Ebony Blade

A man entered the darkened hall and walked forward. He kept his head bowed, eyes fixed firmly on the ground in front of him, looking neither left nor right for fear of what he might see. The room was cold and lit only with black candles. Walking across the large room the man eventually reached a raised dais with a huge granite throne upon it. He glanced at the figure seated upon it, quickly averting his eyes when he realised that he was been watched. He knelt down at the base of the dais, placing a long fabric covered parcel at his feet he waited.

The man very nearly ran out of the room in his eagerness to leave the presence of the Lord. He was not known for his patients or kindness and the man was surprised that he was been allowed to leave.

The Lord inspected the sword marvelling at how a sword so large could be so light. The hilt had only one stone set into it, a blood red ruby. He turned the sword letting the candle light glint off the freshly polished blade. Engraved down one side of the blade was a snake, the other side a vine.

He heard the man screaming "NO!" as he found the bodies of his wife and children, then his scream of agony which quickly died away along with his life. The Lord allowed himself a small smile then went back to admiring the sword.

Simon helped with the robe, standing back to make adjustments to the floor length black velvet robe. The Lord pulled the hood of the robe over his head, hiding his features and nodded to Simon.

He sat back on his throne and watched as the woman was dragged into the room. She was struggling furiously to no avail as she had been bound and gagged since her kidnapping. He nearly laughed at the joy of it all; kidnapping his greatest enemy's bride on their wedding day before the marriage could even be consummated. It was just so perfect for what he had planned.

Her arms were released long enough for her to be chained to a wall. With a wave of his hand he dismissed his men. He stood and walked slowly towards the chained woman keeping the sword close to his side so that she would not see it. Reaching her he removed her gag.

"I did not give you permission to speak." He slapped her again, snapping her head back the other way. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. "But as I am feeling generous I will answer your questions." He pushed the hood back from his face so that she could see who he was. "Do you know me?"

"Very good. Now as to why you are here. First I'm going to use you until you carry my child then I will give you back to your husband. Knowing how proud he his he will raise my child as his own rather than admit that his wife was stolen from the marriage bed."

He brought the sword up from his side and thrust it into her body. She never even had the chance to cry out. He pushed it up under her ribs and straight into her heart with a twist. Her body went limp in the chains as her last breath flowed from her lips in a sigh.

He watched as her blood flowed along the sword turning it red, then black. He pulled it from her body, tugging sharply as it caught on her ribs. He cleaned the blade on his robe, overjoyed when it stayed black. The spell was starting to work; the witch had done her job well. He drew the edge of the sword across the palm of his hand and with a few words the spell was complete.

A column of white light appeared in the room, forming into a woman. She stood, head tilted to one side, looking at her own body chained to the wall. Blood still dripping onto the floor. He allowed her a few moments so that enormity of her own death could sink in.

He looked up guiltily from his son's bedside. They had both begged to hear the story again and he loved to tell it, as it had been his favourite as a child. Knowing how his wife thought it unsuitable for their young children to hear he had waited until she was busy downstairs but she had caught him at it.

"Please dad, finish the story." Begged their eldest son, Mark, kneeling on his bed egger to hear the end of his favourite story. At the ripe old age of twelve it was the only story he would go to bed early for.

"Okay, okay." She laughed, "Finish the story." Mary sat down on Kane's bed and listened to the end of the story with them. Ready to comfort her sons should they need it and ready to stop her husband if he went into too great a detail.

"But not only had she brought back his head, she had brought back the rest of his body and his entire army as well. `Why?' asked the Lord with his dying breath. `You did not tell me not to.' Was her reply. And that is the story of the White Lady that our ancestor cursed to serve our family. Now remember, if any of you should meet her, be careful what you wish for." There was a lot more to the story but he knew his wife would disapprove.

"I promise." They went into the living room. John walked over to the fireplace and starred at the black sword that had pride of place on the wall over the hearth. "Do you think that there could be anything to the story?" As he talked his hand drifted closer to the blade. Touching it with a finger he felt strangely disappointed when nothing happened.

I looked at the two boys, I still found it amazing that they could see me. Normally blood had to be spilt on the sword before a Callaway could see me, but the two latest additions to the bloodline had been able to see me from the very day they were born.

I had been pulled from limbo to a hospital room where a woman was sleeping in a bed. I wondered why I was there, I couldn't see the sword anywhere. A small cry of a baby had me moving to the crib next to the bed. I looked inside at the tiny baby boy, feeling regret that I would never have one of my own. I reached a hand into the crib intending to run a finger over the babies face to see how soft it was. I stopped when I realised what I was doing. My finger was suddenly seized in a vice like baby fist and his mouth closed over my finger and started sucking. Getting no milk he started crying, waking his mother.

She held him in her arms and started to breast feed him. He quietened down as he suckled. She stroked his head and talked to him in a soothing voice. I stood there wondering why I was here and half listening to the woman talking, when I heard her say the babies name `Marcus Callaway'.

A Callaway? He was a descendant of my murderer. It still made no sense to me why I had been called but I just decided to accept that I had. When his brother Kane had been born seven years later the same thing had happened.

They could call me to them and I could do little things for them but as the sword hadn't been touched with their blood just about all I could do was talk to them, play games and my personal favourite; tucking them into bed.

I sat down and sang a lullaby that my own mother had sung to me. Before I was halfway through he was fast asleep but I didn't stop singing until I reached the end. Lightly kissing his cheek I faded from sight.

I was sitting in my own private part of limbo, well I assumed it was limbo; no one ever came and told me otherwise. I was watching the two boys while they slept. My own private `TV', a word that I had learned from Mark, was a flickering fire. The dancing flames had appeared when Mark was born, showing me what Mark and Kane were doing. I'd spent many hours sitting in front of the fire without moving a muscle, just watching. There was nothing else here, no walls, floor or ceiling, just the fire. I always thought it ironic that in all the years of been able to do whatever they wanted; I couldn't even make a chair appear for myself. Nothing to do but sit and wait until called upon.

I paced around helplessly watching as their house burned down. I could hear Kane, my beautiful little Kane, screaming in agony as the flames licked along his body. Mark was unconscious on the floor from the smoke, flames creeping across the carpet towards his body. John and Mary were already dead, their bodies holding each other in death as they had while alive. Outside their best friend and business partner, Paul, was trying desperately to get inside the burning building but the flames were beating him back.

I couldn't take it anymore. I'd disobeyed the curse before, it was time to see if I could do it again. I closed my eyes and concentrated. When I opened my eyes again I was back in the house. I quickly put out the flames on Kane's body. The right side of his face and chest had been burnt and he was very quiet. I picked him up, healing his body as much as possible, I walked through the house, parting the flames before me. I put him down outside where Paul could find him and went back inside for Mark.

As I went through the living room I paused and looked at the fireplace. The sword, which usually hung over the hearth, was now in the fireplace. It must have fallen off during the night stirring up the dying embers. The sword had caused the fire.

I put Mark down outside and watched as the paramedics revived him. Once I was certain that he was in safe hands I went to check on Kane. I looked around but couldn't find either him or Paul. I checked in the ambulances, nothing.

Before I realised what was happening I found myself back in limbo. I tried desperately to leave but couldn't. I turned to the fire; it died away leaving me in darkness. I sat down and cried. The only reason I could think of for the fire dying out was that Mark and Kane were dead.

