A/N: Poor Taker's pride has been stomped on the last chapter. He and every poor Undertaker fan reading this fic are really going to hate me this chapter. Please I'm begging all my readers don't throw anything at me. –Rei
The pack of spectators roared in jubilant exhilaration as they beheld the spectacle that was the WWF. The pyrotechnics, seemingly epic battles, and drama drawing them in like flies to honey. It was the calling of their' era. Yet one amongst them remained unimpressed with the glamour. Abeebah sat placidly in her seat near ring side, the hood of her sweat jacket covering her masked face. The eldest horseman didn't know how Evan had managed to get her a seat so close to the action, but wasn't about to question him on it.
None of her siblings had dined to join her, seeing as that anyone of their' presences would have drawn undo attention. Only two people knew that the eldest of the Johns family was here. The Hardy brothers wouldn't say anything. And the four horsemen's plan demanded that Abeebah remain hidden amongst the crowd, things could go very wrong very quickly otherwise. Neither of the Calloway brothers were told of this plan, nor the deals being formed behind their' back. And if Abeebah could help it, they wouldn't be until after the match.
"They need to have at least one fight without interference." She had told her siblings just scant days earlier. 'And hopefully, this time, the two will be able to keep up the barrier.' She thought with a mental wince, remembering the instances of pain she had already experienced 'through' them. A repeat was inevitable, but knowing it was coming didn't make it any less unpleasant. Already, Vince had taken a seat with the announcers. It was all Abeebah could do not to just withdraw her hidden knife and slit his throat with it. Suddenly the sound of shattering glass filled the arena.
She wasn't surprised at all when her fellow audience members came out of their' seats. The rattlesnake in all his redneck glory came strutting down the ramp, a mile wide smirk near splitting his face in two. Doing his usual entrance, Stone Cold then circled toward the announce table. Walking up straight to Vince, he flashed his boss the bird and Mr. McMahon was incensed. He spat out insults, even as the WWF champion moved to take a seat next to King. Stone Cold just talked back, giving as good as he got.
The aggravated duo continued even as, the lights suddenly went out and Kane's theme song began to play. JR ignored them as he spoke, "Here comes the big red machine, this man is a truly awesome monster, and the younger brother of the Undertaker." "And he would make a great World Wrestling Federation Champion." McMahon said quickly, leaving 'the better than you Austin' unsaid. "Yes he would, Kane is one tough son of a gun, I'll give em' that", Stone Cold said in a rare moment of praise. The demon in red stalked to the ring, Bearer accompanying him with a smug smile.
Under the scarlet light the little man seemed to be a cackling imp, a gate keeper for the greater beast walking beside him. Not for the first time Abeebah felt a disgusted chill run up her spine. It was all she could do not to lose what little control she had gained over the emotions Mark had all but force fed her, and tear the pompous fat bastard limb from limb. Taking a cleansing breath, lest Kane notice her, the eldest horseman continued to watch Kane's entrance. She couldn't help but admire the play of muscle under stretchy fabric.
For his part, Kane was too focused to really pay attention to the throbbing that seemed to emanate from within. He could hardly believe that McMahon wanted Austin to lose his title so badly that he would have both he and Taker fight. But then again, the businessman proved on more than one occasion that his wounded pride could sometimes outweigh his common sense. In any case the big red machine didn't have any objections to the arrangement. Despite his trepidation about the potential pain it might cause Abeebah, Kane was still his brother's enemy.
Stepping over the top rope, Kane moved to stand at the center of the ring. Then raising his hands to set off the pyros in the turnbuckles, the younger brother called on the ever burning rage simmering in his charred heart. And as his arms forcefully dropped, it was like Kane's humanity came crashing down with it. All that was left was the monster, the machine. He didn't even sense the heat of the pyros warming his skin, nor the sudden darkness following in its wake. There was nothing, but the all consuming need to exercise the demons that had been trapped inside of him all too long.
