BloodStar

Chapter 2: Arrival

Chapter 2: Arrival

While Davis and Hammond continued biding their time by speculating on the events that may unfold in the coming days to years, a crowd gathered on a private airstrip in the same district of Washington D.C.

A private jet from the BloodStar Empire had landed in the United States for the first time in over a century. The jet was enormous and modeled on an Airbus A380. Reporters, journalists, and citizens from around the country gathered to see the Princess arrive and alight from her plane.

A regal staircase descended from the plane, and tens of servants rushed down preparing a red carpet leading to a U.S. dignitary limousine standing at the ready for her, complete with an attendant for the duration of her trip.

Once all was ready, all attention turned towards the staircase as a figure emerged. Camera flashes lit up the crowd as Princess Xenia BloodStar descended the staircase. While many around the world had seen pictures and heard stories of her untold beauty, none of it lived up to seeing her in the flesh.

Her fans yelled and cheered with an uproar of excitement. That is to say, those fans who weren’t stunned into silence or overwhelmed into fainting.

The princess wore a tight fitting, knee-length, crimson red dress that was hardly conservative as it showed off her curvy toned body and voluptuous chest. Her jet-black hair floated flawlessly in the gentle breeze, and she waved with utmost regal form. Her appearance alone was enough to make any man crazy and any woman envious. However, the truly intoxicating aspect of the Princess was her smile and charisma. She could win over anyone, enemy or lover.

She took to the podium set up for her by her servants and gracefully handled the microphone as she greeted the crowd, “What an amazing welcome! I have set foot in your country for less than a minute, and I already feel the enormous love and spirit of everyone here.” She paused and smiled before continuing, “There is no greater privilege to have adoring fans, and so it is with regret that I must say my time with you all today is short. I must make haste as my first stop here in your great country is the hospital. My first priority is to visit and attempt to treat as many terminally ill and dying patients as I can.”

The crowd felt a great warmth in their hearts as they understood her trip to be a selfless one meant to help others who were failing in health. People clenched their hearts and let out soft cries of endearment at her words.

Xenia blew kisses to her fans as the assigned attendant approached and motioned for the microphone. Xenia respectfully handed it over, and the attendant addressed the crowd, “As Princess BloodStar has noted, we must be going to attend to our urgent matters. She has agreed to visit our country and offer a great service, and we are very grateful.”

The attendant handed the microphone back to Xenia as he scurried off to open the limousine door for her. She smiled and turned to the crowd, “We must make haste, indeed; however, as I am quite an independent woman, I brought my own mode of transportation.”

At the sound of her words, one of her own servants pulled up alongside the limousine in a mint condition, flawless example of a red 1992 Ferrari F40 with a license plate that read “BLOOD”. She cheered and said, “If you are keen to know more about me, I love classic cars, and I despise being chauffeured around.” She winked to the crowd, and they cheered her on.

She made her way over to the classic Ferrari F40 motioning for her assigned attendant to join her in the passenger seat. He had little choice but to follow even though he had his reservations. As she approached the car, an immensely muscular man in a fitted tuxedo stepped in front of the door blocking her.

She smiled and put her hand on the man’s chest as she said, “Nero, darling. You are many things including my chief of security, but I insist on visiting the hospital at haste with just an attendant.”

The man stood at over 6 feet tall and weighed just over 300lbs consisting mostly of pure muscle. He maintained a serious expression and said, “As you say, I am your chief of security and must protest your travel without a single guard.”

She put her hand around the back of his neck and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “You can stop the charade for just this moment please. We both know I don’t really need security.”

Nero gave a “Hrrmph” as he stepped aside. As she crawled into the driver seat of the car, he called after her, “I shall prepare the hotel for your arrival then Princess Xenia.”

She blew him a kiss and said, “Please do!” Next, she fired up the engine. The twin turbocharged V8 drowned out the crowd noise as she revved the engine waiting for her assigned attendant to join her. Once they were both securely fastened in the car, Xenia performed a smoky burnout leaving black tire marks halfway across the airstrip as she made her exit towards the hospital.

“Vrrrroorrrr!” The engine roared inside the car’s cabin as the attendant spoke up, “I am Mr. Adam Jenkins. Pleasure to meet you Princess BloodStar.”

Xenia smiled and said, “It is quite the pleasure to meet you as well. Thank you for attending to me for my trip.”

Mr. Jenkins nodded, “Nevermind that this car is long since illegal to drive on our roads, I will simply direct you to our destination.”

Xenia gave a look of ‘sorry’ as she said, “Was it wrong of me to bring my car? I promise to make it up, I really do. No need for direction, I have memorized nearly every road in this city in preparation for my arrival. I daresay I can take us anywhere if you just name the place.”

