The Harem

The Harem 8

Chapter 8

I wake up the next morning upset to say the least. The betrayal from Basil was on my mind. I enter into the courtyard where most of the boys go to clean. Fresh water from a well is carried out into large buckets. This is where we clean. This is a different area from the baths inside the Harem where we lounge. Outside is the cleansing area. Boys spend hours in this area. Even though we haven't been visited for quite some time the boys always remain cleaner than average people. It was one of the most necessary parts of being in a Harem.

I see Constantine with Justinian. Justinian doesn't have anything on. Usually he has on a bright blue scarf wrapped around his blonde hair but he doesn't even have that. He's showing off his beautiful body. His abs are tighter than mine. The sun flickering down on it makes them pop. I wonder if Constantine notices just how tight his abs are or just how small his waist is.

I hated him. I hated his blue scarf. I hated his blue eyes. I hated his blonde hair. I hated the fact that Constantine has given him any attention.

"You alright?" Polo asks me.

"I'm fine," I state staring away from Justinian.

Basil isn't out in the courtyard. Polo greets me and I start scrubbing my skin next to him. I turn to Constantine. He turns to me. Our eyes connect. For some reason after him saving me from Basil I want to say something to him but I'm not quite sure what to say.

Usually, the morning routines are done in silence. Not this time. People were talking. Whispering about Basil.

"Has he come out yet?" Polo asks me.

The sun is hot today and there is a little breeze. Sweat is dripping down my body almost immediately when I join the boys. Polo, Manuel and one of the new blonde boys named Farin are standing next to me. Manuel is completely naked, Polo is washing some clothing and Farin is shaving his body. It's said the sultan prefers smooth boys. A lot of boys spend hours making sure they don't have any body hair...not even facial. Usually it is a private thing that takes a lot of concentration. The gossip today is high, though. Everyone is talking about Basil.

"No, he hasn't," Manuel states, "I can't believe I didn't know that he was a spy."

Polo sighs, "You aren't the only one. Right under our noses."

"Do you think there could be more?" Manuel asks him.

I pause. I avoid eye contact with Manuel when he asks that question. I join Farin in shaving. I don't know him too well but there are extra blades and he hands me one probably noticing the big of hair growing around my legs.

Farin nods to Manuel, "There has to be."

Polo shrugs, "I don't know. I wouldn't jump to conclusions. Hush."

"What?"

It sounds like for a second that Polo is stating that I am a spy. I turn to him almost immediately but I realize that he is waiting for me to respond to what he is saying.

"Do you think anyone else could be working for one of the princes?"

I shake my head, "Not for one of the princes. No. Dhaamir seems the only one who would scheme like that. The other two princes seem more...straight forward."

I couldn't be completely sure but I just had a feeling. It's not to say that there weren't other players in this. It was becoming clear that the Harem was playing a huge part in the role of the Empire.

Manuel stares down, "No one's safe. Not in the harem. I can't wait to leave..."

"Don't say that too loud," I warn him.

The eunuchs were listening. They were always listening. They were always around. They fancied themselves our keepers and attendants but I knew they were our slavers.

Polo nods, "You have a point. Regardless how dangerous it is here we can't leave. It sucks for you though Hush. Now you have to watch out for Basil as well..."

Polo stops talking because someone walks up to him. I can tell by how his thoughts fade away that he is intimidated by the person. It's Constantine.

"Basil won't be a problem moving forward," Constantine states.

Constantine walks over to us. He never really entertains gossip like the other boys. Usually, he is alone or with Justinian. The fact that he has left Justinian and is casting a huge shadow over us seems odd. Everyone else seems to get nervous.

Manuel goes into his usual ass kissing mode, "Constantine, I've been meaning to talk to you. I had no idea about Basil. I want to let you know that. I knew if anyone would figure it out, though, it would have been you. You did a great job, Constantine."

Manuel is still holding onto this idea that Constantine is some hero sent to help us escape the Harem. Constantine is clearly not having it. I can look into his eyes and tell that he's not really hip onto what Manuel is telling him.

Constantine ignores Manuel almost completely.

"Make sure everyone knows Hush is under my protection from now on. Make sure Basil knows that," he tells Manuel.

Strange.

Manuel leaves, clearly respecting Constantine's status among the boys.

