A/N - Hey there, I know I haven't updated this in a couple of months, but I finally got around to starting this chapter and more importantly finishing it. Writers block can be a pain in the ass! Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter and tell me what you think about it in a review, those are always good! Read on....
Trish paced back and forth relentlessly, and every time with a new plan to try and seduce Hunter once more. If she was careful enough, she could most likely pull it off, the key element was not to mention Princess Stephanie. She sneered in disgust as she thought of that name, oh how she hated that woman, first she steals away her way to riches and THEN she had the audacity to actually fling that food all over her. The smell had driven away any potential patrons and she was seething. Looking up she smirked as the door opened and in stepped Hunter, he did not notice her at first, but she would put an end to that.
"Hey baby, long day?" she asked as she slid up next to him, and pushed herself into him, closer than necessary.
Hunter stood rivetted to the spot where he stood, he hadn't felt the touch of a woman in days, all he could think about then was Stephanie, her beauty and soon to be his. But it was killing him and he needed to do something about it, but that would mean being unfaithful to Stephanie, did he want to do that?
"Trish, could you remove yourself from my quarters please?" Hunter asked, while pushing her off of himself.
"But where would the fun in that be, it'll be more fun if I stay, will it not?" she asked with a girlish giggle that followed, full of nothing but temptation.
"Trish," Hunter pleaded. "You know I am taken, I do not want this anymore."
"Oh come on," she replied as she walked up to him again. "You married? Do not make me laugh Hunter, two minutes with her in your marital bed and you will be seeking me out. You are not a one man woman, the thought of being tide down scares you more than death." Trish reasoned.
"That was then," Hunter told her. "Before her, before Stephanie, she will change me."
"Change you?" Trish repeated. "Into what? A husband, that has to provide for his family? An honest man? Let us come clean Hunter, for you are not a honest man, you are lucky you have done an honest days work in you life. No more late night out with your fellow men, stumbling home with a harlot on each arm, those days will be over and done with. Can you really see yourself living like that? Coming home after work and seeing the same face every night? Can you?" Trish finished, her insides bubbling, hoping her speech worked.
Minutes later she found out her answer as she was roughly pulled to Hunter and his mouth ferociously attacked hers, bruising her lips. Minutes later he pulled away and he gasped for breath, his breathing ragged. She looked at him and if she squinted he did not look all that bad, she could not help but be happy when she noticed his beard, that he had grown over the past few days, with a beard it was easier to take her mind off of his enormous nose which always seemed to distract her. She could not help but wonder if one day it would poke her eye out if he got to close during there time together. He came at her again and she let him, if this made him forget Stephanie then so be it.
"Linda, my darling," he started. "I love you."
Linda opened her mouth, she was smiling and only had four words to say to him.
Just as she spoke the first word 'I' Ric jolted awake. He cursed himself, he had that dream often, it plagued him like death but he could not forget it, for if he did, it meant forgetting Linda as well and that, that he could not do. He had tried to many times before, he had been married three times in fact, in his quest to forget her, but it was not to be. His heart would be forever hers no matter how hard he tried to give it away. She was truly the one that had got away. He got up from his chair and walked over to his bookcase, looking around making sure he was alone, he reached up and pulled down a book, and the wall beside him opened, leading to a passageway only he knew about.
He followed the path he knew well, if he was asked he could have walked it blindfolded he had travelled it so many times. A turn to the right up ahead, down some stairs and then a left, through a door, two more lefts and another right, through another door and he was there.
Before him stood a large oil painting, of non other than Linda. When he still had money left, he had her likeness painted on a canvas, that now sat in front the fireplace in the secret room. It was in pristine condition, not a soul but him and the painter had seen this, he had brought it in under the cover of night.
He moved to sit in his throne, and pulled a book into his lap. He traced his finger over etchings in the cover, down and along, start to bottom, until he spelt the name Linda. Some would say he was obsessed, but he would pay them no heed cause he knew he was simply just in love.
Ric opened his book at a random page and remembered that day he could picture Linda sitting on that rock by the running river.
"Is it not a picture to be seen Ric?" Linda asked in awe as she stared at the river.
"It is Linda, a picture indeed." Ric told her, not paying the river any attention, his eyes solely on Linda.
"It is so peaceful here, Vince brought me here a week ago to the day and it was still as it is. Perfection." she said in an almost whisper, remembering her perfect day. "It was wonderful, the sun was setting and the colours bounced off of the water front, it was like it was a show that only we could see." Linda finished off dreamily.
