Faithe-- Chapters 14 &15
~14
Faithe held onto the railing tightly and bit down on the hand over her mouth as hard as she could. The man cursed under his breath and his hand left her mouth for a moment. Faithe was able to let out a small ‘yelp’ before he put his hand back. She was fighting as hard as she could, but the guy was just so strong. She could only hope that someone had heard her.
Back in the ballroom
Lucky and Liz were sitting at the table, very confused. Nikolas had just come back into the ballroom alone, and was now at the bar (which was next to the door leading to the deck).
Lucky and Liz shared a concerned look and Lucky stood up to go ask his brother what happened. Just as he was about to walk over to Nikolas, Lucky saw him run out of the ballroom. Lucky looked back to Liz with worry and confusion on his face. Liz got up and they both quickly headed after Nikolas. When they got out to the deck they heard the sounds of a struggle. They ran towards the sounds and saw Faithe, holding onto the railing like she was going to collapse and Nikolas fighting with a man dressed in black about 10 feet away from Faithe. Before Lucky could help, Nikolas threw a punch and the man was hit square in the jaw, sending him backward and over the railing, where he fell into the water below. Lucky and Nikolas both lunged to catch him, but it was too late.
Liz went to Faithe concerned, “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Faithe said catching her breath, and letting go of her iron-grip on the railing, “Nikolas, are you all right?”
“My knuckles are bruising, but other than that, I’m fine.” Nik said coming back over to the girls with Lucky.
“What happened?” Lucky asked Nik and Faithe.
Faithe kept her eyes on Lucky and tried not to look at Nikolas, “Nikolas and I were out here, talking, and then he went back inside to get me a drink. That’s when that guy came up behind me.”
Nikolas picked up from there. “And while I was at the bar I heard something that sounded like a scream. When I came out here that man was attacking Faithe.”
“You know what, I’m gonna go back to my room. I’m pretty tired.” Faithe said hoping to avoid Nikolas for the rest of the evening.
“I’ll go with you.” Liz said, and she and Faithe left.
“Lucky, there is something I should tell you.” Nikolas said as soon as the girls had left.
“What?” Lucky asked
“It’s about the Cassadine estate.” Lucky just waited for Nikolas to continue. “Remember when I found out that Stefan was my father; I was ready to renounce the title, the money, everything.” Lucky nodded. “Then I decided to stay as the prince and you couldn’t understand why.” Lucky nodded again. “My father told me that if I renounced my claim as the heir someone else could step forward and claim it.”
“What?! I thought that the fortune would just split up among the family.” Lucky said shocked.
“That is what I thought, but it seems that the law was changed long ago.” Nik said, “Only people in the family knew about it.”
“So who would be the heir if it wasn’t you?” Lucky asked.
“My cousin, Ilias Cassadine. He’s only 21 so until he turns 25 his father Chrystos would control the estate. Having Chrystos as the head of the family would almost be worse than Helena. That’s why I kept acting as prince, to keep him from getting control.” Nikolas looked at Lucky expecting him to be mad.
“I knew there had to be some reason. I knew it wasn’t just the money or family loyalty.” Lucky said, he wondered if he should tell Nikolas about Faithe’s connection to the Cassadines. No, it was Faithe’s story to tell. He would just have to wait until they got to Puerto Rico, then he would push Faithe into telling Nikolas.
“You’re not mad?” Nikolas asked
“Nah. If you and Stefan think this Chrystos guy is bad news then it’s better that you’re the prince.” Lucky said. He might have been mad if he had not known what Chrystos had done to Faithe’s family.
“We should get back to the rooms, I’m tired.” Nikolas said, he wanted to get back to the room so he could ask Faithe about her connection to the Cassadines.
“Yeah, me too” Lucky said and with that they went back to the rooms.
Lucky went into his room and told Liz everything that Nikolas had told him. Liz agreed with him that it was Faithe’s story to tell and that they should wait until Puerto Rico.
Nikolas entered the room and it was dark. Faithe was curled up on the bed fast asleep. Nik sighed and debated waking her, but then decided that he could wait for an explanation until they were safe in Puerto Rico. Nik went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. As soon as the bathroom door shut Faithe let out a sigh. She had no idea why she was putting off telling him; she would have to do it tomorrow in Puerto Rico anyway. She just didn’t want to do it now. ‘Later would be better’ she kept saying to herself.
The next morning
They were stepping off the end of the gangplank when two men in dark designer suits came up to them.
“Mr. Corinthos sent us.” The one with blonde hair said.
Lucky stepped forward, “I’m Lucky this is Liz, Faithe, and Nikolas.” He said extending his hand to the men.
