The Undertaker's Brides

Judy finally had enough of the rude customers that came into Krogers. She finally got up the courage to quit a job she'd held for nearly nine years. Going home that afternoon, she took stock of her life and found it lacking in nearly all areas; The Brides and The Lord of Darkness being the only exceptions. Having finally made the decision, the house she'd lived in for 15 years was quickly sold as was nearly everything in it.So, after quiting her job, selling everything she owned, Judy was on her way to East Tennessee to start over. This just 2 weeks after an incredible time spent with the Brides.

Everytime she thought about the way Kaliegh stopped the fight, she burst out laughing. Bearer tried to steal the urn back while everyone watched the confrontation between the two huge men. And poor Storm! Torn between the two of them!!!! Storm's position was a difficult one at best. Loving kane, but feeling the bond with the Taker and the Brides. Storm really had her hands full what with trying to bring about peace between the two brothers and show Paul Bearer for what he was.

By the end of Judy's first week there, she'd purchased a cabin in the mountains, furnished it the way she wanted & found a job she'd always wanted. So why was she so unhappy? Standing at the window, looking out at the moon-lit view before her, Judy thought about all that had transpired in the past weeks. The time spent with the Brides had been amazing. Kaliegh called to let her know how everyone was doing after she left to go back home. She missed the Brides company, missed their e-mails. One thing was certain, she was going to have to hook the computer back up tomorrow.

Sighing deeply, Judy put out her cigarette,& finished her drink as she turned away from the open window. Her silk pajamas offered little protection from the chilly mountain breeze gusting through the open windows. Closing them against the chill, she turned to face the darkened room, having decided to turn in for the night. Before she could move from the spot where she was standing, the feeling of anothers presence came over her. Unalarmed by the feeling of not being alone anymore, she peered into the darkness to find the one who was there, at peace for the first time in weeks.

"Why are you sad?" The softly spoken words came from the chair in the corner, hidden by the dark.

"You shouldn't just appear like that. You should sort of ease into it." came the gentle rebuke as she bent down to retrieve an afghan to wrap around her before turning on the lamp..

Chuckling softly, he repeated his question,"Why are you sad?" Sitting in the over-stuffed chair, right ankle resting on left knee, finger tips touching, he waited patiently for her reply. Dark auburn hair was loose and flowing, laying across one shoulder, his green eyed gaze warm and inviting.

"I miss my friends." She said as she quietly studied the man across from her as she sat down on the large square ottoman, pulling the afghan tighter about her.

"So call them or e-mail them" His eyes never left her face, quietly studying her reaction.

"I will. Why are you here?" Her blue eyes meeting and holding his green ones.

"I felt you needed someone tonight." Before she knew what was happening, he was kneeling before her, holding her by the shoulders.

Unaware why, tears poured down her cheeks. Sliding her arms around his massive shoulders, Judy buried her face in the place where neck and shoulder met, and cried like her heart was breaking.. Thickly muscled arms went around her as he gave comfort, to this, his most confusing "Bride".

"Hush now, it's not THAT bad surely". He growled softly; gently rocking the distraught woman back & forth. Gradually her sobs subsided.

Pulling away from him, she was overcome with embarassment over her display. "Lord, forgive me. I don't know what came over me. I'm not usually the crying type. It's just....." Not knowing how to proceed, her words just trailed off.

"Look to your heart,and listen to what it tells you." Gently he wiped away her tears.

Starring deep into his hypnotic gaze, all she could think of was a song she'd heard once. It was called "A CHANCE". Suddenly,she laughed out loud. Puzzlement filled his eyes as a ghost of a smile touched his lips. "What?"

"I was thinking of a song. It's called "A CHANCE". It reminds me of you".

"I know! I know the song well." A strange look entered his eyes.

"A question? Before you leave?" Nodding his permission, he waited for her to continue as he helped her to her feet.

"May I kiss you?" Unable to meet his eyes, she stared at the middle button on the black plaid flannel shirt he had on. Dark auburn curls peeked out above the buttons, realizing this, her face flamed even more.

Without a word, he lifted her chin till her eyes met his,lowered his head and softly kissed her hot cheek. As before, when he'd kissed her hand, Judy fainted dead away.

He caught her easily in his arms, and carried her to the sofa where he carfully laid her down. Softly chuckling, it finally occured to him that HE had this affect on this Bride, of the tender heart.

