Madre del Sadiablo

Moonlight shone down upon the Rayne family mansion as the town car made its way up the winding drive, crunching along the gravel, its windows reflecting the faint gas lighting that lit the way up to the ancient stone empire. Stone steps lead the way towards the imposing maple wood doors, a lone female figure stood in the doorway, her older form clad in a simple black satin gown, layered in a crystal lined slip, black satin gloves clasped together in front of her, red lips pursed in a thin line, her eyes watching the younger woman stepping out of the car. Stepping aside the Rayne Mistress raised her hand and lead the way inside, no greeting or words shared between them, the woman in front of her shifted her weight on two feet as her heavily pregnant form settled into a velvet lined chair.

Smoke filled the room as the tall man by the fire sucked on the elegantly carved Ivory pipe, his arm rested on the stone structure that dominated the small library, fire nestling inside the structure its sweet smoke swirling up the hidden chimney. “Thomas our guest has arrived” the older woman sat in the opposite chair to Surreal, her long legs tucked neatly underneath her as she looked up to her husband for guidance. Thomas Rayne the epitome of culture and style to his peers and death to his enemies, he was a renowned and well to do businessman with fingers in every pot, but underneath all that lay a powerful being that could control powers few could. Adjusting his red velvet smoking jacket the dignified man turned to face the woman across from him “I am well aware that our guest has arrived Martha, what I fail to see is why you are still in this room” his eyes hard and cold barely graced his wife as she rose, ever the dutiful maiden her pain concealed beneath an air of dignity “Of course my lord” pursing her lips she grazed her eyes over the woman sitting, Surreal ignoring the woman focused only on the power of the Rayne household as he walked to close the door on his retreating wife’s back.

Stepping across the thousand dollar a metre carpet to the bar “I would offer you a drink Mistress SaDiablo but of course in the condition you are in, you should not” pouring himself a crystal goblet of the finest whiskey money could buy he sipped it as he watched her “I trust your condition is going as it should” a slight nod from the woman raising a rare smile from him “excellent” sitting across from her he reached inside his jacket and removed a large envelope and slid it across the marble table separating them “your last instalment” lounging back into his high backed chair he twirled the dark liquor around in the glass as he watched the rare beauty across from him, her body soft and nubile he had thought of their encounter often, a rare stirring in his loins at the distant memory of their one night together a night that had resulted in her current condition. They had taken years to find the right woman to carry the child of their destiny, once he realized his pitiful wife was unable to carry he had forced her to watch as he went through concubine after concubine trying to find a woman strong enough to bare a child of a Fundamentalist, only to stumble across the young warrior woman through an acquaintance of his Jean LeBeau, she was at the time a creature of his creation one of the most powerful warriors in China she had been recruited to train Jeans League of Assassins. Thomas had fallen in love with her the moment he saw her, her long body and jet black hair swinging as she battled another opponent, her body like liquid he had been aroused beyond any desire he had ever encountered, this was his mothers child, this was his Jade beauty. Months he had courted her only to find his advances were deflected, she ignored every offer of romance until finally he had convinced Jean to assist him in creating a contract of surrogacy, Surreal had no love or passion for him, he knew but she was in need of financial assistance to build her own empire and he was more than happy to pay anything she desired. The cost of bringing his child into the world exceeded anything that he had ever spent, she was a hard businesswoman and a shrewd barterer, their deal sealed with the final agreement and one night, if no child came from that night she was still to be paid, he cared not, his child was a secondary desire to that of possessing the woman he had watched for so long. 