Mark was pacing around his dressing room feeling very agitated. He should have been relaxing in preparation for his `Hell In A Cell' match against Shawn Michaels, but all he could do was pace. There were two reasons for his current state of mind. The first was Paul Bearer; his one time manager and closest friend had turned his back on him some time ago, a betrayal for which Mark had exacted some measure of revenge. But now Paul was saying the Kane was alive. The thought of his brother been alive would have filled his heart with joy if it were true, but he knew that Kane was dead, everyone had told him so. Perished in the fire that had also claimed his parents.

The second reason was sitting on a table in front of him, the ebony sword. A police officer had delivered it to him earlier and explained what had happened to it over the years.

After the fire it had been locked in a police evidence locker where it lay forgotten for years. During a recent clean out it had been found with no paperwork to say whom it belonged to. Curious about the colour someone had sent it to a laboratory but the sword resisted all attempts of analysis. They had declared the colour a side effect of the intense heat of the fire. The lost paperwork had eventually turned up and they had attempted, unsuccessfully, to polish it back to its original colour, when they found out who it belonged to.

Mark picked up the sword admiring the intricate engravings along the length. He was putting the sword back in its new wooden box when he nicked his thumb on the point of the sword.

"Damn!" A drop of his blood splashed onto the sword. He sucked on the tip of his thumb then inspected it. Luckily it was only a small cut and quickly stopped bleeding. He looked at the offending sword with a frown then his eyes widened in shocked disbelief as he saw the drop of blood soak into the metal. "What the…?"

Mark spun around in surprise, staring at the woman standing behind him. She was clothed from head to foot in white even her hair was white, not blond, but a pure snowy white. Her head was bent low hiding her features behind a curtain of long hair.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I think you should leave before I call security." Though by the way she was calling him `Master' he was beginning to think that she needed the help of people bearing straitjackets. She turned her head slightly in his direction, still keeping her head down.

I looked at my new Master for the first time at his words, remembering the way that John had always finished my story for Mark and Kane. Pain flashed through my body and I turned away from him a hand stifling a sob as fresh tears came to my eyes.

Mark was also remembering the story, he was also remembering the Lady who used to listen with them then would tuck both of them into bed after their parents had gone from the room. He turned the woman around tilting her face and brushed her tears away with the pads of his thumbs as he looked at her. Everything about her was white, hair, eyebrows even her eyelashes, white. Her eyes were the palest powder blue he had ever seen, making them appear white and her skin was so pale it was nearly translucent. She was also the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"I failed them. I thought I had got Mark and Kane out in time, yet they both died." I tried to pull away from his touch, just wanting to be alone with my sorrow, but he kept a firm hold, his hands cupping the back of my head.

"Mark?" I looked up at him and he nodded. My eyes ran hungrily over the features of the man he had grown into. He was even taller than his father had been. His hair was long, falling in thick waves past his shoulders, it was darker than I remembered, nearly black but still with a hint of red showing through. I ran my hands over his strong, handsome face, touching his close trimmed beard and full lips, still not quite believing who I was seeing. He had the body of a warrior, hard packed with muscle. His arms caught my attention; from wrist to shoulder both were covered with intricate tattoos. My fingers traced over them as my eyes travelled back up to his eyes. When I looked into his eyes, his beautiful soul searching green eyes, I knew that it WAS Mark. With a cry of joy I locked my arms around his waist and buried my face against his chest. "Oh Mark, I though I had lost you."

Mark held back but when he felt her tears soaking through his shirt he gathered her close, making soothing noises as he ran his hands up and down her back. Her hair brushed over his wandering hands, at the touch he ran his hands through it in wonder. It had none of the thickness of adult hair, it was as fine and soft as a babies. He rested his cheek against the top of her head and breathed in the light flowery scent of her hair. It was just how he remembered it.

"Oh… I thought… I hoped that I had got him out in time to." Pulling out of his embrace I turned my back to him. Wrapped my hands around my waist as sadness and pain stabbing through me once again. I felt his hand pull me back against him as he wrapped his arms around my body, comforting me.

"It can be. But everyone is well trained so it's rare for anything to happen." She still looked uncertain. "Don't worry, I'm very good. Look I'm due out in a minute, do you want to watch my match?"

"Rowena." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "It suits you." He steered her towards the door, picking up his ring jacket on the way. "One other thing…" She turned to face him "call me Mark. Some people think I'm strange enough without a beautiful woman calling me Master."

Jim led me to a seat behind a metal barrier close to where the wrestlers entered the ring, strange word for something so obviously square. Once I was seated he asked if I wanted a drink, he left looking puzzled at my response of "I don't drink anything."

All around me people were shouting and screaming while holding up large pieces of paper. I'd never been this close to so many people, before or after my death. I was getting nervous and wanted nothing more than to escape back to limbo where it was quiet.

Loud music, if it could be called that, blared out and Mark's opponent made his way down to the ring, the crowd booing his progress. As he strutted around the ring a large metal cage started to be lower down over the ring.

The lights went out and Mark made his way to the ring, as he past me he gave a small smile. He entered the cage and walked up the ring steps. He stood still for a time then lowering his head slightly he raised his arms up. There was a thunderous explosion and the lights came back on. He stepped through the ropes and started removing his long leather jacket.

Some of the cockiness left Shawn face, as he seemed to realise just what he had let himself in for. He jumped from the ring and went to the door but it was been locked leaving Shawn trapped in the cell with the Referee, some cameramen and Mark.

Mark dumped his jacket out of the ring then climbed outside and started stalking Shawn around the ring. Shawn rolled back inside, followed by Mark. Mark quickly gained the upper hand pummelling Shawn mercilessly around the ring. Even when Shawn managed to gain any advantage it didn't last for long. Finally, losing his temper, Shawn knocked out a cameraman who was unfortunate enough to be standing in his way.

As help arrived for the man Shawn managed to land a kick to Mark's jaw. Mark just sat straight back up and Shawn ran from ring and out of the door, Mark followed and the fight continued. Mark threw Shawn into the side of the cell and blood started flowing freely from Shawn's forehead.

I watched in horror as they climbed onto the top of the cell and started fighting up there, getting closer and closer to the edge. Shawn started climbing down and Mark stamped on his fingers making him fall off. He smashed straight through a table. Mark climbed down and the battle continued outside, then back inside the cell. Mark made a cutting motion over his throat making the crowd cheer. He was about to pick Shawn up when the lights went out again.

An explosion of red signalled the arrival of two other men. One I recognised as Paul Bearer the other man was equally as large as Mark, both in height and musculature. He was dressed in red and black with a matching red and black mask covering his face.

Mark stood in the centre of the ring watching the two men approach. Everyone knew that the door to cell was locked so what did the hope to accomplish by coming down to the ring? They reached the door and everyone found out how little a locked door meant to the huge man when he reached out and tore it off its hinges.

Knocking the referee out he entered the ring, stepping over the top rope to do so. Walking up to Mark the two men stared at each other. I saw Mark's lips move as he whispered `Kane?' Kane, if it really was him, raised his arms up above his head. Mark watched him warily, wondering what he was going to do. Kane snapped his arms back to his sides and fire erupted from all four corners of the ring.

I was in shock. My little Kane was alive. But why had he attacked Mark like that? He left the ring and started back the way had come. As he drew nearer to me I whispered his name. Whether he recognised my voice or my face from so long ago I wasn't sure, but he stopped and stared at me. "Kane, do you recognise my?" His head tilted to one side and a spark of recognition flared in his one good eye. Before I could talk to him again Paul hurried over and pulled Kane away.

