CHAPTER 11
After the betrayal, 'Taker disappeared.
Which suited Lilith just fine as she had stayed on the road, trying to reason with her brother only to be threatened and occasionally shoved around several times. She wound up traveling with Edge and Christian, becoming their helper of sorts.
Kane continued terrorizing the WWF, livid at his brother's sudden departure from the company. He was angry at the world, angry that he hadn't been able to finish the job, angry with Lilith.
He took his anger out on every opponent in the ring. It was so brutal that the Superstars started telling the higher ups they wouldn't wrestle him any longer, it wasn't wrestling anyways, it was a war.
Kane didn't care though. He didn't care about anything.
One such night, Lilith was busy mending a pair of Christian's tights when an aide called her out into the hallway. She listened to the frantic man before groaning. "Kane won't listen to me!" She said angrily, cursing when he insisted she tried to talk Kane out of destroying the building; which apparently he was doing quite well.
Reluctantly, she followed the trail of destruction to her brother; halting when she seen him and swallowed hard. "Kane?"
"What?" He growled, his back to her; tense from head to toe with his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He didn't trust her and refused to let his guard down. "What do you want Lilith?"
"Kane…"
"I told you, I don't want you here. Go back to England."
Lilith moved cautiously until she was standing in front of him, her eyes pleading with him. "Kane, please, just stop. I will not go back to England, not until things are right between us again. I never wanted to leave you, Paul had the Acolytes drag me from the house; kicking and screaming. The only reason I stopped you from killing 'Taker is because I don't want his blood on your hands. He's not worth it. He's not worth you losing your freedom again."
She then did something either very brave or very foolish and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Please, Kane, if you want me to choose, I'll always choose you. Just forgive me."
Kane was now battling with himself, wanting to shove her away but… he couldn't. He loved her. She was his sister, his best friend… his only friend it seemed. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him; kissing the top of her head. "Lilith… I'm sorry…" He murmured. "I forgive you."
Tears slid down her face at those words and she inhaled raggedly. Smiling, she pulled her head away to look up at him. "Thank you."
Paul watched from a distance, careful to stay out of sight; having witnessed the entire thing and scowled. His lies were out in the open for everyone and now he was the target. He slipped from the arena, knowing it was time to move on.
***
A year had passed and things changed… People changed.
Especially the man walking into the arena. No longer was he the dark entity that had terrorized the WWF for so long, he wasn't the Undertaker. He was the man, he was simply Mark Calaway. He was ready for this, for his return; more than ready.
He inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar scents that greeted him and pushed through another door; into a wide corridor.
Her laughter reached him through the frenzy that was the backstage of the WWE and he found himself instinctively looking for her; his green eyes hidden behind a pair of black sunglasses that he didn't need to wear inside but wouldn't take off anyway.
Lilith hadn't changed much over the year, except her hair was longer; now reaching just beneath her delectable backside. He almost smirked as he watched her try to run from someone, the urge fading when he seen Kane scooping her up over his shoulder.
"Kane, put me down!" She giggled, waving to someone over her brother's back. "Sorry Edge!"
"Kane, just one date!" Edge called through the crowd, laughing as Kane flipped him off.
"You're not good enough for her boy." Kane called back, not letting her down. He smirked when she started kicking and screaming for Edge to save her, laughing when the boy didn't. Smart choice. "Fine." He grumbled good-naturedly, setting her down on her feet.
Which is when the people parted, silence taking over the once noisy hal.
The Phenom was back; standing there taking in the scene with a blank face. But he looked… different.
He wore a pair of blue jeans, a black button down shirt that had the sleeves cut off, though the shirt wasn't buttoned. A heavy silver chain dangled from his neck, an earring in his ear. Heavy black steel toed boots and black fingerless gloves completed the… look.
And his hair… it was longer than ever, but… it was also a dark red color.
This was not the Undertaker at all.
"Holy shit, is that…"
"It can't be…"
"Is it really?"
