BloodStar

The flames of the torches along the cliffside cave entrance flickered in the sea breeze as both the man and Xenia stared at one another. Xenia giving the man time to process her sudden appearance and offer. The man taking his time to decide on a direction of action.

The man clenched his jaw in thought, “She’s beautiful, confident, and smart. Judging by her relaxed demeanor, she is no push over either. Though she likely has no idea how powerful I am.” He grinded his teeth together and unintentionally grimaced at Xenia while in thought.

Xenia smiled back at him, “I’m gathering that my being here is a problem. Whatever is going on here. Maybe we should head back to your ship first.”

Xenia then put her hand to her chest, “I’m Xenia.”

The man nodded slowly, “Xenia what?”

“Until you get to know me better, just Xenia.”

The man continued to nod, “Fine. Then I am just Tiber. Until you get to know me better of course.”

“And I so hope we reach that point, Tiber. A strong name for a strong man.”

Tiber grunted as he walked past her to the cave opening. He then jumped out of the cave landing some 30 feet below crushing the rocks beneath him as he landed. Without looking back at Xenia, he continued marching forward, still frustrated at the situation.

Xenia jumped right after him landing softly upon the rocky surface, quiet as a feather. She then tracked behind him keeping a distance of 5 feet.

As they reached the small boat at the beach head, Tiber yelled to his men, “A girl, Xenia, will be following me. Once she arrives, take us back to the ship.”

Four men standing guard of a small wooden boat, looked past their captain to Xenia.

“Hello, boys. I’m Xenia.”

Tiber whipped his around to see Xenia, “Yes. This is Xenia.”

As they boarded the boat, Tiber sat in thought, “She’s quiet. And fast. Who is she?”

Tiber’s men couldn’t help but to steal glances at Xenia as often as they could. From her long legs, to her snatched waist, up to her big chest, up further along her graceful neck line, and lastly to her beautiful face, there was simply just too much to take in upon one glance.

Tiber himself left the admiration of Xenia to his men as he keenly watched the beach head for any activity, of which he saw none. He breathed a sigh of relief and began to wonder, “Is she really just a lone wanderer? Why is she out here by herself? No one visits the eastern coast if they don’t have to.”

As his men rowed the wooden boat, they began to approach a large wooden ship with massive sails. Xenia looked up at it in awe of its craftsmanship and beauty.

Her gaze did not go unnoticed by Tiber who smirked at her appreciation of his ship, “Welcome to the Neptune, Miss Xenia.”

She reflexively began to correct him, “It’s Emp-” before cutting herself off and covering for herself, “It’s impeccable.”

Xenia couldn’t help but to wonder in thought why an old wooden ship would be used by such a powerful captain, “Is this the peak of modern nautical technology in this world?”

As the small boat came alongside the Neptune, a ladder was let down. Without a word, Tiber began to climb aboard his ship. Xenia looked to his men that he had left behind who remained seated, and they laughed, “Captain Tiber is old school. He likes to climb aboard. You are welcome to do so yourself.”

Xenia politely smiled back, “And if I don’t?”

One of the men motioned his hand, “Take a seat, and you will find out. It’s quite fun.”

Xenia took a seat on the damp wood of the small boat, and only moments later, the boat was lifted by a large spout of water from underneath it. The boat gracefully lifted into the air, shooting up past the railing of the massive Neptune before softly descending back down to land like a pillow on the deck of the Neptune.

Tiber’s men smiled with excitement at Xenia as they jumped out of the small boat and onto the deck of the Neptune leaving her nodding to herself with a smile.

As she stood from the boat analyzing the spout that had lifted her, Captain Tiber stood on the deck with his entire crew of 50 men present.

“Gentleman, this is Xenia. Just Xenia. I have made a deal with her. She needs information, and in exchange, she has agreed to either aid or at the very least not interfere with our plans while we are here. Are there any questions?”

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One of the men along the rail of the deck shouted, “She is welcome to stay below deck with all of us!” The men jeered and hollered at the suggestion.

Tiber nodded his head sarcastically as he shouted over his men quieting them, “Yes, I am sure you would love that. I would dare any of you to try something with her. But first you should know that I held a fistful of ki at her face only to have her smile back at me. She is unflinching. And make no mistake, she is to be treated as a superior while aboard lest you need me to save your sorry asses from her.”

The men all stared at Xenia looking for confirmation from her; however, she merely smiled at Tiber before saying, “Then perhaps I can stay with you, Captain Tiber.”

The men once again looked around with giddy smiles and subtle ooh and ahh’s at Xenia’s suggestion. Tiber maintained his composure despite the immaturity of his crew, “Yes, of course. If we are exchanging information, there is no safer place aboard this ship.”

She nodded, and Tiber then yelled, “Back to your stations!”

The men dispersed back to their stations under the light of the moon on a calm night. Tiber motioned for Xenia to follow him into the master suite entrance on the main deck towards the back of the ship.

