Blood Hunter: Rivers of Blood

The air outside was thick with noise and movement, but as the door to the lavish room opened, a quiet stillness settled in. The contrast was immediate—inside, the space was an oasis of elegance, far removed from the chaos of the streets. Rich, flowing fabrics of deep burgundy and gold draped the walls, their soft sheen catching the warm golden light that bathed the room. The furnishings, luxurious and well-arranged, reflected a wealth known only to the elite, every piece meticulously chosen for both beauty and comfort. The soft light from flickering sconces cast a serene glow, making the room feel as though it was frozen in time, untouched by the world outside.

She moved across the room with a languid grace, her mind clearly elsewhere. The bed, untouched and pristine, caught her attention, but she walked past it, heading instead to a desk by the window. The street below was a blur of activity, but her eyes were distant, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

Looking down at the busy street, she saw Tienerra step into the street below, turning to her right and disappearing into the crowd, lost among the neon signs and busy passersby. Star's thoughts flickered for a moment, a trace of irritation slipping into her tone. "Why did Sable summon me only to have me wait here, singing for the last three galactic night cycles?" Her arms flung out in exasperation as she let out a small tantrum, before collapsing into the desk chair with an exaggerated slump. Her fingers traced the cold surface of the desk as she spun around in the chair, frustration swirling in her chest.

Just as the chair came to a stop, a soft sound interrupted her thoughts—footsteps approaching from the hallway. Her ears perked, listening intently as the footsteps grew louder, and then paused right outside her door. A knock echoed through the quiet room. Star, unfazed and far from concerned, spun lazily in the chair once again, her eyes half-closed.

"Come on in," she called, her voice carrying a nonchalant indifference.

The door handle turned with a soft click, and the door opened silently. There stood Varek, the bartender, his stoic figure framed in the doorway. His presence was the complete opposite of Star's relaxed demeanor.

"What do you need, Varek?" Star asked, her voice still laced with the remnants of irritation, not even bothering to lift herself from the chair. She didn't even look at him, continuing to spin in the chair in a deliberate show of disinterest.

Varek cleared his throat, stepping into the room, his calm, measured tone cutting through the casual air. "Star..." He hesitated, then corrected himself. "Velora, it's time to see the master. We've been summoned." He crossed the room, his expression serious but tinged with concern. "Also, Velora, you should conduct yourself with a little more decorum. You're a reflection of our master."

Star rolled her eyes, her lips twisting into a sarcastic smirk. She slowly stood, her movements deliberate as she straightened herself, though her posture remained unimpressed. "Alright, Varek. Give me a moment to change, and we'll go see Master Sable." The venom in her voice was palpable, especially when mentioning Sable. She quickly moved to the suitcase, discarding the heavy, delicate dress she'd worn for her performance. She pulled out a tighter-fitting outfit—a dark blue, skin-tight ensemble with metal rings at her arms, waist, and neck.

Her fingers brushed over the familiar contents in the suitcase—blades, weapons, and tools she knew all too well. As she opened the suitcase fully, the metallic gleam of the Aetherion Orbs caught her eye. She pulled out two tubes, each housing several Aetherion Orbs. The tubes hummed faintly as they adjusted to the atmosphere around them. These Aetherion Orbs, as powerful as they were delicate, held within them condensed atoms of various elements—water, fire, electricity, and more. With a practiced ease, Velora slid the tubes onto her arms, the locking mechanism clicking into place, securing the orbs firmly on her limbs.

The Aetherion Orbs glowed softly, responding to the faint stirrings of her Aetherbind—the natural energy that allowed her to manipulate the elements. Her fingers tingled with the familiar hum of Aetherspirit. Aetherbind, an energy few could harness, had been a part of Velora's life for years. But the orbs were an enhancement, allowing her to wield elements with more precision, albeit at the cost of taxing her Aetherspirit. It was a delicate balance, and too much force could cause a catastrophic overload. She'd learned this the hard way, her body bearing the scars of the orb's past backfire.

"Varek," Velora said, not even looking up as she secured the orbs, her voice clipped. "Did you make sure the Aetherion Orbs are stable? I don't want them backfiring on me again."

Varek moved closer, his hands steady as he assisted her with the tubes. "Yes, I verified their stability. Just... don't overload them like you did last time," he warned, his voice tinged with mild exasperation.

Velora huffed in annoyance as she attached her fingerless gloves to the sleeves of the Orbs. "I didn't overload them. I just... pushed the limit in the heat of the fight," she muttered, her frustration simmering beneath her words. She grabbed a long coat from the suitcase, adjusting it around her body and moving her tail with practiced ease to ensure it fit comfortably around the base of her spine. The coat split at her tail's base, and she flicked her hair from underneath the fabric, the length of it catching the light as it cascaded down her back.

Varek glanced at her with a look of disapproval but remained composed. "There's one more thing, Velora."

Velora paused mid-adjustment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she waited for him to continue.

"A Soltarian female came asking about the archaeologists that Sable has captive," Varek said. "She's looking for them."

Velora's hands stilled, and then a slow, dangerous smile spread across her face. "Well, Varek, it looks like today's going to be interesting." She began to gather her weapons, attaching throwing knives, handguns, and short swords to her back beneath the coat.

"If things go sideways and we get separated," she said with a touch more gravity in her voice, "remember the rendezvous point."

She moved toward the door, her fingers brushing over the door handle. Just as she was about to turn it, Varek spoke again, his voice low and serious.

"Velora, remember—don't disobey Master Sable. You know what happens if we do."

Velora paused, her eyes softening for a brief moment before the hardness returned. "I know, Varek," she said, her voice heavy with understanding. "We're his slaves. If we disobey, he'll activate the phosphorous bomb in our chests."

Without another word, she stepped toward him, pulling him into a brief, tight hug. "We will be free one day," Varek whispered, holding her close.

Velora nodded firmly, stepping back. "Yes, and when we are, Sable will die by my hands."

Velora and Varek stepped out of the room, the door closing softly behind them. They walked into the bustling streets, their pace steady as they followed the same path Tienerra had taken moments before. As they moved through the crowd, the view expanded, revealing the full scope of the black market city. The streets were alive with movement, a tangled web of cables and neon lights flashing overhead. The city seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions, its energy pulsing through every corner. In the distance, a massive structure was embedded into a jagged rock face, towering over the surrounding buildings like a fortress. Further still, the scene unfolded to reveal the full scale of the metropolis—a colossal dome enveloped half of a rotating asteroid, its surface gleaming under the stars. Ships drifted lazily past, their engines barely a whisper against the vastness of space, while asteroids floated in the distance, a silent reminder of the isolation that surrounded this thriving, chaotic world.