Moments earlier, Michael awoke in his bed to the trembling of the basilica. He groaned to himself, “God damnit. What is it now?”
His bedside phone rang, and he picked it up with an annoyed tone, “Yes?”
“Sir, we have detected a tremor in the area centered on the basilica; however, there is no imminent danger to us or the building.”
Michael breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at his clock reading ‘6:00 AM’ before saying, “Very well. I think I will head back to bed then.”
His attendant cleared his throat on the other side of the phone, and Michael rolled his eyes, “What is it?”
“Sir, don’t forget you have an early morning meeting with Eric Vand of the Vand Family at 7:00 am sharp.”
Michael groaned, “Fine. I’m up. I will get ready and then I am going for a walk.”
Michael hung up the phone and stood from his bed. He took a nice, long hot shower. He then dried off and dressed himself for the day. After readying himself, he exited his room for a morning walk around the basilica.
It wasn’t long into his walk before he felt another tremble and rumble of the building under his feet. An attendant came running and reassured him, “An after tremor to be sure my liege. Would you like for me to send a team to inspect the foundation to be sure?”
For the first time since waking, Michael narrowed his eyes with a steeled concentration, “No. I will inspect it myself.”
He had a serious look on his face as he noted to himself, “I have felt this before… the vault.”
Michael turned to make way for the vault and called out to his attendant, “I am heading down to check the Holy Vault. If I am not back by 7 am, please send Mr. Eric Vand down there to meet me.”
The attendant tried to rush after Michael, “Uh sir, the plan was to meet in the conference room.”
Michael laughed, “Trust me. The Vand Family would kill for an opportunity to see inside the Holy Vault. Eric will be thrilled if he has to meet me down there.”
“Very well sir.”
Michael nodded and started for the grand staircase. His serious expression returned as he felt a sinister aura in the air increasing in density as he descended the stairs several flights before making it to the lower level where the vault lay.
He inspected the massive vault door with a look of concern, “Something isn’t right. This aura… is evil.”
Micheal quickly began to unlock both the physical lock combinations as well as the protective ki measures in place noting that the vault door had several imperfections and cracks in it since he had last been down here.
Before entering he thought, “Should I call for my Holy Guard? No. They would only get in the way. If I can’t handle this, then no one here can.”
He pushed the vault door open swinging it fully open as he entered. His eyes scanned the large room full of priceless artifacts, weapons, and treasures. His scanning eyes eventually came to a black trunk with the lid ajar.
He cautiously approached it as he immediately recognized this to be the source of the sinister aura. He raised the lid of the trunk and looked inside, “It’s… empty.”
He ran his fingers along the base of the inside and looked to see fresh blood layering the inside. He then heard a loud ‘slam’ causing him to jump and turned around.
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The vault door was closed, and he heard the click of high-heels as someone emerged from the shadowed corner of the room.
“Hello, Michael. It’s… been too long.”
Michael was speechless as he looked upon a woman in a black leather outfit with the tail of a whip wrapped numerous times around her waist and the handle slung over her shoulder.
Xenia smiled at him as she walked towards him, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. I thought you would be excited to see me.” She walked up to him and put her hand on his chest and moved it up to his neck caressing him, “After all, we are former lovers, aren’t we?”
She leaned in and kissed him on the lips softly before pulling back and smiling at him.
“Xen- Xenia?” Micheal had a shakiness to his voice stemming from both fear and disbelief, “You can’t be. An imposter to be sure. Jarek has assured me countless times that your lifeless body is under eternal surveillance within his empire.”
She rested both of her arms over his shoulders and smiled at him, “Oh I can assure you; I am quite alive. Why don’t we fuck, and you can see just how alive I am. And how alive I can make you feel still.”
She took her finger and ran it over and down his lips dragging his bottom lip down with it as she said, “I’ll make you feel alive. But then I’ll kill you.” She bit her lip with a smile and then said, “And I promise I won’t be reviving you this time.”
Michael finally snapped out of it and began to raise his ki. He moved to grab her and put her in a hold; however, she bloodbent him, freezing him in an instant.
She began to walk around him smiling and laughing, “You would strike me? Oh Michael I can’t wait for our sex. I love when a man hate fucks me so good.”
She ran her hand around his body as she circled him coming back to the front, “And you have so much hate to give me. Don’t you?”
She reached down and grabbed his cock firmly in her hands through his pants and began to make out with his immobile, bloodbent body; however, her fun was interrupted by a loud knocking at the door.
A voice called out, “St. Michael! Mr. Eric Vand of the Vand Family is here to see you!”
Xenia looked back at the vault door and then whipped her head around with a huge smile on her face, “You didn’t tell me we would have company! This should be fun!”
She let go of Michael and backed away in to the shadows and held up a finger to her lips, “Shhh. You sit there in your mind. I’ll do all of the talking for you.”
Michael then felt his body betray him further as he called out against his will, “Ah yes, Mr. Vand! One moment!”
Xenia had full control over Michael’s body as she walked him over to the vault door opening it and welcoming Eric in, “Eric, thank you for coming to meet with me.”
Eric entered the vault, and Michael motioned to his attendant, “Thank you for bringing Mr. Vand to see me.” He then whispered discreetly to his attendant, “And what matters are Mr. Vand and I discussing this morning? It has slipped my mind.”
The attendant nodded, “Rightfully so sir. Mr. Vand stated he has urgent matters to tell you regarding the bank robbery.”
Michael smiled, “Is that so? Perfect.” He then nodded as he shut the vault door.
He then turned to face Eric, “Welcome! Welcome to my vault! I have all kinds of things to show you in here. Treasures, weapons, heirlooms, and-”
Eric abruptly cut him off, “I’m afraid I don’t come bearing light-hearted news, St. Michael. The world is about to be thrown into turmoil.”
Michael nodded his head, “Is that so? Please tell me.”
Eric took in a deep breath, “Okay. I’ll tell you. Though my uncle tells me to do so is signing my own death certificate.”
Micheal began to walk with his hand up to his chin in thought and looked up to say, “Did he now? A smart man, John Vand. Your uncle. Have you considered taking his advice?”
Erik shook his head, “No. More than money and power, doing the right thing is more important. Even if it means my death.”
“Very well. Tell me what scares your uncle.”
“My uncle isn’t scared. He is in league with someone.” Eric and Michael locked eyes, and Eric continued, “Xenia BloodStar is alive.”
Michael laughed softly to himself irritating Eric who shouted, “This isn’t a joke! I know what you will say! Jarek Heraklinos has her body under his watch. She died at the Battle of BloodStar Citadel. But I am telling you that I met her at the bank robbery. That wasn’t Sareena night. Or rather, it was. But she is Xenia BloodStar. She didn’t use ki because she didn’t have to, but it is her! And my uncle is no fool. He never moves with such confidence unless he is absolutely certain. She is alive. You must believe me.”
Michael laughed a little louder this time only stopping to smile at Eric speechlessly.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
Michael then finally mustered a sentence through his off-putting grin, “I believe you, Eric. In fact, I forgot to mention that we aren’t alone. Allow me to introduce you to someone.”
Eric frowned with confusion just a moment before feeling his body constrict and move against his will no matter how hard he fought it. He was forced to look towards the shadows in the corner. He heard the click of high heeled boots against the ground as a figured emerged.
Xenia walked out into the light and smiled at Eric with her arms outstretched presenting herself to him, “The devil in the flesh.”