“Please come with us, the safe house isn’t very far.” The blonde man said. And the four teens followed them to a black limo not far from the dock. Faithe’s eyes narrowed. She had a bad feeling about this.
In an alley near by two men, wearing khakis and T-shirts, lay behind a dumpster, dead.
Lucky, Liz, and Nikolas got into the limo, but Faithe lingered behind. She eyed the man beside her suspiciously, then reluctantly got into the limo. As soon as she got in she saw all three of her friends passed out. She immediately turned and tried to run, but the man caught her almost before she could move. A handkerchief was placed over her mouth and then her world went black.
~15
The Spencer house
Luke sat on the couch reading the newspaper, well trying to read the newspaper. Really he was waiting for his computer to beep at him, telling him he had email. An email that would tell him that Lucky Co. was safe and sound in Puerto Rico. He should have received that message two hours ago. He was actually starting to worry. The only thing that was keeping him calm was that Sonny would have contacted if something had gone wrong. Just then the door opened and a worried Sonny entered quickly. ‘So much for staying calm’ Luke thought.
“The kids are gone.” Sonny said getting right to the point.
“Damn!” Luke said standing up, “When?”
“No more than a couple of hours. We just found the people who were supposed to meet the kids at the ship.”
“Where were they?” Luke asked
“Dead, hidden behind a dumpster.”
“Who’s dead?” Laura asked fearful
“The people who were supposed to meet the kids at the ship.” Sonny said grimly
“Then where are the kids?” Laura half-shrieked
“We don’t know, but they haven’t been missing for long. Don’t worry Laura we’ll find ‘em.” Sonny said trying to be reassuring. Luke was now looking out the window, trying to decide what to do.
“Luke, I have to tell Stefan. He needs to know.”
“He already knows” Stefan said from the open doorway.
Somewhere else
The four blindfolded teens were led into a room and were left there with their hands untied. As soon as she heard the door close behind the guards Faithe pulled her blindfold off and told the others to do the same. The room was a library or study of some sort. With beautiful, dark cherry bookcases lining the walls, and a matching desk at the far end of the room. There were two doors, one behind them (that they had just entered though) and one at the other end of the room, near the desk. Two large, but simple armchairs were near the fireplace. And there were no windows.
“Where do you think we are?” Lucky asked looking around.
“Depends on how long we were unconscious, But we woke up on a boat.” Nikolas said as Faithe sat down in one of the armchairs looking very calm.
“Nikolas check that other door.” Lucky said as he walked to the door behind him.
“Don’t bother, it’s locked.” Faithe said quietly.
“How do you know? Lucky said as he turned the doorknob, sure enough locked.
“If you kidnapped someone wouldn’t you lock the door?” Faithe said a little amused.
Liz went and sat in the second armchair, looking worried.
Nikolas walked over to where Lucky was standing.
A few minutes later they heard the door at the far end of the room unlock and open. Liz and Faithe got up and went to stand with the boys. A man a little older than them, about 21, walked in. He was tall with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing a black suit with a white dress shirt and no tie. The man smiled condescendingly at the four. He was greatly pleased by the shock on Nikolas’ face, the hatred on Faithe’s face, the worry on Elizabeth’s face, and the curiosity on the face of the other one.
Nikolas immediately recognized his cousin…
“Ilias!” Faithe spat out. Nikolas looked at her shocked. ‘How does she know who he is?’ he thought.
The Spencer house
Luke and Sonny both rolled their eyes. Stefan ignored them and went straight to Laura.
“Where is Nikolas?” He demanded.
Luke turned to Sonny “How rude, he didn’t even say hello.”
“The guards I had on him saw him get off the ship and then into a limousine.” Stefan said to Laura, again, ignoring Luke.
“A limo!?” Sonny said
“Did your goons follow it?” Luke asked urgently.
“No, regrettably they lost track of the limousine.”
“Damn!” Luke cried
“You mean, you don’t know where he is?” Stefan said worried.
“No we don’t Stefan.” Laura said trying to sound calm.
“Who was with him. The guards recognized Lucky and Miss Webber, who is the other girl. She’s been seen around Nikolas for the past week and he wouldn’t tell me who she was.”
“We need to tell him Luke.” Laura said firmly.
“What?” Stefan said
“Have a seat Count Vlad.” Luke said motioning to the couch. Luke tells Stefan everything he knows about Faithe’s mother and that he knows about Ilias being the true heir.
