Chapter 32

As much as Brooklynn wanted to keep her word to Claira, she decided Mark had a right to know about this. He was her father and…maybe if she broke the news to him, he wouldn't destroy Seth Rollins. They were teenagers, curious, 16 and 17-year-olds, and at least Claira didn't want to have sex. It terrified her. She could see it in her daughter's eyes and demeanor when she talked about it. Walking into the bedroom, Brooklynn took her hair out of the clip it was in and set it on the vanity, rubbing the back of her neck where Mark had literally marked her. She looked down for a second and when she looked up, she nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of Mark looming over her in the reflection.

"Jesus, you scared me!" She chastised, elbowing him playfully and turned to look up at him, stroking his face with the back of her hand. "Everything okay?"

He shrugged one bare shoulder, fresh out of the shower. Mark had taken a quick, cold shower to calm himself down, owing Brooklynn the chance to come to talk to him and… he didn't need to go to prison for killing a teenage boy. Rationally, teenagers were going to mess around and he'd done his fair share and beyond.

"Ready for this vacation." That was true enough because he was ready for it.

It felt like if they left the house again, maybe the darkness wouldn't catch them.

"Me too."

Brooklynn knew it was now or never to tell him what she'd discussed with Claira. They never kept anything from each other, at least he didn't think they did. Mark had lied to her and kept things from her recently, so maybe this would reopen their trust and communication.

"I need to tell you something I found out from Claira…and you're not going to like it. But you have to promise me to keep an open mind and remember what you were like when you were her age." He cocked his brow and she smiled, taking his hand to lead him over to the bed, sitting down as they turned to face each other. "I asked Claira if she's had sex with Seth. I had to know and she told me no. You should've seen the look on her face when I mentioned sex. She said it terrifies her and she's not going to do it until after graduation." Which was another year and some odd months from now. Brooklynn took another deep breath, knowing this was the part Mark wouldn't like to hear. "She did tell me they've done…other things. Foreplay. And she asked me not to tell you, but you're her father and you have a right to know about these things. Just…please don't lose your temper and don't kill Seth. They're teenagers, they're going to fool around and be curious. And she told me flat out when they fool around, their lower halves don't touch because she's not taking a risk of something happening. We have a very smart daughter and she's more responsible than I ever thought."

Sure, remember how we were at 17? We fucked anything with tits and a hole. That was a disturbing thought, but not untrue either. Mark cleared his throat, moving away from her and ran a hand down his throat. He already knew all of this, which was why he had taken the shower, to calm his jets. "Did you discuss with her that actual intercourse doesn't mean STD free or anything like that?" Ah no, she hadn't, she'd been so relieved that Claira hadn't let Seth dip his stick… he probably would have been the same way. "Foreplay or not, they need to be safe. Babies ain't the only thing that's contagious." We're still killing him.

"You do realize school teaches them all about STDs and sex, right?" Claira had the birds and bees talk at age 10, which Mark didn't agree with, but Brooklynn was adamant. There were too many risks in the world these days and she wanted Claira to be prepared. "Claira is smart and Seth is the only boy she's ever messed around with. I'm just glad she told me the truth and she's not having sex yet." Her virginity was still intact, despite being with Seth for the past 6 months or so. "And I'm also sure she's had the talk with Seth about being clean since he's already asked her for sex and she turned him down, which is why they've resorted to foreplay. If you want, I'll ask her if she's had that talk with him, just to ease your mind."

"This isn't Butt Fuck Egypt where you're from, Lynn." Taker had pushed his way out, not that Mark would know. "Dallas, Texas isn't required by any federal law to teach sexual education." He was loving the look on her face as comprehension dawned about who she was speaking with. "And if a school does decide to do so, they must promote abstinence-only. She needs a reminder. Teenagers are stupid." He and Mark were living proof.

He called her Lynn…and Brooklynn let go of his hand, pinching herself to see if she was in a dream. No…No, it wasn't a dream. This was real, all of it. Taker was here, out and had control over Mark's body. How long would it last? Did he have enough power to keep control for as long as he wanted? Brooklynn slowly stood up from the bed, stepping out of arm's range and hated how terrified she was because she did love Taker. She loved them both. Taker still scared her though; it would take a lot to ease that fear, even though he'd never directly harmed her, not physically anyway.

"Then remind her." Claira wouldn't be thrilled with the fact she had broken her word, but this was her father, the other side of him, the side that scared and thrilled her all at the same time.

"No, because you promised her you wouldn't tell me, him, us." Taker said flatly, watching as she backed away. She was terrified of him. She probably should be. "She doesn't need both parents breaking promises in the same week." Like Mark had with that dream because Claira hadn't wanted Brooklynn to panic. Brooklynn had then proceeded to panic.

"Jesus Christ," Mark pressed a finger to the side of his head, frowning. "I hate fuckin' cluster headaches." Why he was getting one was beyond him. Unless it was stress over the sex thing.

Brooklynn should've told him right then and there what happened and why his head hurt so badly. She didn't though and kept her mouth shut, refusing to break her promise to Undertaker. Fearing and loving him was a whole new dynamic and one she didn't know how to process.

"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, walking over to him without hesitation and began rubbing his temples with her fingers, kissing the top of her head. "I'll talk to Claira about the STDs and make sure she understands the risks." She had to act as if they were still having a conversation about this, even though Mark wouldn't remember what Taker advised. "Let me get you some aspirin." If Taker could pop out so easily and take over Mark's body, how much longer did she have until he took over permanently? What am I going to do, she thought sadly, not wanting to lose Mark to Taker or Taker to Mark, wishing there was a way she could have both.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Taker asked conversationally, once Brooklynn had fallen asleep.