Stirring from his reverie, he watched as his jade beauty raised a strong arm to place the money inside the long red cloak she wore “I have a further condition on our agreement Lord Rayne” her voice was strong, power behind it as she continued “When the child is of an appropriate age you will bring it to me for training” her eyes locked with his as anger brewed in the room, almost palpable, she made no request her statement was pure fact. “We had an agreement Surreal” his voice just as strong, dropping all pleasantries as he continued “you may not alter them at whim” pulling herself up from the seat Surreal moved to the door, Thomas raised and grabbed her arm, within seconds he was on the floor her heeled boot at his throat as his powers began to spark around the room, pushing her boot harder into his neck he gasped slightly “You will not harm me Thomas, I carry your unborn son” stepping off of him she made her way to the doors and exited quietly passing his harried wife as she ran to address the noise from the room, sneering at Surreal as she passed Martha hissed “Don’t you dare harm our child whore” Surreal ignored the woman and stepped out the front door, silently shutting the door behind her and exiting into the town car. Martha dashed as quickly as was dignified into the small room to find her husband standing, the room palpable with the withdrawn use of his powers “Husband?..” she called out quietly his stiff back and hands gripping the edge of the fire place as he pulled himself together “leave me” he breathed as he heard the glass door shut carefully with her absence. Breathing hard he slammed the crystal glass into the fireplace the residual liquor blasting the flames “I will kill her” he muttered to the mirror above the ledge, his fantasies beginning to twist to the idea of ringing the woman’s neck as she lay beneath him once again. He was impotent and he despised it, that creature had all the power and soon enough so would he, he only needed to wait another month and he would have his child "son" she had said, the word forcing a smile to his hard face "Son" he said out loud to the empty room as the air around him began to calm.

As white as a ghost, Thomas Rayne left the room, trembling from head to toe, his eyes wide in utter shock. His son had just been born, delivered by Surreal SaDiablo in a new room in the mansion. Formerly it was Martha's art studio, but her husband had converted it, so his son would be born in the house, rather than a hospital or one of the dusty old training dojos frequented by the mother of his child. His fists clenched and unclenched as he clamped his jaw shut. Wandering down the corridor with no real purpose, Lord Rayne was brought back to reality by the sound of his wife clearing her throat. She was sitting in the corridor outside her former-studio, awaiting news of their heir. 
 
Thomas opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. He slumped into the chair next to Martha, finger his beard absent-mindedly as she waited patiently for her master to come to his sense. "He..." But Thomas could not finish his sentence, his voice faltering and fading into silence. Taking a deep breath of air, the fundamentalist Lord spat his words out harshly, in contrast to his usual subtle, graceful tones. "He has the mark... My son... Is doomed." 
 
Martha's eyes widened in surprise. A smug grin passed over her face for a moment, as if she were glad that the spawn of that she-devil was cursed. But the grin faded, behind the mask of obedience and love she always wore. "Surely you are mistaken, husband." She whispered soothingly, but the sound of her voice merely worked Thomas into a terrifying rage, as he leapt from his chair. 
 
"Mistaken!?" He bellowed, staring straight into his wife's face as she avoided his gaze. He threw out an arm, pointing towards an antique vase, which instantly exploded. "How could I be mistaken!? I saw them clearly, with my own two eyes! The mark, the mark of the crescent moon! It is exactly as the Father prophesized!" The fundamentalist  telekinetically seized hold of a chandelier and tore it from the ceiling, hurling it at a faraway wall. "My son is destined to die! The fate of my only heir is to be killed before his time! Useless, barren wretch!" He roared at Martha, seizing her around the neck with his control over the gravitational force and pulling her up to her feet, choking and spluttering. "This is your fault! If you were capable of performing your duties as a wife, of bearing my child, this would never have happened!" 
 
Fearing for her life, Martha reacted instinctively and let loose a flurry of electrical bolts. It has been so long since she had used her powers, she had barely any control over them, and as the electricity flowed through the air it struck her husband, causing him to stumble backwards with a shout of pain, as his jacket set alight. Released thanks to her captor's loss of concentration, Martha fell to her knees, instantly regretting her actions as she closed her eyes, praying for mercy and forgiveness under her breath. Thomas patted his hand rapidly against the fire on his shoulder until it was extinguished, and them glared at his partner, his face even whiter. He allowed this look of anger to hold for a few seconds, before turning sharply back to the room where his son was sleeping. Martha was relieved, but once Lord Rayne had taken a few steps, he suddenly jerked his arm up into the air. His wife was thrown backwards by a powerful gravitational pulse, as she blasted straight through the chair behind her, splintering it into pieces as she dented the wall, immediately falling into an unconscious heap on the floor. 
 
