DISCLAIMER: I WISH I OWNED MK BUT I DON'T. EVERYTHING ELSE IS MINE!
When the club finally closed around three in the morning, I grinned at Honey.
"Time for a cool down," I stated. She nodded and we walked down the street, the guys following us... right into a tavern. She and I took a seat right in front of the bar, the bartender giving us a once-over. I gave him a wink and got a smile in return. He was then called to the other end of the bar, but soon returned.
"What can I getcha?" he asked.
"Screwdriver," I answered. "Make it a pitcher."
He nodded, then looked at Honey.
"Sex on the Beach," she said. He nodded and began to make the drinks. I went to grab my money, but the bartender shook his head.
"All ready paid for by the man at the end there," he said, gesturing over. I looked over and burst out laughing, racing over to hug him.
"Fancy seeing you here, Kit!" I said, amused. Honey hugged him too, though not with my exhuberance. He grinned at us.
"You know I come to the city every weekend just to hit up the taverns and dance clubs," he said. Then he gave me a very teasing look. "Saw you cutting a rug out there. Who's the guy?"
"Ray," Honey and I chorused. As if in response, the three guys magically appeared, taking seats at the table next to the bar. The three of us didn't hesitate and joined them.
"Kit, this is Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Ray," I introduced. "Guys, this is my cousin-in-law and best friend, Kit."
The tension in the room seemed to vanish after I'd said that. I just shook my head with a smile.
"So, what are two minxes doing in the city?" Kit asked as our drinks arrived. I noted that he was drinking Rum and Coke. He'd be drunk in no time. He was a very entertaining, funny drunk.
"Vacation," Honey answered. "Thought we'd see the world before we give up life to God and country."
Kit smirked.
"Forgot about your arranged marriages," he commented, surprising the guys yet again. "How's that working out?"
Both of us sent him dirty looks.
"They call it an arranged marriage for a reason," Honey began, her tone like she was talking to a child.
"Because it would never happen otherwise!" I finished, my irritation. "If he survives three days I'll be surprised."
"Hate Kenai that much, huh?" he asked, ordering another drink.
"That's putting it mildly," Honey answered for me. "He's everybody's favorite guy... til he gets behind closed doors."
Kit looked at me, alarmed.
"What do you mean?" he asked urgently, his mind completely clear. With a low growl, I unfastened my pants, then slid down the right side far enough for him to see the hand-shaped bruise. His eyes widened, then he looked into my eyes as I fixed my pants.
"Personally, I'm deeply wishing something happens to him before I'm tied to him forever," I revealed, my hate in my voice.
"The only reason he wants her is to break her, the dearest ambition of most men we know," Honey said bitterly. Kit's frown deepened.
"So he sweet-talked your father into it to ensure close quarters, allowing him the time and place to break you," he summed up, getting the big picture. I just glared at my glass.
"There's is one way to avoid it, but she won't even consider it," Honey admitted to Kit. "After all, she can't get married if she all ready is."
Kit nodded, understanding that. He sat back, his eyes contemplating.
"And what of your betrothed, Averis?" he asked Honey. She shrugged.
"Neither of us is excited about it but... when things are out of your control or say, what can you do?" she answered. "We're both kinda hoping we can get out of it. He's got a girl he really, really likes, but he daren't disobey his father and take her as his wife. After all, Denali has one nasty temper."
Kit nodded, agreeing, wincing at a memory of the man.
"So, you can work with yours," he thought aloud. The three men with us continued to stay silent, merely listening in on our conversation. "If I recall correctly, your weddings are set for a week from today."
We nodded, Honey in gloom, me in anger. Finally, the three guys started speaking.
"I know you don't like the idea, but... what if it was a temporary marriage, only long enough to avoid the origional marriage?" asked Liu. Honey and I looked at him.
"You are a fool if you think Kenai won't see through that," I stated. "He'll make it law that as soon as I divorce, I am to marry him the same day."
"That would work for me," Honey admitted. "But I don't wanna deceive anyone."
Liu's gaze went to Ray's. Not a word was said for a few moments, but the two seemed to finally come to a conclusion.
