The Undertaker's Brides

Kaliegh paced the floor of the hut that she and Taker had been assigned while Thunder lay by the fire which was their only source of warmth on this cold winter night. Kaliegh once again thought back to what had become of Judy and wondered how she could be so stupid not to remember that Judy could have been saved. The exact same thing had happened to Kaliegh...only it was Paul Bearer that had "killed" her. But once she became aware, She was able to pull herself out of that particular dream. As a tear slid down her cheek for the sadness....and guilt she felt over Judy, she felt another's presence with her. She turned around to see The Undertaker standing before her. He looked very tired, but the sadness had lifted from his eyes.

"Taker...." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Kaliegh didn't quite know what to expect, and she hadn't been sure he would even return tonight...And now that he was back....for how long.

He drew her into his arms, hoping he would be able to sooth her aching heart with the news he brought about Judy. But before he could tell her, she began to speak.

"I have been incredibly stupid and selfish, Taker. I know that now." With that said, Kaliegh broke into a whole new barrage of body wracking sobs.

"Kaliegh...." The Undertaker started to say, but was cut off before he could say any more.

"No...Please let me say this." When the tears lessened up, Kaliegh took a deep breath and began to speak again.

"I knew how Judy felt about you, yet I pursued you, and as you know.....we ultimately ended up "together" I also knew that what I was doing would hurt Judy, but at the time it did not bother me. I had such low self-esteem that I had to HURT someone to make myself feel better. If I had just left well enough alone, Judy would have never ended up with Trace.....That is how I've been selfish....And this is how I've been stupid." Kaliegh said as she walked away from him a bit. She looked at him, her hands on her hips, obviously very disgusted with herself.

"I of all people should have remembered what happens when one is killed in the Dreamworld. I should have known that I could have reached out to Judy the very moment she died. I could have made her believe...made her become aware....And she would have been with us today. But I chose to believe that she was dead and that there was nothing that could be done to help her. I will never forgive myself for the pain I have caused Judy to endure...NOT EVER!"

The Undertaker looked at Kaliegh with care in his eyes. He felt her pain deep in his heart and felt the very same emotions in his own soul. He too was guilty of being careless and selfish....he wasn't about to let Kaliegh shoulder all the guilt.

"I knew the rules of the Dreamworld too, Kal. It's my duty to protect the Brides and I should have been the one to step up when Judy was in trouble....But I chose to step away instead and not believe. Pretty stupid on my part, I'd say. And yes, I was selfish as well. I used Judy as a replacement for you while you were gone. Knowing that it would break her heart did affect me either. But I promise you...there won't be anymore misery and heartache or carelessness and selfishness."

When the Undertaker was finished speaking, he walked over to Kaliegh and once again took her into his arms. Then gently cradling her face in his hands he said, "As long as we're being honest with each other and letting our true feelings out.....I love you, Kal. I always have."

A gasp of surprise escaped escaped Kaliegh's lips, but as she looked into his eyes, she saw that he was serious.

"I....I love you too, Taker." Kaliegh whispered softly as she tilted her head to accept his kiss. When their lips finally parted, he took her hand and sat her down by the fire. As he sat down beside her he said, "I have something else to tell you, Kal. I think it will make you very happy to hear this."

Kaliegh looked up at him, her eyes wide as she waited to hear his news. "Well??" She asked him, not able to wait any longer.

"Judy is going to be okey, Kal."

"WHAT??" Kaliegh asked, her face a combination of happiness and confusion. "Is she here?? I want to see her!!"

"She became aware when I, with the help of Lord Arawn, were able to reach her. However, she has decided to stay in the waking world."

"Oh..." Kaliegh said, the disappointment obvious in her voice. Then a smile spread across her face. "I'm glad she's okey though."

"Me too." Undertaker said, a genuine expression in his eyes.

While the Undertaker got up to let Thunder out for a bit, Kaliegh stared into the fire thinking about Judy and everything else that had happened since the Brides had been summoned to the Parlor. She also realized that she had not seen or heard from Kiri in awhile. Kaliegh knew that Kiri had gone back to her domain. She also suspected that Kiri was a little bit more than upset with Taker. When Taker and Thunder returned back inside, Kaliegh asked him about Kiri.

