Chapter 7

Her throat was killing her along with her midsection, but Tahlia somehow managed to make it back to her feet. She fought back, kicking Chyna in the stomach and threw a couple forearms into her face, amber eyes alight with gold fire. Remembering what this bitch cost her against Sable, Tahlia channeled all of her frustration and anger into getting back in the fight. Chyna was strong, but not nearly as quick or agile as her.

She didn't have the makings to be a champion, it took more than being built like a brickhouse to be in this sport. Tahlia clasped her arms around Chyna's waist tightly and used her strength to lift the woman over her head on her back, giving her another suplex to get out of the sleeper. Coughing and trying to regain her breathing, Tahlia knew she had to capitalize on this or else she would lose the match more than likely. Hitting the ropes, she drove all of her weight right on top of Chyna in a splash, going for the cover.

Only to get a 2 count.

That 2 count came because Kane had grabbed Tahlia by her ankle and jerked backwards, pulling her off the canvas and right into the ring ropes. He let go and paced, watching as Chyna massaged where it was obviously hurting before pushing herself up. Chyna was quick for her size, she had to be; she was trying to fight men, not women like Tahlia, but Tahlia was quicker. Kane would give her that. She was like one of those little dogs that bit and held on, shaking until someone conked her on the head. Tahlia wouldn't stay down and Chyna's abdomen felt like it was on fire. Cursing under her breath, Chyna decided to distract the referee, wondering if Kane would do what she needed him too.

Put Tahlia down for her.

This monster needed to be set on fire, then maybe he'd leave her the hell alone so she could finish Chyna off. Tahlia was angry and it showed, but she couldn't let the rage interfere with her thinking. Or blind her. While the referee was distracted, Tahlia went to sprint forward, only for Kane to jump up on the ring apron. He was quicker than a man his size had a right to be and grabbed her hair. She countered by hanging him out to dry, his throat colliding with the top rope as his big body spilled to the outside.

Tahlia zeroed in on her target, her victim and chopped Chyna's legs right from under her, making the woman crash to the mat in a heap holding her leg. She smiled maliciously and began working on the leg, knowing in order to chop down a tree, you had to go for the lower half. Chyna was a lot taller than her 5'7 frame, but that didn't mean Tahlia couldn't chop her down to size. Chyna's screams echoed in her ear, which were pure music to Tahlia as she continued hammering her elbow and bodyweight into the hurt knee. Like a shark smelling blood, Tahlia was going in for the kill and could smell victory approaching.

At the best of times, Kane was unstable, meaning he could go either way on his temperament, his mind set. Tahlia, who worked for the Undertaker of all people, had just dropped his burnt backside and the unstable went to lunatic. He climbed over the rope, still shaking cobwebs from his skull. Ignoring the referee's orders to get out, he caught Tahlia by the throat and chokeslammed her without any aplomb. No holding it, no showing off his strength, he just raised her as high as he could and slammed her straight to hell.

"It doesn't count." Taker sighed when Tahlia was declared the winner via disqualification, pinching the bridge of his nose.

It wasn't the first time Tahlia had gotten chokeslammed and wouldn't be the last, though she was highly annoyed and enraged by the disqualification. Her brain was jarred a little along with her equilibrium, but Tahlia had to fight through it. Kane wasn't a small man by any means. Her body was, however, conditioned to take brutal bumps and moves like that.

She lost…even though she won by disqualification, she still LOST.

Tahlia rolled out of the ring slowly and held her lower back, shaking her head at Paul trying to help her. That match was hers; she had Chyna beat and, if that burnt freak hadn't interfered, she would've won hands down. This was her moment, her time, and Kane had ruined it! Gritting her teeth, Tahlia walked into the Ministry locker room, ignoring everyone and kept her head down while grabbing her clothes so she could go shower the sweat and grime off her body.

"Tah-" Mideon shook his head when the door to the adjacent bathroom slammed shut in his face. He turned to stare at the Undertaker, who was still watching the monitor with a bored look on his face, frowning. "You let that happen."

"I did."

