Every Last Kiss

“What was the issue with him, my love?”he murmured huskily into my hair.“Is there a problem?”

I closed my eyes wearily, hating that I had to conceal things from him. Hating that I had to lie.I might as well call a spade a spade.I was lying.  Sort of.I only had a feeling that Tehran was up to no good.I just didn’t know exactly what he was up to.Either way, a Keeper’s ‘feelings’ should definitely be heeded.

“No, no problem.I just don’t think he should be here any longer- not after what Pothinus did.”To me, my voice sounded strange and stilted.When Hasani spoke, I gathered from his tone that he had heard it, as well.

“Yet he is not Pothinus, my sweet.He has been here for two years since his master’s death without incident.”

I glanced up to find Hasani staring down at me in puzzlement.My words almost tripped on each other as I rushed to fix it.

“I know.But I can’t help but feel that he somehow shared in Pothinus’ misguided ambitions to de-throne Cleopatra. He was certainly a loyal servant to the eunuch. I question his loyalty now- I can’t explain it.It’s just a feeling that I have.There is no reason to have him remain here, at any rate.” 

Hasani nodded, accepting my brief explanation and I felt a rush of relief mixed with guilt.I absolutely hated lying to him.He smiled gently down at me and my heart melted as the candlelight from the torch above us illuminated his handsome bronzed face.

“Shall I escort you to the queen’s chambers?It appears that you have a knack for finding trouble today. And just in case you feel the need to terminate anyone else, I should be there for your protection.”I smiled at him and grabbed his arm, enjoying the way his hard muscles bulged under my fingertips.

“I would be proud to have you as an escort, General,”I answered formally, grinning up at him.“Just in case I need to fire anyone else, of course.”

He smiled at me again, his entire face lighting up and I felt my knees grow weak as I remembered how we had spent the afternoon.I quickly pushed the fluttery feelings out of my mind. I couldn’t think about that now.

As we walked the remainder of the way to Cleopatra’s private rooms through the darkened, hushed halls, I simply focused on enjoying the feeling of his arm linked with mine and the strength that exuded from his every pore.I was disappointed when we arrived at Cleopatra’s carved golden doors far too quickly.

“I will leave you here, my lady.But I will see you at dinner.”His dark eyes sparkled as he bent to kiss my lips softly.“Try to stay out of trouble.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled him, pulling him closer.

“Wanton woman!”he whispered into my neck.I could feel his smile against my skin and knew that he was only joking.“You will need to be patient and wait until tonight.”

He pulled away and walked on, glancing sideways at me impishly as he passed.I stood still and watched him retreat for just a moment, watching the distinct lope of his stride before quietly entering Cleopatra’s chambers.

I found her sitting on her balcony gazing absently at the city below.The stars had come out and were twinkling far above us, as the gentle Alexandrian night breeze caressed our skin.Torches had been lit in the streets and the rich golden glow from them lit the night.I sat at the base of her lounge wordlessly, examining her pensive expression.

“What are you thinking, my queen?”I asked softly.

“Of everything, Charmian,”she sighed.“Only of everything.”

“That is quite a lot to think of, Cleopatra,”I answered lightly, although I completely understood.

Ever since my afternoon with Hasani, thoughts of everything had swirled non-stop in my head, as well. I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried.

“Thank you for today, by the way.”I turned to her again. “It was nice to spend quiet time with Hasani… with all of the stress that we’ve been shouldering of late.”I glanced at Cleopatra to find her smiling knowingly.

“Somehow, I doubt your afternoon was quiet, love,”she murmured wryly, nudging me.I rolled my eyes and she laughed.

“I see that you’re still offering no details.And that’s fine,”she grinned impishly.“I know you will spill it eventually.You’re horrible at keeping secrets.Shall I dress for dinner?”

She didn’t wait for my answer which was good, because she didn’t notice my snort when she announced that I was horrible at secret-keeping.My middle name might as well be Secret.

She strolled to her armoire, sifting among the hanging clothing.She chose a long, turquoise shift with an elaborate embroidered belt and tossed them onto her bed as she stripped off the clothing that she was wearing.

I helped her dress and then sat her in front of me as I wound her hair into a coil to be concealed by her elaborate black wig.As I worked, I decided to casually mention my run-in with Tehran.My fingers deftly continued to tuck her hair underneath the wig’s cap as I spoke, making sure no errant tendrils escaped.Cleopatra was used to this ritual and sat patiently while I worked over her.

“I saw Tehran a few minutes ago.”

I didn’t elaborate, just waited calmly for her certain questions.She had never trusted him either.She spun quickly around, her face frozen with anxiety.

“And?”

“He was in a corner, whispering with a house-servant.He seemed… agitated.I decided we didn’t need his antics here any longer.I marched over and told him that we no longer required his services since his master was dead.”

“And?”Cleopatra’s voice rose an octave.

