Chapter Sixteen: Best Medicine
"What am I going to do with you?" Althea heard in a half-awake state caused by the sudden surge of emotion she felt coming from the thunder god. Slightly confused and mentally foggy, Althea wasn't sure if what she heard and/or felt was true once she became fully awake.
Rayden was across the room when she first opened her eyes. "Where am I?" she asked and attempted to sit up. Noticing just in time to catch the linen of exactly how little she was wearing. "Where the hell are my clothes!" she demanded as she glared at her host.
He gave his trademark half-smile and said, "My place. It seems that someone thought you would be better off here. As for your clothes, don't have a clue. How you are is how I found you."
Althea gave a frustrated sigh and then said, "Oookay, in that case could you please get me something to wear." Rayden shrugged and vanished in a flash. Not wasting a second, Althea got up and better wrapped herself in the linen. It was then, she notice the tattoo on her shoulder as she made sure everything was covered by using an ornamental mirror. "What the…" she said under her breath. She had an idea what it was and knew that Rayden had one similar since she saw it that time when they…Althea shook her head to clear the memory from her thoughts. Where Rayden's was in the shape of a dark gray and green dragon, hers was silver in color and was of a stylized bird enflamed and encircled by a snake biting its own tail. One thought came to her mind…Someone had branded her! How DARE they!
Just then Rayden appeared holding a small bundle of clothes. "What the crap is this?" demanded Althea pointing to the mark in question. Rayden's eyes rolled up for a moment as he handed her the bundle.
He then said, "Basically, it's just a mark proving you are of a unique and high ranking bloodline." Althea just glared and said, "And what exactly does that mean?"
"It means that one of your …ancestors had decided it was time for you to be officially recognized as part of the family and a descendant of gods, "said Rayden with a shrug, "It also means you now have the rights, privileges and responsibilities that comes with being born of that bloodline." Rayden raised his hand to cut off Althea's complaint, "It also means that Kuravan and any other god can not attempt to harm you now, otherwise he will have to face the one who marked you."
Althea snorted, "What's the catch?" Rayden ran his hand through his gray hair and said, "There is the responsibility part, which in my opinion you should have little of since you are still a mortal not a god. Basically you should help ensure that the rules are kept in place and to protect certain sacred sites. Which in a sense you have already been doing, however there is a chance you might be called upon to do more. The one who mark you is the head of your family line, Kronos the Elder God of Time. Fortunately, he is known to pretty much leave his family alone so long as they behave themselves. There is a good chance he did this just to remind Kuravan of his place." Just then Rayden remembered Kronos' interest in Althea, his offer to her and what he requested of Rayden.
Althea sense the sudden change in mood, "What else?"
Rayden sighed and said, "The same Elder God has given me a message to give to you. An offer to be exact, he said that if you choose you are free to declare Earthrealm your home …and if the responsibility of you bloodline should ever include becoming a goddess then it would be an office on Earthrealm and not Calorna if you choose to accept this offer. I may add, this would be most unlikely to happen since there is no signs of any of Earth's gods choosing to retire or being offer promotion any time soon."
"And…"Althea prompted. "And what?" asked Rayden, then it dawned on him. His brains were definitely not working fully today. "Ah yeah, with the mark comes agelessness."
Althea cussed slightly under her breath and said, "So basically I'm in the same shoes as Kung Lao."
"Is that so bad?" asked Rayden in a low voice.
"Let's see…I will now see most of my friends grow old and die…the odds of me ever having a normal life is now zilch…" Althea started.
"You will now have lifetimes to continue your studies, "Rayden countered, "You will not suffer the enfeeblement of advanced old age but still be able to acquire the wisdom. As for a 'normal' life, when have you ever been interested in 'normal?' You have always sought adventure and/or knowledge hardly normal things for someone of your race and gender!" Althea just looked at him for a few seconds; barely blinking…then broke down in laughter.
(Zhu Zin)
A hooded figure walked
through the crowded streets of Zhu Zin until it stopped across from
the familiar trading post. Eyes flashed red under the hood as Taja
talked to a prospective customer. Another hooded figured approached,
stared at the first and then grabbed its arm. Then lead the way down
the street, almost dragging the first. Unseen, Fujin sat on top of
the building behind where the pair had stood. He frowned and then
vanished in a small dust devil.
A few minutes later, the pair left
the city gates and headed down the road. Once out of site of the
gates, one of the figures dragged the other to the side of the road
and hissed, "Are you crazy! You are already in enough trouble with
Quan Chi."
Eyes flashed again as the other pulled back her hood and pulled her arm from the others grasp. Arianna replied, "They killed Ragen! That woman especially will pay for that outrage!" The wind picked up causing the leaves of the tree behind them to rustle.
