I open my eyes and look upward at Smoke whom which I lie on. His eyes are closed and his mask is still absent, allowing me to see all of his soft facial features.
"My mask..." I remember.
I sit upward and place a hand to my head, rubbing it. There is a strange pain in my head that is unknown to me, but not too horrid for me to fight if necessary. A few sand particles fall from my hair, joining the rest of the sand on the ground. Last night I did something I know I should not have. Talking to an Earthrealmer is nothing, being an ally with one is frowned upon, but getting intoxicated and meeting lips with one? I do not even wish to begin to think about what father would do if he knew, let alone the rest of our forces, such as Rain. Since when did I start caring so much about others' opinions? I never asked for any of this nonsense, I merely wish to murder my poor excuse of a sister.
I turn my attention to Smoke, watching him sleep. He lies there so innocently, so unaware. If he still had been an enemy, I would be devouring him right this second. His breathing is very steady and calm. I take this as a chance to reach down into Smoke's pocket gently, removing my veil so I did not wake him and place it back on my face, concealing my teeth. A pounding pain comes to my head again as I place my hand to it once more. I let out a groan. It feels as if someone is impaling my cranium.
"You know, you really do not need to wear that," Smoke says as I turn my attention to his face again.
His eyes remain closed, but it is evident he had been awake for quite some time. He must have been waiting for me to awaken.
"Silly Earthrealmer," I roll my eyes and stand, stretching.
Smoke sighs and remains where he is.
"Well, while you were resting, this 'silly Earthrealmer' found your cottage," he mocks me, causing me to direct my attention to him once more.
His statement causes me to wonder if he even slept at all.
"How?" I question. A smile creeps onto his face.
"Like this," a gray cloud covers his body and before I know it, he is standing behind me with his hands around my waist.
The sensation of his skin on mine makes me jump slightly. The memory of his hands around me yesternight along with the night he attempted to recruit me both flash through my mind. By the Gods, what have I gotten myself into? I remove his hands from around me swiftly and turn to face him.
"You are so full of yourself!" I snap with irritation, getting closer with clenched fists.
He lifts my chin with his hand.
"And you are so…" he advances closer, looking directly downward at me.
I never felt so small, or so desired before. Not even from Rain.
"Rain…" I think of my ally.
I had not given him any thought as of late. What am I doing with this Earthrealmer? Everything and everyone he knows will soon be father's or dead. Though seduction has always been my strong suit, this doesn't seem much like it. It is lust, the screaming emotion inside of me that I cannot always control.
"So…what?" is all I manage to get out as I peer upward, getting lost in his light brown eyes.
"So hung over," he teases.
I give him a punch to the arm and he pretends to wince in pain. A smile remains across his face.
"It is your realm's fault not my own," I reply and start walking away heading into the forest.
"You were the one drinking," he says, followed by a giggle.
I pause and turn as he places his mask back on.
"Well you were the one who insisted on making me 'belong' in this wretched realm," I imitate his voice, making a valid argument.
"It worked though right?" he walks, catching up to me.
"Worked? The whole city was intoxicated!" I snap, and then resume walking.
I hear his footsteps beside me, knowing he is following close behind.
"It was a good time," he says humorously, but I do not laugh.
The nerve of this Earthrealmer makes me want to hunt down his loved ones and feast on their lungs.
"A good time? You are the definition of absurd if that is how you define 'a good time'," I shoot back.
He walks faster, passing me and stands in my way, not allowing me to go any further.
"You cannot say you did not enjoy it," he grins, causing me turn my head so I did not do the same. "Even Bo Rai Cho almost hurdling us was a thrill!"
Before I can reply, my stomach begins to boil and my throat burns. I have no idea why, but the feeling is quite unsettling. I instinctively run to my left as fast as possible, and remove my veil. I lean my hand against a tree as I bend over and begin heaving. At random, vomit escapes my mouth fiercely. Behind me I hear Smoke let out a few laughs as he approaches and holds my hair back. I stop and breathe in and out, still facing the forest floor. I take a deep gasp of air in shock.
"What-what sorcery is this?" I mutter as I catch my breath.
"Oh, this is normal. Just let it all out," he says with an amused tone.
"Shut your damn mouth, or-or I…" is all I manage to reply before more vomit escapes me, landing on the grassy terrain.
I can hear Smoke trying his best to hold back any giggles he had left, but most of them escape him. I pause again, breathing more heavily this time. I overhear the birds chirping for a moment. My stomach continues to churn, however, I feel that all of the vomit has escaped me. If not all of it, most of it has.
"Are you done Princess?" Smoke interrupts the silence.
I nod as I attempt to find the motive to speak. He releases my hair and I return my veil to its original place. In an odd form of anger, I turn to face him.
"I will never, ever, go anywhere with you again!" I shout, stepping closer to him in fury.
"Hey, this is not all my fault," he chuckles meeting my somewhat angry eyes.
