A chance encounter

*A few years ago, on Cassus*

Kristana Oxley was in her bed in her quarters at the Flammadies Estate. She could not be happier. She had a wonderful job working for the Flammadies Family, she had a wonderful man in her life, even though she was lowborn her life was shaping up to be pretty fulfilling. She knew she would never be treated the same as the Highborn, and she had made peace with that. She knew they had more and always would, she was content with her place in life. As long as she could keep her steady job that actually paid pretty decently and she could be with the love of her life. She snuggled up next to the man, Marcus in her bed. He was so handsome with his black hair that was always a little disheveled. She couldn't be more lucky to find a man that was so kind to her. He started to stir as he felt her body against his.

"Good morning dear. I do hope I didn't wake you!" she said sweetly and kissed him on the forehead.

"It is quite alright, I was just dreaming about you, but seeing you in the flesh is much better than any dream I could have!" he said with a smirk on his face and kissed her deeply. "Krist, you make me so happy, I hope you know that. We will have a great life together. I know that being lowborn is not all it is cracked up to be at times, but we will always have each other, and that is all that matters!"

Kristana could not stop smiling. Her heart could not be any more full than it was when she was with Marcus. She had never felt this way about anyone before. When he was not around, her heart ached for him. When he was around she could not get enough of him! She was very serious about her work, but Marcus could always make her laugh. She felt so carefree and full of life. There was a time when being a lowborn really affected her, and she was depressed because of it. She knew she would never amount to much, and then her life had turned around. Things were looking up and she couldn't be happier about it.

Marcus took her in his arms and continued to kiss her. Kristana almost lost her breath because the kiss was so deep. If I were to die, right now in this very minute, I would not even care she thought. What a way to go! She continued to kiss him and flipped him over so she was now on top of him, their hands roaming each others bodies, when suddenly there was a knock on her door. Kristana nearly jumped out of her skin. She was allowed to have people in her quarters, but she still felt like a little girl being caught by her parents.

"Marcus, go hide! In the closet!" Kristana whispered.

"But Krist....." he started. "No please I do not want you to get caught in here, please!" Marcus went off into the closet like he was asked. It was not an overly large closet so he had to really jam himself in there. Her quarters were much nicer than her house that she grew up in, but they were not as nice as if she were a Highborn herself.

Kristana put a robe on quickly and ran to the door to open it. It was one of the guards that she was in charge of. "Hello there, are you busy? We were thinking of doing some training a little early today if that is alright with you?"

Kristana smiled. "Of course, just let me get dressed, I will be right there!" Kristana closed the door and ran to her closet and opened the door to find Marcus, and he jumped out and scared her. "I do not know how you scared me since I knew you were there!" she laughed, and he pushed her back onto the bed.

"Do you really have to go?" he asked as he kissed her neck. "Yes dear, I must go, but I shall see you later, right?" Marcus smiled sadly. "Actually no, I have plans, but I will come to you as soon as I can, hopefully within the next few days. Do not miss me too much!" he smiled slyly and quickly dressed. He kissed Kristana one last time and left the room.

Kristana sighed happily as she lay on her bed, unable to move. She felt that if she moved, things would change. Her life would not be as perfect as it was anymore. She needed to feel this bliss for a few moments longer.

*Present Day*

Kristana slammed down her mug of beer after chugging it down. The man sitting next to her in the bar laughed at her. He was a young man and she was giving him a run for his money. They had made a bet to see who could drink the other under the table first, and she was winning so far. She could definitely hold her alcohol. Where a lot of other women liked to be more girly and dainty, Kristana liked to be one of the guys. She was not looking to impress anyone, but always somehow some poor man would become enthralled with her. She was attractive with her long blonde hair and her piercing green eyes. She didn't wear much make-up but what she did wear was put on expertly and cleanly. She did not spend a lot of time on her appearance but she always seemed to look pretty put together without really trying.

"Wow you are a lightweight! Are you gonna let a woman out drink ya?" She laughed as she chugged another mug full. The man sitting next to her snorted and chugged another mug as well. He was clearly not able to sit too well on the stool anymore. Kristana just laughed again. "I guess so! Well it was a good try, but I do think I have won our little bet! Buck up champ, maybe you can win next time!"

The man stood up unsteadily and Kristana did as well. The bar was quite crowded but the man decided to kiss her roughly, clearly not thinking too well. Kristana was taken aback but decided to have some fun, so she started to kiss him back and then bit his tongue, not too hard but enough to tell him she did not want to kiss him anymore.

"Bloody hell! The bitch bit me!" he screamed. "Well maybe you should watch your tongue and not stick it down my throat without my permission next time!" she shot back at him. This man was mistaken if he thought that she would not be able to take care of herself. He spit out some blood and made his way towards her. She just smiled as she knew what he was going to try to do. He stumbled and tripped  and fell flat onto the floor. Now there was a small group that had gathered that were laughing at him.

