Disclaimer: I own nothing that isn't mine.

Chapter Fifteen

"Emma!" Sub-Zero, finally free of Ermac's restraint, ran up onto the arena.

Emma was now down on all fours. She wanted to lie down so badly. Blood was running down her leg and her ribs felt like they were on fire. She heard someone calling her name but she didn't acknowledge it, then she felt someone pick her up and carry her off the arena. Looking up, she saw Sub-Zero with a look of worry and frustration gracing what features she could see of his face. Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest. She felt his gaze as he looked down at her, but she didn't care. She felt safe when she was with him.

Sub-Zero carried Emma past the others and laid her down on the ground. When she opened her eyes she found Raiden leaning over her. Sub-Zero began bandaging her leg while Raiden examined her ribs.

"It looks like he only bruised your ribs. That'll take a while to heal, but not near as long as if they were broken. The wound on your leg should heal quickly too, just don't push yourself too hard," he said before getting up and turning to the others.

"You must be extremely careful," he told Ella and Tori. "I now know that Shang-Tsung has hired warriors to fight you three. You must be ready for anything." He was about to say more when Shang-Tsung cut him off.

"Ella, you are next." Ella walked out onto the arena. Shang-Tsung pointed into the crowd across from her.

"Ashrah." A woman dressed in white walked out of the crowd and came to stand across from Ella. Ella frowned. She hated Ashrah. The woman was dense. She was about to say something when Ashrah turned towards where Ermac was standing in the crowd.

"You," she shouted as she pointed a finger at him. "I knew I'd find you here you demon!" Ella, who was staring at Ashrah with a look that said 'you're stupid for ignoring me', turned to Ermac. His features were pulled down into a frown, and he was staring at Ashrah with a look of deep concentration, then his eyes narrowed.

"Oh, it is you," he said in a flat voice. Ashrah stepped back with an insulted look upon her face.

"How dare you not remember me," she spat. "I will remind you when I slay you this time, demon!"

"We are not a demon," Ermac said in an agitated voice.

"Don't lie to me! There's no way you could have resided in the netherrealm unless you were a demon!" She took out her sword and pointed it at him. "I will kill you with this sword if it's the last thing I do." She paused. "But first. I'm going to eliminate your student." She then pointed the sword at Ella.

"I can't sense any demonic energy from you, but to be that demon's student must mean you're a demon too!" Ella looked at Ashrah with an annoyed expression on her face.

"Are you done yet," she asked in a flat voice.

"Don't get smart with me demon," Ashrah growled.

"Lady, if you call me a demon one more time, I'm gonna take that bent up butter knife of yours and beat you to death with it."

"Try it," Ashrah shouted as she lunged at Ella, swinging her sword at Ella's legs. Jumping out of the way, Ella stopped and glared as Ashrah faced her again. She felt a sharp stinging pain and looked down to see a red line form on her thigh.

"Okay lady. That's it," Ella said as her staff appeared in her hand. "My sister just got the crap beat out of her by an evil robot, and on top of that you're over here trying to kill me because you think I'm some kind of demon. And just for cutting me with that ugly thing, I'm gonna beat the sense that you were apparently deprived of as a child into that thick head of yours!"

"You can talk big, girl, but it doesn't change the fact that you are a demon and I must slay you in order to get to your master," Ashrah said in a serious tone. Ella gave a frustrated sigh.

"There you go with that demon crap again. Come over here! I'm sick of you!" Ashrah answered by running at Ella, who easily blocked her sword and brought her foot up to kick Ashrah in the chest. The kick knocked Ashrah back onto the floor. Getting up, she looked to see Ella right in front of her. Spinning her staff in a counterclockwise arc, Ella brought the end of it up to crash into Ashrah's chin, lifting her off the ground and throwing her backwards. She landed with a dull 'thud' on the floor, and after a few seconds sat up and glared at Ella before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"You little wretch," she growled. Ella just looked down at her while resting her staff on her shoulder.

"I'll get you yet," Ashrah yelled as she got up and threw a ball of white energy at Ella. Sidestepping the energy ball, Ella jumped up and brought her staff down on Ashrah's head with a loud crack.

"Ugh!" Ashrah's hands went to her head as she slumped over.

"Now, let's get this straight," Ella said calmly as she pressed the end of her staff to Ashrah's throat. "I am not a demon." Ashrah looked up at her and growled.

"Say what you like. I know the truth. I'll be back." With that she disappeared in a shower of white sparks. The staff disappeared from Ella's hand and she turned to walk off the stage.

"You did well," Ermac said as she walked over to them. "We just have one question to ask you."

"What?"

"Are you sure you are not a demon?" Ella felt her eye twitch.

WHACK

"Oww!"

Author's note: Enjoy! I actually like Ashrah, but her obsession with killing Ermac is just a little annoying.