Chapter Ten: Double Trouble
Amanda and Raiden appeared in the dungeon again, at least this time she wasn't as scared. Waiting for them this time was Quan Chi and Scorpion. She gave a gentle smile to Scorpion and a heated glare to Quan Chi. She really didn't like nor did she trust Quan Chi and she remembered how Scorpion hadn't acted on the opportunity that was given to him. So she smiled at Raiden and hurried over to Scorpions' side.
Raiden nodded to her and looked at the other two. "I expect her safe and sound when the tournament begins."
The two men said nothing, just turned and headed up the stairs. Scorpion paused and looked over his shoulder at her. He tilted his head, silently telling her to come along.
Amanda nodded once and waved good-bye to Raiden. "I'll be ok, I'll see everyone in a few days." She said an then without another word she hurried after Scorpion.
Once upstairs in the emperors' throne room, Quan Chi walked over to stand beside Shao Kahn and Kitana. "Welcome back." Shao Kahn said sounding shockingly genuine.
"Uh... thank you... " Amanda said slowly. Shao Kahn looked at her like he was waiting for something. "My Lord." She said bowing slowly, hoping that was what he wanted to hear. He nodded and she knew she clear for now. She figured the nicer she was to the emperor, maybe he would return the gesture.
Shoa Kahn stood up and walked over to her. Her eyes never left him as he began to circle her like a hungry shark. "Quan Chi, there's something different about her...What is it?"
"I believe she is ready my Lord."
'Wait, what? Ready... ready for what?' Amanda thought looking at Quan Chi for a moment then back at Shoa Kahn.
"And what do you think..." He asked her. "Are you ready to fulfill you destiny?"
Amanda looked over at Scorpion who stood just off to the side of the room, searching for any kind of clue to what the emperor was talking about. But he just stood there in silence. 'Thanks for the help.'
"My Lord, a word please..." An old man said who seemingly just appeared beside Quan Chi.
Shoa Kahn walked back over to him and leaned in while the old man whispered something into his ear. Whatever it was... Shoa Kahn was' t happy. He spun around and glared at her.
"You little bitch! You thought I wouldn't find out!?"
"I...I'm not sure I know what your talking about..." She started but never got a chance to speak after that. With a swift and might swing of his hand across her face she hit her knees.
She could barely open her eyes from the searing pain imitating from her cheek. He grabbed the back of her hair and pulled her to her feet. Through tear soaked eyes she could see Scorpion in a aggressive stance. "Do you know what she's done!" Scorpion looked at her and then to Shoa Kahn. "She slept with a Lin Kuei."
Amanda's eyes widened. 'How did he know that?!' She watched Scorpions' eyes lower, clearly hurt. Then he looked up at her. "I...I'm sorry." She whispered.
He looked over to Quan Chi who was walking over slowly. "See what happened when you don't listen to me Scorpion?" Scorpion lowered his head and nodded. "There is only one thing you can do now." He walked over to Shoa Kahn who threw Amanda down roughly onto her hands and knees. Quan Chi waved his hand over her body and she could feel herself lose all control of her body. She felt her body lift up so she was now resting on her her knees. Shoa Kahn grabbed her dress she had put on this morning and ripped it off her body, leaving her in nothing but her under garments.
"There will be no mistakes this time." Shoa Kahn whispered. He tossed the tattered dress aside and walked back to his thrown. "You'll finish what you were commanded to do... here and NOW."
Amanda looked up at Scorpion and sobbed. "Please... no."
"Silence you little whore." Quan Chi snapped.
"Don't call her that!" Scorpion growled. "This is my fault... not hers."
Quan Chi glared at him. "Then finish the job."
Scorpion looked down at her. "Release her and I'll do it." Amanda closed her eyes tightly sending tears rolling down her cheeks. Quan Chi waved his hand over her again and she fell forward on to hands and knees again. Scorpion walked over to her as she sobbed uncontrollably. Standing over her, he looked over at Shoa Kahn who nodded coldly.
Scorpion grabbed her by the upper arm causing her to flinch weakly. He pulled her to her feet and pulled her roughly against his chest. He whispered softly into her ear. "Listen to me very carefully."
She shook her head in a state delirious panic and embarrassment, so he grabbed her leg and pulled it up against his hip. "LISTEN!" She gasped at his sharp tone and nodded slowly. "Say you'll marry me."
"What...?" She whispered.
"Say it and you won't have to do this now."
She sniffled. "But what about..."
"If you agree, they will have no say in what goes on. You'll belong to me. You can never see him again, but I can promise he won't be harmed."
She frowned. "That doesn't sound like much of a choice."
"It's all I have... and right now that will have to do." He said. "Please understand, I wanted to do this so differently..."
She nodded. "I'll do it... as long as he isn't hurt."
He locked eyes with her and could almost hear her heart breaking. "She has agreed." He said looking over to the emperor.
He scoffed, apparently disappointed he would miss out on the show. "Fine, bring her forward." Scorpion turned her around gently and together they walked towards him. Amanda refused to look up, instead she covered her chest with her free arm. "Do you?" He said to Scorpion.
"I do."
"Do you?"
Amanda closed her eyes and nodded. "I do."
"Good, then the ceremony will take place after the tournament... Get out of my sight." He said coldly.
Scorpion led Amanda away leaving, Shoa Kahn, Kitana, and Shang Tsung.
Kitana turned and looked at her father. "Will this actually work father?"
Shoa Kahn looked at Quan Chi, who nodded and walked off to follow Scorpion and Amanda. "We shall see by the time the tournament begins. You are dismissed."
Kitana bowed and headed off to her room for the night, leaving Shang Tsung alone with the emperor. "Are they ready?"
Shang Tsung nodded. "As well as your daughter."
The emperor stood. "Good, now make sure they are perfect. I want them ready for the tournament."
…
Shang Tsung walked down a large stone staircase to his flesh pits. "Excellent work Reptile, spying on the girl like that. The emperor was pleased with the information." He said to a creature at the bottom of the stairs. The creature bowed and hissed respectfully. He walked over to several glass tubes, filled with strange deformed creatures suspended in liquid. He moved to one in particular, a naked woman pressed her hands against the glass and moaned seductively. "Calm down Mileena, your playmate is almost ready."
Mileena frowned and looked over to the tube next to hers. Her neighbor looked nothing like her, which excited her. She would have a friend to play with.
Shang Tsung stood in between the two tubes and admired how much Mileena looked like Kitana and Emiko... looked just like Amanda.