The two other boys remain but there is an awkwardness as I stare at Constantine trying to figure him out. Constantine stares back at me. Protection?

Constantine offers me his hand.

I think about it. I think about how I can't trust people. I thought I could trust Basil but he turned into a snake. Now Constantine was here offering me his help and I didn't understand. I take Constantine's hand at that moment, though.

He leads me away from everyone else towards the other side of the courtyard. The idea of privacy in the Harem is something that definitely seems intimate to say the least. There is no true privacy. No locked doors are allowed in the Harem. Sex and bathing is done in public. Public displays of affection are common in the Harem. The private displays are what come strange to some people. I can see the looks on people's faces. Maybe Manuel has already gotten out word that I am under Constantine's protection or maybe people just find it strange that Constantine wants to talk to me in private.

"Your protection?" I ask.

I can't even wait.

"Get undressed. Turn around...I'll wash your back."

The way he is talking to me almost is like he is proving that I am his for some reason. It's almost like he is showing better than telling. He helps me undress as though I'm a child who can't do it alone. Normally I would feel offended but for some reason I like it.

When I'm nude he doesn't stare to admire my body or anything like that. He's probably seen nude bodies a million times in the Harem. I don't impress him. Constantine runs the alkali soap down my back, massaging brick with a scrub to exfoliate to remove all the dead skin from my back. He adds water from a nearby bucket. The soap suds trickle down my back to the beginning of my ass. The lathering substance causes my body to be smooth and smell sweet.

"What changed your mind?" I ask him.

I hadn't agreed to his terms. He seems hard pressed earlier.

"I almost lost you yesterday," he explains.

It's a curious way to say it. I think about just letting it go but that isn't in my nature. I turn towards him, revealing my nude body in the most vulnerable way.

"How can you lose something you never had? Or wanted for that matter?"

"You think I didn't want you?"

"You told me that you didn't want me," I state, "Not in the way I would prefer at least."

Constantine gets quiet. For the first time, I see him seeming unsure of how to reply to something. Instead of replying he starts undressing. Maybe he knows that I'd be less intimidating to him if he was naked.

He is right.

My hard stare softens to something of envy and desire when I see his hard muscles. He hands me the soap.

"Your turn."

I start to clean him. His body is long and lean. It is firm and tight. I press on this hard physique realizing there isn't a soft spot left on him. Even his skin is tough even though it is smooth and slides easily by my touch. I'm shaking when I do this. He makes me nervous. I get to his neck and realize him staring down at me. For some reason, he has the same look in his eyes that I do.

"You make me nervous," Constantine tells me.

Constantine admitting this was more than I thought he would. When he says it I try to nod and pretend like it doesn't faze me. It does phase me, though. Constantine never put his feelings out there for anyone to see. Right now he was doing just that.

"I couldn't possibly make you nervous," I tell him.

"Is that so impossible? Me pulling you away from Basil wasn't only for your protection. I could tell you were falling for him."

"Basil? No. Basil was about you. Well about us. I saw you with Justinian yesterday."

"He means nothing to me."

Hearing him say those words come as a relief. I was beginning to think different. I was so sure Constantine was falling for Justinian. I don't need to repeat the same. I have embarrassed myself trying to make him jealous using Basil. Basil was trying to kill me after all and Constantine ended up saving me. I expect Constantine to be gloating but he doesn't do that.

I have to address it.

"Thank you for saving me from Basil," I state, "Thank you for warning me from him."

"I won't let anyone touch you. Whether it be Basil or Alexios."

"You can't protect me forever."

"I am Prince Dhaakir's favorite. Once he is sultan, I can protect you."

"Why are you so sure Dhaakir is going to be sultan?"

"He is the crowned prince. I sent a message to him about Dhaamir earlier. I'm sure Dhaakir will make peace with Daai and address Dhaamir accordingly."

The only problem with that is Prince Dhaakir wanted me dead.

I smile none-the-less.

"I'm afraid..."

For some reason, I know this is going to get the reaction I want. He holds me close. He gathers me up between his arms. There is no space between us.

"Everything will be OK. I promise."

"Justinian is looking at us," I tell Constantine.

Sure enough Constantine's shadow is looking at us from the threshold into the Harem doors. He leans up against the door. He isn't hiding it. He deliberately watches how we communicate.

"You make him mad."

"Why?"

"You know why," is Constantine's reply.

