| §*ß*§ Chapter Eight §*ß*§ Merry Christmas! Helena lay in tight ball beside her bed, exactly where she had passed out the night before. She awoke, uncoiling her stiff body and managing to stand. The room was filled with light, causing Helena to do a double take. "Morning?" She flew to the window and looked out at the bright Christmas day. Still dirty and sooty from the previous night's journey, she ran through the yacht, up to the deck. On the docks, near the boat, a young boy was walking by with a stack of newspapers under his arm. "Young man!" Helena called, leaning against the heavy white railing. "Whaddya want?" he asked suspiciously "What day is this?" "Ummm...Monday..." "Anything else?" "Uhh...well, it is Christmas day..." the boy said, scratching the inside of his ear. Helena smiled brightly, enthusiastically replying, "YES! I haven't missed it! You...you wait right there. I have a gift for you." She rushed back inside, grabbing a heavy wooden box from her dresser and coming back to where the boy was waiting. "You said you had something for me?" "Yes...here," she said, tossing a pair of diamond earrings from the box to him. He was unprepared and had to scramble to catch them. "Does your mother like emeralds?" "Are these cubic zirconia?" "Of course not, don't be silly. Those are four carat diamonds." "Real diamonds?" "I have some lovely rubies..." "Dang...why are you giving me these?" "Because it's Christmas, young man! And those who can give, should." She flung a ruby and emerald bracelet over the side and it landed at his feet. "Thanks, Lady. This is real nice of you. My mom will love the bracelet." "What about the earrings?" "I figure we'll pawn those and buy a big screen television." Helena continued to smile brightly, saying, "Good...be happy. Life is far too short to waste it with trivial matters." She threw a diamond-studded platinum watch to his waiting hand. "Take this! Subscribe to digital cable, as well. I've heard that it's amusing." She blew him a kiss and strolled back into the yacht. She casually tossed the heavy jewelry box into a chair, calling out for Andreas. "Where are you? Come share the glory of Christmas..." "Madam?" he asked, coming up behind her. "Is something wrong?" She was smiling, her posture warm and inviting. She seemed to be beaming. He watched her with caution, afraid that she had developed another plot to maim and murder. "Wrong? Absolutely not...Everything is wonderful...It's Christmas," she turned, taking his hand in hers. "Aren't you happy, Andreas?" "Not exactly, Madam," he replied, his voice bitter as he thought of how lonely his mother would be in her last days. "We can't have that!" Helena exclaimed, her voice chipper. "Your poor mother is on death's door---Do you know if she's dead, yet?" "Excuse me?" "Is your mother dead yet?" "No, not yet...she's managing to hold on-" "Well," Helena said interrupting, "I think you should go see her. I'll call the jet, have them prepare for the flight to Greece." Andreas' eyes lit up. "You'll allow me to go...to see her?" he sputtered, his words jumbling in his building excitement. "YES! Go with my blessing, Darling. And don't hurry back. Take a week off...No, take two weeks off...NO, take a month off and revel in life, Andreas." Andreas grabbed her and kissed her passionately. She kissed him back, sucking on his lower lip. She pulled back, stroking his chin. "Merry Christmas, Andreas!" She rushed off down the hall, leaving a stunned Andreas to wonder exactly who that woman who looked like Helena had been. ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ "O come, all Ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Come Ye, O come Ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels..." Stefan rolled over, smiling in his sleep as a finger traced his jawbone. He stretched out, not exactly ready to wake up, but knowing that he should. As sleep lifted, he heard a singing voice come drifting through. Singing... ...Chloe.... ...Not Chloe... The voice was beautiful and he was full aware that his Christmas elf couldn't carry a tune. "O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord..." A familiar voice... He was awake now, but afraid to open his eyes. He knew that voice. It had been years since he had heard it, yet he could easily identify it. He fiercely grabbed her hand, which was still stroking his face. He opened his eyes slowly. "Merry Christmas, Stefan!" she beamed, kneeling on his bed beside him. He sat up, twisting her wrist. "What are you doing in my bedroom?" "Waking you, Darling. It's Christmas and you are sleeping the day away. Why, it's almost eight o'clock." "What do you want? Have you come to gloat over your latest victim." Helena was unaffected by his vicious tone. With the same smile plastered on her face, she started, "Oh, yes, poor Gia. How sad that she's passed on..." "She was murdered, Mother." "Isn't that sad?" "By you!" "Now, let's not cast suspicion and blame. It's Christmas! It's time to be happy and to focus on happy things." She pried his hand off of her wrist and stood up, straightening her red wool suit. She pulled his silver bathrobe off of a hook and threw it to him. "I'll expect you down stairs in LESS than two shakes of a lamb's tail." Stefan was staring at her as if she were insane. He forced his face to remain blank, demanding that she leave. "I have no idea what you're trying to pull, but I want you out of