Part 9

"You bumbling idiots!" The Messiah of Darkness was yelling at Rowan and Harper for failing their mission. "All I ask is that you get us the Karma Stone, and you not only you mess that up, but you do so miserably! How dare you show your faces here knowing you've disappointed me?!"

"We're sorry! We really are!" Luke Harper pleaded. "But we experienced interference we weren't counting on."

"Interference?! What kind?"

"Shane McMahon came along and stopped us before we could-" Erick Rowan interjected.

"I don't care if God himself came along! You had one job...AND YOU FAILED!" The room shook with the power of the Messiah's voice.

"We couldn't help it! We had to run! He put up a fight!"

"There were two of you and one of him! Plus you're bigger and stronger! How could you let him defeat you?!"

"Have you seen what he can do?"

"You two are the biggest cowards I've ever met!" Explosions went off throughout the room. "I swear, I ought to-"

"Messiah!" The voice of Taker boomed.

"What?!"

Rowan and Harper turned to see Taker standing at the door.

"Leave them to me." Taker said.

"Have you not heard what they've done...or in this case, didn't do?"

"Trust me, they will be dealt with. Rowan, Harper, leave." He ordered.

The duo wasted no time in hurrying out of the room. Taker closed the door behind them.

"You need to conserve your energy, my Messiah." He said as he walked over to the Messiah's throne, holding a tray with a goblet on it. "You can't be wasting your powers on peons like Harper and Rowan. You must remember, they're trying their best."

"Their best isn't getting the job done. You know how important our mission is."

"Believe me, I know. Here, drink this."

"Thank you." The Messiah took a sip from the goblet. "You never disappoint me."

"And I never will. I vow my allegiance to you."

"Your allegiance is highly appreciated. So...tell me about this Shane McMahon. Rowan and Harper mentioned him stopping them from bringing the girl to us."

"Shane is a longtime friend of mine. That's all you really need to know."

"This fellow needs to learn his place. I'm sure you can take care of that."

"I will, Messiah."

The Messiah finished drinking from the goblet. "Thank you. Now leave me."

"Yes." Taker took the goblet and the tray and walked out of the room.

"I will not accept failure...especially when we're so close...to bringing the Damnation...to the..." The Messiah's voice drifted off.
*******

"Larisa?" Shane gently shook his cousin awake. "Larisa?"

She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "Shane? What time is it?"

"It's 9:24."

"Oh, good. I didn't sleep too late. I've got time to get ready."

"Ready for what?"

"Luciana invited me to see her wrestle a couple of days ago." She said as she got out of bed and went into her closet.

"She did, huh?"

"Yeah."

"You know, I actually ran into Luciana the other night." Shane sat down in Larisa's desk chair.

"You did? Where?"

"She was at the store and we actually talked for a few minutes."

"About what?"

Shane didn't have the heart to tell her that he actually saved Luciana from Rowan and Harper. "Oh, nothing in particular. Mainly about you."

"Oh, really? All good things, I hope."

"You know I would never say anything bad about you."

"I know."

"There is something I would like to discuss with you, though."

"What's that?" Larisa grabbed a blue paisley blouse and a black skirt and went behind a black screen to get dressed.

"I just wanted to know...what would you say if I told you I liked her."

"You like Luciana? Like a crush?"

"You could say that."

"All right, Shane!"

"I take it you approve?"

"It's about time you started dating again. I thought you'd never stop moping about Julie after she broke up with you."

"Hey! I broke up with her."

Larisa laughed. "If you say so. Anyway, last I heard, Luciana's a free woman. I say go for it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Even you deserve a fair shot at love."

"Thanks, cousin."

"No problem." She said as she emerged from behind the screen dressed.

"Not bad." Shane said.

"Thanks. I really hope to make some more friends while I'm there. It'd help my chances of landing that ring announcer position." She said, sitting back down on the bed. putting on a pair of black pumps.

"Well, technically, you are a McMahon by blood. I could help you get your foot in the door, if necessary."

"As much as I appreciate the offer, I'd rather not have the McMahon influence hanging over my head. I'd like to earn this job on my own merit."

"That's fair enough, though I have a strong feeling that you'll get it either way."

"Thanks, Shane. I've really been able to count on you since my dad died."

"Hey, you're my favorite cousin. We practically grew up as pen pals. That didn't stop even after you knew you were related to my father."

"What can I say? I think I have pretty good judgment. I know the McMahons are good people and would never put their loved ones in any danger."

"Speaking of loved ones, how's Taker been treating you?"

"Like a princess. He's a great listener, he keeps me smiling, and he takes such good care of me when I have my headaches. He's the sweetest man."

"I'm glad to see you happy. You deserve it." He said, reaching out to take her hand.

"Thanks. Well, I'd better get going." She grabbed her purse and started to head out the door.

"Larisa?"

She turned around. "Yeah?"

"Be careful out there."

"I always am."

Shane watched as she bounded down the stairs. He was genuinely proud of Larisa for trying to make a name for herself. And he was right. She deserved to be happy. He hoped Taker wouldn't hurt her in any way.

"Shane?"

He turned around to see Taker standing behind him.

"Taker. I was just thinking about you."

"I notice Larisa was on her way out."

"Yep. She's meeting Luciana and Lorena at the gym."

"Ah, yes. She seems to get along well with those twins."

"She sure does."

"Listen, you care for your cousin, right?"

"Of course. What's going on?"

"I just wanted to make sure you understand that I care for her too...and I don't want to see anything bad happen to her. She's very important to me."

"I feel the same way. I assume you won't even think of hurting her."

"I take it I can expect the same from you. She may be a McMahon, but I'd hate to see her become just another casualty of your family."

"It's because she's my family that she will never be subject to any betrayal from me. Now, you on the other hand..."

"Now, Shane...you know that I am no longer that person you once knew as the purity of evil. I am a changed man, and it's all for the better."

"For my cousin's sake, it had better be."

Taker turned to leave, but paused.

"Oh, Shane..."

"Yeah?"

"If I were you, I'd be very careful where I tread."

"That goes both ways, Deadman."

Taker smiled to himself as he walked away.

Shane stared at the exiting Taker. 'I swear on my life, Taker...' He thought. 'If you hurt Larisa in any way, I will find out. Then you'll learn that 'blood is thicker than water'.'