The wait is over, the next chapter is here! Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the Mortal Kombat franchise, be it settings, characters, themes, or the like.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Very slowly I woke up and when I did I felt so weak. It was crippling. I was lying on my side with my cheek pressed against the cold metal floor and my arms up to my neck. I blinked a few times and could see bars in front of me. And a pair of slim boots kicking against those bars repeatedly. The motion kept knocking little specks of dirt from the flat heels into my eyes and I spluttered. With difficulty I sat up and rubbed at my face, then looked around. I was a bit dizzy so I sat still for a moment, surveying my surroundings. I found I was in a cage, and gripped the bars desperately. I scuttled around the length of the small prison and could find no escape. Suddenly the owner of the slim, fashionable boots leapt from their perch above me and landed in a crouch a couple of feet away. It was Rain.
He came and sat regally down in front of me, on the other side of the bars. He leaned back on his arms and spread his legs wide open. He still had his hair down and sported a light smirk.
"You're awake," he spoke, "Must mean the drugs are wearing off."
I frowned, "What drugs?"
"The emperor drugged you a while ago and put me in charge of you." he explained.
"Why am I in a cage?" I asked.
I sat back and crossed my legs and arms. It was an insult and it was making me claustrophobic. Couldn't Pasty have just put me in a regular cell? And Rain is my jailer? Gods help me.
"The cage suits you, if you ask me." the prince mused.
"Well I didn't," I snapped, "Now let me out."
"Why should I?" Rain asked.
I rubbed at my arms, "Cause I'll be gone then, I'll be out your way."
Rain chuckled, "You could be lying, so I won't risk it. Besides, you're not in my way now so you're better off where you're at."
"Let me out or I'll tell Pasty you're trying to steal his amulet," I threatened.
Again Rain laughed, "He won't believe a word you say; why do you think he locked you up in this cage? He doesn't trust you."
I huffed out a breath and knew the demigod was right. Nightwolf was right, too. If I was lucky, I'd live to tell him that. He was right, I shouldn't have done this alone. But I got myself into this predicament so it's up to me to get out of it.
"If anyone has incriminating information," Rain drawled, "It's me."
I eyed him impatiently, "What are you talking about?"
Rain's dark eyes lit up excitedly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar looking paper. I knew exactly what that was, and was instantly enraged.
"How dare you?" I seethed. "That's mine!"
"I know," he smirked, "I read it."
I wasn't fast enough: I slammed myself against the bars and stuck out my arm but Rain hurriedly stood and put the paper out of my reach. He crossed his arms behind his back and shook his head disdainfully.
"It's sick how you put that shaman under your spell, wench." Rain remarked.
It took me a minute to calm down. I wanted to shred his eyes out its sockets for reading that letter. I think it's better that Rain read it than Pasty, though. The worst Rain could do is jeer at me. I didn't even want to think of what the sorcerer would do had he been the one to have gotten hold of this information. I shuddered and was actually grateful for Rain's interception. But I still wanted to scratch his eyes out; he had no business reading that letter.
"You had to have bewitched him," Rain continued, "To make him write those things."
I scoffed, "Do you hear yourself right now? I didn't put a spell on him. Nightwolf wrote that letter because he loves me."
"Loves you?" Rain repeated.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, love. Heard of the concept?"
"Love is a useless sentiment." Rain scorned.
"No it's not," I protested, "But of course you'd say that. You're so stuck on yourself you'll probably never find a wife."
"I don't need love to find a wife, Mileena," Rain told me assuredly. "Women of all races are drawn to me."
"Really now?" I drawled.
"I could have any woman I want." He boasted confidently, "Including you...If I put my mind to it."
"You wish, " I retorted. "Just let me out." I demanded.
"Ready to run back to your lover already?" he sneered.
I smirked, "Hm, maybe. Are you jealous?"
"No!" He shouted quickly.
"Really? 'Cause it sounds like you are," I said innocently.
"I'm not," Rain growled.
I grinned, "You sure?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"You know," I mused, "You may say you hate me and all, but I think the truth is...you really do want me."
"Tch, don't get me confused with that weak shaman." he snorted.
I cut my eyes, "Don't be mad just 'cause Nightwolf's more of a man than you are, pretty boy."