And then tolling bells rung out, followed by the wail of an electric guitar, cheers erupted from nearly every soul present. Columns of fire shot out of the ramp, causing fog to spread across the ground, and the arena lights to turn purple. Jolting chills ran up Abeebah's spine, an abrupt, stinging balm to the searing rage piercing a scorching a path through her nerve endings. Abeebah was unable to stop herself from cursing the air black. This was going to get uglier than it had to be. She didn't even have to see the hard glare Taker was shooting toward both Kane and Bearer to know that.
"And here comes the Phenom, the Undertaker, perhaps the most respected wrestler in our business today." JR announced, trying to drown out Vince's comments before they began. Austin grinned widely at the older man's overt rudeness. "Another tough son of gun, and it will be my honor ta retain the title against dat man right there." The redneck boasted. Then he glanced at the cheering crowd, and inadvertently met Abeebah's orangey hued gaze. Stone Cold couldn't see her face but he didn't need to.
The eldest horseman was the only person the rattlesnake had ever met with that particular shade of amber eye color. "What da hell is Morte do'n ear?" Automatically the CEO of the WWF's eyes followed his employee's line of vision. Vince's skin turned nearly sheet white. The eldest horseman sat amongst the crowd, a calm yet malevolent presence nearly hidden within in the throng that surrounded her. Her veiled gaze focused on him, and Vince couldn't help but flinch at the sight of her fury. Abeebah's fist clenched in her lap, she had been found out, and she knew it. She just prayed to any deity that was listening, that her siblings hadn't screwed up as well.
Mankind gasped desperately for air, as he lay on the unforgiving concrete. When Lue, the youngest, and smallest of the horsemen had approached him, he had been wary. But never in a million years did momma Foley's little boy ever imagined that a boy, let alone one that wasn't even half his size would be able to lay him flat. But Lue had managed it, and without help of any kind. And it only made things worse when the light skinned manager did get him down; he kept the usually pain resistant wrestler down.
Then in the heat of his disorientation, Mankind Maguire found himself locked inside a maintenance shed, deep within the bowls of the arena. How the pixie thin child was able to drag his carcass all the way there baffled him, even in his sorry state. The youngest horseman left him there, secure in the fact that he wouldn't be getting out any time soon. He nodded toward Viluppo as he passed her in the hall, on his way to McMahon's temporary office.
She nodded back, and then headed toward her own appointed task. The third of the horsemen passed her eldest brother on the way to the parking lot, and he received a nod from her, signaling their' younger sibling's success. Brandon gave her a grim little smile in return. Dressed in his street clothes, fresh from his own match earlier that evening, he went to go join their' elder sister. If everything went according to plan, than they would not only get back at McMahon, Taker and Kane could finally have the fight that they've been spoiling for.
Deadman easily mounted the ringside steps, gracefully holding out the edges of his coat so that he wouldn't step on them on the way up. The roaring crowd was just an echo in the back of his head compared to the tattooing beat thundering through his chest. He didn't even bother trying to catalogue the feelings reeling throughout his being. The only thing he could hope for was that neither he nor Kane went too far with this. It was more than their' own well beings on the line for the gold this match.
Raising his arms to return the lights back to normal, Undertaker stepped inside the ring. Then, taking off his long coat, the deadman stalked to the center of the ring, meeting his brother glare for glare, as they stood in each others personal space. The referee didn't even try to break them up as he signaled for the bell to be wrung. The sound didn't register in the ears of the two giants currently facing off in the ring as they stared at each other. They were still too consumed in their' wordless argument, old hostilities coming to the forefront, begging to be let loose.
And let loose they did, as the tide of checked tempers finally broke through the restraints the brothers had willfully set for the safety of the one they both respect. Fist went flying, with little regard to finesse, strategy, or protecting, only with the intent of harm. Like before, Abeebah could each hit as if she were the one getting punched. Not for the first time, she cursed Kane's inability to distance himself emotionally. Perhaps if the younger Calloway had more control, then his brother wouldn't be sucked in along with him, and by default, Abeebah as well.