“Why did you have to drag Nikolas into this!” Stefan accused Luke
“One: Nikolas wasn’t ‘dragged’, I didn’t want him involved, he walked himself into this mess. And two: I think Nikolas would have been taken regardless of where he was or who he was with.” Luke said
“Why do you think that?” Laura said
“Well they found Faithe so quickly, she’s pretty good at covering her tracks so I’m assuming they might have been watching Nikolas.” Luke said, “My guess is Ilias and Chrystos are fixing to make some kind of move within the Cassadines. Do you know where they are?” Luke asked Stefan.
“No, we haven’t known the whereabouts of Chrystos, Ilias, or Kostas for five years.” Stefan said quietly.
“Well we can look all we want, but I don’t think we’re going to find them. Either Chrystos will contact us with whatever demands he may have or the kids will find a way to get a message out.” Luke said, almost to himself. Laura nodded knowing Luke was right
“Wait? You want me to wait? My son is in danger!” Stefan yelled.
“My son’s out there too, plus two girls I consider family!” Luke yelled back. Coming face to face with Stefan.
Laura stepped between the two men; “There’s no sense in arguing. Stefan, why don’t you go back to Wyndemere, keep looking for them, and let us know if you hear from Chrystos. We’ll do the same.”
“All right. Call me the second you hear something.”
“We will” With that Stefan left.
“I’ll start searching right away.” Sonny said quietly and left.
“Everything will be all right, Laura.” Luke said pulling his wife into a hug.
Back to Somewhere
“Faithe, darling.” Ilias said coming up next to Faithe and putting his hand on her cheek. Faithe immediately swatted his hand away. She was shaking, but more with anger than with fear. Ilias smiled, pleased with the reaction he received. “Feels like a family reunion doesn’t it” His eyes bored holes into Faithe’s as he spoke in a ‘too-sweet’ tone. He stepped back from Faithe and with a small bow at the waist he said, “Welcome cousins.”
The use of the plural had not gone unnoticed by Nikolas.
“Greetings Nikolas, Faithe, Elizabeth, and… and who might you be?” Ilias said setting his gaze on Lucky.
“Lucky Spencer, nice to meet you. And who might You be?” Lucky said with classic Spencer fire.
“Spencer…Spencer, where have I heard that before?” Ilias asked himself. “Oh…yes. Stavros and Stefan’s little enemy. And I suppose you would be his son.” He said talking to Lucky like he was six years old. Not waiting for conformation he continued, “As to your question ‘Who am I?’ The sweet Faithe answered that question. I am Ilias Cassadine.” He said looking straight at Faithe.
Faithe knew Ilias was taunting her, but her mind was going a million miles an hour. Why had Ilias known who Liz was and not Lucky, they were both equally uninvolved. Ilias knew something and that disturbed Faithe.
“How did you find me?” Faithe asked, her hatred coming through in her voice.
“It was not easy, I’ll tell you that.” Ilias said very pleased with himself. “We searched the country for days. Until the man I had watching Nikolas told me you were staying with my spoiled little cousin.”
“What exactly did you mean by cousins?” Nikolas said accentuating the plural.
Ilias looked at Faithe with mock astonishment, “You didn’t tell him?” Ilias laughed, enjoying the fact that he would get to ‘spill the beans’ to Nikolas. “Faithe’s mother was my father’s sister.”
Faithe shot an apologetic look at Nikolas who stared at her in shock.
Just then a man, in his forties, entered the room and walked up to Ilias.
“Greetings Father.” Ilias said as he smiled at the man. Faithe’s eyes narrowed with the man’s entrance, and here eyes held even more hatred than they held for Ilias.
Suddenly Faithe lunged at the man, and had her hands around his throat screaming “Why did you kill my Mother!!?”
The man pushed Faithe off of him with one swift movement. Nikolas and Lucky held Faithe back when she tried for a second attack.
Ilias’ father walked up to Faithe, who was still struggling against Nikolas and Lucky, and looked at her with loathing.
“I loved my sister. Anna wasn’t supposed to die in that explosion, YOU WERE!” his voice grew in volume as he spoke. Then he turned and walked back to Ilias, leaving a shocked Faithe who, moments before was fighting Nik and Lucky to free her, now had all but collapsed in their arms.
“Chrystos, what do you want?” Nik shouted
Chrystos ignored Nikolas and look to his son. “You got all three of them, I’m very impressed.”
“Thank you Father, I told you I’d get them here.” Ilias said pleased with his father’s approval.
“Who is the other one?” Chrystos asked looking at Lucky.
“That’s Lucky Spencer, Nikolas’ brother if I recall.”
“Okay, I get why you want Nikolas and Faithe here, but why Elizabeth. She has nothing to do with the Cassadines.” Lucky said
“Because she is my cousin.” Ilias said nonchalantly.
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