Rain ground his teeth, "Don't compare me to him! I'm a royal, nothing like that savage."
I clenched my fists and glared at him, "Royal or not, he could still kick your prissy ass and so can I!"
"I doubt it," Rain derided.
"Let me out of this cage and I'll show you," I cajoled.
Rain stood, "I don't think so."
He stretched his arms over head and strode over to the bed. He sprawled out on his back over top the linen sheets and took his necklace from around his throat. A green and bronze amulet hung from the linked metal. Rain swung his trinket back and forth in front of his face hypnotically.
"How many ugly, cheap chains do you need?" I commented.
Rain stopped swinging the medallion and gathered the chain into his hand. He didn't look my way but dropped both his arms flat on the bed.
"It's not cheap, it's pure gold," he informed me languidly, then added, "And you have no taste in fine jewelry whatsoever, so I'm not offended."
"If you say so," I shot back at him.
"It's not just a chain, by the way," he kept on, "It's a gift. From the emperor. It multiplies my power."
I let out a little giggle. It was incredibly funny to me how stupid Rain could be sometimes. That gift of his was probably some kind of tracking device or something. It was hardly likely that Pasty would actually give Rain something to increase his power, especially with the sorcerer being so paranoid now. Rain had to be awfully gullible to believe otherwise.
"What's so funny?" Rain asked tersely.
"N-nothing," I snickered.
"Well then be quiet," Rain grouched.
I had messed with him enough today, I wasn't about to burst his High Majesty's bubble. I just had a feeling that the chain would come back to bite him and found pleasure in knowing this. So instead of warning him, I knew he wouldn't listen to me anyway, I laughed one last time and rubbed my arms. It was freezing in this lair. No lie.
Rain rolled over in the bed with his back facing me and yanked the covers over him. Those covers looked pretty toasty from over here in the cage. I shivered and didn't remember feeling this cold before, even with Pasty looming over me. In fact, I felt very abnormal, now that I thought about it. My skin was tingling and the little hairs on my bare legs were standing on end. Goosebumps I think they were called.
"What kind of drugs did Pasty give me?" I called out.
Rain didn't reply, didn't move. I repeated the question but got no response. Maybe he was asleep already, or maybe he was ignoring me; either way I wasn't getting answers. I pouted sulkily, then beamed mischievously. I knew how to get the prince talking.
"Rain." I said clearly. No answer.
"Rain." I repeated.
"Rain."
"Rain."
"Raaain." I sang.
"I know you hear me."
"Rain."
"Rain I know you're not sleep."
"Rain."
"Rain stop ignoring me."
"Rain."
"Raaaaaain!"
With each taunting call I was raising my voice. Now I began to chant.
"RainRainRainRainRainRainRain RainRa-"
"Stop it!" The prince growled.
He sat up in the bed and threw his feet over the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes and wearing a tight frown. When he dropped his hands by his sides he leveled me with a frustrated glower.
"What do you want?" he asked exasperatedly.
"I'm cold." I stated frankly.
He groaned and garnered the black sheet from the bed around him, then tossed it my way. It landed close enough to the cage where I could pull it in through the bars. Rain splayed out on his stomach and nested his head on his folded arms.
"...Thanks." I muttered.
"Just keep your mouth shut." he grumbled.
Even with the sheet wrapped around my body and over my head I felt weird. Not cold anymore, but still very strange. My muscles were restless, I wanted to get up and run around, or punch something. I felt all hyped up inside. It couldn't be the drugs doing this to me. Or maybe. I didn't have a clue, and I was getting nervous.
Bet he's poisoned you, that voice predicted, Bet there's no cure either. You'll probably die in this damn cell.
Hm. I hadn't really needed to hear that, it only augmented my fears. And I hadn't exactly missed that voice either. It never had anything useful to say. It was imperative that I get out of this cage and see where Pasty had gotten off to. Hopefully he hasn't left the lair yet. And if he has, oh well. I suppose I'd have to try and get back to Nightwolf.
I kicked at the cage with both my feet and wasn't surprised when it didn't budge. There was no way I could get out of this cage. Not with brute strength alone. It was funny because I started to recall the oddest memory. It was one of me and the Prick, training one afternoon in the village. He was telling me some outrageous story of how he made a man's guts explode just by willing them to do so. He tried to convince me the might of sheer power of will. He claimed that since he's mastered control over his will he could do just about anything. I couldn't see what that had to do with my current situation, unless I were to apply his bogus notion to the metal prison's mental destruction.
