Chapter One

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Intrigue

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Nikolas had to have misheard him, that had to be it, finding the alternative too hilarious to be true. Meeting his brother's eyes, he couldn't help but laugh in amusement. To think that a girl roughly Emily's size laid him out without any strain had him laughing till his sides hurt. God it had been so long since he has laughed this hard and he finds that he could get used to it. His laughter only proved to upset his brother further, however, forcing him to school his features and remember his manners.

"Laugh all you want, but this ain't going anywhere, man." Lucky says seriously. "This girl coming to town's not a coincidence."

"I highly doubt this girl can gain any control over Emily." Nikolas counterd before taking a sip of his drink. "It's a moot point, either way, Lucky. Emily's bound to do whatever she feels she has to regardless of what anyone says."

"You would think so." Lucky shakes her head. "Emily has been in a fragile state. It's on us as her friends to make sure that nothing gets in the way of her recovery. That includes stopping this jerk from taking advantage."

"Agreed." Nikolas accepts. "But it's also on us to accept her choices. Despite our own misgivings."

"Forever the diplomat." Lucky shakes his head. "Emily is so wrapped up in this girl it's not even funny, man. She's already gotten Em to consider her a friend."

"The horror!" Nikolas mocks. "In that case, we should alert the authorities posthaste and have that scoundrel behind bars for ever thinking about being friends with Emily."

"Could you be serious for one second, huh?"

"Funny." Nikolas smirks. "I am typically percieved as the serious one. Guess we're switching roles on this one. Seeing as I don't see the harm in two girls being friends."

"Sure, that's how it starts out. Then she slowly gets into Emily's head." Lucky states firmly as he points to his temple. "Before you know it, she'll have them eloping in Vegas."

"A tad melodramatic, don't you think?"

"Are you going to help me with this or not?" Lucky demands of him. "Emily invited her to the gala. We need to get there and prove they aren't good for her."

"Fine." Nikolas says as he rises to his feet. "But only because I know there's no talking you out of it."

The ride to the Quartermaine estate was filled with Lucky coming up with different ways to open Emily's eyes to the the wool that's been pulled over her. All Nikolas got from the ride over was that Lucky was equally affected by this random girl that has come crashing into their orbit unannounced. The closer they got to the estate, the more Nikolas wanted to come face to face with this girl. To see for himself just what she was about.

"There's Emily." Lucky points out when they enter the ballroom. "Let's go talk to her."

"Isn't that the girl by the bar?" Nikolas counters, not wanting to face Sarah tonight, having said all that there was to say already. Their conversations becoming redundant by now.

"Yeah." Lucky says before looking at him. "I thought you never met her."

"A girl I never met standing with the guy you can't stand." Nikolas clasps a hand on his shoulder. "Not exactly the most complex equation, Lucky."

Keeping a step behind his brother, he takes the time to just observe her, seeing a playful smirk cross her lips as they talk, finding himself intrigued, to say the least. Then her shield goes up at the sight of them and he sees her defensive stature in all its glory. Now, as complex equations go, this girl was definitely complex in the most enticing way.

"Do I really need to remind you of what happened last time?" Elizabeth subtly threatens his brother, pulling him from his thoughts. "It's their choice. I suggest you let them make it."

"Even if the choice is a bad one?" he voices, daring her to step into the game with him.

"Especially then." Elizabeth smirks, clearly seeing through his challenge. "What's life without a few bad choices?"

"Nikolas." Lucky states before he could speak. "Let's go, man."

"You always listen to your brother, Prince?" Elizabeth throws out, returning the challenge. "And here I thought royalty called the shots. Guess they leave that to the jesters where you're from."

"Its a dangerous game you're playing at." Nikolas steps up to her with a smirk of his own. "A Cassadine's pride isn't one to be messed with."

"What about the rest of him?" Elizabeth whispers, mere inches from his face, his body reacting almost immediately. "Cuz I can come up with a few bad choices for us to make if you're game."

"My brother's not interested." Lucky states irritably, though Nikolas's mind was already on overdrive.

"Yet another choice that's not up to you." Elizabeth says simply, her eyes never leaving his. "What do you say, Prince? Dare to live a little?"

"Careful what you wish for." Nikolas whispers as he snakes one arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "It's all fun and games till someone gets hurt."

"That's half the fun." Elizabeth counters before swiftly taking claim to his lips.

The moment her lips touched his the whole world melted away and he couldn't care less where he was or who could see. All sense of mannerisms completely thrown out the door as the kiss deepens, logical thought but background noise as he took claim to her and she him. He was almost so lost in her that she could ask him literally anything and he'd give it up without contest. But then reality budged in and they were ripped away from each other by the last person he expected.

"This can't be real." Sarah mutters, glancing between the two. "Tell me this isn't real."

"How about we blow this joint?" Elizabeth asks him, ignoring the intrusion altogether. "Maybe pick up where that kiss left off."

"Nikolas..." Sarah states at him with tears welling up in her eyes. "Please."

"Unless you'd rather stay?" Elizabeth counter her previous suggestion, undoubtedly seeing the conflict in his eyes.

"My jag is right outside." Nikolas turns away from Sarah, deciding to put the final nail in the coffin."Ladies, first."

"Nikolas, man." Lucky stops him. "You really gonna do this to her?"

"We've been over for a month." Nikolas states with a shrug. "She's all yours."

Turning his back on Lucky and Sarah, he guides Elizabeth to his jag, needing to be out of there in the worst possible way. He knows that he had gone there to keep the peace between Emily and Lucky, but maybe a little challenge will help Emily. Maybe Lucky challenging her will get her to finally make a choice. Just as he did walking away from Sarah for good.

Glancing over at the girl that has chosen to enter his life, Nikolas couldn't help but wonder just what will come of them. Was this simply a bad choice for the night or could it mean something more? He knows he should feel guilty because Emily told him she was sisters with Sarah, but he doesn't. He is a strong believer in all things happen for a reason and he's certain it still stands true.

"Still got time to back out." Nikolas says when they get into his hotel room that he rented earlier that night, not wanting to have to travel back to Spoon Island after the party. "Now's your chance."

"You see me running for the door?" Elizabeth counters staring into his eyes.

"No."

"And you?" Elizabeth counters with a smirk. "You really think you can survive a bad choice like me?"

"I'll take my chances."

"Good."

As her lips come crashing down onto his, he loses all sense of complex thoughts, allowing himself to lose himself in someone for the first time in such a long time. He couldn't say what it was about her exactly that had him drowning in her essence, but he wasn't complaining. One night or something more, he is willing to see this through to whatever end.

Note: For the love of Niz. I think I was having a little too much fun writing them. Hope you enjoyed and we'll see where this takes us.