my house immediately! Nikolas is here and I don't want him to have to go through the trauma of seeing your face until he's ready to handle it." "Nikolas...He's still sane, isn't he? Because I really do want to make sure that he reminds healthy of mind, body, and spirit." Stefan stood. "Then, perhaps you should stop murdering his family and friends." "That's an excellent suggestion, Stefan!....I can always count on you for those. I will definitely take that into consideration. My murdering days may very well be over..." she rambled as she left his room and headed downstairs. Stefan grabbed the phone, dialing his security chief. "I left strict orders that my mother NOT be allowed on the premises while Nikolas is here!" he roared angrily. "I know, sir," the man stammered, "but she demanded to be let in and..." "AND WHAT?" "She brought cookies..." Stefan almost dropped the phone. After a long pause, he said calmly, "Did you say cookies?" "Yes, sir. She delivered sugar cookies with little Santa Clauses painted on them in frosting to all of the security staff." "Did you say frosting?" "Yes, sir. They were delicious and she was so nice. She offered to swear on my pocket Bible that she wouldn't do anything bad." His mother bought cookies? His mother was nice? His mother offered to touch a Bible? Stefan felt a rumbling in his stomach. This had to be some sort of devilish plot. "Take all of your men to the hospital and have their stomachs pumped. Then, take the remainder of the cookies to the police as evidence." "What are you talking about?" "Knowing my mother, you all have less than twenty minutes to live." "But, sir, I don't think she poisoned the cookies. She seemed so sincere..." Stefan stared at the phone in disgust. Why must he be surrounded by dolts? He hung up the phone, slipping into his robe and storming out of his room in search of his evil mother. ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Alexis ambled down the stairs, hoping that a steaming pot of coffee would be waiting for her. She saw the cups set out on the table in the conservatory as she rounded the corner. If she had actually had any extra energy, she would have smiled in gratitude. But, after spending practically all night talking with the police and answering question's about Gia's car accident, she had been so tired that she had just spent the night at Wyndemere. Wearing one of Katherine's...or was it Laura's...bathrobes, she sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of coffee. It was exactly how she liked it-hot, black, and made by someone else. "Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all Ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest..." Alexis' head spun around as Helena came downstairs, cheerfully singing the beloved Christmas carol. "What the-" "Natasha!" Helena gushed. "I didn't know you were here!" "Likewise...Do you care to explain what you're doing here?" "Oh, little Natasha, I'm quite glad that you'll be present for the Christmas holiday. You are family...I suppose..." Alexis stood up and walked over to Helena. "If you know what is good for you, you will leave. IMMEDIATELY! Nikolas is in no mood to put up with your insanity. Especially after what you did last night. How could you do such a thing to that poor girl?" Helena laughed lightly, remarking, "You have such a kind heart, little Natasha. How like you to be concerned for poor Gia's plight." She crushed Alexis against her in an embrace. "Oh, Natasha," Helena cooed, stroking her hair, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if I apologized for how poorly I've treated you all of these years?" Alexis' entire body was stiff. She asked herself if she were having a nightmare. Then, she wondered if she had gone crazy. Finally, she realized that Helena, her ultimate nightmare, had gone crazy. In disbelief, she asked, "Are you going to apologize for torturing me?" "No...but wouldn't it be wonderful if I did!" "Helena..." "Yes, Natasha," Helena replied, still hugging her step-daughter. "Why are you touching me?" "It's Christmas! And Christmas is a time for family. So, who is family if not your husband's bastard daughter!?" Stefan, in full ninja mode, sprang up behind them and maneuvered Helena into a headlock, demanding, "What are you doing to, Alexis? You're trying to murder her, aren't you?" "Merry Christmas..." Helena choked out, her hands trying to dislodge her son's arm from around her neck. "Are you all right?" he asked his sister, looking her up and down. He couldn't see any signs of trauma. "I guess..." "What was she doing to you?" "She was..." Alexis started, gagging on the words. She swept over to the table and downed the rest of the coffee before making another attempt to answer the question. "She was trying..." "Trying to what? Strangle you?" "She was trying to hug me, Stefan!" she screamed in shame, as if she had shown some sort of disloyalty to her brother by allowing Helena to do so. Stefan released Helena, spinning her around to face him. "What kind of evil game are you playing?" "There's nothing evil, Darling. I bring only joy and happiness to my family!" She kissed him on the cheek and flitted away, going to the grand Christmas tree and pulling a present that she had brought with her. "Here, Stefan. This is for you." Stefan hesitantly took the shiny green package. He started to open it, when Alexis sternly shrieked, "Don't do it, Stefan! It's a