Straightening his coat, Thomas entered the room, where Surreal lay in bed, feeding her newborn child. Once more, his thoughts returned to the one night he had with his beloved... And for a moment, he entertained the thought of being with her. Of abandoning his wife, the responsibilites of the House of Rayne and every aspect of his life. To just be with the woman he loved, and their son. But reality soon returned to his mind, crushing his dreams cruelly. He could not shirk his responsibilities as a Lord of his race, nor could he risk losing respect in the eyes of his peers. For months, Martha had been feigning pregnancy, so all would believe the child to be hers. If word got out that Thomas had mated with a mere human, it could tarnish his reputation. The thought of running away with such a creature was laughable, he would never be respected again. 'Regardless,' The Lord of the manor thought. 'she can't stand the sight of me.' 
 
The boy was named Damian, and after receiving her final instalment, Surreal SaDiablo left the Rayne mansion later that day, her son in the care of Thomas and Martha. The woman of the Rayne household took to her new duties as a mother with glee, Damian was a fine distraction from her husband. Yet, even as an infant, the young Rayne seemed to possess the same arrogance as his father. While Martha relished the opportunites now offered to her, showing off her son to other families and treating him like a prince, Thomas had other ideas. Damian had two crescent shaped birthmarks on the backs of both of his hands. According to Father Time, an elder of the fundamentalists, this meant that he was one of two destined sons, fated to die young. Lord Rayne was not pleased by this in the slightest. He had decided that, if his son had little time in which to live, he would ensure that Damian lived his life to the fullest. He hired specialists, and began pushing his son into maturing faster. Within a few months of his birth, Damian was able to walk. A week later, he said his first word ('Mother'). As soon as he was old enough to understand, a few weeks later, Damian was told of his destiny and its full implications. By the age of one he was being tutored privately. A year later he was capable of reading unaided, speaking in full sentences and was very physically fit. Thomas had not forgotten Surreal's offer, on that day, years ago, when she proposed to train the child when he was an appropriate age. The elder Rayne argued that he rushed Damian's development to give his son a better opportunity to enjoy what little life he had to look forward to... But his wife suspected that Thomas merely wanted to see his beloved again. 
 
"Father." The two year old spoke, in a voice too mature for his looks. "Who do you wait for?" 
 
Thomas looked at his son, who had just come down the stairs, dressed in his work-out clothes as instructed. He smiled as he heard a knocking on the door, and pulled it open. "Your new teacher, Damian. Say hello to Surreal SaDiablo."

Secluded mountain Dojo, China.

 One month later.

“Kiai, Kiai” voices of the two boys mixed with the sound of their strikes connecting, Damian moved lightly on his feet as he responded and retaliated, wood bounced beneath his small feet as he worked the sound creaking as the newly laid polished boards responded to his every step. Blow upon blow between the pair was blocked and parried, his partner almost three times his age had trouble keeping up with the 5 year old boy who was more than he seemed to be.

Standing off to the side of the pair, Surreal watched her face blank, her students on one knee surrounding the room as the final blow was placed. Stepping forward and clapping her hands together in a short fast blow, her strong   voice spoke in Mandarin “HALT” the pair in the centre stopped, their chests raising and lowering with the adrenalin, bowed stiffly to each other then turning to bow low to their Sensei.   The handful of other students in the room moved to the centre of the room, all taking their place in a formed triangle in front of her. Damian stood three rows down in his position amongst the students, his short body, strong and lean as he stood hands clasped over a firm fist his red uniform starched with not a single stain, his pride echoing as he spoke along with the other students in the room “Yes Sensei” their voices rang out.

