antares’ time warp, we’ve only been at it for ten minutes Earth time. I suggest we have a good night’s sleep, and Isabel, send everyone back to bed! - Serena nodded smiling and faded away too.

Back in Roswell, Isabel’s eyelids fluttered and she sat up, fully awake. She looked around to find out she was at home, and her husband was leaning on his elbow looking at her.

[ñusta]

Chapter 278


- Nightmare? - Jesse asked her.

- Guess something I ate didn’t quite agree with me. - Isabel smiled weakly.

- I think it’s alien related - He gave her a nasty grin.

Isabel just shook her head, not liking where he was going.

- Michael loves you, Isabel, and you know it. - He snapped.

- Of course I know, and I love him too! I thought for years that he was my brother! - Isabel was trying to control her anger at his insinuations.

- That’s not what I mean! - He wasn’t even trying to control his anger.

- Jesse, I’m your wife, and he accepts it! - She exploded.

- Yeah, big deal! Wonder what you two were up to when I was away! - He snarled.

- Jesse! You know we weren’t alone! What is it with you? - Isabel was losing ground.

- Right! They were all baby sitting you! And you expect me to believe you? - He was seething.

- Like I have to believe you’re alone too when you’ve been away most of the time lately? - She threw back at him.

He gave her his evasive smile. She had come to know it these last months each time the FBI was included in the conversation in any way. She knew she had him. He would rather admit he was whoring than his real job. Isabel scoffed, having made her point.

- I’m tired Jesse, and I’m sorry the way things have turned out. Let’s make a deal, I’ll trust you if you trust me, ok? -

- Deal…- Jesse muttered and lay back, closing his eyes.

Isabel imitated her husband, and tired as she was, decided to check on Michael. His mind was still sorting out what he had just lived through and what was going on with his life in Roswell. Isabel was thrown back and forth between two totally different places and two distant times at such speed, that she was getting dizzy. She decided she wasn’t that strong and left it to Michael, who definitely was. She took one last look at the troubled boy in the bed and Max under him, holding him in his arms. He was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the “battle” going on in the mind of the warrior boy he was holding. Michael winced and moaned, writhing in apparent pain, and Max’s eyes opened and squeezed him reassuringly, his hand possessively on Michael’s ass, over his own brand, making him feel he was there with him and whispering against his hair as he turned his head to his.

- I’m here, I’m here, be strong for me, I love you. - Max whispered, kissing him.

His fingers strayed to the scar he had given him at the bonding ritual, remembering how it had merged with the god’s in that short life he had just lived. Isabel watched Michael’s wince turn into a smirk just as the pain was laced with pleasure, and loved her brother for being there for him. His other hand was straying all over Michael’s back in lazy circles, visibly relaxing him and pulling him back to his present life with him.

- Max…yes…- Michael growled lustily as he pushed his hips up against his lover’s exploring fingers. - Ungh! -

Michael’s half smile, half wince told Isabel clearly what Max had just done to him and Isabel shook her head and decided to leave them alone.

- No…please! - The smile disappeared and the wince remained as Michael sobbed his disappointed protest.

- Later, Michael, now I want you to rest and return to us completely. I’ll be waiting for you to give you all you want. I’m here, baby. I’m not leaving you, I want you to see me as soon as you wake up. Then I’ll fill you up and love you until you can’t take it anymore and beg me to stop, or pass out from the pleasure. Knowing you, I’ll go for the last. - Max chuckled.

Michael purred and squirmed in anticipation and both Max and Isabel knew Michael would make sure Max kept his promise the second he woke up. Michael relaxed, snuggling into Max, and Isabel saw in her brother’s face the effect Michael had on him. He would give Michael everything he wanted and perhaps even more than he had bargained for. Suddenly, Max’s expression became somber and Isabel felt his thoughts invading her head.
Max was thinking that if Michael had also died in this life at fourteen, he didn’t know how he would have been able to go on. Isabel shuddered, agreeing with him completely. How could they have possibly survived without him, knowing how their lives were about to change? Or maybe nothing would have turned out the same. Tess would have probably had them back as soon as she found them, without Michael’s protection. She shuddered again and watched Max shudder at the same time, probably having her same line of thoughts. She couldn’t wait to have Michael in her arms, enjoying his strong warm body pressed to hers. How could she have been so stupid? How could she let her human side take over and ruin her life? Michael had been completely hers and her doubts pushed him away and hurt him so deeply! She deserved what was happening to her, and maybe her bringing Jesse into the picture was the human way of letting the enemy in, to have them all killed again. Jesse was the human version of Khivar! Isabel woke up again with a start, but this time Jesse ignored her. She knew he was awake and looking at her in the dark, and she knew that history was really repeating itself in an obscure way, so they wouldn’t identify it until it was too late. Only this time she was ready for it, and she wouldn’t let it happen. She would inform the others of her discovery. Michael would not be murdered, no one would die, she wouldn’t allow it, she was much stronger now that she knew what was going to happen, and she could warn them in time to prevent it. She forced herself to calm down and finally managed to go to sleep.