Lupena pushed back her own hood and growled, "Not unless Quan Chi orders it. Remember, he made you so he can destroy you." Arianna snorted and headed back to the road. Quan Chi may have created her, but she was no longer the weak thing that first awoke in his filthy lair. Kuravan made sure of that! A cruel smile appeared on Arianna's face, which Lupena did not see. The wind died down as the pair continued down the road.
Behind the tree, Fujin watched as they walked off. Tapping his fingers on the side of the tree he mumbled, "What are they up to?"
(Trading Post)
Siro kept looking over his shoulder as he worked on the door hinges. "Will you stop that!" exclaimed Taja, holding the door in place, "It's starting to get on my nerves."
"Sorry, "he said, "It's just that I have the strangest feeling we're being watched."
Taja rolled her eyes and replied, "We are we not being watched. Red Dragon, Shang Tsung, Vorpax, Quan Chi….Oh yeah, don't forget the buttinsky brothers Rayden and Fujin."
Siro looked up, "I thought you liked Fujin? Besides they only mean to do what's best."
Taja snorted, "What's best for who or what? We were told Althea has been found, and we haven't even seen her yet."
Siro finished with the hinge and tested the door by swinging it back and forth. With a grin he said, "She is supposedly at Rayden's place … recovering, but I have a sneaky idea that there is more going on than that between them and they may be a while."
"Kept your dirty ideas to yourself, hmmmm," Fujin said from right behind them, making them both jump in surprise.
"Damn it, Fujin! What happened to the warning breeze you usually give?" said Taja.
Fujin gave a familiar half-smile, "That was before I was one of the 'buttinsky brothers'."
Taja grinned uncomfortably and scratched the outer edge of her ear, "Sorry about that."
"Maybe if you didn't listen in on private conversations…,"Siro began.
"Then I wouldn't have found out that Arianna is back, "said Fujin raising his eyebrows, "And she seems somewhat stronger than before."
"Any idea what she's up to?" Siro asked. Fujin shook his head and said, "Only that she's back with Quan Chi, but doesn't seem too happy about it. I'll try to keep an eye on her, but watch out."
"Don't we always!" yelled Taja as Fujin vanished.
"Crap," she said, "What about Kung Lao, does he know?"
"He should be on the road back right now, "said Siro as he grabbed a water caste and headed for the door, "You lock up and keep an eye on things here. I try to meet up with him and give him the warning.
(Rayden's Private
Domain)
Althea continued laughing and couldn't seem to stop. Dropping the bundle of clothes, she nearly fell over but was caught by a somewhat confused Rayden. Just when it seemed she had control over herself again, she looked up and seeing Rayden's face broke out in laughter again. He helped her back to the couch as Althea wiped away tears of laughter from her eyes. She took the risk of looking at Rayden again when she started to regain control again. Althea then said with a raised eyebrow, "You know, you might just be right. Just look where I am now." She leaned against the now stunned deity. "Literally in the arms of the first male that has shown a passing interest in me for sometime and I in him, and he turns out to be a thunder god and sworn protector of a realm that a year ago I didn't even know of."
Rayden wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on her head. He then asked, "Are you so sure it's just a passing interest?"
(Woods)
"Damn!" exclaimed Fujin as he saw the hooded pair go through a portal. For a few seconds he chewed his lower lip thinking. He should report this to Rayden but didn't want to disturb his brother while Althea was with him. Fujin sighed and thought, 'It's not like I really have much to report and none of it can't wait until Althea fully recovers. I'll just keep an eye out for them in case they are up to anything.'
(Red Dragon Headquarters)
Drevane frowned and said, "Are you certain it was the duplicate?"
His follower bowed and replied, "Yes, Lord Drevane. She had black hair instead of blonde, and her eyes flashed red rather than light blue. She also looked…angrier than the original."
Drevane leaned back into his chair. He did not like unknowns and Arianna's return was a definite unknown. Why would Kuravan pay so much to get her only to return her to Quan Chi. Something was going to happen…something that made his dragon spirit chuckle cruelly. "Have some of our best people keep an eye on the trading post and pass on the word that everyone is to report if they see Arianna anywhere. In both cases they are only to watch and report, nothing else," he ordered and then signaled his dismissal. The follower bowed and left the room.
The leader of the Red Dragon then returned to his bookkeeping, but the silent glee of his dragon prevented him from concentrating on his work.
The End…
Next Time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest…..
Althea went through the more complex staff motions under Kung Lao's watchful eye.
Arrianna then began to practice some of the moves that Lilith showed her. A pair of dark and deadly blurs attacked an imaginary opponent from multiple directions.
