HOME IS WHERE THE BLOOD IS
"Did you see how she was at dinner tonight? And you want to be like her." Kristina said, shaking her head in disgust. Molly sighed, as she sat crossed leg on Krissy's bed. "I didn't say I wanted to be like her. I…..I just want to find my place in this madness." Molly exhaled, falling backwards on Kristina's lavender bedspread. Kristina released her hair from the confines of the bun it was in. She stared at Molly through her mirror. Feeling some pity for her baby sister. "Why on earth would you ever want to find your place in this family? You should be more like me and trying to escape. And definitely less like them. Find a fiancé and get the hell out of this dilapidated house. Or else you'll find yourself entombed in its walls." Kristina said, as she started to brush out the knots in her hair. Absentmindedly rubbing her engagement ring with her thumb. Molly sat up. "Who are the "them" you're referring to?" Molly knew exactly who Kristina was talking about, but for some reason wanted to hear her say it. As if hearing their names helped ease whatever pain she didn't realize she had for their absence. Kristina rolled her eyes and turned to face her younger sister. "Our whore mother and her favorite daughter."
Nine Years Ago
On the island of Santorini, a small council gathered, the Covenant. A prestigious sacred group they were. Passing out laws and handing down verdicts, as if they were gods. Stood before them was a silent, but confident Natasha Cassadine, their blood. They stared down at the crimes she had committed and back up at her. "You callously stand before us unrepentant for the crimes you've willfully committed while also seeking our mercy?" Reuben, the leader, spoke first. His fiery black eyes were fixed on Alexis. He had always wanted to see the Americas division of the Cassadines fall, as if his blood was more noble than theirs because his half of the Cassadines stayed in Greece. Oh, how pathetic and outdated he was.
The Cassadines were made up of three divisions, the Greek, the Russian, and the New World. We all tie back to Russia, but broke off to explore, which caused a fraction in our family that to this day has yet to repair.
We each hated the other, believing we were somehow better. The New Worlders believed they were better for being brave enough to take the risk and explore what others didn't dare to. The Greek, for settling in such a rich and historical place that birth the gods. And the Russian, for starting it all. Three sides of a triangle. Each side pitted against the other. Watching and willing the other to fall.
"I stand before you, my family, as not repentant because I, Natasha Cassadine, did nothing wrong." Her words caused an uproar. Nikolas sat behind her in a state of shock at her unyielding approach. When in reality he sat behind her covering his own crimes. "How could you be so brash about what you did, Natasha?" Sacha, another member asked. A woman, Natasha greatly admired so much so she names her her firstborn daughter after her. "I stand here to admit my crimes. I did try to overthrow the succession of my family's lineage and put my daughter on the throne. As she is the most powerful of her generation. She is the most rightful heir. The promised one. Yet I'm the only one to say it." Alexis didn't fear them like they so wanted her to. She stood strong and firm. Not ever letting them see her break. She knew that most of them believed in what she was saying, but were too afraid to outright say it themselves. Too fearful to go against an ancient law as if their ancestors would pull themselves from the depths of Hell to torment and punished them for such a heinous action. She rolled her eyes at the mere thought. "Then you will suffer the consequences."
Bedchamber of Stefan Cassadine
Stefan jumped from his sleep. His bed was soaked with sweat. He reached for her like he normally did when it got like this, but as always she was nothing more than a longing memory. One he couldn't relinquish, even in his dreams. He missed her everyday. His beautiful sister, Natasha. Even though she never truly loved him the same way.
Their relationship, of course taboo to the mundane world, was actually more common in their family. Cousins wed cousins. Nieces and uncles. It was a way they kept their bloodline untainted, but no one ever in Cassadine history became betrothed to a sibling. It was….unheard of and somewhat unfathomable. Their father was flat out against it. More so because Stefan was engaged to a Russian princess and Natasha was promised to a duke. What a scandal it was when their father caught them stark naked, fucking each other against the hard rock wall inside one of the many tunnels they had running throughout their home on Cassadine Island. It was his Bacchanalia and he had missed out on the first dance with princess Alyona. So as usual his father tracked him down. He just wasn't prepared for what he found.
Stefan laughed at the memory of Mikkos' face. Today was the day they would be burying his father. He should feel something for such an occasion, but he didn't. His heart was as empty as his mouth. He had lost all respect for his father the day he let his favorite grandson cut out his tongue. That day, staring into his his father's dark eyes, he no longer saw the grumpy old patriarch he grew to care for, but a docile deluded stranger. He learned that day that even a Cassadine could betray a Cassadine. Which was actually quite funny since Cassadines were notorious for it. He just had to experience it firsthand for himself.