Max woke up and noticed two things: light was filtering under the blind, and he had one hell of a hard on. Come to think of it, Michael was about there too. Max raised his arm and bent it, placing it under the pillow, tilting his head enough to watch Michael sleeping over his chest. He took a peek over the sleeping boy’s shoulder, to check his butt, and he felt his cock grow an extra inch plus. Max shivered, looking forward to pushing it into Michael’s tight ass, and did the next best for the time being: he brought his hand to his mouth and scooped a glob of saliva with his index and middle finger. That got him inching into Michael with one finger first, while the other one rimmed him almost all the way round. Max’s forefinger disappeared into Michael and started playing and teasing inside him. He saw his lips curve into a smile as he muttered in his sleep raising his face towards Max’s. His other hand cupped Michael’s chin and he bent his head to kiss him. Max loved Michael’s mouth, his full lips, so soft and supple, like none he had ever kissed, not even Liz’s. When Michael gave himself to Max, everything was forgotten; with Liz, he could feel she couldn’t stop herself from thinking he compared her with Tess. Yes, he sometimes did, but very rarely lately. He was finally getting over it. But with Michael, it was total abandon, it was just the two of them, and he knew Michael would let him do anything he wanted to him, he could enjoy him anyway he wanted but Max was homed on his ass, feeling himself inside Michael drove him out of his mind. Nothing compared to it. The velvety walls, the tight grip, the feigned resistance as he entered him, to enhance his pleasure, the surrender when he was all they way in, how he spasmed when he exploded into him, his moans of pain and pleasure, and the way he purred during the aftermath made him tremble just to think of it.

Max wasn’t sure how long he had been watching Michael sleep, an hour…perhaps more. It was Saturday so it didn’t matter how late Michael slept, and anyway, Liz’s empathy would help them not to be interrupted. Michael took a deep breath and let out a low growl, sending shivers from the top of Max’s head to his tiptoes.

- Michael…- He heard Max’s voice against his hair, and his mind immediately translated his name to the Greek version in his dream: Mihaelis. Michael became aware of his body, he wasn’t a fourteen year old human soldier anymore, he was an eighteen year old half alien hybrid warrior, and both were just as lusty. He stirred and whimpered, the fingers groping his ass and the rock hard erection poking into his thigh wasn’t making his condition any easier and it was getting actually painful. He moaned and squirmed, and was rewarded with a kiss on his cheek. Michael sighed, feeling the slick finger inside him retreat almost all the way out to have another one join it and open their way into him. Before he knew it, he was coming and Max whispered the cue word:

- Bathroom…please? Be right back. - He tousled his hair as Michael allowed him to slip from under him.

Then a smarting slap to his butt made him smirk as he snuggled and enjoyed the aftermath of his solo orgasm, wishing he could have shared it.

Max had an extra long pee, feeling his stomach grumble with hunger. When he returned to the bedroom, Michael was fast asleep. He kissed the ticklish dip above his tailbone, but Michael just sighed. Max decided he would rush over to the Crashdown to pick up some breakfast for both of them and come right back. Being Saturday, only Liz’s father and the other waitresses would be there, so it would be quite fast. He gave Michael one last longing look, thinking about what he was going to do to him as soon as he came back, and left. He didn’t see the huge black limo parked on the side street because he drove in the opposite direction.

Mrs. Curry, walking her dog, was surprised to hear the angry remark from inside the car she was passing: “Finally dammit! My coffee is damned chilled.” She couldn’t see inside because of the dark windows, so she just walked on, surprisingly deciding it was none of her business.