Under her mask, the eldest horseman hissed in pain, as another shot connected with Kane's ribs. And nearly keeled over when the red demon retaliated with a punch to his brother's gut, and then a blatant choke. Taker was able to throw Kane off before the official was able to count to five, but the ever persistent younger monster was on the attack again before the deadman could press his advantage. The slightly taller Calloway grabbed the Phenom and picked him up, intending to power slam him. But Taker was able to squirm out of his hold.
Whipping Kane across the ring, Taker followed his little brother in, flattening him further into the corner. Backing up, the red haired demon of Death Valley was knocked down as Kane used the momentum the ropes provided to clothesline his older sibling to the canvas. He followed it by dropping his elbow into the big man's sternum, and went to pin him. The count didn't even make it to one, as Taker shrugged his brother off, and sat up. The blood thirsty cheers that echoed through the arena, was still a tiny buzz in the back of Taker's brain.
Getting to his feet, Undertaker launched himself at his 'little brother', meeting the big red machine half way, grappling each other. Their' bond mate sighed in momentary relief, knowing that it wouldn't last but thankful all the same. "How long have they been at it?" Abeebah barely held back a flinch as her brother's voice sounded all too close to her. She glanced up, where Brandon loomed next to her. The younger horseman was wearing a black hoody like Abeebah's own and a plain pair of jeans. He, like everyone else was watching the two Calloways go at it.
"Only a couple of minutes but give it time they'll tear each other a new one soon." She said her voice coming out more harshly due to the power slam Undertaker executed on Kane. The light skinned Johns didn't bother glancing at her currently porcelain white visage, knowing that the mask would guard her expression too well to accurately interoperate Abeebah's state of mind. "Did Lue get it done?" It was an obvious ploy to turn attention away from how she was feeling, but her brother felt obliged to let the subject drop.
"Yeah, and Viluppo is setting up the bastard as we speak." "Good." There conversation ceased between them as Undertaker went for his signature pin, only for Kane to shrug him off. Frustrated the slightly older wrestler got up and kicked his brother's shoulder. The big red machine still got up, even as his brother grabbed a hold of his arm. At the commentators both, both Austin and McMahon were now studiously watching the match. It was obvious to the both of them that the eldest horseman wasn't going to interfere, especially when she showed no signs of movement after the third near fall.
Still Vince couldn't help but to glance her way every once in a while. The businessman was sure that the darkest horseman was up to something, but until she made a move there wasn't really anything he could do. JR watched Morte as well, only he did so out of curiosity. As far as the announcer knew, the first lady of the apocalyptic riders was watching her seemingly best friend get pounded by his own brother. It put an interesting spin on an already fascinating situation, especially with Morte being an older sibling herself.
And when Guerra joined his sister and watching the two brothers of the night go at it, the Oklahoma cowboy couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. This got his coacher's attention. "What are you laughing at JR?" King asked, about to make an insinuation that it was their' employer that he was about to insult. But JR knew him all too well and cut him off at the pass. "Look over there King, looks like Guerra has joined his liege lady in watching this match." The former wrestler whipped his head around so fast he nearly broke his own neck. And sure enough, the light skinned "Hammer of the Horsemen" was looming at his sister's side, his hands pushed deep into his jean pockets, and eyes trained on the ring.
"What the hell is he doing here? I can understand Morte, this is an important match and ol' tombstone head is her 'friend' but Guerra has no business out here." Vince wondered the very same thing. He wouldn't put it past the dark skinned beauty to get all of her siblings involved in whatever she was planning. The McMahon patriarch had no doubt the three younger siblings would follow whatever their' sister wanted to the letter. He had already seen the results of their' fierce loyalty to each other, been on the receiving end as well and shuttered at the very thought of it happening again. 'What the hell are you planning, little girl.' As if hearing his thought Morte turned her gem like gaze toward him, and stared.
