Disclaimer/AN: Obviously, I own nothing except Lilith, and the vagueness that might constitute a plot. Set back in the Ministry days (I loved that era ^^), and forget the fact that Kane and 'Taker aren't brothers; that it's a storyline because as usual, I've twisted reality to suit myself.

CHAPTER 1

Lilith walked besides her brother as they entered the arena through one of the more obscure side doors, pushing her straight; long black hair over her shoulder. Paranoia made her glance behind them, glancing around before nodding. "Nobody seen us." She murmured; feeling her brother entwining his fingers through hers as he quietly entered the building.

She wasn't surprised in the least when Kane just nodded. She had only been traveling with him for a month, but so far, nobody but him knew she was there. She had been traveling through Europe when their father –Paul Bearer- had called to tell her Kane was in trouble.

Paul had been both lying and telling the truth.

Kane was in trouble because he refused to join his half-brother's Ministry of Darkness, a concept Lilith found truly disturbing.

Paul had coaxed Lilith into leaving her Tour as well as her comfortable life in England to come to the States. What he had failed to mention was he wanted her to persuade Kane to join the Ministry.

That hadn't worked so well.

Lilith was Kane's half-sister, obviously thanks to Paul's philandering ways. From her understanding when she was younger, Paul had had an affair with Kane's very much married at the time mother. Something had happened and he had wound up in England, without Kane at first. He had met Lilith's mother and a few years later, Lilith had been born.

Lilith's first memory of Kane was him running away from her. She couldn't have been more than four at the time. She had seen him standing in the doorway to the basement, unsure of who he was. Even then his hair had been long; covering his face. She had tottered over to him and he had instantly retreated, all but flying down the stairs in his haste to get away from her.

She had followed. She had also tripped down the stairs.

Kane had caught her.

She remembered him staring down at her through the curtain of hair, as if trying to puzzle out what she was. And she, in her child's innocence and ignorance, had grabbed his hair; catching a glimpse of his face.

It was scarred.

But she hadn't been afraid. Curious yes, afraid no.

That's when they became inseparable.

At least until Paul and her mother had separated. She never knew why it happened, she had only been nine, but it did. Paul and Kane had gone Stateside and that was the last she had heard from Paul until a month ago. Her mother had committed suicide and she had gone to live with her Auntie Enid, who had been absolutely wonderful to her. Enid had even encouraged the sporadic communication between Lilith and Kane.

Lilith had wrote him faithfully every month, but letters from her brother were sporadic. She now knew that was due to Paul putting him in mental institution after mental institution. When Kane had joined Paul in the World Wrestling Federation, she had been mildly curious about it. He had mentioned his half-brother in his letters, his handwriting always small and almost childish, neatly printed block letters.

So they had remained close, thanks to their letters.

Kane looked down at her, nodding when she flashed him a quick smile and pushed open a door that bore a small sheet of paper with Kane scrawled on it.

Paul was with the Undertaker right now, having betrayed him –his own son- to go side with that… monster. Kane was a physical monster, Undertaker was a monster with a normal face. As far as Kane was concerned, his only sibling was the one beside him, Lilith.

Even when he hadn't been able to reply to her letters, he had never forgotten him. What was the incredible part was that she had never forgotten him either.

She had offered to come see him time and time again when she had become a legal adult, but he had denied her. He hadn't wanted her to join him on the road and be caught in the crossfire of this war with the Undertaker, and then their own father. Although the Undertaker had never seen her, he knew she was around.

That was a rather frightening thought.

Once the door was locked behind them, they both breathed easier. Lilith automatically undid the clasp to her black cloak; the stale room's air was stifling. "Well," She said in her crisp, British accent. "At least we made it in without being spotted."

"Did you now?" A dark, demonic voice all but hissed.

Kane whirled around, staring at his brother; wondering how he had missed him and scowled beneath his mask.

Despite what they showed on TV, Kane did not need to speak with the aid of a voice box. As a general rule, he didn't like talking at all, as his voice was somewhat raspy and harsh. "What are you doing in here?" He demanded, eyes narrowed to tiny slits and reached back; feeling Lilith's smaller hand instantly sliding into his and squeezed.

Lilith could only stare at the man who was the Undertaker. Physically, he resembled Kane in height and build; though Kane was slightly taller. This was the monster who she now knew had set fire to his and Kane's childhood home and accidentally killed their mother and his father; scarring Kane. Of course, even though it had been an accident by Paul's own admission, that had not stopped the Undertaker from using the memory as a weapon on Kane.

"What am I doing here…" 'Taker reiterated with a wicked chuckle, taking a single step forward. He hadn't missed the gesture between the siblings, his upper lip curling into a half sneer.

Acid green orbs moved from Kane to the woman he had heard quite a bit about from Paul, the much speculated upon Lilith. She resembled Paul in no way at all, luckily for her. She was tall and slender, with piercing blue eyes and long black hair. High cheekbones and perhaps her nose was a bit too long, her full pink mouth was turned down into a frown; her pale forehead scrunched as she stared at him.

