Nik's apartment "So, what should I take, I've never been on the run
before." Nik said
pulling his duffel bag out of his closet.
Lucky shook his head a little. "Necessities, a few changes of
clothes, since we're going on a cruise ship, maybe something, 'touristy'."
Lucky said trying to lighten
the mood.
Nik smiled. "Okay, Sonny's guys did a good job of cleaning up the place."
Nik said, he
found himself staring at the spot where the man had died.
Lucky noticed. "Hey... you okay?" Lucky
asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Nik said waving his hand dissmisively, turning back to his packing.
"You sure?" Lucky said hesitantly.
"Now, I am." Nik stopped packing, "I was a little shook up
before, but believe it or not Faithe helped me." Nik scratched head
still a little surprised.
"She did?!" Lucky said, obviously just as surprised, "How did she help?"
"She told me it was self defense, which I already knew, but I still needed to hear it you know." Nik said.
"Yeah I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier. I should have checked to see if you were all right, but there was just so much confusion at first and I haven't had time to really think until now." Lucky said feeling a little guilty he hadn't thought that killing someone might be hard for Nikolas.
"It's all right Lucky, you needed to get the situation under control, and you did a good job." Nik said genuinely impressed with the way lucky had handled things tonight.
"I'm glad Faithe could help you. She might be softin' up to you." Lucky said.
"I think maybe right now she just doesn't hate me." Nik said with a laugh. "It's progress ain't it?"
"Yeah it's weird though, sometimes I think maybe she's warming up to me, like when we're all out together, but as soon as we're alone she's back to being an 'Ice Princess'." Nik said Lucky laughed a little.
Nik continued, "This morning she acts like she cares and then flips
out when Sonny tells her about the
cruise."
"Well she probably flipped out 'cause of all the stress of the morning,
but Nikolas, you have
to give her time. The Cassadines have done a lot to her family, right
now you're just a face she can
put all the hate she's felt all her life." Lucky said trying to be
reassuring.
"I know but I didn't have anything to do with her family," Nik pause as a thought accured to him, "Has she ever mentioned a name of the Cassadine her father had problems with?"
"Not to me but Liz said she mentioned someone named Chrystos when she was talking to Liz. Why do you know him?" Lucky figured he wasn't betraying his Dad because Liz had mentioned that to him. And he wanted to find out his own information. Lucky eyed Nik tying to judge his reaction. Lucky saw a flash of fear, but it was quickly masked.
"No never heard of him, but there's a lot of people in the family I
don't know." Nik said
quickly, almost rushing.
"Uh-Huh" Lucky said, completely not buying it.
"Well I'm ready, we should get back." Nik said picking up the bags and his keys and made his way out the door.
Lucky followed him silently, thinking. He knew Nik was hiding something, but he also knew Nik was pretty bad at keeping a secret from the people who knew him well. Soon he would just burst like a soda can that was shaken too much.
Liz's House
Faithe and Liz were in Liz's room quietly packing her things. "Ya
know this is the first time we've gotten to talk alone since you came
to town." Liz said.
She decided that Faithe and Nik would be good for each other, but first she had to convince Faithe.
"Yeah, I know, we're always being watched. And I love Luke dearly, but when he gets it in his head that someone needs protecting sometimes he gets carried away!" Faithe said frustrated but then laughed a little.
"Yeah Lucky can be the same way." Liz said thoughtfully. "I noticed."
Faithe and Liz both
laughed.
"We're should feel lucky for getting this time to talk without Lucky,
Luke, or Nikolas
hanging around". The last name was spoken in a darker tone.
"Ya know Nikolas isn't a bad guy, he can be a good friend." Liz said trying to keep it light.
Faithe sighed heavily, "It's great that you're defending Nikolas, I mean it shows to me that you're a good friend, and obviously you trust him. Look, Liz, I don't trust many people to begin with and, no offense, but the only person I trust in this whole situation is Luke. And that's only because my father trusted him and I've known him since I can remember." Liz looked a little shocked. "I'm sorry, I'm just suspicious by nature, I have to be, but believe me I am trusting you, Lucky, and Laura more every day, but I'm still getting to know you." Faithe didn't want to hurt Liz's feelings.
Liz looked liked she was thinking. "I think I know what you mean," Liz started slowly, "for the longest time Lucky was the only person I trusted. So, I guess I understand."
"I'm glad, well on to a better subject. You and Lucky look really happy."
Faithe said
with a smile, also trying to distract Liz off the subject of Nikolas.
"Yeah we are." Liz said with that silly grin she gets everytime she thinks about Lucky.
"Aha, I know that grin." Faithe said pointing playfully.
"What grin!?" Liz said feigning innocence
"The 'look everyone I'm in love!' grin."
"Oh. That one."
