| Part IX |
Alex walked into her apartment with a heavy sigh. It had been months since she was there. The last time had not been that pleasant and she hoped to avoid everyone this trip. She only had 2 days and she needed to catch up. She walked into her room and threw her suitcase on the bed, opened it to start removing clothes. �I hate washing clothes.� As she gathers clothes, the doorbell rang. �Arrgghhh! Who could that be?� She dropped the clothes on the floor and walked to the front door. �Ms. Lopez?� asked the delivery man, he was standing there holding a huge vase of gladiolas. �Yes.� Alex replied shocked. �These are for you. Could you sign here?� Alex signed his sheet and wondered who in the world had sent her flowers. �Thank you.� she called after the delivery man. �Probably from Vince, just checking on me or something. Or Chris, he thinks Vince is punishing him for what happened. He knew the assignment was temporary.� Alex set the vase on the coffee table and looked for the card, upon finding it she opened and read it. �Hope you�re doing better, see you soon.� she read out loud. Alex turned the card over in her hand, but couldn�t find the signature. �That�s strange.� Alex spent the next couple of days clearing out some paperwork of her own, and trying to figure out who Vince would assign her to next. She found a postcard from 'Taker, letting her know he was fine and enjoying his time off. The phone rang, it was Vince asking how she was. After assuring him she was fine and the bruise would not even be visible by the time she came back he seemed somewhat satiated. �I called you yesterday, you weren�t there.� �I took a personal detour before I came here. Something I had to do.� �Went to visit your Valentine?� Vince joked. �Something like that.� Alex replied, trying to change the subject, �So where are you sending me next boss?� she asked. �Well, the lucky winner would be Kane.� Vince stated. Alex was surprised, Kane hadn�t mentioned to her he had requested an assistant. Although sometimes it unnerved her, Alex always felt like Kane knew what she was thinking. She had spent a lot of time around him when she was with 'Taker. When 'Taker left, he had taken over as her �guardian�. During her time with Jericho, they had gotten to know each other even better. And after staying with her that night, she counted him as one of her closest friends. �Okay.� She replied. They discussed business for a few minutes and then hung up. Alex opened her laptop to discover she�d already been sent Kane�s itinerary and schedules. She proceeded to look over the information to discover that someone would be traveling with Kane. A few hours later she received an email from Kane telling her that he would be arriving at the airport at the same time, and that he would meet up with her there. ~~*~~ Alex arrived at the airport to find that Kane�s plane had already landed. She went to baggage claim to pick up her bag and saw Kane there, obviously waiting for her. Even with the crowd of people, it was impossible to miss him. As she got closer Alex saw a woman. Alex smiled to herself. �His girlfriend.� she thought. They had an ease and an intimacy that was unmistakable. For whatever reason it had never occurred to Alex that Kane was involved with someone. She shrugged it off as her just being dense. Alex grabbed her bag and walked over to them. The woman, who had long auburn hair, turned to see Alex approached, and with a smile greeted her. �Hey! How are you feeling?� Kane asked. �I�m fine. See. All better.� She said brushed her hair from her face. �The bruise is barely visible.� the woman replied. Alex smiled at her as Kane put his arm around her shoulder. �Alex, this is Storm.� Alex moved to shake her hand. When Storm took her hand and pulled her in to hug her; Alex felt completely at ease around her. She knew they would get along fine. ~~*~~ As Kane and Storm got to their room, she asked, �When do you want to do this?� ~If LaShana and IceWolf are here already, then the sooner the better. She needs to be taught. Then everything will be better. �You mean you will feel better. You can not blame yourself for what happened. You had no way of knowing. ~I think that�s the point I�m trying to make. Kane smiled and kissed Storm. �Let me find the girls, make sure Alex is in her room.� Storm suggested walking out the door. ~~*~~ �I�m a what?!� Alex asked confused. �You�re one of my brides.� Kane stated. �Wait . . . wait a second. What are you talking about?� Alex asked confused. �You�ve heard of the Brides of Kane �?� Storm asked. �Of course, it�s a fan site on the �Net.� Alex stated. She stopped in shock. �You mean those are for real?� �The site was set up so that when the time was right Kane�s brides would find their way.� Storm informed her. �But what does that have to do with me?� Alex asked, looking at Kane. �You were destined to find your way to me, to Storm and the other girls.� Kane stated. Alex sat silently, staring at Kane, Storm LaShana and IceWolf. �Okay, so you�re telling me I�m a bride.� �Yes.� Storm confirmed. �But it�s my understanding the brides are linked telepathically, to you� pointing to Kane, �and to each other.� pointing to the girls. �I can�t do that.� Alex replied, still certain that they�d made some sort of mistake. ~Yes you can. Kane responded. Alex heard him in her head. �How did you do that?� Alex asked slowly, shocked. -You are linked to us. Storm -Your power is undeveloped. IceWolf -You just need instruction. LaShana �STOP!!� Alex screamed, holding her head, her temple was throbbing. Kane sat directly in front of her. He wrapped both hands around her head interlocking his fingers behind her head, he put his thumbs on her temples. When he felt her pain subside he released her. ~You need to relax. You need to open your mind. You�ve heard me before. �I thought . . .