After informing Stefan of Luke's little visit, the two of them decide that the best course of action is to set up a meeting with Luke and see just what it will take to keep his mouth shut. If his demands are too great, Stefan suggests, perhaps they could just have him dispatched. Alexis objects to this out of sheer morality, though the idea does hold a modicum of appeal for her.
The following afternoon, Alexis is just picking up the phone to call Luke when Gerard bursts, panic-stricken, into her suite.
Gerard: Miss Davis! Someone's taken Miss Norwood!
Alexis: What!? Oh my God! How? When?
Gerard: I'm so sorry ma'am, I was watching her like a hawk, but someone approached me from behind and must have hit me with something because the next thing I knew it was half an hour later and Miss Norwood was nowhere to be seen!
Alexis feels the cold hand of fear wrap its fingers around her heart but she fights to remain calm. Panic would only slow her down at this stage - and slowing down could cost Emma her life.
Alexis: Does Stefan know?
Gerard: No ma'am, he's not here and I thought I should tell you before attempting to locate him.
Alexis: Yes, of course, but please - go find him now.
Gerard flies back out the door and she hears him pound down the stairs as she mumbles to herself and her hands begin to shake from the rage that her fear has become:
Alexis: That son of a bitch....I'll kill him....I'll kill him....
15 minutes later, Alexis storms into Luke's office and slams the door behind her. Luke, startled, looks up and grins when he sees his visitor.
Luke: Well, well -
Alexis: Shut up! I want her back and I want her back now Luke! You have no idea what you're you're dealing with here; I could have you slaughtered in the blink of an eye -
Luke: Whoa there missy. I'm afraid you're gonna have to explain what it is you're -
Alexis: SHUT up! I am not interested in this feigned innocence routine you son of a bitch. Now either you tell me where Emma is right now, or you'd better hope your maker is going to be a lot more leniant with you than I am!
Luke, realizing to his horror that Helena has likely gotten her clutches into the kid, tries to think of a way to convince Alexis that he had nothing to do with it.
Luke: Look, Alexis...I swear to you on all that I hold dear, that I had nothing to do with this -
Alexis: Spare me! Not 24 hours ago you were threatening me with this very act, and now that you've followed through, you expect me to cast suspicion elsewhere? You're pathetic....just how much did you sell my baby girl for Luke? Did she fetch a good price from Helena? Not that you'll ever enjoy a cent of it. Unless you start talking right now, you're going to hurt in ways you never thought possible.
Luke opens his mouth to reaffirm his innocence but is interrupted by Stefan's entrance into the office. He slams the door behind him even harder (if possible) than Alexis had.
Luke: (glancing at the vibrating door) What? Is that a family trait or something? Didn't they teach manners in Greece?
Luke senses even as he says the words that he has gone too far. His fears are confirmed when he sees Stefan's face begin to color unfavorably. The mask of rage Cassadine wears is matched almost identically by his cousin's, who watches to see how Stefan will respond.
Stefan: Spencer you had better pray that that child is still alive and that she comes home safely, because if not I am going to make you the sorriest man who ever lived.
Luke: Now listen to me, both of you! I hate Helena Cassadine more than any other person on the face of the earth - more than everyone else put togetehr! Jesus, do you honestly think I would help her in any way, shape, or form? Under any circumstances?<>\p> Stefan: If the price was right, yes!
Luke: Than you haven't studied the enemy very well Cassadine! Now as much as I admit that I did hope to use what I knew to, you know, persuade Alexis to share some information with me from time to time, I am telling you right now that I would *never* give anyone or anything over to that witch you call your mother.
Alexis dissolves into tears at his words and slumps into the chair behind her. She believes Luke is telling the truth and for her that is the scariest route this horror could have taken. Now they had nowhere to start.....Helena could be anywhere....Emma was probably already dead....why wouldn't she be? Helena had no reason whatsoever to keep her alive. Her only hope had been that Luke hadn't yet delivered Emma, and was holding her somewhere.
Stefan moves to comfort her, and Luke, realising they now believe him, surprises himself with his own offer of help.
Luke: Look, I don't know how much you Cassadines keep up one one another's whereabouts, but my sources told me weeks ago that Helena was up and about and rearing her ugly head all over Cassadine Island. Then, about 4 days ago I heard that she had left the island by yacht and didn't come back. Now I have a contact in Eastern Europe who's got his ear to the ground for any word on her eventual port of call, should it be somewhere in the Mediterranean. I'm promisin' now to let you know the instant I hear anything.
Alexis looks up at him, dumbfounded and apologetic.
Alexis: I'm sorry Luke, I apologise for threatening you.....it's just that after what you said yesterday, you were naturally the first person I thought of.
Luke: Well I can understand how you might have jumped to those conclusions darlin', but I swear to you that I'm innocent....and I'll do what I can to help you get your daughter back.
Stefan is still mildly skeptical but is surprised by Spencer's offer. He is fairly certain that he would not be so swift to act if Lucky were missing - then again, if Lucky were taken by Helena, that would be another matter entirely - no one should ever have to suffer the consequences of that woman's wrath.
The three begin to plan a course of action, praying they will find Helena in time.
Wyndemere - The Next Day
Alexis, Stefan, Luke, Ned, and Monica have spent the night organizing their strategy for determining Helena's whereabouts. Utilizing a bizarre blend of Cassadine, ELQ, and Luke's sources, they now have a web of informants placed all over the globe, specifically in coastal towns and cities, where a yacht might be able to dock discretely. All they can do now is wait for someone to contact them.