"Kane, I am not here to fight you." He said after finishing his visual inspection of the woman. He had seen a picture of her, when she was probably sixteen; something Paul had procured for him and undoubtedly, by procure: stole from his son. As far as he knew, Paul hadn't been in touch with Lilith since leaving her and her mother. Time had definitely been on her side as she had been a gangly, awkward looking youth. "I simply wanted to meet the woman traveling with you. I've heard so much about her."

Lilith's eyes narrowed to slits, cocking her head to the side in a way that jolted him. She had mannerisms quite similar to their brother's. That was mildly disconcerting, not that 'Taker would let her know that.

Lilith stepped directly behind Kane, out of Undertaker's view. "Leave him alone." She ordered from behind her brother, putting her cloak back on; drawing the hood over her head. Now that she was covered and composed, she tried to step back out; only to feel Kane gently nudging her back.

"The pair of them, 'Taker," Paul wheezed, appearing at the Phenom's side, having been lurking in the background; completely unawares as the siblings had been focused on 'Taker. "She can keep him in line for you."

"What on earth makes you think I want Kane to be kept in line, Paul?" 'Taker replied without looking down at his mentor, now staring holes through Kane, not missing the protective gesture to Lilith. "Hmmm…"

Kane's entire body tensed.

"I have a wager for you, brother. We have a match scheduled for tonight, but why not make it a tad more interesting?"

Behind his mask, Kane's eyes narrowed, wondering just what it was his older brother wanted. He could feel Lilith's hand convulse in his, squeezing gently.

"If I win, your lady friend comes with me and joins my Ministry."

"'Taker… that is my daughter…" Paul said hesitantly, seeing the way Kane's body had stiffened. He knew Kane would kill for Lilith, and most likely he'd be his son's first target.

"No." Lilith stepped out from behind her brother, not looking at the Undertaker but to Kane. "I am not something to be gambled. Kane, do not let him play his mind games with you."

"There are no mind games here, my dear." 'Taker said gravely, popping Paul upside the back of his head. "Don't offer unwanted advice, Paul."

Kane and Lilith were both cocking their heads to the side now.

"It's just a simple match, Kane. Unless, you think you cannot beat me?"

Kane shifted slightly, staring down at Lilith.

"You are scheduled to fight him regardless. There is no reason to 'up the stakes'." Lilith said quietly.

"Lilith…" Paul cautioned, staring at his daughter warningly. "Think about this before you do something you'll regret."

"Would you please just die already, old man."

'Taker actually chuckled at her dry sense of humor, though it was a low; evil sound. He admired her attitude, how calm and collected she was. He liked that. He liked a challenge and hadn't one in quite some time. "Fine, I'll just have to acquire her by other means." He said simply before sweeping from the room, the door closing behind him and Paul ominously.

Slumping against the wall, Lilith buried her face in her hands and shook her head. "Leave it to Paul to align himself with the most dangerous, unpredictable person around." She said tiredly. "Kane, I think it might be best if I returned to England now. I was under the impression your brother wanted you."

Shaking his head, Kane reached out for his sister; feeling the familiar warmth wash through him when she automatically stepped into his embrace. "He would follow."

Rubbing his back in slow circles, Lilith thought about that. "Kane, you've told me about him. I've been watching him these past few weeks, and I've heard Paul's words of praise for him. All he seeks is another challenge, another puzzle. Once he has lost interest, he casts things aside." She was saying this slowly, knowing Kane was very likely to grow angry with her next words. "Maybe I should let him stake his claim on me and then wait for him to decide he's bored."

"NO!" It was to as near as Kane got to shouting, not perhaps quite a yell but loud and harsh enough to make Lilith flinch. He dropped down onto a rough wooden bench, pulling her down onto his lap even as he was sitting and wrapped his arms around her in a protective embrace. "He won't touch you…" He said, beginning to rock back and forth with her, cradling her like she was an overly large doll. "Over my dead body…"

Lilith was the only person he loved. The only person who didn't look at him, or think of him as, a freak; a monster.

"Calm down, calm down." Lilith soothed, stroking his hair in a calming motion. She waited until he was done trembling before speaking again. "I was just thinking out loud, Kane. I would never let that vile creature have me. I just want what's best for you, love."

She fell silent, listening to his ragged breathing and let her mind wander; her vivid blue eyes narrowing. She would give her soul just to put the Undertaker and Paul Bearer in their graves for all the pain they had caused her brother.

"I'll protect you. I'll protect you from him." Kane promised, never ceasing his rocking; his eyes shut tight. Flashes of his childhood before moving to England seared across his mind; tormenting him all the more. He could almost smell gasoline, almost see the vividness of 'Taker's green eyes and pale, pointed face as he stared at the destruction.

Finally, he abruptly stopped and set her upright, standing as well. Without a word, Kane walked from the room; knowing his match was fast approaching.