The mists of Khelsai.

The mists were permanent on th planet Khelsai. Xerxis, the local overlord had seen to that, since it was vital in lowering the endorphins in the human cattle. Their blood would then be much more valuable to the selected clientèle to which he catered. The masters of the inner sanctum could not afford to be hooked up to a narcotic such as endorhin; that had lead to the destruction of many a solar systems when a master in bloodlust would soak up all energy in the system. The upside is that they usually died out after that, being deprived of any more blood. Climbing the social ladder is difficult when you are immortal.

A delegation of masters were arriving on the planet. He felt the energy coming out of them as they descended from the galactic spaceship. He had to fight his urge to bow. They were his superiors in every way, but by tradition he was the master of the planet, and would bow to no one.

The five hooded elders approached him. In the traditional way, they each bit their arms and let a drop of their pristine red blood fall to the floor. Xerxes, unvoluntarily focused on these drops. The amount of energy and power in each one of those felt dizzying to him. He took some soil from inside his robes, and threw a bit over each bloodstain.

Keila, the bloodqueen, lowered her hood. "The formalities are now over Xerxes, are they not?"

He could feel a strange undertone to what she just had said. Had there been a revolt? Had the status changed inside the council?

"As you say, my lady. Please feel at home."

The council swept pas him towards the cars awaiting them. He hasted after them. "What news of the council? Can I be of any assistance?" Things were not going properly. They should not have just passed him like an errand boy. They should have quibbled with him for a while, talking prices, favors and politics, before they followed him to the cars to go test the blood.

After a small hesitation, Duran, the albino elder, turned to him.

"As a matter of fact, yes, you can do something for us."

The others paused, yet did not deign to turn their gazes upon him.

"All through the galaxy, blood is being spilled as we speak. We are making a gamble, to open up a portal to another universe. Please kill yourself, and all your cattle to provide the energy."

Xerxes starred at him in horror.

His begging of chuckle was silenced by Durans gaze.

Xerxes could not understand. "What did you just say? Why?"

Iessous, another elder, turned to him.

"That is a good question, boy. How old are you? By the look of you, you must be around two or three thousand standard years old. Blood must still have an interesting taste at that age. You must have formulated your own theory of why the world exists and have a good justification for your own continued lifespan. Why you even refrained from killing yourself for this long."

Xerxes, just stared at them, trembling. They all had turned and were facing him again.

"We are just bored boy. Something new and refreshing might be out there, and we shall try once more to open a portal. Now; die. We need your energy to punch that hole."

Those were the last words he heard, as all his blood seemed to explode out of him.

Iessous, blood-soaked turned to the others.

"We should proceed with the cattle."

Two hours latter the blood of billions had been spilt, on planets allowver in the galaxy. On every planet, tiny holes began to appear in blood-smeared floors, like perforations on a piece of paper. They enlarged and that universe started to unravel.