"You knew Kane would be there." Paul surmised, mentally slapping himself because he should have realized it as well.

"Is this a game to you people?" Taker didn't look at them, didn't raise his voice. "You are all here for a reason. You all know the history of these people, how they have history with me, with us, and did not expect this?" He pushed himself out of his chair. "Everyone out."

20 minutes later, Tahlia stepped out of the bathroom dressed to head back to the hotel. The Ministry had nothing else going on that night onscreen, backstage or match-wise. Her hair was braided over her shoulder and the cold shower had simmered her boiling blood. Kane coming out with Chyna should've been expected and Tahlia made a mental note for that the next time they hooked up in the ring. Next time, she would eat Tahlia's shoelaces and possibly the entire boot.

Wearing a black long sleeved top and blue jeans, –they were the only wardrobe exception as far as color went– Tahlia stuffed her gear in her bag and zipped it up, turning only to collide with Undertaker. She was under the impression he'd left already to head back to the hotel like the rest of the Ministry did. Tahlia kept her head lowered, knowing she disappointed the master tonight and had her crying jag in the shower where nobody could hear her. She would never, ever, cry in front of the Ministry and especially their master.

"You did well out there tonight." Taker complimented, green eyes remaining impassive when her head shot up in obvious surprise. She apparently wasn't expecting that after her tainted win. He was, however, not about praising what had been done right before pointing out the wrong, especially when it was an obvious mistake that could have been prepared for. "However, you should have known better about Kane. Next time, your victory will be unquestioned, no doubt, it will be yours."Because people would question if she would have been able to win on her own, never mind the fact that she had clearly been stomping Chyna's backside. Tahlia would be scrutinized by everyone simply because he had hand chosen her.

"No, it wasn't and I will do better next time. I should've expected Kane to come out with her, it was my mistake and I will atone for it."

Tahlia didn't pull her eyes away from him, knowing better than to drop her head at this moment. He had complimented her, but she didn't agree with him and knew better than to say that to his face. Disagreeing with him wasn't an option, ever. She could think it all she wanted in her brain, but actually saying aloud would never happen. If Tahlia wanted respect from the Ministry, the only people she really cared about, she had to win cleanly, even if it meant cheating at times. They were heels in the company, so that was allowed within reason. Cheating was fine, after she established she could do it on her own merit, in a clean match that did not have someone interfering in it. Then, even when she did cheat, no one would question whether or not she could have gotten the job done in a fair fight.

"You did do well. You were dominating her and would have won. Do not doubt that, Tahlia." Taker gripped her chin in his hand, staring intently down into her eyes, searching for and seeing the disagreement she was trying to hide. She really was the perfect disciple, wasn't she? "Do not."

"Yes, sir."

Tahlia didn't doubt she could beat Chyna, not for a second. She wouldn't be in the business if she didn't think she had what it took to bring the Amazon bitch down. However, she didn't do well in that match because, if she had, she would've saw Kane coming a mile away. Hell, that was Chyna's MO lately ever since joining up with the Corporation. Tahlia had been so consumed with revenge, she didn't stop to think how low Chyna would sink to beat her. Taker's voice held finality and she had to agree with what he said, even if she disagreed wholeheartedly.

Even now she was agreeing with him, but only because she felt she had to and he inwardly rolled his eyes. Was there no end to this stubborn streak of hers? Taker circled her, clasping his hands behind his back and he considered her. Tahlia had taken some licks tonight. A boot heavily planted on her throat, being chokeslammed and dropped on that turnbuckle at full force. He came to a halt just behind her.

"Strip for me, Tahlia." He ordered, his baritone dropping to a low pitch.

This must've been the punishment she knew was coming. Tahlia couldn't hesitate, not for a second and shut her eyes, pulling her shirt up over her head. She fought back a wince since her midsection was bruised from being dropped on the turnbuckle. The arena of all places he would punish her…Tahlia felt humiliated doing this, but at least the master was nice enough not to do this in front of the entire Ministry. It was just the two of them. Hell, he kissed her under water and he'd seen her practically naked, so this shouldn't embarrass her. Just do it and get it over with, her mind coached, as she stepped out of her jeans, having already kicked her tennis shoes off.