Figuring I might as well give it a shot, I gripped the cold columns of steel in each hand. I let the sheet slide off my shoulders as I concentrated hard on making them bend or melt or disappear or explode. Then this crazy thing happened.
Nothing.
Well, something did happen, but I chalked it up to the alleged drugs Pasty shot in me. I saw my hands flame a bright pink for like a half-second. I blinked and looked away, but the problem wasn't in my eyes. When I gazed back at my hands, turning them over delicately, I saw the color gradually fade and my natural tan hue returned. That was the spark that lit my mind aflame with memories from the day before.
Walking in on Nightwolf while he was in healing mode, the restlessness in my muscles, the hyper-awareness, and my hands changing colors: I had my powers back! Maybe my claws and teeth remained unchanged, but I knew for a fact that the magic I once possessed had been returned to me. I willed forth the energy to my hands and they glowed a bright magenta.
"Yes!" I shouted.
Rain shifted angrily on the bed. I burst into silent, giddy laughter. This was perfect! Absolutely perfect! Why didn't I remember that I got in on Nightwolf's healing sooner? Oh well, can't change the past. I just had to take advantage of the time I had now. And that I did.
Carefully I channeled my pink aura to my fingers and gripped the metal bars in between my digits. I worked away at the cage, melting and pulling away chunks of steel quietly. I didn't want to disturb Rain. The sooner he got to sleep, the better. I didn't want to have to go through him to get out of here. I had faith in my powers, but I only just got them back. Steadily I ripped my way through my iron cage until I had pried a good sized gap open. I brushed the small pile of metal chinks to the other side of the space and tentatively crawled out of it, onto the cold grid-lock floor.
Sitting back against the side of the bed was the first thing I did. I could see that there was no padlock on the cage at all, so even if he wanted to Rain couldn't have freed me. he just made it seem like he had that kind of power. Looks like Paste Face didn't trust his lackey too much after all.
"Alright, I've got to get out of here." I whispered.
But first, I had to leave my mark. I stalked on all fours over from the foot to the head of the bed and slowly stood. I leaned over Rain and watched him sleep. His eyes were closed, his chest was falling and rising rhythmically, he looked to be at peace. And he looked so devastatingly handsome.
His lashes, his thin brows looked too elegant for such a stupid, ill-mannered tool. It was a cruelty of the universe, I supposed, for him to have such a beautiful face and toned body, or at least what I could see of it. Well to be honest I'd seen almost all of it through our travels together. It was hard to forget that kind of a physique, but I tried my best.
Bunched up in one of his hands was the fitted sheet of the bed. In his other was his prized medallion, the one he supposedly got from Pasty. I got a wicked idea that I just couldn't resist. I tickled his wrist with my fingertips and got him to slacken his grip on the golden chain, then I swiped it. Rain reacted immediately and grabbed the back of my hand. I froze.
His eyes were still closed and yet he moved. He locked his fingers in mine and brought my palm to his lips. They were like dewy petals over my hot skin. With a slight cringe I pulled my hand free and tossed the amulet under the bed. Rain slept on.
That was creepy, and definitely my cue to leave.
"Ah, are you kidding me?" I groaned to myself.
When I crossed the room I saw a huge dilemma. On the exit there were about a million locks to be undone. Since I had my powers back I could probably plow through the door with no problem, but I really didn't want to deal with the prince.
Very gently I slid the first deadbolt over, and looked over my shoulder to see if Rain had awoken. He hadn't, so I continued with the second and third locks. By the fifth I got excited, and after two more I was done. I had to take a deep breath to get control over the deluge of adrenaline emanating from within me.
"Alright. You got this." I whispered with my eyes closed.
Upon opening them and surveying the room I saw that Rain was still asleep. Walking backwards I kept my eyes on him and gravely shut the door. The click of the gears and hinges locking into place was incredibly reassuring.
"I...I made it," I grinned.