"Oh, I cannot wait to take this realm!" I include in my rant.
"Just come on," he places a hand on my shoulder and teleports us in a puff of smoke.
We reappear and I look around, noticing we are still in the forest. I gaze forward and see that about a ten minute walk separates us from the beach. The sand in the distance almost looks white. I turn and see two cottages which were adjacent from each other, both shaded by the leaves of the tall trees.
"The one to the right is yours," he announces.
"How do you know?" I bicker in reply.
He walks forward, approaching my supposed cottage as I follow. On the wooden door, there is a carving of two sais, as well as my name written below.
"I see…where is yours?" I wonder, turning my head to meet his gaze.
"Well, right over there," he points to the only other cottage here, which neigbors my own.
Who in the Netherrealm organized this damned tournament?
"Of course," I reply in sarcastic annoyance.
"Your, 'sister' put your bags inside already, it should feel like home," his face lights up with a smile.
"Oh please, the Chaosrealm is much more of a home to me than this pitiful place," I scold, then open my door and head inside.
"That's true, and false on a number of levels," Smoke follows me inside.
It is much more spacious in the interior than what it appears to be on the exterior. Everything is constructed of wood, except the bed's blankets, sheets and pillows, which are white and soft. There is also a wooden wardrobe and a large mirror mounted on the wall adjacent to it.
"I suppose it will do," I say harshly deciding it is no big deal.
"We should head back to the beach, the first fight will begin soon," Smoke suggests as I turn around.
"Right, back to hell," I say passing him, re-entering the forest.
He follows me out, walking next to me.
"You know," he starts as we walk towards the beach.
"What?" I say, keeping my eyes ahead.
"You have not told me much about your personal life," he takes note.
Little would it matter to anyone else, but he told me almost everything about himself. He did save my life after all, so I suppose informing him of some things would not hurt.
"There is not much to tell," I fib, slowing my pace slightly.
"Mileena, a mystery like you always has something to tell," he pushes.
He is right, which makes me slow my pace even more. I let out a sigh.
"Well, since you are aware that I compete in this tournament for my own purpose," I start, catching his eyes. "I suppose you should know that purpose. My plan is to catch Kitana, my twin sister, in the act of betrayal, so I can fulfill my lifelong desire to murder her," I admit darkly.
I stop in my tracks as Smoke's eyes meet my own.
"Why is that?" he questions with a hint of concern on his voice.
"With her here, her alive, I will never be seen as my own person. She must die," I explain in hopes that he will understand.
"Well…then why not just kill her today?" he inquires with a confused expression.
"Father would have me banished for treason…he favors her, I must turn him against her completely first," I answer.
"Oh…" Smoke trails off in disappointment.
We sit there in silence for a moment as he faces me with worried eyes. I wonder what is crossing through his mind.
"You do not have to do that…" he takes a step closer.
I let out a smug chuckle, look away for a moment, and then meet his eyes again.
"If you think you are able to talk me out of this, you have another damn thing coming," I counter his argument before it is even fully made. "I will never let her become the heir to Outworld as long as I live," I append my reasoning.
"Mileena, listen to me," he slightly raises his voice, remaining serious. "You are going to assassinate your sister just to become someone in your father's eyes?" he rhetorically asks, causing me to put my head down in slight shame and embarrassment. "That doesn't sound like much of a caring, loving father to me Mileena. Just join us, you can be happy without having to murder anyone close to you."
"She is not close to me, I utterly despise her. And…it is the only place I shall ever truly belong to. She has taken everything else from me, I will not allow her to take my home as well," I say with vengeance seeping into my voice as I re-meet Smoke's eyes.
"Are you sure it can really be considered your home Mileena?" he states in a blank tone.
I go into deep thought due to his comment. What is a home? Somewhere you can live without worries? What is in a home? People you can for once rely on instead of plotting against? It seems so distant, as if that will never exist. It may not ever exist, but the thought of knowing if I just slay Kitana that it could be possible keeps me going. For within the present lies risk, and to reveal the future, you must know which risks are worth taking.
"Mileena? Are you alright?" Smoke notices as I stare into space, bringing me back to reality.
"Yes, I see now," I say as we resume walking to the beach.
"Whatever you decide on that," Smoke begins another lecture. "Just be sure the outcome will be worth it in the end," he finishes, obviously meaning every word.
"No outcome will be greater than bringing an end to her life," I say with a devious voice and a concealed smile.
We slow our pace a moment as we hear a strange, loud noise that sounds like a horn, gong, and Elder Gods knows what else all in one, coming from the beach as we inch closer.
"What is that?" I bring it to attention.
"It's kombat time Princess," Smoke announces.
A sly smirk ventures to my face. Now everything will be set into motion. We step onto the sand, making our way to the kombat building. The off-white sand brushes against my feet as we trot over, approaching the building along with a series of other warriors, Smoke to my left.
