BloodStar

Chapter 73: Proud to Play My Part

Deep within the Saber Province’s eastern most wooded forest, Nero and Xenia sat quietly. Both sat in the lotus position approximately 5 feet apart and facing one another. Xenia had since switched clothes to her all-black karate gi with her 10th degree black belt wrapped around her waist. Nero too wore his karate gi with his 8th degree black belt wrapped around his waist.

He spoke with his eyes closed, “As a grandmaster, you know all too well that peak combat skills are achieved thro...

Chapter 72: Morning Tension

Jacek woke up next to Erika and smiled at her, “Did you get any sleep at all last night? I think Vega next door had a little too much fun with his time off.”

Erika laughed, “I wonder who the lucky girl was? They were up late, and they were so loud! I must have woken up several times over the course of an hour listening to both of them scream.”

Jacek laughed as they laid in bed together, “Maybe I should go over there and interrupt their morning since they so rude...

Chapter 71: Xenia’s Entrance

The mess hall was alive with excitement as everyone assumed the overhead noise was the passing of Xenia’s high-tech jet as she buzzed the fortress at supersonic speeds.

Moments later they were proven right as Warlord Xenia BloodStar promptly walked through the main entrance in her tight-fitting flight suit with her helmet in hand. As she entered, the collective noise of a thousand soldiers shifting and turning in their seats could be heard as every person in the hall looked and craned...

Chapter 70: Commemorative Dinner

Later that evening, a commemorative dinner commenced with the purpose of formally gathering everyone to commemorate the upcoming battle.

The mess hall was enormous in size with hundreds of tables spanning the length of the hall for the soldiers to dine at. At the head of the hall on a raised floor overlooking the other tables, a long slender table facing forward towards the lower tables had been setup for the distinguished members of the event.

The table sat Jarek Heraklinos, Jace...

Chapter 69: Saber Fortress Arrivals

“General Magnus, sir!” A soldier of the Saber Province ran up to Vega with an important message.

Vega stood atop the defensive wall overlooking the Saber Province beyond the fortress walls. He slowly turned and nodded for the soldier to continue.

“I have received word from Master Heraklinos. The Saber Fortress will serve as the viewing location for the livestream of the battle for distinguished guests of both sides.” The soldier stood respectfully awaiting Vega’s respons...

Chapter 68: Training Grounds

Jacek stood in the mountain side field powering up. His ki flared around him destroying anything it came into contact with. He roared and condensed the energy into a dense ball. He then hurled it at the mountain side. The energy ball collided with the already scarred mountain side causing a massive eruption of power. The ground quaked beneath his feet, and he resumed a peaceful stance as he regulated his breathing.

Then, the process began again. This time, he gathered even more ki as hi...

Chapter 67: Death Match Set

After agreeing to Xenia’s counteroffer, Gregory immediately scheduled a meeting with Jarek Heraklinos and Erika Sage. He had just landed in the Heraklinos capital to meet with the two masters. He stepped out from his traditional supersonic jet and walked with a pep in his step. His smile never left his face as he greeted every individual who he came in to contact with.

Gregory was high on life as he felt he had just been hand-delivered the keys to winning the war on a silver platter. ...

Chapter 66: Terms of Engagement

The next morning, Michael awoke in his own personal tent which outsized the negotiation tent easily by ten-fold and was decorated to the brim with luxury items and furniture. He had decided to sleep on the counteroffer in order to clear his mind before presenting it to his father.

He dressed himself in his armor and prepared to call his father, Pope Gregory, on the floor-to-ceiling monitor system for a video chat.

His father answered promptly and said, “St. Michael! What is the ...

Chapter 65: Offer and Counteroffer

Michael sat within the negotiation tent patiently awaiting the arrival of Xenia BloodStar. He felt optimistic that she would arrive; however, he also knew that she may not show at all and instead opt for confrontation on the battlefield with no diplomatic talks.

He swirled a glass of red wine and took a sip. His attendants had prepared the temporary tent to perfection. Fur rugs covered the floor, and the table was fully set. A nicely sized circular table engraved with the Holy Light Emp...

Chapter 64: A Son for A Son

The next morning King Ramses and Queen Zara scrambled hastily to gather their belongings. They had a chartered private jet waiting for them on the tarmac of the royal runway waiting to take them to the Sage Empire.

Ramses worriedly said, “This empire has lost its way. Xenia now has more authority than either you or me. If she were to find out we acted as informants to other empires and nations about her death, she may very well kill us.”