bomb!" "Don't be nonsensical, Natasha. If it were a bomb, I wouldn't be here when he opened it," Helena replied, putting a reassuring hand on Alexis' shoulder. Alexis went to stand by Stefan as he opened the box. She cringed against his back, afraid to look inside. "It's a human head, isn't it?" "No..." he said quietly. He pulled the gift from the box, his face a jumble of emotions. Mostly, he was confused. "It's a sweater..." "It's a sweater bomb!" "Oh, Natasha....Sweet, slow-witted Natasha...It's just a sweater. A gift from mother to son," Helena replied. Turning to Stefan, she continued, "It should fit. AND, it's the perfect color...!" Stefan looked down at the cashmere garment in his hand. "Green?" "Not just green, Darling. Emerald green..." She took it from him and held it up against him. "This sweater will compliment your eyes and your complexion. I should have told you a while ago that all of that black you wear only succeeds in making you look pasty." Alexis backed away from both of them, convinced that she had stumbled into the Twilight Zone. She poured another cup of coffee. The mug was halfway to her mouth when she realized that coffee just wasn't going to cut it. She walked over to the bar and mixed some whiskey with her coffee. Helena produced another package, this one wrapped in gold foil with a giant white bow. "I don't want you to feel left out, Natasha. I bought you a gift as well." "I think I'll pass." Helena thrust the box at Alexis. She stared at it with disdain, then took it. Setting down her coffee, she placed her ear to the box. "At least it's not ticking..." She pried off the top and cast it aside. Alexis looked at Helena and then down at the beautiful hand-crafted jewelry box. In puzzled awe, she managed to say, "It's lovely..." "Yes, I thought you could put your engagement ring in it since you no longer have any reason to wear it." Alexis was about to throw the box at Helena, when Stefan stopped her, taking the gift box and placing it on the table. "Why are you doing this, Mother? What do you want from us?" "I want to spend Christmas with my family," she said, clutching her hands against her chest. "Last night, I realized how much it means to have a family who loves you." A family that doesn't slit your throat and then burn your corpse, she thought but didn't say. She didn't want to give them the idea prematurely. "You don't have a family." "I do! I have a son..." "You tried to kill me, Mother." "I was hoping you could forgive me for that one little slight." "One? This is the fifth time!" Helena's smile fell. Had she tried to kill Stefan five times? She started mentally counting. Drowning... Poisoning... That time with the knife... The Recent Poison/Drowning... She shook her head, protesting, "No, the last time only made four..." Alexis rolled her eyes. "I bet you forgot that time at the vineyard in the south of France with the grapes." Helena clapped her hands together, nodding in remembrance. "You're right. It slipped my mind..." "It didn't slip mine," Stefan said gruffly. "Or anyone else’s. I want you out of my house immediately. You are not, now, nor will you ever be, welcome here." "But it's Christmas, Stefan!" "What is wrong with you?" he inquired in puzzlement. "Why are you here...with gifts...as if you expect to be welcomed with open arms. We haven't spent a Christmas together in over thirteen years-" "Don't forget to mention that the two of you hate each other," Alexis added. "And we hate each other..." "We don't hate each other. We have just had a few disagreements over the years-" Helena started, but her voice died as Stefan grabbed her by the arms and shook her violently. "What is wrong with you?! You know good and well that we've had more than a 'few disagreements'. You tried to kill me!" "Will you stop bringing that up!" Stefan shook her again, their eyes locking. Coldly, he proclaimed, "I despise you! I hate the things that you do! And I wish you were dead...So don't try and pretend that we are family! I don't know what your game is. I don't WANT to know. All I want is for you to leave my home." Helena grabbed the lapels of his bathrobe and held on. Her eyes were cloudy as she looked her son. "Let me stay," she cried, pleading with her eyes for him to understand, "Let me stay with you...I want to make amends for...for other unpleasant things that have happened to you on Christmas." The moment she spoke those words, Stefan tensed up. His eyes bore into hers as if he was trying to read her mind, trying to determine exactly what she meant and what she knew. His grip on her arm tightened. "The only unpleasant thing that ever happened to me on Christmas was having to spend it with you." For the first time ever, when she looked at him, there was something besides disappointment and resentment in her eyes. She couldn't control it and he blanched as he deciphered the emotion. It was pity... "I know," she whispered, her voice carrying a tremor. He dropped her arms as if the touch of her skin burned him. "You don't know anything!" he screamed. "Stefan..." "NO!" He seized her again, pushing her onto the sofa. "There's nothing to know..." "What's going on?" Alexis asked in confusion. “What does she know? What are you talking about?" "You're leaving, Mother! Get out of my house...Go," Stefan stormed, "Go and take your presents with you!" He threw the sweater at his mother, his chest heaving as he looked around for