Chapter 26

Staring in the mirror at her reflection, all Jaxine could think about was what she was about to do. She held the brush in her hand and blinked back the tears that filled her eyes, knowing it was no use. There was no turning back now. Her hair was pooling around her shoulders and down her back in waves, the ends curling naturally. Her eyes were outlined in black eyeliner with clear gloss on her lips. The outfit she picked for the night consisted of a simple strapless black dress with a sweetheart neckline that went to her knees and had two slits up each side that went to her mid-thigh. She had two inch black stiletto heels on that wrapped around her ankle in a criss-cross design.

Jaxine knew Steve would hate her for this and honestly, she wanted him too. She wanted him to forget she ever existed because she wasn't meant to be with him. The scar was the key to her destiny and she knew it. She'd just been fighting it so long and was done. Done with the fighting and done running away from the inevitable.

So here she stood in Kane's locker room, alone, and all she could think about was that night at Taker's house, in his room, in his arms. She dropped her head and set the brush down, willing her nerves and tears to stay in.

~!~

Tonight would be something special, something interesting was going to happen. He could sense it. He had just stepped out the shower, the water running down his body in rivulets, his long black hair hanging straight down his back, water making it appear longer then what it was. He dried himself off slowly, knowing just outside the door the Ministry waited on him, waited to know what they were doing tonight as he had for once not given them instructions. Something was just different. 'Taker could feel it.

~!~

Kane walked in and Jaxine merely turned around to face him, seeing he was ready for his match tonight against Viscera, a sad smile on her lips. "I'm not going out to the ring with you tonight." She informed him, seeing his head tilt to the side slightly, and walked over to press her hand against his chest over his heart. Her amber eyes glowed back at him, telling him silently that she had to do this alone, that she didn't want him or the world witnessing what she was about to do. "Go on." She whispered when a knock at his door signaled it was time for his match, slowly pulling her hand back, nodding in encouragement as she blinked more tears away.

Kane hesitated for a long moment, just staring down at her. He knew instinctively that this was probably goodbye and he couldn't bear it. Without warning, he roughly jerked her forward, shoving his mask up to kiss her forehead. Kane slid his mask back into place without a word and walked out the door. It wasn't his decision or his life.

A single tear slid down her cheek when Kane did that, immediately wiping it away, and wrapped her arms around herself as she turned back to stare into the mirror. "I will always love you, my brother." She whispered, closing her eyes as the pain radiated throughout her body, knowing she couldn't be here when he returned. Taking a deep breath, Jaxine grabbed her things before walking out, looking around one last time before the door closed behind her.

~!~

"Boss, what're we doin'?"

"'Taker?"

He snapped out of his reverie, realizing his men had been talking to him without him even being aware of it. Scowling, 'Taker stood up, having finished lacing his boots some time ago. He looked around at the assembled faces, waving them off. He needed to be alone without people wondering if he was becoming mentally incompetent. "Be ready." He cautioned, not giving them a reason, just letting them know he might decide he had something for them to do.

A knock sounded at 'Taker's dressing room door soon after the Ministry left him to his thoughts, causing him to nearly rip the door off its hinges, glaring down at the younger McMahon. "Jaxine is in the building. She arrived last night." She had specifically asked Shane to do this job and he wasn't going to let her down, not with what she was about to do. "She's asked me to give you this." He slipped a piece of paper in 'Taker's hand. "Sorry for bothering you." He then zoomed down the hallway, wanting to get as far away from the Lord of Darkness as possible.

When 'Taker opened the note after closing his dressing room door, there were only a few words scrawled on it, no doubt her handwriting.

Meet me in the basement of the arena without your Ministry.

~Jaxine

He crushed the note in his hands, well aware this was probably some kind of trap he would be walking into, but he was going to go anyway. If by slim chance Jaxine had sent this to him, well...he couldn't pass that up now could he? Grunting and squaring his shoulders, he headed down to the basement. "Stay here." He gravely ordered his Ministry.

