The Undertaker's Brides

As soon as Nikki awoke, she knew that something horrible had happened during the night. She had no way of knowing what, exactly, but she could feel the air of gloom and the heaviness of sorrow settle upon everyone in the Parlor like a shroud. Dreading the fact that she would soon find out what had happened to crush everyone's spirits so effectively, she sighed and got out of bed with a heart already heavy with dread. She began dressing, but stopped in mid motion when she heard Storm's anguished sobs coming from the hallway. Running a brush through her hair quickly, she gathered her courage and went downstairs.

Everyone was sitting in the main room of the Parlor, faces impossibly aged and drawn with grief. Storm was in Kane's arms, and he was holding her tenderly as she wept. 'My God,' Nikki thought in amazement. 'Are those tears in his eyes, too??' She looked quickly over at Taker, and was further shocked at the look of defeat marring his beautiful features. Spinning around nervously, she caught sight of Kiri and Cyn. The Mistress was crying quietly in the corner, and Cyn's face was white with misery as she did her best to comfort Kiri. Judy was gazing out the window, holding herself tightly as if in fear she was about to fall apart. Even Kiowa, one of the more tough-minded Brides, was leaning back against the couch tiredly, her eyes closed and her mouth tight with... was it anger? Dismay? Whatever she was feeling, it was the finality of her expression that caused Nikki's stomach to sink and turn into a ball of lead deep inside her. There was no sign of Kaliegh or Jean. 'As much as I hate to ask this,' Nikki thought morbidly, 'I have to know what the hell has happened.' Drawing upon the last of her inner strength, Nikki took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak.

"Can someone please tell me what the little fucker did now?" She narrowed her eyes and let her gaze once again roam the room, as if to reassure herself that they were all still there. She hoped desperately that Kaliegh and Jean would both appear. But when they didn't she feared the worst. Her suspicions were confirmed only moments later when Kiowa barked out a laugh that sent shivers down her spine and ran a hand raggedly through her hair.

"Which do you want first - the bad news, or the worse news?" Kiowa sighed.

"Is it gonna make a difference?" Nikki replied tiredly. "Whatever it is, I can see that it couldn't possibly make things any worse. As long as it explains why Jean and Kaliegh aren't here, I want to know. Let me be the judge of how I'm gonna react to it."

"Alright, then...just remember, you asked for it," Kiowa spat out. "Jean was transformed into a hound last night. And Kaliegh is dead. There - now you know." She drove her clenched fist into the arm of the sofa roughly, hoping to dispel some of her anger with physical pain before she exploded.

"What?? Jean's a dog now? And Kaliegh's DEAD?!?!?" Nikki was stunned. She could feel the tremors beginning to wrack her body, and her eyes filled quickly with tears. She brushed them away angrily and continued.

"Did the twisted little bastard creep in here while we were sleeping and strangle her? Or was he too busy laughing at her as he smothered her with her own pillow?!?" Hearing a sharp whimper from Kiri and Storm's wail of regret, she stopped her diatribe. "I'm sorry if I'm making it worse for all of you. But this is complete bullshit! How the hell could this have gone on right in front of our noses?!?!? We were all RIGHT HERE!!!"

"If you need to blame someone, then I want you to place the blame on me," the Lord of Darkness stated quietly. "If I had managed to stay awake, Bearer would never have gotten inside the door, much less had the opportunity to threaten any of you. I should never have let my Brides down." His arresting green eyes were filled with remorse as he looked down at the Parlor floor.

"NO!" Nikki snarled. She charged at him, roughly placing both hands on either side of his jaw and forcing his head up to meet her fierce gaze. "It was Bearer's fucking fault, NOT YOURS." She frantically acknowledged that her language was less than becoming, but she was too furious and too full of hate to care. "Don't you EVER blame yourself for what happens to any of us. NEVER! We knew damn well what we were getting into when we chose to help you. CHOSE to come here. Don't you see?!? By blaming ourselves for this, we're letting the revolting pig WIN!!! Do you really think that Jean would want you to shoulder the responsibility for what happened to her? Would Kaliegh?" She dropped her hands, but refused to look away.

