Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for an update. I'm experiencing a bit of writer's block. I've started new chapters for all my stories and they're in various stages of development, but I just can't bring myself to finish them. I don't know whats wrong with me. I know you had to wait a while for this one. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Sorry, no.
"Where are we going?" Wren followed lamely where Sub Zero led her. Her mind was still buzzing from her encounter with Frost. The woman's words had left her feeling unsure of her place. She found herself suddenly doubting why she had decided to remain under her sifu's tutelage even after he had given her the opportunity to return home. She now wished that she had perhaps taken him up on his offer.
Sub Zero remained silent as he led Wren through the twisting halls of the Lin Kuei Temple toward his private rooms. He paused suddenly as they came to pass in front of the door to Frost's quarters. He felt his stomach clench as he remembered the events that had transpired between himself and Wren in that room. He had come so close to killing her. The memory of the pain he had caused her was never far from his thoughts. Neither was the recollection of how it felt to lie with her in his arms after the fact for that matter.
The Grandmaster tilted his head and listened intently for a moment to the sounds coming from within the room. His gaze wandered down to the crack at the bottom of the door where a sliver of light spilled out into the hallway. Seeing the shadow of the room's sole occupant move across the doorframe, he let out a relieved sigh. Satisfied Frost was indeed in her room and unlikely to cause any more disturbance for the time being, he tugged on Wren's wrist, encouraging her to follow.
"Come."
Wren trudged along behind him obediently until they finally reached their destination. She watched as he unlocked the door and ushered her inside with a sweep of his arm. She turned her head slightly to see him lock the door behind them. She startled a bit when he placed one cool hand on the small of her back to guide her where he wanted her. His relative silence was beginning to get to her. "Sifu?"
Pushing his pupil gently into the sitting room, Sub Zero motioned toward the sofa. "Sit."
Wren sank down slowly on the couch, sitting on the very edge. The tension in her body wouldn't allow her to relax. The way Sub Zero was gazing at her made her feel as though she was being appraised. Perhaps, she thought, he was trying to decide if she was worth keeping around. "Did-did I do something wrong?"
Sub Zero pulled a chair over in front of his pupil. When he sat down he was so close that their knees touched. He leaned forward, his arms resting on his thighs. He was near enough that he could feel Wren's soft breath on his face. He shook his head. "No. You haven't done anything wrong. I want to know what all that was about in the dining hall. What did she say to you?"
Wren clasped her hands together uncomfortably in her lap. "Nothing really..."
He cocked an eyebrow as he watched her. "Then why are you so upset?"
Wren's eyes widened ever so slightly. "I'm not upset." She couldn't possibly confide her insecurity to him could she? He would no doubt find her concerns silly and immature, wouldn't he? Of course, none of that would matter if what Frost said held a shred of truth because she would be on her way out the door anyway.
"Wren..." Sub Zero untangled her hands from her lap and held them in his own. "Don't lie to me..."
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Frost POV
Frost paced. Her anger grew with every step she took. This had to be some sort of cruel joke. The very idea that the Grandmaster would choose to replace her with that-that...ARGH!! She was so angry she couldn't even come up with a suitable slur to label the other woman with. If this was indeed a joke, she wasn't laughing. Not at all.
She had meant every word she had said to the woman. She would not tolerate her presence in any way, shape, or form. She had been by the Grandmaster's side before Wren had come on the scene and she would be here long after she was gone. She would make sure of it.
Certainly, she had to take some of the blame for what had transpired between herself and Sub Zero that drove them apart. It had been her that lusted after the position of Grandmaster. She had lied to him about her true feelings and intentions. She had frozen him to the ground and tried to steal the Dragon Medallion. The past aside, she was here now to reclaim her rightful position and Wren was the only thing standing in her way.
There was one thing that really bothered her and would no doubt make her job a lot harder than she anticipated. It seemed like the Grandmaster had already taken quite the liking to his new pupil. The way his eyes roamed lovingly over her form whenever he thought she wasn't paying attention suggested as much. It was sickening, really.
Frost knew it was only a matter of time before Sub Zero acted on his feelings...if he hadn't already. All it would take would be the smallest sign on Wren's part to let him know she was interested in having him teach her more than just cryomancing. Frost was fairly certain that hadn't happed...yet. At least she hoped it hadn't.
