Chapter 3: The Past Truths Part 1
The New Dimera Mansion
The Vadici's have hated the Dimera's since the 14th century AD. They both came from respected Italian families with ties to the community. They even decided to meld the families through marriage in that same century. By summer the two families would be brought together through the daughter of the Vadici's and the son of the Dimera's. However before this could occur a new opportunity arose for the Dimera's in the embodiment of a new suitor for their heir and son. As one could imagine this news did not place well with the Vadici's. The Dimera's proposed a new marriage that would still combine them but their eldest daughter would not marry the first son but the second. The Vadici's were outraged that they would propose a demotion of their daughter by her marrying the second born son instead of the first, they demanded that the Dimera's keep their promise as before, but the Dimera's could not pass up the prospect of their son inheriting another title from the new alliance through the well-known and powerful Gardinyere's. As you can imagine the new marriage went through and the Vadici's held true to their belief that it was invalid due to certain promises before God between the two families. In the Dimera's heir wed the eldest daughter of the Gardinyere's and have held ties to each other since that union. Unbeknownst to the Dimera's the Vadici's have plotted their downfall since that betrayal and had it all come to a head nearly a millennia later. Though it may sound petty, but when vengeance is passed down through generations its seeds grow into vines that wrap themselves around the minds of the descendants in that very family, and in this case results in a case of a stolen identity.
EJ: Ok enough my children do not need this stress, so if you would all sit and listen I will start from the beginning.
Flashback….
Sami: Lucas no I can explain!
Lucas: No Sami! You're in bed with him that explains enough!
Lucas walks out of her room. Sami runs into the bathroom for her robe in order to run after Lucas. EJ is in shock that she has run from their bed after they'd just made love and in aggravation he throws a pillow at the door. He lays in bed thinking could this night be any more ruined? He then decided to go and shower in his bedroom. He pulls back the sheet and goes to put on his sweat pants and when he goes to stand he feels a prick in the back of his neck. He goes to inspect but before he could he feels woozy and disoriented and decides he needs to lie down so that he could regain his balance. As soon as he hits the bed he is out like a light. He then wakes and realizes that he is moving but not of his own accord, but in some van of some sort, and then he fades back to unconsciousness. When he awakes fully he is in an all-white room with no windows and seems to have no doors. He is wearing all white from the jumpsuit to his undershirt to his boxers and shoes. The room is immaculate, and has white shinny tiled floors. Just then he hears a voice coming from the corner of his prison.
Computer animated voice (CAV): Elvis do you know why you are here, and what trespasses your family has made towards us?
EJ stays silent as not wanting to give into the maniac, and thinks back to the scare tactics he and his father have used on their enemies and knew that if he gave an inch then they would demand a mile, so he knew that they would most likely do harm to him if he did not comply.
EJ: NO, I do not.
CAV: Oh? No you say, well I am sure with the vile things your father Stefano has done you wouldn't know where to begin, huh? I guess we were written out of the family history, as we were left aside for greener pastures or maybe you are lying to me. Maybe all you need is a little silence and some rest to help you with your memory.
After he spoke his last words a vent opened and white smoke came whirling into the room and EJ tried to hold his breath but realized it was futile, as was resistance. He tried to cover his nose with his sleeve but to no avail the smoke took him to his dreamless slumber. As he drifted off he could hear the voice say.
CAV: You refused us your heir before and now we take him by force.
End Flashback:
Stefano: My son I cannot imagine what you must have endured?
The door bursts open and in walks the street walker, oops I mean the Walker sisters, (giggle). Everyone is looking like who the hell invited you two. Nicole runs to EJ with her arms out expected them to be welcomed.
Nicole: EJ I just heard oh my GOD! I am so happy you're alive!
He dodges her hug, as he is still sitting with his kids and Sami, who is looking at Nicole with daggers in her eyes.
EJ: Who told you to come Nicole? I am no longer your council, and if you haven't noticed since the other guy wasn't me we were never married and never had any children together and as far as I am concerned we are to each other as we were before I was taken; associates if not less.
She looks hurt but Sami is smiling a smile as warm as the sun.
