I do not own any of the characters except Alara. In this story, Lord is the highest title, with prince/king being second to it.

Chapter 1

She sat by the window, a sixteen-year-old with luscious red hair and bright blue eyes. She looked depressed, almost forlorn as if something was missing. Her black silk pants flapped with the wind and she looked down to all the servants attending to the arrival at the gate.

The Lord of Darkness looked up at the window and saw her grow scared and move away from the window with a shiver. He saw the maid close the window and smiled. This princess would submit to him, but he needed to scare her parents into letting her become his.

He walked down the hallway with his cloak billowing behind him as a servant led him to the inner-most room. The servant left him there and promised to return with someone to talk to. The Undertaker nodded and indicated he would wait, but not for long.

The princess calmly walked to that room, but her heart was pounding in her chest so hard, she was sure everyone could hear it. She stopped in front of the doors and breathed in deeply. She opened them and stared at the visitor. He was muscular with long red, almost black hair. His emerald orbs pierced her sould and she shivered as he appraised his newfound property.

He looked towards the opening dorr, expecting a tall man of a king and instead found a lithe form of the princess he wanted to possess. Her crystal blue eyes looked at the floor as soon as he locked eyes with her. Her red hair clung to her back as the silk lilac gown showed off her curves to him.

He wondered where her father was and when she sat in the king's throne, he started to grow worried that the man wasn't going to show himself.

"My apologies, Lord Undertaker." His angel spoke music, but it was quiet. "My father passed away two nights ago and I see our messenger has failed to reach you."

"Who will speak for your interests then, Your Highness?" He asked, capturing her scent in his nostrils.

"Myself, my lord. I know I am a woman, but there is no one here that can speak with you on my behalf. The Lord Chamberlain died mysteriously, but he tried to convince my father to let him wed me. I do not miss him at all." She answered with venom to the Chamberlain's memory.

"Your mother is grieving?"

"My mother is dead. She passed away when I was born and I am alone in this drafty castle with the council and my servants." She felt the tears fall at memory of her beloved mother. "Forgive me, Lord Undertaker. I miss my mother terribly. Let us talk of why you are here to visit my home and why you seek to speak to someone." She smiled. A soft, sad smile.

"I seek your hand in marriage, Princess Alara. I ask that you consider what I can do for your people before you refuse or accept. In addition to providing you with protection, I will be a man you can trust." He smiled sinisterly, but she took no notice as she contemplated.

"Do you have any siblings?" She inquired.

"A brother. He is Lord Kane and he also seeks a wife." He answered. "I should think Your Highness would ask about my home."

"Tell me then. Please."

"It is dark there, but it is beautiful enough. The gardens are plentiful with flowers of every kind and the wardrobe I have prepared for you is beyond compare. I wish you would consider this offer."

"What of my lower position?"

"I have overlooked that, so you may benefit."

"I must inform the council of this offer, but I would gladly leave to get away from the loneliness, my lord."

*~*~*~

At the council, she sat as they deliberated the offer. "Your HIghness, I beg you reconsider this offer. He abuses and will make you a slave to his whim. You are too young for marriage." A portly counselor said.

"This could give us the protection we are looking for. She must do it for the people." Another skinnier man responded.

"What about her welfare?" The first asked. "We promised the king we would take care of his daughter when he went to the next world."

"The people don't know about the danger he poses if she doesn't marry him." The second answered.

"Your Highness, you must marry the Lord Undertaker to help our lands and I know you are scared, but you must endure." A third voiced.

The waited for her to answer them, but she had a servant to get the Lord instead. He walked with elegance and grace as the twelve counsel members shrunk back with reverence. He glared at them and waited for the princess to speak.

"Now I understand your concerns for my welfare, but I would like to marry the Lord Undertaker for I believe anything is better than this loneliness. We will leave tomorrow at daybreak."

The Undertaker waited only until they were in the room before he spoke. "Princess, I want you to know that you and your lands will have my protection and you will belong to me. As long as you submit to my will, you will not be harmed. If you don't, I will let my temper get the better of me, my dear." He smiled, showing his true colors. "Do you find me terrifying?"

"My lord, anything is better than this solitude. The council told me that you like to abuse your women. Is this true?"

"If it was?"

"It would not matter to me, but I will obey you. I would rather be treated like a princess, but I will submit to you." She stepped down from the dais and kissed his hand, kneelinf on the cold marble floor. "I wish you to accept me, Lord of Darkness."

"Why?"

"You want to have a pure, chaste woman to bend to your will and I am that woman." She whispered into his cloak.

"Come, Alara, lead me to your chambers." She hesitated. "Do not worry. I will not harm you, my dear." She nodded slowly and took his hand.

Her golden four-poster bed had black velvet curtains adorning it. He led her to the bed and she pushed back the curtains, laying herself down as the Undertaker took off his cloak, revealing his muscles.