"Vince, brought you here?" Ric asked almost angered.
"Oh yes, it was beautiful." she gushed.
"Son of a bitch." Ric muttered to himself.
"Did you say something?" Linda wondered, looking away from the river for the first time.
"No, no I didn't. Must have been the wind." Ric lied.
"Must have." Linda agreed.
Ric frowned in thought, maybe that wasn't the greatest thing to remember. Once again Vince had shown him up, like many times before. He hated that man, he had the wife, the children and everything, and he had, well he had nothing of value. His castle was ruined, it had been for many years, his son was a lay about that screwed the servants and money, he stole off the poor. What kind of man was he?
He closed his eyes and sighed unhappily, moments later he felt a wetness roll down his cheek. He was doing something he had not done since, since he could not remember, he cried. Ric Flair cried, cried for the things he would never have.Taker sat at the campfire mulling over the layout of the Flair castle according to the stranger named Kane. There was something about the man that struck Taker in an unusual way. He shook his head of his thoughts. Now was not the time to be pondering over a stranger. Now was the time to figure out the best way to get to Princess Stephanie and end this hellish nightmare once and for all.
"What do you think Taker?" Benoit asked curious to see what he thought. Taker had always been a hard one to read but something was bothering Taker. He could see it in his eyes. It really was not like Taker to show so much emotion, it must have been something very important to affect him that way.
"I think we need to go in through the servants quarters," Taker said quietly.
"It would be perfect for Matt and I with the clothes that we have on," Jeff said eager to join in the rescue of Princess Stephanie.
"True but do they keep track of all their servants?" Chris asked looking at the strange man called Kane.
"Not to my knowledge," Kane said gruffly refusing to look up. He was relieved to have found people who would allow him to stay with them. He didn't want the scars on his hideous face to change that. "As far as I know, there really aren't servants anymore; just slaves."
"Slaves?" Matt asked intrigued.
"Yes, you see the Flairs castle is in dire shape. The castle needs remodelling all over, the tenants can't pay their rent due to no rain for their crop, and Hunter is just a total waste of oxygen. Therefore, there really aren't any tenants anymore; they are slaves. They are to serve the Flairs blindly while being treated worse than dogs," Kane said his mind flashing with pictures of the horrors that had been done in his presence at the Flair castle.
"Well, with the castle being in that way, why kidnap the Princess?" Jeff asked confusion showing on his mind. Jeff was such an innocent in a lot of ways; untouched by the world. He tried to see the best in people but of course, Matt always accused him of having his head in the clouds.
"I think the reason they have Princess Stephanie is to either to marry her to Hunter therefore securing their rights to her inheritance or to hold her for ransom," Kane said quietly finally turning his head to look into the strangers eyes that surrounded him.
Matt and Jeff's eyes widened just a bit before looking away. Chris and Benoit looked the man square in the eye with no fear while Taker just stared as if he had seen a ghost. Unable to take the staring anymore, Kane stood up and quietly said, "I think I will go and take a bath. The river is just down that path. I will be as quick as I can."
Kane quickly started down the path wishing his face wasn't so hideous. For years, he had lived in dark corners hiding in the shadows hoping to go unnoticed. One night, not that long ago, Hunter had found himself in an alley by himself surrounded by thieves. Kane stepped out of the darkness and helped the man not knowing who he was or why. Maybe it was just Kane's way of needing to get out of the darkness.
Of course, Hunter was grateful and offered him a job. Kane thankfully accepted although looking back on it, he wished he would have just went his separate ways with the man. Hunter really had no use for the "freak" as he called him behind his back. Kane remembered the first time he had heard Hunter call him that and that's when he decided that was what he was, nothing more than a hideous freak.
Taker watched thoughtfully has he watched the large man walk down the path. There was something about that man that intrigued him too much. It wasn't in his nature to be so interested in a person. He looked at Chris and said, "I'm going to follow him to make sure he is going where he says he is." Chris nodded his head and Taker got up quietly to see where Kane was going.
Chris sighed as he sat down heavily next to Benoit, he did not know if this mission was going to be a success. Was Kane being truthful? He hope he was.
Benoit turned to look at him. "Are you alright?" he wondered.
"I...I am not sure if we will prevail in this mission, the odds seem to be against us." Chris explained.
"Yes we will." Benoit stated simply.
"How can you be so sure?" Chris wanted to know.
"Because I am Chris. We will succeed, we will return the Princess and we will go back to our life. And we will find women who will love us like we will love us and we will be happy." Benoit told him.
