Chapter 210: Chapter 208: Oval Office

“The President will see you now, Mr. Vand.”

John Vand nodded to the woman ready to escort him to the President of the United States office. He stood and followed her to the oval office entrance where she stopped and motioned for him to enter.

“Thank you, madam.” John smiled at her as he entered.

“Mr. John Vand! You bastard. What took you so long to come say hi after my winning the election?”

John smiled, “Hammond. Or rather, President Hammond now is it?”

The two men sat across from one another in comfortable navy-blue chairs with a coffee table between the two.

“Congratulations on your election. I suppose you and Vice President Arthur Davis are some kind of war heroes around here now, yes?”

Hammond smiled and nodded as he took out a tray of cigars, “Shall we celebrate?”

John smirked back at him as he pulled out a flat storage container from his suit jacket pocket. He popped it open revealing two of the world’s finest Cuban cigars, “If we are to celebrate, let’s use these.”

Hammond nodded his head with a big smile as he put his tray down and picked up one of John’s Cuban cigars instead, “I should’ve expected as much from the richest man in the world. Cheers.”

The two men lit up their cigars and began to puff on them. John leaned back in his chair, “I’m not the richest man in the world anymore. I hardly have a dollar to my name these days. What I do have is power and knowledge.”

Hammond puffed on his cigar and blew a perfect smoke ring, “And why do I suspect that is what you are here to discuss? You’ve made a deal with a devil, and you need my help unwinding it. Is that it?”

“I’ve made a deal with a devil, yes. A dead one. But I’m not here to unwind it. I’m here to offer you advice as I know something the rest of the world does not. Not yet.” John then blew an equally impressive smoke ring.

Hammond grunted, “I see you have perfected the art of cigars as have I. Tell me. Tell me what you know.”

John took a deep breath in, “What I have to say won’t be welcomed. So I’ll just say it.” He paused before continuing, “Xenia BloodStar is alive, and the war is not over.”

Hammond laughed and chuckled as he choked on his cigar, “John! Don’t joke with me like that while I smoke. My lungs can’t take it.”

Hammond eyed John noting his serious demeanor, “Surely you can’t be serious.”

John said nothing and maintained a serious expression.

“Oh. So you are… serious.” Hammond straightened his suit jacket, “John, every leader in the world has been paraded by Xenia BloodStar’s dead body in the Heraklinos Empire. She’s dead.”

John responded matter of factly, “She is not.”

Hammond scoffed and chuckled, “I don’t know how to react, John. On one hand, you are you. You are never wrong. On the other hand, the strongest man in the world, Jarek Heraklinos, has assured the rest of the world Xenia is dead.”

The two men sat in silence until Hammond continued, “The United States is thriving. We have the Karasu Clan to the north. The Holy Light Empire to the south. Trade has never been better. The war was good for our economy, and the post-war economy is even better.”

Hammond stood and began to pace, “Even if she were alive. What could I even do? Arthur and I campaigned on the premise of defeating her. An alliance would be unthinkable. She was defeated once, she would be defeated again. No?”

John slowly shook his head, “She’s different now. Stronger. Much stronger.”

“And let’s work on the premise, for a moment, that she is alive. And I don’t think she is. But if she were, what? She sent you here to form an alliance with the United States? For what reason would she have if she is so strong now? Hmm.” Hammond began to pace with anxiety.

“Xenia doesn’t much care what I do or who I tell of her existence now.” John laughed to himself, “In her view, it won’t change anything.”

John eyed Hammond, “No, I come as a friend to warn you. Be careful. Be very careful. She is out for blood. She is out for revenge. On everyone. Do yourself a favor and submit if the opportunity arises. Become a vassal state.”

Hammond returned to his seated position across from John, “As I said old friend, I still don’t believe she is even alive. You are more than just a few steps ahead of me right now.”

“Maybe if you could offer me proof? Surely you have thought that far ahead, yes?” Hammond asked.

“I don’t have any proof. She is after all very good at deceit. Better than me even I’m ashamed to say.” John shifted forward in the chair leaning towards Hammond, “If you can’t heed my advice on a national level, then heed my advice on a personal level. Do not go to the Heraklinos and Sage wedding tomorrow. Don’t do it.”

Hammond dropped his cigar on the ash tray and chuckled, “Don’t go to the safest place on Earth? Don’t go where Jarek Heraklinos will be personally? Don’t go where Jacek, Erika, Vega, Karasu, Lady Starfallen, and Michael will all be?” Hammond began to relax as he began to understand that John was living in fear.

Hammond leaned back comfortably, “We have great medical facilities here John. If you need therapy, I can help. Maybe you lost a great sum of money. Maybe you have post-traumatic stress following the war. Whatever it is, I am here to help. As a friend.”

John smiled back at Hammond, “As I have no proof, as you say, I cannot convince you further. But if my predictions are correct, Michael will not be attending the wedding.”

“And why is that?” Hammond reached again for his cigar.

“Last I heard, Xenia was on her way to pay him a visit.”

Hammond chuckled, “Nonsense. Such nonsense, John.”

John stood from his chair, “If you do hear about the death of St. Michael in the next 12-24 hours, please consider turning Air Force One around and flying back to the states. Do not go to that wedding. I came to tell you all of this as a friend.”

Hammond stood and nodded to John, “We are still friends, John. Always will be. If your macabre predictions come true, I will reconsider my position.”

“And what position is that?”

“That you are a bloody lunatic. Ha!” Hammond pat John on the back as they walked towards the door to the oval office.

John stood in the doorway and turned to Hammond, “I’ve done and said all I can do. The rest is up to you Mr. President. Good luck.”

Hammond ignored his comment, “Will I be seeing you at the wedding, John?”

John smiled, “I’m afraid not. I’ll have to settle for the live broadcast within my mansion safely located in the Holy Light Empire.”

“Damn shame. You’d leave me with all those bloodsuckers save for Vice President Davis.”

John shot Hammond a serious look at the mention of Davis, “Distance yourself from him now. I mean it. Xenia will come for him. He betrayed her more than anyone. If you can, offer him up in a trade. Have him arrested and detained to appease Xenia.”

Hammond shook his head and took a deep sigh, “I value our friendship, John. But I think it’s time you go.”

John took a step towards Hammond; however, several CIA agents including Master Chief Washington stepped in to escort John off the White House campus.

Hammond returned to his desk and picked up the phone, “Yes, I apologize for the early phone call; however, I need to speak to St. Michael.”

“He is currently in a meeting with Mr. Eric Vand. They are touring the vault. Should I interrupt their meeting for you Mr. President?”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary. Just have him call me once he’s finished. I have some unusual news I would like to discuss with him.”

“Very well, Mr. President. I shall have him call you at once after his meeting.”

“Thank you. And should he be too busy today, tell him I will see him at the wedding tomorrow.” Hammond hung up the phone and sat back in his chair with his hand up to his chin in thought.

“A man who never lies. A man who is never wrong tells me an impossible truth. Who and what to believe… will depend on how things unfold over the next 24-48 hours.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om