Erika held the phone to her ear with a huge grin on her face. She quietly listened to the person on the other side of the phone with an occasional, “Uh huh. You’re certain?”

She nodded her head to herself as she followed along with the conversation before saying, “This is wonderful news. I will be in touch with you shortly regarding our next moves. Thank you for making this both a wonderful and historic day.”

She then hung up the phone and smiled to the person sitting across from her, “It’s true. Xenia Victoria BloodStar heir to the BloodStar Empire… is dead.”

Jarek’s heart rate elevated at the sound of her words, “You are certain?”

Erika replied, “King Ramses and Queen Zara confirm they have both seen her dead body in the presence of a mourning Empress Victoria.”

Jarek proudly stated, “I told her this would happen. I told that arrogant young girl she was no match for Pope Gregory and the Holy Light Empire.” He paused to think before saying, “I only wish her alive so that I could say I told her so to her face. She proved insolent and arrogant and died for it.”

Jarek then called for his attendant, “Champagne from my private cellar please. Master Sage and I have a great cause to celebrate.”

The attendant quickly brought over one of the world’s finest champagnes and poured two glasses of bubbly, sparkling champagne.

Erika held up her glass and made a toast, “Cheers to the death of Xenia BloodStar, cheers to the extinction of bloodline powers in the world.”

Jarek held up his glass to hers as they clinked, “And cheers to a historic victory over our enemies.”

They each took a sip of the refreshing champagne, and Jarek said, “Without the risk of her bloodline power’s transferring upon her death, Victoria will be on guard for an attack on her empire and on her personally. Xenia’s death is good news for a great many reasons. One of which is that it will slowly bring about the demise of her mother who has plagued this world for far too long.”

Erika responded, “I wonder if she will accept her invitation to the Master Family conference? She would be a chicken in a den of wolves.”

Jarek laughed, “I am curious to see if she shows as well. As you say, it would make for a good deal of friction. She hasn’t shown her face outside of her empire in a long long time.”

Erika then seriously asked, “How will Jacek take this news? I know he and her had a thing of sorts. I wish to date your son once again as I think we belong together. But I also want to keep his emotional wellbeing in mind as we navigate Xenia’s death. He is the future of your empire after all.”

Jarek smiled, “Jacek has a strong will. He will be fine. But in the short term there could be some grief. It might be best if you broke the news to him. Would you be willing to do so?”

Erika sat up straight and said, “I would be honored. I have a great many deal of topics I need to address with him; our relationship being the utmost important. Breaking the news of her death to him may just be a good overture to other topics. Regardless, it is something we will have to discuss at length before we can move on in earnest.”

Jarek sipped on his champagne and said, “Thank you, Erika. You are a shining beacon of hope in a long line of curse masters. The Heraklinos Family will always cherish the relationship we have together on the world stage.”

Erika gave a genuine smile to him. Given her young age as a Master, she often looked to Jarek for guidance, and she viewed him as a father figure in her life. She stood and said, “Well. There is never a good time to rip a band aid off. I am off to speak with Jacek.”

As she moved to leave the room, Jarek called out to her, “Jacek has been a little angry with me as of late for removing him from duty. If you can convince him to come to dinner later with us that would also be much appreciated.”

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Erika turned to smile at Jarek acknowledging his request silently before closing the door behind her. She then briskly walked down the hallway in her floor length white and green silk floral dress becoming of her family. She knew exactly where to find Jacek.

Ever since returning to his father’s palace in the city of Paris within the Heraklinos Empire, he had two primary activities: training and meditating. Some might even say the two were the same thing. The bottom line was that all of his efforts went to becoming stronger with his ki.

Erika entered the palace courtyard to find Jacek present in the epicenter of an elaborate garden full of flowers and bushes. The setting was peaceful, and he motionlessly sat in the lotus position as she approached.

She stood silently before him tapping her foot. He opened a single eye to glance at her before closing it again. He then said, “I am trying to meditate on my inner self. I am trying to mediate on my own inner strength. So tell me. Why is it that I am distracted by a sense of excitement from the people around me?”