Making myself invisible I went into the ring to check on him. Kneeling behind his head I put a hand either side of his neck, checking that it wasn't damaged, then moved my hand up over his head. He'd been knocked unconscious. I gave him a little boost to help wake him up, breaking all the rules yet again. His eyes opened. I put a finger to his lips, stopping him from talking to me.

"No one can see me." I warned. He gave a slight nod and struggled to his feet exhausted from his battle with Shawn and then the confrontation with his brother. I walked beside him as he made his way back to his dressing room. He was silent as he took his shower and dressed.

Mark drove us to his hotel room, a new experience for me, as I had never been in a car before. Reaching his room he sat down in a chair and buried his head in his hands. It was tearing me up inside to see him like this. Finding Kane alive should have been a joyous occasion, not this. I stood behind his chair and started massaging his shoulders. He stiffened at first but it wasn't long before he was relaxing under my touch.

I turned my back as he climbed into bed, hearing the towel dropping to the floor. I had known him from the moment he had been born and watched him grow from a baby to a twelve year old. Now I was having problems coming to terms with the man. He had certainly turned out very handsome.

I gave myself a mental shake `You're over eight hundred years older than he is and to top it off you're dead. Now stop thinking of him like that.' I turned back to the bed and my mouth went dry again. He was lying in the centre of the bed with a sheet draped over his lower body. A sheet which was moulding itself to every dip and curve.

He went over the story his father had told him. She had been born in an age when Ladies were kept away from men until their wedding night. A wedding night she had been denied. When he was young he hadn't understood what his father meant by `virgin sacrifice', he did now.

"Don't worry I won't attack you." She smiled as he reminded her of her earlier words and visibly relaxed. "How old were you when you were murdered?" He didn't want to upset her by asking but he was curious about her.

"I'd seen 25 years. We were betrothed from an early age but he was at war for many years which delayed our marriage." Not wanting to talk about that part of my life I sat on the edge of the bed to start the massage but couldn't reach him. "Can you come closer or should I come nearer?"

I rubbed gently soothing the tension from his body with relaxing strokes along his back and shoulders. It wasn't long before his breathing slowed, signalling that he was asleep. I stood for a time watching him sleep. I was overjoyed that both Mark and Kane had survived the fire but I knew that his brother's attack had hurt him deeply. Pulling the sheet up over his body I brushed the hair from his face, lightly kissed his cheek and with a sigh I went back to limbo.

Upon waking, Mark lay there for a time going over the events of the previous day. `I wonder if I dreamt it all?' He got out of bed, opened the wooden box and picked up the sword. "Now what was it, touch the sword and think about her." He touched the blade and closed his eyes in concentration.

"Morning Mark." He turned around. "Oh my." Her eyes went wide then she quickly turned around. Suddenly realising that he was still naked Mark blushed in embarrassment and grabbed a pair of jeans.

Mark smiled at the regret in her voice and the flash of interest in her eyes. "I'm going to have a shower. Do you want to join me…?" He deliberately paused for her reaction. "For breakfast." He finished as her eyes widened.

"Well I don't eat but I will sit with you." I sat down while he went to have his shower. I had never expected to see so much of him and it had totally thrown me. I couldn't understand my reaction to him and he wasn't making it easy for me with comments like that. Most of the Callaway's had reacted with fear or greed when they had see me. But none of them had treated me as if I were alive like Mark seemed to be. `You are a ghost, you are not alive.' I repeated over and over in my head trying to block out the sound of the shower running and the images that were running through my head.

Mark was running the soap over his body, remembering the look on Rowena's face when he had been teasing her. Then he started to remember other things. The feel and smell of her hair, the touch of her hands on his body, the feel of her pressing against him. His body reacted with painfully suddenness as he remembered all those things. Sucking in a breath through clenched teeth he switched the shower over to cold and tried to regain some control. `She's a ghost, she's not alive.' He knew that what his brain was telling him was true but his body and heart were refusing to listen. He turned the force of the shower up and waited for the cold water to work.

"I know you don't need to, but can you?" At her shrug he held a piece of his toast up to her mouth and watched as she cautiously tried it. As she worked her way through the pile of toast he started on his own breakfast. "Tell me about yourself."

"If I had been your husband nothing would have kept me away from you on our wedding night." She ducked her head down her hair falling around her face. "What happened when you went to get your husband?"

"He was in bed with my younger sister. That was where he had been on my wedding night, with my own sister. I nearly killed them both for that, but my hatred of your ancestor was greater than my hatred for them. I told them what had happened to me and helped his army past the castle defences."

We ate in silence for a while then spent the rest of the morning talking. Mark asked me for all the details on what had happened to my other `Masters.' Laughing when I told him some of the things I had said to get out of doing something I didn't like. Mark had ordered some coffee and offered me some to try, I still couldn't make up my mind if I liked the taste or not.

"I don't want to even think about that." The idea of making love, without love, repulsed me. Then the thought `What would you do if Mark asked?' popping into my mind. It was a question for which I had no answer.

He pulled her against his side annoyed at himself for upsetting her but pleased when she, obviously bearing no grudge, settled herself closer to his side. "I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry."

"Purely selfish reasons. I was wondering what it would be like to make love to you." He tried to keep a straight face as her jaw dropped open but it wasn't long before a smile spread over his face.

At every opportunity they confronted Mark and tried to goad him into fighting Kane. Mark resisted all their attempts, refusing to fight back even when Kane was beating on him. Even refusing to defend himself even when they accused him of starting the fire. Mark tried to speak to them outside the ring but they avoided him.

He took the sword to every event and called on Rowena as often as possible. Talking to her helped him forget all his troubles. He loved just been with her, especially if she was giving him a back rub. And he was enjoying showing her all the things she had missed over the years. She was especially fond of riding on the back of his bikes and when he was at home they spent hours just riding around. Her other favourites were coffee and food, for which he constantly teased her about. Asking her if ghosts needed to diet when she managed to put away a hotdog, two beef burgers and a piece of cake in one sitting.

Kane broke into Mark's house following his father's instructions to look for the wooden box that Mark carried with him to every event. Kane however was looking for proof that Mark had set the fire that killed his parents.

He had watched Mark leave the house to go to an autograph signing, he wasn't carrying the box. He waited for a few hours to make sure that Mark wouldn't return then had made his move.

He was rummaging in Mark's bedroom when he spotted the box lying on a chest of drawers. He opened it revealing the sword. His head tilted on one side as he remembered the sword from his childhood. He could remembering the man he had once known as father picking him up so that he could get a closer look at the black blade, pulling his hand back when he was about to touch it.

This time there was no one to stay his hand. He stoked the sword, so lost in his memories about the Lady that he didn't even noticing when he cut himself and his blood flowed onto the blade.

He turned at the voice. The Lady was standing right behind him, looking just how he used to remember her. Grabbing her in his arms he held her close, still lost in the past. Tears running unnoticed down his face as he gave a small sob.

"Shhh. It's all right Kane." I held him close not quite believing that he was here. I'd felt the sword calling me back and expected to see Mark standing before me, not Kane. His head was buried against my shoulder as he cried. I stroked one hand over his back and cradled the back of his head with the other.