It wasn't a trap. Jaxine slowly walked back and forth, her heels lightly clicking against the concrete flooring, remembering the last time she'd been in one of these. She'd agreed to give herself to Undertaker in exchange to save Kane from his fiery symbol. A shiver coursed through her as she thought back to that night, suddenly stopping, her back to the only entrance and way out, and closed her eyes. His scent filled her senses as she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, knowing she would have to turn around to face him. She just had to find the feeling back in her limbs and found herself doing so, moving until amber locked with acid green.

"Hello Undertaker." Her voice was warm, though a hint of fear still lingered that she'd tried like hell to fight off.

"Jaxine." He nodded his head at her, tone flat, though inside he was raging with curiosity. His green eyes gave the room a cursory sweep, making sure nobody was waiting in the shadows to ambush him or something. He didn't think Jaxine would do that, she wasn't cruel enough for one, but he had learned long ago to not underestimate anyone no matter how well he thought he knew them. "So what is this about?"

The nerves were overtaking her as her head dropped, the second thoughts rushing through her, but knew she had to do this. She couldn't look at him though, not believing she was actually about to hand herself over on a gold platter to this man who was going to marry a nineteen year old girl. 'Get it together!' Her mind screamed at her, forcing her eyes to meet his again, tears glistening in them that she tried so hard to fight back. "I want you to leave Stephanie alone. There's no reason for you to torment her anymore." Jaxine had no idea where the young McMahon girl was and, honestly, she didn't want too. She just hoped she was safe and sound with her family.

One perfect black eyebrow arched, green eyes staring down at her intently. 'Taker folded his arms over his chest, his mouth a firm compressed line. "And just why is that?" He all, but hissed beginning to circle Jaxine, clasping his hands behind his back. "Hmmm, Jaxine? This is what you called me down here for, to tell me to let precious Princess Stephanie alone? Or do you have something to bargain with, perhaps?" There was now a definite edge to his tone.

"You and I both know she's safe and sound, Undertaker, and far away from you." Jaxine voice remained calm as she allowed him to circle her, swallowing past the lump that formed in her throat. "I also want you to leave Kane alone. He's suffered enough." Now her tone took on a slight edge of her own, her fists clenched at her sides. "Please Undertaker..." She closed her eyes, willing the tears to stay in, willing her body not to tremble against him, her stomach in knots at the moment. "Do this for me."

He actually snorted, not believing the audacity of this woman. "You highly over-estimate your appeal to me, Jaxine, if you think I would just do anything for you without getting something in return." He halted behind her, sifting her silky black hair through his fingertips. "Stephanie is out of my grasp, that is true. But there are always ways around that. So again, what do you have to bargain with?"

Her eyes slowly opened and looked straight ahead, feeling one arm snake around her waist, feeling his warm body pressed against hers. "Do this and I'm yours." She said in barely above a whisper, allowing a single tremor to tear through her body. "Stop the torment and I swear on my life, on everything I am and stand for, that I will not fight you. I will surrender myself to you completely. Please, just leave that poor child alone and your brother." She was pleading with him now, feeling his nose in her hair, and tensed even more to the point where it felt like her body would go as stiff as a statue.

He groaned at her words, the sweetest thing he had ever heard. 'Taker ran his hands up and down her sides, pressing her against him, his face buried in her throat. He barely summoned the strength to push her away, staring at her. "You would give yourself to me to protect them," He began quietly, shaking his head when she nodded. "But not because you love me?"

She slowly turned around to face him, staring into his eyes, the truth shining in them. "Both." She finally said after regaining her composure. "I do love you." She said it with no hesitation and she actually found it easy to admit, easier than what she thought. "But you don't care about that. You care about power and getting people to bend at your will. Well here I am, Undertaker. I'm bending at your will and all I ask is that you leave them alone. I don't think that's too much to ask seeing as how I'm giving you myself along with my heart in return." Her voice was soft, no anger evident, knowing she was destined to be with him, a monster. A monster that she could only pray she could change in time.

"Power..." He murmured, tracing a lone finger down her pale face. "I want surrender, Jaxine. Total surrender without any restrictions, demands, just because you feel that you cannot live without me. But because I am your air, your sun, moon, all of it. If only I knew for sure how you felt." His expression darkened somewhat, knowing she was fit to do the 'right' thing for poor reasons, not liking that. "If I knew that, I would show you such love that would leave the world breathless."

