Chapter 44
Vince was on pins and needles, looking over his shoulder every few seconds. He was paranoid…for good reason. Tonight, Tahlia and the Ministry returned…and after what happened to her, he could only imagine what the repercussions would be. All he wanted to do was protect his son from that evil bitch and currently had over 20 security guards surrounding them. He didn't care about the rest of the Corporation members; they were expendable and easily replaced as far as he was concerned. Turning his attention to Kane, Vince walked over to have a chat with the masked monster.
"Your brother needs to be taken OUT. If anything happens to my son, it's on YOUR head, Kane." His eyes moved to Chyna. "Both of your heads."
Chyna firmly believed that if he wouldn't have let Tahlia go, and taken the loss with Sable, they wouldn't be in this position now. While they had possessed her, they had a bargaining chip. The Undertaker, while evil, could be reasoned with when properly motivated. Now… after what had happened and he had gotten to see what they had done to his… whatever she was, they were screwed.
"Sure, boss." She said flatly, glancing up at Kane who simply rolled his shoulders. He wasn't amused either.
When Vince left, Kane cleared his throat. "Need a flamethrower."
"And whiskey…" She went to go get it out of his locker.
Chyna was first on the list…and it was Tahlia who took her out. When she turned to walk down the hallway, alone, it was the perfect opportunity to strike. With lead pipe in hand, Tahlia waited until Chyna had bypassed her before nailing her in the back of the head. She'd been hiding out in a dark dressing room; Taker had the Corporation locker room bugged by Paul, so they could overhear every single plan Vince had to protect Shane. Nothing and nobody could protect Shane now. The Acolytes quickly pulled Chyna into the dark dressing room, shutting the door and getting ready of the evidence. Tahlia hit her a couple more times with the lead pipe for good measure, in various parts of her body, just to make sure she didn't wake up anytime soon.
"One down, boys." She murmured wickedly, dropping the lead pipe and excited the room, making sure the door locked behind them as they disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.
After Chyna was Kane, because it was predictable. Kane would realize Chyna hadn't come back and go looking for his current partner in crime. Taker waited, like a giant spider, wearing his wrestling gear with a black button-up over the top, just to keep blood off of him. When Kane stormed down the corridor, he quickly and quietly fell behind him. A second later, his arms were wrapped around the other man's throat, applying a very real sleeper hold. He buried his face in Kane's shoulder, avoiding the knock out gas, and kept holding on until the man was down.
"Spray him." He ordered in a harsh whisper, meeting Tahlia's amber eyes with a wicked grin as she stood on tip toe, raising the can.
"Should we light him on fire?" Tahlia asked, completely serious while Viscera along with the Acolytes took care of the body.
"Not unless you want to draw attention to us." Bradshaw replied, grunting as they heaved Kane into another room and closed the door, locking it. He'd be out for the rest of the night.
"Good point." Tahlia looked up at Taker, waiting for his next order and smirked at the name coming out of his mouth. Oh this would be FUN! "Let's sacrifice him. If he wants to lick Vince's boots and be his errand boy, why not show him the error of his ways? And send a message to Shane in the process?" She suggested, seeing the approval on all of the men's faces, including their master.
Considering Kane was strong enough, and crazy enough, to probably take out the entire Corporation with relative ease and hadn't, he had seemed more inclined to be their little puppy, he wholly approved of this idea. "Drug him, hide him. We still have others to… hunt."
"On it boss."
Edge was shifting from one foot to the other, grinning like a madman. "Who is next?"
"Shamrock." Rocky would probably be somewhere by himself, grooming or singing bad renditions of Elvis. Hunter… up Vince's ass no doubt. That left Shane, the old men, Shane's little personal guard those posse boys… "He thinks he's a white knight, working for the king… let's… re-educate him."
Ryan Shamrock was a friend of hers, but Tahlia was willing to let that friendship go after being attacked. Nobody was safe, she was out for blood and Undertaker feeding her vengeance was that much better. Shamrock would be the sacrificial lamb…and technically, he wasn't part of the Corporation. However, it would send a sign to Vince and, more importantly, Shane. They wouldn't stop with Shamrock though. Christian and Edge were tasked to take out Shane's posse boys along with half of his security guards. The Acolytes would take care of Rocky, so that loudmouth would be out of the way. That only left Patterson, Brisco, Vince and Shane with half their security guards. Now it was a matter of capturing Shamrock and sending Shane the message.
Ken Shamrock… was not right in the head. He was also a fine fighter when he wanted to be. Those things, in that combination, usually weren't good. However… Taker wasn't playing fairly tonight. He had a crowbar, planning on using it for the sole purpose of breaking Shamrock's hands before the man could punch someone. Whistling under his breath, he and Tahlia began their search. It shouldn't be too hard; the man was constantly up his sister's backside.
