Jacek watched as hundreds of his soldiers returned across the siege line from the citadel. He stood with his arms crossed thinking to himself, “Each and every soldier unharmed and released. Xenia has kept her promise. I’m impressed.”
A commanding officer ran up to Jacek and reported in, “Lord Heraklinos, sir!”
Jacek turned to him, “Report commander.”
The commander saluted Jacek and began his report, “Master Heraklinos has received word from General Magnus that the rebel attacks in the Saber Province have all but vanished as of late bringing the border attack crisis to a close, for now.”
Jacek frowned and looked at his commander with a look of suspicion but said nothing. The commander continued, “Similar attacks have also been successfully warded off in the Sage Empire and Starfallen Empire.”
Jacek couldn’t help himself but to express his suspicions, “Rebel attacks in three separate empires all coming to a halt at once? I don’t like that commander. I don’t like that at all. Rather than a victory, I see it as the rebel forces displaying coordination far beyond anything we have seen previously.”
“Should I relay your concerns to Master Heraklinos, sir?” The commander agreed with Jacek but had no authority to express it to an audience who could act on the matter.
Jacek shook his head, “No. It is good news for now. And we have our hands full here for the moment.”
The commander nodded, “Very good sir. In more good news, unequivocally good news that is, the ki stones from Master Sage have arrived in pristine order.”
Jacek smiled and unfolded his arms, “Now that is good news.”
The commander smiled along with him, “Three stones have arrived, and they are currently in your office being held safely with soldiers on guard at all hours.”
Jacek simply smiled knowing that Erika had sent them the strongest reinforcements they could ask for. He thought to himself, “I’m sure she has improved even more, and last time I was able to best Gladiator Champion Nero with the aid of her ki stone.”
The commander finished by saying, “And lastly my Lord, Master Sage requests you call her at your earliest convenience.”
Jacek nodded and replied, “I’ll call her now. Thank you commander.”
The commander bowed and left his Lord’s side as Jacek continued to watch the soldiers pour in and past the siege line. Jacek drew his cell phone and called Erika. The phone rang several times before a voice answered.
“Jacek! How did the negotiations go?” Erika was thrilled Jacek had called her so soon.
He smiled at the sound of her voice and answered, “They went surprisingly well. Suspiciously well.”
Erika replied, “Hmm, she didn’t try anything off limits or scandalous did she? That woman is an incorrigible harlot.”
“She tried. But I stood my ground.” Jacek didn’t consider telling Erika the truth of what happened for a second.
“And she had no qualms with you refusing to hand President Davis over to her?” Erika was somewhat surprised given his importance and skill as a politician.
Jacek sighed a breath of relief, “No qualms at all really. She moved on quite fast after being informed. I think she already prepared herself for the news. She seemed to have a firm grasp on the understanding that both St. Michael and Arthur Davis are moving further and further from her influence.”
“Well. She isn’t an idiot. As much as I hate to commend her, she has always been very sharp and aware of the shifting sands of the world around her.” Erika replied.
Jacek then unintentionally put his foot in his mouth, “The negotiations went better than expected. She even released a cohort of soldiers back to our forces, several hundred, completely unharmed.”
Erika was shocked, “Really?! In exchange for what? That doesn’t sound like her at all.”
Jacek hadn’t been prepared to answer Erika’s follow up questions. In particular, he wasn’t keen on revealing what he had traded for their release, an intimate kiss or more. He stumbled over his words as he tried to buy himself time, “Well… in exchange… she… umm…she… she wanted a second round of negotiations. Tomorrow actually. Same time. I think she is hoping her show of good faith will curry her good faith in return.”
Erika wasn’t impressed, “Jacek. You know exactly what she is doing. She is trying to spend as much time with you as possible. Do not fall to her machinations.”
Jacek shook his head, “Don’t worry Erika. I don’t think that’s the direction she is aiming. I think she is setting up the cards to force our hand in war. She is intent on total domination. Until that point is reached, I intend to secure as many of our soldiers back to safety as I can.”
Erika laughed, “Well, when that time comes… that’s exactly what the ki stones are for. So you can stop her in her tracks. She will be alone soon enough with no one to protect her politically or physically. And I will have never been happier to know I contributed to your power that takes her down once and for all.”
_____________________________
Xenia stood at the gates of her BloodStar Citadel bidding her prisoners goodbye, “Tell Jacek that I am thrilled to please him and look forward to seeing him tomorrow.” She blew kisses at them as they filed out through the gate.
She then smiled on at them thinking, “You are all dead by my hand eventually whether you are my prisoner here or enemy in the field.”
She then felt a cold chill of death down her spine and shot her eyes to the side as she spoke to an unseen presence, “Has anyone ever told you… you would make a perfect assassin?”
