Ch 19
Time flew too fast for Bella's liking. It felt like in a heartbeat they were at the Hartford arena waiting to do the backstage segments before heading over to a local cemetery to film the segment she was dreading.
"Hey Bella, are you ok?" Sable asked, drawing her attention.
"Yes, just nerves still getting used to doing this. I can't imagine going out to the ring in front of a crowd," Bella softly said.
"You'll get used to it. You're doing really well. The chemistry between you and Taker is amazing. I'm happy for you. I heard about your cemetery segment tonight. I wish you the best with it. It's messed up Vince is even putting Hunter and you through this."
"Hunter says it's best to keep Vince happy so have to deal with doing things like this. I've seen over the years you haven't been put in the best story lines," Bella said, trying to be nice to Sable and not let their past resurface.
"Hunter is right, just keep Vince happy and work rolls smoother. Well I better get going. If you need any help, I'm around," Sable said walking away.
"Wow you and her actually got along for a change," Hunter said, coming up behind Bella.
"I'm trying my best to leave the past where it belongs," Bella turned looking up at her brother. "I'm really nervous about tonight."
"Bella, I know you are but you can get through it. Taker is going to be with you the whole time," Hunter gave her a hug. "Thank you for going along with all of this. It means a lot to me. I hope you stay on after this storyline."
"We will see how the summer goes. I'm happy Sami will be traveling with us. The movers will move everything to Florida in two weeks. Sounds like thanks to Shawn we will have a new nanny. His sister Emily is interested in taking the job. I'm going to meet up with her next week," Bella said, seeing Undertaker come around the corner. Her face lit up the moment she saw him.
"He really does mean the world to you, doesn't he?" Hunter asked.
"Yes he does. I don't know what I would do without him," she softly said as Undertaker joined them.
"What are you two talking about?"
"The move and Shawn's sister might take the nanny job. I have to run and get changed real quick," Hunter kissed Bella's cheek heading on his way.
"Are you ready for tonight baby girl?" Undertaker asked, looking down into her eyes.
"No, but I have you to help me get through it."
"You definitely have me," he smiled leaning down, kissing her softly. "Let's go get ready."
******************Raw*******************************
After a match, the camera cut to Bella arriving at the arena with a tray of coffee. She made her way through the hallways heading to Hunter's locker room.
"Hey the Rock would like to talk to you for a moment," the Rock came out of a doorway blocking her path.
"What do you want?" she asked, not looking happy.
"The Rock is concerned for you. The Rock has seen the Undertaker bothering you and no one is coming to your aid. Do you need the Rock's help to get rid of him since your candy ass brother isn't doing anything."
"No, I'm good. Hunter did handle the situation. I have to go," she went to take a step and he put his hand up stopping her.
"I don't think you understand that the Rock would like to help you. Would you meet the Rock after the show to discuss this more?" he asked, giving her a big smile.
"I have plans after the show. Please excuse me," she brushed past him.
"The Rock will be looking out for you," he grinned, checking her out as she walked away. Suddenly his grin turned into an angry frown when he saw the Undertaker step out of a side room and stare him down. The Rock stared at him for a few moments pacing then walked away.
Bella arrived at Hunter's locker room dropping the coffee tray on the table spilling some of the coffee making Hunter look up at her.
"Why the hell are you so pissed off? I'm sorry if bringing me coffee was such a burden," he asked.
"Its not about the coffee. The Rock is bugging me now. He wants to help me with the Undertaker. I told him I didn't need his help," she said, making Hunter give her a disappointed look.
"You should let the Rock help you. Let him think you like him. You lure him then I will destroy him," Hunter's face turned very serious. "Like I told you before, he is a contender for the championship, another person in my way. You can help take him out."
"I'm not messing with the Rock. Your last plan blew up and now I feel like the Undertaker is after me no matter what you say. You want to take Rock out, do it on your own," she stared at her brother defiantly.
"Bella, if I get the championship it means more money for Samantha. You want your niece to have all the best, right?"
"Of course."
"Then go tell the Rock you changed your mind. That Taker is still bothering you and you would like his help dealing with the deadman," Hunter grabbed her arm pulling her towards the door. She was about to protest when he put a finger up stopping her. "Go do it for your niece. You have to help me take care of her future." Bella gave him a defeated look heading into the hallway. She looked back as Hunter motioned for her to go before he went back into the locker room. She came around a corner and the Undertaker stepped out of the shadows blocking her way.
"Where are you going Bella?" he asked, towering over her.
"I have something to do, just leave me alone. I don't have time for your nonsense right now," she tried to get past him as he grabbed her arm pulling her back. "Why do you keep touching me? Let me go!" she exclaimed.
"I heard what Hunter told you to do. You're not going anywhere near the Rock. I told your brother not to use you again in his game now he has to face the consequences of not listening to me," he let her go heading towards Hunter's locker room. Bella stood in stunned silence watching him go.
"What the hell do you want, Deadman?" Hunter's voice rang out making Bella react and race around the corner into the locker room just in time to see Taker grab Hunter around the throat slamming him into a wall holding him off the floor.
"I told you Bella was not to be used in your games," Taker growled as Hunter started to turn bright red. "I warned you what would happen."
"Taker stop!" Bella came into the room trying to get in between Hunter and him. "Please put him down. Please don't hurt him. I'm not going to do what he asked. I won't go near the Rock. Please Taker," she pleaded with him.