"What if I have already found the woman I want to spend my life with?" Chris asked.
"Then you are lucky." Benoit stated.
"Oh no I am not. I found her but I have not got her." he told him.
"How do you mean?" Benoit asked.
"Let me explain..." Chris started.
The day was beautiful, the sky was clear and the sun shone high above the trees. The village folk were basking in the sunshine they were graced with. Chris was leisurely walking through the market place, with not a care in the world. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was free to do what he desired. He had no responsibilities today and for that he was thankful. Sometimes being a Knight was stressful and it often felt like there was the weight of the world upon his shoulders. He was just glad to give them a rest today. Looking around, he could not help but smile happily at the mundane things the villagers were doing; a mother chasing after her two children as they caused mischief all around them, an old couple holding hands as they walked slowly pointing out sights for the other that they might like. Looking around one more time his eyes landed and stayed on a young beauty with brown hair. The only words that Chris could use to describe her was breath-taking.
Stephanie smiled to herself. She had made it. She had escaped past the guards and now here she was. She almost wanted to do a silly victory dance at duping her fathers guards. Being a Princess sure had its benefits but with benefits it had a lot more drawbacks. If anyone was to recognise her, she would no doubt be in trouble with her father. From the age of five it had been drilled into her head that she was not to go beyond the castle gates. Did they not know that, forbidding a child from something only peaked there interest to find out what they were not aloud? She had tried many times, but fate was not on her side then and she had always been caught, but today it had been, this time she was smarter and she had succeed. Looking around she revelled in being surrounded by normal people. They had no idea who she was. None of them did. She was free...for the time being anyway.
Chris had never seen such beauty bestowed upon a single person as it did her before. Making a decision, he started making his way over to her, vowing not to let her slip through his fingers.
"What is a fine lady like yourself doing in a place like this all by herself?" Chris asked with his opening line, which caused Stephanie to jump at the unexpected question and proximity of him.
"I..I am visiting," Stephanie told him. It wasn't a lie, it was her first time being here, which did class as a visit. "Did you want something sir?"
"Yes, to know if it hurt when you fell?" he questioned.
"Excuse me?" Stephanie asked confused.
"From heaven, because I know an angel when I see one." Chris told her with his charming smile, that only got larger when he heard her laugh.
"Lord, did you actually think that was going to work on me?" Stephanie asked bemused.
"No, I did not. But it got the desired reaction, I wanted." Chris retorted.
"Well then, your mission is a success."
"Will you take a walk with me?" Chris asked hopefully.
"I do not know you." Stephanie replied.
"And what better way to find out, than letting me be in the pleasure of your company." Chris explained as he took her hand in his pulling her gently with him.
"Well only because you intrigue me." Stephanie agreed.
"I am intriguing to you?" Chris wondered.
"Yes you are, lord knows I have met many of men who have not, in all the time I have known them, where as you, I have known mere minutes at best and I can not help but want to know more," Stephanie explained. "And I do not even know your name." she realized.
"My name is Chris," he told. " And yours?"
"Marie, my name is Marie." Stephanie fibbed.
"It is a pleasure Marie, such a pleasure." Chris told her.
"My thoughts exactly." she told him with a smile, that was mirrored as she turned to face him.
They walked further, in conversation finding they had much in common, in there likes and dislikes. If Stephanie did not know better she would have sworn Chris was her twin in every way if they were not exact opposites of each other in looks.
"Have you enjoyed my company today?" Chris wondered curiously.
"I have to admit, today has been one of my more enjoyable days, in the past month or two." Stephanie told him honestly.
"In the past month or two," Chris repeated. "Oh that will not do, that will not do at all. I shall have to make your days all that more enjoyable from now on." he vowed.
"I wish I could do just that with you, but..." Stephanie began.
"No, no buts please. You are..I have known you half a day at least, but I know, you are who I dream about at night. Now I can put a picture to the woman who invades my dreams." Chris explained, his desire to keep seeing her clear on his face and in his voice. He moved closer to her, slowly, so not to scare her away. He moved his hand up and placed it on her cheek, loving the smoothness he felt, almost as it was pure silk under his finger tips. Wetting his lips in anticipation, he inched his head forward, his eyes closing. Chris was millimetres away, when he heard her gasp and abruptly pull away.
"Marie, what?" Chris wondered clearly confused.
"I cannot, I am so sorry, I...I have to go." Stephanie told him, as she made a move to leave, only to have Chris grab a hold of her arm. "Chris!" she exclaimed, in an almost panic as she saw her fathers guards get closer. She 'had' to get away.