"Do you want me completely naked, sir?" She asked softly, facing him and clasped her hands in front of her, wearing cotton black panties and bra.

"What did I say?" Taker remarked coolly; he had said strip.

There hadn't been any provisions to that, any mention: to underclothes as an add-on. He had told her to strip. He watched her hesitate for only the briefest of moments, wondering what she would do and tipped his head to the side, taking in the curve of her waist and gently flared hips. That cotton underwear of hers... practical and somehow erotic. She wasn't out to show off her goods, going for practicality and comfort instead. Taker distracted himself by taking in the bruise on her back from where she had collided with the turnbuckle and mat. It looked quite painful and he reached out, unsnapping her bra for her, his fingers trailing down the bruised flesh.

Anything for him she would do, those were Tahlia's exact words and she was currently eating them. She had challenged Taker to find a breaking point with her and, if he thought simply stripping naked in front of him would do it…well, he was about to be disappointed. A hiss escaped her at the feeling of his finger touching the bruise on her back as she pulled the bra off to let it float to the concrete floor. He stood right behind her and Tahlia could feel his hot breath on her neck while he continued stroking her marred skin. Hooking her thumbs in the waistband of her panties, those came off next as she slid them down her legs, bending over just a little and gently nudged them aside. If this was a punishment of some kind, it was low and degrading and she would've rather been beaten down.

Low and degrading maybe, but at the end of the day, it was all on her. She was doing this by her choice, not his. Taker had told her what he wanted and she complied, no matter how distasteful she may have found it. Tahlia could have said no. She could have respectfully declined. He was just pushing buttons and seeing what did what and where she finally put her foot down. That bruise ended at her tailbone and he ran a finger down her spine and then up her hip, just the tip of his finger. She was beautiful, bruised and all.

"This needs tended to."

There was no way he did this with the other Ministry members, so why was she so different? Oh right, she had tits and a vagina. Tahlia wondered if she'd ever be accepted as a true member of the group. This wasn't what she signed up for, but still she had given her vow to him. Mind, heart, soul, body… His touch felt amazing and, under other circumstances, Tahlia might've made a move with him, but not now. Not during her punishment, which he had yet to dish out. Whatever he wanted to do to her, she would take it and deal.

"I was going to put some salve on it when I got back to the hotel tonight, sir. It's not as bad as it looks." It was an honest response and, surprisingly, her voice remained soft and low.

If he ever told Bradshaw or Farooq to strip, they both would have punched him in his nose, Lord of Darkness and their leader be damned. That would be their line. "Do you feel powerless, Tahlia?" He asked, his mouth right against her ear, moving so his body was aligned with hers, close enough for her to feel the heat emanating from him, but not as close to be touching. Taker skimmed his palms up along her arms, curling his fingers around his shoulders. "Resent your spot as a female, perhaps?" His breath was hot on her earlobe. "Do you think I am unfair in my treatment of you?"

A shiver shot down her spine at his hot breath on her neck and ear, which were weak spots. Was he a mind reader? Tahlia immediately shook her head, knowing better than to admit what she'd been thinking to him. Her breathing had turned uneven and Tahlia did her best not to lean into his touch or react in any way, remaining standing where she was staring straight ahead.

"No, of course not, sir. Everything you do is for a reason." Powerless was an understatement; all of them were powerless against this man because he was the boss and their master. "I deserve whatever you decide to do to me."

"Do you really?" Taker taunted, moving slowly to the other ear, letting her feel the brush of his little beard along her shoulder blades. "Do you really deserve this, hmm? For what? What do you deserve it for? For failing me? Is that it, Tahlia?" One hand was now on her hip, moving slowly until it was splayed against her abdomen. He could feel the raised flesh, knowing the swelling from her bout with Chyna and attack with Kane would leave some marks that would subside within the next day or so. "What is my reason?"

"Those who serve you, Lord and master, should never fail, no matter the circumstances. And I did."