“And he grabbed my arm and got quite mean.If Hasani had not come across us, I don’t know what he would have done.Do I have a bruise?”

I twisted my arm around to show her where Tehran had grabbed it.I could feel the black and blue welt even as I touched it.She examined it and nodded.

“Yes, he bruised it.Don’t let Hasani see that- the last thing we need right now is retribution.Why did you approach Tehran now, Charmian?He’s been here for two years with no incident.”

Her words echoed Hasani’s almost verbatim.The difference, I knew, was that Cleopatra was relieved.She didn’t want him here anymore than I did.Apples don’t fall far from the tree… and his master had been evil.

I rubbed my wounded arm before I answered.She was exactly right- if Hasani saw that Tehran had hurt me, all hell would break loose.

“I’m not sure, my queen. I just feel unsettled whenever he is near.I don’t see the reason to keep someone like that around the palace… not in such close proximity to you.”

She nodded absently and I watched in the flickering candlelight as she rubbed her perfume oil lightly into the skin of her neck, arms and wrists.She started to put the little jar away and then added a dab to her cleavage as an afterthought. Glancing at her reflection, she sighed and set the little perfume jar in a cabinet next to her vanity.

“Can you do my eyes?”She turned to me, handing me the little jar of green malachite.I carefully lined her eyes with the small brush and then added crimson to her lips and crushed pearl powder to her face.She examined herself again.

“Much better,”she said in satisfaction, slipping jeweled arm bands onto her slender arms.

I had to agree. The powder had given her face a luminescent sheen, sparkling when the candlelight hit it just right. She was beguiling, just she always was, but the tension that she had been carrying had kept her face pale today. The added cosmetics tonight hid it perfectly.

“Shall we dine?”She held out her arm and I took it, and we strolled arm in arm to the cavernous banquet hall on the other side of the palace. 

As we passed the mammoth ivory double-doors to the children’s suite, I paused and turned to her.

“You lunched with the children, of course?”

She grinned broadly, her smile lighting up her entire face, as we resumed walking.

“Of course.Caesarion was ruling over the nursery with a little iron fist, as usual. The twins were rambunctious and running laps throughout all of their rooms, running their nurses ragged.They are well.I…”her voice trailed off pensively and she stopped speaking.

“You what?”I prodded.

“Nothing, my love.We can speak of it later.”She stopped walking in front of the giant arches of the banquet hall and turned to me.“Do I look alright?

She looked beautiful, as she normally did, her elaborate black wig piled high onto her head and her thin shoulders gleaming in the candlelight.But I straightened her diadem anyway, because if I didn’t make some sort of last-minute adjustment, she would worry that she didn’t look perfect. Another trait of hers that history books had not captured… she was a perfectionist in every way.

“Now you are perfect,”I murmured.

She nodded silently as we gazed into the teeming room.At least 50 large sconces were lit within, not to mention the dozens of oil lamps lining each long table. The subtle scent of incense wafted from the room, stirred by the movements of the mass of people within.

Scent was important to the Egyptians, and the perfume of each individual in the room combined to create an overall scent in the air that was not unpleasant in the slightest.It contained musky, fruity and spicy notes all at once.

I scanned the crowded room, looking for the most important face and found him at Antony’s right.He and Antony were speaking in earnest- in a conversation that I had to assume was about military tactics.They tended to get fairly animated when they discussed such things and both were gesturing wildly now.

As I watched, a serving girl flaunted her topless body to Hasani as she knelt in front of him to fill his wine chalice, but he barely glanced at her.I smiled in satisfaction.Hasani continued his conversation as though she was not even there, even as she purposely swung her pendulous breasts into his face.He simply leaned to the side so that he could see Antony better, completely unaffected.

Antony, on the other hand, known for his ravenous appetite for the other sex, pulled her into his lap when she stepped over to him.

He roared in laughter as the girl squirmed, but she was not really trying to escape and everyone knew it.To catch Marc Antony’s eye was considered an honor and she was flushed with pleasure because of it now as her naked breasts spilled over onto his thick forearm.

I glanced at Cleopatra, and found her watching him with a small amused smile.One of the things she loved the most about Antony was his joy of living.

Antony’s transgressions with other women never mattered, because Cleopatra knew his heart.It was she that he loved and no one knew that better than she did.As for me, even though Egyptian culture condoned promiscuity, I was blissfully happy that Hasani had always been happy with only me.

I marveled at that as I looked around the room now and observed the rampant sexuality surrounding us.Even though proprietary rules reigned during the day, it was an entirely different world once night fell. I watched as naked serving women fawned upon the banquet attendees and random couples embraced in dark corners and even out in the open.

People living in the western world now would have a heart attack at what they would consider the immorality of it all.It was a miracle that Hasani felt the need to be monogamous in this place, but my western upbringing as Macy was thankful for it.I couldn’t bear to watch Hasani with another woman as Cleopatra so patiently did with Antony.