Blue Moon Motel
(Just on the outskirts of town)
He had awoken to an empty bed and terrible hangover. She of course had disappeared into the night. He couldn't tell if she was a dream or not. Beautiful olive skin, long cascading ebony locks, breasts that would make any woman envious and any man fall to his knees. A voice like honey and a pussy so sweet you would kill to taste. There was no other explanation. She had to be a figment of his imagination. Conjured from his most wildest desires. Either way she was fuckin' amazing.
Patrick got himself up and out of bed. Preparing himself for his tour of General Hospital. He would be working the night shift, but wanted to get a feel of the place during the day. Dr. Quartermaine was kind enough to oblige.
He stood inside the shower with the mask on. Inhaling the nitrous oxide he had connected from the canister containing it to his mask. The mask featured a long curved beak, like that of a bird. A weird little thing it was, but somehow fascinating to him. The chemicals reached him instantaneously. His head flung back hitting the tile wall inside the shower. The feeling was out of this world. His mind felt clearer than ever and more alert. When really everything was moving in slow motion. His heart was racing and he could feel it. Every powerful movement within him, it was as if it was going to fall right out of his chest. The pounding of it was so loud it filled the inside of his head. He covered his ears trying to drown out the noise. Then as quickly as it came it went. The high was gone and with it the euphoria, but the rush always took a minute or two to wear off. He removed the mask and breathed in the fresh air of his steamy bathroom. Feeling lightheaded and a bit jittery. Also in a much better mood than before.
Patrick met up with Dr. Quartermaine at the nurses' station. He was tall and lean, with a quizzical look upon his face. He was fumbling with some papers when Patrick walked up. Patrick was surprised. The guy that stood before him couldn't be no older than twenty-five. "Hello, Dr. Drake. I'm Dr. Michael Quartermaine. I'll be giving you the tour of GH." Patrick took Michael's extended hand, gingerly shaking it. He didn't want to insult the kid, but… "You were expecting someone much older." Michael laughed, as the tour began. Patrick scratched the back of his head and cracked a smile. "Well, yeah. Kind of." Patrick admitted. The kid seemed competent enough, so that was a good sign. Something was off though. "You'll be meeting my cousin Maya, who's a bit older than me, soon. She works in the ER so you'll be seeing her a lot more than me." Michael said, opening the door to their first stop. The Intensive Care Unit.
PCPD
(Crime Scene)
The yellow tape decorated the outside of the building. Reminding Lucky of low hanging party streamers. He couldn't even speak to what he found. The corpse of a fellow deputy...his cousin, Valerie. Her body was suspended from a tree branch. Dangling like a puppet on wires. Her arms and legs broken, her uniform torn from her body, and her head...her head was missing. Decapitated.
Lucky had to looked away. It was as if he was staring directly into the sun and the rays begin to burn his eyes. It was that painful. He couldn't tell his sister. The two were just becoming close. They only knew Valerie for a year, but she was a Spencer. She was family. The drink was necessary. He knew no one would blame him for it. It's like they expected of him. "I'm taking you off the case." Lucky spun around so fast he almost loss his balance and fell. "What?" Lucky said, coming face to face with his commissioner, Mac Scorpio. Mac shook his head at the sight of Lucky. "You're too close to this case. Your cousin has just been murdered, Lucky." Moving in closer so only Lucky could hear, Mac whispered, "and you're pissed drunk just like your father." Lucky didn't even think. His arm swung faster than he could stop it, hitting Mac square in the jaw. "Fuck you!" Lucky shouted, causing the entire force to move in closer. A dead silence fell around them. Mac stared disapprovingly at him and waved off medical attention. Lucky looked around at the familiar faces of his brothers and sisters. They too looked disappointed and slightly embarrassed. How did things get this bad, they all wondered. "Lucky, calm down." Nathan, his newest partner said. Lucky swatted at his hands. "Don't touch me! I'm fine! Why are you all looking at me like that? I'M FINE!" The louder he said it the more they knew he was wrong. "Look at my cousin! Awww man. Look at her." Lucky cried, falling to his knees. He was spiraling. No longer able to control the alcohol. Tears fell from his eyes freely. He couldn't stop them or the outbursts that came from him. "I'm the best goddamn detective the PCPD ever had! You can't shit on me! I work my ass off day in and day out for this department. And this is how you treat a fellow brother in blue?" Lucky yelled, wagging his finger in the faces of so many staring on at the scene unfolding. "Lucky!" The voice caused him to falter. He looked to see the face of his fiancée, Maya. "What are you doing?" She stepped through the yellow tape, pushing her way through the crowd around him. "Maya, babe, what are you doing here?" He asked, happy to see her. He knew she wouldn't betray him like the others. "I heard about Valerie. I'm here for you." She said, tears filling her eyes as she stared at the state of the man she loved. Lucky wiped away his own tears when watching her cry. "Go home, Lucky." Mac said, holding an icepack to his face. Lucky turned from Maya to face Mac. "Shut up, Mac! You don't get to order me around anymore." Lucky threw down his flask and walked away from the crime scene. Walking straight over to Maya. "Let's get out of here, okay?" Maya nodded at his request and they both walked away from the horror behind, but before they got too far Maya looked over her shoulder. Seeing the body of the fallen officer. It was truly a horrific sight to see. One she would never forget.