Jaxine was breathless at the moment, his words washing over her, and stared back into those acid green eyes, wondering if he really meant what he said. "I'm in love with you, I have been since you saved me from those drunks that night." Tears filled her eyes at the memory. "I tried denying it, I tried fighting what I was feeling and...Nothing worked. Not even Steve." She looked away from him, knowing she hurt the man, but she couldn't help who her heart wanted. "You were right. I'm not just doing this because I want to save Stephanie and Kane. I'm doing this because I can't get away from you, I can't stop thinking about you. You're in my thoughts, my dreams, my entire existence. So whether you do those things or not, I'm still surrendering tonight. I'm surrendering everything to you." Another tremor ran through her body, knowing it was no longer from fear. This time it was desire.

He saw the tremor and the darkening of her eyes, a low growl ripping from his throat. In mere seconds 'Taker had her pressed against the wall, his hands splayed on either side of her head, kissing her passionately. "My beautiful, brave Jaxine." He murmured against her lips, closing his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers, his entire body relaxing for the first time in ages.

Her heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest it was pounding so fast and hard, her hands having cupped his face, enjoying his forehead pressed against hers in this tender moment. "I was always yours." She whispered, slowly opening her eyes to stare into his, a small smile crossing her face as she ran her thumb back and forth on his cheek, wanting to freeze the time and just be with him, just the two of them, without the outside world.

He nodded, a momentary arrogant smirk crossing his lips before vanishing. "I already knew that." He couldn't resist saying, taking her hand and placing it against his dead heart, which beat contrary to popular opinion. "As I am yours." He stepped away from her. "Let's get out of here." He pulled her away from the wall, looking down at her.

Jaxine nodded, lacing her fingers with his, proving to him further that she wasn't running away from him again. Saying that his heart was hers nearly sent her mind spinning, but she'd managed to keep it under control, finally knowing how he really felt about her. She still had her limitations about this man, but she couldn't deny how she felt about him. "Where are we going?" She asked softly as he guided her out of the basement, knowing they were heading out of the arena and hopefully without his Ministry.

"To my hotel room." He said evenly, not sparing her a glance as he entered the main hallway. It didn't take long for him to find the Ministry, a group of men in all black was a dead giveaway. "Release Stephanie and send her home." He ordered.

"Are you kidding me?" Paul whined. "After all the trouble we went through to bring her back through customs?"

"Do it."

Jaxine had no idea they had Stephanie again and sighed a breath of relief, staring at Paul with a raised eyebrow when he just balked at her. "Do you have a staring problem, Twinkie?" She asked evenly, not releasing 'Taker's hand while the rest of the Ministry just stared at her. Jaxine didn't care as she kept her shoulders squared, smirking over at the Brood, who didn't look happy to see her. The bat incident they were still sore about apparently.

"Undertaker, if I-"

"You may not." He interrupted with a glower, his expression and body language daring any of them to question him. "Will there be anymore stupid comments or questions tonight?"

They all murmured no, clearing a path for him.

"But 'TAKER!" Paul let out a wail as 'Taker whipped around, raising his hands to shield his face, which left his paunch open for the punch.

Jaxine smirked over her shoulder at Paul, waving three fingers before walking away with 'Taker toward the exit. They arrived outside and Jaxine was prepared for the motorcycle drive as she slid a pair of boots from her bag on, replacing her heels, and straddled the motorcycle with Taker's help, finally getting adjusted with her bag and purse in front of her. As soon as he was on, she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his back, sighing gently. There was no fear or hesitation as she ran her hands up and down his chest, her nails lightly grazing skin.

He growled softly, raising a hand to his mouth, kissing her fingertips before letting go. A few seconds later they were roaring out of the parking lot.

Kane stepped out from behind the pillar he'd been hiding behind. He had followed Jaxine, against her wishes, but he had to know she would be safe. He had heard the Undertaker's words to her and knew his brother did love her, in his unique, bittersweet way. He shook his head, turning and walked away.

That's what their love was, bittersweet, a mixture of hate and love combined. Though the love outweighed the hate at the moment. It would change in time though. It would always balance out. Just as the scar imprinted on the back of her neck, the bittersweet love between them would be their everlasting connection.

The End.