~Mileena POV~
Li Mei assists me out of the arena. I see Smoke next to Kung Lao, both of them eyeing me as we exit the place. I could not possibly stand there and feel defeat come across me. We go to the back of the building, where no one really ventures.
"I did my best in sparing Kung Lao's life; however father is not pleased. He expected me to kill every warrior I engaged in kombat with during the semi-finals," I say.
"Well what can he do? You are already out of the tournament," Li Mei replies, making a valid point.
Smoke appears in front of us with Kung Lao at his side.
"Are you alright Mileena?" Smoke questions, coming face to face with me.
"Yes, I did not care much for this damned tournament to begin with," I say as he peers downward at me.
Kung Lao appears the same as he did before our fight, and he seems to have stopped bleeding.
"Seems you are back to your normal state," I say to Kung Lao.
"Yes, master Raiden restored me."
"That is rather impressive," Li Mei adds.
"Well, I must return, today father shall be informed of Kitana's treachery," I announce.
"Then let us be on our way," Li Mei adds.
We head back around the building, going inside. I have not seen Rain as of late, he must be running an Outworld errand for father. As we make our way through the crowd, I notice Kitana in the ring with the man in black and red robes. Her sapphire plated fans are drawn, and she attempts to throw one at him. She misses, and he gives her a quick uppercut, making her lose balance. He then advances to her and flips her onto her back. There is no way he could defeat her with that much ease, she must be letting him take her victory. But no matter, she is all mine now.
"Finish her!" father seems even angrier at Kitana's loss.
"No," he states simply as he walks over and offers Kitana his hand.
She takes his hand and gets back onto her feet. She now faces father. His eyes even hold more rage than I before I feast on my prey.
"Liu Kang, you have advanced to final battle. The portal shall take you to the tower tomorrow to face...me," Shang Tsung announces.
Liu Kang gives no reply; he just bows his head, and then steps off of the arena to stand with the Thunder God.
"Anyone who wishes to spectate is welcome, other than that you are all dismissed. The portal opens at noon," the Thunder God pronounces, causing commotion to break out.
All the warriors and spectators begin to leave the building, as well as Li Mei Smoke and Kung Lao. I go to follow.
"Mileena!" I hear father shout.
I pause. Smoke turns around as well as Li Mei with worried eyes. However, I signal them to just go on without me and I turn around slowly. Kitana is still in the arena facing me, and father is eyeing me with murderous eyes. I stand there a moment as everyone but father, Shang Tsung, Kitana and I exit.
The building has become empty, and the anger seeping from father becomes thicker. I advance to father along with Kitana.
"Father, there is-"
"Silence!" he practically screams at me.
I pause, not saying another word.
"So, the so called champion of Mortal Kombat, who might I remind you is a mortal himself, managed to defeat both of my daughters?! Both of you, the heirs to my name, the Kahnum?!" he booms.
I peer over at Kitana who puts her head down in shame. She may be misleading to him, but she cannot mislead a warrior of deception such as myself. Maybe if father would listen to me for once he would know of her treachery as well. He is so blinded!
"Father listen!" I match his tone, becoming just as angry.
He reaches out and grabs me by my throat, lifting me from the ground. I struggle for air as I try and release myself from his grip.
"You shall stay silent!" he shouts to me, and then turns to Kitana. "And you, you will never fail me again! Or you will both be executed!" he tightens his grip on my throat, making it harder to breathe.
"Yes father..." she mumbles angrily.
He turns his attention to me, and raises me higher in the air as I struggle to break free.
"Both of you, get out of my sight!" he says in pure irritation as he tosses me away from him to his right.
My back hits a wall causing my sais to unsheathe and land on the ground. As I catch my breath, Kitana exits the building. Damn her! I stand, holding my hand to my injured neck. I peer over father's shoulder to a smirking Shang Tsung, who glances back at me in amusement. That instigating sorcerer is lucky that he is even allowed to breathe to this day. However, father's ignorance on Kitana's actions makes me impatient.
"You do not understand, Kitana-"
"I said, get out of my sight!" he repeats even louder than before.
