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“Dark Shadows”

by Alice Montrose

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Epilogue

The pale full moon ruled over the darkness, and the city of Susa was asleep under its spell. Prince Darius stood alone on his bedroom’s balcony, dressed in robes that would protect his well-built body from the faint chill of the night. He looked at the star-filled sky, and sighed deeply. He would have to leave soon, to take command of the Persian Army. His father had insisted that he take General Atarx’s place, after the latter had been murdered in his own tent. By evil spirits, all had said.

One week since he had last seen his lover. One week without looking into those beautiful eyes, without touching the silken hair, without the comfort of feeling somebody cared – really cared – for him. He had awakened to find his bed cold once more, and nightmares plagued his sleep. Dreams of his lover, dressed into the golden robes of an age long gone, lying dead in a stone sarcophagus. Dreams of his lover crying tears of blood.

“Will you come to me tonight?” he whispered into the wind. “Or have you forgotten me already?”

Darius placed his hands on the cold marble balustrade, and leaned forward bending his head. Hot tears fell down his cheek and on the back of his hands, the moonlight reflecting them like tiny diamonds. The Prince let out an anguished sob. “Why have you left me? Why won’t you answer?” he murmured.

The feel of a small warm hand caressing his back gently, as an armcircled his waist. The young man leaned over his back to whisper seductively in his ear, “The wind has answered your prayers tonight, beloved.”

Darius’ hands tightened on the marble, the brownish skin blanching visibly. Was he truly there? The body leaning over his was warm, so different from the faint chill he was accustomed to by now. But the touch was the same, feather-light and elusive, and the voice…

He turned into the embrace, and looked down at the shorter man. Long dark hair, wondrous eyes, and the ivory skin of the ancient Persians. He cupped the lovely face between his own darker hand caressing the silken lips with his thumb, and the young man smiled mysteriously.

“Are you really here?” Darius asked, not sure if his eyes were not fooling him.

“I am sorry it took this long. I was delayed,” came the silent reply.

The Prince bent his head to kiss the warm mouth. But he pulled back, catching a foreign scent and taste on it. He stiffened, and he looked questioningly at his lover. “You have been with another,” he accused. He felt betrayed.

Again, the faint smile warmed the youth’s face. “I do what I am required to do, in order to survive.”

Darius frowned. “Why won’t you let me help you? Tell me who is forcing you to do this. They will never bother you again!”

Midnight eyes met his, and the younger man shook his head lightly. “I always come back to you,” he replied, as he touched his right palm to the Prince of Persia’s chest. “Always. You are my lover, and there is no place for another in my heart.” For a second, he looked so remote from that place, like a marble statue on a marble balcony.

“But why won’t you let me make love to you, then?” Darius protested. “They feel nothing for you. Why won’t you let me show you how different it can be, how much I feel?”

Five long fingers pressed his mouth shut. “Don’t!” the young man said softly. “Don’t ask me to do this with you.” He sighed, and his dark eyes looked straight into the prince’s green orbs. He seemed determined and proud, and very much in command, no longer the lost boy Darius had held in his arms every night for the past two months. Still, there was so much sadness in his lover, as he spoke. And Darius nearly did not believe the words that came out, though the young man had never lied to him.

“All the people I sleep with die. None of them survives. Do you understand? You cannot ask for this. You cannot ask me to kill you.”

The pale fingers trembled, and the boyish face looked down, ashamed perhaps of the confession he had just made. Yet the hand on Darius’ chest kept the contact between their bodies.

Prince Darius gathered the lithe frame to him, wrapping his arms protectively around his lover. The boy’s head nestled in his strong shoulder, and he too wrapped an arm around the taller man’s waist, tightening the embrace. They held each other in the night, and Darius buried his face in the soft hair, whispering, “I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Tetiyus.”

Hidden in the warm wool of Darius’ robes, the Dark Prince’s lips curled into a tender smile. “As do I, beloved. As do I.”

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~ The End ~

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