Chapter 16: Khan Island

Chapter 16: Khan Island

After exiting the royal court and making her way off the BloodStar Castle grounds, Xenia met Nero waiting outside for her in a lifted Jeep with huge tires. She hiked her leg up and took a big step as she thrust herself up into the doorless vehicle, and said, “To the royal air force base. I am in need of my jet to visit Khan Island tonight.”

Nero nodded in silence and began driving as a loud exhaust could be heard from behind the two. It wasn’t long before they reached the gates to the air force base. The soldier on guard recognized the vehicle as Nero’s and stopped him only as a formality.

The soldier nodded, “Gladiator Champion Nero, it is a pleasure to have you on base.” He then looked past Nero to see Xenia. Caught off guard at her presence, the soldier bowed his head and said, “And we are truly honored to have you bless us today with your presence General Xenia.”

Xenia leaned over Nero and said, “It is my pleasure to have such wonderful soldiers serving our nation. I know it is a choice to serve our nation in the armed forces, and I respect every soldier who decides to join my forces. Tell me. Is there anything you need?”

The soldier shook his head and said, “No, General. I recently had my first-born child, and you have already been kind enough with your instituted newborn bonus for those who serve. My family received $100,000 simply for having a child. Your generosity is widely appreciated.”

Xenia smiled and said, “I am glad to hear my efforts are pleasing the men and women who serve. If you should need anything, please let me know. That includes healing your newborn if a sickness should occur.”The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

The soldier bowed his head even deeper, and said, “I will do as you request General.”

The gate then lifted, and Nero drove the Jeep through the gate and onto the base. Xenia paid bonuses for all kinds of reasons to her soldiers including having a child, at each year of serving, and even random quarterly bonuses. The bonuses were all paid via her own personal wealth as the King and Queen had not increased the military’s budget in years. As such, enlisted citizens in the army were some of the happiest in the empire. They were extremely well paid and had a gorgeous, powerful leader who genuinely cared for them.

Nero drove right up to a royal hangar and began to manually open the doors which required the use of his massive ki. The doors weren’t necessarily locked but the weight of them made opening them no small task. This was designed to keep nearly everyone out save for Nero and Xenia.

As the doors opened, an all-black stealth fighter jet with polygonal angles and an aggressive design was revealed. Xenia had a smile on her face and walked over to the jet and admired it from the ground. She then began to suit up as she stepped into her flight suit which came complete with a technology to utilize ki to reduce the effects of high gravity forces on her body at high speeds.

Her flight suit was all black, and she looked menacing once she was suited up with her black helmet and reflective black visor on. Nero put the ladder in place for her to climb into the jet, and she ascended into the cockpit as she called out to him, “I will be gone for the night and will be training with Victoria in the morning. You are free to train or do whatever you like while I am gone.”

Nero nodded and said, “I will train. I expect challengers in the coming days from the Colosseum events.”

Xenia smiled and said, “Oh I hope so. I never get tired of watching you crush opponents.”

Xenia started up the jet and closed the cockpit. She slowly rolled out from the hangar before spooling up the massive engines as she took off vertically from the base. Once she reached an appropriate altitude, she then engaged her horizontal engines and began to fly away from the base.

Khan Island was a small island approximately 1,000 miles west of the BloodStar Empire Continent. The BloodStar Empire itself was located in the Pacific Ocean between North American and Asia near the equator.

After clearing the BloodStar Empire capital city, Xenia began to push her engines further powered by jet fuel. Using jet fuel alone, her jet could reach Mach 3 with relatively little stress. At Mach 3, she made the 1,000-mile trip in roughly twenty minutes.

She flew to the Northern aspect of the island where she looked down on a massive Castle structure owned by the Khan Family. Adjacent to the castle was a large private Bay and private airport. She maneuvered the jet over her private hangar at the airport and slowly declined as she performed a vertical landing.

No less than twenty attendants ran over to her plane bringing everything from a ladder for her to climb down from and a red carpet leading from the ladder to the hangar entrance. She removed her helmet and shook her long black hair before descending the ladder.

Once on the ground an attendant welcomed her, “Princess BloodStar, it is always our pleasure to receive you at Khan Island. How long will you be staying with us? We would like to store your jet inside and detail it if you would allow us for the night.”