Out of frustration, I stand. If I am to die, if I am to never be seen over Kitana, then she must die too. My blood boils thinking of how I am always the second choice; well no longer will I stand for it. I proceed to walk out with my fists clenched to my sides. As I exit, I notice the sun is close to setting. The sky shines in an abnormal shade of orange with a slight tint of pink. The beach is oddly empty and only sounds of ocean waves, crickets and other species fills the air.
I begin to walk along the sands of the beach. I will not allow her to go on breathing. I will quell her this eve. I place my hands upon my sai holsters, only to feel nothing. I pause in my tracks and peer downward at them.
"Blast! My sais are still in the kombat building," I remember.
Whether father likes it or not, I am going back in there for my weapons. Smoke gifted those lovely blades to me, and I refuse to lose them merely due to father's attitude. I turn around and begin trotting toward the kombat building. I feel the sand flatten underneath my feet with each step. The vibrant forest appears to be darker, and the building is unusually quiet. I proceed uneasily toward the entrance. I attempt to ease through, but I pause in my tracks, for I hear my name. It sounds like father, who is most likely still angered about our failure. I step back and listen in.
"Mileena is not the one I am concerned about sorcerer!" I hear and stand away from view.
"When I created her this was what you desired emperor," I hear Shang Tsung reply.
"But she is not my daughter! She is of mere sorcery! Kitana is the one I do not want defecting to Earthrealm! She knows too much!"
My eyes widen.
Mere sorcery?
"Kitana shall not defect; you know Mileena will not allow it, it was the whole purpose of her creation."
Creation? I am...a creation? After all this time...ten thousand years of living and murdering for Outworld, believing I was the heir. I see now...it is not that he favors Kitana, he just never acknowledges me because I am not...real. I am not real.
I back away, not wanting to hear anymore. How could I have not known after so long? I take more steps back, part of me almost wanting to forget that I ever heard such a revelation. I continue backing away in disbelief, until I feel myself back into another person. I turn rapidly with wide eyes, only to meet Rain's eyes.
"Mileena?" he asks.
I cannot focus onto him. I am too shocked, too confused. It all makes sense now, my appearances, my personality, it is all the exact opposite of Kitana. I am but a mirror of her existence. I am but a mere laughing stock of her person.
"What is the matter?" he asks stepping closer.
"Do not touch me!" I say quickly as I back away from him.
He gives me a confused stare, then slightly advances closer to me.
"What happened? Why do you resist me?"
"I...I am...I do not exist...I am merely a being of sorcery," I think out loud.
If I do not exist, that means I am not the heir after all. All these years I have just been the emperor's puppet. He has deceived me since...my creation. I was foolish enough to believe all of his words without question, foolish enough to murder so many under his command without a doubt. Rain examines me with a blank expression.
"I know it is quite difficult to accept it, but you do not have a choice," his voice comes off as cold.
My eyes focus to him, narrowing slightly. I have no choice? How does he know what I am referring to? I now examine him closer, taking in his cold expression as he crosses his arms. My eyes narrow onto his form. By the Gods...he knew about this even before I. All this time we have spent together and he never even attempted to tell me. All of the things he bestowed upon me...undoubtedly lies. Not much of a surprise from Rain...however I never expected his treachery to tread my way.
"You...he told you?!"
"No, I have known for quite some time," he admits with a straight face and fierce eyes.
"And you never considered telling me who I was?!" I clench my fists again.
"There was no need. But since you know, now the entire truth will be revealed."
He narrows his eyes at me.
"You were created in Shang Tsung's flesh pits. Kitana's blood along with Tarkatan essence was fused in order to create the most vicious being to serve as Shao Kahn's daughter in case Kitana ever stepped out of line. This being, or clone should I say, is you Mileena."
Rage begins to consume me.
"Why would you keep this from me?!" I approach him angrily.
"Because you don't exist!" he matches my tone. "The emperor owes me the throne, for without me, he would not have Edenia in his clutches!"
This does not sound at all like the Rain I was beginning to know, or the Rain I grew up alongside. Outworld has corrupted him. He has betrayed me before I could even betray him. Not only that, but his idea of betrayal is much more crude than mine. Keeping such a secret from me and attempting to use me is unforgivable.
"With you and Kitana gone, I shall become the heir!"