As he turned out the lamp, a deep rumble of laughter filled the cabin as he realized the extent of the effect he had on this Bride. His pleasure at the thought was apparent from the smile on his sensual lips. Never would he thought it possible that he had that affect on a woman. Looking down at Judy one last time, he noticed a smile on her lips even though she was still "out". Laughing at this new insight, he left the same way he had entered, but this time much lighter of heart.

"She'll be alright", He thought as he stood outside looking back at her cabin, hands jammed deep into the back pockets of his tight black jeans. Something else occured to him; he was dressed in the clothes she liked him best in.. He had wanted to please her. Her and all the other Brides just wanted to please and help him. Tonight, he was able to give a little bit back.

Gradually, the satisfied smile disappeared. He hoped nothing untoward hapened to this, his most tender-hearted Bride. Things still weren't settled between him and Kane. The Lord of Darkness would walk through Hell to protect his Brides from those that would harm them. By all that was Holy or unholy, he would.........

Wind, colder than the grave, swirled around her. Her long tendrils of auburn hair snapped at her face, stinging her red cheeks and blinding her watering eyes as she stumbled over the fog covered ground. Each step upon the frozen ground sent a lance of pain up her exposed legs. Alone in the mists she cried "Why am I here? What do you want from me? Please!" Tears of pain, frustration and agony rolled down as she continued towards the distant horizon. She expected no answer ... she'd never gotten one the last six times she'd had this nightmare. Each time she'd awoken to the howling of her pets and the chill feeling that someone ... something had been watching her as she slept.

She stumbled to the ground with a yelp of pain and surprise as her toes struck a cold unyielding force beneath the rolling mists. As she lifted her face from cold damp ground, she saw a tombstone before ... bearing her name ...

"But I saw ... Kane and Paul Bearer ... This can't be real. It's not real! I dreamed this. Well, not THIS, but I've had this nightmare before!"

"Then why are you afraid, little one?" A voice whispered in the wind. "Why are you afraid?" Her head snapped around looking for the speaker, she was still alone in the dark. The wind did not cease, but it softened. The mists cleared a small bit and she could see the ground again. A nervous laugh bubbled forth, she couldn't stop it. Her graveyard stretched before her, but she knew that this tombstone was not in her graveyard. She'd have known. She'd have protected it against Paul Bearer and Kane's evil act so long ago.

"Yes, we know." Her mysterious dream host whispered again.

Drawing her courage around her like a blanket against the cold, she rose and asked "Why am I here? Why did you bring me here?" Her voice barely trembled and she took some comfort in that until her hounds howled in the distance. The wind suddenly roared and she was knocked off her feet onto her ass by it. And it screamed "REVENGE!" She was stunned by the fall, by the force of the spirit around her, and by the cold, wet pain in her ass from the hard and damp ground beneath her.

"Okay! I get it! Stop smacking me around. I'm not your bloody enemy!" She got up only onto her knees to try to avoid being slammed around again as she spoke.

The wind ebbed again and the mists began to swirl in lazy patterns before her. Then the mist took a shape ... a wolf with glowing red eyes and still more mist stirred about it's form. Kiri started a bit.

Wolves were common enough in dreams, but they had a special meaning for her which upset her a bit that this ... spirit ... choose this appearance.

"I choose it for you, daughter. You said I should be this in your mind." The whispers came again this time from the mist-wolf in front of her. The voice was softer now, more feminine.

"But I ... how?"

"We touched the minds of our sons' loves. They had reached out to a few and we could not speak to them. You had not been called. We called to you, Mistress. You who dwelled in the morgue, in the dark, nearer to us."

"Okay, so I'd freak out the least? That's what you thought?"

"No, daughter. We called out to you because the other girls could not hear us over our sons." The voice chided softly. The mists continued to swirl about the mist-wolf. Adding to it, taking away from it, a living part of it. Then that mist swirled away from the wolven form leaving tendrils behind as if it did not want to part but had to. It coalsed into another familiar form, a mountain loin stood proudly beside the wolf as they regarded her with their glowing red orbs.

Her question caught in her throat as she saw this. The mother wolf ... a teacher ... and her mate ... the mountain lion ... a guardian ... "How ... how did you know?"

"We know you, daughter" a deep mascinine voice whispered from the mist-lion. "We know all of your secrets."

She shook her head to clear it. "Why am I here?"