Sami: Yeah Nicole you and your trashy sister need to leave. I don't remember EJ asking you to attend this telling Taylor when he last saw you.
Taylor: I don't care what you think Sami! I wanted to get to know the real EJ and it is his decision-
EJ: Let me stop you right there Miss Walker. I do not want a relationship with you in any form or fashion. Not as friends or anything more. Are we clear?
Taylor: But you haven't even gotten to know me yet EJ?
EJ: Yes well I know I value loyalty. How long did it take for you and my doppelganger to start rolling in the hay after he remarried your sister?
She looks shocked and shamed and looks at Nicole and then him and then sees everyone's looks of distain.
Taylor: I…. Uhh..
She flees from the room and the room sobbing her shame.
EJ: That's what I thought no loyalty. As for you Nicole I would never want anything to do with the woman that took my daughter from her mother, so you might want to follow your sister right out of the door, and oh Nicole since we were never married I'll be sending you a bill to repay me for all that alimony and your cards that say Dimera will need to be changed immediately as well as your last name. If you prefer I can get the ball rolling in court or you can do it quickly yourself. Now if will excuse me I was telling my family what I endured, that means not you.
She too cannot handle the shame of her actions and is upset over never having been a Dimera and now she has to pay him back all that money. She flees the house sobbing.
Stefano: My son you do know you will never see one dime of that money back, don't you.
EJ: I care nothing of the money, which I will let her know only after she changes her name and has everything that has Dimera stamped on it taken from her as she never was one in the first place.
Rafe: You get your kicks being that cruel to a defenseless woman, Dimera, that's sick!
EJ: Listen Mr. Hernandez, you and I have never truly met. Who you were dealing with was some watered down version of me, so I would take care in giving your opinion to a virtual stranger. I am the real EJ Dimera and if you can all recall what that means then maybe one of you should inform him as soon as possible, hmm?
Everyone looks at each other remembering how he was before he was abducted and before he turned a new leaf. Then someone decided to let him know.
Phillip: Look Rafe you seem like a nice guy, but I know EJ and now that I think about it we all should have noticed something was off because EJ, though it begrudges me to say, is not one to take lightly your 'kind' words. So if I were you I would keep shut.
Rafe: I don't care if you're not the guy I've been dealing with it doesn't erase what you where that and what you did before they took you away and I say good riddance!
EJ just looked at him decided why not burst his bubble a bit.
EJ: You do realize that since I wasn't here that I never signed any annulment papers, and that your marriage to MY WIFE is null and void, don't you Mr. Hernandez?
Rafe looked fit to blow and as red as the ass of a red assed baboon, when EJ finished his sentence and Sami didn't protest but backed him up.
Sami: So we are still married? I was wondering since you weren't here. What does this mean for us? Oh and Rafe I'm sorry but this changes everything.
Rafe: You know I don't care good riddance to you! You have been nothing but trouble to and for me since I met you, I was only staying with you to make EJ mad so I could catch him in something, and we almost did but then the real one had to show up and ruin it all. I'm outta here, your never gonna see my face again! Let's go Gabi!
Gabi gets up and they leave EJ's home never to be seen again.
Viktor: Good riddance to that dolt, I never liked him. Always thought you could do better Sami.
Sami: Thank you Viktor.
EJ: Samantha you and I will talk later, but just to let you know I want my family under my roof and I want it to become our roof as soon as possible, hmm?
Sami: Yes EJ, I know.
They gaze at each other and then someone gets a little impatient.
Tony: Ok love birds let's get a move on so I can make a move on my lovely wife, eh?
The story will begin, and then nothing will be the same….
Chapter 3: The Past Truths Part 2
The New Dimera Mansion
Gather around for a tale so based in reality that it could almost be fiction. A life taken away, though not in death, no, but worse, to a new life not of his choosing.
EJ will fight to get back to his family and can only pray to GOD that no one is foolish enough to come to his rescue and get themselves killed in the process. He will endure this hell if only to keep his family safe and will fight to get back to his babies and though she may not want him, his wayward wife.