Mark walked into his house looking around in anger at the destruction he found. Furniture had been upended and drawers emptied out all over the floor but, as far as he could tell, nothing had been stolen. The TV and video were still there, although the TV screen now had a poker sticking out of it. Remembering the sword he rushed to his bedroom hoping that it was still where he had left it. The sight that greeted his eyes had him frozen in shock. Kane was in his house and he had Rowena in his arms. With a roar of anger and jealousy he grabbed his brother's shoulder, spinning him away from Rowena and knocked him down with a punch to the jaw.

Every attempt he made to get past her she blocked. Eventually, getting frustrated, Mark put his hands around her waist, picked her up and put her down out of the way. Turning around he found that Kane had recovered and was leaving the room.

"Mark it was nothing… He was upset and needed comforting." I brushed the hair from his face. My hand cupped his jaw and ran down his neck. I looked at my hand as it moved over his shoulder not quite believing what it was doing but unable to stop. My eyes travelled back up to his as my heart pounded in my throat.

Bending his head Mark gently kissed Rowena's lips. When she didn't protest he started deepening the kiss. She pulled back in surprise at the touch of his tongue on her parted lips. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to stop?" She opened her mouth to speak then settled for shaking her head. Pulling her back into his arms he kissed her again more forcefully than before. Reining his hunger back under control he softened the kiss once again, teasing her lips until she was kissing him back.

He steered her over to the bed without breaking the kiss and pressed her back until she was lying down. Stepping back he removed his top and waited for any sign that she wanted him to stop. She took hold of his hand and pulled him down to the bed. He lay beside her, stroking her body through her clothes and kissing her gently. Not wanting to scare her by going too fast.

Kane was in his bathroom preparing for bed. Washing his face he rubbed at his tender jaw. He thought that it might be bruised but he had no mirror to check with. "Not that I want a mirror around with the way my face must look. Although sometimes it would be nice to know if my hair is sticking up or not."

Paul had been angry when he had come back empty handed. He hadn't dared to tell him about the Lady in case Paul thought that he was going mad. He wasn't entirely sure himself that he wasn't. It was the swords fault it looked so much like the one he remembered from his childhood that it had made him imagine the Lady. And while he had been lost in his thoughts it had given that woman chance to sneak up on him. He could remember now that he had seen her before at the Hell In A Cell match sitting at ringside. He towelled his face dry, wincing when he pressed too hard on his jaw.

"And which pain would that be? The one created by attacking your own brother or the one in your jaw?" I was feeling more than a little annoyed and frustrated. One minute I was kissing Mark the next I was here. It appeared that now Kane had touched the sword he could call me without possessing it.

"As to your other pain, only you can stop that Kane. Just stop fighting your brother." I stepped away, intending to leave before he could ask anything of me that he might live to regret.

Before I could object and with the thought `Father?' ringing in my head Kane vanished from sight and I was back in limbo. With barely a chance to look around I was off again and back in Mark's bedroom.

Mark was taking a shower before going to bed. He regretted ordering her to leave yesterday, but still feeling angry and jealous at the love in her voice whenever she said Kane's name, he hadn't called her back. He wondered if she had let Kane kiss her like she had let him. Thinking about his interrupted kiss with Rowena the previous night brought the usual response to his body. With a sigh he switched the shower over to cold.

He started in surprise at her voice. "Rowena? What are you doing here?" Switching off the shower he was about to step out when he realised that he was still in no fit state and the towels were all outside. "Before you answer that. Could you pass me a towel?" Opening the door a crack he stuck his hand out and took the offered towel.

"It appears that both of you don't need the sword to call me. Exactly how it was wh…" My voice failed me when he stepped out of the shower with the towel wrapped around his hips. As I watched the water running down his broad chest and long legs I forgot how to breathe. Picking up another towel he ran it over his face then started rubbing his chest dry. I was mesmerised watching the towels movements over his body. Suddenly it stilled against his stomach, I looked up into Mark's eyes then looked away feeling guilty at been caught.

Mark had seen the desire in her eyes as she had stared at his body and he liked it. She turned away and moved over to the shower cubicle. Sticking her head inside she looked around.

"No this is." He pushed her inside and followed. Turning the shower on he remembered too late that it was set for cold. She gasped in shock as the cold water hit her square on the back. He adjusted the temperature.

"Sometimes I need it that way." And watching her he was starting to need it cold again. Her head was thrown back to allow the water to splash her upturned face. Looking down her body he saw that her gown had turned transparent. Now he definitely needed it cold.

He turned around and tilted her face up so that she wouldn't look down his body. "Kiss me." He stopped her from saying anything by placing a finger to her lips. "But only if you want to." At her nod his hand dropped.

I moved closer and he bent his head down so that I could reach him. Steadying myself with my hands on his chest I kissed him. Marvelling at how wonderful he felt under my hands and tasted against my mouth.

At the innocent touch of her lips to his he lost control and slammed her back against the shower wall. His tongue stroking deep inside her mouth as his hips thrust against her. His hands roamed over her breasts, cupping the flesh. Suddenly realising what he was doing he pulled away and slammed the palms of his hands against the wall either side of her head.

As she tried to move away he pushed her back against the wall. "No, not because you're a ghost… never think that. I want you; I think I have since you appeared in my dressing room. But I want to make it special for you, make it last all night. Not a quickie against the shower wall." He gave her another kiss but broke it off when he felt his desire rising too quickly again. "You better go."

He stared at her pale beauty as it was revealed to his hungry gaze. He swore there and then, that even if it killed him, he would take it slow. Taking her hand he led her from the shower and towelled her dry. Content for the moment to touch her body through the fabric. Once she was completely dry he quickly dried himself, nearly loosing control when she asked if she could do it for him. "Not now… maybe next time."

I lay beside him all night, wrapped in his arms and just watching him as he slept. But his sleep never lasted long. His eyes would open and he would show me, over and over again, just how much he wanted me and I would show him just how much I had fallen in love.

Kane had saved Mark from a beating at the hands of DX the week before the Royal Rumble casket match but was still refusing to talk to his brother. The WWF scriptwriters still wanted them to fight for a while but as long as they could be together in real life Mark didn't care what they came up with.

Mark had been close to winning when Savio Vega and the New Age Outlaws had interrupted the match. The lights went out and Kane made his way to the ring and beat off the men attacking Mark. When Mark climbed back to his feet Kane attacked him and chokeslammed him into the casket. Shawn closed the lid, winning the match. Kane climbed out of the ring and with Paul's help locked the casket lid.

And that was where it was supposed to have ended, with Mark loosing and Kane turning his back on him. But Kane and Paul obviously had other plans. Pushing the casket up the ramp Kane started smashing it up with a pickaxe. After he doused it with petrol, Paul lit a book of matches and handed them to Kane. He threw them onto the casket and as flames shot up he went down on one knee and mockingly raised his arm in salute.

Mark had explained that the match was supposed to end after Kane locked the lid so I wasn't concerned. But when Kane had picked up the pickaxe I knew that Mark was in danger. As Kane tore into the casket I covered Mark's unconscious body with my own. The pickaxe smashed through the lid and bit deep into my shoulder. It hurt briefly but once it withdrew the wound started to heal.

"Hold on to me and no matter what happens don't let go." Feeling his arms wrap around my waist I closed my eyes and prayed that this would work. I heard a rushing noise as the casket started to burn.