I examined myself in the narrow hall and found that I was wearing the same shorts, moccasins, and shirt. I had to find my sai's and the satchel, so I trekked silently down the corridor in search of them. One room down the hall had its door wide open, and just my luck my satchel and sai's were on the metal cot. I ducked into the room and collected them. It was evident from the lightness that somebody had drank from one of the canteens of water. And the jar of meat had been tampered with as well. It had to have been Rain but whatever. Back into the loops of my shorts I stuck my sai's. Just to be sure they were still there, I channeled my powers to my fingertips. They glowed faithfully.
"Kay. Just checking." I spoke softly.
Now I could officially leave this place. That emptiness that had been present ever since Pasty hit me with his technique had almost been filled. I felt better knowing I had my powers back at my beck and call. I wasn't totally healed, but I would be. As soon as I got back to Nightwolf. Which would be as soon as I got out this lair. Which would be as soon as I found the exit.
As it was I was padding down the hall with no clue where I was going. There were plenty of doors to my left and right; they could lead me to an escape or to the sorcerer. I didn't remember going through a door, though. I remembered going down some stairs, and I remembered Rain's clumsy ass tripping over his feet and dropping me. There weren't any stairs in this direction, though, so with a sigh I turned and started in the other one.
"The bitch!" I heard, and then a door slammed heavily.
I jumped and hurriedly slipped into a random room on my left. It was dark and the floors were dirt instead of metal. I shut the door down to a little slit in the wall and peeked through the crack. I couldn't see much but could hear footsteps getting closer. It was Rain. He was swearing and stomping through the hall. He strode right past the door I was in without looking twice. I waited a full minute before I quit holding my breath to make sure he was gone. He didn't come back, and several minutes passed with me just cramped against the door.
"I guess he's gone." I remarked.
"Nngh."
I couldn't help it, I shrieked a little and jolted a lot. That groan had scared me! It came from behind me, too. In the dark I couldn't see a thing but with my powers I could light things up. I flared the pink energy around my hands like flames and saw how small the little room really was. What stood out the most among the cobwebs and mildew was the rusty old cage in the dead center. Slumped over on his side was none other than that monk whose name escaped me. I sighed, because I knew what I had to do.
Just leave him, that voice suggested, he's not your problem.
I couldn't just leave him here. He was bound and writhing every so often in what looked like intense pain. His bodysuit was intact, but it didn't look like it was doing him much good when it came to protection. His hair hung around his extra-pale face and clung to his cheeks, neck, and cherry lips. Shut tightly were his eyes and furrowed were his black brows. He must be drugged as well, though with what I wasn't sure. I didn't feel nearly as bad as how he appeared to be feeling, though.
"Hey, uh, you alright?" I asked.
Of course he's not alright, I thought in hindsight. He shuddered and rolled to and fro in the tiny space. His cage was way too small for him. I rubbed my arms and decided to do the right thing. I didn't have a choice. No way would Nightwolf or Kitty-Kat let me live this down; walking out of here and leaving the monk to fend for himself, I mean.
I bent down on my knees and made short work of the bars on the cage. I was able to melt them down completely and pull them out of the way. I had to knock the top off as well since there was no way I'd fit inside it. When I had the cell completely destroyed, I crawled over to the monk and hovered above him. He was sweating, but shivering.
"What did Pasty do to you?" I wondered.
He was in a cage half his size, his skin was a terrible sick grey pallor, his binds were way to tight, and he was twisting and turning like he was caught in a nightmare. It was apparent to me then that Pasty wanted to torture the monk. It did things to me, seeing a person this messed up. It made me feel something akin to pity but not quite. I knew what he was going through, and I felt bad for him. To an extent.
"Can you hear me?" I asked. "If you can, open your eyes."
His almond-shaped peepers remained closed so I guess he was beyond reach right now. I tore through his wrist and ankle binds and cringed at how red and agitated his flesh was around those areas. Having freed him, I sat back on my bottom and placed his head in my lap. I cradled his face in both my hands and patted his cheeks softly.
"Wake up, Ken Lee," I called softly but urgently.
That couldn't have been his name but oh well.
"Come on, get up!" I said more harshly than I should have.
He was just lucky I didn't resort to more drastic ways to wake him up. No, he was lucky I even found him. He looked to be barely hanging on. Finally he blinked and fluttered his lashes. I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Good you're awake." I stated.