Present day:
EJ: When I woke up after my 'nap' that was administered by the lunatics that had abducted me I was taken to another room but this room was all red though, and shiny like the white room. They strapped me in a chair and then left me alone in the room for… I have no clue how long and then the same voice came on….
Flashback:
CAV: Elvis have you remembered yet?
EJ: No, I have no clue what my family did to yours, but as you know we have done much to harm others so forgive me if I am not as quick as you would wish me to be.
CAV: Well then let me tell you. The year was 1368-
EJ: Are you serious!? You have taken me from my home for something that was done over half a millennia ago! That's crazy! You're worse than my father for keeping his vendetta going towards the Brady's for almost half a century!
CAV: I didn't say you would agree or like what I would be telling you so just sit back and enjoy the story ELVIS! Ahem, now where was I? Oh yes the year was 1368…..
The times were different then. Marriage was not just about the love and happiness of the two marrying, but of the happiness of the two families that would be combined by the marriage. My family the Vadici's had grown up right beside the Dimera's but were always made to feel the lesser family. When the prospect of a marriage between the two came up my family jumped at the possibility that we would rise and be made stronger by the union. The eldest daughter Anna Maria Vadici was most excited to do her duty for us and to become a strong Dimera wife. She and the Dimera heir apparent Alessandro Alfieri Dimera where both very eager to be married soon, for they had known one another since child hood and was said to have fancied each other. Though it was known that Alessandro had a wandering eye he would have made a great companion for Anna. The days were getting shorter and the marriage was at hand when the Vadici's where summoned to the Dimera estate on urgent issue. When they arrived they sat down with Affonso Agostino Dimera the head and senior of the house Dimera. As soon as my family arrived they began to placate us. Telling us that it was unfortunate but was necessary for the proposed marriage between Anna and Alessandro has to me terminated but then offered the lesser marriage of his second son Amedeo Angelo Dimera who was two years younger than his older brother and less accomplished. As you can guess my family where outraged and demanded the first sought marriage and immediately refused the second offer, but it was no use it was done. On the same day Anna was to become a Dimera Victoria Marie Gardinyere married Alessandro Alfieri Dimera and then a month later Amedeo married Victoria's cousin Elise Clara Gardinyere and the prospect of marriage between the Vadici's and the Dimera's where dead and never to be brought back to life again.
CAV: Now you see why you are here after that Anna wasted herself away and never was able to marry after the Dimera's crossed us. So now what they did not want us to have we have taken; the Dimera heir.
EndFlashback:
EJ: Father Do you know of the Vadici's?
Everyone looked in Stefano's direction and wondered the same.
Stefano: Yes my son I know them and to come after us after so long I am almost impressed with their persistence. As Kaitan knows, since she is a Gardinyere that tie brought us further into the powerful of Europe and could not be passed up and my ancestor worked diligently to acquire Victoria's hand for Alessandro. You and I would not be here if it were not for that marriage. The Dimera's would have survived no doubt, but we would not be as powerful as we became with it. I am sorry my son that you were the victim in their plot for revenge. Do not worry they will be dealt with.
Kai: No need Uncle they already have been.
Everyone now looks to her and wonders who she is and what she may be involved in as she tells them what she went through to save her family.
Chapter 3: The Past Truths Part 3
The New Dimera Mansion
All eyes are on Kai as she tells Stefano and the rest that she and her family had taken care of the Vadici's.
Stefano: Pray tell of how you did this, hmm?
Kai: Firstly as none of you know me let me introduce myself to you. I am Kaitan Sole Gardinyere. EJ and I have known each other since we were children and are family. We do not tell many people of our ties because we know that though both of our last names in the light of the day such as in business is well known and respected for its success, we also know that in the dark of night that a Dimera and a Gardinyere can easily be a target for anger and jealousy. We do not flaunt our ties to keep one another safe, but we have always been very close family like brother and sister. Which brings me to how I came to sit in your fine company this evening.
Sami: You rescued EJ?
