Note: This story takes place a few days after Chapter Nine: Peace Talks. Okay here's a WARNING, there is a mature scene which is sexual in nature (M/F). If you do not like reading about this sort of thing or are too young, you can still read the rest of this chapter and get much of the story. I have marked the area where the heated stuff begins and ends so that you can avoid it.
Chapter Ten: Freezing Heat
"I getting ready to go to the market does anyone need anything?" yelled Althea as she tied her money purse to the inside of her tan over shirt. The only response she got was silence, so she took it as a 'no we don't need anything.' She grabbed her shopping bag as she left the building.
That afternoon, a worried Kung Lao walked towards Taja as she was dealing with a customer. Once she was done, he asked, "Have you've seen Althea anywhere?"
Taja shook her head and replied, "Not since this morning. She said something about the pantry running low and heading out to the market."
Kung Lao sighed and said, "It normally doesn't take her this long to get supplies."
"Perhaps she decided to make a day of shopping and hasn't finished yet," shrugged Taja. "I don't think so, she's not the type to just leave and not leave some word as to when she was getting back," said Kung Lao, "I think it goes back to being in an army at such a young age."
"Do you want me to close up and help look for her?" asked Taja.
Kung Lao replied, "No…I'll go look for her myself. However, if you see Siro…"
(Dark, damp cave)
Althea woke up wet, cold and extremely stiff. She groaned as she tried to sit up, only to find out that her arms and legs were tied up. Althea finally made it to a sitting position and tried to look around. It appeared she was in some sort of cave, but it was hard to tell due to the lack of lighting. She listened to try to determine if anyone else was around, but all that she could hear was her own breathing and dripping water. Her eyes flared as she tried to use her chi energy to burn through the ropes, but somehow they resisted the attempt. "Just great, "she thought aloud, "I'm wet, cold, in the dark, no one knows where I am and the damned thunder god has his shields up so he most likely doesn't know I'm even missing yet."
'One good thing, 'she thought quietly, 'who ever did this most likely wants me alive. He'll be back. I just need some idea how to get out of these ropes and then…' Her eyes flashed angrily.
(Zhu Zin)
Late that night Kung Lao's worry grew to fear and it spread to the others. Althea was missing. They had combed the city and Siro even spoke with the city guard in the hopes that someone had seen her. Nothing. All they found out was she was last seen around mid-morning in the market looking over some fruit. "Can't Rayden help us?" asked Taja,
"He same as said he would protect her as he does you, "added Siro
"Already though of that, he's just not responding. The same goes for Fujin," said Kung Lao.
"They might be just not listening, "said Siro, "They were kinda upset about how Althea chewed them out."
"Rayden wouldn't hold a grudge over something like that, "said Kung Lao and he silently added 'I hope.'
"It's most likely one of those 'not allowed to interfere in mortal affairs' things," said Taja, "Then it would mean that Kuravan wasn't involved…"
"Just in case I'll continue trying to hold of Rayden, while you guys get some rest "said Kung Lao, "In the morning…"
"Do you know its gets annoying when you are constantly being called while trying to catch up on work," said Rayden from the top of the stairs. He then vanished and reappeared next to Taja. "Are we short by one person?" he asked glacing around.
"That's why we have been trying to get hold of you," said Kung Lao, "Althea is missing." Rayden just looked at them strangely.
(Cave)
Althea could sense that Rayden was 'looking' for you. She hastily tried to raise some shields of her own, not really sure if they would work. The last thing she needed was Kung Lao and the others falling for what most likely is a trap. She continued to try burning off the ropes with her chi, in the hopes that since they were now dry they would burn.
(Trading Post)
Rayden silently cursed to himself. He had sensed her for a moment, but either she had shielded herself or someone was shielding her from his senses. All he knew for sure was that she was alive and not too far away. Now he understood why Althea yelled at him the other night, when everyone thought he was missing.
"Rayden, do you have any idea where she is?" asked Siro.
Almost embarrassingly, Rayden answered, "To be honest, no. I didn't even know she was missing until you guys told me." A sudden burning sensation struck Rayden's wrists causing him to cry out in pain.
(Cave)
Although the ropes were lit by her own chi, the flames burned her like any other fire. Althea gritted her teeth to prevent herself from screaming in pain. Finally the ropes were weakened enough for her to break. She threw the burning rope to the ground next to her and then started working on the ropes holding her legs together. Unfortunately, she was no longer alone. An ice cold blast from behind knocked her back into unconsciousness.
(Trading Post)
"Rayden! What's wrong?" ask Kung Lao concerned. Siro quickly got up and help the deity to a chair. Rayden just shook his head as he sat down. Somehow the bond between him and the woman was strengthening rather than weakening with time. It was now even stronger than the link he placed on Kung Lao to help keep tabs on him. Think what did the burning and the sense of relief mean? Breaking free from some ropes? The sudden pain must have made her lose her shields for a few moments. What about this freezing sensation? He vanished.
(Cave)
Sub-Zero examined the burnt ropes coldly. He didn't expect the girl to have such powers; this meant that ropes would be useless. The former Lin Kuei warrior left and then returned with some metal shackles. He quickly locked her wrists within them and then checked to see if she was still uninjured. She seemed relatively unhurt but was shivering from the cold. Good, the message stated that such discomfort was required to get his attention. This job was the most unusual one he had ever taken, but the pay off was something he desperately wanted. He sighed, then again it wasn't everyday that he had a job that stated specifically NOT to kill. The masked man then left to ensure that he would survive to collect his fee.