I dug into my satchel and pulled out one of the canteens of water. I unscrewed its cap and placed the spout up to the monk's lips. He didn't catch on, so I tilted the water container upwards a bit. He choked at first, then gulped down the liquid greedily. In no time he'd guzzled it all. I rose my brows and took out the other container, replacing it with the first. The monk downed it just as quickly. I had to bend over him a bit and hold the back of his head up for him.
"Jeez, when's the last time you ate or drank something?" I asked.
He gazed at me blearily and blinked infrequently. I inclined my head closer to his and was about to repeat the question when the monk leaned forward. I was taken by surprise when he pushed his cold ruby lips onto mine.
He didn't have much strength in him but he moved quite passionately for one so sick. He smoothed his hand over my neck and tried to deepen the kiss. That was where I had to break it off. I pulled back and the monk wearily dropped his head back into my lap. Lovingly he stared up at me and I blushed.
"Kitana?" He whispered faintly.
Oh. Okay. That makes sense now. I was about to ask him what on earth that was for, I mean, I know I freed him but damn, that's a little much. Now I understood though. He had taken me for my twin, he thought I was his Kitty Kat. Which begged the question; did he and Kitty do things like this all the time?
"K-Kitana?" he rasped again.
I cleared my throat, "Guess again."
The young man coughed and rubbed at his eyes. Then realization must have dawned on him because his cheeks were dusted bright pink. I could tell he was embarrassed. We both were. I gripped him under the arms and helped him to stand.
"Mileena I..." he was interrupted by a cough.
"It was a mistake," I dismissed, "Let's not mention it."
He nodded absently and tried to right himself. He was having difficulty. I threw his arm over my shoulder and let him lean most of his weight on me.
"Can you walk?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Good, then let's go." I said brusquely.
"Where?" the monk croaked.
"We're gettin the hell out of here," I explained candidly.
I led the limping man out of the dark room and down the hall. The corridor was just as dark and confusing as it was before. It only took a few minutes of aimless wandering before the man's legs began to quiver. His coughs turned into hacking spells and he began to depend on me more and more with each step. He was fading fast.
It looked like he was ready to give out and I knew I wouldn't be able to carry him all the way back to Nightwolf. I wasn't sure how far I'd get with him on my back. Not far enough. Rain or Pasty would definitely catch up to me. I had to get out of here and fast. If only I could just teleport like Rain and be at the village in seconds.
"Watch out," I instructed the monk.
He slumped on the wall while I stood back and took out my sai's. His breathing in the quiet hall echoed. Each labored exhalation reverberated off the walls. I channeled my energy up to my shoulders, down my arms, through my hands all the way to the tips of my weapons. I shot a blast against the opposite wall, hoping to form a portal. I just blew out a chunk of the building instead.
I shrugged, "Not bad, not bad."
Again I tried with similar results. On the third try I gave up. I wasn't able to from portals before, don't know why I thought I could do it this time. I just.
The monk bent over on the wall and pointed animatedly as he could over to my wrist. I looked down and frowned.
"What?" I asked, "What is it?"
He struggled to speak, "H...Help."
"I'm trying to help you." I snapped. "But I'm not good at this."
He shook his head and collapsed to his knees. Immediately I went over and assisted him. When he had a firm grip on the wall again, he tapped my wrist, no, the watch on my wrist. That was what he was talking about; help as in call in for help. I smiled gratefully down at him.
"Good thinking, monk." I praised, patting his shoulder.
He smiled weakly, but his wince ruined it. I had to hurry. I tapped into the watch and called in for Sonya. It took no time for her to respond this time.
"Have you made it to the lair?" she asked severely.
"Yeah, it didn't really go as planned. I need somebody to come get us." I spoke rapidly.
"Us?" she asked, "Who is us?"
"The monk is with me." I elucidated.
"You've got Liu Kang?!" she exclaimed.
"Ow." I muttered, so that's his name.
"Sorry about that." Sonya stated, "How is he?"
"Terrible." I told her honestly.
"I'm tracking your location, Raiden is on his way."
I sighed, "Well you better tell him to haul ass before this guy-"
I cringed at the dull thud of the monk's body hitting the ground sounded off behind me. That couldn't be good.