"None of that seems to matter now," he said quietly, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "I had sworn to protect you, all of you, and I failed. And now all of my Brides are paying the price for my crimes. And I won't stand for it. Kiri, please see if you have any sleeping pills handy. You're all going back to sleep, and you're all going home. From this moment on, I'll deal with Bearer myself." He looked over at his brother, his eyes hardening with the promise of retribution. "Kane, I want you to take Storm upstairs and stay with her until she falls asleep. Then I need you to come back here so that we can devise a strategy. Bearer is going to pay for this with his life." Kane only nodded and gathered Storm into his arms. Wordlessly, he began to carry her upstairs. Taker turned his gaze back to Nikki. "I thank you all, my Brides, but I want you to go back to your homes now. There's nothing more I need you to do for me. It's finished."

"The hell it is," Nikki hissed. Before he could stop her, she rose onto her toes and leaned forward. Wrapping her hands in his beautiful long hair, she tilted her head to the side and kissed him fiercely. Then, without a backward glance, she raced to the door, tugged it open, and ran out into the dawn.

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As soon as she was far enough from the Parlor to avoid being seen, Nikki snuck back through the trees to the street, where all the Brides had parked their cars. She vaguely remembered reading an email from Judy telling them that she carried a gun in her glove compartment for protection - and a gun right now, Nikki mused, would come in mighty handy. She crept around Judy's car to the driver's side door and raised her head up just far enough to look inside. 'Damn. Of course, all the doors would have to be locked,' she smirked. 'And Judy is my friend, so I refuse to break into her car. They're all probably angry enough at me without me making the situation worse. But wait a minute!' Nikki smiled as the idea came to her. 'We seem to be living in an alternate world right now, anyway. So I wonder what would happen if I closed my eyes and concentrated on the key?' Grinning, she put her idea into action and seconds later was rewarded with the feel of cold metal in the palm of her hand. 'Bingo!' Smiling smugly, she unlocked the door and crept into the car. She retrieved the gun from the glove box, then locked the door once again and closed it quietly. Pocketing both the key and the weapon, she felt her hopes rise again; the feeling was enough to renew all her determination. 'Look out, Bearer,' she silently cautioned. 'It's party time.'

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Paul Bearer threw back the sweat-soaked blankets and muttered in his sleep. Those damn Brides had set him back a pace or two, but was he ready to give up? Oh, no! Was he going to continue until every last one of the filthy tramps slept forever in the cold, hard ground? Oh, yes! Smiling, he wrapped one fat arm around the pillow and drifted deeper into sleep. As a consequence of his restless night, he never even heard the window open, or the sound of someone enter his darkened bedroom.

"Wake up, Bearer," a female voice grated.

The repulsively obese little man opened one eye just as he felt the cold steel touch the flesh of his sweaty cheek. One of the Undertaker's filthy Brides was standing above him, looking down at him with a deadly gleam in her icy blue-green eyes. Both of his eyes flew open as he shrank back from the sight of the gun's barrel. And the bitch had the nerve to point it right at his face! Angry beyond words, he sneered up at the intruder, only to come face-to-face with Nikki, the Bride who he wanted to punish the most for lack of respect. He had many reasons for wanting to hurt the Brides, but it looked like he would be able to get rid of the gutter-mouthed one sooner than most. He smiled up at her smarmily as he realized how very much the idea pleased him.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the trashy Bride. How dare you break into my home?"

"Shut up." Nikki glared down into his piggy eyes and cocked the hammer.

"If it were up to me, I'd kill you right now, you fat-assed piece of crap. But as much as that idea might appeal to me, you're going to live...for the time being, anyway. You're coming back to the Parlor with me, Tubby. I think you have some 'splainin' to do. Any idea why our number seems to have dwindled so mysteriously since last night?"

"Get your whore's hands off of me!" He shrieked. "You don't really think you'll get away with this?!? My son - "

"Your son hates your guts, Tubby. For betraying him, and for what you did to Jean and Kaliegh. They were are friends, and YOU tried to destroy them. And let's not forget what you've done to Storm - Kane and Taker both want your blood for that. I can't wait until they get to you!" Nikki slid the muzzle of the gun over his three quivering chins, down his chest, and all the way down to the sickening area between his disgusting legs. "Now, the way I see it, you have two choices - you can either get your fat butt out of bed and come with me, or I can finish you off right here and right now. So what's it gonna be?" She grinned coldly at him and pressed the gun down a little harder.

Bearer squealed like a pig at the assault on his manhood and sprung out of bed, almost falling to the floor in his haste to gain his feet. He wasn't about to take any chances with her... the bitch had a mouth like a truck driver and didn't show any respect towards him, so why wouldn't she be remorseless and trigger-happy as well? Paul Bearer, for one, was not about to test his limits with someone so psychotic. Oh, no. He reached for his pants, feeling her tug sharply on the arm of his pajamas.

