BloodStar

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 looked at the picture with a newfound perspective as he knew it to be Xenia now. He thought to himself, “Supremely gifted ki user and the girl who taught me shadow steps by the waterfall. It can be no one else. But how? I have to tell someone. It would sound crazy though.”

Erika looked at the picture with disgust and said, “We should discuss this sooner rather than later Jacek.”

Jacek nodded, “I quite agree. This could be very important.”

Erika frowned, “Could be? It is important!”

He nodded, and Erika said, “Whether it was merely a part of the dance routine or not, the image doesn’t look good. Lady Innocente is incredibly sexy. I am not afraid to admit it. And the two of you kissed while you both had extremely venerable dates. Me… a Master of my empire. Peter… a Master of his empire with his father. What were you two thinking!?”

Jacek said, “I have a theory that will be very hard to believe.”

Erika shook her head annoyed at his comment which dodged the conversation entirely. She said, “Well?! Tell me!”

Jacek took a deep breath and said, “It’s going to sound crazy, but here goes.” He paused for a moment and then went for it, “I don’t think Lady Elizabeth Innocente is who we think she is.”

Erika sarcastically replied, “No kidding? You mean she’s not the innocent Lady we are led to believe.” Erika crossed her arms, “She’s an attention seeking harlot. I know exactly who she is.”

Jacek winced his face and said, “Actually, she’s not who you think she is.”

She looked to Jacek again and gave him a silent look to continue. Jacek said, “I think Lady Elizabeth Innocente is actually Xenia BloodStar.”

Erika bit her lip and pushed her tongue to her cheek as she visibly struggled to contain her anger. After stewing for a few moments, she yelled, “Here we go! Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?! Xenia BloodStar… a woman confirmed to be dead by the King and Queen of her empire… now dating the very enemy that killed her… AND… showing up to the Master Family Conference… but not to engage in political affairs… to tango on the dance floor! Your obsession has to stop! I thought we were over this. I thought you were over her!”

Jacek bashfully said, “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am being honest when I say that I think she is Xenia. And if that is the case then we must tell everyone in our alliance that Xenia may yet still be alive. Do you know how much that would change the war? If we aren’t prepared it could mean huge losses for everyone involved.”

Erika looked out the window, “You had better not say a word to a single soul about this pure speculation. I know what this is about. It’s about another girl who is gifted with both beauty and sexiness, and she wore a slutty latex dress to make you lust for her.”

Jacek shook his head and began, “No, that’s not what this-“

Erika cut him off, “I know she was incredibly hot. And if she reminded you of Xenia then just tell me! Do I need to commission a latex dress identical to hers? Because I will if it makes you happy, Jacek. Do I need to get surgery to look more like her? Because I’ll do that too. I’m sacrificing everything including my dignity to make this relationship work. Now don’t say one more word about her because I am her to you now. Is that clear?!”

Jacek nodded, “Yes, Erika. You have been very clear. I am sorry.”

Erika pointed to the door and said, “Now I think you should go issue a statement confirming Lady Innocente’s words that the kiss you both shared was nothing more than a proper end to your world class dance. Nothing more.”

Jacek stood to go get dressed as he planned to leave to issue his statement mirroring Lady Innocente’s statement.

Erika channeled her anger into her relationship with Jacek and said, “Make it quick. Because when you get back, I’ll be waiting to give you your punishment, Jacek. And it’s going to hurt. A lot!” She then crossed her arms and looked out the window both extremely upset yet also excited and determined to do her best to fulfill his fantasies upon his return. Nothing could stop her from making this relationship work.

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Jacek issued his statement without much ado. He knew that kiss wasn’t meant for the public to salivate over. It was meant for Xenia to let him know that she was still alive, and whether anyone else would believe him or not didn’t much matter.

He knew that given his position in the world it was only a matter of time of when, not if, he met her on the battlefield. Instead of returning directly to see Erika as she had instructed him, he went to train in the fields.

He skipped lunch as he passed hours in his mountain side training field tearing up the land into a rugged mess as chunks of mountain side, huge rocks, and grassy plains were torn from their holds on the earth under Jacek’s might as he punched the ground, kicked the mountains, and carved up the landscape with his powerful ki blasts.

As dinner time quickly came, he decided not to eat but to meditate instead. His body was a wreck with cuts and bruises covering him. His clothes were shredded and drenched in sweat. He assumed the lotus position in the fields right where he stood and began to meditate.