This was so good.
Prosperous, nurturing green land as far as his keen eye could see lay before him, as did pristine flowing rivers and a stunning sunsets balanced on the horizon. So many people, perhaps hundreds of thousands, all bowed to him. Smiling and jovial were their faces as they heralded him. On the outskirts of the enormous palace the citizens had communed around were several sentry-like guards and members of his elite army. They, too, bowed to him.
He witnessed their show of allegiance from the heights of his estate, the very peak of the castle. His shoulders bore the golden clasps of a deep violet cape, and his head was adorned with a gilded crown inlaid with the finest jewels. He wore the coveted amulet of Shinnok on a beauteous chain round his neck, and left his long hair to hang freely down past his chin. His dark pants were hemmed of quality-grade silk and matched his embroidered cape while his fashionable boots of deep crimson complemented the two. He felt like a king.
Here he was king.
And a king would not be complete, were it not for his most precious trinket. His little pet sat on the balcony some meters away from him. Her perch was precarious, and for fear he'd lose her to the congenial crowd below, he started towards her. She had her back to him but just as he approached her she hopped from the ledge and ducked into the double-doors leading indoors. Unthinkingly he followed her.
The shimmering kimono-style gown she wore was thin, short, and simplistic in its scarlet and gold trim coloring. There were golden dragons embroidered all along the back of it. The back was all he could see as he trailed behind the young woman. Her short black hair was pulled into an orderly bun at the top of her head, leaving the nape of her slim neck bordered by the stiff silk collar.
He looked around him and knew this room to be his very own bedroom. It was just as ostentatious as it ought to be, with a high ceiling decked out in chandeliers and polished oak furniture. The dark carpet muffled the sounds of his footsteps and during his pursuit of his mistress he discarded his boots beside one of his dressers.
He watched her stop next to the foot of the bed. It was a grand, pure navy, four-poster canopy with cloud-like bedding that sat invitingly in the middle of the room. She fiddled with something at her waist, and in the next instant he saw her reach out her hand to the side of her and drop the obi sash of her gown. It fluttered innocuously to the ground. He felt compelled to be near her.
In four even strides he was behind her. He turned her round by her shoulders and searched her face. It was that of his expectation; he knew what he would find, and was glad to have found it. It was what he wanted.
She was what he wanted.
He placed his hands on either side of her neck and kissed her full on. Her lips immediately began to move against his, in opposition it would seem, but to his dominance they eventually yielded. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he dipped his hands underneath her knees and scooped her up. From her mouth to her chin he kissed and nudged her head up so as to gain better access to her throat. He carried her mechanically to the bed and sat her on the edge. From there he stood back and observed her.
Her body mesmerized him. It was flawless. Tawny skin and dark, hypnotic eyes. Her lips parted teasingly, as did her slender, glistening legs. She reclined on her arms and threw back her head, giving it a shake. Down came her wild black hair from its restrictive binds and around her face it settled nicely. He could stand by no longer.
With his hands on her knees he split her legs to make room for himself. Up her thighs he let his digits roam. She lay on her back and gripped his hands, then pulled him into the bed along with her. He shrugged out of his cape, uncaring as it hit the floor.
Over her stomach he flattened his palms. He could feel a tentative, almost invisible undetectable bump there, and knew what it meant. She was with child. His child.
His heir.
Like a hawk diving in on its prey he dropped his head over her stomach and buried his tongue in her navel. She arched into his mouth as he trailed over her body with his tongue. Skillfully guiding her out of the crimson robe he bundled the clothing and tossed it behind him. So enticing she was in only her sheer lace undergarments.
She smirked coyly, then rolled onto her stomach and crawled away from him. He immediately gave chase, maneuvering around the expansive navy sheets to catch her around the middle. He sat back and brought her into his lap, then caressed her hips and embraced the warm, soft skin on her back. She shivered and again escaped him.
This time she climbed out of the bed and started towards the balcony. He did as well, but only now did the amulet on his neck begin to affect him. It was heavy, and slowed him down so that she was able to reach the double doors before him.
She was not alone.
At the balcony standing tall and imposing in a great white wolf's pelt was the shaman. He had on his arm a fur cloak. When she neared the ledge the shaman covered her in the cloak and enveloped her in his arms. The two stood just out of his reach.
