Part 12:

"It's her, I tell you!"
"You sure?"
"Oh yeah! I'd recognize her anywhere."
"Can you get me a blood sample?"
"Yeah. I have a match with her tonight. I'll get her to bleed on me."
"A match? One on one combat?"
"Yes."
"Get out of it. You can't fight her!"
"I can! I have the skill."
"You will not be decimated by Delilah's physical prowess but in the heat of battle, your mind will be an open book to her."
"It will not."
"Your arrogance will be your downfall Jazz."
"And your anal retentive need to boss me around will be the death of you."
"You don't respect your prey, or seek to understand it."
"They're addicts who kill humans for their high. Anything else?"
"I suppose not. I'll have a meeting with you before your match."
"I have no need for."
"You'll follow their instructions to the letter Jazz. You do not want to cross me on this."
"Fine."
"Don't say fine and cross me out of spite. You might not be alive later for me to save."
"You take yourself far too seriously boss."
"And you still believe that Delilah is a mere vampire that you can kill with a stake or a silver bullet."
"Listen, you said it yourself. I come from a long line of hunters and as the hundredth of said line, it is my duty to rid the world of its worst vampire."
"I am well aware of your destiny girl."
"Then let me live it as I see fit."
"As you wish."
After speaking with Jazz, the woman on the other end of the line drew another card from the tarot deck at her elbow. She didn't react when she turned over the death card. It was the second time she'd drawn it since she'd seen the woman suspected of being Delilah, mother of all vampires. It meant two would die. One death would be deserved and too long in coming.
The other would be unfair but necessary. She sighed. Such was the world.

The sinister dirge made Jazz smile. Delilah certainly had a flair for the dramatic. That flair was accentuated when she appeared at the top of the ramp in a circle of fire, a black cloak covering her shoulders but showing off her tight black shorts and matching turtleneck. With her impossibly white skin, she made an arresting figure that not only drew the eye but also commanded its attention.
It was only when her nemesis joined her in the ring that Jazz realized that Delilah was barefoot. For some reason, seeing her bare feet made the former ECWer uncomfortable. Watching Delilah's body, it dawned upon her that it would take her a lot to bring down a being who'd had the last 2 50 0 years to tone and strengthen her body. And vampires fought to survive which meant Delilah had a lot of fighting experience.
Suddenly, Jazz realized that she had bitten off a lot more than she could chew. But soon, the bell was ringing and Delilah was circling her in the ring, waiting for her to make the first move. And she didn't know what move to make.
"Come along now bully. show me your stuff. Show me how big and how bad you can be."
Finally Jazz made her move and Delilah countered, very easily. And so thefirst minutes went, back and forth between the two women, until Jazzstarted showing signs of exhaustion. And Delilah was on her in a second, matching Jazz's brawl-like technique to a T. The ex-ECW wrestler wasn't completely out though. She fought with the strength of desperation but soon, her muscles were burning from the strain and sweat started pouring from every single one of her pores. That's when Delilah started going to town on her. Through the haze of her hurting mind, Jazz had to admit that the vampire was an exceedingly skilled wrestler. And, strangely enough, as she was covered for the three-count, she almost told Delilah she deserved that victory. But in time, she remembered that she was a hunter.
As soon as Delilah rolled off her, Jazz reached into her wrestling boot and grasped the small blade she'd stored in there. Blade in hand, she slashed at her slim calf and smeared the blade in the trickling blood, rolling out of the ring and running up the ramp to the backstage area's relative safety. She'd obviously forgotten about Taker, Gangrel, Edge and Christian, not to mention the unexpected presence of a very irate Shane McMahon and of his brother-in-law.

Part 13:

"Give me the blade," Taker growled.
"Huh?" she asked, tucking the blade inside of her shorts.
"The blade you just used to cut Delilah. Give it to me."
"I don't know what."
"Jazz my girl," Vince said, making his way through the circle of men, "that was a stunning performance out there."
"Dad."
"Even though you lost, I don't think this was a defeat across the board for you."
"Vince!" Taker finally shouted.
"I don't think that's any way of speaking to your employer," said a tall man in a white suit as he stepped from the shadows. He was about Shane's height, his body wiry and yet he exuded a strength that made all of Delilah's would-be defenders step back in awe. "He is in his right to congratulate this young lady if he so wishes, wouldn't you agree?"
Resisting the man's obvious attempt to sway his mind, Taker shook his head from the invading voices.
"He can speak to her as much as he likes. As long as I get to her first. She has something she shouldn't have."
"I think Vince and Jazz should go now," the man said as Vince led a confused Jazz away.
"I think you need to get out of my way," Taker said, looking as angry as ever.
The man looked over his shoulder and saw Vince and Jazz were long gone. "I think it's my cue to leave."
Taker watched him leave and shook his head, wondering why he'd stayed there, arguing with this man instead of following Vince and Jazz as he should have done. But quickly, the man was gone and Delilah was escorted into the backstage area with the help of two EMTs. She glared the two uniformed men away and started stalking toward her dressing room.
"Delilah." Taker began.
"Why are you here? Or do you already have the blade?"
"I don't have the blade but."
"She took my blood to have it analyzed. She's a hunter Taker. A damned hunter! Once she gets proof positive of what I am, I will never be left alone, do you understand that?"
"I know."
"You know? You mean you know what she is or do you mean that you know what this means?"
"I mean both."
"Then why are you still here?"
"Vince took her away and this man."
"What man?"
"A man. I believe him to be a demon, or a very powerful vampire."
"Why?"
"He managed to stop me from following Vince."
"What?"
Delilah turned to Taker and he read the concern in her eyes, the anxiety.
The fear.
"You know him."
"Only one man could have stopped you," she said softly. "And if it is who I fear."
"Who do you fear Delilah?"
"I fear Dracula."

