Kane awakens before the sun rises the next morning. Even though, he'd be traveling with his niece, he is worried for her. He wouldn't be able to protect her all the time. Sure, she could fend for herself well enough, but there were so many people that could threaten her. If he was honest with himself, he didn't sleep well that night. Not only is she beautiful, but she is smart. The problem that he fears that lie ahead of them, is the trust she could possibly put into their colleagues. His brother and himself were the only two people Persephone has known her entire life. Her naivety in social interaction is going to get her hurt. Not physically, but every other way.
The Big Red Machine dresses for the day and grabs his bag. He and Persephone were leaving for Stamford, Connecticut, today. Passing her door, he can hear her softly singing the lullaby he'd taught her. It is her own little secret. She can sing. Kane smirks, remembering catching her singing one day while his brother was away. The Phenom doesn't even know. Her voice, and her singing voice alone, is the only thing that could calm him from his raging temper. During the time in his career that he was maskless, he'd had recordings of her singing. He HATED being without his mask. Outside the safety of his family, he just wasn't comfortable in his own skin. His niece eases his heart and mind.
There was a time, shortly after meeting his niece, Kane had begun tag teaming with X-Pac. X-Pac was a member of D-X, and had gotten him to trust him. Trust him enough, that he left his brother and niece. Kane had met and begun dating his first girlfriend, Tori. It was his own naivety that led to his first shattered heart. From his first love and his first friend.
Walking through the Gates of Hell, shortly before the Royal Rumble of 2000, Kane paces and worries over how his brother will act upon his return. Should he just walk in? Or knock on the door? Where would he go if his brother turns him away?
"Uncle Kane! You're home after soooo long!" The Big Red Monster turns just in time for his arms to be full of the little girl and lands on his ass. Her brown hair had gotten longer. She'd gotten taller. The seven foot man's heart broke a bit. He missed so much of her growing up. All because he was blinded by a pretty face and a pair of silver tongues. He never should have left his brother and niece. How could he be so stupid?
A clearing of a throat gains Kane's attention and he spots his big brother in the threshold of the mansion's front door. Both brothers incline their heads in a silent greeting. "What are you doing here, Little Brother?" The Deadman glares deep into his brother's eyes, or eye rather, needing truth.
The younger of the two powerful beings kisses his niece's forehead before standing and setting her down. Looking at his brother, Kane removes his mask. No sense in hiding now. He feels the girl wrap her arm around his forearm, unknowingly giving him the courage and strength to face his brother. "I take it you didn't watch last night's RAW, Big Brother. You were right. Tori and Sean were using me. She broke my heart. She left me for him and he rubbed it in my face. Sean never made fun of me before, but when he did..." Kane looks down at his niece, wondering how to put it without ruining a bit of her innocence. "Sean said I was inadequate as a man."
"So, they hurt you and you expect me to let you come home like you didn't abandon us? Do you have any idea how much you broke Persephone's heart? How much you broke my TRUST in you?" The Big Red Machine hangs his head in shame. He didn't realize how much love had blinded him to what was important. His family. He expected his brother to be hurt, but he didn't realize that his disappearing act would hurt his niece. He'd promised to never hurt her, and by leaving her, he had. Kane swallows hard before looking back into his brother's eyes.
"But Daddy, Uncle Kane came back. He's hurt in his heart like we were. They broke it and I wanna fix it. Please, Daddy. Uncle Kane needs us. We need him home. Please? Uncle Kane needs his big brother, Daddy." The Princess of Darkness tugs on her uncle's arm, making him squat down next to her. She kisses his cheek and whispers. "Don't worry. I got a plan." Persephone lets go of Kane and climbs the stone railing to look eye to eye with her father. "Daddy, I forgive Uncle Kane. Can't you forgive him too? Look at him, he needs to feel safe with us again. Let Uncle come home."
Mark runs his fingers through her hair and pinches her cheek. "I spoil you. Come on, Kane. You look like you could use a stiff drink." The veteran wrestler grabs his daughter and throws her on his shoulder like a burlap sack of potatoes. As Kane rises to follow his family back inside, his big brother calls over his shoulder, "You're just in time to put your niece to bed. I'll make us some chow and those drinks."