I rested against him for a time, playing with the long length of his hair as his hands stroked my back. Looking towards the window I noticed that the sun was high in the sky. The casket match had taken place at night. Looking closer I could see dust, a lot of it, on the furniture and I knew a cleaner came around at least once a week. "Mark, I think you'd better check what date it is, sometimes time passes quickly in limbo." Mark picked me up and placed my still weary body on the bed.

He switched on his computer, which very nearly had a fit downloading all his E-Mails, most of them from Vince. He checked the date, then not quite believing his eyes, checked it again. "Two months?!! We've been gone nearly two months?!"

The phone rang and he automatically picked it up. "Hello…? Oh hi Vince…" He held the phone away from his ear as Vince yelled at him. "Where have I been…?" He looked at Rowena and winked then putting on his best Undertaker growl he said, "I've been to the other side." He asked Vince not to tell anyone, especially Kane or Paul, that he was back. "I want to surprise them."

At the next RAW he confronted his brother and Paul, informing Kane that he had been consoling his parents spirits, because he was going to break his promise to them, and fight his brother. At WrestleMania 14 he did just that. Kane refused to give in even after two tombstones and he very nearly escaped the third. After the three count he quickly recovered and started beating Mark up. Although Mark had won the match he knew it wasn't over between them, no matter how much he wished it were.

I stood by Kane when Paul arranged the inferno match. He hid his feelings well but I could tell that he didn't like the idea of been surrounded by fire. Mark didn't like it either but as long as they were challenging `Undertaker' he would have to respond like `Undertaker'.

Staying invisible I accompanied Mark to the ring. I wanted to make sure that nothing happened to either of them. All through the match every time a big move was pulled off the flames would leap high around the ring. At one point during the match, Mark was nearly burned because of the idiot at ringside controlling the flame height. While staying invisible I gave him a smack around the head for his carelessness.

Kane was knocked out over the top rope, luckily avoided the fire. Mark tried to follow but `flame guy' kept stopping him by making the flames higher when he went towards the ropes. Kane had tried to make an exit only to be blocked by another wrestler and was now been forced back towards the ring. Mark glanced at me. I put a finger on the control panel and mouthed `Go'. Mark ran towards the ropes, `flame guy' finding his controls stuck couldn't stop him. Mark launched himself head first over the ropes and landed on both men.

Paul smashed Mark over the back with a chair, but he shrugged it off as if nothing had happened. Grabbing the chair Mark knocked Kane out and stalked after Paul. He cornered him on the stage that a band had played on earlier. Picking up a drum he slammed it over Paul's head.

Leaving Paul to bleed he walked back to the ring. Kane had recovered slightly and started fighting again but after a push from Mark he stumbled back, his right arm falling into the flames. I stood beside Mark as we watched in horror as Kane stumbled backstage. Mark was desperate to help him but being in character he wasn't even allowed to show anything other than hate.

I found Kane locked in his dressing room. I stayed invisible for a time watching him destroy the room in his pain. People were banging on the door begging him to let the paramedics check him over. Taking his mask off with a growl he flung it across the room and sat down in a corner, cradling his injured arm, whimpering with the pain.

"Not until I've healed your arm." Standing up I gently led him over to the one upright chair in the room. Pain overcame his anger and he sank down into the chair with a sigh his eyes closed against the pain. "Have you got anything I can cut your top off with?"

He shook his head then quickly yanked the top off over his head. Swaying as the pain nearly made him pass out. He recovered to find his head against her breast, her hands soothing over his head and shoulders.

"What? These little things?" My fingers traced over the right side of his face, lightly touching the faint scaring. He tried to pull away. "Kane believe me, there is hardly anything there, certainly nothing worth wearing a mask over. Whoever told you otherwise was lying." I looked at the old scars that covered his chest; they also were not as bad as they should have been. I ran my fingers down over his shoulder and looked at the damage to his right arm. His sleeve had protected his arm from most of the fire but some of it had still got through the fabric. His arm was covered with very angry looking burn marks, but I could repair them.

He sucked in a breath as my fingers touched his burnt skin. I talked to him while I repaired his arm, taking his mind off the pain by asking him questions about his life. As his pain started to recede he started asking questions of his own.

"Do you think that you can get all three of you in the same room without killing each other?" I propped myself on an elbow and looked down at Mark while stroking a hand over his chest.

Mark spotted an opportunity later that week. Everyone else had left the arena except Paul, Kane and himself. Looking around a corner he could see the two men walking towards his position, Paul leading the way as usual. As Paul passed Mark wrapped an arm around his throat and pulled the man between himself and Kane. Kane growled and stepped forward. Mark tightened his grip until Paul squeaked in pain.

"Back off brother or I'll break his neck!" Kane did as ordered. Mark backed up and Kane followed. Mark managed to hide a smile at how easily it was going. Every time Kane moved to close he made Paul whimper. Reaching his destination he opened a door and backed into the room he had scouted out earlier, flicking the light on with his free hand. "Shut the door Kane."

"Who is-?" Paul fell into shocked silence, as a woman appeared right in front of him. He barely even realised that Mark had let him go, especially as he was unconscious on the floor.

"Oh dear. I suppose our little chat will have to wait for a while." Spotting that Kane and Mark were standing toe to toe I pushed them gently apart. "I asked Mark to bring the two of you here so I could get a few things sorted out. If you don't like what I tell you THEN you can start fighting each other." A groan from the floor signalled that Paul was starting to come round. With Kane's help he dragged himself off the floor. "Hello Paul." I held out a hand and he automatically took it. "I asked Mark to get you all together so that I could talk to you."

"It's a long story. Short version; I've been dead for over eight hundred years." Kane steadied him as he started to sway. "All that is important at the moment is that I know what happened the night of the fire. I was there." Paul and Mark both looked unhappy and Kane just crossed his arms. "But first I need to hear what everyone else believes."

"I started the fire." Said Paul. "I was smoking in the basement, even though I knew that I shouldn't because of all the chemicals. Mary called me to the kitchen for dinner and I must have dropped one." He kept his eyes to the ground ashamed that he had killed his two best friends.

"No I did." Kane growled and started forward at Mark's whisper. Placing a hand on his chest I stopped him. "We went down to the basement after Paul left. He'd forgotten to take his matches and I was playing with them. After I burned a finger I made Kane promise not to tell anyone what I had been doing. I thought I'd put all the matches away safely but I must have been wrong."

"The fire didn't start in the basement." Three pairs of eyes turned to me. "It started in the living room… when the sword fell into the fire." I told them all I had seen that night while rescuing the two boys.

"Now then, onto the next question. Why does Kane think that you're his father? I know that it isn't true. If it were then Kane wouldn't be a Callaway and wouldn't be able to call me."

Finding Kane outside Paul had taken him away, thinking that everyone else was dead. Not wanting to be arrested because he had started the fire he had told everyone that he was Kane's father. While in hospital Kane heard Paul called his father so often that he had started to call him father. Once released from hospital, Paul had taken Kane to his cousin's ranch. His cousin's children had called him ugly and Kane had started hiding behind masks. Paul had tried to tell him that his scars weren't that bad but Kane had refused to listen. Paul had left Kane with his cousins and started his new career as a wrestling manager.

The WWF had called and asked if he wanted to be the manager of a wrestler called Undertaker. They had both recognised each other but had pretended not to as both believed that they had set the fire. Mark eventually admitted to Paul who he was and what he had done. Paul decided to take Mark to meet Kane the next time they were in the area of his cousin's ranch. Paul went to see Kane and told him that his brother was alive. Kane told Paul that Mark had set the fire and he wanted revenge for it. For a time Paul had wanted to believe that Kane was right but he had known in his heart that Mark wasn't responsible.

