Chapter 29: The Holy Light Empire

Chapter 29: The Holy Light Empire

“Dinner is served.” An attendant announced as the plates of freshly cooked meat were served to Xenia, Constance, and Arthur.

They sat atop the highest perch of the yacht under a roof with panoramic views. Xenia licked her lips as she cut into her steak. She took a bite and exclaimed, “Arthur, you taste so good!” She shot him a flirtatious glance and said, “You are welcome to dine with me any time you like, sir.”

Arthur took a bite as well and couldn’t help but agree. He had since grown accustomed to Xenia’s predilections and as such he could make an objective assessment.

Although he had to go through great pains to provide this meal, the experience had been intensely erotic. Furthermore, after being healed by Xenia, his body was at peak health. The chance to mix pleasure and pain while also gaining great longevity was an appealing scenario to Arthur, and he hoped to do it again soon.

He thought to himself, “This is human meat. An illegal cut to be sure. But putting that aside. It is juicy. It is tasty. And it goes darn well with various dipping sauces.”

The three dined together casually. The weather was perfect without a single cloud in the bright blue sky. They exchanged intel regarding the imminent invasion, and they enjoyed one another’s company as if they were all long-time friends.

An attendant interrupted the trio towards the end of their meals, “General BloodStar, I have an urgent message from Empress Victoria.”

Xenia motioned with her hand for him to continue, and the attendant said, “She requests your presence today at Khan Valley for important training. She has given me no further details.”

Xenia said, “Fine. Bring me my dessert now then.”

Xenia rolled her eyes and said, “I can’t wait until I am Empress. I hate being summoned with short notice.”

The attendant returned shortly with a chocolate sundae and security detail escorting a prisoner in shackles.

Xenia smiled and said, “Yay! Let’s see, chocolate sundae right here in front of me. And just remove the shackles from our prisoner, and I will take care of the rest.”

The attendants removed the prisoner’s shackles and quickly scurried away. The prisoner was a large muscular and lean man who looked strong enough to rip one’s head from their shoulders.

He began to speak; however, suddenly, it felt as if something or someone had grabbed this throat. His body then began to betray him. Against his will, he began to walk over towards Xenia. He then sat next to her unable to speak or move further.

Xenia scooched over to him brushing up against his shoulder and said, “This one has also been extremely forthcoming in our interrogations, Arthur. But, as you will come to find, the BloodStar Empire doesn’t keep prisoners for very long.”

Pope Gregory began his meeting, “Our Lord has ordained us to greatness for we soon will begin our crusade against the sinful nation of the United States. Their culture has soiled His name throughout their history. Their proclivities of sex, violence, greed, and lust, indeed all of the seven sins have run rampant long enough. Our Empire is guided by the light from our savior in heaven.”

The Cardinals nodded in silence as they agreed with the words of Pope Gregory. The Cardinals were no strangers to conquest. The Holy Light Empire’s seat of power had always laid in the South American continent. For decades they had slowly conquered Central America and the territory formerly known as Mexico via peaceful methods of religious conversion. However, the United States held a strong culture that withstood all peaceful attempts of conversion.

St. Gregory continued, “Our Lord also works in mysterious ways. For it is He that has given us the patience and virtue to wait for this moment in time. Our divine invasion comes at a time in which the United States has allied with one of the most despised nations the Earth has ever beared witness to, The BloodStar Empire.”

St. Gregory took his seat at the head of the table and motioned to his eldest son, St. Peter, “The Lesser Pontiff, Pope Peter, will elaborate.”

St. Peter stood in his regal white robes to address the Cardinals, “Our Lord and savior has spoken to us. His plans for our invasion include shock and awe tactics. We will show no mercy to the fiendish devils in the United States. We will wield our holy savagery with the aim of drawing the Blood Demon, Xenia BloodStar, into the fray so that we may strike her down once and for all. No longer will the world be subjected to both her sexual and lustful atrocities to mankind.”

St. Peter took his seat. The table sat in silence until St. Gregory spoke once more, “Make no mistake, this opportunity to cleanse both the American devils and the Blood Demon herself is a God-given gift, and we shall not squander it.”

Suddenly, a man from the shadows of the room spoke out of turn, “You speak as if this will be an easy task. Xenia BloodStar isn’t one to go down without a fight. Furthermore, have you forgotten the might of Empress Victoria to history?”

St. Gregory looked in the man’s direction, “Ah, Archbishop St. Michael. Your thoughts are appreciated but ill-informed.”

The man retorted, “As your son and General leading the ground forces, I have the right to express my concerns.”

St. Gregory stood once more, “Then allow me to quell your concerns, Archbishop. Empress Victoria wouldn’t dare fight on foreign soil. Indeed, I wish she would. However, the treaty she, I, and other Masters signed dictates that an act of war by her for any reason would activate a clause for the Master Families of the world to annihilate her Empire from the face of the Earth.”

He took a deep sigh before continuing, “And the Blood Demon, Xenia. While she is a prodigy of her generation, she vastly overestimates her own power as compared to the various Masters around the world.”

St. Michael retorted, “To other Masters, yes. But to me and my armies, no. Do you plan to personally defeat her if she meets us in battle?”

St Gregory smiled, “Yes. I do, in fact, plan to personally defeat her for the greater good of the world.”

St Michael, St. Peter, and the nine Cardinals all looked to St. Gregory in awe. It had been decades since St. Gregory had exercised his divine powers in battle. However, they all knew he was immensely powerful. His presence on the battlefield all but assured their victory when the time came.

St. Michael nodded as he walked out of the shadows, “Very well. In that case, we will have no issue in taking our first city... Houston, Texas.”