"I don't want any more trouble from anyone else," I state.

Constantine gives me a hard look, "You doing the innocent thing again. Fine. I'll take the blame. I'll make the first move."

With that Constantine looks over at Justinian, making sure he's watching us. Then he grabs me up. It's clear he's taking the lead. It's clear he is initiating this. We start to kiss. His tongue presses up against my lips. It's immediate. His tongue explores my mouth. He sweeps me underneath the lathering soap. My dick hardens. I would let him fuck me right now if he wanted, but he doesn't want to. He's just making a point.

Justinian looks upset. He almost looks to the verge of tears as he leaves the courtyard and goes back inside. If he was going to be mad at anyone it was going to be Constantine.

"Thank you," I state.

"No need to thank me. I told you I'll protect you from all your enemies. I mean that...even if it's Justinian. I'll tell him later on. I'll tell him that he can't sleep with me anymore. I'll tell him that space is reserved for you now."

Basil's actions yesterday must have really gotten to Constantine. I haven't seen this side of him.

"What about your rules?" I ask.

"I'll make an exception."

His hand cups my ass. Our bodies merge together. I don't know why I repeat the action doing the same. I test him. I've never seen someone play with Constantine's butt, yet I can't help myself. I find myself grabbing onto the tight muscles squeezing it slowly.

He squints when I do it, surprised that I'm going there instead of his penis.

"You really do think you're special, don't you?" he asks me.

He's talking about the fact that I think I'm special enough to grab his butt. Not even the princes have gone there with Constantine to my knowledge. Still, I don't remove my hand. I squeeze it even tighter.

"You just told me you'd make an exception."

"Could you handle it...if I gave it to you?"

"Try me..."

Constantine uses his finger to push it into his ass. My middle finger enters behind him and the soap suds lubricate my finger enough to go deep into his ass. It's tight. It's tighter than any ass I've experienced before. His ass muscles clench down on me. It's almost as though he wants to show me just how vital this is. He wants to reassure me that this is a no-entry zone. I get it. I can't help but to be turned on as he leaves my finger in him. He stares me deep into my eyes.

This had nothing to do with training. This had nothing to do with anything else.

This was more than that.

"No," he says before I get any further.

He is a tease. He's a very good one. I must say.

"I had to try."

"Maybe one day. But not now."

"What happens now?" I ask him.

"I'll protect you. No rules. I don't need nothing in return. I'll protect you because I want to," Constantine says, "And we'll be together."

I want to ask him what he means by that. Did he want us to build a relationship or was this just him training me in the Harem? Before I can open my mouth to ask him I hear screaming. Someone is in tears. We are interrupted. It's Manuel. He running from the harem into the courtyard where most of the boys are still cleaning.

"He's dead...he's dead!"

I'm shocked when Manuel runs out. I don't expect it.

"Who's dead?" Constantine asks him.

"Basil..."

~

We don't get to see the body. There are rumors flying around from assassin to suicide. No one knows exactly what happens through the entire afternoon. It isn't until the bells ring and we are called out into to the main Oda, which is what the eunuchs referred to as the main harem chamber. that we address the situation.

Something strange is happening. Many eunuchs are here. They are armed to the teeth. I am confused on what is happening here. I don't understand it. All the boys in the harem are all lined up and sat on the sofas in no particular area. I want to sit next to Constantine but it turns out that I am placed by an aggressive eunuch right next to Alexios. Jelani is on the other side of me.

"What's happening?" Jelani whispers to no one in particular.

We are all wondering the same thing. This was strange. Usually, if we were getting visitors the eunuchs would prepare the area with wine, food and other delicacies. This wasn't that.

"It must have something to do with Basil's death," I realize.

"The Sultana is coming," Alexios states, "She's come before."

The fact that Alexios guesses that out of anything seems odd, but it does make sense. Basil shows up dead and prince shows up dead as well.

They announce her title as "The Queen Mother" when she comes into the room. She's not alone. I notice Loras is attending her as well. I assume he would be. He is after all the Grand Vizier.

She is silent when she walks in. She had on a salvar, which were Ottoman trousers, a fitted jacket and a sash tied around her waist. She had a long robe that was cut apart from the length. Her clothing was brightly colored and seemed to have a luxurious feel for her. When she walks in and doesn't speak I assume that maybe it is because she can't. Maybe some sort of Ottoman law doesn't allow women to speak. Then I see her eyes and realize she is crying. She is full of grief. Maybe that is why she doesn't speak. Maybe that is why the Grand Vizier speaks for her.