The two dream forms looked at each other before the mother wolf spoke. "We need the truth to be told. We need ..." the voice broke as it tried not to cry.

"We need your sons ... to remember ... to come back to us ... to know what Paul did so long ago." The lion finished as it caressed the wolf with it's nose.

"Paul set the fire?" She said it more than she asked it. They nodded. "He ... he ... I'm so sorry ... he raped you?" Again they nodded, but the list-wolf seemed to pull away a bit.

"It's not your fault! Please!" Kiri's mind raced furiously, the desire to hurt Paul Bearer filled her with rage but the need to reach out and try to comfort this hurting soul overwhelmed that feeling ... for now. "No one blames you. No one." She had beguin tocreep forward slowly and was now before the two hazy forms and her hand brushed the head of the wolf.

*****

Heat ... pain ... the flames roared around her. She struggled trying to reach him, but the flames had engulfed the room. She was crying out for him, begging him to get up and come to her. His still form could not answer her pleas. A hand ... hurtful ... grabbed her and tried to pull her from the burning home. A home the two parents had built together, the place their sons were born, where their daughter was born, it was filled with memories ... good and bad ... She pulled free of the hand and looked into the fat face of her husband's murderer.

"I'll die here, Paul, before I'll go anywhere with you." She struck him as hard as she could, but such a large man ... even as young as he was ... would barely be hurt by such a weak blow. But the pain and anger in his eyes told a different story. She saw the fist and didn't flinch as he struck her. The hard floor beneath her was hot ... Too hot ... and the last words she heard were "It's not over, bitch. I have your sons and your daughter. It's not over. You'll never rest. NEVER!" Then blackness engulfed her and she found herself in her husband's arms.

*****

Kiri awoke in her own bed. Her alarm clock blaring loudly in her ear and the anger that was pent up inside of her bubbled forth and the clock was ripped from the wall and hurled out the window. As she through back the knotted covers, she saw the bruises and cuts of her dreamwalk and knew ...

Paul Bearer was gonna pay.

Kaliegh sat by the window wondering if her theory was true. She had the idea that since the Brides had a telepathic link with The Undertaker, then maybe they would be able to contact Kane as well. Deciding to test her theory, she crawled into bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Soon, she became aware that she was dreaming and started trying to contact Kane. When her skin suddenly became very warm, she knew she had reached him

"Kane," she whispered to him, "Please, I need to talk to you."

Kane, baffled by the appearence of this woman is his dream, cocked his head to one side and looked at her intently.

"My name is Kaliegh." she said to him. "I am one of your brother's Brides." With this statement, Kane backed away from her, a look of doubt in his eyes. "I mean you no harm." she reassured him. "I just want to talk to you." Kane relaxed again and mentally asked her to continue. Kaliegh took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Okey," she started, "What I have to say will probley be very hard for you to believe, and some of the things I say will be hurtful to you. But believe me, the last thing I want to do is hurt you." Kane nodded that he understood and sat down in the nearest chair to listen.

"Kane, I know you think that your brother was the one who started the fire that killed your parents." Kane became upset by this statement and started towards her.

"Kane, please....." she pleaded to him. "Please, hear me out." He sat down again and Kaliegh continued.

"The Undertaker didn't start that fire, Kane. Whether you believe it or not, it was your very own father that lit the house ablaze. For whatever reason, I do not know. But it definatly was daddy that killed your parents." She added a bit of sarcasm to the last line and then looked at Kane to see his reaction.

'Poor Kane' she thought to herself. Being brainwashed by that hidious Paul Bearer. He looked so alone and confused.

"Kane," she said to him, "Your father has poisened your mind into believing that your brother killed your parents. Do you really think The Undertaker would have stayed away from you all your life if he had known you where alive? Just another one of your father's many lies."

Apparently Kane had heard enough. He was upon her with lightening like speed. He slapped a huge hand around her neck and began to choke her. Before her world went black, she looked into Kane's eyes and saw a single tear sliding down his cheek

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

Kaliegh woke up the next morning with a jolt. She was incredibly exhausted and her throat hurt like hell. She concluded that her theory about Kane must have been true, even though she could only remember bits and pieces of the experience. With a shrug, she looked over at the window and was stunned to see The Undertaker sitting in the window seat watching her.

"Jesus," she said to him, "Don't you ever knock? You scared the hell out of me!" With a look of amazement in his eyes, he began to speak.