"Would you mind terribly if I at least took the time to dress? I'm not going anywhere until I look presentable," he intoned sarcastically.

"That's what you think," Nikki sneered. "I don't care how you look - you're disgusting no matter WHAT you're wearing. We're going." She trained the gun on his face as she used her other hand to tie the belt of his robe around his wrists. Then she jabbed the gun into his huge, protruding belly. Nikki all but hissed the next word at him as she shoved him toward the door.

"Now."

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The Brides were still gathered in the large front room of the Parlor, anxiously awaiting news of Nikki's fate. Taker had waited all of three minutes before he stalked out after her; all Kane could do was try to comfort the rest of the women as best he could while they waited for his return. Storm was asleep in his arms. Tenderly, he brushed her hair out of her pale face and held her closer. She was infinitely special to him, as he imagined all the Brides must be to his brother. It was hard enough for him to deal with what had happened to Kaliegh; if anybody ever dared to lay so much as a finger on his Storm, he would rip them apart. He - His train of thought was broken as Nikki and Paul Bearer came through the doorway, his brother right at their heels.

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"The Tribunal will now come to order." Cyn rapped the wooden spoon against the edge of the sofa, calling everyone's attention to where Tubby was tied to the kitchen chair in the center of the room. She hazarded a look at the Undertaker, who was glaring at Nikki and chewing on the inside of his lip. He was furious with her. But there would be plenty of time to deal with that later.

"Paul Bearer, you are charged by the Brides with the crimes of sorcery and murder. How do you plead?"

"GUILTY!" the Brides shouted before he could answer. Many of them had tears rolling down their faces. That is, all of them except for Kiowa and Nikki - they were looking at Tubby with sheer hatred in their eyes. Bearer glared back defiantly, looking for all the world like a man wronged.

"You'll never get away with this!" he shrieked. "You're all stupid if you think that the police won't come looking for me! Oh, yes! They - "

"How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?!" Nikki charged forward and slapped the fat man sharply across the face. She shook her head at his audacity and stepped back to stand beside Kiowa.

"Okay, Nikki, you seem to have planned this all out from the very beginning, when you ran off and scared us shitless," Cyn grinned at her.

"I'm sorry," Nikki said quietly. She looked at the floor to hide the guilt that she felt for scaring her friends. "But I was angry, so I reacted. Can we talk about this later, please?"

"We'll talk about it right... now..." The Lord of Darkness growled. His eyes full of green fire, he grabbed Nikki's arm and pulled her from the room. As he was closing the door behind them, he stuck his head and shoulders back in and gazed at all the Brides fondly. "Thank you, Cyn," he murmured. "Please carry on without us. I'll be back soon."

Everyone watched as the door snicked quietly shut behind him, silently wondering what he would say to Nikki for slamming out of the Parlor as she did. Cyn turned to look at Bearer, only to catch Tubby smiling at this most recent turn of events. 'He probably thinks that Nikki is going to be punished for leaving against Bubby'swishes,' she thought. 'And all we can do is let him, because judging by thelook on Bubby's face, none of US are too sure what's he's going to say,either. He's furious with her! Man, I'm glad I'm not in her shoes right about now.' Clearing her throat, she brought the Bride's attention back to Bearer and the trial that lay before them.

"All right, ladies, we have the pig here," she said. "Now, the question is, what are we going to do with him?"

Judy stood apart from the rest of the Brides. Kaliegh dead, Jean turned into some kind of hound from Welsh Mythology, and now this!!! Nikki had done it now! Her anger had carried her into an extremely dangerous situation. What they were going to do with the fatman, she had no idea.Lighting up a cigarette with hands that shook, she turned speculative eyes on the cause of all their problems.

Bearer was looking around at all there, taking note that two or three were not paying him any attention at all. He noticed, out of the corner of his eye, the bitch that had stolen his journal. For her he had special plans. A secret smile touched his lips, when he thought of what he would do to her! Yesss! She would pay dearest of all!

Carefully working at the knots that bound his hands, he watched as Kane whispered something to Storm, then left the room. Several of the other Brides also left. Now was Bearers chance. Jumping up from the wooden strsight back chair, Bearer grabbed the back of it and swung it like a club at the nearest remaining Bride. Elentari went down like a rock. Storm soon joined her. Looking around with eyes filled with hate, Bearer spotted Judy standing at the end of the couch, cigarette forgotten as she watched this odious man attack her friends.

