BloodStar

Chapter 28: Pressured Aim

“Now, don’t be fooled. This yacht isn’t all leisure. Well, I guess for me and Xenia it is, but there are areas of this ship that wouldn’t be considered so leisurely for most people.” Constance was wrapping up her tour of the yacht with Arthur.

She took his hand and said, “Xenia wouldn’t have invited you here if she didn’t trust you. Follow me to my room, and I will show you a few of the unsanctioned activities aboard the Blood Wake.”

Arthur gulped and nodded as he thought to himself, “Leisurely for these girls but considered unsanctioned activities? I think I know exactly what goes on here.”

Constance and Arthur went down several flights of stairs and arrived at an open-air deck with a beautiful set of sliding glass doors. The doors were open, welcoming them to the spacious room within.

Constance smiled and said, “Now there are many guest quarters aboard, including Xenia’s master suite; however, this little slice of paradise is my own. Few people have entered this room, Senator Davis. Or rather few people have entered this room and survived.”

Arthur braced himself for what horrors awaited him; however, to his genuine surprise, he found an ornate room with the world’s finest furniture, painting, rugs, and more. He said, “What an honor it is to lay eyes on such an exquisite room. The BloodStar Empire has spared no expense in creating this yacht.”

Constance turned around as she prepared to give Arthur a tour of her private quarters. However, as she did, she noted Xenia leaning against the entrance. She immediately began to bow; however, she felt her body betray her. She could feel an unnatural pull forcing her to stand.

Xenia stood with her hand raised glowing with the aura of her ki, “Constance, how many times do I have to tell you. You don’t have to bow to me in such casual settings.”

Constance smiled, “I certainly won’t fight against your bloodbending, but I do wish to respect my future Empress.”

Xenia flipped her hair and walked in to the room. Arthur’s mind was racing, “Should I be bowing? Will it be considered offensive if I don’t?”

However, before he could act on his thoughts, Xenia said, “Arthur, I trust you have enjoyed the tour from Constance?”

He nodded vigorously, “It was a pleasure. Truly.” He smiled towards Constance before continuing, “However, I was hoping to speak to you in private regarding national matters.” He then looked at Constance.

Xenia also directed her gaze towards Constance and then back to Arthur, “If these matters have anything to do with war, you may want Constance to stick around. She is much more eager for battle than I am.”

Arthur nodded and said, “Very well. Then I shall ask you both.”

The three took their seats in separate chairs as Arthur began to address them, “There has been increased activity from the Holy Light Empire on our southern borders, namely the Texas border. Their missionaries have begun to, in some instances, murder those who do not convert to the Holy Light religion. Furthermore, Pope Gregory’s rhetoric has been very hawkish towards our country. We think he intends to not only attack the United States with the hopes of conquering Texas, but also intends to test our alliance together.”

Xenia sat with her arms crossed, “Yes, a smart leader would test the strength of our alliance as allies. I have been supporting Lord Heraklinos in his attempts to quell the democratic rebellions of the Saber Province. Pope Gregory likely intends to make me choose between protecting democracy or fighting against it.”

Arthur hesitated to speak. He knew his next words needed to be chosen carefully as to not aggravate Xenia. After all, she had shown them grace at every step. The United States did not intend to offend her over a small skirmish in the Saber Province.

However, before he could speak, Xenia said, “Make no mistake Arthur. I am fully behind your country.”

Arthur nodded, “I told the war council as much! They are indeed skeptical of your intentions with the Saber Province, but I have told them firmly that you are our ally.”

Xenia laughed, “My intentions with the Saber Province. Would you like to know them?”

Arthur nodded again, “Very much so. It would alleviate a lot of tension within the higher ranks of my country.”

Xenia stood up and walked around the couch and began to massage Arthur’s shoulder and upper back. He felt a sudden impulse of relaxation and pleasure. He had forgotten just how divine her touch could be.

As she massaged him, she said, “I am merely warming up to the Heraklinos Family. Jacek invited me to his fortress, and I couldn’t say no. I am in the throes of winning his heart. And at the same time, I am also driving a wedge between the Sage and Heraklinos Family.”

Arthur was stunned. He knew Xenia to be calculating, but to be so on a scale as large as this was incredible. She had the utmost confidence to pull off the impossible.