"I want to thank you for what you put yourself through last night, Kal." The Undertaker got up and sat down beside her on the bed. Brushing a few stray hairs out of her eyes, he began to speak once more.

"I thought the Brides might be able to contact Kane, but I really didn't know for sure. I'm just thankful that I was able to sense your danger before he really hurt you or even worse...." "I think I..." Kaliegh started to say, but was interupted by The Undertaker. "Don't worry about all that right now." he said to her with a gentle look in his eyes. "Just know that I am very greatful." Kaliegh looked into his beautiful eyes and said, "I would do anything to help you."

"I know....I know." he said with respect in his eyes. "Now, you get some rest and we'll talk more about this later."

As The Lord of Darkness got up to leave, he bent over and kissed her gently on the forhead. With a sigh, Kaliegh fell into a dreamless sleep; knowing soon, she would contact Kane again.

Storm woke up with a sense of urgency. She was in Kane's room at Bearer's house and rolled over to peer at the clock on the nightstand. 2:00 pm.. She blinked to make sure she was seeing it right, and immediately felt alarmed. Bearer never let her sleep past lunch. He insisted that they all eat together every day without fail, so this just didn't make sense.

Rolling out of bed, she hurriedly dressed in a purple velvet dress and headed out to look for Kane. She walked down the long hallway, peeking in each door she passed for any sign of Kane or Bearer. When she reached the living room she saw Bearer sitting on the couch, staring at the Tv, but no sign of Kane. "Where's Kane?" She asked, her suspicion rising.

"Welll...good afternoon to you too." He grinned insincerely at her, eyeing the cleavage which spilled over her dress. She adjusted the dress and glared at him."Can the act, Bearer. Where is he?"

"I don't know. Last time I saw him he was outside by the creek." Without another word, Storm turned on her heel and stalked out the sliding glass doors in back of the house. She made her way down the sloping hill and into the woods where she found Kane sitting on the ground, his knees pulled up to his chin. He was picking up small rocks and tossing them into the creek absent-mindedly.

"Kane?" She spoke quietly so as not to startle him. "Are you okay?"

Kane turned around slowly to look at her, and the sadness in his eyes broke her heart into tiny little pieces.

"Kane!" She rushed forward, sitting on the ground next to him and placing an arm around his broad shoulders. "What happened?" Kane hung his head low and his shoulders began to shake. Storm lifted his chin with her finger and saw that he was crying. "My father.." he rasped, dropping his head again. Storm felt the rage building up inside her at that vile human being's very mention.

"What about him? What did he do to you?"

Kane shrugged, and she wondered if she would get anything else out of him. He was silent for a long time, throwing rocks into the stream again. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned to her.

"I had a visitor in my dreams last night..her name was Kaliegh. She said she was one of my brother's Brides. Then she said..." He stopped talking and that pained expression crossed his face again. He took another deep breath and spoke again..

"She said that my dad set that fire..the fire that killed my parents.."

With all this out in the open, he seemed to collapse. His shoulders dropped and he leaned into her, letting her hold and comfort him. She held him against her breast, stroking his hair gently.

"Kane, you know that I've been telling you that Paul has been lying to you, but you always seemed to resist. Does this convince you now?" Her voice was soft, but prodding.

He shrugged again, and she knew it would take a bit more to convince him fully..although it seemed it was finally beginning to sink in. If only they could somehow trap Paul Bearer into admitting it. Storm wondered if she could somehow get the Undertaker's Brides to help her with this plan..She would try to reach them in her dreams tonight...

Cyn and Kiowa decide to go over to the Parlor after trying for hours to get a hold of Kiri. Cyn's car refuses to start, so off they go on Kiowa's Harley. They reach the Parlor in record time to find an unconscious Kiri on the floor! Cyn's in the process of dialing 911 when Kiri wakes up, and asks, "What day is it?" Well, it turns out that Kiri was unconscious for 2 days! Kiowa and Cyn help Kiri to the kitchen to get her a drink and some nourishment.

The front opens and slams, Cyn runs in to see who the intruder is. Standing in the doorway was her beloved Bubby!! Soaked from head to toe and shivering. Cyn immediately gets a blanket from the hutch and wraps it around him and embraces him. "Is Kiri alright?" He asks. "I chased Kane all over hell, I caught him, we scuffled, I fell and hit my head, woke up in a stream. I'm FINE, HOW'S Kiri?"

