Second Chances
Chapter 21
And, at precisely the same moment, Helena was readying her team
to go.
“We shall leave in one more moment.” she informed the leader, a tall, burly man
with no pity, called Fred by his ‘mates’.
“Will you be coming with us?” Fred asked, pointedly
“Of course, of course. I am sure Lucky is simply frightened to death; he
shouldn’t know a soul at that house. He’ll be dying to see me.” Helena
overestimated herself, but that was usual.
Fred rolled his eyes. “If you insist. If you want us to get there early, though, we
had better leave now.”
“Of course, darling.” she slipped her fur wrap over the pale gray silk of her
dress sleeves. Her gray eyes, usually so cold and calculating, were excited.
“Let’s go.”
Fred followed Helena onto the road, where they were joined by a dozen, or so men. And,
Helena took her seat in one car, her shoulders straight and her head high. She was not
smiling, but it was obvious that Helena Cassadine was pleased with herself.
She had always known that Stefan wouldn’t win.
Meanwhile, Luke had decided that he could not wait any longer to see his son. Maybe if he
left now, he would even meet Mr. Adrian at the country mansion, and they could rescue his
son together.
He slung his leather jacket sleeve over his arms, and zipped it up. “Roy?” he
called out the door of his office as he proceeded to fill his pockets.
Luke’s good buddy Roy was there in a moment, wiping his hands on a bar towel wrapped
around his pants. “Yeah, Luke?”
“Can you watch the place for awhile?” Luke asked, slipping some money in one
pocket, his trusty pistol in the other. He would have no qualms with shooting at Stefan
Cassadine if that is what it took. Okay, he had no qualms with it period. He only wished
he had time to purchase some silver bullets.
“Where are you going?”
“Albany. I think I might have a lead on my son.”
Roy smiled. “Well, good luck, Luke.” he slipped out the door.
Luke did not even see him leave; he was making sure he was ready to depart. And, as he
grabbed his car keys hastily off of the table, he knocked down a picture frame. He stopped
to pick it up, and when he saw the photo, he paused and stared briefly.
It was of Lucky, probably about seven or eight years ago. He looked a lot different, but
it was still his son.
Luke searched the child’s flat blue eyes. “Well, son, with any luck, I’ll
have you home in a few hours. I will not leave you to rot in a Cassadine compound.”
and with that resolution, he stepped away from the desk, flipped off the light switch, and
walked out the door.
Second Chances
Chapter 22
It was nine at night when Stefan finally got his car in front of
the country house.
They had made excellent timing, actually, and Laura was anxious to see her son. She
was impatient as he eased his car into the driveway. “Just park, and let’s get
out. He might’ve fallen asleep.”
He smiled. “Laura, I know you’re anxious to see your son again, but I don’t
want to -” he stopped speaking.
Laura looked out the windshield, as Stefan parked the car. “What’s wrong?”
His voice had grown serious; his eyes darker. “Do you see those cars over
there?” he pointed a short way in the distance, where a group of dark cars were
discreetly parked.
“What about them?”
“I don’t recognize them. Stay here, Laura; I’ll investigate.”
“Stefan,” she began to protest, but she was silenced by the look in his eyes.
“Laura, please, don’t argue. i don’t know who those cars belong to, and I
don’t have the time.”
She nodded, suddenly mute, almost frightened by the darkness that had entered his voice.
She watched him silently, as he slipped out of the car.
Meanwhile, Stefan made his way, stealthily, towards the circle of parked cars.
People were beginning to creep out of the cars. Thinking fast, he hid behind one,
and watched. He saw men come out of the cars, perhaps a dozen or so, all dressed in dark
clothes and talking softly amongst themselves.
Then, one paused at their car, and helped someone out. Stefan strained to get a better
view, and finally did see the last person to come out. And, his face went white. For it
was his mother.
But, he gained control over his emotions, and waited until Helena had sent her men to
check the parameters. Then, he surprised her.
