Jarek stood outside of a psychiatry inpatient room looking through the viewing window waiting for the doctor to exit.
The doctor stepped out and she looked to Jarek with an apprehensive smile as she said, “Master Heraklinos. It is an honor to find you waiting for me once again. However, I am afraid after many days, we still have little to no progress.” She gave a deep breath and said, “But don’t worry. Time is her friend even if it means taking months.”
Jarek put his hand on the shoulder of the doctor and said, “Thank you. Thank you and your team for putting every effort you have in to healing my comrade. She is, or was, an extremely talented warrior under Master Karasu’s clan.”
The doctor smiled back at Jarek, “And she may yet be again one day.”
He began to walk with the doctor, “So no progress at all, correct?”
The doctor shook her head, “I’m afraid not. She is petrified of every stimulus. Even the light scares her to tears, so we keep her in a dark room. She is fully restrained for most of the day just to keep her from harming herself and others while we work to heal her; however, we do allow her some freedoms to maintain her humanity as much as possible.”
Jarek nodded, “You are a gift to our world, doctor. Please keep me updated.”
Jarek intended to walk off ending the conversation, but the doctor stopped him, “Master Heraklinos.” Jarek turned to face her, “Yes?”
She continued, “You should know that if these types of patients recover it can take months. But also, many never recover. If there is ever an opportunity to make a deal with the person who inflicted this ki to remove it… it would be worth consideration. It may be her only hope.”
Jarek nodded, “I understand, doctor. Thank you.” Jarek walked off knowing that making a deal with the person who inflicted it was all but a fool’s dream. He had nothing to trade or barter with save for his son’s love life which wasn’t his to deal with.
As a last resort, he planned to have Erika attempt to curse the foreign ki from Natalya’s body; however, he wasn’t yet ready to take such risk until other avenues had proved fruitless.
______________________________
In the deep basement of the White House, the leaders of the Allied Forces sat at a long table.
Jacek slammed his fist on the table sending a crack along the surface as he said in a raised voice, “We need to wipe the BloodStar Citadel off the map! We can’t afford to allow them to prosper in our own lands. It is a show of weakness if we allow them to continue their activities!”
President Monroe threw his hands up, “And what do you suggest we do about it? It’s not just Xenia we have to worry about now. She has Nero, Mistress Khan, and her army grows in number by the hour.”
Karasu sneered, “An enemy’s strength is no reason to lament. Jacek is right.”
Jacek added, “We start with a siege. They are expanding on their growth at the citadel, but if we can disrupt their supply lines, we have a very good chance of knocking at least one peg out from under them. Soldiers still need to eat and sleep under a roof.”
Erika added, “A siege may be a slow process, but it would weaken them in the long run, and it would also stop them from expanding further.”
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St. Michael added, “I am fairly certain I can facilitate a disruption in the supply chain lines. Xenia doesn’t plan to return to the Holy Light Empire any time soon.”
Vice President Morrow chimed in, “All good points. But let us not overlook the notable fact that a siege in earnest could result in massive casualties for both sides. Are we willing to pay that price?”
Senator Hammond chimed in, “I am not keen to pay that price, but Lord Heraklinos is our top fighter in this war. If that is the price we must pay to prevent the world from falling into the hands of a serial-killing lunatic then it may yet be the cheapest price we have the chance of paying. We should trust his judgement.”
Jacek nodded to Hammond in a show of appreciation, and Hammond nodded back.
Jacek then said, “I agree the price to pay could be high, but I am going to make sure we only go that route if it is our last option.”
Erika countered, “It may not be up to you, Jacek. If we summon hundreds of thousands of soldiers to siege the BloodStar Citadel, what is to stop Xenia from using every single one of them to create a BloodStar that she could then use against us?”
Jacek responded with a tinge of anger in his voice, “There can be no question that Xenia BloodStar has a massive advantage when it comes to all-out war with great numbers. However, when it comes to one-on-one battles, the Heraklinos Family has always had the advantage. And this time, I am going to be present. If she tries anything like that, I will end her right then and right there.”
Erika bit her lip and said, “That’s not what I meant, Jacek. You can’t go!”
He looked to Erika on a remote video monitor and said, “I have to go.”
The tension in the room was palpable as the two lovers silently fought to balance their own desires for one another against putting themselves at risk for the world.
The tension was interrupted by a call as a phone began to ring. Jacek shouted, “Ignore it!”
However, President Monroe looked who was calling and replied, “We can’t very well ignore Master Heraklinos.”
Jacek looked to the President and said, “My apologies. You are right. Put him on speaker.”
The President answered the phone, “Master Heraklinos, how are you? We were just discussing our plans and whether or not to lay siege to the BloodStar Citadel with Lord Heraklinos leading the siege.”
Jarek responded, “I see. I am actually calling to give an update on Natalya Belova.”
Karasu sat forward in his seat, “Has there been any progress? How is she?”
Jarek was quiet for several moments. The silence was deafening. Jarek then started, “It is with my greatest regret that I must inform you all that Natalya Belova has taken her own life. Not on her own accord but driven by her own fear inflicted by Constance Khan.”
The room was dead quiet as everyone looked to Karasu. Karasu shed a single tear from his eye and wiped it quickly, “Thank you for informing us Master Heraklinos. The information only steels our efforts in this war to take the BloodStar family down.”
Jarek’s voice boomed, “Don’t let Natalya die in vain. If you lay siege to the citadel, I suggest you move in with full force. I would vote to have Jacek Heraklinos, my son, lead the siege.”
With the news of Natalya’s death, the leadership council was much more willing to lean towards siege risking all-out war with massive casualties.
Jacek nodded, “The deaths of our loved ones will only continue until we put an end to this. I am going to stop her in her tracks.”
Karasu stood and shouted, “And I will accompany you!”
Jacek nodded to Karasu. President Monroe stood from the table next, “You have the full force of the United States Armed Forces at your back including our vast network of cruise missile launch sites.”
St. Michael nodded, “I will begin to disrupt supply chain lines on my end. They will feel it within the week.”
Erika nodded on screen, “I support this plan of action. Be safe. All of you.”
Lastly, Jacek stood from the table, “Karasu and I will take 100,000 men strong to encompass the citadel at a radius of 1 mile. President Monroe, we will need tanks and air support to bombard them day and night.”
Monroe nodded, “We have 100 M1 Abrams tanks on standby at your command. I will scramble the stealth fighters and stealth bombers. They will be fully operational by mid-day tomorrow.”
Just as the meeting was to adjourn, Erika shouted, “Wait! I will be sending you all ki stones crafted from my curse abilities. They will increase your abilities hugely. You will need all the stamina, strength, and speed you can afford. These could mean the difference between life and death.”
Jacek smiled at her, “Thank you Master Sage. It will give us courage to know you are with us by our side as we fight.”
He then declared, “Commence Operation Stranglehold!”