From the shadows, a man in black robes stepped forward, “Has anyone told you that you are a truly talented freak? Not even Victoria can detect me with just raw intuition. You weren’t using ki to detect me were you?”
Xenia turned her entire body to face him and shook her head, “No, Ashrok. There are some forces more powerful than ki. Intuition being one of them.”
He gave a cold light laugh, “Right you are. And as such, no one can match your raw power. Not even me it would seem.”
Xenia smiled at his praise, “I must say I am somewhat surprised to see you here of all places. What is my mother up to now?”
Ashrok motioned to her to walk with him. As they walked he said, “Empress Victoria has recalled all six Blood Wraiths. An uncommon occurrence. She has given only sparse details, but I gather it has to do with the end of this war. The end of this era in time.”
Xenia frowned, “Is this why the rebel attacks around the globe have ceased? The wraiths in charge of various forces have been called back from their tasks in the field?”
He nodded, “Correct. Victoria has always advocated for various standing forces around the world should she ever need to enact a coordinated and unexpected attack. However, nowadays, I think she sees you as the tip of the spear. She sees you as the new force to reckon with in the world.”
She laughed, “I should say she is right. This siege is a joke. They may very well cut off my supply lines, but they will only force me to attack sooner than I would like. They are overconfident in their abilities.”
Ashrok’s cold voice replied, “Don’t be so sure that their confidence isn’t at least somewhat unfounded. I spent several hours in their base before crossing through their siege line. They have at minimum three surprisingly powerful ki stones. The stones are under complete lockdown.”
Xenia grit her teeth, “Erika Sage.”
“Correct.” Ashrok was impressed, “Master Sage has slowly become more and more powerful in her Cursecraft. I suggest caution when facing her or those who are empowered by her.”
Xenia contorted her face with a displeased look, “I am no slouch myself Ashrok. And caution is not my strongest virtue.”
He laughed, “This I know. And if you aren’t to be cautious then you must at least be informed. That is why I tell you. Three ki stones.”
“Thank you. Now what is it that my mother has sent you here for.” Xenia asked him as they walked into her private quarters.
She leaned against her desk, and he respectfully stood with his hands clasped together, “I’ll cut to the chase. A liter of your blood. And… your heart.”
Xenia rolled her eyes, “Fine. But she is lucky I have a penchant for pain. What did you call me… a freak? She’s lucky I’m a freak.”
She then looked to Ashrok and said, “Well, how would you like to gather it?”
Ashrok gathered a layer of ki around his body and said, “Without mess if you don’t mind.”
She grimaced, “Without mess? That doesn’t sound painful. If you are going to take a liter of blood at least let me enjoy it.”
Ashrok realized he had underestimated her predilection for pain and responded, “Very well. By dagger then.”
She smiled and gave a low rumbled growl of pleasure, “Do to me as you like then Ashrok.”
She opened her arms and leaned against the desk waiting for him. He quickly slashed at her chest with his dagger making a deep wound and held a large glass bottle out as he collected blood from the largest stream that poured from her body. It was a messy catch as the ground below soaked with fallen blood.
Xenia breathed heavily and moaned from the pain. Ashrok thought to himself, “How do you fight an opponent who thrives on being attacked? She will be unstoppable one day if she isn’t already.”
As the bottle filled to the top, he corked it, “That is all for the blood.” He then watched her wound heal right before his very eyes as he came to the realization, “You’re healing is far beyond that of your mother’s. To extract your heart while you heal would be a tall task.”
She smiled, “But one I’m up for.”
Ashrok corked the bottle and placed it on the desk surface and said, “I will use a different method to take your heart. Don’t worry. I’m told it’s quite painful by the dying words of those who have suffered from this technique.”
Xenia threw her head back and shouted, “I’m ready!”
Ashrok stood a foot from her and concentrated a layer of nightmare ki around his hand and yelled, “Nightmare grasp!”
He reached for her chest with an open hand. His hand crossed through her chest and rib cage as it entered her body unobstructed by physical barriers. He then clenched his hand around her heart and yanked it out whole. He even felt a few residual beats of her heart as he stood before her with her heart clenched in his grasp.
Xenia let out a soft, “Wow, what an amazing feeling.” She fell to her knees from the momentary low blood pressure secondary to the absence of her heart; however, as her ki worked overtime to rebuild her heart, her blood pressure slowly resumed to normal.
She coughed up a spat of blood and stood to her feet as if nothing had happened after just one minute.
Ashrok gazed at her in astonishment, “Truly incredible. You and your mother are by far the most gifted ki users ever known to this planet.”
Xenia put her arm around him and said, “Ashrok, you are welcome to compliment me any time. I just love it. I don’t suppose you have time to torture a few prisoners together before you must leave do you?”
Ashrok laughed, “I might have a few minutes to spare if you’d like.”