In his dream world, Michael keep going back and forth between his present self and Mihaelis, in a confusion of the different events and people that had passed through his lives. He felt hands on his ass again and wondered who it was, Maximenes? Eucippides? Max? Kyle? Stuart? He wasn’t sure but they were definitely male. He spread his thighs wider and pushed up a little on his knees to make himself more available. He heard what sounded like a scoff and undecipherable whispers which only meant to him they didn’t want to wake him up. But he was beginning to wake up anyway, at his own slow sluggish pace. He felt something inanimate going up his ass and shooting a cold liquid, followed by a finger pushing something hard and greasy that disappeared into him. The finger stayed inside as he felt a needle in his butt, this one shooting stinging fire into him. “Stuart! What happened to me? What are you doing that for?” He wasn’t really protesting, just wanted to know. But the finger kept squirming inside him, a little rough, but, oh well… and then it was yanked out just before strong arms slid under his body and pulled him up, heaving him over a large shoulder. “What the hell…? Thought Michael but he just couldn’t wake up. Then he was roughly shoved face down on a hard but slightly resilient surface and his hands were tied behind his back. His thighs and ankles were held apart with some kind of restrains. “C’mon guys, what’s the game?” He asked but no one answered. That’s when he heard the strange voice: “Ok, he’s all yours, have fun.” In the midst of his drugged state, he finally heard a voice he was sure he knew, but who was it?

- Michael…- The hands were at his ass again.

- Mmm? - He wasn’t sure what to expect.

- Hi there, ready for me? - The familiar voice whispered.

- Yesss…- Now he knew what he was going to get.

Of course he was ready! Of all the stupid questions…Oh! It was Max alright! Where did Stuart go? Was Kyle there too? So they’ve tied me up to fuck the daylights out of me? Cool! No need, but exciting, wow!

As he started regaining consciousness, he felt his eyes heavy, and he could hardly move. Did they have to drug him?

- Now this is the closure I really wanted! - The voice was definitely…Jesse! Oh shit! - This is no dream, baby, this is real life! -


Max arrived at the Crashdown and Mabel came to take his order. She stank of cigarettes and Max was almost choking by the time she went to get his stuff. As he was waiting, Liz came down and went to him.

- Hey! Why didn’t you call me to say you were coming for breakfast? - She asked, covering a yawn with her hand.

- That’s why…- Max smiled. - I thought you were getting up late. -

- I was, but Maria’s on her way over bringing some of her mother’s pies because she’s going away for the weekend. -

Suddenly Liz’s eyes went wide and she cried out into her hands.

- Liz? What is it? I know I’m just out of bed, do I look so bad? - Maria asked from behind Max as she turned towards the counter with a stack of pies in her arms.

- Max…Michael…- Liz whispered.

- Oh, he is fast asleep; I was going to take breakfast to…Liz? What is it? You’re so pale! Is Michael…- Max was afraid to ask.

- They’ve taken him! They’ve drugged and taken him! - Liz said in a shaky voice.

- Whose taking drugs? - Maria asked, using both hands to smooth out her hair. - Liz? -

That’s when she noticed how pale Liz was. She sat beside her and took Liz’ hands away from her mouth, holding them in hers, struggling to form words.

- Liz…what’s wrong…with Michael? - She finally managed.

Liz pulled her hands away from Maria’s and covered her face, sobbing. Maria went even paler than Liz, her nails digging into the table. She turned to Max to find him staring straight in front of him, obviously as shocked as they were.

- Tell me Liz…Please! - She begged.

- Someone’s taken Michael, right after Max left! They drugged him and took him in a big black car. I get some kind of familiar vibes from one of them but I’m not completely sure who it is, it must be the drugs in him. - She took her phone from her pocket and called Isabel.

She told her what she had just said and that they were over at the Crashdown. Isabel just sobbed and cut Liz off, saying she would be right there. Liz then called Kyle and Jim and sat in shocked silence waiting for the others to arrive.

[ñusta]

Chapter 279


Michael had blocked Liz out the second he felt her. They would all be in danger if they knew it was Jesse. He hoped he had been in time, because the drug had made him feel time was going very slowly if it hadn’t stopped at all.