The sports tycoon could only hold Morte's intent look for a moment, and then he abruptly turned his attention back to the two titans in the ring. Austin noticed this and smirked, "Fraid o' a lil girl Vince?" The rattlesnake's nemesis glared lividly at him. "No more afraid then you should be." The businessman retorted hotly. This launched the two into a whole new belligerent confrontation that had even the ever patient JR ready to tell the two the take it to the ring. Meanwhile Bearer watched outside the ring, anxiously glancing as his cheap wristwatch every so often, wondering where the hell was his charge's 'back up' was.
Mankind should have been there by now, and with each near fall Bearer lost a bit of his confidence. This wasn't supposed to be happening, Mr. McMahon had all but guaranteed his puppet's victory, and in turns his own, so why wasn't anything going as planned. As if the powers that be saw fit to answer the obese man, Mankind came stumbling like a drunkard from backstage. "What da ell' Mankind do'n out ere'?" The crowd muttered in agitated confusion along with their' champion. And from where they watched the match, Morte and Guerra cursed profusely. Standing, the darkest horseman grit her teeth against the pain threatening to cripple her, "find Viluppo, and get to the car."
The argument well in the lightest horseman's throat only to be stopped dead when Abeebah raised her hand, "don't argue with me Brandon, just please get our sister to the car, I'll be there soon." The younger Johns stared his dark sister down, not willing to back down this time. "No." Abeebah's ocher glare darted between her brother and Mankind, who was slowly making his way to the ring. Then the extreme legend grabbed a steel chair, making the decision for her. Morte growled lowly in her throat, sounding more akin to an animal rather than a human being.
Turning on her heel, the eldest of the four riders swiftly jumped over the barricade, Guerra not far behind her. She passed the announce table, nary a glance McMahon's way, even as she armed herself with a steel chair of her own. The second born horseman took it upon himself to keep, the bloated leech that was Kane's benefactor busy, while his sister went after Mankind. Kane, Undertaker, and the man officiating over their' match had no idea what was going on outside the ring. And Abeebah and Brandon intended to keep it that way.
"Oh my God Morte is going after Mankind with a steel chair!" JR couldn't believe his eyes. He watched the two eldest horsemen seemingly intercept a plot to interfere with this match. Vince sat beside him, livid as he watched his ingenious plan go down the drain. Yet all he could do was sit and watch, knowing that he would only get hurt if he got involved directly. Austin laughed at the entire situation; he didn't really give a damn who won this match. Hell, he would fight em' both if he could. King was indignant for no reason at all.
Abeebah hefted her last minute weapon with only minor difficulty, taking advantage of the fact that Mick Foley was more concentrated on getting to the apron, rather than paying any attention to her. She swung the chair perpendicularly toward the back of schizophrenic man's head, using the velocity of the swing to add more weight to the hit. And just as Mankind reached for the second rope, a sickening crack filled the arena. Distracted Taker glanced toward were he heard the sound, and away from his much focused, very determined, and very dangerous opponent.
It was all the chance Kane needed, upper cutting his older sibling and forcing him into the corner. Taker grunted and cursed himself for becoming distracted. Outside the ring Abeebah curses just as much albeit more fluently as the pain registered on already red hot nerves. Mankind was slowly getting to his feet, but the eldest horseman managed to heft her weapon again. This time she aimed for his knees. It connected and its poor victim didn't have enough air left in his lungs to scream. And then Kane managed to lift his brother into position a tombstone.
Abeebah glanced up, dropping the chair in her hand and calling out to Brandon, whom was still distracting Bearer. "Come on, let's get out of here." She had no intention of collapsing here, because she had no doubt that was going to happen once Kane dropped Taker on his head. Her brother did what she asked, nary a glance toward the man he just harassed. They quickly made their' way up the ramp, the elder horseman sure that she wouldn't be able to withstand what was to come next. She couldn't have been more right.