Both girls Liz turned thoughtful. "Have you ever been in love?" She asked tentatively
"Yeah I've been there, but it didn't work out too well."
"Tell me about him." Liz said quietly.
Faithe let out a sigh and thought 'Well this is as good a time as any to try that trust thing' "Well he was basic bad boy, ya know, leather jacket, motorcycle, guitar, no social skills what-so-ever. His name was Spike." Faithe let out a snort of disgust, mostly at remembering her own stupidity. She started nervously playing with her necklace.
"Spike?" Liz asked in amused disbelief.
"Yep, I was head over heals for the guy, but now I think I was the only one in love. He said he loved me, but he was one of those guys who threw those words around like confetti. Anyway, long story short, Dad was smothering me, because of something that happened earlier that year with the Cassadines, and he didn't like Spike. So, the brilliant person that I am, I ran away with him. I was gone for about two weeks. We had a fight and I went home."
"How long ago?" Liz asked.
"Hmm, I guess I left home in the middle of November last year. I had just turned 18 and I thought I was an adult." Faithe said still disgusted with her stupidity.
"Well I hate to say it , but I'm sorta glad it didn't work out with
Spike, cause then I would never have
met you." Liz said and smiled, she wanted to know what had happened
with the Cassadines but she
thought it better not to push.
Faithe laughed a little "I'm glad I met you too Liz."
"And Lucky?"
"Yeah I'm glad I met Lucky."
"And Nikolas?"
"Don't push it," Faithe leaned a little closer to Liz and looked
her straight in the eye, "you don't fool me. Stop playing match-maker."
Liz gaped in surprise. Faithe had figured her out, here she thought she was being discrete. Liz quickly changed the subject "Well I'm done, let's get out of here before they send a search party."
Faithe smiled slyly, "Okay"
They climbed out the window and were off to the Spencer's.
Chapter 10
5am Spencer house
Everyone was in the living room waiting for Sonny to get back with the fake I.D.'s, so the teens could leave.
Just then opened the door and walked in, not feeling the need to knock.
"I got 'em!" Sonny said
waving the envelope like it was from Publisher's ClearingHouse. He
took out the contents and
distributed them to the teens.
"Wow, they look so real!" Liz exclaimed
"As far as you're concerned, they are real." Sonny said amused
"Well' at least you didn't make me a Cassadine." Faithe smirked.
"I told the guy with the cruise line that Lucky and Liz are 18 and on
their honeymoon, and Nikolas
and Faithe are 20 and celebrating their first anniversary." Sonny smiled
knowing Faithe was not liking
the whole situation.
"Lucas Jackson?" Lucky cried. Everyone laughed.
"Lucky was a little too obvious." Sonny said simply.
"Between me being married to Nikolas, and Lucas over there, y'all are just having a laugh riot aren't ya." Faithe said pointing an accusing finger at the three adults.
Luke and Laura laughed. "I have to say I'm enjoying this." Sonny said barely suppressing his laughter.
"All my friend knows is that you're friends of mine, and as far as he's concerned, you're married, so you'll have to pretend." Sonny grinned innocently at Faithe, who rolled her eyes at him.
"If he's your friend, why didn't you just tell him the we're running?" Liz asked, knowing that Faithe wouldn't like pretending to be Nik's wife. She, of course, didn't mind being Lucky's bride, even though she'd rather be Mrs. Spencer, than Mrs. Jackson.
"I said he owed me, I didn't say I trusted him. The less he knows the better."
"Oh Sonny, gold cards, you shouldn't have!" Faithe exclaimed mockingly.
"Consider it a wedding present" Sonny teased.
"Well Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, and Mr. and Mrs.Jackson, You kids should get going off to Virginia." Luke said looking at the I.D.'s.
"Johnny will take you to New York City, then a train to Virginia Beach, the cruise to Puerto Rico, where my people will meet you."
Lucky and Faithe nodded understandingly. Nik and Liz were still in shock
that all this
was happening. "Just tell Stefan that I needed to get away for a while
and that I'll be careful." Nik
said to Laura.
"Okay, he won't buy it, but I'll try." Laura said, not looking forward to that conversation.
"What about Gram? She is not going to be happy about this." Liz said worried.
"I'll talk to her and explain that you're safe, and I'll do my best to try and keep her from going to the police." Laura said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Laura." Liz said
"So, are we ready to roll?" Faithe said wanting to get out of town A.S.A.P.
"Yep, Johnny's waiting outside." Sonny said.
Everyone said a quick goodbye. Faithe and Luke were still on the porch while Lucky, Nik, Liz, and Sonny were walking towards the limo with the bags. Laura was inside the house. Faithe turned to Luke and hugged him.
"What do they want with me Luke?" Faithe mumbled into his chest.