Lilith felt Kane pulling her against his side and peered over heads, inhaling sharply when 'Taker appeared before them then walked by, not believing the change in his appearance. She heard the low growl from Kane and sighed with relief when he didn't pursue his brother. She knew some things were hard to let go.
"Come on, Kane." She urged, tugging his hand. "Let's go, you have a match to prepare for and I have to go see if Janet needs me tonight." She had started assisting the costume and make-up people.
Nodding silently, Kane let his sister drag him off; refusing to let his guard down no matter how much of a change his brother seemed to have made, at least appearance wise. He was still the Lord of Darkness, always would be, blue jeans and red hair would never change that.
Lilith parted ways with Kane shortly after reaching his dressing room, heading to Janet. She groaned when a stack of clothes were placed in her arms with instructions to deliver. One by one she found the stars she needed and passed off the costumes. She frowned at the last one, a heavy leather trench coat that was the bane of her arms at the moment and moaned pitifully when she read the name taped to it.
Finding his room wasn't hard, it was the room everyone avoided; nobody sure yet as to 'Taker nature. Was he a changed man or still the demonic presence that had shadowed the Fed for years?
Reluctantly, she knocked.
"Come in."
Heaving a sigh, she pushed open the door; hesitating when she seen him.
He was shadow boxing in nothing but his jeans, his black shirt carelessly tossed over a wooden bench; sweat glistening on his shoulder blades.
Mark froze, inhaling deeply and squared his shoulders as he slowly turned around.
Lilith.
Only one woman smelled like summer rain and lilacs all at the same time.
He took in her own change of appearance. He remembered a woman who wore nothing but black dresses. This woman was in a pair of sneakers, faded blue jeans and a white beater; a good if not somewhat different look for her. He seen she was holding his coat and arched an eyebrow.
Lilith cleared her throat uncomfortably, unable to stop herself from raking her eyes over him and moved to the bench, carefully laying out the coat. "Janet adjusted it for you." She whispered, backing towards the door. She fiddled with her hair nervously. "If it's too short, I can take it back for another adjustment."
He hadn't missed how scared she appeared to be, stifling a chuckle as he walked over to pick the duster up; nodding his approval. "Thank you, darlin'." He drawled, taking a slow step towards her, green orbs meeting blue. "You don't have to be afraid of me, Lilith. I'm not the same man I once was."
"'Taker…"
"Mark. My name is Mark."
"Fine, Mark." She said, her voice turning to steel. "I'm not afraid of you, I'm afraid of what Kane would do if he knew I was here. It took me months to calm him down. If… if you have any thoughts about getting revenge on him, forget them." A pleading note crept into her tone. "Because I couldn't stop him again, I wouldn't stop him. I won't ever choose you over him again."
"I've let it go, I suggest he do the same." He said calmly, not surprised by the doubt on her face. "I'm not askin' you to choose me over anyone, hell… you don't even have to talk to me. Stop worryin', I'll leave you both alone."
"Good." She nodded her head, satisfied, and stepped out of the room; letting the door close behind her. A second later she screamed. "Damn you, Edge! You about gave me a bloody heart attack!"
"Bloodwyne, dinner and me, how about it?"
"You don't give up, do you?" She arched an eyebrow, tapping her foot impatiently.
"I thought you LIKED me. Or was it just the wyne?"
She literally snapped her teeth at him. "FYI, when you're not trying to get back in my pants, you're okay. The wyne was a mistake I made, especially knowing how it affects me. So quit it, one time deal and it shouldn't even count you tosser because I was out of my ruddy mind."
He pouted.
"Better give it up bro before Kane rearranges your features for you." Christian said from behind, watching as Lilith walked away. Of course if Kane ever found out Lilith and Edge had had one drunken night together, he'd probably do more than rearrange Edge's face.
He sighed and patted his brother on the shoulder; glancing at the nameplate on the door beside them; frowning.
The Undertaker was back.