It was almost painfully obvious that the girl held some mutual feelings for the Grandmaster. Fortunately for Frost, Wren's nervousness around him and her insecurity held her back from acknowledging anything beyond their student/teacher roles...for now. Frost was certain, given enough time, the other woman would get over herself and embrace what the Grandmaster was already so willing to offer. Of course, Frost had no intention of allowing them that time.
She had already decided that it would be useless to try to sway Sub Zero away from the object of his desire. It was clear that he was already fixated on the woman, both as a student and a potential companion. Frost knew any interference on her part would simply drive the wedge between them further and push him further in Wren's direction. She would need to try another tactic.
A smile came to Frost's face. If she couldn't convince Sub Zero that he was wasting his time on the little wench, perhaps she could convince said wench that his affections lay elsewhere. Namely, in her. It was simply a matter of setting up a suggestive situation and making sure Wren was there to witness it. The difficult part would be luring Sub Zero into her little trap. It would take a bit of finesse on her part, but Frost was sure she could pull it off.
Frost laughed to herself. She knew Sub Zero would probably be angry with her at first for getting rid of his little plaything. He would forgive her eventually, though, just like he had done so many times in the past. It was for his own good. They were destined to be together.
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It had taken much coaxing, but Sub Zero finally got Wren to confess to him what was bothering her. He was quiet as he took in everything she said. He still held both of her hands in his own. His thumbs ran over the back of her hands gently as she spoke, encouraging her to continue. He was torn between wanting to reassure his student and dragging Frost to the front gate and slinging her out into the snow.
He waited for her to be done before he spoke, "You know that not to be true, don't you?"
Wren shifted a bit in her seat when he lightly squeezed her hands. "I-I don't..."
"Wren," He scooted even closer, his hands released hers to rest on her shoulders and massaged them gently. He leaned in so close that their noses almost touched. "I want you here."
Wren let out a breath she didn't even realizing she had been holding. "B-but..."
"No." Sub Zero shook his head and pulled the girl closer into what he hoped she would consider a comforting embrace and not an ill-timed attempt at affection. He closed his eyes as he breathed in the clean scent of her hair. "I want you to steer clear of Frost, alright? I'm not sure what her intentions are, but I don't trust them to be benign in nature. I am familiar with her enough to know that I would feel a lot better if you didn't interact with her."
Wren nodded in agreement as she enjoyed the feeling of having her sifu's poweful arms wrapped around her. Almost without thinking, she snuggled further into the embrace and let her arms, which had been hanging limp at her sides, to wind around his waist. In her mind she scolded herself for ever listening to the words Frost had so maliciously spewed. "What if she approaches me?"
Sub Zero turned his head slightly so that his lips grazed Wren's ear when he spoke. "Then I want to know about it." The innocent, comforting moment he had been striving for now seemed neither very innocent or comforting for that matter.
Damn it all! He felt Wren shiver slightly in his arms when he spoke. He couldn't keep going like this. With one hand he brushed Wren's hair away from her neck and pressed his lips against the exposed skin. He groaned, both in relief and arousal, when instead of pushing him away, Wren tightened her arms around him and tilted her head slightly to the side to give him better access.
His hands rubbed slow circles on her back as his mouth brushed up the side of her neck and skimmed along her jawline until his lips met hers. He pecked them softly before pulling back to look at her. His eyes looked into hers as if asking permission to continue. "Wren?"
Wren's breath hitched in her throat when she realized he was giving her a choice whether or not they continued on the path they had been on or allow their arrangement to evolve into something more. Was she willing to cross that line? Was she ready? After everything they had to go through to get to this point, how could she not be? She nodded slightly, granting consent. She felt her insides knot with anticipation as he drew her close again.
End of Chapter 29
Oooh...cliffie, lol. This chapter had begun to spiral out of control into places I'd rather not go at the moment...I had no choice but to nip it in the bud, haha. Anywho...Frost is in the process of concocting a really nasty plan to get rid of Wren. I'm gonna give her a little time to get herself together while Subby and Wren...erm...express themselves. I hope to update soon(er) next time. If y'all have any good ideas for this story or Frost's little scheme lay 'em on me. Till next time, Happy Reading!
Voodoo