She continued, “The BloodStar Empire cannot and will not ever enter war with the Holy Light Empire under the circumstances as they are today.”

Arthur’s hope deflated at the sound of her words. Without her aid, the United States may cease to exist in the coming years.

“But…” Xenia continued and Arthur’s hopes sprang to life once more, “But, there are two conditions that would allow it. One. If the Holy Light Empire commits an unspeakable act against your country, the international community will not be able to tell me no. If I show good will towards not entering the war unless I am forced to, the international community will agree that it is my duty as an ally to render aid whether they would want to see me do so or not.”

She continued the massage and said, “Or two. One of the Master families condones my entrance into the war. Such backing would offer me and my country the allowance to fight at your side.”

Arthur smiled and said, “I see. And that is your aim in working with Lord Heraklinos.”

She stopped massaging him and walked back over to her chair but did not sit down, “Correct, Senator.”

Constance then spoke up, “In the meantime, we can help the United States in other ways. We are prepared to offer an unlimited amount of humanitarian aid including synthetic blood. But, more importantly, we would be most happy to covertly interrogate any prisoners you manage to capture.”

Arthur frowned and looked towards Constance, “I suspect you and Xenia are cut from the same cloth in that arena?”

She laughed and said, “Quite right. We are. Let me assure you, when I interrogate a prisoner, I extract everything.”

She stood up and said, “I have prepared a demonstration.” She motioned to a door behind her and smiled, “I insist.”

Xenia ran over to him and said, “Come on! We promise to make it fun!”

Arthur stood up hesitantly and followed them into the large ornate door. He was once again surprised. He had envisioned entering in to a dungeon; however, instead, it was a luscious and luxurious bedroom suite complete with a king-sized bed, sitting area, and adjacent master bathroom.

Constance had endless amounts of energy as she hopped around the room looking for something, “It should be around here somewhere. Ahhah!” She raised a remote up in to the air and pressed a large red button on it.

The wall opposite the bed began to roll to the left revealing a long extension reaching 50 yards in length. The newly uncovered secret room looked like an industrial workshop complete with work benches with all kinds of power tools and other assorted menacing tools and materials.

After surveying the near part of the secret room, Arthur then looked down towards the end of the room to see a man shackled against the wall with his mouth taped shut. He had a visceral reaction and inched backwards. Constance took note of this reaction and said, “Don’t worry. We didn’t torture him. We just coaxed a few important details out of him.”

Arthur inspected the man’s body more closely as he thought to himself, “Didn’t torture him? His body is covered in blood with all kinds of cuts, holes, and missing pieces.”

Arthur cleared his throat and said, “I trust something fruitful came of your interrogation?”

Constance smiled and said, “Always.”

Xenia then cut in, “I know this isn’t a tactic your country condones, but trust me… The Holy Light Empire will do the very same to you given the chance. War is war. And in war, death is mercy.”

Constance piped up, “And! And we now know where they plan to strike first!”

Arthur whipped his head around to face Constance, “They plan to strike?! Really? Where? You know this for a fact? How?”

Xenia laughed, “I am sure you can guess, or rather see, how we did it.” She then put her arm around Arthur’s shoulder. At the same time, Constance approached him and put her hand on his chest.

Xenia looked him in the eye, and she said, “We are prepared to share this information with you. You would be a hero for your country breaking this news. We just have one small favor to ask of you.”

Arthur said, “Certainly, this information is vital to my country’s success and prosperity.”

Constance rubbed his chest and abdomen, “We want you to kill him.”

Arthur audibly gulped, “I- I’ve uhh. Well. I’ve never killed a man.”

Xenia and Constance began to hug and kiss Arthur seductively teasing him into their sadistic game. Xenia knew he was too far deep into their dealings to refuse, and she also had her eyes set on Arthur. She had aspirations to groom him into her very own plaything. Someone to corrupt. Someone to entertain her.

Constance stepped aside for a moment to grab a crossbow.

She quickly returned with the crossbow in her hands and said, “That prisoner is approximately 50 yards away. This crossbow is loaded with 10 arrows. Each arrow has enough ki enhancement to forcefully make impact 50 yards down range. All you have to do is aim at his head and give him a quick, merciful death. And I promise, the crossbow is true to aim.”

Xenia kissed him on the lips and said, “Can you do that for us? Give him a painless death? He’s already been through so much. He doesn’t need to suffer for a moment longer.”