Spoon Island
"Today we put to rest a fallen Cassadine. Mikkos." the Reverend intoned to the very large group that came for the burial. They stood outside on the island's beach. The waves were rough as a storm approached, and the winds were intense. Most of the guests came from all over, just to see the old man burn. Most looked bored, others waited patiently for the pyre, but almost everyone was hungry. "He lived a rigorous, accomplished, blissful life. One we'll never forget." the Reverend continued. Most had already tuned him out. Not hearing a word he said. Everything he was fed to say about the great Mikkos was fictitiously constructed to give the man something to say. Everyone here knew the real Mikkos. He lived a dull wasteful life inside his delusions. Nothing great was done or said by the man wrapped in our family's colors; bronze and black. This day wasn't for remembrance, but of absolvement for Nikolas. He finally felt free to lead the Cassadines into a new era. One where his mistakes weren't constantly reminded to him by an old fat man. This would be his time to show them all that he was the true heir and not his idiotic cousin...It was as if he had spoken her into existence. There she stood atop of the hill from them, dressed in loose fitting black dress that blew in the wind. Her skin was glowing and her hair was much longer than it was when she was eighteen. Tiny as she was, he knew her power and influence she held was something to fear. She was the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes upon, an he loathe her more than anything.
Sam stood upon the hill watching her family below. The only one to feel her presence was Nikolas. Their eyes locked and she could feel the years of turmoil combined with the uneasy attraction shared between them. He hated her and he had every right to do so. She betrayed him. She betrayed all of them for her naive wishful longing of a silly little girl. Nikolas the most though. He loss something more valuable than pride that day and Sam would always carry that guilt and shame with her. That was something time couldn't take away. Sam watched as they lit Mikkos' pyre. Bowing her head for one last deep breath and raising it like everyone else did. The flames burn brightly, licking up every ignitable surface. Stopping just before the feet of her people. Sam's eyes searched the crowd, looking desperately for them and then she saw them. Her younger sisters and her father. She felt a small, but very significant weight lift from her heart. They looked well, unharmed. They were much older than when she was forced away from them. She had left behind a ten and six year old, to come back to face two very beautiful young women. That day was one of the hardest for her.
Ten years ago. . .
Her eyes were red and sore. Her nose was running harder than a faucet. Crying wasn't going to help the situation. Nor was begging. She had no choice. She couldn't stay. "Sissy? Where are you going?" Kristina asked, taking her older sister's face into her hands. Sam stared into the eyes of the innocent face of a child she loved and couldn't hold back the tears that escape. "I'm going away for a little while. I did….I did something I shouldn't have and this is my punishment." Sam said, letting her sister wipe away her tears. "When will you return?" Sam thought back to her trial, hearing her sentencing float around her head like a quickly spinning carousel.
100 years of isolation on the Isle of Skye
It was never ending, like a constant reminder of had royally she fucked up. "I'll return one day. When you're older, and the skies are gray, and Molly's no longer afraid of the dark. I'll be there to meet you again." Sam said, pulling Kristina in for a hug. "But what if I don't want you to go?" Kristina choked. Finally letting the wave of emotions hit her. "You don't have a choice, Prissy." Sam said, using her little nickname for Kristina to somehow ease the pain. She held her tighter, hearing the the footsteps coming closer to her door. "Just remember I love you to the moon and back. And I would set this world afire if you or Molly were ever harm. My power is great and I would die to protect you." The door was flung open. Krissy was snatched from Sam's grasp. Breaking their embrace and causing Kristina to kick and scream. "Don't fight, Krissy. It'll be okay. Everything will be okay."
Those were the last words she spoke to her sister before she was dragged from her home by her arms. Discarded like a thorn in the thumb. She didn't deny her anger, even if she deserved it. She wasn't there to protect her mother from her death, but she would do her damn best to keep her father and sisters safe. Even if that meant a rising king should fall. "It's time to go be reintroduced to your family, Samantha. Buck up, kid. There's a fight ahead of you." Mrs. H said, breaking through the noise in her head. Sam looked at her. Giving her most trusted servant a grateful smile. "I'm ready."