Zara nodded, “The sooner we leave, th...

Chapter 63: Warlord Ceremony

Midnight approached as the seaside courtyard of the BloodStar Castle filled with those invited to witness the Warlord ceremony.

The courtyard was illuminated by the light of a full moon overhead, and the gentle waves of the ocean could be heard and seen as they crashed against the cliffside. The courtyard was private and seldom used as it was historically a ceremonial courtyard for important rites of passage such as this one.

The courtyard had a pathway leading from the castle ste...

Chapter 62: Rejection

Arthur sat at his desk within the newly built Presidential mansion in the heart of Highland Park, Texas in the Dallas area. He had his hands behind his head and his feet hiked up upon the table as he leaned back in his chair. Xenia had praised his performance at the Master Family Conference, and she even told him that she would take care of things from here. He had very little to be worried about and very little to prepare for in the upcoming invasion.

He smiled and looked up at the cei...

Chapter 61: I Love a Challenge

Upon her return to the BloodStar Empire, Xenia kept a low-profile as Empress Victoria had informed her of King Ramses and Queen Zara’s betrayal.

Victoria informed her, “Have Constance cast illusion ki on you wherever you go until the ceremony tomorrow. I spoke with too many heads of states at the conference who were more than cocksure that you were dead.”

Xenia replied, “I wouldn’t blame them. After seeing the footage of my battle, I looked to be dead.”

Victoria ...

Chapter 60: All She Ever Wanted

The next morning, Jacek and Erika sat drinking tea together in their comfortable morning robes. The remainder of the evening had been a tense one after Xenia had kissed Jacek while masquerading as Lady Elizabeth Innocente. The couple had still yet to broach the topic of the kiss.

As both picked up a copy of the morning paper, the headlines read: “Risqué kiss at the Master Family Formal Ball.” Below the headline was a picture of Jacek dipping Xenia with the two kissing.

Jacek ...

Chapter 59: A Dance and A Kiss

Evening had come in the Heraklinos Empire, and the formal ballroom dance gala was just beginning within the Louvre fortress and museum.

News outlets swarmed the outside of the structure and only a select few trusted reporters and journalists were allowed to document the occasion from the inside. President Arthur Davis and Empress Victoria had long since left the empire taking their leave as soon as the Master Family Conference adjourned.

The men of the night all wore tuxedos and m...

Chapter 58: Master Family Conference

“We gather here today to help guide and shape our world.” Jarek Heraklinos stood on the center stage in the middle of a circular array of tables facing him. The tables were partitioned into eight segments for each nation state present: Heraklinos, Sage, BloodStar, Holy Light, Starfallen, Karasu, United States, and Texas.

Jarek’s voiced boom, “As the host to this conference, it is my duty to remind you of our purpose. First, we are here to decide whether there is enough support t...

Chapter 57: Feeling Pleasure and Talking Business

Arthur continued to squint his eyes into the shadows as he saw a beautiful figure emerge wearing a black latex dress with a veil covering her eyes. He instantly recognized the woman as Peter’s date who he had been informed was Lady Elizabeth Innocente.

He stammered, “Excuse me Lady Innocente. I mistook you for an old friend. Please forgive me.”

The woman continued to slowly advance towards him, and he rushed for words again, “Uhh, how may I help you today? What is the impo...

Chapter 56: Arrivals

The day had finally arrived. The Master Family conference was upon the world. And the world awaited the outcome anxiously.

Arthur rode from the airport to the location of the conference in a black armored SUV. He had been to the Heraklinos empire previously but never to the Louvre Museum and Fortress where the conference was being held.

His driver pulled into the drive within the square of the Louvre and stopped the car directly in front of a red carpet welcoming the guests.

Chapter 55: Lose-Lose

John Vand sat in the kitchen enjoying his partial rack of ribs after grilling them and applying barbecue sauce. He tried to put aside the fact that he was eating human meat and judge the flavor without bias. Although impossible to do, he still found himself enjoying the flavor regardless of its origin.

He thought to himself, “I mean… I can’t completely blame her for eating human meat if it all tastes like this. This is delicious.”

He grabbed another rib bone and a...

Chapter 54: See You in Hell

Before beginning her slaughter, Xenia walked over to the stereo and turned the music on. She said, “This is supposed to be fun. This is a party!” She skipped several songs until she found something upbeat and fun.

She danced back over to Duchess Innocente and immediately grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her passionately. She pressed her face tighter and tighter against her own as she forced her kisses upon her.