Mark was trying on his new robe in the `Ministry Throne Room' set when he called on Rowena. She had been spending a lot of time during the day with Kane, just talking to him. Mark didn't begrudge his brother spending the day with her, as he got the night. But now he just wanted to talk to her, he was really missing that side of their relationship.

She appeared in the room with her back to him. Before he could talk to her she started backing up, shaking her head in denial. She backed across the room and straight into him. Turning around she screamed.

Hearing Mark's call I had gone straight to him. It was like stepping back into hell. It was just like I remembered it, the darkness, the candles and that throne. I was going mad. Backing up I walked into someone. Turning around my worst fears were brought to life as I and saw a figure clothed in black velvet. It was him, the man who had killed me, somehow he had come to take his revenge on me for my disobedience. Screaming in terror I backed away from him.

Mark reached out a hand to her as she backed away. She screamed again and fell to the floor curling up into a small ball. Before his gaze she started to fade from sight. Worried that if she left he would never see her again he gave her a direct order, knowing that she would have to obey. "Don't leave." She stayed but every time he tried to get near her she just whimpered in fright and backed away. Not knowing what else to do he phoned Kane. "Kane can you come down to the new set, something's wrong with Rowena." Mark paced around looking at the set with fresh eyes, realising what she must have seen. Taking off the robe he threw it in a corner with disgust.

Kane entered the room and looked around at the new set. Seeing his brother pacing around he walked over to him. "Where is she?" Mark pointed to a figure huddled in a corner. Kane walked over to her and crouched down to look at her. She was even paler than normal, all the normal signs that made her appear alive were gone; breathing, pulse and movement, all gone. Her eyes were wide and unblinking not even registering that he was there. He touched her face, which got a response. She screamed and jerked away from his touch.

Kane sighed and walked back to Mark. "It doesn't look good. She won't even respond to me and I'm not the idiot who managed to recreate hell for her… God Mark how could you have been so stupid?!!!"

"Not here." Kane walked back over to Rowena. "Stand up." She did as instructed. "Don't move away from me." Reaching out a hand he touched her face. She was ice cold to the touch. Her eyes closed and her head turned seeking the warmth of his touch. "Do you need warming up?" She nodded. He drew his hand back as he realised that he was starting to loose the feeling in his fingers. "Rowena, go to Mark's house and wait in the bedroom." She vanished from sight. "Come on, I've got an idea. I'll explain while you drive."

Reaching Mark's house they found Rowena standing as still as a statue in Mark's bedroom as instructed. "Right before we go on. The warmth you need, is it the warmth of a fire or the warmth of something alive?"

Both men stripped down to their shorts. Kane climbed into bed and instructed Rowena to climb in behind him, pulling her arm around his waist to anchor her into position. Mark climbed in behind her pressing up against her back. They both shivered as they felt her cold body against their lengths. They could feel the warmth been drawn out of them but as they grew colder, she warmed up. It took some time but eventually signs of life started coming back. Kane felt her breath against his back and Mark could see the pulse starting to beat in her neck. Her body relaxed against them as warmth finally returned to all of them and they all drifted asleep.

Hearing Kane's voice right behind her in bed Mark felt Rowena stiffened in shock against him, then she spun around to look at Kane who was lying right behind her watching them kiss.

"I'll go now and leave Mark to explain what happened last night." Kane took Rowena's hand and pressed a kiss the back of it then climbed out of bed. As Rowena spun back around to confront Mark, Kane collected his clothes and walked into the bathroom listening with delight to the confrontation going on behind him on the bed. He knew it was mean not to explain himself but after yesterday Mark deserved all that was coming to him.

I climbed off the bed and stood in front of him. Taking his face in my hands I tilted it up so that he was looking at me. "Mark I could never be angry with you. I love you." He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face against my breast with a groan. I ran my hands over his head and back.

"Damn I was hoping the silence meant that he was at least unconscious." When they both ignored him he shrugged. "I'll go make breakfast then." Before he had even left the room they were kissing. So lost in each other that he wasn't overly surprised when they didn't appear for breakfast.

"I'm supposed to be having a final fitting later do you want to come with me? You'll be able to meet the rest of my Ministry… and see the set if you want?" She knelt down in front of him and started working her way up his legs. He quickly explained the upcoming storyline to her so that she would be prepared. Finishing on a groan when she reached the top of his legs and carried on.

The scene that greeted us in the wardrobe area was utter chaos. Men and women were rushing around and clothes were been thrown all over the place. Wrestlers were having costumes repaired and others were trying on new ones pointing out where they needed adjusting.

A tall woman was standing in front of a full-length mirror turning from side to side checking out the outfit she was wearing. Two men walked past her, one of them glanced at the woman in passing. He'd gone about five foot from her when he came to a halt, his friend nearly ploughing into his back. He spun around and walked back over to her.

I gave a quick wave to Kane who was looking at some sketches of new costumes. I was glad to see was becoming more comfortable around people without his mask. As he smiled and waved back I noticed quite a few of the women giving him very appreciative looks.

Mark led her to the back of the wardrobe area where his `Ministry' were getting into their new costumes. They would be joining the ministry gradually over a period of weeks but everyone wanted to make sure that the look was right for the group.

"You'd like that wouldn't you? Me walking out to the ring with Mickey Mouse on my chest." Justin put down his paintbrush and ran when the other man threatened him with a jar of paint.

"It wouldn't do for the eyes to keep bumping into things. Don't worry you'll get used to them… a few months of constant use and you'll soon forget you've even got them in... maybe." Dennis chucked at the expression on the other mans face.

Taking a deep breath I stepped over the threshold. I could see why I had reacted strongly before. It looked a lot like the room I was killed in. Looking at it more closely though it was completely different. The throne was in the right place but the shape was wrong and as I ran my hand over it I could tell that it was made of wood and not granite.

Mark watched as she walked around the room. She had started out tense and he had half expected her to react as before but now she was relaxed. "Do you feel up to seeing the robe now?" He put it on and stood before me. All I could see was the man underneath. I walked around him, running my hands over the soft fabric. Standing in front of him I looked up into his green eyes. Peeling back the hood I ran my hands through his hair and pulled him down so that I could kiss him.

"You look very familiar. Do I know you? No wait, I remember, you were near the ring at `Hell In A Cell'." A puzzled expression came over his face. "You certainly managed to disappear quickly after the match."

Stephanie and Andrew's wedding was absolutely beautiful. Stephanie was fairly glowing as she walked down the aisle on her father's arms. Andrew's tuxedo jacket looked like it was going to fly open as his chest swelled with pride as his future bride joined him in front of the minister. Mark passed me his handkerchief as tears flowed from my eyes. I was feeling happy for them but also unhappy for us.

Paul had sent his apologies and best wishes for the couple. He had requested some time off to do some research into Mark's family history. He had reached a dead end until he had contacted an old friend in England. The man had heard of some manuscripts that mentioned the name Callaway, he couldn't tell him anymore, as they required translation. If Paul wanted to know more he would have to go to England as the people that owned them refused to even allow photos to be taken of them, so sending them out of the country was out of the question. At Paul's request he had been written out of the upcoming storylines and had left for England.