“Hello, Mother.”
Helena was briefly taken back. But, she quickly gained control. “You’re not
going to get anything accomplished.” she informed him.
He pointedly ignored that. “It was kind of you to visit Lucky, Mother, but I assure
you that he does not want to see you.”
“You’ve probably frightened him to death.” she answered, tauntingly.
“Lucky is mine, Stefan, you will never make him something else. You had best return
the property you have stolen, and get out of this game before you find something, or
someone, else damaged.”
Stefan glared at her. “Don’t make more empty threats, Mother.”
“Since when does anyone find my threats empty?” she answered, softly.
Stefan was ready to answer, when another car approaching caused both of them to lapse into
silence. The new car parked at Stefan’s back, and, in a moment, out stepped Luke,
holding a shining gun in one gloved hand.
“Why aren’t I surprised?” Luke muttered. “Ok.” he said,
pointedly, to Stefan and Helena. “Where is my son?”
Second Chances
Chapter 23
Helena smiled, without sincerity. “Hello, Mr. Spencer. Good
evening.”
Luke made his way towards Stefan and Helena, the gun held out as close to them as he could
manage. His pale blue eyes were sparked with intensity, almost with malice. “Tell me
where my son in.” he repeated, again.
Stefan didn’t say anything. Better to let Luke and Helena argue it out amongst
themselves.
Helena just smiled, eyes still excited and triumphant. “Please, my dear.” she
addressed Luke. “He does not want to see you.”
Luke turned to Stefan. “How about this? You tell me where he is, and I won’t
kill you.”
Finally, Stefan answered, slowly. “Laura told me you said you would stay out of
it.”
“I decided against it.” Luke answered. He cocked the gun. “Tell me.”
Well, Stefan was in no mood to argue. Lucky would understand. “He’s inside the
house. I have no intention of moving him.” Stefan paused. “Why don’t you go
in there now?”
But, Luke wasn’t ready to leave, yet. “I know you’ve convinced Laura that
you are nothing but an innocent angel. But, I know what you have done to my son, and
I’m going to prove it.”
Stefan noticed that Luke’s attention had turned from Helena, and Helena had simply
slipped out of the circle. They were running out of time, and Stefan could not head Luke
off with a gun, for he was unarmed. At any rate, they were losing time, and Stefan cared
more about making sure that Lucky didn’t end up back with Helena, then making sure
that Luke waited.
“Fine. Go. Prove it. Get your son out of here, but do it quickly.”
Luke stared at him a moment, confused. And, then Helena stepped out of the estate again,
dragging a gagged Lucky towards one of the waiting cars. She was covered by five men with
bulky guns, and Luke’s pistol would not fight them.
Helena answered the shocked stares with an evil, triumphant sort of smile; a cousin of it,
as you will. “Luke, I expected better of you.”
Luke was motionless, the gun still trained on Stefan, seeing his son, albeit very briefly,
for the first time. And, Lucky’s eyes paused to stop at him before being lead into
the back of the van. And, they said nothing.
And, then the pack of cars sped away, leaving them alone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Luke’s hand, still wrapped around the gun, fell to his side. His eyes were wide, and
astonished and angry.
After he watched the cars sped away, he turned to Stefan with more than a hint of malice.
“I don’t care what game you’re playing with Helena; I want both of you to
stop. I will kill you if you don’t tell me where they were going!”
Stefan’s hands were still up. He spoke calmly. “I have no idea where they were
going. I have not been playing any games with my mother. I’ve only had Lucky for
about a day.”
“I saw you with him! You broke in to the house in Nova Scotia, and you stole Lucky
from Helena. You’ve been playing keep-away.”
“Think about it. Why would I?” Stefan did not snap, but he felt like snapping a
few of Luke’s vertebrae. But, for Lucky and Laura’s sakes, he could not, and
would not, allow his hatred of Luke Spencer to seep into him. He still remained calm.