"I would bet money… he has a hard-on for his sister." He said conversationally.
"They are incredibly close – way closer than any sister and brother should be." Tahlia conceded, keeping her voice down while they ventured the halls. She had her trusty lead pipe in hand, not taking any chances, along with the black brass knuckles. She loved how smooth and quiet Taker moved; it wasn't normal for a man of his size and stature to move the way he did. "That's Ryan." Tahlia could hear her laughter flowing down the hallway and smirked up at Taker, hearing Kenny boy moments later. "On your lead, boss."
The Shamrocks had no physical resemblance to each other, so it was possible they weren't siblings at all. Not that they ever said anything to the contrary, but… it was preferable, to the incest alternative. "Take her down. Gently, pet." He added, not about to be accused of being a woman beater, at least not a woman who was technically innocent in these grand games. He'd deal with Shamrock, grinning viciously.
Tahlia looked like she was enjoying this hunt as well.
She truly was built just for him.
Being called pet didn't bother her in the slightest. Most women would've co-cocked a man in the face for that term of endearment, but Tahlia didn't mind it. If she was Taker's pet, so be it. She knew she was more than that to him, at least she hoped.
"Hi Ryan." Tahlia greeted sweetly, walking into the room and could see the uncertainty fill Ken's eyes.
"H-Hi…" Ryan stammered, not remembering the last time she had a conversation with Tahlia and slowly backed away. "What's going on, Tahlia?"
"Oh nothing, just wanted a girl chat." She kept moving closer to Ryan while Ken came up from behind her, just as planned. He really was an idiot and had zero brains. Draping an arm around the woman's shoulders, Tahlia could feel her trembling and laughed. "You're trembling, let me help with that." A nerve pinch to the neck later, Ryan was down for the count and unconscious at her feet. Tahlia took great sick pleasure watching Taker in action against Kenny boy, licking her lips.
True to form, Ken swung that iron fist of his and Taker was waiting with the crowbar. He held it out, just letting Ken hit it as hard as he could, knowing well that whistling punch had been intended for his face. That could've broken something, on him – how rude! He rolled his eyes when Ken's rage screams turned into pained screams, clutching his likely broken hand, as if squeezing and pawing it was going to help anything. Taker eyed the crowbar, shrugged and aimed his blow carefully, clipping Shamrock upside his head. Enough to knock him out, not enough to kill him. He wasn't becoming a murderer here of all places, too many witnesses and way too many things floating around with his prints.
"I feel better." He said after a moment, stepping over the Shamrock siblings to Tahlia, bending down to kiss her. "How about you?"
"Much better." Tahlia whispered, giving him a deeper kiss and felt her blood turn to molten lava, even with all the carnage surrounding them. She loved this man so much; he completed her in every way, even her slightly psychotic demented side. Taker was her better half and she didn't need marriage to tell her that. "Time to clean up the mess. We can celebrate later."
Rubbing her nose against his, Tahlia bent down to lift Ryan over her shoulder, a lot stronger than the blonde. There was a nearby closet as she opened the door and deposited her body inside, closing it. She didn't bother locking it; Ryan would not come after her brother, lover, whoever Kenny boy was to her.
Now, the REAL fun was about to begin!
"I really hope the boys have the symbol ready with the ties."
"Knowing Paul, probably."
The old man was kind of the glue that held everything together. The oil in the machine, kept things running smoothly. Taker would no doubt direct the younger ones in setting up and probably also had ether ready, just in case Kenny boy came to a bit on the soon-ish side. They didn't need him using adrenaline to make their lives more difficult.
"Come on." He bent down, grabbing Shamrock and hoisted him up, tossing the smaller man over his shoulder. "Let's go send a message."
"McMahon, tonight there WILL be a sacrifice."
Tahlia shivered at his words while he did the promo, preparing the fans for what was to come. She looked down at an unconscious Ken Shamrock and slid her finger down his cheek delicately. "You really should choose who you associate yourself with more wisely." She advised darkly, already dressed in the Ministry robes along with the others and flipped the hood over her head.
What the hell did the Undertaker mean there would be a sacrifice? Where was Kane and Chyna with the blowtorch? Vince could see his son turn green around the gills and began counting who all was in the dressing room with them. Just his squad of Patterson and Brisco along with the security guards…half of them.
"We're in trouble, go get more security NOW!" He shouted, watching the goons scramble out the door and slammed it shut, flipping the lock on it. "Do NOT let anyone through that damn door or I'll personally make sure your jobs cease to exist!"