"Here we go," Smoke states as we enter the crowd heading in the same direction we travel.
I spot Kitana ahead, next to a man in red and black robes with a red head-band, making conversation. It seems as if I am not the only Outworld warrior to get close to the enemy. She however, is too close; betrayal is unacceptable. The building we approach is wooden, with a large red dragon painted largely on the entrance.
"Mileena, a relief it is to see you," I hear as I spot Rain to my right.
He places his arm around my shoulders, bringing me closer to his side. I do not have to look directly at Smoke to see his irritated, glaring eyes meet Rain, who is clueless to Smoke's existence.
"Rain…I could say the same to you," I speak with false joy.
My heart pounds speedily at the thought of Smoke attacking Rain, for I sense the deep tension Smoke is releasing. This is a thrill I have never been in control of directly; envy. It is quite interesting when it derives from the enemy, and even better when it derives from prey. However, deriving from Smoke, it is a sign of heart. A heart that he cannot afford to fulfill, for I am a corrupted spawn of Outworld, and will stop at nothing until all I want becomes all I have. Rain moves his hand from my shoulder to my waist, causing me to feel a strange, lustful sensation, and a sense of familiarity.
"Smoke…the night we danced until the moon arrived to greet the ocean waves. How his hands caressed me, how his lips met my face without fear…" I recall mentally. It is something I never would have thought I would experience.
"When we take this realm from the Thunder God, I shall claim a palace for you," Rain offers nicely, facing me as we enter the door, Smoke still keeping up to my left.
I could care less about his offerings, the only concern I have is receiving what I deserve when Kitana is out of the way.
"That would be...great," I lie.
Time has really flown, for in the past, Rain was the only person I really engaged in conversation with. Now, however, it s as if he is a stranger, for he is always fulfilling tasks for father, that I rarely see him around. How he claims to love me is still a mystery to me, for I could never truly love anyone. He was once the one I kept closest to my dark heart, however, I realize now that any man who tries to leave a mark on this dark heart fails. I am a symbol of lust, an exemplar of seduction. I am a cold blooded assassin with motives of my own, and I shall remain this way until the eve that I perish, for I am content with who I am.
We enter the slightly large building and see the hard-floor arena in the center. Vast crowds of fighters who are not, or no longer, competing surround it as well as the warriors that are still in the running. I sneak a peek to my right and notice Kung Lao approaching Smoke who is now further away. I wonder where my true sister is. Smoke catches my stare, and sends a wink my way with a hidden grin. I almost cannot conceal my smile and the reddening of my cheeks as he does this. A slightly arrogant look comes to his eye as he watches me do this.
"You appear to be happy, I take it you enjoy this realm," Rain says, noticing my smile, but not who placed it there.
I look upward meeting his gaze.
"Yes, it is so rare," I say with just as much joy as when I was intoxicated.
He let out a chuckle as he brought me closer, planting his lips on the top of my head. He faces the arena once more as we wait for every warrior to settle in. Father and Shang Tsung stand with the Thunder God. There is no throne here for father to rest upon, so analyzing him stand seems strange. I quickly turn my attention from them and back to Smoke, for I cannot help myself.
"He makes me feel so…happy? No." I rid that thought from my head, but my eyes cannot depart from his figure.
Smoke is speaking to Kung Lao, though I cannot make out the words from such a distance. His eyes suddenly meet mine yet again, but this time, he raises his eyebrow. I watch as he also raises his hand about chest level and aims it towards me. He conjures up smoke in his hand, shaping and molding the smoke with barely any effort. It clears up and i notice it is in the form of a rose. My eyes widen slightly at the detail in it and my heart drops. It is rather impressive. I notice Johnny Cage playfully shove Smoke, causing the smoky rose he had conjured up to evaporate into non-existence. Cage starts talking, and then occasionally looks my way, then back to Smoke. I wonder what it is they are discussing.
"Silence!" we hear as Rain and I meet each other's eyes momentarily, and then turn in the Thunder God's direction. "We are here to compete in Mortal Kombat. The rules here however, are different. You shall fight until you fail, and or, no longer live. This is survival of the fittest now," the Thunder God's honest, brutal, and yet calm words strike the atmosphere. "The course of the next two days shall decide the outcome of the semi-finals," Rain slightly loosens his grip on my waist.
"Our first battle with be Ermac versus Johnny Cage!" Shang Tsung announces, interrupting the Thunder God.
"Aw, why am I always first?" Cage complains loud enough for Shang Tsung to hear as he enters the ring.
Ermac levitates to the arena from the crowd, facing Cage the entire time.
"We shall defeat you," Ermac states.
"Bring it, I don't need special effects for this one, unlike you!" I giggle slightly as I turn to Kung Lao and Smoke who both face palm at his remark.
"Fight!" father shouts powerfully.
The real tournament is finally beginning.