Right after Sub-Zero left, Rayden appeared in a bolt of lighting, eyes flashing and lighting within his hands. He looked around and saw Althea shivering on the ground, unconscious. With one hand still lit, he knelt down and examined her noting her shackles, burnt wrists and the possibility of hypothermia. With a frown, he doused the lighting and then picked her up. Her constant shivering was a concern, but it proved she was still alive. There was nothing at the trading post that could warm her up fast enough, but he knew of a place that did. He vanished carrying his passenger.
Sub-Zero hearing the noises returned to check on his prisoner. She was gone. He had no idea how, but he had to get her back. Turning he was surprised to see a white-haired woman standing behind him.
"Greetings Sub-Zero and congratulations on a job well done, "she said with a smile.
"You were the one who sent the message?" asked the warrior.
"Huh hum, and I am here to deliver your payment, "said the woman in Lie Kuei like armor in shades of gray and black, "The one you seek is about two days walking to the northeast, in the set of ruins there. He seeks to rebuild his 'clan' and hopes to rival both the Lin Kuei and Red Dragon. "
"Why do you tell me this now? The woman has escaped," inquired Sub-zero.
The masked woman winked and said, "The whole point of this was to get her rescued."
(Rayden's Private
Domain)
Rayden appeared at what seemed to be a deserted hot spring, his own private oasis. He laid Althea on a bed of moss and then proceeded to untie her legs and remove the shackles with small sparks of lighting. Her shivering increased and Rayden could almost hear her teeth chattering. He then proceeded to strip both of them down to their undergarments and then carried her into the heated pool. While holding her, he carefully monitored both her face and the shadow of what she felt through their shared bond. He was relieved to see color slowly return to her face and the sense of deep chill slowly fade. What was it with this mortal that made him risk breaking the rules? With one hand he gently moved a strand of blonde hair from her face. He sighed. Who knows what the Elder Gods would do once they found out he interfered directly in a mortal matter and to top it off, brought the same mortal to this immortal plane.
As if feeling his own fears which were possible, Althea moaned and tried to move closer to him as she slowly revived. "Rayden?" she whispered. He could feel her confusion and concern. Holding her tightly, he said, "Do you know how worried I…we were? Why did you try to prevent me from finding you?"
Hugging him tightly, she replied, "Until I knew who it was, I didn't want to take a chance of anyone falling into a possible trap. I thought I could get myself out or at least find out why I was taken." She then looked around for the first time, "Huh, where are we?"
"My place you could say, "smiled Rayden, "I couldn't think of any other place that could get you warmed up fast enough and remain undisturbed." It was then that Althea noticed that neither of them was wearing very much. Rayden starting feeling a desire that he was sure wasn't his, but it did trigger his own. It was Althea who kissed Rayden gently on the lips.
WARNING! WARNING! Mature scene alert.
His hands moved to the sides of her face has he deepened the kiss. Althea's own hands tangled themselves in his damp, gray hair. Her mouth opened encouraging him to deepen the kiss even more by opening his own, their tongues dancing gently. Althea started feeling a long forgotten heat not related to the pool they were in and could feel that Rayden was starting to feel the same way. Her hands left his hair and starting exploring downward, feeling the hard sculpted muscles of his chest and waist. Rayden gasped as he felt her hands exploring what little covering he still had, his hands too started exploring but stopping at the binding that covered her breasts, he tried to untie it but the material was swollen and next to impossible to remove. He growled in frustration causing Althea to gently laugh at the sound. The thunder god then used a bit of his power to cut through the material and thus giving him access to the prizes he sought. Althea gasped as his mouth gently took in a nipple and her hands went back up to his head to encourage him further in his explorations. His hands strongly brought her hips to him, so that she could feel physically what she was doing to him. "Rayden," she whispered, "I need…" Rayden didn't need to be told, he could feel her need through their bond. He carried her out of the pool to the bed of soft, clean moss and laid her down. Lying next to her, he kissed her again deeply and Althea returned the kiss as her hands sought to remove his covering. It was Rayden's turn to laugh as he pushed her hands away and proceeded to remove what little they both had on. Gently, he laid on top of her. "Are you certain?" he rasped. Althea nodded and sent a pulse of deep need through their bond. He entered her, slowly at first but the bond that made them feel what each other felt didn't allow for that for long. Her actions encourage him to stronger and faster motions. This in turn encouraged her to be more wanton then she has ever been before. The combined release was explosive, both their eyes blazing with lighting and light-blue flame respectively. A breeze cooled their heated skin as they rested.
Mature scene is over. You can now read with little or no risk.
(Trading Post)
Morning came to the trading post as Kung Lao and the other prepared to continue their search. A strong wind blew through the yard as they headed out and Fujin appeared with a smile on his face. "What do you want? "growled Siro.
Fujin just grinned and said, "Just providing a news update. Althea has been found and is with Rayden right now."
Relief flooded all three mortals' faces. Kung Lao then asked, "Where was she?"
Fujin shrugged and replied, "Don't know, I went to check in with Rayden and I saw the two of them at his place. She seemed a little chilled but things started to get a little heated. So I decided to give them some privacy." The god of wind then vanished. The trio just looked at each other wondering what Fujin meant.
The End…
Next time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest….
Vorpax smiled evilly and said, "Oh you can get them back, but first you must do a little something for me, Godslayer."