Mr Jenkins clenched his fists as the car sped upwards of 130+ miles per hour on the highway. It seemed like an eternity for him but merely a moment for Xenia before they took their exit and stopped at a red light. Mr Jenkins began, “Since you know your way around, allow me to digest the information on those awaiting our arrival at the hospital.”

Xenia smirked, “I know everything about them too already. I’m a girl who does my homework.” She then took off her seatbelt, and said, “In fact, if I’m not mistaken, you are a man who is said to enjoy these kinds of classic cars.”

Mr. Jenkins was astonished that a royal member of the BloodStar Empire would go as far to study a man such as himself. He took a big gulp and said, “Well, uhhh, yes… I might have a childhood dream or two of owning this very car or one like it someday.”

“As I thought!” Xenia opened the car door and walked around the front of the car until she reached the passenger side door, opening it. “Come now. You’re driving the rest of the way.”

Mr. Jenkins paused and held an incredulous look on his face, completely speechless. Xenia snapped her fingers, “Come on now! Before the light turns green!”

Mr. Jenkins scurried out of the car running around the tail end before reaching the open driver’s side door and buckling himself in. Xenia looked over at him and said, “Drive it like you stole it. I can personally promise that no police officer will pull us over or put us in jail.”

Jenkins gripped the steering wheel. He was living out his dream; one he had long since nearly given up on. The light turned green, the tires squealed, the car accelerated at breakneck speed, and Xenia stuck her hands out the window yelling, “Woooo!! That’s it!”

After a wild ride of drifting, accelerating, breaking hard, and just joy riding, Jenkins pulled the F40 up to the hospital’s main drive, and Xenia exclaimed, “My God Jenkins, you really do know how to drive this machine to its fullest!”

Jenkins had a smile adorning his face like a kid in a candy store. That is, until he looked up to see several secret service members surrounding the car. One approached the car and sternly addressed Jenkins, “We have received multiple reports of you recklessly endangering our royal VIP. Please step out of the car and follow us.”

Xenia sighed and said, “Sorry Jenkins, allow me to handle this.” She alighted from the car, and the secret service members were momentarily stunned by her beauty. She approached the outspoken leader of the bunch and said, “I apologize for the alarm, Mr. Jenkins was driving as such at my own orders. I was completely out of line.”

The secret service member began to walk back his earlier stern words, “Princess Xenia, had I known his actions were at your order, I would’ve said nothing of the matter. I aim to make your stay safe, secure, and enjoyable in our country.”

Xenia gave a small hop as she clasped her hands together and said, “Wonderful! In that case…” She turned to Jenkins and said, “Jenkins I am in good hands now. Please take this car and enjoy it for the remainder of the day. Show if off to your friends, race it, I don’t care. Just two things: 1) Don’t kill yourself and 2) Have it back at the hotel by 10pm.”

Jenkins stuttered, “B-b-b-but Princess, I am not insured. What If I scrape or scratch it? Or worse, what if I wreck-“

Xenia cut him off, “I have many more like it, and I will cover any and all liabilities. Don’t worry. Have fun. Those are orders.”

With those last words to Jenkins, Xenia turned to face a new entourage greeting her. Numerous men in suits stood to greet her. She approached them all by herself.

The men were a bit taken aback. They were being approached by the world’s most beautiful Princess, a young lady at the age of 25 years old, with no security and no attendants. They were completely speechless.

Xenia gave a wry smile and said, “I’m afraid I have managed to send both my security and my attendant away for the day, and I have also quite managed to outrun my fans and reporters for the moment. So, you will just have me for the time being if that’s okay.”

A man in his mid-50’s stepped forward and said, “Why yes, that is quite alright! Welcome, welcome!” This man was elated to introduce himself, “I am Dr. Jones Stone, the Surgeon General of the United States.” He then motioned to the other men as he said, “And this is the entire hospital system Board of Trustees for the largest hospital system in the United States.”

He then turned to point to the immense 3,000 bed hospital they stood at the door of as he said, “And this is our flagship hospital. It has our latest technologies, our brightest minds, and our sickest patients.”

Princess Xenia curtsied, “Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Princess Xenia Victoria BloodStar, heir to the BloodStar Empire.” Her formal introduction was gushing with grace and regal movements. The men had hardly seen the likes of it.

She then continued, “I have requested to meet you all here as I would like to save a few lives today if possible. As you may know, I have quite the talent for healing.”

Dr. Jones Stone nodded and smiled, “Yes, let’s waste no further time. We have selected several patients for which we would genuinely love for you to grace with no less than a miracle by our standards.”

As they entered the hospital, the secret service members slowly and quietly followed. The leader radioed the group, “Do not let her exhaust herself. While we do not have permission to stop her if she seems to be over-exerting herself, it is our duty to caution her to save reserves for her most important patient.”

The team acknowledged as they closely monitored and followed the world’s foremost beauty, and daughter of the world’s most dangerous Empress, into the hospital.