Erika cautiously responded, “I wouldn’t call it excitement. Take a walk in the garden with me, won’t you?”

Jacek stood to face her. He was shirtless and his massively muscular body dwarfed Erika’s. She couldn’t help but take note of his chiseled physique causing her to hesitate as he began to walk the garden path.

She quickly caught up to him and said, “I am so excited that you are back home where you belong. The Saber Province was a stepping stone of experience. Your father is preparing you well to rule one day.”

Jacek ignored her comment, “Why are you here Erika? You must have something important to say. You’ve interrupted my meditation. There is an excitement in the air during my meditation. Something has happened, hasn’t it?”

Erika cut the small talk and said, “You and Xenia. I don’t know what you two had together, but I know you had something. Brief as it may have been.”

Jacek nodded, “We had something. That is true. She gave me several pointers in training that have led to massive jumps in my power. She is a martial artist genius. I know the world despises her, but she was never anything but kind to me. She even saved the Saber Fortress.”

Erika walked along side Jacek silently. Jacek continued, “But I know she had a cruel side. She tortured prisoners. Her culture sees things differently. They are war centric. She was a fool to think she could do as she pleases in an empire other than her own.”

Erika jumped at the opportunity, “That is why I am here Jacek.”

Jacek shrugged her off, “Yes. Yes. I know our destiny is to be together. To fuse the Heraklinos and Sage empires under one mighty union.”

“No.” Erika stopped walking and faced Jacek, “I am here to tell you. Xenia has died in battle against Pope Gregory and the Holy Light Empire.”

Jacek laughed her words off, “Erika. Come on. Have you ever seen Xenia in battle? She is amazing. Have you ever seen her healing abilities? They are the greatest in history. She isn’t so easily killed. Not even by the likes of Pope Gregory. Or even by the likes of my father for that matter.”

Erika stood firmly, “It is true, Jacek. Xenia is dead.”

Jacek turned to face her, “How can you be so sure? When warriors of that caliber fall, the world changes.” Suddenly, Jacek came to his own realization as he thought to himself, “Could it be? Is that why in my meditation I sensed a general euphoria and excitement from around the empire and within Erika?”

Erika saw the change in Jacek’s expression, and she said, “I spoke with King Ramses and Queen Zara no more than an hour ago. They have confirmed… she is dead. I am sorry for your loss Jacek.”

She put her hand on his shoulder, “I know she meant something to you. And I am sorry. I want you to know that your father and I are both here for you.

Jacek shrugged her hand off his shoulder and walked back to his meditation point at the center of the elaborate garden. She followed him, and he spoke from in front of her, “You forget Erika, I am already forbidden from seeing or contacting Xenia. Whether she is truly dead or not means very little to me although I suspect she is not dead.”

He reached his meditation spot and resumed the lotus position as she stood over him. She crossed her arms and said, “Hmph. Well, let me tell you Jacek. She is dead! And that means a lot to me.”

Jacek quietly said, “Yes. Yes. I understand. Believe me. The extinction of bloodline powers has always been a highly anticipated event in our world.”

Erika crouched in front of him and said, “That’s not why it means a lot to me.”

Jacek opened one eye and looked at her silently. Erika continued, “It means a lot to me because I’ve been given a second chance. Xenia was a very eligible woman, and I pushed you right into her arms. I promise I will go to any lengths to make our relationship work if you give me a second chance.”

Jacek began to speak, yet Erika cut him off, “Come to dinner with Jarek and I tonight.”

Jacek began to speak again, yet Erika cut him off once more putting her finger up to his lips to ‘shh’ him, “Don’t worry. As a Master, I can bow out of dinner whenever I like. And I won’t let this dinner go on for too long. Because we have a long night ahead of us afterwards.”

Jacek finally opened both eyes to look at her. He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of pursuit or aggression from his old ‘boring’ girlfriend. She looked back at him and said, “Don’t we?”