"Honey, it wouldn't be deceiving anyone nor would it be a binding you couldn't work with nor get out of," Liu said gently. "This very night, you and I can easily go to one of those mock-chapels and tie a temporary knot."
Honey frowned.
"It wouldn't be deceiving due to the fact that you've been drinking and... well, people do all sorts of things they don't remember when they're drunk," he finished. Her eyes widened at the simplicity of the solution.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Honey asked. Liu nodded. She seemed to think it over, then looked at me.
"I can't make this decision for you," I told her. "You must choose your own path."
She frowned and bit her lip, a habit many men said was just plain cute. Finally, she nodded, agreeing to his terms. Liu relaxed and gave her a gentle smile. Kit's gaze was a knowing one, but he said nothing, turning his gaze to me.
"Will you still refuse your only way out, save the murder of Kenai?" he asked me. I frowned darkly at him.
"I highly doubt Kung Lao or Ray could truly pull off the part," I stated coldly. "Any loop holes, unanswered questions, any openings, you can guarantee Kenai will leap on them the first chance he gets."
Kung Lao merely agreed with me. Ray, however, did not.
"I'm a better actor than you give me credit for," he stated, his offense in his voice. I sighed.
"But to live a lie?" I pressed. "Can you truly do that for the rest of your life?"
His eyes were impossible to read. Damn those contacts!
"In time, you may find that the lie can become the truth," he answered me, his voice telling me it partially all ready was. "I don't expect you to fall into my arms or truly become my wife, but I can guarantee this... Kenai... will have no openings to exploit."
I locked gazes with him, my mind searching for something, anything that was going to tell me how I should decide. There was no answer in those bright white depths, only the feeling that there was more to this man than met the eye.
"You're hiding something," I accused softly, thinking aloud. It was enough to startle him and everyone else at the table. "I don't know just yet what... but I will find out."
He said nothing, just continued to wait for my answer.
"Fine," I caved. "But I do this under extreme protest."
He nodded, accepting my answer. Thus, the six of us rose, yes, even Kit. We looked at him.
"You'll need a witness to take it back to your families, a credible witness," he said. We nodded and then Liu led us to a small mock-chapel. Here, he and Honey were quickly wed. Then, Ray turned to me.
"I don't exactly feel comfortable in a place like this," he admitted to me. I nodded, agreeing.
"I prefer a true church," I agreed. So, he led me down the way to a church. The pastor seemed surprised to see him, his surprise going straight to shock when Ray told him he intended to marry me right away. The pastor hastened to obey. Thus, I wed Ray through the eyes of the church. However, when he kissed me to seal the deal... my whole body reacted to his touch, little shocks of pleasure striking every inch of my body, lightening flashing behind my closed eyes. When I pulled away, I shook my head to clear it.
"So it shall be before the Elder Gods," the pastor said, then took another glance at Ray (whom I'd learned his full name was Raiden). "I never pictured you to be the kind to settle down, Lord Raiden."
Ray merely nodded and we left the church, all of us beginning our walk to the temple while Kit went to tell our families the news via phone. He'd even added insult to injury, recording the entire wedding of Ray and I. I was certain not even Kenai could deny the sanctity of those vows.
Liu and Honey were playing twenty questions, Honey trying to make the best of this situation. Ray and I walked in companionable silence. Part of me was still digesting that I was now a wife... a wife to a man I barely knew. Once we reached the temple, the monks greeted us, though there were questioning gazes all around about Honey and I. Liu pulled her gently to his side, a grin on his face.
"This lovely woman is Honey, my wife," he introduced to them. Several of them were surprised, but congradulated them anyway. Honey just blushed.
"Lord Raiden," one of the monks said, stepping forward. "There's a message from Shang Tsung for you."
He nodded and took it, reading it over, then crumpled it in his fist. I looked at him strangely.
"Why do they keep calling you 'Lord'?" I asked. He looked at me, his face very serious.