"Taker, is Kiri going to be alright too?? We haven't heard from her and I'm a little worried about her."

"Well, as you already know, Kiri is very upset with me...And I can't blame her one bit.....A huge wake-up call so to speak is what she gave me. Kiri is still in the Dreamworld but has opted to stay at the Parlor. She has also ordered me to stay away from her and her domain."

"Oh, Taker....I'm so sorry." Kaliegh said as she put any arm around him.

"I'm the one who's sorry, Kal." He said, deep sadness evident in his voice.

"How are your lessons coming along?" Kaliegh asked, hoping to change the subject to something a little less depressing.

"It's physically and emotionally draining. but it's something I feel good doing.....And if I want to continue to exist in this world, it's something I must do."

"Well, I'm glad you're doing it, Taker. I don't think I could stand to lose another I care so much about." Kaliegh said as she hugged him tightly.

************

Many hours later after the two lovers had exhausted themselves, Kaliegh lay sleeping in his arms. The Undertaker gently propped himself up on an elbow and gazed down into her peaceful face. He was once again overcome by how lucky he was to still have her here with him. He was sure that he had finally found the same love that Kane and Storm shared. The Undertaker knew that someday he would take her as his Lady, if she would have him as her Lord.

***************

Many months later when all of the lessons were learned, The Lord of Darkness and his Lady left the land of Annwn. They were anxious to return to the Undertaker's realm, but wanted to make one stop on the way. Kaliegh longed to see her sister, and The Taker hoped to finally make peace with Kiri. Finally they arrived at the Parlor. The Undertaker took a deep breath, while Kaliegh kissed him in the cheek for luck. Then she rang the door bell.......

Kane and Storm moved about their new, temporary living quarters in mostly silence as they got settled in. Each knew that the other was thinking about the baby, and the things they'd have to learn to be able to not only continue to live in the Dreamworld, but to bring a baby into it safely. The baby may not be real to the outside world, but here in their special world, it would be just as real as they were.

The two of them were there for what seemed like months, or would have been in "real time"..it was hard to tell there.. They had been taught many things, and both of them tried to absorb as much as they could so that they would be ready for whatever was thrown at them in the "future". There was always the threat now of the Vampire Colony, and that, most of all, is what both of them were worried about.

After saying their goodbyes to their gracious hosts, the two of them were then teleported back to Taker's realm, just outside the door. All seemed quiet there, too quiet. Kane opened the door, and took his bride by the hand, leading her inside the darkened entryway. Everyone was gone. Judy had decided to stay in the waking world, Jean was off with Mankind on an adventure of her own, Kiri was in her own parlor, and Taker and Kaliegh were still gone together to learn their own lessons. The others were all seperated now, and in their own dreamworlds.."back to normal", so to speak.

Kane and Storm looked at each other in the dark, and Kane brought up the lights just like his brother did back in the waking world. "Well, it sure is..different..around here now, isn't it?" Storm asked, looking around the room. It seemed somewhat depressing with everyone gone, as if they'd all "died". The two of them went silently through the house, Kane lighting up each room to make it more "alive", then they came back downstairs and he used his power again to light a fire in the fireplace.

Finally they sat down on the couch across from the fireplace and just cuddled up next to each other, Storm's head on Kane's chest, her legs pulled under her sideways on the couch. "Kane?" "Yes, love?" "Now that you know what the limitations are with having our baby, do you still want to go through with it?" Kane turned his head and looked down at her with what seemed like a funny expression, but it was hard to tell because he was still wearing his mask.

"Storm, of course I want to have our baby. It doesn't matter to me what anyone else thinks about it. As long as it's real to you and me, that's all that matters. I love you, and I want this." Storm used the arm she had draped across Kane's torso to squeeze him as hard as she could. "Me too." "While we're still alone, how about taking advantage of the situation and making this happen? I know it wouldn't be a "real" pregnancy, so to speak, but we can do this the way it was meant to be done anyway." Storm smiled up at him as he slowly took off his mask.