He was at the threshold of the balcony and could go no further. He was weighed down to his knees by the amulet. Its chain had elongated and the amulet itself had grown ten times in size so that it had him anchored to the spot. The pair began to ascend into the air, leaving him behind. Desperately he reached for her but could not make contact.
The wraith was not in his domain. That alone exacerbated the emperor's paranoia. Of course the sorcerer didn't see his anxiety as such, more likely he thought himself to be 'justifiably suspicious'. His suspicion led him to investigate the rumors presented to him by his servant Rain. Although they couldn't be rumors if they were true, is what he thought.
Noob Saibot's absence is clearly indicative of the rumors being true, Chi thought. He must be plotting with Ermac elsewhere. They want to kill me. They all want to kill me, he thought in distress.
He strode aggravatedly through the rocky terrain of the fiery realm. The stench alone assaulted his olfactory organ in the worst of ways, the climate was one he was hardly used to despite his time spent as a denizen there. He had once vowed never to return to the realm in which he was reborn, but his suspicion had driven him back again. Now that he had confirmed the rumors to be true, or gained as much confirmation as he needed, he was ready to depart.
The thought of rewarding Rain for alerting him of such infidelity crossed his mind. He did believe Rain to be the only loyal one of his once many followers. But even the young demigod couldn't be trusted. Chi scanned over the device and found that the prince was still at the lair. He could tell as much because of the amulet he'd bequeathed to the royal.
Because the replica had been contrived from the one on the sorcerer's belt, it carried with it the same essence as the original. As long as Chi had the original, he could sense the location of the other derivative from realms away. And that location was still at the lair, from what he could understand. It was a sort of tracking device in that one piece of the amulet could be traced back to the original from wherever it was.
Chi was about to step through his customary portal away from the godsforsaken realm, but something. Someone. Caught his eye. He strode unassumingly over to him. When he approached the figure, they bowed respectfully before him. Or so he thought.
"Scorpion," Chi greeted coldly.
The spectre had accrued an insurmountable plethora of self discipline and control; he used his reserves of such virtues now to restrain from attacking the murderer of his clan and family. He knew he'd have his chance soon enough. He rose from his bow and stood at full height across from the necromancer.
"Where is the wraith and the host?" Chi demanded to know.
Again Scorpion reigned in his anger at having been ordered by that fiend. The sorcerer didn't notice, didn't care to even observe, the spectre's discord.
"They are in Vaeternus, staging an attack for you in three days. You should be warned." Scorpion stiffly replied.
Just as I thought, Quan Chi noted. To Scorpion he stated, "I have a proposition for you."
Scorpion had already begun to walk off, calling behind him gruffly, "Not. Interested."
The spectre teleported away from Hell to the abandoned courtyards of Vaeternus where two beings sat as kings in the old stone thrones. Ermac continued to laze in his seat upon the spectre's arrival, but Noob Saibot on his left rose.
"Did it work?" the wraith asked.
Scorpion stepped over to him, "Yes."
Ermac eyed the spectre hatefully and then glanced away. Noob reached into the folds of his hooded cloak and revealed a small satchel of onyx coins. He tossed them to Scorpion, who began to count them patiently.
Ermac watched him and sneered, "You've done your job, you've been paid, Now get lost,"
Scorpion halted in his task and glowered at the host. He thought of retorting but knew he didn't have to stand there and stoop to Ermac's level. The host hated him and Scorpion honestly didn't know why, but he wouldn't stay where he wasn't wanted. He turned on his heels and left for the mountains.
Noob sighed and shook his head at his partner, "That was. That was just uncalled for, Ermac."
"He doesn't need to be here." Ermac shrugged.
"No, but he did us a favor. No need to be so spiteful." Noob chided. "Ah, well, it's good to see that things are coming together." he grinned.
Ermac nodded, "That they are."
A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! Don't ask me what I'm hinting at with Rain/Mileena because even I don't know. Definitely some UST. Shout out to anyone who can interpret the dream :)
You'll get to see more in the next installment so don't go too far! We'll check in with our heroes, our anti-heroes and everyone in between.
Please leave a review telling me all about what you think of the story so far! I appreciate it! Until next time,
~DymondGold~