Xenia gave him a passionate kiss on his lips while Constance rubbed his body lower and lower.

Xenia took his hand and said, “This is the trigger. Why don’t you go ahead and give it a shot?”

She began to kiss his neck and rub her hands down his body along with Constance. The combined feeling of the two girls kissing and caressing his body left him in a state of pure bliss. He could hardly concentrate.

However, he did his best to take aim at the prisoner. His hands were shaking. Xenia yelled, “Yes! Yes! Kill him Arthur! Do it for me!”

He pulled the trigger. The arrow went flying down the long room and landed in the prisoner’s thigh. The prisoner cried out with all of his might such that his muffled cries could be heard from all the way across the room.

Xenia let out a pleasured gasp, and Constance kissed his cheek and turned to look at the prisoner, “Oh Arthur, so you’re a man who likes to watch men die painfully and slowly too? That’s so hot.”

Arthur internally thought, “What? No!” He rushed to take aim again. However, just as he pulled the trigger, Xenia rubbed his crotch. He was enveloped with pleasure as he pulled trigger. The arrow went flying down range, completely missing the prisoner.

Xenia shrieked, “Oh Arthur, you really do know how to tease. Teasing both me and the prisoner!”

Arthur shook his head to himself and took aim again. He pulled the trigger again as Constance nibbled on his ear and whispered into his ear. The arrow went flying and landed in the prisoner’s abdomen.

The prisoner cried out in agony once more now with two arrows impaled into him. Blood ran out from his wounds as his cries were drowned out by Xenia’s moaning.

Constance whispered into his ear, “I think Xenia likes you. I think she loves when you tease her. Keep going.”

Arthur fired again and again and again until he was on his last arrow. Xenia cried out in pleasure as each arrow missed a fatal organ. Arrows landed in the prisoner’s arms, legs, abdomen, and shoulder. A few arrows narrowly missed the head and neck as they bounced off the wall beside the prisoner.

Arthur quickly came to his last arrow. He steeled himself as he let it fly. The arrow flew at breakneck speed as it landed in the prisoner’s chest. The prisoner began to squirm with pain as blood gushed from his wound; however, he did not die instantly.

Xenia looked at him, “I had no idea how cruel you could be Arthur. I like you more and more each time we meet.”

Arthur hurriedly asked, “Is that man going to die? I intended to strike his heart or his head. I would hate for him to struggle there.”

Xenia put her hand up to her chin and said, “Hmm. He will die in about 30 minutes at this rate.” She looked back to Arthur and said, “I can kill him now if you’d like though.”

Arthur nodded with sweat running down his face, “If you wouldn’t mind. My conscience isn’t quite strong enough to bear the burden of knowing he suffered for 30 minutes longer owing to my lack of accuracy.”

Xenia smiled at him, “I would be happy to kill him in spectacular fashion. Don’t go too hard on yourself Arthur. Your bad aim can hardly be blamed given the circumstances. How about this. I kill him now, and we try this little game again some other time in the future?”

Arthur nodded wondering if he would eventually regret agreeing to these terms.

Xenia then faced the prisoner and outstretched her hand before clenching it into a fist with a violent aura surrounding her. The prisoner’s body suddenly and violently burst apart with organs, limbs, and blood spraying all over the surrounding wall and floor. It was a violent display of her power and ability to completely dismantle a man’s life with her strength.

The blood began to drain into a drainage system on the floor, and Xenia looked to Arthur, “It looks like we will have some synthetic blood for you to take home with you.”

Arthur scratched his head as he thought to himself, “So, ‘synthetic’ blood is actually just real blood? Modified somehow?”

Before he could finish his thoughts, Xenia asked him, “Would you care to stay for dinner Senator?”

Arthur nodded and said, “Dinner sounds wonderful.”

Constance raised her eyebrows and looked towards Xenia. Xenia then said, “Would you make me a happy Princess and allow us to feast on you tonight? I promise to be a good girl and heal you afterwards.”

Xenia stroked his cheek, and Arthur instantly begin to melt at her touch. He quickly said, “Anything to please our most valuable ally.” He began to speak once more; however, he was not afforded the opportunity as Constance pushed him back on to the bed, and his two allies ravenously eyed his body as they slowly crawled onto the bed with him.