the jewelry box. He located it on the table, but Alexis pushed it out of his reach. It went flying to the floor. "What the hell is going on?!" she demanded. She put her hand on his arm, trying to turn him around. "Look at me!" Stefan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and facing his sister. "What is going on?" she tried again. As he was about to speak, there was a pounding at the side door. Stefan pulled away from Alexis, despite her objections, and opened the door. Alexis threw her hands up, taking her cold coffee and disappearing up the stairs. "What do you want, Spencer?" he demanded as Luke pushed past. "Andreas said that the old bag is here," Luke replied, dropping a cooked goose in a clear plastic bag onto the table. "Nice robe..." "Luke!" Helena exclaimed cheerfully. "I see you received my present...but why is it in a bag and not festively adorning your holiday table?" "Do you actually expect me to serve my baby girl a poisoned bird?" "It's not poisoned, Luke. It's a gift. I'd like to make amends and end the feud between our families," Helena replied sincerely. "What the hell is wrong with the old bag, Vlad?" "I've been wondering the same thing. She's offered me a truce, as well," Stefan said, slowly regaining his composure. "There will be no truce until I know everything there is to know about that you've done to my son!" Luke yelled, not because he was angry, but just for the sake of being loud. Helena put on a happy face. "If that's what it takes to prove that I'm sincere, then I'd be delighted. Consider it your Christmas present." "Are you serious," Luke asked cautiously. "Do you really want to end the feud?" "Yes, it's been good for a few laughs, like when you thought your son was dead, but other than that, it hasn't been worth the effort or expense." Stefan and Luke could do nothing but stare at Helena. This was odd... "This must be part of a plan..." Stefan started. "...to put us at ease, lower our defenses..."Luke continued. "...so that her real diabolical plot will go unnoticed..." "...and she can catch us with our pants down around our ankles," Luke finished. "Well, it won't work.” "Yeah! My pants will be firmly secured around my waist!" "Mine, too!" Stefan agreed, then took a step away from Luke. Looking around sheepishly, he said, "Your plan won't work, Mother!" Helena stifled a laugh. She was almost sad that she had changed her ways. It would be so much fun to level both Luke and Stefan once and for all. "Neither of you have anything to fear from me. I'm as harmless a kitten." "More like a tiger with claws..." "You have such a wit, Luke. It's a wonder I've let you live so long." "It's okay," Alexis announced, coming down the stairs fully dressed. "I've solved all of our problems." "Problems?" Helena asked. "You, Helena." "Oh...And just what, little mouse, have you done?" "You'll have to wait. It's a surprise," Alexis replied, tapping her stepmother on the cheek. "You know, being an attorney really pays off." "In what way? What have you done?" Stefan questioned. "If I tell you, it'll ruin the surprise. Wait...Three...." "This whole family is whacko!" Luke declared. "Two..." "Natasha, as usual, you're not making any sense!" Helena said. "One..." There was another loud knocking at the side door. Stefan grinned at Alexis and then went to answer the door. "Can I help you?" "Yes, we got a call that there was a problem..." The first paramedic said, trying to see into the room. "There's definitely a problem," Alexis said, coming up behind Stefan. The three paramedics came inside. "The woman in the red suit is mentally unbalanced, senile probably, and she is a danger to herself as well as others. Plus, she keeps rambling on nonsensically about someone named Natasha." Helena's eyes narrowed as she listened. The paramedics began to approach her. "It's okay, Ma'am. We just want to help..." "There is nothing wrong with me!" "We need you to come with us..." They surrounded her, two of them grabbing her arms. "Everything will be okay," they said calmly. "Do I look crazy to you?" "Maybe a little around the eyes," Luke said. "Please take care of my mother, Gentlemen," Stefan said, opening the door. "I want her to get the help she deserves." Helena tried to break free, but was firmly held in the grasp of the two burly paramedics. She started to struggle and fight, clawing one man's wrist. "See, she's violent, too," Alexis smiled. The third one came up to Alexis, giving her a shifty look. She pulled several hundred dollar bills out of her pocket and slipped them into his hand. "Make sure they keep her for at least seventy-two hours, okay?" "Sure thing!" the man replied excitedly, shoving the money in his uniform pocket. "I'd be glad to." "Hey!" Luke interrupted. "There are a couple of more bucks in it for you if you can have her restrained and then take pictures. I'd like to use them for next year's Christmas cards..." "What's going on?" Nikolas asked, entering the room. He watched in shock as the corrupt paramedics hauled Helena out the door. "Was that my grandmother?" "Yes, Nikolas," Stefan said, moving to stand next to his nephew. "Helena is being admitted to General Hospital for psychiatric evaluation." "Why?" "For our amusement." "Oh...So, we can have a Helena-Free holiday?" "Yes." Nikolas smiled for the first time since Gia's death. Happily, he waved goodbye to Helena's retreating figure. "God bless us, everyone!" |