“What could I profit from stealing Laura’s son?”
“Her every adoration of you.” Luke answered, without hesitation. “I
wouldn’t put it past you to pit yourself against your mother, and play a game of
keep-away with my son!”
Stefan didn’t say anything, for he noticed Laura was approaching, cautiously. She
made her way around the group of cars, searching for Stefan, who was presently hidden from
view by a sweep of bushes. “Stefan?” she called out, nervously.
“Over here.” he yelled back.
Laura made her way, hurriedly, to him. “Stefan, I - “ her sentence disappeared
when she saw Luke there, too.
“Hello, darling.” Luke greeted, his gun raised once more at Stefan.
“Luke!” Laura was quick to defend Stefan. “Put the gun down.” she
insisted, staring at her separated husband with cold eyes.
“Why should I? Laura, I know your judgment isn’t the best these days, so let me
explain it to you. He has been playing you the fool. He has been tossing Lucky back and
forth with Helena.”
“He has done no such thing.” Laura insisted, looking straight at him. Knowing
that would do no good, she tried a different tactic. “And, he’s unarmed. You
can’t threaten him, Luke. “
Then, as Luke lowered the gun once more, Laura turned to Stefan. “Where did the cars
go?”
“Well, Luke decided to attack the wrong party.” Stefan answered. “And, as
he held a gun to me, my mother walked in, took Lucky, and walked out.” he indicated
Luke.
Laura looked at Luke once more. “I asked you to trust me. You said you would.”
“I couldn’t.” Luke paused. “I hired a very reliable man. A Mr. Adrian.
I wonder why he hasn’t shown up, yet.”
Stefan stared at him, not believing the moron that Laura had been wed to for half of her
life. “Did you check your sources, by any chance?”
“Why?” Luke snapped.
“There is an Adrian that has worked for Helena since he was born; her most loyal
servant.” Stefan was still, amazingly enough, calm, but there was darkness in his
eyes.
“It can’t be the same person.” Luke countered.
“Okay, then, you explain how my mother knew where Lucky was.”
Laura interrupted them. “Stefan didn’t do anything. And, at any rate, Helena has
him now.” she looked at Luke. “We need to catch up.”
“Well, of course.” Luke answered.
Laura turned to Stefan. “Can you keep a track on Helena?”
But, before Stefan could answer her, Luke interrupted. “I am not traveling with any
Cassadine.”
Stefan finally did snap. “Forget about it for a second! Don’t you want to save
your son? So, far, he hasn’t been harmed in a physical sense, but I do not trust my
mother.” he turned to Laura. “I might be able to catch up with her, but we have
to leave now.”
Laura turned to Luke. “It’s up to you. You don’t have to come with us, but
I am going and so is he.”
Stefan flipped open his cell phone, and dialed a number. As he spoke, Luke contemplated.
“Fine.” he finally said. “I’m going. But, I’ll follow in my own
car, thank you”
Just as the resolution was accomplished, Stefan put his phone down. “I have a track
on Helena. It is strong, but she’s leaving very fast. We need to move now, before she
goes out of range.”
He and Laura headed to Stefan’s car, Luke following behind. And, the unlikely party
made there way back down the hills, and on Helena’s path.
Second Chances
Chapter 24
Once the car was a distance from the house, Helena lifted the gag
from Lucky’s mouth. She smiled at him, trying to charm him. It occurred to Lucky how
much of a snake she was.
“It’s not that I thought you would scream, my dear. It’s just I was taking
a precaution. You do understand, don’t you?”
Lucky did not look at her, at first. He could not. This woman had robbed him of his
freedom, again. But, he knew he had to play along, or everything could be lost. So, he
made himself look calm, unassuming, almost happy to be back in Helena’s company. He
especially could not let her see everything that was running through his mind. So,
somehow, he restrained his emotions.
“I knew you would come.” he answered, slowly, perfectly, like an agreeable
child.