- Well, we’re about half and hour away from our lab so you’ll help me kill the time. - Jesse said loudly before he started whispering as he leant by Michael’s face. - This is a great way to make my dream come true. I’m sure Isabel made it totally realistic, and that you’re as tight and as yummy as then. -

He chuckled unpleasantly as he glided his hands down Michael’s back. Michael looked around to find he was on the rear seat of a huge limo, and the back of the seat he was lying on had been pushed all the way down. He didn’t know it could be done, but at least in this one, it was. The dark face of a black man could be seen in profile on the passenger side of the front seat, and an oriental looking guy was facing his way from the middle of the same seat, by the driver. Michael could only see the back of the driver’s head, and he had very blond hair with a short crew cut, and when he looked at the rearview mirror, the man was looking back at him too, and his eyes were small and beady, and so dark they were almost black. The sound of Jesse’s zipper had their multiraced audience chuckling and Michael couldn’t help shuddering.

- Ok, if you can’t keep quiet, I’ll cut you out! - He pressed a button and a dark partition window started descending.

Jesse chuckled again as the three ones in the front seat protested loudly and opened it again. Then he spread Michael and rammed his finger into him, without warning, making him gasp and jerk.

- Oh yeah! You’re really tight! Great! - Jesse pulled out and Michael grunted with pain.

Jesse put his hand into the pocket of his coat and took out three packets of Condons, getting them on his hardening cock one after the other. He was making sure he wouldn’t catch alien bugs of any kind. He plunged his finger in again, just as roughly as before and Michael moaned and clenched, as Jesse forced it all the way in. He shoved it in and out a few times and then thrust his other index in too. Michael’s moans and the way he squeezed his fingers told Jesse how much he was hurting him. The restrains holding Michael’s thighs kept them wide apart and left him completely exposed. He was at Jesse’s mercy. And he knew he had none for him. Jesse pulled his fingers halfway out and struggled to pull them away from each other, but Michael’s muscles were fighting hard. When Jesse realized he couldn’t separate them any further, he pushed the head of his cock between them and forced it in as he yanked his fingers out. Michael growled, ending in a sob as he felt both Max’s and Isabel’s scars tearing open. The warm gush of blood helped some, but not much, as Jesse kept driving his steel hard cock hard and deep into Michael’s tortured insides. The boy sobbed and whimpered, turning his face the other way, not to see the sadistic grins from the front seat. Jesse kept going hard, nonstop, high with the incredible pleasure he was getting. The triple rubber coating protected him from chafing because of the lack of lubrication, but Michael was taking the worst part of the dry fuck. Jesse was taking his time and meant to last as much as he could. By the time he was finally about to come, Michael was breathing hard and still hanging on. Jesse had been expecting Michael to pass out any minute for the last five, and was surprised at the boy’s endurance.

- Hey, Jesse…man…the kid is bleeding rather bad…- One of the other three guys said.

- Fuck off! He’s tough, he can take it! - Jesse was right there and came violently. He waited until he finally stabilized and had to pull out hard from the tight grip. He actually heard the tearing and he was shocked at the way Michael was bleeding and shivering.

- Shit! Give me that! - He reached for the thick scarf draped over the back of the front seat behind the oriental guy.

- No way! I just bought it! - The man protested, trying to hold it away but Jesse already had one end in his hand and tugged hard.

He started packing it inside Michael until just the fringe stayed outside and it was soon soaked. Jesse knew he was in trouble.


Liz was trembling, sensing Michael was hurting and bleeding bad, but still blocking her out.

- He’s bleeding bad, I think he’s being raped and your scars have been torn open. He’s blocking me out but he doesn’t seem to have complete control, and I can just sense a small part of him. You must concentrate on accepting whoever is doing this to him or he’ll bleed to death! - Liz’s voice was shaking.

- But we don’t know who it is! How can we do it? - Max said.

- Use your brands to make up for the fact that you can’t identify the one connected with him and get through to Michael and his attacker that way! -

- You heard Liz! Just concentrate and accept it! Max! He’ll die if we don’t! - Isabel exclaimed.

- Oh my God! Max, please! Just do it! - Maria sobbed.

- Alright! Alright! It’s ok with me, whoever is doing it to him, it’s ok, I accept it! - Max spat out the words, forcing himself to agree.


Suddenly the dripping fringe stopped leaking and Jesse slowly pulled it out. It came out soaked through, but the boy had stopped bleeding. The scars had healed, though they were still angry red. Jesse reached out and touched them with his fore and middle fingers and Michael jerked. They were still painful, but that was all.