Xenia smiled and said, “I would very much like that. I won’t be needing my jet until tomorrow evening at the earliest.”

She then stepped out of her flight suit and flung it on the rail of the ladder for the attendants to take care of as she walked off in her all-black leather outfit she had been wearing underneath.

Although the BloodStar Empire was her true home, Khan Island was a Province of the Empire that was overseen by the Khan Family. Since its annexation centuries ago, it had remained completely independent of BloodStar Law and largely allowed to exist at the will of the Khan Family. For this reason, Xenia felt more at home here than within the Empire as the island embraced the raw culture of the BloodStar Empire more so than anywhere in the world.

As Xenia made her way down the red carpet outlaid for her, she saw Constance’s plane taxiing nearby. She decided to wait for Constance to disembark from her private plane.

After a few minutes, Constance alighted from the luxurious private plane and said, “Xenia! How did you beat me here? You’re early!”

Victor was in awe and said, “Xenia, is this what I think it is? Is this filet and this rack of ribs a premium cut of stock?”

Xenia gave him a teasing glance and said, “If by premium, you mean human. Then yes.”

He couldn’t help himself, and he tore off a rib and began to eat it ravenously. He then said, “Oh my god. The flavor is impeccable.”

Nash and Constance had already torn into their ribs as well and nodded in agreement. Nash commented, “It is a huge relief to see a member of the royal family stand by our old ways here on Khan Island. King Ramses and Queen Zara would have our heads if they saw us eating like this in the mainland empire.”

Xenia took a knife and fork to her filet next and began to delicately eat it. She replied, “My older brother and sister have no respect for the old ways.”

Constance smiled and said, “Khan Island and many others are very much looking forward to your ascension in the future Xenia. To take us back to the old ways.”

Xenia picked up her champagne and said, “Cheers! To a bright future and my reign over the BloodStar Empire!”

The four clinked glasses and took a drink in unison. Constance then asked the boys, “So what clan are you both from?”

Nash pat Victor on the back and said, “We are both from the Lion Clan.”

Xenia smiled and shrieked, “The Lion Clan! How cool! Have either of you began to learn the Tiger Fist I’ve heard so much about?”

Victor had a smug look on his face as he said, “Nash and I have both mastered the technique. And that is why we are both here to fight as gladiators in the games.”

Xenia grabbed his arm and leaned forward over the table and said, “Then you both must be 7th degree black belts then, yes?”

Nash and Victor smiled and nodded together. Constance took a drink of her red wine and said, “My my my. Xenia we have a couple of studs on our hands here tonight. 7th degree black belts? How impressive.”

The four exchanged stories and conversation regarding fighting, training, ki techniques, and more as they devoured every bit of meat at the table. The stack of bones from the ribs had barely a shred of meat remaining on them as they stacked high.”

The head chef then came scurrying out as he clapped his hands and announced, “Tonight’s dessert will be...”

The chef hardly had a chance to finish as Xenia raised her hand for him to stop talking. She then said, “I’ve had my eyes on dessert all evening. Please leave us in private.”

The chef slowly backed away before turning and making an exit with haste. Xenia then stood up with her wine and grabbed Victor’s hand and led him away from the table to the balcony ledge overlooking the ocean.

Constance stood up as well and took Nash’s hand. The two walked inside as Constance called out to Xenia, “We are off to watch a movie Xenia! Catch up with you two later?”

Xenia merely looked in her direction and nodded before turning back to Victor and snuggling in close to him. The sun was beginning to set creating a beautiful setting for the couple.

Victor didn’t say a word and leaned in for a kiss. He caressed the side of her face with his hand and held her for a long, sensual kiss before releasing her lips from his.

“Mmm. A good kisser. I could get used to that.” Xenia mused to him. She then took his hand and said, “Follow me.” She led him down a cliffside stairway that brought them to a secluded landing with an infinity pool and hot tub.

Xenia began to take her boots off followed by her nylon stockings. As she did, she said, “If it were up to me, we would’ve gone straight to dessert. I’m not a girl that likes to wait.”

She then unzipped her dress from the back and held the dress loosely on to her body as she slowly stepped into the hot tub. Once submerged into the hot tub, she threw her dress at Victor and said, “You’re not going to make me wait any longer, are you?”

Victor threw his shirt off and began to strip down to nothing as he responded, “Not a second longer, my Princess.”