It's been over a year since Kane has tucked his little Angel in bed, and the Devil's Favorite Demon smiles at the opportunity to do it again. His niece cheers with excitement before launching off of her father's shoulders and into Kane's arms. The Undertaker looks over his shoulder with a no nonsense look. Silently telling her to settle down. The father strides into the kitchen, while the other two walk up the staircase to the little girl's bedroom.
Kane lays her down and covers her with the blankets. His large thumb brushes her cheek. "I've missed you the most, Little One. Thank you for talking your daddy into forgiving me." He kisses her forehead. How he could leave this precious angel of his? This will undoubtedly be his biggest regret about leaving. "Good night, my Angel."
"Sing to me, Uncle Kane. I don't want you to leave again." Persephone sleepily demands of her uncle. As surprised as he was to hear her wanting HIM to sing, his heart shattered at the last sentence.
"I don't sing, Angel, you know that." The Big Red Machine whispers as he sits on her bed.
Persephone takes his massive hand in her miniscule one, locks eyes with him and bats her long eyelashes at him. "Pretty please, Uncle?"
Kane sighs. She was giving him the puppy eye pout and he has NEVER been able to deny this little girl. He has no intention on starting his first night home. He looks around her room and his eyes land on her ceramic carousel horse.
"Dancing bears,
Painted wings.
Things I almost remember...
Like a song, someone sings,
Once Upon a December..."
Kane sings low, slow, haunting. Sure, he was off-key, but the little princess fell asleep quickly.
The Big Red Monster shakes his head of the memory as he sets his bag by the door. Movement in the living room catches his eye. Upon entering, he watches the Deadman pace back and forth in worry. Both men treasure the youngest member of their family, but she is an adult and wants to protect her father. "Big Brother, didn't you sleep last night?"
Mark's head snaps in Kane's direction, surprised to see him. "Shit, I didn't realize it was 4:30 in the morning. No, I didn't sleep. How can I sleep when my baby girl is leaving for the first time and I can't protect her. You know how those guys on the roster are. She'll be fresh meat and any of them who aren't in a committed relationship will do everything they can think of to see who can sleep with her first. I'm her father, how can I allow her to go into the WWE with those guys? Kane, I can't protect her from here. I know you're going with her, but what about when each of you are in the ring? After your matches in the shower? What's the plan for her debut? Will I be allowed to be there?" The Undertaker turns to his brother. "How am I suppose to process this, Kane?!"
"I'm worried, too, Mark. But she is YOUR daughter. MY niece. She is strong, smart, and her beauty with make her a force of which the WWE has never seen before. I swear on our mother's grave, I'll call you if something happens that I can't handle alone."
The legend scoffs at his brother. "You desecrated their graves, burned Dad's casket with Paul and chokeslammed me into Mom's. There's no grave to swear on now." Mark stomps toward Kane until he is eye to eye with him. "Though if you DON'T call me, and my baby girl gets more than physically hurt... I'll burn you again, but this time, I'll make SURE you breathe your last. Am I clear, Baby Brother?"
"Crystal." Both men turn to the doorway, noticing that the topic of their discussion is listening. Kane turns to his niece. "Persephone, are you ready to go to Stamford?"
"Yes, Uncle." Persephone walks past her uncle to her father. "I'll be alright, Daddy. Have faith in me. Please? I need you to be behind me."
"I'll always be behind you, Baby Girl, but I wouldn't be a good father if I didn't worry about you." He picks her up and hugs her tight, whispering in her ear. "Make me proud, Baby Girl. Go kick some ass and collect a few new souls for my yard. I love you, Persephone. Call me anytime."
Persephone kisses her father's cheek. "The Dark Days are back for the WWE. I wouldn't be the daughter of The Undertaker and the niece of Kane if I couldn't kick ass. I love you, Daddy. I'll make you both proud." When the Phenom sets her down, she quickly goes outside to the Gates to wait for her uncle.
The Brothers of Destruction shake hands before hugging quickly. Kane silently follows his Angel of Darkness outside to the Gates, with their bags in hand. With a wave of his hand, the Big Red Machine opens the Gates of Hell. "Are you ready, Niece?"
Staring at the car before her, Persephone simply answers with a bone-chilling, "Yes, Uncle." Kane nods and puts their bags in the trunk as Persephone slides into the front passenger seat. She glances back to the door of her home, seeing her father standing on the porch. She locks eyes with her father and he simply throws his right fist in the air. She rolls down her window and puts her own fist in the air before bringing it back in and thumping her chest twice.