"Where is the hunter?" Vlad asked his slave.
"On her way to her handler, with Delilah's blood. If your plan works, you won't even have to kill her yourself."
"If my plan works?"
"When your plan works master. I apologize."
"Apology accepted. But you are mistaken in you think I wish to give away the pleasure of killing that witch. I will kill Delilah and revel in her blood."
"Yes master."
"Dad!" Shane said, coming into Vince's office, "I hope you suspended Jazz!"
"Shane, do sit down. I'd like to introduce you to an old friend."
Shane turned around and came face to face with the most beautiful man he'd ever seen in his life. He quickly sat. "Sir."
"Please darling Shane... call me Vlad."
"Vlad. East European, right?"
"From Transylvania actually."
"Like Dracula?"
"Exactly like that," Vlad smiled as he sat next to Shane, putting an arm over the young man's shoulders.

Part 14:

Delilah, frightened and worried rushed out of the building halfway through Taker's match against Hunter. On her way out, she ran straight into Kane and the Big Red Machine wasn't quick to get out of her way. Instead, he just stood there, watching her.
"You seem frightened."
"What?"
"Delilah? Mother of all vampires, frightened, what a pleasant sight."
"I don't have time for this Kane. Move."
"No."
"No? I could take you. If I were so inclined."
"Try me."
"Why? You that eager to rejoin your wife and child?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
Delilah looked up at Kane and shook her head. At any other moment, she would have been happy to grant him his wish but right now, she didn't have the time to dwell on his suicidal tendencies. She had much more to worry about.
"I'll arrange that for you someday."
"Should I thank you?"
"Kane, I don't have time for this right now," Delilah muttered, pushing him out of her way.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes softening at the fear in her eyes.
"Huh?"
"Listen, I don't like you. It's not surprising but the look in your eyes is a bit frightening."
"Dracula is here. I fear he's the one who's been manipulating Vince McMahon all along."
"Dracula? The legendary bloodsucker? Why would he come here at all?"
"I fear he's here after me."
"After you? Why?"
"He disputes my claim as mother of all vampires."
"That's ridiculous. You're older and have much more experience. So do Taker and I."
"He nonetheless disputes our claims and if he kills us, no one will be there to counter his claim."
"Kill us?"
"Yes, that's why he's here... to kill me and possibly you and your brother after me."
"What did you do to him?"
"Why do you immediately assume that I did anything to him?"
"Delilah."
"I turned him."
"Gave him eternal life. What a bitch you are. What did you really do to him?"
"I tried to kill him."
Kane sighed and sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair and snatched off his mask, pacing in front of Delilah.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Did you try to kill him?"
"You know everything they say about him? About what a crazed killer he was?"
"Yes."
"He was worse than any story you might have heard. On his first night, he fed on a hundred souls."
"WHAT?"
"He hasn't turned anyone. not since I've known him... he only kills... for pleasure."
"Delilah... do you understand what this means?"
"That we have a madman on our hands? Yes. Why do you think I tried killing him in the first place?"
"Why the hell didn't you?"
"I thought I had. what can I say? I thought staking him and covering his body with tons of rock and mortar would do the job."
"So where are you off to in the dark night?"
"I'm going to his ancestral home. If I couldn't kill him with a simple stake the first time, I'm going to have to use extreme means to kill him this time."
"How extreme are you talking?"
"Come along, I'll tell you on the way."
With a look over his shoulder to the arena where his brother still fought, Kane followed Delilah into the dark night.