� Alex paused. �I thought I was imagining things.� Alex said. �You�ve been talking to me.� ~Yes, you are powerful. I�ve felt you since you started. But I could not find you. You were blocking me. �But I didn�t even know I could do this.� Alex stated. �That�s why you need instruction.� IceWolf emphasized. �That night in Houston at the pool hall, you were in my head?� Alex asked. ~Yes, I could feel your turmoil, I wanted you to know we were there for you. ��We�. You�re talking about you and IceWolf?� gesturing toward her. ~and 'Taker. �Okay, exactly how many people know about this?� Alex asked. -We�ve know about you for a while, but you weren�t ready. 'Taker realized who you were when you started working for him. Storm answered. �He really started to get frustrated when he couldn�t read you. You were constantly blocking him.� IceWolf said smiling. �The headaches!� Alex exclaimed, she turned and looked back at Kane. ~Yes, when you blocked us, you would feel pain. �Sometimes, I would see you or 'Taker in my head. Were those real?� ~Yes. Kane answered. �You said you�ve known for a while, why now?� Alex questioned. ~I will never be out of touch with one of my brides again. Kane informed her. �You�re talking . . .�Alex started out loud. -Try answering with your thoughts. LaShana prompted. Alex paused; still trying to grasps the idea. *You�re talking about what happen with Chris. Kane nodded. *But you know the situation on that, I�m okay. I wasn�t in any danger. Kane looked at Alex�s face. Her bruises had faded and her eye was almost healed. Kane used his index finger to trace the last of the blue on her face. ~I felt your fear and your confusion. Despite your friendship toward Chris, you were scared. By the time I felt you, it was too late. That should never have happened. Alex could feel his anger. �Why me?� Alex asked quietly. ~You have a beautiful heart and a strong spirit. You were in need of a family. Kane answered. Alex�s eyes widen in shock. They were reading her heart and her mind. �How did you know?� Alex whispered. -Do you remember the dream? Storm reminded her. Alex gasped, she held her head in her hands and looked at the floor. As she looked up again, �That was you?� Alex asked Storm. Storm smiled, and nodded. �You were meant to be among us.� As Storm came to sit next to Kane, she wrapped her arm around his. LaShana and IceWolf sat on each side of Alex. �I don�t know what to say.� Alex whispered. ~Welcome home, my bride. Kane announced. ~~*~~ Over the next couple of days, Alex had �school�. Kane and Storm instructed her on how to communicate with them. ~You need to learn to relax. Open your mind to me. �I can�t!� Alex replied getting frustrated. She was beginning to get another headache. �This is really hard for me. My heart knows you love me and you wouldn�t hurt me, but the idea of someone inside my head unnerves me.� ~Your mind isn�t an open book to me. I�m not there to invade your privacy. This is just a way for us; you and the other ladies to communicate. �I can�t make my mind understand that.� Alex said exasperatedly. -Honey, let me talk to Alex. Storm requested. Kane kissed Storm and caressed her face. Alex turned away until she heard the door close. �What�s wrong?� Storm asked. �You two have something very special.� Alex observed. �Kane loves all his brides.� Storm replied. Alex smiled as she shook her head, �No, I mean you two.� she emphasized. �Bride or not, the way he looks at you; make anyone else in the room feel like they�re ease-dropping.� Storm smiled, -I can�t remember not loving Kane. Our connection is very strong. *I�ve never . . .I don�t know what it is to be looked at like that. Alex stated. -Is that what�s bothering you? Storm questioned. *No . . .not directly. It�s like I said, I have a problem trusting people. I�ve never been very good at it. *But I�ve seen you with people. I�ve seen you put your trust in Kane and I know you trust 'Taker. *�Taker knew about me before I did. I don�t know if that made it easier for me to trust him. I just know I feel completely at peace around him and Kane. -Did you realize those conversations with 'Taker were real? *Kane told me. It�s reassuring in a way. Back then I thought I was cracking up. Although I didn�t know it, he was sanity for me. -You need to remember that trust. Do you remember what it felt like when you talk to 'Taker? Alex thought for moment, then smiled remembering. *Yes, it felt like I was being held. Like someone had wrapped their arms around me and was holding me tightly. Alex paused. *How will remembering that help me to open up? I still can�t communicate telepathically? Storm smiled at her, �We�ve been doing it now for about 10 minutes.� she said out loud. Alex looked at her shocked and open-mouthed. Then she started laughing. Storm sat down next to her, �You just have to remember, we�re here and we love you. There is nothing to be afraid of.� ~~*~~ Alex sat on the bed concentrating. She was trying to focus on Kane. In her mind she saw him but she couldn�t tell where he was. Then the picture became very clear. *HI! Alex collapsed on the bed giggling. �Where you able to find to Kane? Storm asked her. Alex couldn�t stop laughing. �What�s so funny?� Storm asked. After a few minutes, Kane walked in the door limping slightly. Alex sat up trying to keep a straight face. ~I guess you�ve been practicing. Storm looked at Kane, -Why are you limping? Alex put her hand over her mouth and started giggling again. ~I was in the weight room when Alex �found� me. I dropped the weight on my foot. Storm tried to hide her smile and looked at Alex. �You�re a very good student. *I had an excellent teacher. Alex smiled. |