Hearing these words causes me to rage and I can feel my body become tense as my eyes begin to glow. I remove my mask and pounce onto him, biting and gnawing at his neck while holding his shoulders as the blood sprays me entirely, staining my face and teeth. He lets out a shout in horror and loses his balance, taking us both to the ground as I continue feasting upon him. I feel the urge utterly consume me as he attempts fighting me off. He conjures his magic waters. I continue to feast as the water takes the shape of a cord and wraps around my neck. It then tightens around me, chocking me. I become even angrier, and out of reflex I draw my hands back and begin digging into his torso with my sharp nails and bare hands. He shouts even louder at this as I struggle for air. However, I feel the cord of water slightly loosen around my neck, allowing me to gnaw into his flesh faster as I continue clawing into his flesh. His eyes widen as I begin tearing into his carotid artery near his throat. His voice box gives out and mutes his screams and his body becomes motionless.
I proceed to rapidly chew into his flesh while drinking his spilled blood leaking from his artery. I chew until my teeth snag onto his clavicle and then I pause for a moment. I inhale and exhale deeply, gazing down at my newly made prey. His eyes are still open and the shock is still evident on his face. His blood seeps into the sand below as I examine his corpse. It has been so long since I have had the pleasure of doing this. I stand, gazing down at what I have done. One of my first allies's life has just been ended by my own hand. I never would have thought I would slay him, though it felt so relieving. Now he has no chance of becoming an heir. I begin to walk down the beach, leaving his corps as the sun begins to set. I suppose the Thunder God was correct this entire time. Now is the time to choose how I shall spend these next years. I am an entity, a spirit, a mere creation. I must begin anew.
There is no turning back to Outworld once Shao Kahn discovers what I have done. Rain is very high ranking in his forces, he would never forgive my treachery. I must become invisible, become someone or something more than just the emperor's false daughter. I walk until I reach the other side of the beach near the location of my cottage. I pause and drop to my knees onto the sand right in front of the water. I place my hands into the sea, rinsing them clean of the blood I shed mere moments ago. I then splash the water onto my face and rinse my face and teeth free of Rain's blood. However, his blood still slightly stains my gear. I feel the light breeze hit my body and I let out a sigh. I back away and sit on the sandy surface, peering out into the horizon. A faint noise comes to my attention and causes me to turn around rapidly to find Smoke standing ten feet away near the forest. He stares at me, giving off a concerned look as he proceeds to run toward me. He comes directly in front of me and kneels down to my level.
"Mileena, what happened?"
I try and respond, but all I can think of is the deceit, the lies, and the lives taken throughout my false existence. I peer downward in shame. His hands gently grace my chin as he forces me to face him. He analyzes my neck, leading his left hand to my injuries.
"Who did this to you?!" he questions angrily.
I peer at him shamefully.
"Shao Kahn..." I let his name escape my lips.
Smoke's expression becomes one of pure anger.
"I will murder him," he vows with an expression I have never seen upon his face before. "Why did he do this?! You are his daughter!"
"Well...to make it simple, he is not truly my father. I overheard that I am merely a Kitana duplicate created from sorcery," I conclude darkly.
He gazes at me and then takes my hand, making me stand with him.
"So you are a clone? I would have never guessed..." he says shockingly.
I just nod, and look away.
"I also...murdered Rain, who knew and never attempted to inform me of such secrecy. He merely wished to have me to arise to the throne."
"That blasted Rain, I should have killed him myself when I defeated him in the tournament. However, you murdering Rain? That's great!" he adds.
I smile at this, for that was the last reaction I was expecting. He moves my chin with his other hand, making me face him once more.
"The emperor will get what is coming to him. As for being a clone, you have nothing to worry about, because you are everything she could never be," his voice is sincere, and his eyes hold meaning. "You can now make your own path, Mileena. And there is nothing I would rather do than to continue along that path with you...as your noble tour guide," he chuckles.
I join him in laughter as I lock hands with him.
"Well...you are a great tour guide," I humor him as we chuckle more.