"Because I am Raiden, Thunder God and protector of Earthrhelm," he answered. At my disbelieving look, he shot lightning out of his hands. My eyes widened and I swear my heart stopped.
I was married... to a God... to the God! No wonder the priest had been so shocked at his request! No wonder he had access to everything!
"I think you should have broken that to her a little more gently," Honey told him. Slowly, I shook my shock away.
"Then... then why did you agree to this?" I asked him, still stunned. He stepped up close to me and leaned down to speak in my ear.
"I wouldn't have if I hadn't had a vision before we even met of you and I in the future," he answered me. That wasn't helping my ability to think. Then I realized what was going on.
For years I had prayed to the Elder Gods to spare me the tortures of my future with Kenai. Finally, through the most unexpected of ways, they had answered... with Raiden.
I shook my head, clearing it.
"This is going to take a while to adjust to," I admitted. "Twas so much easier to work with when you were just another man."
A smile tugged at his lips, but he didn't smile.
"And you are?" asked the monk.
"Frost," I answered him.
"My wife," Raiden added. A wave of shock went through the present monks, but soon passed, accepting that he was a God and had his reasons. Raiden turned his gaze to me. "I must go and check on Earthrhelm."
I nodded.
"That is, after all, your duty," I said simply. "See you when you get back."
Then he teleported away. I, however, looked at Honey, somewhat dazed.
"I'm the wife of a God," I said, still trying to wrap my mind around it. Honey just laughed and hugged me tight.
"You'll get used to it," she assured me, then let Liu and Kung lead us into the temple. Honey was shown Liu's room which was now theirs. I'd even snuck a peek, finding it rather amusing how clean he kept it. Everything had its place. They then showed me Raiden's quarters, where I would be staying. It was the largest string of rooms I'd ever seen, kind of like a motel penthouse suite. Everything there was stunning. You could obviously tell where he spent most of his time, too, considering only a few places were truly disturbed.
"Gods don't sleep, do they?" I asked suddenly. Honey laughed again. That was answer enough for me. I would spend most of my nights alone.
Finally, we turned and left there, going to the dining hall. There, it was kind of like a buffet, everyone just getting what they wanted and taking seats. After all, it was breakfast time for them. We'd stayed out far too late.
"Still wrapping your head around this turn of events?" teased Honey. I nodded, still numb. She laughed at my face and then proceeded to continue her game of twenty questions with Liu Kang.
"She did WHAT!" roared Kenai. I hid my smirk. While Honey's parents had been happy for her, even willing to forgive what she'd done and her supposed to be husband's parents accepted it, I knew Frost's family was going to be a great deal more difficult. Kenai would weave his little games... until I pulled out my ace.
Kenai's parents weren't exactly thrilled either. Their marriage had been meant to join two warring family lines, thus the reason I loathed to tell them the truth.
The other part I couldn't wait to reveal was the part I wish I could have been there to see: the moment when Ray revealed who he was to Frost. I knew who he was on sight. I'd seen him before and knew all the tales of the Thunder God. I was certain that tidbit of information would only piss Kenai off more.
"So... Cilandra got married to whom, exactly?" her father asked. I smiled and played the recording of the vows. The male's voice immediately made everyone freeze in position, at least the ones that knew that voice, mainly the elderly.
"She's a lucky girl to have snagged the hand of the Thunder God," one of the elders said. Kenai froze, then his fury doubled. Both sets of parents were just simply stunned.
"It's a farce!" he accused. I quirked an amused brow at him.
"Do you truly think Lord Raiden would say those vows before the Elder Gods in mock?" I questioned him. His fury didn't subside, like I knew it wouldn't.
"The day she gets divorced, she is mine!" he finally said, storming out. I shook my head with a small smile.
"Then you will be waiting until long after you've left this world," I commented softly. Her father sent me a knowing smile.
"You think she will come to love him?" he asked. All four parents were waiting for my answer. I nodded.
"You should have seen what his kiss alone did to our Frost," I told them. "She practically went limp, so dazed was she."
The parents exchanged smiles.
"I think we can work out a different treaty," her father said. Kenai's parents agreed and they left to write it up.