Part 15:

"Once upon a time, I trusted her as well, and almost died for it."
Taker bristled at the man's intrusion into his private locker room, but bit his tongue, waiting to hear more from him.
"I thought I shared a bond with her. I was wrong and she tried to kill me."
"..."
"I know you are her mate and I cannot hide how impressed I am by a man who still manages to hold on to Delilah after two thousand years. However..."
"However what?"
"I wonder if you trust her."
"I trust her."
"You trust a woman who disappeared from your life for over five hundred years? You are the bigger man."
"In more ways than one."
"Oh, you love her. How human of you."
"Yes... how human of me."
"She doesn't share the feeling, you know."
"Delilah cannot love, yes, I know."
"She loved one man once and led him to his death. She will not dare to love again."
"I know all about her and Samson."
"Aren't you afraid she'll treat you with the same disdain?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"We are mated. Our relationship is different."
Taker finished packing his equipment and turned around to look at Vlad. The man's charisma was impressive; filled the room really. But now that they weren't fighting each other, Taker didn't feel quite as threatened.
"She isn't pleasantly waiting for you at your hotel room," Tepes said.
"Excuse me?"
"Your mate? Delilah? She isn't waiting for you."
"I don't know why I'm asking you but I might as well entertain your fantasies of knowledge. Where is my mate?"
"She's in a plane over the Atlantic, with your brother."
"Now, I know you're crazy."
"You don't have to believe me but the truth speaks for itself."

"Markus will be enraged when he finds out we've gone," Kane told Delilah once they were up in the air and flying over the Atlantic.
"I know. But we had to leave. Dracula is a threat I cannot face without help."
"What kind of help?"
"The dagger I used to kill... the demon and its creator."
"My wife and child," Kane said coldly, staring straight ahead.
"Yes. The dagger I used was blessed and presumed to have been wrought from the crystallized tear of the original god of blood. If nothing else can do it, the dagger will kill Dracula."
"Are you not afraid that he will kill Markus while you are away?"
"No. Dracula fears my magic, if nothing else. He knows that harming my mate means that I will come after him and murder him and anyone who stands in his way."
"Why not do that now?"
"Every day, we come a step closer to being exposed. If I can avoid detection as long as possible, I will. However, if he harms Markus, detection be damned."
"All for the love of one man. I might change my opinion of you yet, mother."
Delilah turned around and looked at Kane as he looked down at her as he still towered greatly above her, seated though they both were.
"You have no reason to keep your face hidden Kane," she said softly. "I see in you the same strength and beautiful lines I admire in your brother."
"Do not try to charm me. I know what kind of a killer you are, goddess of mine."
"Again with this litany about your wife and child."
"She was my mate, as you are my brothers."
"No, she was not your mate. She was your wife. There is a difference. Mates understand and accept you for what you are for they are the same as you. We are killers Kane. Your wife didn't understand that and you were so infatuated with her that you broke the rules for her. And I had no choice but to kill her for your weakness."
Kane said nothing, and stared up ahead, refusing to allow himself to feel anything but hatred for the female demon sitting by his side.
"Stop being a child," Delilah snapped. "You know I had to do what I did. Do not expect an apology from me. It is not forthcoming."
"I loved her."
"And I loved Milena!"
"Who?"
"The first one to die for bringing those. demons into the world. Did you think your wife was the first?"
"I know of one other. Markus told me."
"Markus told you nothing but bits and pieces. The time has come for you to know what evil you and Celeste were on the verge of bringing about."

Milena was the first one I turned. She begged me for it and as a way of thanking her for her years of loyal service, I agreed. One night, without the knowledge of the rest of the household, I bit her. not enough to kill her but enough to turn her. That first night we had together will stay in my mind for as long as I live. There was something hopelessly tragic about being so alone for so long. There was no one to really understand me, to share the beauty of my nights.
But. Milena did. She understood my nights, my days, my thirst for blood and the incredible thrill of the kill. We were very happy then. But, as much as I could give her, something was missing. something I would never be able to give her. she yearned for motherhood. Having never felt that particular urge myself, I didn't quite know how to help. I'd initially thought turning a few children would fulfill her need to procreate but that held no appeal to her. Milena wanted a child of her own and I convinced her to seduce a new house slave newly introduced to our blood-drinking ceremonies. She became pregnant almost instantly. From the pregnancy's onset, Milena's bloodlust grew by leaps and bounds. And during the last month, I realized that everything we helped her feed on went to the child. She was barely able to walk or talk. The child was draining the very life from her.
Finally, one night after coming back home with food for Milena. I walked in on a scene so horrific. the child had been delivered. But it had fed on its mother until Milena died. I can not tell you how it knew it was meant to feed but feed it did. I found half of my household hiding from harm in the cellar, the door barred. I was getting them out of the house when I saw it. the child. When it raised its eyes on mine, I realized that a child born to a blood drinker would carry its parent's lust for blood from birth. What's more, the child would also come to life with the ability to fly and a frightening strength, traits stolen from their parent.
Before I could get past my shock, one had flown across the room, felling one of the servants and digging its fangs into the uncovered neck. It was too late for me to save him so I ordered the rest out of the house and locked the door after me. Then, I had one of the most frightening experiences in my life as they spoke to me. telepathically. Very calmly, they thanked me for giving them these lives and expressed their sorrow at having to kill me. And they very nearly did. But I had to kill them. I had to kill babies. I snapped one's neck and I stabbed one through the heart.
It was the only way.

"You're right," Kane said in a detached tone, "I didn't know everything."
"Knowledge isn't as important as understanding," Delilah said as she stared out into the airplane's confining area.
"I understand. I am sorry Celeste had to die but I understand why it was necessary."

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