Angel's Light III

Kane, meanwhile, had awakened to find himself once more surrounded by flames. This time, however, he knew he was dreaming. Looking around, he realized that he was in a room of sorts, and the flames made up the ceiling and walls. Trying to sit up, he found to his dismay that he could not. It was then that he noticed that his wrists and ankles were secured to the tables on which he lay with heavy metal cuffs.

Taking a closer look at his environment, Kane noticed what seemed to be a very large diamond directly above his chest, hanging seemingly unsupported in mid-air. The faceted gem was about eight inches in diameter at its head, and looked to be around six inches in height. The rest of the room appeared to be empty, leaving Kane to wonder just what the Undertaker had planned.

For there was no doubt in Kane's mind that it was the Undertaker that was behind his captivity.

As if hearing Kane's thoughts, the Undertaker's voice resonated throughout the room, "Welcome back to the land of the living...or should I say dreaming." Then, walking through the flames as if they were not there, the Undertaker entered the room. He was dressed as he had been during his Lord of Darkness days in closefitting black tights with a long black robe flowing behind him. His hood was pushed back, revealing a long mane of dark red hair and piercing green eyes that were alight with hatred.

"Mark," Kane spoke, trying in vain to figure things out, "what's going on?"

"I had thought I explained that to you earlier, Kane," Taker replied. "I am finishing the task I started in our youth...your death."

"But why?" Kane questioned desperately, "I thought we had become a family again."

"Me," Taker laughed derisively, "family with a twisted freak like you? You must be joking. I used you while it was convenient, nothing more. And now, your usefulness has come to an end. You are the only thing standing between me and the object of my desires, so I am afraid my dear, mutilated brother that you have got to go."

Kane felt his heart being torn apart as his brother's cruel words hit him as if they were knives. Stubbornly refusing to show weakness to this monster that had him captive, Kane had instead asked, "What is this object that you are so anxious to get your hands on?"

"Why, the dear Molly Holly," Undertaker sneered, watching with pleasure as Kane's already pale complexion whitened several more shades.

"Molly?" Kane gasped, not wanting to believe his ears.

"Yes, Molly. She has more purity and innocence than anyone I have ever come across," the Undertaker told Kane, "when I bring her over to the Dark Side, add her to those who worship the Supreme Evil, my reward will be unimaginable."

"If you so much as get within shouting distance of her I'll rip your damn throat out, you bastard," Kane growled at his brother.

"Actually, you have that backwards, Kane," the Undertaker reminded Kane, amusement tingeing his voice, "you're the bastard in our family. And in any event, " he continued, "you are hardly in any position to be making threats. In fact, in just a little while I will never have to worry about you getting in my way again."

"What are you talking about?" Kane demanded, his anxiety growing by leaps and bounds.

"I'm sure that you've noticed the gem that is located above you," the Undertaker told him. "You actually should feel honored. This is a very rare and valuable jewel. It's called the Soul Stone."

"So what's so special about it?" Kane asked.

"Why, it steals souls, of course," the Undertaker responded. "Or, more specifically, it is going to steal your soul...gradually siphoning you life energy from your body and storing it inside itself."

"And what then?" Kane prompted, fearing that he already knew the answer.

"And then, you die," Taker answered simply. "And I am left to comfort the poor, distraught Molly Holly."

Kane felt fear clamp down on his lungs as he realized the full extent of his brother's plan. "You won't get away with this!" he shouted, realizing even as he said it how clichéd it sounded.

"And just who is there who can stop me?" the Undertaker asked. Only Kane's frustrated silence answered him. "Exactly. And now, as much fun as I'm having, I'm afraid that I must leave you. Places to go, souls to corrupt." So saying Taker made a series of gestures with his hands while chanting in what Kane thought was Latin. Suddenly the gem above Kane began to glow with a bright white light.

Several more words followed, and then a beam of light shot down from the gem to strike Kane in the chest. He gasped as he felt a strange pressure where the beam hit him, penetrating down into his body. As he watched, a red light rose from his chest, staining the white beam as it traced the path back to the gem. So caught up in what was happening to him, Kane hadn't noticed that the Undertaker had stopped chanting and was intently watching Kane's reactions.

"Excellent," Taker spoke, apparently pleased with what he saw. "The red substance is your essence, my dear brother," he explained, "when the gem is completely filled with it's light, you will be no more."

"Mark, brother," Kane pleaded, trying one last time to reach any piece of decency that might still be hidden within the Undertaker, "please, don't do this."

"Give it up, Kane," Taker sneered, "nothing and no one can save you. Certainly not me."

"Why don't you just kill me and get it over with then," Kane snarled in frustration.

"And risk being caught?" The Undertaker queried, "I think not. This way you will just waste away, and no one will be the wiser as to what happened." Then the Undertaker once more checked the gem that hung above Kane, steadily stealing his life essence from him. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I have an angel to console."

Kane's howl of rage followed the Undertaker as he left Kane's prison.