 “Class, who will educate Kohai Wayne on his mistakes during that Kumite?”   The room remained silent as an uncomfortable shift echoed through the Dojo; Surreal laid eyes on each student who struggled to hold her gaze, each face held fear “none of you will speak of his stance? Of his lack of power behind his thrusts?” once again each face showed fear, her eyes landing on that of the young master, cold arrogance sat in his eyes as he faced forward, confidence oozing from him. “If none of you are brave enough to address his weaknesses then I shall, Kohai Wayne, enter Zenkutsu Dachi” Damian’s eyes shot up resting on his teacher, his mouth open slightly in shock as he moved to the first position of a kumite, the other students moving out to the edges of the invisible ring on the floor.

 Facing off against the Sensei was a rare occurrence and one that came with either great esteem or mockery. Their bodies faced opposite each other, her tall frame cloaked in the white of the Sensei, his in the red, she spoke as he assumed the first stance “You have lessons to learn young Wayne” an arrogant smirk crossed his face as he bowed low to Surreal.

Before he could breathe a foot slammed into his chin launching him against the wall cracking his small jaw, sliding down onto the ground he raised a finger to wipe the blood from his mouth as he glared at the woman in front of him, her arms at her side “First you must learn to never take your eyes of your opponent” He leapt from his seated position, flipping across the floor to fling his leg twisted out at her gut, her hands snapping down and breaking his leg below the knee, flipping his form and landing him hard against the floor,  tears dripped from his eyes as his face shone with anger and frustration, the pain mixing with the adrenalin coursing through him, barely raising his eyes as spoke “Second, never do anything with flash that can be done with simplicity” biting through the pain, he rose from the floor, flipping from his back and hopping on his one good leg he struck out a knifehand strike aimed straight at her neck, his anger pushing the hand forward. Surreal grabbed his hand and twisted the wrist upright, using her other elbow to thump down upon his humerus, hearing the bone crack around the room caused two of the students to gasp.

His crumpled form hit the floor tears and blood streaking down his face as Surreal rose and snapped her fingers for the other Kohai to help him out of the room. She paused them before they left and bent over the boy “Lastly, never let your emotions control you, next time I hear about you bullying the other students I will do more than break a few bones, your father has left you here until you have completed your training, there is no one to protect you anymore”

6 months later

His body stood on the single pole, the water around him breaking against the rocks surrounding the pole, his sensei sat cross legged on the edge of the river watching as he moved through the motions she had given him, his hands moving swiftly as he kicked out, shifting back and forth hopping from one leg to the other as the movements flowed. His half naked body glistening with sweat as the heat of the midday sun belted down upon him. His strong muscular chest rippled with each movement as the single red band round his waist waved gently in the slight breeze.

Footsteps crunched on the grass behind Surreal, keeping her eyes closed and using her Chi to reach out she narrowed her eyes at the scent of the man who had fathered the child in front of them. “SaDiablo, your beauty has not faded I see” opening her eyes and standing she turned to face Thomas as he watched his son’s beautiful movements “you are 6 months early Thomas” her green eyes cold and unwavering as she watched the man who lusted for her, Ignoring her comment he gestured at the boy on the pole in the centre of the river “He is exquisite” Thomas Wayne smiled at his son, pride at the boys talent and skill, Damian was now making his way off the pole and climbing over the rocks to greet his father.

 “You are one month early” Surreal spoke again, softer and colder this time her voice at his back, anger straightened the man’s shoulders as he turned away from the moment of pride at his son “I built this place for you Lady Surreal, do not assume that you have any control over my movement’s inside it, I came to see my son, you cannot keep him from me any longer. I want you to tell me, is he ready to leave?” his face was controlled but his voice wavered slightly as his anger took hold.

“You are one month early” she repeated her eyes watching him with a raised eyebrow, her words speaking what he would not hear, walking away from him as Damian approached the towel over his shoulders, the pair watched the sensei as she climbed up the steep steps, anger flaring through Thomas at being so ignored, half way up she paused and turned back to them.

“He is ready” she spoke before making her way back up the stairs, leaving Thomas to take his son back to their world, his training, for now, was complete.

Leaves rustled in the breeze as the League of Assassins took their place around the Rayne compound. Surreal stood at the edge of the vast forest that flanked the compound, every corner tucked away behind a tall black steel and marble wall, its barracks protected by magic and high tech security cameras and lights, every area lit up or watched as Thomas Rayne desired.