Taker stared at her for a few moments then looked back at Hunter with a disgusted look before releasing him. Hunter dropped to the floor grabbing his neck.
"Bella, why did you tell him? This isn't his business," Hunter gasped for air questioning her. She went to answer and Taker motioned for her to be quiet.
"She didn't tell me I overheard what you asked and it is my business. You're part of the ministry now boy all your business is mine. You do what you are told or there are consequences," Taker stared at him with intense anger. "We will handle the Rock without using Bella. Do you understand now?"
"Yes," Hunter started to get up, giving Bella a very pissed off look.
"Don't look at her like that. You did this to yourself. She saved you. You should be thanking her," Taker went after Hunter again backing him into a wall.
"Enough! I didn't ask for your help," she got in between them pushing Taker back resting her hands on his chest to keep him away from Hunter.
"You don't have to ask for my help. I'm watching over you whether you like it or not," he paused looking down at her hands on his chest. "Now you're touching me," Taker smirked, making her shake her head in frustration as she stepped back from him.
"Hunter, I'm sorry I have to get out of here. I can't handle this." She looked at her brother with her tears in her eyes before running out the door.
"Are you going to go after her?" Taker asked as Hunter sat down.
"No, I have a match. I don't have time for her drama. You just said you're watching over her so go after her. She has caused me enough problems for tonight," Hunter said, not hiding that he was still angry with his sister. Undertaker shook his head in disbelief heading out the door in the direction Bella went.
After a few matches, the cameras cut to the Undertaker approaching the gates of a cemetery. He pushed the gates open going down a path. The sound of crying filled the air as he passed a row of trees and he stopped getting an eerie look on his face. Bella was sitting near one of the graves crying hysterically hugging herself.
"Richard and Margaret Helmsley, are they your parents?" Undertaker read the names out loud making Bella jump up and look at him in shock.
"Why won't you leave me alone? Did you follow me?" she asked, trying to wipe the black streaks of her tears away frantically.
"Your soul calls to me. I could find you anywhere. I'm now going to harm you just making sure you're ok. I told you I'm watching over you now," he came closer to her looking down at the grave stones again. "I lost my parents too. How did you lose yours?"
"They died in a fire a few years ago," she softly said, sinking back to the ground.
"Mine died in a fire too," Taker said, kneeling down next to her. "You feel comfortable being here, don't you?"
"I know it's messed up, it's my safe place. I enjoy coming here at night when it is quiet and I can be alone with my thoughts. Hunter says I'm a freak for finding comfort here especially at night. I don't feel alone here," she whispered looking up at the moonlit sky.
"You're not a freak. You are feeling the draw of the darkness. I understand what you're feeling. I can help you," he reached out, wiping a few tears from her cheek.
"You just want to sacrifice me," she pushed his hand away.
"If I wanted to do that to you, it would already be done. I haven't treated you like the others, have I?" he stared at her.
"No, you haven't. Then what do you want from me?"
"I do have a plan for you. I want to be there when you fall and welcome you into the darkness. I want to show you that you're not alone anymore. You'll be my beautiful fallen dark angel," he reached out again running a strand of hair through his fingers.
"I'm definitely not an angel and not going to become yours. You're creeping me out right now," she said, making him deeply laugh.
"Oh you can deny it now but one day you will be mine. You are an angel, you just don't see what I see inside you. You're not that creeped out, you're not trying to run from me. You feel the draw too," he stared into her eyes till she looked away nervously. "Bella, what can I do to earn your trust?"
"I don't want you to hurt Hunter again like you did tonight. My niece and him are all the family I have left," she looked back at him. Her eyes glimmered in the moonlight from the tears she was fighting.
"Always putting others before your needs," he frowned for a moment. "I give you my word, as long as your brother doesn't attack me I won't attack him. I will defend myself no matter how you feel about it and if Hunter gets hurt it's his own doing. Will you trust my word?" he kept his mesmerizing eyes locked on hers.
"Yes, I can trust that and if he comes after you he gets what he deserves," she nodded in agreement.
"I want to make one more deal with you tonight. It will not only be a way to earn your trust but it will teach you something."
"What is the deal?"
"I'm going to test your brother three times to prove my point to you that he is using you to get what he wants without caring what happens to you. If Hunter fails all three tests you agree to my one wish of you," he said as an evil glimmer came to his eyes.
"What happens if he passes one of them?"
"If he passes one test I will stop watching over you and leave you alone."
"What is your wish?" Bella softly asked. Undertaker stared at her intensely for a moment before leaning closer to her. He brushed her hair away from her ear whispering something. Her eyes went wide as he leaned back.
"Do you have enough faith in your brother to make this deal? Once you make it there is no breaking it. There is no way out of it. You say yes right now there is no going back," he warned her never taking his eyes off hers. She looked away from him for a moment staring at the ground then she took a deep breath looking back at him with a defiant spark in her eyes. "Do we have a deal, Bella?"
"Yes, you're wrong about Hunter. I trust Hunter to prove you wrong. We have a deal," she responded, making Undertaker wickedly smile.
"Bella, if we truly have a deal then seal it by taking my hand and joining me on a walk. We have more to talk about," he said standing up, putting out his hand to her. Bella hesitated for a few moments before taking his hand, letting him pull her up as the cameras cut out.