Oddly enough, there was a lack of security in the building tonight. It was like all of the hired guards who had been brought in as temps, as well as the WWF's main security squad, had all… vanished. He had made sure to leave McMahon with no one. His last resort would be local law enforcement, which Taker would just love to see how that one played out. It could be amusing. Of course, McMahon's name was kind of mud with the law these days, after he had just barely managed to escape that aggravated assault charge against poor Mideon.
"I think we're ready." Taker rumbled, pulling up his own hood, his acidic eyes peering out of the darkness.
The Ministry flanked the top of the stage, the Acolytes, Viscera along with Edge and Christian carrying the symbol in front of Undertaker, Paul Bearer and Tahlia. Mideon was still in a coma and wouldn't return anytime soon. The symbol was set down on the stage, the ropes already attached to the top of it as he slowly began to rise in the air. Paul held the microphone up to the Undertaker's mouth as he began chanting 'tongues', his eyes rolling the back of his head while Tahlia remained still as a statue. When the Lord of Darkness finished, it was her turn as Paul held the microphone up to her mouth.
"My Dark Prince, do you not see the destruction you are causing by refusing me?" Her voice was chilling and haunting, piercing every person in the crowd. Slowly removing her hood, Tahlia reached up to touch the bandage where the staples had been taken out earlier that day and snarled. "You tried to have me taken out of commission…and that wasn't very nice or gentlemanly of you. What kind of fiancée has their beloved attacked from behind? You're a coward…and we've taken the liberty of ripping all that security away from you little by little. So instead, you've left us no choice except to show you what will happen should you continue to deny me. Soon, Shane, you will know what true darkness is and nobody will be able to save you. Nobody will stop me from fulfilling my Dark Lord's wishes and you WILL be MINE." Her laughter carried through the microphone even as it was taken away and the sacrifice commenced, Tahlia looking up with sheer mirth on her face.
Soon, it would be Shane in this position and she could not wait for that day to arrive.
All Shane could do was watch with his father and what little security they had left as the Undertaker, Tahlia and the Ministry of Darkness sacrificed Ken Shamrock. That explained what had happened to everyone, why the arena seemed… a little quieter tonight in the backstage area. The evil had swept through the hallways, the corridors, and taken over or taken out people. This sacrifice was different; there was something more sinister about it and he groaned, looking away.
"Maybe I should just… let her have me." He mumbled, not knowing what else to do. "Then this would all stop."
This was all Vince's doing, if he had just quit while he had been ahead, like Shane begged, they wouldn't be in this position now. Obviously his son's head had been rattled and he was suffering some sort of traumatic break in his mind. Vince shook his head and gestured for security to encircle Shane, just in case he did something stupid.
With Kenny boy out of the way, all that was left was breaking through Vince's security and his goon squad. It would be like taking candy from a baby. Tahlia would let him stew on it another week, give Vince more time to try saving his precious baby boy. Mind games were a lot of fun to play on people. Tahlia was all smiles, practically glowing from the successful the Ministry had that night and took her cloak off the moment they were back in the dressing room. Chyna, Kane, Ken Shamrock, Ryan…Tahlia pushed the guilt away at what she did to the poor woman, knowing she was just a victim of circumstance. There was no need to hurt her. She wasn't part of the Corporation. Sable was given the week off, which infuriated Tahlia, but she would bring that blonde slut down soon enough. While the boys discussed what happened tonight and what was still to come, Tahlia walked into the bathroom to take the bandage from her head, surveying it closer in the mirror. Besides, she had sweated while under the cloak and the lights during the sacrifice, so a change of bandage was in order.
"From my understanding, Vince is going to keep Sable off the road until this all 'blows over'." Paul informed softly. Christian had gone out lurking and picked up some information. "He doesn't want his-"
"Whore."
"-to wind up out of action permanently."
"Anything else?"
"Rocky was found… in a most interesting position." Paul shot Bradshaw and Farooq an amused look. "Apparently, he had been strung up a flagpole… with a broken toilet seat around his neck."
That'd wind up making some papers and Taker snorted, knowing how vain and egotistical the younger man was.
"So I take it we're not mentioning that tidbit of information to," Christian paused, pointing at the bathroom door and kept his voice barely above a whisper.
"Dude, really? She'd lose her mind and go like totally nuts!" Edge didn't know the meaning of being quiet and groaned when Christian smacked him upside the head. "What the hell, dude?!"
"Keep your voice down!" Christian hissed, wondering if his brother had lost HIS mind.
Paul cleared his throat, shaking a pudgy finger to admonish both the brothers and returned his attention to Taker. "Better to keep it under wraps…unless she's required to know. And I'll leave that up to you, Taker."
At that moment, Tahlia walked out of the bathroom with a fresh bandage on her forehead and still all smiles, not overhearing anything the Ministry had discussed.