Chapter 55: Lose-Lose

Chapter 55: Lose-Lose

John Vand sat in the kitchen enjoying his partial rack of ribs after grilling them and applying barbecue sauce. He tried to put aside the fact that he was eating human meat and judge the flavor without bias. Although impossible to do, he still found himself enjoying the flavor regardless of its origin.

He thought to himself, “I mean... I can’t completely blame her for eating human meat if it all tastes like this. This is delicious.”

He grabbed another rib bone and added sauce to it before taking a bite. As he ate, Xenia walked into the kitchen with Peter following close behind. She looked to him and said, “It’s good, isn’t it? You can give me your honest answer.”

John gave his honest answer, “Although I could never openly admit it, this is quite tasty.” He held a rib up as to cheers her and took another bite.

She smiled and said, “John, I think we could get along quite famously. Don’t mess this up. I need a de facto ruler of this empire once I take it for myself.”

John smiled, “I know the empire and its people like the back of my hand. I’d be honored to serve as its de facto ruler. I imagine serving under you has its perks too. I’d be a fool to not seek to please you.”

Xenia tilted her head, “John. Keep this up and you will have all the chances you want to please me.” She winked at him and turned back to Peter, “You on the other hand... you will please me in other ways.”

John sat in thought to himself, “She has who is likely the second most powerful ki user in this empire following her around like a dog. She is the future. What terrifying power. What terrifying depravity.”

He sat as he openly listened to Xenia bloodbending Peter to call and talk to his father Pope Gregory, “Yes, father. I will be entertaining and courting Lady Elizabeth Innocente at the Innocente Estate until the Master Family meeting. I will leave from here to the meeting. In the meantime, I will be taking time here to myself.”

John thought to himself, “And she’s smart. Wicked smart.”Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.

After Peter hung up the phone with his father, Xenia looked across the kitchen at John, “You have finished all of your ribs. Would you care for more?”

John pat his belly and began to speak; however, he was interrupted by Xenia.

She smiled with glee, “There is more where that came from. How would you like some Papal ribs?” Xenia looked to Peter and then back to John who sat at the tall countertop bar.

John nodded as he tried to mask his underlying terror, “A prime meat to be sure. How could I say no?” John knew how to play into the person ruling him and he intended to do just that. Supporting the empire was a lost cause now in his mind.

He had just formally signed into law the secession of Texas from the United States of America making Texas an independent country again for the first time in a long time.

He had his doubts as to whether he was doing the right thing or not. After all, his entire platform that led to this circumstance was based on loose words spoken to him by Empress Victoria. His political career and, indeed, his very own life now hinged on her words. However, he also knew the other option was no good.

The crowd cheered their official statehood, and the press covered the news like hawks. It was a big day for the former senator Davis as well for he was now Texas President Arthur Davis.

Texas President Davis shuffled through the crowd answering questions and gladhanding guests. The event went far longer than he would’ve liked; however, eventually the crowd died down. He quickly made way for an old parlor room with the mansion. He knew he was late for an important date with an old friend.

He walked in to find Senator Hammond sitting alone at a table with two drinks in front of him. Hammond called to Davis as he entered, “Senat- I mean, President Davis! You’re a very important person now. More important than a mere senator such as myself.”

Arthur sat across from Hammond at the table and breathed a huge sigh, “What has the world come to Hammond?”

Hammond took a sip of his beer and replied, “It has come to be a boiling pot of urine. Every decision we are presented with is a lose-lose. At least your decision offers you the hope of maintaining independence under BloodStar rule. Look at your former country’s choice.”

He took another, larger sip of his drink and continued, “We have been served up on a plate to the Heraklinos and Sage empires who will surely carve our lands up and present most of it back to the Holy Light Empire.”

Arthur laughed, “At least you get to keep your life. You will also be saving hundreds of millions of people in the process.”

Hammond grumbled, “That may be. But this country wasn’t built on surrender. It was built on fighting to the death as you have chosen.” He put his drink down and looked to Davis, “If you come out on top of this whole thing, don’t forget me. I never wanted you to leave our Union.”

Arthur took a large sip of his drink and said, “Houston is obliterated. It doesn’t exist. That has crashed our economy. The people are scared. They are fleeing to your country. And why shouldn’t they? There are 100,000 soldiers at our southern borders just waiting for the conference to conclude, so that they may invade with the blessing of the other Master Families. And me? I’m the fool who led us down this path. Hoping for a BloodStar intervention.”

He sighed and looked to Hammond, “If there is even a shred of Texas left after this war concludes, it is you who I would ask doesn’t forget me.”

The two old friends laughed together as Hammond said, “You will know your fate sooner than anyone else. As an independent country square in the middle of all of this, you are invited to the Master Family conference now.”

“Mmm, yes.” Arthur smiled, “I will be present to hear the judges themselves pass their death sentence on my country, Texas.”

Hammond said, “Cheer up. Even if death is a foregone conclusion, it is better to die fighting. Me on the other hand. I have chosen the cowardly path. Albeit a peaceful one.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair, “Like you said, we are just two men who were offered shit choices. And we chose differently. It may very well be that we both meet bullshit ends. It is as I say, a lose-lose.”