It was much easier for him to project astrally then to hijack that body. Shaking off 17 years of being 'asleep' wasn't something anyone just sprang back from. It was going to take time; he supposed he should be happy he was actually still alive.

"You know, if you tell him, he'll make me go away, hmm, precious?" She was in another large, four poster bed, sitting on black silk sheets, the room dark save for a few scattered candles. "You're afraid of me, Lynn…"

Her attire for this dream was a black nightgown, a lace overlay to make it look sexy. "I promised you I wouldn't and…I don't want you to go away." That was hard for her to admit, now realizing these dreams were not really dreams, they were her way of conversing with Taker. He was still gaining strength after his 17-year slumber. "Yes, I'm scared of you. I love you, but I'm also scared of you and I can't help it. I don't mean to be…" Brooklynn looked down, wringing her hands together and felt the bed dip beside her, her eyes slowly lifting to stare at him. "I'm on borrowed time with Mark, aren't I?" She asked resignedly, looking away from him again to try not to let the tears sting her eyes.

How long? That's all she wanted to know. How long until she lost Mark to Taker again?

"I don't know." He whispered, reaching out to run his fingertips along the side of her face, frowning when her eyes closed, a single tear running down her cheek. The idea of Mark disappearing distressed her. Of course, it did, she had spent the last 17 years with the man. "You loved me first, Lynn." He reminded her, replacing fingertip with his tongue, catching that tear and groaned at the taste.

It was the truth, something she had tried denying all these years because she felt as if she was betraying Mark by loving Taker. "I know…and I still do, but I love him too. I love you both and I want you both. And I know that's not possible…"

Choosing between them would kill her, Brooklynn couldn't, wouldn't, do it. They would have to make the choice for her and she would have to accept whatever the outcome was. She stood from the bed, only for Taker to pull her to straddle his lap, her hands on his bare broad shoulders.

"Do you remember the first night we met? I was trying to help a spirit crossover and it kept giving me problems…and you swept in, thinking you were going to vanquish it. And I stopped you. You were so angry, even after I told you what my gift was. Running into a Warlock, of all beings. And when the spirit tried to harm me, you stepped in and saved me from it with your powers. My dark knight…" She smiled at the memory, feeling him tense up and knew he was reliving it as well. "In the end, you listened to me…and let me cross the spirit over because the anger drained out of it…and it found peace. I saw a light inside of you that night, and I think that's why I fell in love with you so easily because deep down, you ARE good. I wouldn't love you if you weren't, Taker."

Taker sneered at her words, though there was no real acid in it, remembering that night quite well. "You know why I did it, don't you, Lynn?" He chuckled darkly, knowing she probably wouldn't find the next part as amusing as he did. "Before I learned what your gift was, I saw a beautiful woman," He was kissing the column of her throat now, a hand moving down, caressing that lace overlay. "And I was planning on fucking you." The joke, in the long run, was actually on him. He had bit off a bit more than he could chew. "I'm planning on fucking you right now, my wife."

"No." Brooklynn shook her head, softly grazing her lips against his and extracted herself from his arms, standing between his legs now. "If you want to fuck your wife, you'll do it for real. I'm not gonna get caught with my hand down my shorts again, masturbating because of another sex dream from you. You want me, wake up and come and get me. I'll be waiting for you…and I won't be scared this time." Him popping out the way he had scared her and made her realize just how powerful he was to be able to take over Mark's body on a whim. "Mark is out cold, so it's the perfect time to take advantage…and for you to tie me up." Now, she just had to wake herself up and knew how to do it, though it wouldn't be pleasant.

When Brooklynn did manage to wake up, he was already between her legs, smirking when her eyes flew open. His eyes were tinged with acid, something that was just a physical characteristic of this personality. Taker had done it early on, casting a permanent glamour, something to differentiate himself from his counterpart. Hearing her gasp, he smirked, running his tongue up her wet slit before kissing his way up her body, having long divested her of her clothes.

"About time, Lynn."

Her vision was still somewhat blurry as Brooklynn tried to fully wake up, watching him kiss up the length of her body until those acidic eyes met hers. Smoldering acid, they were still beautiful eyes. She smiled, bringing his mouth down on hers to softly kiss him, though it quickly grew passionate.

"Glad you took me up on my offer. Fuck your wife." No fear, just desire and need, swirled through her molten golden eyes. "I love you, Taker, oh god I love you…" She breathed out, feeling him slide between her slick folds and clung to him, their bodies rocking together.

Neither realized they were being watched at that moment, during their real reunion, by the very darkness Julia had warned was coming.

"Oh Brooklynn, dear sweet, naïve Brooklynn…you will pay and you will lose everything and everyone you love. And it will start with your precious Mark."

"Ohh OH, Taker! TAKER!"

"That's it…fuck her nice and hard, Undertaker. Make her even more conflicted between you and Mark. So delicious…" A deep, dark chuckle filtered throughout the room as he continued watching the two. "And you don't even realize or comprehend what I'm actually after…" Waving his hand, the sight of a sleeping Claira entered his vision and he growled from low in his throat. "Soon, you will be mine in all ways, Claira. And no one will stop me."

"Harder, harder, don't stop! Oh god, don't stop!"

Another evil chuckle resonated around the room. "Yessss…don't stop, Undertaker. Break her, shatter her to pieces!"

Taker couldn't hear the voice, but it wouldn't have mattered. All he wanted to do was break Brooklynn, shatter her, and it would be glorious because that's what SHE wanted as well. The domestic bliss she had with Mark was all well and fine, but deep down, she had always craved that darkness, even as she fought against it. When he had proper control and could exert his magic… the things he wanted to and eventually would do to her would become a reality. Mark had seriously been wasting all this time and underappreciating Their wife.