"I don't know Skeet, I just don't know," Luke then pulled back and looked her straight in the eye. "But whatever happens, here on out, you are part of this family, and will be protected like part of this family."
"I know," Faithe said nodding her head, "Thank you for not telling Nikolas or Laura about my mother's history with the Cassadines."
"No problem, but I'm gonna have to tell her soon. She hasn't been
askin', but I know she's waitin' for me to tell her. And I had to tell
Lucky, he asked me flat out and I
couldn't risk the progress we've made."
"I understand. Mostly I didn't want Nikolas telling Count Vlad."
Luke smiled "you get outta here, stay outta trouble."
"Trouble? Me? Nah" Faithe quipped as she turned and walked to the limo as Sonny walked to the porch and stood next to Luke.
"They'll be fine Luke." Sonny said noticing the worried look on his friend's face, "In four days they'll be safe in Puerto Rico."
"I know. Skeet has lost so much so quickly, she'll be strong on the outside for everyone's benefit, but I honestly don't know how she's holdin' up inside."
Sonny just nodded and went inside the house. Luke waited a few moments and then slowly followed.
That afternoon
On a train outside of Virginia Beach Courtesy of Sonny they had a private room on the train. Nik and Liz were both sleeping and Lucky and Faithe were talking.
"Luke told me, that you know about my mom. Thank you for not telling Nikolas." Faithe said quietly.
"Nikolas wouldn't have told Stefan, but I know you and Dad don't trust that, so I went along with it."
"Thank you." "You should know I told Liz. We don't keep any secrets from each other." Lucky said matter-of-factly.
Faithe slowly nodded her head. The wheels in her head were spinning at a blinding speed. Lucky couldn't read her expression.
Suddenly she smiled. "I figured you would. It's all right, I think I
trust Liz." Faithe said
turning to look out the window.
"Do you trust me?" Lucky asked.
Faithe turned back to him and eyed him suspiciously, "I don't know."
"Why?"
"Because you're friends with him" she said jerking her head in Nik's
direction.
"Well maybe if I'm friends with him, he's a different kind of Cassadine."
"Or maybe if he's friends with you, you're a different kind of Spencer."
"Faithe we're all in this together, and you need to trust me. I'm not
asking you to trust Nikolas because I understand why you can't do that,
but not trusting me because of him, that's pushin' it too far."Lucky said
Faithe looked down atthe floor, "I know and I'm sorry." She said quietly.
"Do you trust me?" Lucky asked for the second time.
Faithe lifted her eyes to meet Lucky's "Yes"
"Good"
"And who knows I might even tell Nikolas about my mom when we get to
Puerto Rico; he might have some information about Chrystos." Faithe said
"That might be a good idea. Does my mom know?"
"Luke said he was telling her today." Faithe said
"Next Stop Virginia Beach!" the Conductor called from outside their
room.
Lucky turned to Liz, "Elizabeth, baby, wake up.' He whispered in her
ear.
"Hmmm?" Liz mumbled raising her head and looking around.
"We're almost there." Lucky said kissing her forehead.
And seeing that Faithe was making no attempt to wake up Nikolas, he
reached over and lightly slapped Nik's cheek.
"What?" Nik mumbled sleepily, and then glared at Lucky.
"Wake up 'Sleeping Beauty', we're almost there."Lucky said laughing.
Nik stretched and they all got ready to leave.
The Spencer House
Laura came out of the kitchen, and Luke was standing in front of the window looking out.
"So, when do we hear from the kids?" Laura asked walking over to Luke.
"Lucky took his laptop and he said he'd e-mail us when they got on the ship." Luke said still looking out the window,
" I'll check the computer in a couple of hours, they should be there by then."
"I called Audery and she wasn't pleased but I convinced her that Elizabeth was safe so she decided not to call the police. And I assured Stefan that Nikolas was in no danger, but I didn't tell him about what happened this morning or that Faithe was with him." Laura said.
"The less he knows the better. Laura there's something you need to know."Luke
turned around and looked at Laura.
"What?" Laura asked calmly. She knew Luke was keeping something from
her, but she also knew he'd tell her, now she knew she was right.
"I know why the Cassadines are after Faithe." Luke said walking to
the couch and sitting down, "And I know which ones are after her."
"Okay, tell me." Laura said as she sat next to him.
Luke told Laura everything that he had told Lucky ending with the fact
that Chrystos is the one who's been chasing Faithe's family. Laura had
shock and terror in her eyes.
"Chrystos?" the word almost stuck in her throat.
"Yeah, darlin', What's wrong?" Luke was worried. This was no the reaction
he was expecting.
Laura took a deep breath. "I guess it's time for this to come out. Luke, so you remember when Nikolas found out about Stefan being his father, and I asked you to keep it a secret from everyone else, and I said I tell you why when the time came."