"You must understand, my lady. I journey to a different world tomorrow. You will not understand it, but my servants will help you. I have a home there, but it is not quite so large as your own. I work as an entertainer in this world and if one of the other men touches you, tell me. You may wear your gowns, but I have some for you when we get to your new home. Any questions?" The Undertaker laid beside her and she turned away from him.

"One, Lord Undertaker." She shivered involuntarily. "Will I ever return here, to my home?"

"To here? No." A few tears escaped. "The trip will weaken you and if you ever try to return you will die." He stated as if it were a fact. "However in the other world, you cannot die."

She nodded and yawned, quickly falling asleep with a smile. The Undertaker lay awake all night trying to figure out how to explain her to his Ministry. Vince knew he was getting remarried and the woman would be joining the tour until he retired because she didn't want to be with a cold empty home. Vince agreed, but said she was the Undertaker's responsibility, although she had been worked into the current storyline.

*~*~*~

Christian had the watch when the black car came to the door. He watched as the Undertaker stepped out and extend his hand to the green-cloaked form that had sat beside him. Christian watched as she moved and he wished she was not the Undertaker's new wife. He immediately knew that was who it was because the Undertaker would not do this for any other woman. She smiled when the Undertaker said something and she looked back at the horizon as the sun took its course.

They walked through the varnished oak door. He whispered something to her and she blushed as he clapped his hands. All the Ministry and the servants of the house assembled in the main hall with quickness Alara had never seen. He sized them all up and gently let go of Alara's hand.

"This is my new wife, Alara. She will be known as Lady Alara and she knows nothing of this world other than what I told her of my job. Be kind to her and do as she asks of you." The Undertaker then turned cold with a frosty tone. "If any of you touch her, you will wish I had killed you."

He waited as all the servants scurried out and only the Ministry remained. "The rest of you will protect her from the others of the company. We may have failed with Stephanie McMahon, but I have a new plan." He smirked and looked at Christian." You and your brother will show her her new home. End with my bedroom." He departed.

Edge and Christian kissed Alara's hand and took her cloak. Underneath was a velvet maroon gown with billowing sleeves. They handed the cloak to a passing servant and led her through the house. After they finished, they left her in front of the bedroom door.

Christian thought about her non-stop from that point on. He wanted to feel her flesh beside his own, but knew she belonged to the Lord of Darkness and to touch her would be disloyal. But that didn't stop his forbidden thoughts.

Meanwhile, Alara was getting used to her new how as she lay on the bed waiting for Lord Undertaker. She decided her home was likable, if small. She slid off the bed and walked to the balcony. Looking down, she shivered at the sight of her new husband lighting an unknown servant on fire in the yard. Would this happen to mer? She thought as she turned away. She ran to the bathroom and washed her hands as if she had commited the act.

There was a sharp knock on the door that made her nearly jump out of her skin. It was only a servant, hoping not to bother the master of the house. When Alara entered from the bathroom, the servant immediately bowed.

"Milady, do you need anything?" The woman asked.

"Does Lord Undertaker always punish disobedience like that? By burning?"

"Yes, Milady."

"How long have you been with him?"

"My entire life. I am the daughter of his most trusted servant, Paul Bearer." She was standing now, dusting the various objects about the room.

"Do you have a name?"

"Melanie, my mistress." She paused, shivering. "I must go. He is coming to you." She left and nearly stumbled out of the door.

About ten seconds later, the Undertaker slipped from the hallway to the bathroom. She heard the shower run, or at least that was what Christian had called it. She sighed and went to the closet, looking for something, not knowing what. He had been right, no expense had been spared for her wardrobe or accessories. Every dark color under the sun, shoes, jewelry, makeup, all to match the luscious gowns. She hadn't heard the water shut off and he stepped into the bedroom as she continued to admire her new gowns.

"You like them, Alara?" The deep voice made her freeze. She nodded, but did not turn to him. He enveloped her into his arms and she shivered. "What's wrong?"

"I saw you before. You were outside on the lawn." She whispered, tears in her eyes. "Would you kill me like that, my lord?"

He sighed and turned her towards him. "Alara, you are my wife and I promised I would protect you. I could never kill you."

She relaxed visibly and went to the bed. "I wonder what my parents would think of this union, if they were alive."

"I will check on your home from time to time, my love." She jumped at that word: love.

"You don't love me, Lord Undertaker, for a husband cannot love a wife in such a short amount of time."

"One can grow to love his wife, my dear." He looked at her. "You are still young."

"I am educated, my lord. I may be young, but I am a very learned woman."

"Do you wish to spend your time in the library?" He asked.

"May I?" Her eyes lit up and he realized she was still a child and yet, a woman. He nodded to her delight.

He resolved at that moment to protect her, educate her, make her bend to his will without her knowing it. Unfortunately, he didn't realize that in her own way, she was bending him to her will with her delight.