Xenia followed him inside to find an opulent suite with panoramic views looking out of the back of the ship, “My my you live well Captain Tiber.”

Tiber took his armor off throwing it to the floor, “Captain. A title beneath me. I am Captain only because I have a ship and I sail the Great Divide, but that is not who I am.”

Xenia made herself at home sitting on the edge of his bed, “Who are you then? And what is the Great Divide?”

Tiber threw Xenia a cheeky smile, “Remember? I am just Tiber.” He pulled up a chair and sat across from her, “Do you really not know the Great Divide?”

Xenia silently shook her head, “No, and you might find that I have a great deal many questions you may find hard to believe. Is that going to be a problem?”

“No, it won’t be a problem at all. A deal is a deal. No questions asked. I don’t care if you suffer from amnesia or if you were born yesterday. So, what is the Great Divide you ask. It is an ocean separating the Western land mass from the Eastern land mass.”

Xenia nodded, “And which side of the divide are we on?”

“The eastern side.”

“And are there many empires and kingdoms on the eastern hemisphere?”

Tiber took in a deep breath wondering just who the hell this woman was who knew apparently nothing about the world she lived in before saying, “I’ll start by saying this world is ruled by the western hemisphere. The empires and kingdoms of the West work very well together under most circumstances. They have even established a world capital with a senate where representatives of each state can discuss global matters spanning beyond their borders. They are extremely powerful, extremely wealthy, and extremely coordinated.”

He took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair kicking his legs up on the bed beside Xenia before continuing, “The eastern hemisphere, on the other hand, is a wasteland. It’s where the West dumps their trash. And by trash I mean mostly people without ki. The East is the West’s solution to population control and resource control to maintain their extreme wealth and power. You’ll find no kingdoms or empires in the deserts of the East. What you will find are scattered armies of powerful warlords. Most of whom were once powerful leaders in the West and defected to the cause of the East.”

Xenia nodded, “Very very interesting.” She then looked Tiber in the eye, “And then there’s you. Somewhere in the middle.”

“Something like that, maybe.”

Xenia rested her hand on Tiber’s kicked up leg and maintained eye contact, “I felt a very powerful force in that cave. Something I felt very recently somewhere else. Would you tell me if I were right if I could guess what it is inside?”

Tiber nodded, “It’s no secret what’s in there.”

“A mana stone. Isn’t it?”

Tiber nodded, “Correct. The West has three mana stones under lock and key. No one knows for certain, but rumors say the East has just as many. One being in that cave.”

“And what do you know of mana stones, Tiber? Do you know where they come from? I do.”

Tiber began to laugh, “Record keeping is piss poor at the end of the war that shaped our current world. It wasn’t even that long ago, hell, I was alive and worse off for it. But yes, I know where they come from. Maybe not who they come from though.”

Xenia leaned towards him, “And you need it for more power? Who are you after then? The West?”

“Something like that you could say.”

“Well then. I’ll have many more questions; I am sure of it. But before we get to those, let me ask… do you still want my help in obtaining it? That was our deal, wasn’t it?”

“Look. Xenia. Mana stones aren’t always hidden to everyone. I found this one by word of mouth. Others are sure to know of its location. The reason they lie in wait is because they are very well protected. I am sure you are confident in your power; however, I am not sure you would be of help. I would ask that you help me by staying out of the way.”

“Oh, Tiber, that would be a mistake. I could walk in there and walk out with your mana stone while you rest on the beach waiting for me. We could really use each other to one another’s advantage.”

Tiber stood from his chair pushing it back as he did, and he sternly said, “Stay out of my way! I brought you back here to remove you as a complication from my objective. I am not the only one who covets such a stone. Those who can’t retrieve it instead will do all they can to stop others from getting their hands on it. Honor your word and help me as I direct you.”

Xenia raised her eyebrows as she leaned back on the bed on her outstretched hands looking up at Tiber, “A big mistake. But your mistake to make, darling.”

After a moment of silence between the two, Xenia continued, “I’ll stay out of your way, sure. But you aren’t in the slightest bit curious why a girl like me has so many fundamental questions?”

“A deal is a deal, remember? No questions asked is best for both of us I gather. I have my domain at sea. A mysterious land girl is none of my business.”

Xenia inched back as she pulled her legs up on to the bed, “You’re making me want to be your business.”

“You would regret getting in my business, Xenia. I have shown you utmost courtesy. Don’t test me.”

Xenia continued inching back on the bed until her entire body was on the bed. She then laid back into the pillows stretching her arms above her head showing her body off.

Even a man of Tiber’s composure couldn’t help but to look down at every perfect curve of her toned body as she made herself comfortable in his bed.

After stretching, she quickly looked up at Tiber catching his lustful gaze of her body, “You misunderstand me, Tiber. Let me rephrase. If I can’t be your business, can I then be your pleasure?”

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