Luke only nodded his head. "You know how we were always told that if there wasn't an heir, the Cassadine fortune and empire would break up among the family." Luke nodded again;
"Well that's not true. If it came out that Nikolas wasn't the heir then control of the family would just revert to someone else. The next in line is Chrystos' son Ilias. That's how we convinced Nikolas to continue to act as prince. Believe me, as much as you don't like Nikolas, having him in control is worlds better than Chrystos and Ilias."
Luke just sat there for a second in shock. Then calmly said, "I always wondered how Count Vlad got Nikolas to stay in the family."
"How mad are you?" Laura asked trying to disifer Luke's emotions.
Luke took a deep breath and sighed. "Not as much as you would think." Luke said evenly, "Thank you for telling me darlin'."
"Thank you for understanding, but now we may have a bigger problem because
Nikolas is in danger.
I could let Stefan know. He could even help."
"No. You can tell him after the kids are safe in Puerto Rico, but I
don't want his help." Luke said gruffly.
"Okay, that's fair." Laura said.
After a minute Luke said, "I'm starvin', what's for dinner?"
Laura smiled and kissed him on the cheek, and silently went into the kitchen to finish dinner.
Chapter 11
Virginia Beach
The docks near the cruise ship
The taxi had just arrived at the docks, Nikolas was in the front seat and Lucky, Liz, and Faithe were in the back seat. The taxi stopped and Nik paid the driver. Lucky and Liz got out on their side, and just as Faithe was about to open her door, Nik opened it for her and reached his hand out to help her out.
Faithe got out of the cab without his help and pushed past him. "I was
only being polite, you don't
have to be rude." Nik said annoyed
"Sorry if manners don't live up to your princely standards."Faithe
said turning to face Nik.
"You're manners wouldn't live up to the standards of a goat." Nik said fed up with Faithe's insults, and her calling him a prince sent him over the edge.
"Oh, and I'm sure you know exactly what a goat's standards are, huh
Princey." Faithe said rolling her eyes, and walking towards the boat.
"Faithe, why are you always so mad at me?" Nik said following her.
"Maybe it's just your winning personality." Faithe said sarcastically.
Lucky and Liz looked at eachother and rolled their eyes.
"They're at it again." Lucky whispered to Liz.
"Aren't people going to be suspicious if they are at each other's throats?"
Liz whispered.
"Nah, Faithe is good at pretending to be someone else, she'll pull
it off." Lucky assured her.
As they walked onto the deck of the ship a man with dark eyes, dark skin, and dark hair, wearing a very well tailored royal blue suit greeted them.
"Hello, I am Enrique, the owner of this lovely vessel." Enrique said
gesturing at the deck behind
him.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Faithe Tyler, and this is my husband Nikolas."
Faithe was so sweet and
honest that if Nikolas hadn't known he would have believed her.
"Lucas Jackson" Lucky said reaching out his hand to shake Enrique's,
"And this is my wife Elizabeth." Lucky said the last three words grinning
from ear to ear, as a newlywed should be.
Elizabeth smiled back at Lucky. "Ahh,Sonny's friends. Then, call me
Ricky." He said relaxing his tone and posture.
Then pointing to Liz and Lucky said, "I'm guessing you two are the
newlyweds."
"Those two couldn't keep their hands off each other the entire train ride down." Faithe said, smiling with wicked glee at Liz and Lucky.
"Do all of you know each other?" Ricky asked.
"No, not really, just mutual friends of Sonny." Lucky said.
"But we got to know each other a little on the train." Faithe chimed
in, putting her arm behind Nik
around his waist. Nik wrapped his arm around her shoulders in response.
"Well, Sonny said to give you all the VIP treatment, so it would be pleasure if you would attend a private dinner party on Friday. I throw one on every trip for my special guests. It promises to be good fun, good food, and good music." Ricky said flashing a grin at the two couples.
Lucky was just about to politely decline when Faithe cut him off. "We
would love to come." Faithe said smiling.
Lucky shot her a look that said 'What are you doing!'
Ricky didn't catch this. Faithe ignored Lucky and continued, "It sounds
like fun."
"Great, I'll see you in three days. I hope you enjoy yourselves until
then. Bobby will take
you to your suits." Ricky said gesturing to a young man who seemed
to beside them.
"Thank you" They all said following Bobby.
As soon as the two couples were gone a man came to stand beside Ricky.
He looked like some kind of assistant.
"Those were the friends of Corinthos?" The man said.
"Yeah, I had my doubts when Corinthos called me, but either they're
telling the truth or they learned
to lie at a very early age." Ricky said thoughtfully.
"Do you want me to keep an eye on them?" The
man asked.
"Nah, that's all right Charlie, but if anyone starts nosing around
about them, let me know,
OK?"
"You got it Boss."