"You cannot go!" Chris pleaded.
"I must." Stephanie argued back, wenching her arm free of his grasp and fleeing. He chased after her, but a cart stopped him in his path and he could only watch her disappear into the sea of people that moved in front of him.
"Marie!" he shouted in a vain attempt to try and bring her back. But it did not and Chris was left standing there downtrodden, knowing that he had indeed let the woman of his dreams, slip right through his very fingers and out of his grasp.
"That is my biggest regret, losing the one person that I know I was meant to be with. She was perfect and everything I wanted. I still look for her, and every now and then I see a wisp of brown hair and just for that instant I think it is her, but then it ends and I know it is not, my eyes have played tricks on me. I am beginning to lose hope of ever seeing her again." Chris finished his tale.
"Do not give in, fate has a way of giving you what you desire." Chris was told.
"When did you become such the optimist?" he asked with a slight laugh.
Benoit answered with his toothless smile. "I have always been, people just do not seem to realise that I am more than just a fighter."
Jake had gotten word from Ric earlier today about a meeting that was being held tonight, and so here he stood, after night fall in a back alleyway cold and regretting helping Ric from the start. He was drunk at the time, why did he have to drink? He wish he had the Princess back in her rightful case. Maybe he should tell the King, without giving away his role in it all.
"Ah Jake there you are," Ric spoke upon meeting. "How are you my friend?"
"I am not your friend, and I am thinking this is wrong in helping you." Jake explained.
"Ah but you did and there is nothing you can do. Now tell me, do they know who has Princess Stephanie?" Ric wanted to know.
"No they do not. Vince has sent men out to try and find her but we have not heard word back yet." Jake told him.
"Are you sure? Because if you are lying, you know," Ric started.
"I am not. I swear that is what I know." Jake swore.
"Good," Ric said with a smarmy smile. "I know this is short but I have to get back." he told Jake and then turned to leave. "But thank you for your help, it is much appreciated." Ric called over his shoulder as he walked into the darkness.
"Your welcome." Jake said to himself as he to walked off.
From the shadows out stepped Mick, he had followed Jake knowing he was up to something and he was right, when he had seen Ric approach he had wanted nothing more than to step out and beat the man into a bloody pulp, but he had curbed his anger. He shook his head in disgust at once considering Jake a friend, he was no friend he was nothing but a traitor.
A while later he returned to the castle and entered the Kings main room hoping to find him, but instead finding The Rock instead.
"Mick, my man, where have you been?" Rocky asked.
"I followed Jake." Mick told him seriously.
"What did you find?"
"I found him meeting with Ric, telling him what we knew about the Princesses whereabouts and who was looking for her, he did not give names but it will make Ric all te more suspicious." Mick told him gravely at his once friends betrayal.
"That son of a bitch! I want his head and I want it NOW!" Rocky bellowed.
"Clam down, we will get him in due time, we know where the Princess is, it has been confirmed. We must give Chris enough time to get the Princess safe, I have faith in him and then, then we will take our revenge on Jake." Mick finished darkly.
Randy paced back and forth nervously, he had told her pacifically to met him her at this time. She was late and it was worrying him. He was scared that she would get caught, he knew it was risky but it had to be done. He sighed again his pacing intensifying, until he suddenly heard rushed footsteps come down the stairs and looked up and there she was.
"Lita," he said relieved while walking over to her and engulfing her in a hug. "I thought they had caught you coming down here."
"No Randy, I am to smart for them." Lita told him.
"You have to be careful!" Randy stressed.
"I was careful, I am here am I not?" Lita pointed out beginning to get a little bothered by Randy's behaviour.
"I love you, is it wrong that I am concerned for you?" Randy demanded to know.
"No it is not wrong Randy, but I can look after myself!" Lita told him.
"You are my sister it is my duty to protect you, no one knows that we are related here, and I thank the Lord that no one in this castle has enough brains to put that together. I will not have you be a tool to use against me as blackmail, you are all I have left and I will not lose you as well." he explained his protectiveness.
"I know that Randy, that is why I am careful."
"Just be sure to make sure you are not followed the next time. Did you get money?" Randy asked.
"Yes, I got two whole gold coins out of Flairs room when I went to deliver food and he was not there. Did you?" she asked.
"I did as well, Hunter was to busy being bothered by Trish when I slipped a couple of coins off of the table." Randy told her
"We will soon have enough to leave." Lita told him with a smile.
"We will Lita and finally leave this dreaded castle behind."