At the reception Linda McMahon dragged me away from Mark and introduced me to the other wives and girlfriends of the wrestlers. They were all gathered around a woman who was holding a baby.

"Do you want to hold him?" Before I could protest she placed the baby in my arms. I ran a finger over his face, marvelling at how soft it was, as he grabbed a tiny fist full of my hair and played with it. "If you and Mark have any babies they'll be absolutely stunning with…" Her voice faded away as I turned pain filled eyes upon her.

Linda stared after Rowena as she very nearly ran from the room. Worried for her, she followed. Looking up and down the corridor she spotted Rowena leaning against a wall with her head buried in her hands, sobs wracking her body. She was about to call out when Rowena vanished.

"I said she vanished. She was standing over by that wall, then she just vanished." She looked up at Mark and noticed that Rowena vanishing didn't seem to shock him. "What the hell is she Mark?!!"

"I'm not sure, but Susan said she was holding the baby before she left." Mark closed his eyes and concentrated. But Rowena didn't appear. "Kane can you call her. She's not responding."

Linda looked at Mark and Kane. They had identical pleading expressions on their faces. "I'm all right Vince, just the excitement of the day getting to me. You go back in, I just want to straighten myself up then I'll come back in." Vince reluctantly left, still obviously not convinced that everything was okay, but willing to do as his wife had asked. "Right you two." She turned catching them trying to sneak away. "First thing Monday I expect you two in my office to explain everything. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy the rest of my daughters big day."

"I wanted to ask Rowena something about `Hell in a Cell'. When all that Linda would tell me was that she left suddenly. I asked her if it was this suddenly." Everyone turned to look as a TV sprang to life showing `Hell in a Cell' footage. As they watched they saw Rowena clearly vanish from ringside. "I saw her vanish at the match, as the time I just put it down to a trick of the light and just forgot about it. After meeting her again I went over some of the `Hell In A Cell' footage that wasn't seen on TV, and found that."

Reaching his house Mark rushed to the bedroom and picked up the sword. With a quick prayer that it would work, he ran the palm of his hand over the sharp edge of the sword. His blood flowed over the blade and was absorbed by it.

"Rowena! Get here right now or I swear I'm gonna chop my arm off!!! I mean it!!" Mark raised the sword over his arm and started to bring it down. Rowena appeared before him, quickly grabbing his arm. He dropped the sword and pulled her into his arms. She held back, but not for long. The feeling of been wrapped in his embrace soon had her wrapping her arms around his waist and relaxing into him with a sigh. "Don't you EVER stay away from me like that again."

"As much as I would love to have children, I can't. I can't give you the things you want… what I want." He turned away and I grabbed his arm pulling him back to face me. "You should find a real woman to be with, someone you can grow old with, someone to have children with." I stroked a hand over his face. "But I know that it would hurt me to see you with another woman. So I want you to stop calling me."

I could still hear him, whether he realised it or not, he was constantly calling my name, even while he slept. On those occasions I would allow myself a small visit and stand at his bedside. Soothing a hand over his forehead when he looked like he was having a bad dream. Gently kissing his cheek once he settled back into a more peaceful slumber. Leaving before I could give into temptation and join him in bed.

Staying away from him just wasn't working. Been without him was far worse than I could ever have imagined. I knew that we hadn't been apart from very long, but for me it was too long. I'd had centuries pass by without even realising yet everyday without him was absolute agony.

He was standing in the shower, preparing for bed, letting the water beat upon his back and shoulders. His eyes closed against the constant pain of loosing Rowena. He'd tried not thinking about her but he just wanted to be with her. Not having her to hold and talk to, was killing him. The nights were the worse, he dreamt about her; she would tell him that she didn't want to be with him and turn away from him. He would cry out her name as she walked away. He would chase after her only to be stopped by vines grabbing hold of his body. Suddenly she would be there again, holding him, soothing him and then he would wake up.

Everyone was avoiding him because he was in a constant bad mood. Kane had tried to talk to him about it but he had told him to go away and leave him alone. That had been a week ago. Since then he had locked himself in his house and refused to talk to anyone.

Arms wrapped around his waist from behind and he felt a familiar body press against his back. Not even daring to open his eyes, in case she vanished, he turned in her embrace his mouth seeking out hers.

He opened his eyes. "I've missed you." He kissed her and she responded instantly. He stripped her gown off her body, running eyes and hands over her. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he picked her up, sliding her down his body until they were joined together.

"Mark?" Kane entered his brothers house, he was worried. He'd tried everything he could think of to get in touch with him; phoning, e-mail even good old fashioned pounding on the door. Now for the second time he was breaking into Mark's house. It was midday yet all the curtains were closed. He walked through the house growing more worried as he went from room to room unable to find Mark. With dread he stood in front of the bedroom door. Taking a deep breath he turned the handle and entered the room. In his mind he had half expected to find Mark lying in a pool of blood. Instead of which he was lying in Rowena's arms fast asleep. He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He went into the kitchen and prepared lunch for all of them. A grin plastered over his face at the thought of Rowena been back, he'd missed her.

Kane pushed the handle down with an elbow and walked in backwards "Lunchtime. Sorry Mark but I owe you a new front door." He turned around and nearly dropped the tray. "Where is she?" Mark was pulling a tee shirt over his head.

"If you'll let me finish." Mark took the tray off him. "She went to have a shower." Mark turned his brother around `till he was facing the bathroom door. Rowena was standing in the doorway wrapped in one of his dressing gowns. Mark smiled as Kane flew towards her and swept her off the ground in a bear hug.

Mark and Kane waited while Paul took Rowena to one side and talked to her. Finishing their conversation they walked back over to them. Rowena looked slightly shocked as if she had received news and didn't know whether she liked it or not.

"I've been talking to Vince, Linda and Kane while I was in England so I know most of what's been going on. I know about Rowena vanishing and I know why she did it. Rowena had just given me her permission to go ahead with something, but we need your help Mark."

"The manuscripts that I've been translating were written by the witch that cursed the sword. They may have taken her tongue to prevent her talking but they didn't know that she could write. The manuscripts describe, in detail, how to break the curse. And it can only be done tonight."

We gathered in the `Ministry Throne Room' set to say goodbye. I kissed Paul on the cheek and thanked him for taking care of Kane. Kane I gave a big hug, kissed his cheek and wiped the tears from his eyes. Mark I kissed with all the passion and love that I felt for him.

After Kane and Paul had left the room Mark led Rowena over to the wall and handcuffed her. He kissed her again. "Are you sure?" At her nod he stepped back and put on the black velvet robe, pulling up the hood to hide his face.

And on the twelfth stoke of midnight as a new millennium dawned. Mark thrust the sword into her body pushing it up into her heart. As her body went limp, he gently pulled the now red sword from Rowena's body. Drawing the blade over the palm of his hand he rubbed his blood into it. The sword changed from red to silver. Grasping the sword at either end Mark brought it down over his leg and broke it in two.

Mark watched with tears streaming down his face as Rowena's body flared a brilliant white and then vanished. He sat against the wall cradling the broken sword in his hands. Even though he knew he had granted Rowena her final wish, he knew that he would never stop loving her.

Mark sat there for hours on end just looking at the spot where he had last seen Rowena. His mind played over and over their time together, remembering every word and touch. Hands eased him up off the floor. He struggled briefly not wanting to leave but they were insistent.

On the ride home he stared out of the side window watching everyone out on the streets celebrating a new year and a new millennium. He felt a brief surge of hatred at them for their joy when his life had just crashed down around him.