Monica and Luke have retired to the study to go over some more maps, and Stefan is on the phone in his office. In the conservatory, Alexis is sitting distractedly in a high-backed chair when Ned walks up behind her and gently puts his arms around her shoulders. She doesn't respond at all to his touch, so he walks slowly around to the front of her chair and takes her hand in his. Finally she looks up at him.
Ned: Come on, you need to get out of this room - you've been here all night.
Alexis: I'm not leaving - someone may call.
Ned: And Stefan will tell you the instant they do. Come on - this isn't doing anyone any good.
Alexis: You don't understand Ned....I did this to her - I have to be here when they call.
Ned squats in front of her chair and, gently, takes her face in his hands.
Ned: Sweetheart, nothing about this is your fault.
He shushes her softly as she begins to protest, and kisses away a stray tear that is slipping down her cheek.
Ned: Listen to me. Emma is out there somewhere, and we *will* find her. It's only a matter of time. You said yourself that Emma would only ever be in danger if Helena knew Nikolas' true parentage, and how could she?
Alexis: (pulling herself together) Ned you don't understand the connections this woman has. Every day that Emma stayed alive, and unhurt, I thanked God. Each day I had with her was a blessing, because I always knew that she could be taken from me at any moment. That's just the nature of her existance. It's a miracle that Helena hasn't discovered her before now. I should have known that bringing her here was too great a risk. She was safe with Debbie and Mark. I was selfish-
Ned: No...Alexis, it's not selfish to want to spend time with a child who wants the same thing from you. That's natural, and it's every parents right. Emma knew the risks in coming here to live with you, and did she even question her decision to do so?.....No - because that's what she's always wanted - to be able to live with you and spend time with her mother. Now you have to believe you were right to do what you did. (With a gleam in his eye) And who knows, maybe we've all underestimated her and she's already outwitted her kidnappers...
Alexis slowly looks away and stands up from her seat....Ned barely hears the hopeless words she speaks as she turns toward the fire crackling in the conservatory:
Alexis: That's not even a realistic fantasy....
Emma groggily opens her eyes to find herself bound and gagged, lying on a bed. She looks around as her eyes slowly begin to focus. She sees an elaborately decorated room, on a ship of some kind - judging from the view out the porthole - and a guard who suddenly notices that she is conscious. She shudders as she sees him rise from his seat and open the door. He whispers something to the person in the hall and then shuts the door again, resuming his seat.
Emma tries speaking to him, but the gag in her mouth is too large for her to even begin to form comprehendable words. Her muffled sounds do nothing to stir some compassion in her guard as he sits motionlessly, seeming not even to notice her attempts at speech. Giving up, she curls up into a fetal position, more comfortable than that which she has slept in for...God knows how long. Just how long has she been here? She tries to piece together what she can remember...having lunch with Emily at Ruby's.....walking back to the launch.....and that was it. Something on that short walk must have gone wrong. Wasn't there a bodyguard supposed to be watching her? Fat lot of good he did! But this is the wrong attitude - she needs to concentrate on analyizing the situation...find a weak link somewhere and get the Hell out of here. She just barely begins to take in the details of the room, looking for anything to use to cut the ropes binding her, when the door opens. To her horror (but not to her surprise) in walks a woman she recognizes immediately as Helena Cassadine.
Helena: Well, I see you're awake.
Emma refuses to even attempt a response and just stares at her grandmother blankly. Helena turns to the guard and speaks words Emma cannot hear, nodding her head generally in the direction of the bed. The guard rises and walks to Emma where he mechanically unties the gag from behind her head. Emma's jaws work themselves back into normalcy after being locked open for so long.
Helena: There, now...isn't that better?
Emma still refuses to speak. There is no telling just how much her grandmother knows, and she's not going to give her any advantage's she doesn't already have.
Helena: Come, come dear. Surely you're not a mute - as I recall you were quite vocal earlier yesterday when you came into my possession. And that *is* where you are....in my possession. So tell me, whatever was it that made Alexis bring you out of hiding dear? You were quite safe until that ridiculous move you know - I had no idea you even existed. Really was quite stupid on your mother's part - but then she never was the sharpest knife in the drawer....
Emma stiffens at the insult to the one person she respects and admires most in the world, but refuses to acknowledge the remark verbally.
Helena: Would you like to see her? Your mother, I mean. She's a few doors down - but...then....I don't know that she's as alert as you are yet. She was a little more defensive about coming on our little expedition. I'm afraid one of my men had to be quite aggressive in subduing her - but she'll recover, I'm sure.
At this, Emma balks.
Emma: What did you do to her? Is she alright? I want to see her!
Helena: Silence!
Emma freezes, realizing, from her standpoint, she has nothing to bargain with.
Helena: Good. Now, if you tell me what I want to know, and are completely truthful with me, perhaps I'll let you see your mother before I have you both dispatched. Otherwise - well I'm afraid you two just won't have any last words at all....and that would be a shame....
Emma recoils at the harshness of her words, and her stomach hardens, as if it were a stone. Helena pulls a chair into the middle of the room and sits down.
Helena: (smiling invitingly) So, let's get down to business shall we?
Meanwhile - on a Yacht approaching Dominica