I don't get it, though. Why would the Queen Mother be crying about Basil?

I stare at Loras. He pretends as though he doesn't know me. His eyes are concentrated more on the blonde boys with their striking features like Farin and Justinian.

He looks right past me.

"Prince Dhaamir is dead," he announces.

Everyone is shocked. I can't say that I am. Yesterday Constantine announced that Prince Dhaamir was plotting against his brothers. I sit there looking at the Queen Mother's grief and I wonder why the Sultan himself hasn't come here. Isn't he upset with his son's death?

Loras continues.

"The prince's last words were to find Basil."

Strange.

"It came to our attention yesterday that Basil was a spy for Prince Dhaamir," Constantine explains, "That may be why."

Loras recognizes Constantine. Very few boys in the Harem were well known enough to speak and Constantine just so happened to be one of them. Constantine was flawless. It was no doubt someone like him was well known even to men who didn't frequently visit the Harem like the Grand Vizier, Loras.

"Good. We'd like to speak with this Basil in regards to Dhaamir's death."

Everyone gets quiet.

It's Alexios who speaks, "Grand Vizier. I apologize but Basil is dead as well..."

"Dead?" Loras asks.

Manuel nods and brings forward something that is wrapped in some sort of fabric, "This was found in the room that he died in."

Loras unwraps the fabric and shows the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother nods silently but her tears start to spread even more. It's a very strange thing sitting in front of this woman like this. She wanted answers and none of us could really give it to her.

"What is it?" the Queen Mother whispers.

"I can tell immediately Queen Mother. It's stinking nightshade," Loras analyzes, "It's a poisonous plant. When mixed in the right way it can be quite dangerous. How could this be found in the Harem?"

No one answers. One of the Eunuchs replies.

"It's impossible."

"Whoever created this had to have been a master assassin. Who visited here last night?"

The eunuch shakes his head, "No one entered. No one left."

"Yet somehow it's here. How?" The Grand Vizier asks.

There is silence. No one seems to know the answer to this weird question. Someone killed Basil and no one had any idea in the world who it was. The smell of the nightshade is definitely distinctive. The roots of the plant have been chopped and dried. It seems to have been carefully prepared.

Another Eunuch answers the question desperately, "I'm sorry but we don't know."

Loras turns to the boys in the Harem.

"Who does this belong to?"

No answer.

We all look at him with this confused look.

"The Queen Mother came here looking for answers to why her son was killed. The only person who knew shows up dead. We need answers. There will be major consequences for everyone involved if no one comes forward. Whoever prepared this knows exactly what he is doing. Who does this belong to?"

We all look around confused on who could have been skilled enough to kill Basil so quickly and so silently. They were trying to keep something secret. They were trying to keep something under wraps.

The Queen Mother wanted to know what that was.

"If no one comes forth by the end of the night, we will kill indiscriminately anyone we suspect of not being who they say they are," the Grand Vizier announces, "I suggest you boys find out very quickly who killed Basil."

~

The Grand Vizier and the eunuchs begin to search the room. Some stay with the Queen mother. The look on her face is haunting. She's mourning and all the wrath of the Ottomans are in this room ready to punish each and every last one of us to heal her pain. I look over at the others. Everyone is afraid.

Whispers are going everywhere at that moment. The Queen Mother wanted answers to her son's death. They were answers that none of us seemed to have. They were answers that Basil would have had. I can see the stress on her face. This was definitely growing.

"Who could have done it?" I ask.

I'm standing next to Polo. He leans in at that moment, "Come on. You can't protect him forever..."

"Protect who?"

Polo leans into me.

"Constantine..."

I turn. Constantine is sitting in a bath alone. He doesn't seem nervous. He just seems to be dipping his water while a lot of the other boys scurry around hoping to throw someone under the bus before the Vizier's search was over. It was clear the Vizier meant what he said. Someone would be paying for Basil's death. We weren't sure who. We weren't sure why.

We knew it was someone, though.

"Polo what the hell are you talking about?"

Polo shrugs, "You heard him earlier: Basil wouldn't be a problem anymore."

"He was just saying that I was under his protection."