The two walked off to the holding cells together laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Jacek watched as hundreds of his soldiers returned across the siege line from the citadel. He stood with his arms crossed thinking to himself, “Each and every soldier unharmed and released. Xenia has kept her promise. I’m impressed.”
A commanding officer ran up to Jacek and reported in, “Lord Heraklinos, sir!”
Jacek turned to him, “Report commander.”
The commander saluted Jacek and began his report, “Master Heraklinos has received word from General Magnus that the rebel attacks in the Saber Province have all but vanished as of late bringing the border attack crisis to a close, for now.”
Jacek frowned and looked at his commander with a look of suspicion but said nothing. The commander continued, “Similar attacks have also been successfully warded off in the Sage Empire and Starfallen Empire.”
Jacek couldn’t help himself but to express his suspicions, “Rebel attacks in three separate empires all coming to a halt at once? I don’t like that commander. I don’t like that at all. Rather than a victory, I see it as the rebel forces displaying coordination far beyond anything we have seen previously.”
“Should I relay your concerns to Master Heraklinos, sir?” The commander agreed with Jacek but had no authority to express it to an audience who could act on the matter.
Jacek shook his head, “No. It is good news for now. And we have our hands full here for the moment.”
The commander nodded, “Very good sir. In more good news, unequivocally good news that is, the ki stones from Master Sage have arrived in pristine order.”
Jacek smiled and unfolded his arms, “Now that is good news.”
The commander smiled along with him, “Three stones have arrived, and they are currently in your office being held safely with soldiers on guard at all hours.”
Jacek simply smiled knowing that Erika had sent them the strongest reinforcements they could ask for. He thought to himself, “I’m sure she has improved even more, and last time I was able to best Gladiator Champion Nero with the aid of her ki stone.”
The commander finished by saying, “And lastly my Lord, Master Sage requests you call her at your earliest convenience.”
Jacek nodded and replied, “I’ll call her now. Thank you commander.”
The commander bowed and left his Lord’s side as Jacek continued to watch the soldiers pour in and past the siege line. Jacek drew his cell phone and called Erika. The phone rang several times before a voice answered.
“Jacek! How did the negotiations go?” Erika was thrilled Jacek had called her so soon.
He smiled at the sound of her voice and answered, “They went surprisingly well. Suspiciously well.”
Erika replied, “Hmm, she didn’t try anything off limits or scandalous did she? That woman is an incorrigible harlot.”
“She tried. But I stood my ground.” Jacek didn’t consider telling Erika the truth of what happened for a second.
“And she had no qualms with you refusing to hand President Davis over to her?” Erika was somewhat surprised given his importance and skill as a politician.
Jacek sighed a breath of relief, “No qualms at all really. She moved on quite fast after being informed. I think she already prepared herself for the news. She seemed to have a firm grasp on the understanding that both St. Michael and Arthur Davis are moving further and further from her influence.”
“Well. She isn’t an idiot. As much as I hate to commend her, she has always been very sharp and aware of the shifting sands of the world around her.” Erika replied.
Jacek then unintentionally put his foot in his mouth, “The negotiations went better than expected. She even released a cohort of soldiers back to our forces, several hundred, completely unharmed.”
Erika was shocked, “Really?! In exchange for what? That doesn’t sound like her at all.”
Jacek hadn’t been prepared to answer Erika’s follow up questions. In particular, he wasn’t keen on revealing what he had traded for their release, an intimate kiss or more. He stumbled over his words as he tried to buy himself time, “Well… in exchange… she… umm…she… she wanted a second round of negotiations. Tomorrow actually. Same time. I think she is hoping her show of good faith will curry her good faith in return.”
Erika wasn’t impressed, “Jacek. You know exactly what she is doing. She is trying to spend as much time with you as possible. Do not fall to her machinations.”
Jacek shook his head, “Don’t worry Erika. I don’t think that’s the direction she is aiming. I think she is setting up the cards to force our hand in war. She is intent on total domination. Until that point is reached, I intend to secure as many of our soldiers back to safety as I can.”
Erika laughed, “Well, when that time comes… that’s exactly what the ki stones are for. So you can stop her in her tracks. She will be alone soon enough with no one to protect her politically or physically. And I will have never been happier to know I contributed to your power that takes her down once and for all.”
_____________________________
Xenia stood at the gates of her BloodStar Citadel bidding her prisoners goodbye, “Tell Jacek that I am thrilled to please him and look forward to seeing him tomorrow.” She blew kisses at them as they filed out through the gate.
She then smiled on at them thinking, “You are all dead by my hand eventually whether you are my prisoner here or enemy in the field.”
She then felt a cold chill of death down her spine and shot her eyes to the side as she spoke to an unseen presence, “Has anyone ever told you… you would make a perfect assassin?”