Tall oaks hedged in the perimeter and it was here that stood Surreal and her army. It had been 3 years since Surreal had last seen her son, having perfected his training she had released him to his father, ever the honourable woman she had followed every aspect of their agreement. It had been a hard time for her, during that time she had both grown and built an army with the help of her benefactor and leader, Gambler, a powerful man she was his right hand and had been given the leadership of his Assassins to train and perfect.

The original contractual agreement between the Raynes and Surreal had expired, she had returned for her son.

 Crouching down against the ground Surreal raised a hand and made the motions to move her men into position, several bodies hopped the great steel and barbed wired walls, softly landing in every shadow, they were adept at keeping to the shadows and being unseen. Moonlight glinted off the Katana attached to her back as she ran to mount the nearest tree, using her Chi she leapt up the spine and flipped over the wall, commanding her men to split up as each one disappeared into the distance to protect their leader as she climbed the walls of the mansion, sliding under the bannisters and ducking behind the cameras, she flipped up onto the balcony housing her son’s bedroom.  

Sounds in the distance were immediately silenced as the Rayne house guards were killed quickly and efficiently by the Assassins. A soft noise like a night bird rang out as the call for safety was heard, she reached out a hand to test the glass and gold doors, a quick flick of her wrist snapping the lock as she opened the doors into a cool room, the gentle sound of snoring could be heard down the hall as Thomas and his wife slept, stepping a leg into the room she was confronted by a topless boy who flipped from the roof of his bed and thrust his foot out at her face, parrying the move and the following attacks, his body jumped and swept at her, their parried moves dancing around the room, making barely a whisper until they paused, taking a breath she reached up to remove her mask.

“About time you arrived” Hesperus muttered as he stepped back and bowed to his master “Master I am honoured by your presence” he quickly came back with respect and honour as he had been taught. “I thought you would never come to get me” Surreal pulled her mask back down and threw a soft bag onto the bed “I promised did I not Little Blade?” Hesperus moved to his wardrobe, carefully removing his training clothes from the back of the wardrobe along with small items of other necessities, pausing over a picture of his parents on the bed he picked it up and slipped it into the bag. Raising an eyebrow Surreal reached across to zip up the bag, handing it to the boy as he finished dressing, he tucked his arms into the straps and followed his sensei out into the night air, the pair flipping over the balcony they ran swiftly across the grassed areas and made their way to the wall, no guards stopped them nor called out to them as everyone had been dispatched by Surreal’s army.

Boosting up onto the wall, Surreal kept her legs free of the barbed wire as she waited for Hesperus, his small face looked up at the large house, no emotions crossed his face as he seemed to say a silent goodbye before hoisting himself up to join Surreal, the pair of them jumping onto the tree and racing off into the night air.

 Noises in the house behind them as lights came on and shouts occurred, the boy had been kidnapped.

Paris

“You will show him the respect that you show me Little Blade” Surreal spoke softly as they made their way along the LeBeau mansion’s halls, great bodies of armour, from around the world lined the marble and gold leaf greeting hall. Silence broken only by their soft footfalls she placed a hand on the boys shoulder as she lead him to the greatest man he would ever meet “Of course Sensei” he replied, his confidence wavering slightly at the fact that his most beloved Sensei had nothing but respect and in some ways love for this man.

 She had spoken nothing of Gambler to the boy before they arrived, answering none of his questions of where they went, he had assumed quite naturally that they would return to her compound, but much had changed in the time that they had been separated and he would soon see the world that Surreal was now part of. Outside the compound great armies trained, their voices echoed around the compound as they approached the elegantly outlandish wooden doors that lead to Gamblers vast study.

They stopped as they reached the doors, Surreal turned to face him her hands on either side of his shoulders “I will not go in with you, you have been brought here to further your study and this man will help” looking into his eyes for a moment it seemed she would touch his face but she stood tall and moved away from him as he pushed the doors opened, a soft Cajun voice called as he moved into the study

“Welcome Master Rayne"