"You're next, Bitch. I'll come for you soon."

He flung down the ruined chair and dashed out of the room. He was out of the house and slidding beneath the wheel of Nikki's car, by the time all the others ran back into the living room to find out what was going on.

Judy had moved to the window and watched as he made his escape. Then and only then, did she go see to her friends! Storm and Elentari were sitting up. Both bleeding from scalp wounds, and sporting as assortment of ugly bruises. Nikki was positively livid. Uttering a string of obsentities, she turned on Judy. "How in Hell did this happen?"

Judy was wringing out a cloth to replace the one she'd removed from Storm's head. The water in the pan was red with blood. She didn't answer, but continued to see to her injured friends.

Walking over to her, pissed off beyond all belief, she jerked Judy to her feet , demanding an answer. Taker stepped forward about to intervene, not wanting his Brides fighting amongst themselves. The look Judy sent him stopped the big man in his tracks. A puzzled frown replaced the look of concern on his face. He glanced over at Kane and knew he'd seen the look as well. The brothers exchanged worried glances, then Taker looked back at Judy, wondering what the Hell was happening with her.

Judy turned frigid blue eyes on Nikki. Nikki let go of her arm having seen "something" on her friends eyes. Nikki was afraid of NOTHING. She certainly was not afraid of Judy. Judy was basically very shy by nature, but had a will of iron when the need arose, and had proved without a doubt that she had courage as well. But Nikki was suddenly afraid for Judy, not of her.

"Will you help me prepare for what I have to do?" Judy asked her friend. If only she had Nikki's boldness She thought.

"Yes what can I do ?" Nikki's anger had disappeared to be replaced with sheer nervous energy.

"Now wait just a damn minute" Taker stepped forward, frowning and absolutely furious.

"Will you and Nikki come with me, please? Kiri is there a room I can use and not be disturbed?" Judy's voice was almost conversational. A calm had come over her. Disquieting for the rest of the group. The air was alive with electric energy, and Kiri felt like the hair on her arms was standing up. Looking down at them, she was startled to see both arms covered in goose bumps. Lifting, eyes wide in alarm, she met the confused green gaze of the Undertaker.

"Yes, I'll show you to a room." Kiri lead the three down the hall and up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. Inside the room, an alter was set up in the far left corner. A huge mahogny bed took up most of the space in the room. It was perfect for her needs.

"Is this ok?" Kiri asked nervously. Whatever was happening seemed to be centered around Judy.

Judy turned irridescent blue eyes on her friend and very calmly replied,"It's perfect. Now will you please make sure that no one disturbs us? Nikki and Taker will be down in a moment."

These two exchanged almost fearful looks with each other, unsure of what was about to transpire. Kiri agreed and with a look of concern as well as fear, she closed the door behind her.

"Judy I don't know what you're up to, but I absolutely forbid it." Green eyes blazing, Taker was beside himself . Never had he been so angry! "Do not fear for me, Taker, Lord of Darkness. You have my heart and my love. I will do anything you ask of me. Now know this. Tonight, YOU CAN NOT STOP WHAT IS COMING. You can not prevent me from doing what I must do. Now please, go down stairs with the others, I do not knpw how this will end, but end it will one way or the other." She turned away from her Beloved Lord of Darkness and crossed the room, kneeling in front of the alter, beginning her preparations for the Battle ahead.

Taker was taken back by his tender-hearted Bride. Her words, though spoken softly, were underlined with Steel. Never had he seen such a faraway look in her eyes or seen them so cold! Confusion covered his handsome features. With a glance at Nikki, he mouthed the words, "Don't leave her alone!" then did as Judy said and returned to the others below.

Nikki stood there, suddenly very nervous and unsure about what to do. What Judy wanted her to do.Judy remained in front of the alter for a few moments longer, then got to her feet and faced her friend. She explained to Nikki what she needed Nikki to do. Reluctantly Nikki agreed and set about doing what was asked of her.

Judy stripped off all her clothes. She looked for and found a flowing whit gauzy robe.This she put on. Next she annointed herself with the scented oils she asked Nikki to find for her. Then she lay down on the bed, arms outstretched. Nikki approached the bed, looking down at her friend.