From the shadows, a man in black robes stepped forward, “Has anyone told you that you are a truly talented freak? Not even Victoria can detect me with just raw intuition. You weren’t using ki to detect me were you?”
Xenia turned her entire body to face him and shook her head, “No, Ashrok. There are some forces more powerful than ki. Intuition being one of them.”
He gave a cold light laugh, “Right you are. And as such, no one can match your raw power. Not even me it would seem.”
Xenia smiled at his praise, “I must say I am somewhat surprised to see you here of all places. What is my mother up to now?”
Ashrok motioned to her to walk with him. As they walked he said, “Empress Victoria has recalled all six Blood Wraiths. An uncommon occurrence. She has given only sparse details, but I gather it has to do with the end of this war. The end of this era in time.”
Xenia frowned, “Is this why the rebel attacks around the globe have ceased? The wraiths in charge of various forces have been called back from their tasks in the field?”
He nodded, “Correct. Victoria has always advocated for various standing forces around the world should she ever need to enact a coordinated and unexpected attack. However, nowadays, I think she sees you as the tip of the spear. She sees you as the new force to reckon with in the world.”
She laughed, “I should say she is right. This siege is a joke. They may very well cut off my supply lines, but they will only force me to attack sooner than I would like. They are overconfident in their abilities.”
Ashrok’s cold voice replied, “Don’t be so sure that their confidence isn’t at least somewhat unfounded. I spent several hours in their base before crossing through their siege line. They have at minimum three surprisingly powerful ki stones. The stones are under complete lockdown.”
Xenia grit her teeth, “Erika Sage.”
“Correct.” Ashrok was impressed, “Master Sage has slowly become more and more powerful in her Cursecraft. I suggest caution when facing her or those who are empowered by her.”
Xenia contorted her face with a displeased look, “I am no slouch myself Ashrok. And caution is not my strongest virtue.”
He laughed, “This I know. And if you aren’t to be cautious then you must at least be informed. That is why I tell you. Three ki stones.”
“Thank you. Now what is it that my mother has sent you here for.” Xenia asked him as they walked into her private quarters.
She leaned against her desk, and he respectfully stood with his hands clasped together, “I’ll cut to the chase. A liter of your blood. And… your heart.”
Xenia rolled her eyes, “Fine. But she is lucky I have a penchant for pain. What did you call me… a freak? She’s lucky I’m a freak.”
She then looked to Ashrok and said, “Well, how would you like to gather it?”
Ashrok gathered a layer of ki around his body and said, “Without mess if you don’t mind.”
She grimaced, “Without mess? That doesn’t sound painful. If you are going to take a liter of blood at least let me enjoy it.”
Ashrok realized he had underestimated her predilection for pain and responded, “Very well. By dagger then.”
She smiled and gave a low rumbled growl of pleasure, “Do to me as you like then Ashrok.”
She opened her arms and leaned against the desk waiting for him. He quickly slashed at her chest with his dagger making a deep wound and held a large glass bottle out as he collected blood from the largest stream that poured from her body. It was a messy catch as the ground below soaked with fallen blood.
Xenia breathed heavily and moaned from the pain. Ashrok thought to himself, “How do you fight an opponent who thrives on being attacked? She will be unstoppable one day if she isn’t already.”
As the bottle filled to the top, he corked it, “That is all for the blood.” He then watched her wound heal right before his very eyes as he came to the realization, “You’re healing is far beyond that of your mother’s. To extract your heart while you heal would be a tall task.”
She smiled, “But one I’m up for.”
Ashrok corked the bottle and placed it on the desk surface and said, “I will use a different method to take your heart. Don’t worry. I’m told it’s quite painful by the dying words of those who have suffered from this technique.”
Xenia threw her head back and shouted, “I’m ready!”
Ashrok stood a foot from her and concentrated a layer of nightmare ki around his hand and yelled, “Nightmare grasp!”
He reached for her chest with an open hand. His hand crossed through her chest and rib cage as it entered her body unobstructed by physical barriers. He then clenched his hand around her heart and yanked it out whole. He even felt a few residual beats of her heart as he stood before her with her heart clenched in his grasp.
Xenia let out a soft, “Wow, what an amazing feeling.” She fell to her knees from the momentary low blood pressure secondary to the absence of her heart; however, as her ki worked overtime to rebuild her heart, her blood pressure slowly resumed to normal.
She coughed up a spat of blood and stood to her feet as if nothing had happened after just one minute.
Ashrok gazed at her in astonishment, “Truly incredible. You and your mother are by far the most gifted ki users ever known to this planet.”
Xenia put her arm around him and said, “Ashrok, you are welcome to compliment me any time. I just love it. I don’t suppose you have time to torture a few prisoners together before you must leave do you?”
Ashrok laughed, “I might have a few minutes to spare if you’d like.”
The two walked off to the holding cells together laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