Looking down he realised that he was still holding the sword. Not knowing quite how he felt about it he threw it down. It was responsible for everything; her death, his parents death and for that he hated it. It was also responsible for them been able to meet each other and for that he was grateful. With a deep sigh he ran his hand through his hair and wiped away his tears.

Over the weeks he threw himself back into his old routine of work, working out and fixing his bikes. Going through the motions to make it through the days. But the nights were a different matter. He couldn't sleep without dreaming about Rowena so he gave up sleeping unless his body forced him into it.

Fearing his anger all the wrestlers left him alone. Thinking that Rowena had just left him they thought that he would get over it eventually. Vince and Linda knowing the truth tried to persuade him to take time off. They gave up when he admitted that he needed to work so that he wouldn't think about her. Paul and Kane gave him all the space he needed, reminding him that they were there for him.

Taking a deep breath Paul knocked on Mark's dressing room door. He entered when he heard Mark's weary "Come in." Paul stood and watched as Mark finished brushing and straightening his hair. Their eyes met in the mirror. Seeing the nervousness in Paul's eyes Mark turned in his chair.

"Not physically… Mark he's really missing Rowena, we all are. But he doesn't know how to deal with it. He won't eat, he won't sleep and he's started to withdraw into himself again."

Mark woke with a hangover the next morning. He groaned and rubbed his forehead, not daring to move in case the room started spinning. It had been years since he'd had a binge quite like he and Kane had had the night before.

After the show he'd taken Kane to a local bar he knew. Sitting in a quiet corner they'd talked about Rowena and drank. They hadn't set out to get drunk it had just turned out that way.

He could remember saying that he wished that Rowena was back with them. He could just about remember a fight breaking out and by the feel of his jaw he must have been involved. Apart from that he couldn't really remember anything.

He heard movement in the bed behind him. A warm body pressed up against him and he could feel bare breasts pressing into his back. A sigh from the woman stirred his hair slightly.

His eyes opened in horror but he didn't dare move. What had he done? Only a matter of months had passed and he'd betrayed Rowena's memory. He could vaguely recall a woman coming on to him and Kane but he could have sworn that they'd told her to leave them alone. His body tensed ready to leap from the bed. A small hand crept around his waist, stroked up his chest and settled over his heart. Lips brushed against his shoulder then the woman sighed softly again.

"Rowena?" He whispered her name, expecting to wake up or for her to vanish. With a shaking hand he touched her hair, the familiar softness flowing through his fingers. Sensing his touch she shifted and pressed her cheek against his hand. "Oh, Rowena." Still moving slowly he gently gathered her body against his and held her close. A shiver ran through him at the familiar feel of her body pressing against his. His lips touched hers and she smiled and stretched against him, his name escaped her lips on a breathy sigh even as she slept on.

He lay there watching as she slept. What had gone wrong? Or was that right? He was sure he'd followed Paul's instructions exactly. Yet here she was, in his bed, by his side, a smile started to spread over his face. His hand stroked lightly over the soft skin of her shoulder and down her arm. Moving until his fingers were linked with hers. Her body stretched against his again, this time with more force. She was waking up.

"Morning Mark?… Morning Mark? Gone for three months and that's all you can say?" His words may have sounded angry but I could tell by the look in his eyes and the smile playing around his lips that anger was far from what he was feeling.

"Three months?" He nodded firmly while his hands unconsciously played over my body. "Is that all?" He frowned at me. "Mark every second away from you feels like an eternity." I was rewarded with a kiss. "I have to say though that I am feeling rather hungry…" A eyebrow raised questioningly. "For you."

It was getting on for midday before we had satisfied, at least temporarily, our hunger for each other. We shared a shower as Mark wasn't willing to let me out of his sight and truth be told, I felt the same way about him.

I glared at my reflection in the mirror as I straightened my hair, wondering just why it refused to stay in place. With a shrug I pulled it back in a ponytail and watched Mark through the mirror. I swallowed hard as I watched his body flex and stretch as he pulled a tight fitting t-shirt over his head.

"I was here when you and Kane staggered in but you didn't see me so I had plenty of time to think. And I think that it did work… I got what I wished for." He looked puzzled. "The first time my voice and heart were in agreement; I wanted to die. I think this time my heart won; I wanted to be with you."

A thud came from outside the room followed by a moan of pain and a muttered "Who put that wall there?" from Kane. A barely audible knock came to the door, but by Kane's groan he obviously thought it too loud.

Taking Rowena's hand he positioned her behind him so that Kane wouldn't see her when he came in. Her hands roamed over his back and he had to stifle a groan. Kane walked in and looked around. As his eyes settled on Mark they were filled with hurt and anger.

Mark looked around then spotted what Kane must of seen. The bed was rumpled and had obviously had more than one person in it. Kane's body went stiff with anger and rage as he turned to leave. "Wait!" Kane speared him with a hurt look. Mark stepped to one side.

I walked over to him. His head was bent low as he tried to sort his emotions out. His hands moved over my face and hair, checking that I was really there. Stepping closer I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest. His hands moved over my back, touching gently then with more force as he realised that I wasn't going to fade away.

Tilting his face up I brushed away his tears. "I missed you to." Suddenly he surged to his feet and I found myself on the receiving end of a bear hug. The breath hissed out of my lungs as he tightened his grip. "Easy big guy." He loosened his grip slightly, which I was grateful for as his hug had actually hurt slightly.

Mark and Kane called Paul with the good news. Not quite believing what he was hearing he rushed right over to see for himself. They got into a brief argument after Paul asked if Mark was sure that he'd performed the ceremony properly. Mark brought out the sword box and emptied it out, the two halves clattered together as they struck the floor.

As they talked I bent down to pick up the sword. I was paying more attention to them than to what I was doing but I was brought back to reality as the tip of the sword sliced the palm of my hand. The pain startled me and I looked down. Blood welled up in the cut and started dripping from my hand. I sat down heavily on my backside and watched the blood flowing.

"Rowena?" Kane had been watching Paul and Mark exchanging words, ready to step in if the words changed to blows. As things settled down he turned to watch Rowena. As she sat down with a look of shock he was at her side in an instant. Taking her hand he inspected the cut. "It's not too deep, you won't even need stitches."

Mark and Paul were quickly at my side checking out the damage to my hand for themselves. Mark picked me up and sat on the sofa, cradling me on his lap. I smiled at them. One of the things I loved about them was that they kept forgetting that I was a ghost. I didn't have bad hair days, I didn't feel pain from hugs and I most definitely didn't bleed.

"Then…?" He kissed her fingers as she placed them over his lips. Looking at her he could see her love for him and he knew that whatever she was going to say he was going to like it. She also looked slightly unsure as if she couldn't quite believe what was happening. He gave her a reassuring smile and nodded for her to continue.

He looked at the cut the looked into her eyes. Her words started to sink in and he realised what she was telling him. "You're alive?" She nodded and he heard Paul and Kane gasp in surprise. "Those things you mentioned… I want them with you and a whole lot more." Standing up he stood her in front of him, taking her hand he dropped down to one knee. "Rowena, I love you with all my heart and soul and I want nothing more than for us to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you marry me?"

My knees went weak at his question, heart pounding in my chest I cupped his beautiful face in my hands and gave him the only answer I could. "Yes… Oh yes." With a smile that melted my heart even more, he took my lips in a searing kiss.