Kai: Something like that. I have to go back to the beginning of this debacle. You see EJ and I, after he moved to this town, had no physical contact with one another but we did remain in contact with each other. So it came as a shock to me that someone who I talked to on a daily basis whether through call, text, or email, we made sure the other were alive didn't contact me for some time. EJ is the only brother I have ever had and having known him so long we are just that close.
Phillip: Why don't you and I get close sometime Kai?
Kai: Yeah…. No. Like I was saying when I didn't hear from him for a week and couldn't get through to him I knew something was wrong. So I used some resources that shall remain nameless tonight. And what I found out disturbed me.
John: What did you find out? And I guess you and I are related as well.
Kai: I know but you go by the surname Black. Nice to meet you. Please allow me to continue. After a 2 weeks of nothing but voicemail and failed contact I got worried and I knew at the moment I couldn't contact his father because he was out of the picture. Sorry Uncle if that was harsh.
Stefano: No harm done Kaitan.
Kai: I wanted to go to my grandfather and have him handle it but something told me to do it on my own. So my first step was to have his finances checked to see if any discrepancies popped up. Like large sums of money being moved from his trusts or his personal spending accounts.
Sami: At the time he was working from the bottom to get back on his feet after Stefano disowned him so I doubt any large sums were being moved.
EJ: Samantha…
Kai: I have no clue what you are talking about Sami. EJ has accounts scattered all around the world just like most wealthy do to insure that all is good in case of emergency, and even if he had lost everything all he would have had to do was ask for his Gardinyere trust and he never asked for it.
Sami: You made it seem like you were broke! Why?
EJ: Because I wanted to prove to the woman I loved more than my own life that I could provide for her and our family without the silver spoon she always said I had in my mouth.
Sami just looks at him thinking, "H did all that for me and our kids! Oh I love him!"
Sami: I love you and thank you.
EJ looks at her shocked and kisses her passionately and thoroughly.
Kai: I hate to burst you bubble but can I get through with my part of the story please so you two can get a room?
EJ and Sami just smile at her and she smirks at them and begins again.
Kai: I didn't notice anything at all and that was the tell that something was off, because he and I we share a paranoia trait about finances. His was instilled in him by his father and mine through my grandfather.
Marlena: What do mean Kai?
Kai: My grandfather told me when I was young to never trust anyone completely when it came to our finances and intern made me get a degree in business and finance. Why that matters is we, meaning EJ, my family and I always move our money around every three days to insure of its safety. So when I saw that after three weeks he hadn't called in to check with his accountants or to me to make sure I had done the same I knew something was off.
Brady: Why would he call to check if you did it?
Kai: Like I said he's my brother and is just looking out for me and thinks that I am under his protection, haha.
EJ: It's not like I don't think you capable but I just want to make sure my little cousin is doing what she needs to be doing.
Kai: Yeah your little cousin that runs a billion dollar family company and her own and has been quite successful dare I say, hahaha.
EJ: Touché!
Kai: After that red flag came up I knew something was off so I decided that if I couldn't see him personally then I would get someone to get to him and see if he was alright. I knew it would have to be someone we both knew and when my second head of security went to Salem to check on him and "EJ" had not recognized him my man contacted me and told me that there was something wrong and off about EJ and when he looked at him there was something in his eyes that were off. I asked what and in return he sent me photos of him and to the untrained eye he looked the same but something just wasn't right. So I told my man to get a DNA sample any way he could because that man was not my cousin. He did and that was my confirmation. At the time we had no knowledge of the Vadici's involvement, hell I didn't even know they existed!
Kate: How did you find him and how long did it take?
Kai: That was the very tricky part. Because after it was confirmed that that EJ had been replaced by an imposter I just wanted to snap up the dude and go all medieval torcher chamber on his ass, but I was talked out of that by my trusty head of security. So the next best thing was to research what my cousin had been up to and any movement that was unusual from the night he disappeared and that was easy to pinpoint because it was the last day he contacted me. I called in some favors and was able to attain the security footage of from the Dimera Mansion and found what I was looking for and the key to get it back.
Will: What did you find?
EJ: Me.
Everyone turns and looks at EJ, wondering what will come next.