“Did my son frighten you when he took you? He can be meddlesome, I know. But,
don’t worry, he’ll never catch up.”
“It was fine.” Lucky answered, still struggling to sound unassuming. “He
didn’t torture me, or anything.”
“It will be a long ride, Lucky.” she informed him. “Do you have any
questions for me?”
Well, Lucky had time to waste. And, he could not dwell on his family and friends, and what
had been taken away from him. Best to let her think everything was going according to her
plans. “When I was taken, I met this blonde woman. She claimed to be my mother. Do
you know who she was?”
Helena sighed. “Her name is Laura. And, yes, technically, she is your mother. But, it
is only on a biological sense. She never cared for you.”
Lucky could barely restrain himself from wringing Helena’s thin, white throat. He
wanted to kill her, desperately. But, he had learned to not be as stubborn and as
impatient as his father. The last time he had threatened her, she had threatened him, and
seriously almost killed him. “Really.”
“You know this, Lucky.” she answered.
Inside, Lucky sighed. He was sick of reciting this to her. But, for everyone’s sake,
he would. “You care for me, I know.”
“I will do anything for you, my dear Lucky.” she cooed. She paused, growing
serious. “Thus far, I have tried to protect you from your mother, and who she
was. But, now, I fear, I must tell you.’
Lucky was not in the mood to listen to the list of sins Helena would soon lay at his
mother’s feet. “Go on.”
“You know that violent man that she was wed to? Luke Spencer?”
“Yes.”
“Well, she married him just after he raped her. Meanwhile, my darling Stavros wished
for a wife. He found his eyes upon Laura Spencer, whom he perceived as a cute young thing;
the perfect girl to be a princess. I knew that the woman he sought was nothing more than a
somewhat pretty, if you’ll excuse my language, whore. But, Stavros demanded, and I
would never deprive Stavros. So, we brought her to the island, and wed her to
Stavros.”
Lucky stiffened, but did not let it show. “Did she fight it?”
“Very much so. She even became friends with your recent captor, my other son,
Stefan. But, the two of them could never conceive any sort of real plans, and every
one of the plans they did conceive fell through. They were no match for my darling son.
And, Laura was with child before a full year had passed.”
“Nikolas,”
“Yes. Such a darling boy, even as a baby. I wish he hadn’t been deprived of his
father; Stavros would have made the perfect Cassadine heir. But, soon after Nikolas was
born, she left her son in the hands of my inept son and left the island. When Stavros
followed her in pursuit, he was killed by Luke Spencer. She deprived her first born of
both of his parents. It’s a wonder Nikolas grew up to be the boy he is.”
Lucky was so tired of this; these long indoctrinations that always, somehow, spoke of the
glories of either Stavros or Mikkos. Being in the country house, although he had feared
Helena would appear, had been like a vacation...perhaps leading to a new beginning. Now,
it was all gone. And, for the moment, he could only listen.
“Yes. But, if you’ll permit me, I fail to see what this has to do with me.”
“Precisely what I’m getting to, Lucky. She had you just two years after Nikolas;
her first born was still in diapers. Not that she ever saw him. At any rate, she raised
you practically on the streets, always on the run. She never cared for you; she
practically got you killed more than once...I can’t go into the details right
now.” she seemed distressed.
It was time for that practiced line. “But, you rescued me.”
“Why, yes I did. And, I shall try my best to keep you away from the likes of
her.” Helena smiled over him. “Now, it’s late, and I’m certain
you’re tired. Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”
Lucky watched, silently, as Helena, herself, closed her eyes and fell into a calmling nap.
But, he did not trust to be alone with her.
Instead, he searched the dark sky. He didn’t know where they were traveling to; he
rarely did. There wasn’t a street light or road sign for miles and miles.
But, Lucky still hoped that somewhere, just behind him, his parents were trying to find
him.
Chapters 17-20
Chapters 25-28