The Big Red Monster opens the driver's door and throws his herculean arm into the air, closed fist. He turns and shouts a farewell to his brother before joining his niece in the vehicle. As they pull away from the only place Persephone has known, driving to the portal connecting their world to the mortal world, Kane notices that his Angel has tears trickling down her cheeks. He wipes the cheek closest to him. "He'll be fine, sweetheart. You'll be fine. You'll miss each other like crazy, but we'll see him again soon. I'm sure Mr. McMahon will want your father at your debut. I'll be there with you every step of the way."
"I know, Uncle. I just want to make you both proud. That, and I'm nervous." She looks toward her uncle.
"Your nerves are to be expected, but you cannot show the others your hesitation. You must have a poker face at all times. I will guard you at all times, Persephone. Now, let's go see what Mr. McMahon thinks of you and how he wants you to proceed."
As Kane steers the car to the portal he looks to his precious niece. "Just so you know, your father and I have always been and will always be proud of you. And there is nothing you can do to make us stop loving you either."
The girl smirks. "Good to know. What's Mr. McMahon like, Uncle Kane?"
He snorts in disgust. "He is arrogant and greedy. He aims to exploit our supernatural powers to make more money. NEVER, and I mean EVER show him your powers. He'll abuse your powers because you are a woman." His eyes never leave the road as he accelerates through the portal.
Hours later, Kane pulls into the gated estate of the McMahon family. "This is it, Persephone. Remember what I told you. Do not show your powers. You are here for a tryout match before signing the contract. I don't know who you're fighting, but you keep up and hold your own against both your father and me. So, don't hurt her too bad."
"Yes, Uncle. It'll be no problem." Kane puts the vehicle in park and exits the car. He walks around and opens Persephone's door and the two turn to the large mansion doors and see four people waiting for them.
Vincent K. McMahon stands front and center, his son to his left, daughter and son-in-law to his right. He parades forward. "Kane! Wonderful to see you. This must be Persephone." The CEO and owner of the WWE eyes the girl up and down, chin in hand. "I figured she would be taller like you or your brother, Kane."
"She takes after her mother in that department, but her strength and perseverance are all from her father."
"I see. And what, pray tell, did she inherit from you?" Vince struts around Persephone, his eyes gleaming. He likes what he sees. Her beauty will bring in money easily. "Did she inherit your good looks?" He laughs, cuing his children to join him in mocking the freak of the business.
Persephone glances as her uncle tenses up. He always hated how everyone in the WWE ridiculed him at every chance they'd get. "I inherited his ruthlessness and Daddy says I look just like Uncle Kane, but with his green eyes. So, yes, I did inherit his good looks." She crosses her arms defiantly. If this arrogant man thinks that he'll intimidate her, he's got another thing coming.
"Persephone!" Kane growls.
The McMahon family stops laughing. The bulky, bald man marches down the stairs, sneering at the girl before him. "You're lucky you are a woman. I'd love to see if you'd survive the Game."
Persephone stands fast, not backing down like her family has taught her. Her eyebrow raises. "Do you really think that the daughter of The Undertaker can't handle a man in a fight?" She holds his gaze, glaring back, unafraid.
"You definitely have your father's attitude and defiance. Can you be a bigger cunt?" Triple H snarls out, making his wife smirk.
The youngest among them stares the man down, rolling and tilting her head. Who does this bastard think he is. "If I'm such a cunt, why doesn't a big man like yourself teach a little girl a lesson? Surely a man your size can put me in my place?" She says dangerously calm and sweet.
"Gladly." Triple H pulls his arm back, preparing to slap the taste out of her mouth, but Kane steps between the two.
The Big Red Machine has seen the results from his niece's head roll. Basically, it was her version of his own head tilt. Usually, it meant that she was about to fuck someone's shit up. He didn't step between them to protect her, but him. If she hurt him, she'd lose her chance to save his brother's life. He wasn't about to let her ruin that. "Hunter, this is enough. Let her show you what she can do in the ring, but instead of whoever you were putting her against, let me be her opponent. Let her show you how she fights at full throttle. I won't hold back, and I can handle whatever she throws at me. I've been on the defensive of her."
Vince chuckles. "She's a spitfire like her dad. I think I'd like to see how much of a David and Goliath situation it would be. Let's go around back and get this started."