Kiowa comes out and replies, "Kiri is fine, she's having a cup of tea right now. Get those wet clothes off and we'll get you something to eat!! Kaleigh is going to want to know what's going on around here, I'm gonna call her AND all the other Brides too" We have to work together if we're ever going to make things right around here before someone gets killed!!"

Kiowa decides to call Kaleigh first. Kaleigh decides contact Kane. Kiowa is relentless, making call after call until ALL the Brides have been notified.

**********

Storm manages to get Kane to rest after a stressful day mentally. She strokes his hair and assures him that everything will be resolved in due time. Paul Bearer walks right into the room without knocking. He grabs Storm by the arm and pulls her out of the room so that their confrontation would not disturb his son's peaceful sleep.

He drags her down the hall and shoves her into what looks to be a library. He locks the door and immediately starts slinging accusations.

"You Bride of the Undertaker, all you Brides!! You've poisoned my son's mind against me! If it were in my power, I'd KILL you all, you venomous bitches!! You've all ruined my life!" Storm replies, "Why can't you tell the truth? All you seem to know how to do is lie and steal!"

Bearer gives Storm a very hard slap, knocking her to the floor. He climbs on top of her and start pounding on her unmercifully. Storm screams and fights back to no avail. She hears a muffled voice, "Storm, let me in" Bearer puts his hand over her mouth and pulls at a book, the entire bookshelf slides over to reveal a secret passage.

"You're going into the basement, it's sound proof down there so you can scream to you hearts content and DIE!"

Kane then breaks down the door and speaks, "My Father, you are indeed EVIL, you wish to lock Storm is the basement and kill all my brother's brides!! Let go of the girl and stand aside or I will be forced to hurt you!" Paul Bearer falls to his knees in tears, sobbing he says; "After all I done for you, took care of you all these years, I am your Father, I'm the ONLY one that LOVES YOU and YOU threaten to do ME harm?" Kane just sweeps up the injured Storm in his arms and leaves the house. Storm asks, "Where are you taking me Kane" He responds, "To the Parlor, Kaleigh, my brother and the other Brides are waiting for us there"

*******

Everyone, with the exception of Kane and Storm, is sitting around in a huge dining room just talking strategy. Undertaker is sitting quietly by the fire, just staring into it, mesmerized. All kinds of suggestions are being thrown around on how to proceed. Kaleigh points out that Kane is on the way and he will know what to do to remedy the situation. Taker FINALLY speaks, "Not even Kane will be able to get Bearer to confess to his misdeeds, it's hopeless!"

Cyn starts being out HUGE bowls of food, salad, a huge Pot Roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, a meal fit for a king. "Come on folks, Kane and Storm will be here any minute, let's have something to eat and finish this discussion over dinner. Everyone has to be a little hungry by now!" The doorbell rings.

**********

Bearer is beside himself!! He then gets up off the floor! He managed through his sobs to hear Kane tell Storm he was taking her to the Parlor. "Well, My Son no longer loves me, they will all be there together plotting against me! Well, I will NOT be put asunder! I WILL KILL THEM ALL!" With that, he gets up and leaves the room.

****

Back at the Parlor, Kiri opens the door to see Kane and Storm on the other side. Kiri leaps backward in fear. Kaleigh leaps up and embraces Kane. "Now that we are all here," Cyn interrupts, "We'll all sit our Butts down and eat a good meal and figure out what to do about all has happened. No one can think straight on an empty stomach!"

So everyone gathers around the table. Cyn raises her glass, "A toast, TO LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, Sisterhood and THE TRUTH!" Everyone raises their glasses in agreement, drinks the toast. Kane speaks "It will be hard to get Father to tell the truth" Taker replies, "My Brother, he will tell the truth if I have to tear his head off" (Takes a Fork full of mashed potatoes) Cyn pipes up; "Yeah, and I'll shit down the Son of a Bitches neck!" Laughter fills the room as mashed potatoes fly out of Taker's nose.

*********

Looking in the window, Paul Bearer is witnesses to the laughter and becomes more Furious!! "Even that EVIL Undertaker laughs at my expense. This will not go on for long!" Bearer quietly hatches his plan of destruction, pouring gallons of gasoline all over the outside of the Parlor walls. He then strikes a match...

Book Four of The Undertaker's Brides

© 1998 by The Brides of Darkness

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