text: [Themes: fan fiction, biblical]
  
  We reach the top floor. The sun shines in my eye from a window to my left, so I squint as the door opens. The messenger walks through the doorway, but I hesitate.
  
  Everybody is naked. Eunuchs, women, and Darius are as naked as they were when they were born. Darius sits on the throne with a woman in a loving embrace. In front of them, five eunuchs and four women act carnally with one another. Around them, eunuchs and women walk to pick up a pomegranate, for hundreds of pomegranates lie on the floor. They pick up the pomegranate without bending their legs and toss it over their shoulder after taking a bite from it.
  
  "Ashich, come!" proclaims Darius.
  
  I walk forward trying not to trip on pomegranates or fluids while making all effort to not bump into any of these souls. After walking around the five eunuchs and four women in front of Darius, I knell and say, "I am your servant, oh noble Darius, as I always have."
  "Stand. I give you full permission to lie with any of my wives or concubines."
  "My Lord, I am but your servant."
  "Do not say such things. Here, Salome, go down and welcome my friend back."
  
  The face of Darius has no eyes that shine. They are dark and his body seems to be with more fat than what I once saw. There is no piece of Darius that is still noble.
  
  Breaking me from my thoughts, I feel a kiss on my lips. The wife who is named Salome has come before me without myself noticing. She pushes me back, and I trip on a pomegranate. I lie on my back as the woman kisses me again. She takes off my shirt as I gaze upon her nakedness.
  
  > keep your Resolve
  After Darius' wife breaks her kiss from my lips, I say to Darius, "Can we not be alone together? I wish to know you better."
  "Salome," says Darius, "Please rise off of Ashich. His offer seems interesting to me. Come into my private chambers. Then, you may lie with my wife."
  Salome hands me my shirt back but whispers into my ear, "Save some of yourself for me." She smiles.
  
  I depart from the married harlot and follow Darius. After he enters the room, he takes a cape and dons the clothing though it does nothing to hide his nakedness from me.
  
  I ask of the man who was once my brother, "I did not know you desired to lie with other men."
  He sits upon his bed as he replies, "I found it to be pleasurable as with women. Gaze at my paintings. Do you enjoy them?"
  
  I look at the paintings. They are of many unnatural perversions such as men and women lying with beasts of all kinds. I close the door.
  
  Darius continue, "When I grow bored of those outside, I find excitement in here."
  "When did you become like this?" I ask.
  "It was when I took power. I am now noble no matter what I do, so I may do what no other man may do while maintaining my nobility. Furthermore, I find that pleasure wears thin after doing an act for too many times. Now, I wish to see how it would be to lie with a friend instead of a harlot, woman, or servant of mine. Is it any different?"
  "What about your kingdom? I had great difficulty in making the Insanlar surrender, for my requested supplies were not sent."
  "Such things are trivial now. Do you not see? Borders may shift and people may die, but it will continue for all time. I will not, so I wish to experience all pleasure before I grow old. Now, take off your garments so that I may lie with you."
  "What is that over there?" I ask. "It that your bath?" Other than a bed, the paintings, and wardrobes, the only other object in the room is what appears to be a golden trough.
  "No, that is my toilet. It has further purposes as well, but I see that you understand for your face reddens."
  I walk up to Darius. He smiles at me. I say, "This is for you, oh noble Darius."
  
  I withdraw my sword with my left hand, for my sword was sheathed on my right side. I drive the sword through his chest until the hilt touches his flesh. Before he could cry out, I force his head into his lush blankets and smother his cries. He twitches in the bed as I whisper in his ear, "Die in the pain of all you have made to suffer."
  
  He stops moving. I take off my sheath and lay it next to his body. I roll over the corpse to see his face. Blood spills out of his mouth and down his chest.
  
  I rise and wipe off any of his blood that went onto my clothing. Then, I open the door and leave the room. I close it before any could look in. Salome walks up to me with a hungry look in her eyes.
  
  I say to her, "Do not disturb our Great King. He is relieving himself on the toilet and wishes for me to take many of his wives to him for his own purposes. He told me that he will call you when he is ready."
  
  She nods. I leave.
  
  > Epilogue: The Inferno
  And so Ashich the Arkadas subjugated the Israelites, for God told them to submit for a time. Then, Ashich departed for his homeland where his king Darius resided. Darius was a carnal king who loved all pleasures of the flesh. Ashich saw these things which were perverse and so he went to his king alone. Nobody minded his sword, for it was sheathed on his right side. None knew Ashich the Arkadas could wield the sword in either hand.
  
  Then, Ashich stabbed Darius through his chest and smothered the king in his bed's blankets. Ashich left the room and took in secret all of the wives and concubines which wished to leave. No one checked on Darius until after Ashich the Arkadas fled, for they thought that Darius was relieving himself.
  
  Then, a fiery inferno descended from heaven and consumed all of the palace of Darius and his gardens. None dared to attack the Insanlar again, for all of the surrounding nations feared their God.
  
  The descendants of Ashich are as follows. Ashich took a wife from the harem of Darius named Otuz and they begot Jamin, Elealeh, Shaphan, and Ithiel. Shaphan begot Malchus, Azariah, and Dodavah. Malchus begot Joachim who begot Calamus. Calamus begot Menahem and Jasher. Jasher begot the Insanlar's king today who is Elnaam.