Kane turns away from one of the men that he has shared the ring with many times to talk to his niece. He leans down and mutters into her ear, "Whatever you want to do to him, do to me. You'll never get the contract if you fuck him up. Keep your attitude in check a little bit. You'll only get hurt. Your goal of keeping your father alive will fail, Persephone. I can't protect you if you piss them off enough to separate us."
Persephone searches his eyes, clearly she underestimated her new bosses. "I'm sorry, Uncle. He got in my head."
"That's why he's called, 'The Game.' He knows how to push the right buttons for you to get angry and make mistakes. Now, let's go show them what you can do." Kane wraps an arm around her shoulders, following the McMahon's to their training facility. Uncle and niece enter and immediately enter the ring, standing at opposite ring posts, waiting for the signal to start their match.
Monster and princess lock eyes and smirk at each other. Kane walks to the center of the ring, never taking his eyes off his niece. Persephone follows her uncle's lead and sashays to the center, where they begin circling each other.
*DING DING DING*
Kane lets out a mighty roar while Persephone leaps in the air, delivering a spinning kick to his head. She lands with the grace of her supernatural abilities and lunges for her uncle, aiming to punch him. He blocks it and drives his knee into her gut, knocking the air out of her. Persephone grabs Kane's neck and rolls back, flipping him over her. She scrambles up and straddles her uncle, punching him as hard as she can, with the quickness that only her father possesses.
Kane grabs her shoulder and hip, throwing her off and sitting up in the fashion that he and his brother are known for. The Big Red Monster snaps his head around to see where his niece is. She slaps him across the face as soon as he turns to her. He is sent reeling and becomes a little disorientated. While her uncle regains his wits, Persephone goes outside the ropes onto the apron and climbs to the top turnbuckle. She perches in wait until Kane turns around. As soon as he does, she leaps off the turnbuckle hitting her uncle with one of his signature moves, the Flying Clothesline.
Unfortunately, the Big Red Machine doesn't go down. Instead, he catches her one armed at his waist, swinging her until he lifts her into a military press and throws her down on her back. Kane stalks around the ring, but doesn't see her sit up, Deadman style.
Persephone has had enough for playtime. She stands and goes to the opposite corner from her uncle. She does a variation of Shawn Michaels' Sweet Chin Music super kick. Instead of kicking from the side and using the bottom of her foot, because let's face it, she's much too short for that to work on her uncle and father. Persephone does a leap with her kick and punter kicks her opponent's jaw with the top of her foot, full force. She's broken and knocked out a few of her family's teeth with this kick. Uncle Kane has become victim to her kick once again, and is, effectively, knocked out cold.
She pulls her uncle to the center of the ring, hooks his leg, and pins him with the three count. Persephone stands and turns to face the McMahon family. "So, am I tough enough for you, Helmsley?" She huffs out, placing her fists on her hips.
"I believe you just aced your tryout, young lady." Mr. McMahon interjects before Triple H can reply. "Could you wake your uncle so we can discuss your contract."
"Yes, but it'd be best if you left the room while I rouse him." Vince raises his eyebrow in curiosity, but leads his family out of the room. Persephone kneels and takes her uncle's head into her lap, bending and gently singing their lullaby into his ear. Kane finally comes to after the third time through the song.
Seeing his niece directly in his eye line, the Big Red Monster smiles at his angel. "Well, how'd we do?"
"Mr. McMahon wants to discuss the terms of my new contract with you." She stands and looks at her uncle, hesitantly.
Kane spots her watching him. "What? I'm fine. That wasn't the worst kick you've given me."
"How do YOU think I did, Uncle Kane? Your opinion and Daddy's are the only judgements I care about when I fight." Persephone looks down at the mat.
The Devil's Favorite Demon takes the three steps to his precious niece and picks her up into a hug. "I think you handled yourself so well against me. Your best match by far. I'm very proud of you and can't wait to witness your domination of the WWE." He whispers into her ear. He sets her back down and exits the ring. "Come on. Best not to keep him waiting."
Persephone nods and follows her uncle out to the others. "The days of Darkness have returned."
Disclaimer: I do NOT own ANY characters associated with WWE. Persephone IS my character. The Lullaby in this chapter is "Once Upon a December" from the movie Anastasia.
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