"Go down stairs with the others, and stay with them. Pray for my safe return. Pray for us all. This night will be filled with danger for all of us. Now go!" Judy closed her eyes praying but in a language Nikki did not know. Suddenly her eyes flew open. It was like looking at the Taker when he did that "eye thing" that Judy loved so much. All you could see was the whites of her eyes. And she was still praying . Nikki found she was more scared than she ever had been in her whole life.

She quickly left the room, pausing long enough to make the sign of the cross, just outside the door. In a voice unrecognizable as Judy's, Nikki heard things in a language that made her blood run cold. Outside at the exact moment Judy began talking in tongues, it started thundering and lightening. Nikki had heard enough. She took the stairs two at a time, almost hitting the floor, when trying to stop in front of the living room door.

Every body jumped when Nikki came bursting through the door. Her eyes wide with fear, Face deathly white. "It has begun." She said breathlessly.

Taker was immediatly on his feet and across the room, intent on ending this now. Nikki laid a hand on his arm, stopping him for going further. Looking up into his furious green eyes, Nikki told him what Judy had said. "We must do as she asks." Fear quite evident on all their faces. Outside above the sounds of thunder, Kaliegh's hounds could be heard whining in terror.

Judy was "outside" of her body. Looking back, she could see herself still laying on the bed. Whites of her eyes still visible. She past through the thick ancient walls of the mansion and within minutes had arrived at Bearer's house. He would not be expecting anything this soon! He would not be expecting her in her present state! Passing through the walls, she went first to his private study, and knew he was not there. Passing through the secret passage as though it was made of air, Judy floated downstairs to the basement rooms where he lived. Following the stench of his evil, she came upon him as he was finishing dressing. She hovered above him in the corner of this room secreted away in the very heart of his home. He busily began gathering about him all the tools he needed to carry out his plan.

Suddenly Bearer stiffened, sensing the presence of another. Looking around frantically, but seeing no one, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued with what he was doing.

"Bearrerr" a ghostly, unearthly voice called to him. "Bearrer" the voice called softly again. With a yelp of real fear, this time he saw a woman's figure in a long flowing white robe, approaching him, floating a good foot above the floor. Squinting his eyes to see who it was, Bearer was unable to see her face because of the shadows in which she stood.

"What do you want here? Who are you?" Heart beating at an eccelerated pace, a cold clammy sweat broke out over his pasty face. his breathing was laboured.

"You know why I'm here Bearer, You know who I am. This is your last and final warning. Stay away from the Brides, The Undertaker, and Kane. Do this and you will live. Don't and you will die!"

Judy took on a hideously, terrifying appearance, came at Bearer forcing him to collapse on the bed. He grabbed his chest, gasping for breath. When the thing that was Judy leaned over and whispered something in his ear, he let out a squawk of fear, the mercifully passed out. Judy watched a moment longer, then returned home.

It seemed like hours, or more like days had passed. The sudden deathly, quiet was more unnerving than the thunder and lightening had been moments ago. Judy opened the door and stepped inside the living room. Pale, shaking and a week smile for everyone. Storm and Elentari burst into tears of relief for her safe return from where ever she went. secretly they didn't want to know. Both were sporting gauze "turbans" around their heads from Bearer's attack. Before she could answer, he grabbed her and pulled her to him in an embrace that was both rough and oddly gentle. "Yes, I'm fine!" Looking up wide eyed, at the suddeness of his gesture.

"What happened, Judy" Nikki asked, noting lines of weariness and a not quite right look around her eyes.

Judy left Taker's embrace reluctantly, and went over to her friend. With a reassuring smile, she threw her arms around Nikki and whispered Thank you" in her ear. Tears sprang up in Nikki's eyes as she looked back at her friend.

"Damn it I want to know what happened." Taker growled again as he spun Judy around to face him.

Meeting his steady gaze with a completely honest, and completely innocent look of her own, she replied, " I don't know! Truthfully I don't know! But I don't think Bearer will be bothering us anymore." She held his gaze till he was satisfied she was telling the truth.

Then in an un-Taker-like gesture, he wrapped his arms around her, lowered his head and kissed her. Slowly her arms went up around his neck and she began kissing him back. Everyone there could only stare in surprise! Nikki slowly grinned then let out a hoot of laughter. "Damn, Girl, it's about time!"

Book Seven of The Undertaker's Brides

© 1998 by The Brides of Darkness

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