"She tripped me! Did you see that!" he yelled looking at the other bar patrons. Kristana just laughed and laughed. "Maybe you shouldn't drink as much next time, eh?" she said offering him her hand to help him up, but he refused. "Not bloody likely!" he tried to get up himself and failed. "I'll get you for that! Kristana Oxley is it? I will make you pay!"

Kristana continued to sneer at him. "You know, no one likes a sore loser, and also never come near me again, and try to shove that nasty tongue down my throat or else I will do more than just trip you next time." She spoke so coldly that the young man actually seemed to shiver at her voice. She turned around and walked out of the bar with a smile on her face. Yes she had changed since her time with Marcus. Maybe his betrayal was the best thing that could have happened to her. It hardened her. She was not the naive young woman she once was. She was also fun loving, but in a different way. She would not let anyone walk over her again, no matter what. No one would lie to her, and get away with it.

Sometimes all you had was yourself to count on in this world. Kristana learned that the hard way, and she was happy she did. She needed to learn that lesson. She decided to go back home and rest a little bit. The alcohol was starting to effect her and she did not want to get into anymore fights. Most days she did not dwell in the past. She tried to not think about things like that. She wanted to just have some fun. Tomorrow would be a better day.

A slight inconvience

Kristana Oxley sat up in her bed, her sheets draped slightly over her naked body. She stretched and yawned as it was quite early in the morning. She liked to get up early to start her day fresh. This was not always a good idea being that she also liked to stay up late at night as well. As a result she often did not get enough sleep, but she had her duties that she had to attend to. Biara Flammadies would be needing her service later on that day and Kristana always liked to get some sword training in beforehand. She felt like she could never train her body enough to be the best it could be. Her father had instilled this into her. Never settle, always try your best and you will succeed in life. She smiled as her thoughts turned to her father. She missed him dearly.

Kristana stood up and stretched again. She looked around her little spaceship that she called home, even though it was not truly hers. Biara had gifted it to her for being in her service and being her personal bodyguard, and guard captain. It was a very good job and Kristana was lucky to work for Biara. Kristana noticed her clothes from the previous night laying on the floor and she bent down to pick them up. At that moment she head a voice coming from her bed. "Good morning love."

She turned slightly and smirked at the half naked man in her bed. "Oh good morning.....you! I hope you slept well!" she had clearly forgotten the man's name. "Kristana, last night was wonderful! YOU were wonderful. I do not ever want to leave here. I know we have only seen each other a few times, but I think I love you." he said in all seriousness.

Kristana turned away from him, and rolled her eyes. She tried for a minute to remember his name, and then clearly not ashamed of her body she walked over to the man. "Wyatt, please do not be offended, but I am not looking for a serious relationship." she started. She sat down next to him and patted his arm slightly. "I NEVER want a relationship again actually. It is just not for me. But yes last night was wonderful, and I do hope to do it again!"

Wyatt's smile on his face fell and he looked upset. "But Kristana, I thought you felt the same, we have had a great time together. I....." Kristana put a finger to his lips to tell him to stop talking and then she kissed him deeply. "My dear dear Wyatt. Just because we slept together a few times does not mean I want to be with you forever. I never meant to lead you on, we just never really.....spoke much. I thought you knew this was not serious."

Wyatt stood slowly and began to find his clothes to dress. "Well then, I guess that is that. I will see myself out." Kristana sighed and put a hand on his chest. "I really did not mean for you to be mad at me. We should get together again sometime soon!"

Wyatt just looked blankly at her and walked out the door. Well that didn't go so well, Kristana thought. Oh well. She walked over to her small table that had a bottle of alcohol on it and she picked it up and drank from it. No need for a glass, that would just make more to clean up. She didn't even care what kind of alcohol was in it, as long as it was alcohol that was good enough for her. Ever since the incident that happened years ago with her former lover Marcus, Kristana was never the same again. She used to be the type of woman that might have fallen for Wyatt. With his short spiky blonde hair, and beautiful blue eyes, slightly muscular build, and a sweet personality. He seemed to really care for her and if she was the girl she used to be, she would have fallen for it. Fallen for the lies, the deceit, the heart break that could only happen when you let yourself fall in love with someone. She would never make herself that vulnerable again. Never.

Sure Kristana liked to have fun. She liked to be with men, just not be in a relationship with them. No strings attached was the perfect way to be in her mind. Have your fun and then just live your life. Why be tied down to one person for the rest of your life? What was the fun in that? The most serious that Kristana ever was, was about her job. That was her true relationship. The only one that she would ever really care about. She had a fierce loyalty to Biara and protecting her and her Family. Other than that, everything else was secondary.

Kristana finished the contents of the bottle she was holding and smiled. She slowly got dressed and then picked up her sword and made her way outside. The sun was blinding and she had to blink a few times for her eyes to adjust. She smiled and thought, today will be a good day.