Smoke's comments always seem to distract me from reality. Smoke...even from the very start of this tournament he has been the main reason I kept fighting, despite my plans to assassinate Kitana. I cannot deny it anymore, I long for him. I get closer and place my arms around his neck, gently bringing him into an embrace. His face lies merely inches away from mine and his eyes watch me with interest as I move my hands through his white-silver hair, taking in his scent and the way he feels. I then move my hands to his face and remove his mask slowly, revealing his appealing features. Smoke stares at me a moment, then his hands travel to my hips as he leans in, kissing me.
His hands begin to explore my form as our kiss becomes more aggressive, and soon I lose myself. I pull him deeper into the kiss and he complies. We suddenly vanish into smoke and reappear in the forest as his lips still make contact with me. He then backs me against a tree and pins my hands to the bark, delivering to me a blissful sensation.
"Mmm," I react as his hands venture to the sides of my torso.
I pull him closer as we teleport in a cloud of smoke again, my back hitting what feels like the door to my cottage. Smoke holds my waist and pushes open the door, leading me inside and closing the door behind him. I never would have guessed I would lust for him this way. He pauses our kiss and gazes downward at me.
"You are beautiful, and you are all mine," he says and then leans downward, kissing me again.
I try my best to kiss back, but it is somewhat difficult with a shortage of lips and razor sharp teeth. He notices this and giggles, and as do I. Smoke then places his nose onto mine, rubbing it back and forth. I join him in this action with a small giggle and both of our eyes close. He then moves his hands from my waist to my torso, slightly rubbing my breasts with a smile. He pauses, leaving the sensation of his hands on my skin to haunt me for a moment.
"I secretly wanted you since the first time I laid my eyes on you," he admits humorously.
A tingling sensation comes over me, causing me to giggle yet again.
"I secretly wanted to kill you," I add.
"Aw, I couldn't have been that bad," his voice rings so gently in my ears.
Instead of giving an answer, I just pull him closer. He understands me more than I understand myself at times, which makes me care for him, though I hate to admit it. He smiles and then suddenly studies me with a serious expression.
"No matter what happens, I will always be here for you," he promises in a stern but still soft voice, the look in his light brown eyes piercing me.
I bury my head into his chest as his arms wrap around me. My arms wrap around him as well.
"You do not know what you are getting into with me...you are crazy for wanting to be with me," I caution him in a low voice.
"Mileena," he graces my chin, causing me to face upward and analyze his eyes. "I'd rather die a million times over if it meant not meeting you," he reassures me.
I embrace him tighter, and then guide my hands to his face. I gaze deeply into his eyes.
"But...I am not a real person..."
He lifts me by my waist and walks me to the bed, rubbing noses with me as I wrap my legs around him.
"You are to me."
He gently lies me down and climbs on top of me. His hands slip off my top swiftly, exposing my chest. His lips then meet my neck, delivering a tingling sensation to me. I assist him in taking off his top and then pull him closer, allowing him to take control of me. This feeling of lust I have had for Smoke for so long finally takes over. His lips travel down to my chest as a small moan escapes me. I continue to guide his head further down my body with my hands, feeling his lips brush past my torso, and soon my waist. His hands venture over my shorts just before tearing them in half and removing them from my form. The loud rip sound hits the atmosphere and I see him toss them aside. I examine him as he continues to plant his lips along my lower waist.
"Smoke..." I utter, part of me not wanting him to stop.
His eyes meet mine.
"Yes?"
"I want to join Earthrealm," I decide.
His entire facial expression screams with joy as his hand caresses the side of my face.
"Really? Are you sure?" I smile at him.
"Once someone discovers Rain's body, I am as good as dead if I stay in Outworld," I reply. "And...I do not want to leave you," I admit.
He smiles at me with more joy I have ever seen out of him.
"I don't want to leave you either," he says, his face inching closer to mine again. "I don't ever want to leave you," he adds.
"I feel the same way," I grin.
"Good, we should talk to Raiden tomorrow and make it official," he continues to smile.
Outworld is no longer a place for me, so why not join the Earthrealm forces? After all, I have Smoke with me now.
"Will it be better than the emperor's forces like you say?" I question calmly.
Smoke kisses my forehead.
"I swear it is, and if I am wrong, feel free to murder me," he says with a grin.
I bring him closer.
"Maybe I will," I reply, and his lips meet me again with passion.