Several hours later, they were lying in each others' arms in their bed, just listening to the sounds of the night outside their window. The full moon that always seemed to be there shone brightly, lighting up the now darkened room with an eerie glow, and now and then wispy clouds would cross the face, casting shadows here and there. Kane was rubbing his wife's belly gently as they were entwined in each others' bodies. "Our baby, my love. It's already growing within you." Storm smiled sleepily, staring out the window. "Yes, it is. I'm sure he will be just like his daddy." The two of them fell asleep without another word, as the sounds of howling could be heard in the distance.

The match was scheduled for one fall, no time limit, no disqualification. Taker was suppose to win. It was going to be a walk in the park for the big man. As Taker made his way down toward the ring, the purple fog preceded him. His green eyed gaze fell on a familiar figure in the first row. The woman's face was turned away from him, but he'd know that profile anywhere. His steps faltered. It couldn't be! She was in the REAL WORLD! As he approached the ring, the woman met his eyes, starring deeply into them, then flashed him a dazzling smile. It WAS her! But How? And Why now? Taker stumbled on the steps as he climbed up to the ring, not once taking his eyes off the woman in the front row.

**********

It didn't take long at all, for him to loose the match, even though Taker was suppose to win. Stupid mistakes, errors in judgement, all went against him. His opponent looked at him questioningly, wondering what was up, but took full advantage of the situation. Finally, after the three count, Taker made his way rapidly back toward the locker room. Stopping a member of security, he sent the man after the woman in the front row, with instructions to escort her to his dressing room.

Taker had just stepped out of the shower and was drying off when he heard the outer door open and close. Wrapping a towel around his narrow waist, he went to see if she had come. She was standing with her back to him.

Judy turned when he cleared his throat, and stepped forward to give and receive a hug from this massive man.

"And to what do I owe this honor? I thought you wasn't comming back!" He asked as his eyes swept her figure. Something had changed. She wasn't the same, somehow.

"I came back here to tell you, to tell you all. Trace was not a Dream World Vampire. He came from the Real World. I came to tell you, you should have listened to me when I begged you to end it before it started. Jean was wrong. In this instance, she didn't know what she was talking about. Trace came here to join two seperate groups of vampires,into one huge group. Vampires have invaded the dreamworld and the waking world all through the legends. Taker, he WAS a real vampire. Not one you could "realize" away. And because y'all "brought me back" instead of letting me stay "dead", I am now a vampire as well. I tell you this to warn you all. Kane spoke the truth about Trace! Kane knows, he's one of the few humans that does know. Listen to what he can tell you all!" Her eyes had a most unusual brilliance about them.

Taker didn't know what or how to respond, so he walked over to his bag, and began to dress. After he had his clothes on, he turned back to face this Bride.

"Kaliegh and I spent some time in Annwn." He informed her softly.

"I know! We are aware of most things that affect those near to us." She chose to ignore the implications there in his brief statement. "Taker, the lessons you learned may or may not be beneficial to you in this instance. I'm not saying they won't come in handy, BUT, you have your own strengths and powers aside from those you learned in Jean's fantasy world of Annwn. When you called all the Brides together, you told us all to look to our hearts. I now tell you the same thing. Open up your heart and listen to what it tells you!" Judy slowly faded away before his very eyes, leaving him stunned and confused with a bunch of unanswered questions.

**********

"And then she disappeared." Taker and Kane were the only two still up. Taker had asked Kane to wait a minute when Storm suggested they go to bed.

"She came back for a reason. Not just to warn us, but there's something else." Kane had started pacing back and forth.

"Yes but what?" Taker stared down at his hands folded together on laying on the table.

Kane ceased his pacing, then turned to his older brother. "Did she say where she was staying?" He watched his brother intently, already knowing the answer.

"No she didn't. What do you suggest we do?" Taker's voice was quiet, hushed.

"I'll have to think about this!" Kane stared at Taker, then left the room.

************

"Judy's back." Kane stated flatly as he closed the door behind him.

"When? Where?" Storm ran to her husband excited at the prospect of seeing her friend again.

"Not so fast Storm! She's not the same as she was. She's a Vampire! She came back to warn us. Of what, I'm not sure!" Kane wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her close.

Storm was suddenly very frightened. She sensed trouble ahead for them all. Holding on to Kane, Storm buried her face into his huge chest and began to tremble....

Book Twenty Three of The Undertaker's Brides

© 1998 by The Brides of Darkness

**This story cannot be used in any way without written permission