He gathered enormous amounts of calm ki around his body as he lost himself in thought and spirit contemplating the day in which he would finally meet Xenia on the battlefield not as a friend but a foe.

He thought to himself, “War is a terrible thing. But I will be ready to fulfill my duty when the times comes. As the heir, my duty goes well beyond myself. It goes to my empire.”

He continued to gather ki as his aura grew in size around him. His aura faintly moved as it formed a vaguely triangular prism flickering around him with a calm tail extending upwards into the sky.

The aura could be seen for miles around as people of the empire awed at it. It had not gone unnoticed by either Jarek or Erika either as they walked the grounds discussing their roles in the upcoming war and negotiations with the United States leadership.

Erika looked to Jarek and said, “Once he enters that degree of meditation, how long does he stay there?”

Jarek thought for a moment and said, “At least six more hours. He takes training more seriously than he ever has before. I am proud of him. This is exactly how you reach legendary heights. The final push to such great heights usually occurs on the battlefield. In today’s modern world, war is not always a guarantee for a generation. He is lucky to have the opportunity to ascend even higher.”

Erika cared not for the heights of war and mastery of power for her boyfriend at the moment. She excused herself, “I have a few things to take care of before Jacek returns for the night. I will seek you in the morning Jarek.”

Jarek nodded to her silently and leaned on the walkway rail as he continued to observe his son’s aura. He was proud of his son for his efforts leading up to the war, and he had no doubt he was shaping into a great leader for the empire.

______________________________

The clock had just struck midnight as Jacek entered Erika’s private suite within the Heraklinos Palace. He was exhausted both physically and spiritually from training and meditating all day long.

The room was dark with a small lamp on beside the couch offering a small area of light, and Jacek could hear the shower running.

He assumed Erika to be in the shower although it was awfully late for that. He looked around and noted an unusual presence from the corner of the room followed by a voice.

“I thought you’d never return Jacek. But its perfect timing. Erika is in the shower, so we have about ten minutes all to ourselves.” A shadowed womanly figured stepped forward.

Jacek was alarmed as he saw Xenia in her black latex dress complete with her veil. He raised his aura and grimaced as he thought to himself, “This is not the time to encounter her. After training all day my ki is severely depleted.”

The woman before him suddenly put up her arms and raised her own ki aura, “No need for violence, Jacek. I had something else in mind.”

Jacek noted the aura surrounded the woman and dropped his ki. Upon closer inspection, he noticed this woman was in fact Erika dressed as Xenia. He instantly said, “You should be more careful role-playing as our sworn enemy. I nearly attacked you.”

Erika grabbed his arm and clung to him as she said, “What do you mean? Come on let’s have some fun while she’s busy.”

Jacek was in no mood after his mental reflections all day, “Erika, stop this at once.”

She frowned and said, “Jacek, I had this dress tailor made in record time for you to enjoy it. I’d really like if you played along with me. She may be our sworn enemy, but she is also your ex-girlfriend who you still crave. I’m here to satiate that craving for you.”

Jacek put both of his large hands on her shoulders and said, “Erika I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past few days. In particular, I meditated on the future of us and our empires today for more than six hours.” He paused and looked her in the eye, “I don’t want Xenia. I want Erika Sage. I want Erika in her beautiful white and green dresses. I want a stable love not an erratic lust. The only time I ever want to see Xenia again is on the battlefield.”

Erika’s eyes suddenly appeared watery as she held back her tears. She broke his hold of her shoulders and said, “Well then, I better take my leave. I think Erika will be out of the shower any second now.”

She retreated to the bathroom. Jacek heard the shower stop. Then he heard the sound of clothes hitting the floor followed by Erika sifting through her closet.

After several minutes, Erika reappeared in her signature green and white dress. Jacek saw her in a new light. Her hair was beautiful, her smile charming, and her ability to lead an empire was even more attractive than her physical attributes. He smiled and embraced her as the two crawled into bed together.

Jacek and Erika hugged one another tightly as he kissed her on the lips and then said, “This is exactly what I want. To hold you and lead our two empires into the future together, as one.”

A tear rolled down her eye, and Jacek gently caught it with his finger. She smiled at him and nestled her head into his strong arms and chest. This was all she had ever wanted, and she had never been happier.

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