Vince sat in his office interviewing potential guardians for his family more specifically his daughter Stephanie. The Ministry had become an ever-present threat to Vince’s family and he wanted to make sure they were properly protected. Every potential employee he had interviewed had been male something that hadn’t sat right with him. “ Mr. McMahon Rayford Parris is here.” “ Send him in.” A tall skinny female with long black hair pulled back in a braid and ice blue eyes walked in. “ May I help you?” “ I’m Rayford Parris I understand you’re interested in protecting your daughter.” “ Actually it’s my entire family.” “ Believe me he only wants your daughter.” Vince’s breath became very shallow. “ Who?” “ The Undertaker, who else? I’m going to tell you this once. I can give you what all those men can’t.” “ Really?” “ I can give you a supernatural and metaphysical advantage.” “ How do you know the Undertaker?” “ Grew up with him.” “ You don’t look old enough to have done anything with him.” “ I’m older than I look.” “ If you grew up with him then you have ties with him.” “ Hardly, he and I chose different paths, we wanted different things.” “ Why are you here? Why are you asking for this job?” “ Because someone has to stop him, and at the present time I seem to be the only person willing to do so.” The McMahon’s stood in the foyer of their house waiting on the new head of security. As the clock struck eight they all heard a sharp knock. Vince opened the door as the clock finished striking. “ Right on time. I like that.” “ I know.” Stephanie took a deep breath and a step back when Rayford removed her sunglasses. “ The young lady finds me disturbing to the eye.” She got a sick smirk on her face, which shook Stephanie to the core. Rayford turned back to Vince to address him. “ I’d recommend you stay indoors today.” “ Why?” “ Because he’s outside watching the house. Now if you don’t mind I think I’ll go remove him.” She walked back through the house to the back door. Stephanie waited till she was gone before turning to her father. “ Daddy I’m to sure about her. She’s not right.” “ She’s the only asset we have against him. Believe me the minute this shit is over she’s gone. Taker stared with rapt fascination at the female entering Vince’s home. Who was she, and why did he feel as if he had seen her before. A smooth, sultry voice brought him out of his thoughts. “ I thought you had minions that did that?” He turned to see her and gave a sharp hiss. “ Missed you too.” She nearly purred as she sauntered up to him. “ What are you doing here?” “ I came to continue our little game of cat and mouse, and what a better way to get your attention than to protect the object of your lust.” “ He hired you to be Stephanie’s guardian?” “ Yup so you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.” He stopped her finger from running down his chest. “ So the stakes are the same? I catch you and hold you for seven days you’ll be mine?” “ That’s the rule.” He drew her forward bringing his lips down onto hers. When he pulled back he breathed against her lips. “ Let the hunt begin.” Taker pushed her back and vanished from sight. He reappeared in his bedroom smirking. Soon he would have the WWF at his feet, the McMahon’s bent to his will, and Rayford in his bed. When he came downstairs the rest of the Ministry was utterly confused. Paul walked up to him giving him a strange look. “ Is everything alright?” “ Everything is splendid. I’m about to get everything I desire. McMahon has hired a guardian who will prove to be a most worthy opponent.” “ Well who is it?” “ One born of Dark magic. Who lurks in shadow, and power is provided by the darkness.” “ I would think you would be displeased about his presence…” “ Her” “ What?” “ The Guardian is Rayford.” “She’s returned?” “ Yes and has become quite stunning. I want you to make preparations to hold both her and Stephanie for an extended period of time. I will handle Rayford’s accommodations personally. It will take weeks to prepare, and cast all the necessary incantations to keep her here.” “ And Dennis Knight? Will we still take him?” “ Yes but we must do it as soon as possible.” Stephanie kept looking at Rayford wondering what was next. She had been taken out of the safety and comfort of her father’s locker room to one in the bowels of the arena. “ Why did you bring me here?” “ Because he won’t look for you here.” “ How do you know him so well?” “ Let’s just say he and I have faced off before.” “ Faced off?” “ A little game we play.” “ You’re not normal are you?” “ You mean am I a freak? By your standards yes, but by mine no. I’m quite normal. But that’s for another time. “ What do you mean?” “ I mean something’s are better left unsaid. I don’t think you can handle knowing what I really am.” “ You’re not one of his followers are you?” “ God no, if I was you would be in his possession by now. There is one thing I will need you to do.” “ What?” “ If it ever comes to the point where I tell you to run, then do it, and never look back. I’ll find you when I’m sure it’s safe to.” “ Why don’t you want me to look back?” “ Because your life isn’t the only thing on the line. I’ve put my freedom up as well and if you cost me that then I will hurt you.” Before Steph could respond Rayford silenced her. “Hide.” Steph ducked under some boxes and covered herself just as the Undertaker walked in. “ Alone? Where’s your charge?” “ Like I’ll tell you. I saw you took the country bumpkin tonight. Who’s next the chicken or the cow?” “ The princess.” “ I’m hurt have you forgotten our little game already?” “ No but know this when I take her, I will take you. She will bring me the WWF and you will bring me great pleasure.” “ The only pleasure you’ll get is to watch my ass as it walks away.” “ I highly doubt that. I’m looking forward to breaking Steph and keeping you to busy to keep track of seven whole days.” “ Right don’t you have minions to lead?” “ They have their orders. She’s close I can feel her. Wouldn’t it be an embarrassment if I took both of you now.” “ There’s no way you can fight me and take her at the same time.” “ Just as you can’t fight me and protect her. There is no where that you can hide her that I can not get her.” “ Oh I can think of one place.” “ Really?” “ My home. There’s no way you can get into it.” “ But I can wait outside of it.” “ You have to find it first.” All three of them heard Paul’s voice. “ You better go.” “ He can wait I’m not finished here.” < < “Yes you are. You’ll get nothing more from me.” He let out a growl before turning and leaving. The Ministry’s voices echoed down the hall till they were gone. “ You can come out now they’re gone.” Stephanie crawled out and looked at Rayford. “ What did he mean?” “ About what?” “ You bringing him great pleasure and something about seven days.” “ I grew up with him. Paul wanted us to wed but I refused. So Taker came up with our deal. If he can catch me and keep me for seven days then I have to marry him.” “ What about the great pleasure?” “ Just because we’re on opposite sides doesn’t mean we haven’t fooled around.” “ Can he really not enter your home?” “ No he can’t and neither can his followers. If things get out to the point that we have to hide then that’s where we’ll go.” “ Why would they get worse?” “ Power, the closer he gets to his goals the more he desire’s them. Once he set’s his on something he doesn’t give up till he gets it. We will have to be extremely careful.” Rayford returned Stephanie to he father and headed out for the night. She wandered down the sidewalk heading towards the small hotel she was staying in. Footsteps echoed behind her and her senses come on high alert as the steps increased. Someone was chasing her. The hotel came into view and she rushed in. Something bothered her when the attendant gave her, her key. He seemed scared and was sweating bullets. She carefully climbed the stairs to her room, unlocking the door she drew her knife ready for an attack. The room was pitch black, and oppressive as hell. Something was wrong. The shades had been drawn, a hand landed on her back shoving her into the room. The door slammed behind her and her eye’s struggled to see in the dark. Why hadn’t she sensed it? All the lights came on around her momentarily blinding her. When her sight returned Taker and the entire Ministry stood ready to strike.