"Do you know that for sure?" Polo asks me.

"It wasn't Constantine."

"I saw him sneaking around," Polo tells me, "I saw him sneaking around last night. He was up to something."

"There could be a million reasons he was sneaking around. I couldn't sleep last night either."

"He was sneaking! Why sneak?"

"He could have been hiding from someone."

"Who?"

"I don't know maybe he was afraid."

"Who could Constantine be afraid of. Look at him now," Polo states, "He seems so cool. Almost like he could care less."

Things get quiet at that moment. Something else is happening.

The Vizier walks back out. People literally stop what they are doing. Fear fills the room.

The Harem is so silent. Everyone is quiet. Everyone is extremely quiet at that moment. I'm not sure what is happening but when the Vizier comes back out he has something in his hand.

We all look.

"Who does this belong to?" The Vizier states.

We all get scared. There is a scarf there. It's a bright blue scarf.

It's Mendeecees who answers first, "Justinian..."

The Vizier opens the blue scarf. The plant is in it. Traces of the plant are wrapped all in the scarf. Justinian looks confused. He grabs onto Farin who desperately pushes him away. Justinian falls to the ground. He's on his hands and knees panicking when he sees the scarf.

The Vizier nods, "Arrest him."

Everyone seems stunned. Justinian seems to panic all of a sudden, "Wait! WAIT! I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything!"

They drag Justinian out into the middle of the floor. A couple of us are shocked at that moment but no one says anything. The halls of the Harem are terrible right now.

I look away. Luckily Manuel is close enough for me to bury my head into his shoulder when they shove Justinian to the ground! He helps me cover my ears when Justinian begins to scream.

No one addresses Justinian until they cut his head clean off his body. The head rolls on the floor in front of the Queen Mother. She stares at it. She seems completely unmoved. Someone had to pay for the fact that she didn't get answers to her son's death.

That person just so happened to be Justinian.

Polo leans over at me.

"Justinian? Really? He doesn't even seem like the type," Polo states, "We both know who put Justinian up to killing Basil."

I turn to Constantine. He stares down at Justinian's body. He doesn't seem shocked or surprised that Justinian is dead. He seemed to almost expect Justinian was going to be the one who was found guilty of killing Basil. I can see it in Constantine's eyes.

Constantine knew Justinian was going to die today.

~

The night is pretty odd to say the least after Justinian is beheaded. I head to Constantine's room regardless of what Polo has to say about him. I know that Constantine must be lonely right now after he lost Justinian. Constantine is sitting in the dark when I get to his room.

"They killed him for no reason," Constantine states, "We all know either Prince Dhaakir or Prince Daai killed Dhaamir."

He is staring at the blue scarf. It was left. I guess they had no more need for it. The scarf matched Justinian's eyes. Constantine holds onto the scarf tightly. He looks emotional. He looks like he is lost. As I walk into the room, I walk up to him and join him on the pillows. I put my hand on Constantine's back to offer him what little comfort I can.

"Why didn't you say anything? If you suspected the other princes?"

The Queen Mother wasn't angry about Basil's death. She was angry about the prince.

"With only two heirs left things will heat up between Dhaakir and Daai. I don't want to be in the middle of it," Basil explains, "Justinian died for no reason."

"Well...Constantine, they did find his scarf."

"You really going to sit here and say that?"

Constantine looks up at me. His eyes pierce through me.

"What?"

"You really going to say you believe that Justinian killed Basil?"

"That was what the Grand Vizier came up with..."

"The same Grand Vizier that you sneak out to meet from time to time?" Constantine asks me.

I remove my hand from his back. I stare at Constantine. I stare at his facial expression. I stare at the way he is looking at me. He is suspicious.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" I tell him.

"Last night I left my room," Constantine says, "I thought you were upset with Basil so I came to sleep with you instead of Justinian. You seemed busy so I didn't come in. You were working on something. You were mixing something up. I saw you last night, Hush."

"Constantine, what could you have seen..."

"I didn't know what it was yesterday but I smelled it again tonight. I saw you mixing the stinking nightshade. Admit it, Hush."

I get quiet.

Constantine grabs me by my neck.

"You're hurting me."

"ADMIT IT!"

He chokes harder. I can't bear it. I drop my act.

I nod, "Fine. I killed Basil. I framed Justinian."

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