Xenia slowly but surely elongated her tongue to the bac...

Chapter 53: Crucifixion

Cardinal Ricard gave Pope Peter a disgusted scowl and said, “Your joke is not humorous but blasphemous. Surely this is not why you have kept us up so late.”

Xenia stepped forward and faced Cardinal Ricard with her veil covering her eyes, “But Cardinal, you haven’t even seen what I’m capable of. Sit still, right there, and I’ll give you a small demonstration.”

Xenia silently Bloodbent Peter forcing him to climb atop the cross leaning at an angle against the wall. He l...

Chapter 52: How? She’s Dead

Although Peter had given Xenia permission to ‘do her worst’, it didn’t much matter. She already had plans to do much more than he could ever imagine.

She took the lead and pushed her body fully against his as she began to kiss him on the lips. Peter returned her kisses as the two stood in the Crystal Falls Cave. Xenia used every maneuver she had to prolong their make out session as she secretly Bloodlet his ki more and more.

The two kissed for at least ten minutes as the sto...

Chapter 51: Do Your Worst

Xenia was thrilled to have an occasion to wear her all-black latex dress. She had designed it herself, and she even had a white cross added over the chest for tonight specifically. She rode in the back of a limousine on her way to the evening party.

She called to the driver, “Make sure we are the last to arrive.”

The driver nodded and slowed the pace of the car as he drove on the country roads outside of the city towards the Innocente Estate grounds.

Ten minutes later, t...

Chapter 50: Lady Innocente

Attendants stood at the ready in tuxedos opening doors and welcoming the empire’s most distinguished guests to the estate of Duchess Carmen Innocente.

Black limos, Rolls Royce, Bentley, and other luxury vehicles lined the enormous circle drive at the head of the 50,000 square foot French gothic mansion that took design cues from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

The guest list included bishops, cardinals, nobleman, and other privileged and wealthy individuals within the...

Chapter 49: Warlord BloodStar

Evening had arrived in the BloodStar Empire. Constance and Nero both stood guard as Xenia remained in the rejuvenation chamber.

Constance curiously questioned Nero, “You saw the immediate aftermath of the attack on Xenia. You’ve been here more than anyone observing her. What do you make of her condition today? What’s your honest opinion if she will live or die?”

Nero stopped meditating and stood to face Constance, “If you asked me several days ago, I would’ve said her ...

Chapter 48: Prophecy

The next morning, Victoria cleared her entire schedule for the day much to the disappointment of various nobles and dignitaries who had traveled far and wide to see her; however, seeing as she was arguably the most powerful and most dangerous person in the world, not a single one of them openly expressed that disappointment especially given her preoccupation with the fallout of her rumored-to-be-dead heir.

Instead, for the day, she was perusing the BloodStar family archives in the catac...

Chapter 47: Crimson Red Hair

Jarek walked the courtyards of the palace looking for Erika; however, from afar, he saw Erika and Jacek eating lunch on a picnic blanket. The two were laughing, kissing, and smiling. The two were lovebirds oblivious to everyone around them.

Jarek observed from afar. Seeing the two of them back together was one of the most joyous occasions he had seen in recent months. Not only were they seemingly back together, but they also were so happy with one another.

Jarek waited 5 minutes. ...

Chapter 46: Only Bad Decisions

Elsewhere, it was nearly 2:00 am in the morning as Senator Arthur Davis found himself within the White House elevator traveling downwards to the subterranean meeting room with the President and the remainder of the war council. He had just returned from his trip from the BloodStar Empire, and he was exhausted. However, the council would not wait to hear his news.

Flanked by two secret service agents, Davis felt safe but also knew they offered little protection against the true dangers o...

Chapter 45: Embarrassing Slip

Jacek was preparing for dinner with his father and Erika after his training sessions for the day. On a usual night, he would take a brief 15-minute break for dinner and continue training. However, he knew there would be no training tonight whether he joined or not. Erika would pursue him until she got her way.

He stood shirtless in a towel wrapped around his waist after exiting the shower. He felt a tinge of pain on his back and turned to see the ‘X’ Xenia had left on his back from ...

Chapter 44: Rumors of Death

Erika held the phone to her ear with a huge grin on her face. She quietly listened to the person on the other side of the phone with an occasional, “Uh huh. You’re certain?”

She nodded her head to herself as she followed along with the conversation before saying, “This is wonderful news. I will be in touch with you shortly regarding our next moves. Thank you for making this both a wonderful and historic day.”

She then hung up the phone and smiled to the person sitting ac...