- We’re less than five minutes away, I think he’ll make it, the doctors there will know what to do! - The driver said, realizing that even if they hadn’t taken an active part, they allowed it to happen and did nothing to prevent or stop it, so they would be considered as guilty as Jesse.

- It’s ok. He’s stopped bleeding. - Jesse sighed in relief. - Here, help me with this. -

Jesse handed the blood soaked scarf to the unsuspecting black man who received it and almost dropped in on the floor. He was about to toss it out of the window when Jesse stopped him with a yell and produced a plastic bag to have it dropped into it. He knotted it and placed it by the door.

- We’ll just say we found him bleeding and used the scarf. That blood must not fall in the wrong hands or we’ll be in deep shit, specially so near the lab, you idiot! - Jesse roared.

- Yeah man, sorry, you’re right, but it sure grossed me out! It’s alien blood, right? I’ve got it on my hands! Are you sure I’m not infected with some alien virus or something like that? - He was really scared.

- No man, this guy is as healthy as they come. You can be sure of that. They don’t get sick, hurt yes, but not sick. - Jesse knew from what Isabel had told him that Michael had actually been sick, and had high fevers like neither she nor Max ever had, but it had been an alien thing, and at the same time, ironically, he was the strongest. He thought he better keep it to himself or his partner would totally freak out.


- He’s stopped bleeding. - Liz sighed and everyone else did too.

- Who’s doing this to him, Liz? Can’t you see or hear them? What about you guys? With your brands? If you could stop the bleeding, why can’t you find out? - Maria pleaded, in tears.

- If we could, then you could also do it through your brands. - Isabel said, with sympathetic eyes.

Maria closed her eyes tight and concentrated until her tears made twin rivers from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks.

- I can’t! - She sobbed in frustration.

- We can’t either. - Isabel confirmed.

- Liz, you said he wasn’t totally blocking you out, that you could sense just a little…- Maria turned her eyes to her best friend, full of hope.

- What little I hear has that underwater sound, I couldn’t identify them if I knew them, all I can assure you is they’re male, but that’s about it. -

- And Serena? Can she help? We should call her, she has to know! - Maria had a point there.

Serena had her powers back, and she had been a powerful seer. Isabel nodded enthusiastically and dialed. She informed Serena of everything they knew and then she told them Serena would see what she could do and call them back. It was the longest wait of their life, and they were reliving Max’s frightful experience at the White Room, without the advantage of having Michael’s strength or Tess’ mind warping powers with them.

- Why don’t you dreamwalk him? Like you did Max? He’s probably drugged or they wouldn’t have been able to take him with no one noticing! - Maria suggested.

- Serena told me not to do anything else that could interfere with her, so let’s wait. She knows what she’s doing. We might make things worse without meaning to. - Isabel said, sadly.

So they sat and waited. That’s how Jim found them, and briefing him to the last detail kept them busy and distracted at least for the time it lasted.


Meanwhile, the limo entered a cleverly disguised tunnel and ended in what looked like an underground hangar. When they killed the engine, Michael started to struggle.

- Dammit! Give me that! - Jesse pointed to the small brown suitcase on the dashboard.

He opened it and pulled out another large syringe. He turned to Michael and reaching between his thighs, grabbed his balls and squeezed. Michael froze and Jesse stabbed the needle into his ass shooting the whole load as the boy grunted and growled, unable to move. His back beaded with sweat and his muscles stood out with the effort to deal with the liquid fire shooting into his body.

- Alright, hang on a few minutes, this works fast, but I’m not risking it. He’s even stronger than he looks, I’m not risking it! -

Jesse sounded like he knew what he was talking about, so the others climbed into the back of the limo and held the boy down with both hands until he lay still, breathing hard and moaning. Only then did they dare untie him. They got him out through the opposite door this time, and as soon as they had him halfway out, the tall thickset driver crouched and heaved him over his shoulder again. The internal trauma from Jesse’s vicious attack flared up Michael’s gut and halfway down his thighs, but in spite of the searing pain, he simply couldn’t move. The driver dumped him on his side on an examination table, and then rolled him face down. Of course, he was strapped again, and at least three new voices joined the others. When they moved into Michael’s range of vision, he shuddered seeing they were definitely doctors, and he knew for sure that only meant even more pain.