Alexis sat pondering the conversation she had with Nikolas. Something was definitely off. He hadn't been himself this week. The more she thought about it that wasn't true. Nikolas hadn't been himself for few years now. Ever since the death of Emily. She wondered was that it. Was he jealous of Sam because she was now engaged for the second time, while he on the other hand had failed relationship after failed relationship. It must be extremely lonely and detrimental to Spencer. She didn't want to think of her nephew as a lost cause, but he wasn't progressing. He was stuck living in a time capsule of pain and misery. Probably reliving every last painful detail of the past few years. Thinking about it like that gave Alexis some insight. Living like that wasn't healthy and could drive anyone a bit insane. Being a Cassadine we all were more easily susceptible to psychotic breaks. Maybe that was it. She decided that night after dinner she would convince him to see Kevin.
"So do you really have to go tonight?" Patrick asked for the tenth time that day. Sam sat on their bed as she slowly put lotion on her legs. She smile at his attempts to persuade her from going and to stay at home with him, but she said, "Yes, Patrick. I really have to go. This is my family and we all promised to come. Its not like this is something new. Plus it's only for a couple of hours. You'll survive." Patrick fell back on to the bed. "You think so? When do you become a doctor, Mrs. Drake?" Patrick said, giving Sam an inquisitive look. Sam slapped his chest causing him to flinch. "The same time you became so melodramatic." Sam joked. She stood and walked to the dresser. Pulling out a black dress. "Ouch. Such harsh words for some of your field. And anyway I would preferred to be called theatrical." Patrick stated, running his hands through his dark hair. Sam looked over her shirt and smiled. "Well okay, Mr. Theatrical." Sam slowly zipped up her dress and grabbed a pair of her black heels to slip her feet in. The outfit was almost complete, she just had to do something with her hair. "What's all this for? You've never dress like this to just go eat dinner with your family before? I mean its fitting seeing as you're literally entering a crypt, but this seems a bit much." Patrick thought for a bit before his eyes widen and he gasped. "You couldn't perhaps be using this weekly family dinner as a way to sneak off and see your boyfriend? Huh?" Sam looked a oblivious as she brushed one side of her hair up and pinned it back. "Of course not. I would never do such a thing. I will be meeting him after." Sam said, putting on mascara. Right as she put it down Patrick grabbed her into his arms. She laughed and he kissed her neck. "He's not sexier than me right?" Patrick said, giving her his best sad face. Sam grabbed his face in between her hands and stared up at him. "Are you kidding me? No one could be sexier than you." Patrick smiled and leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before leaving her to finish up.
Tonight Nikolas gave an order for an all black affair. He wanted to change it up a bit. He was getting tired of the same old same old. The sky was illuminated by a thin crooked line of lightning, followed by a loud boom of thunder. Nikolas stood out on his ledge and looked up at the darken starless sky. It was a bit funny, how the sky reflected his soul. Black and tortured, but that seemed to be the way things were. No one could fix the sky like no one could fix him. Did he want to be fixed though? There was something alluring about the irreparably damage of a Cassadine.
"Are you sure you should be standing out here when it's about rain cats and dogs?" Nikolas jumped at the sound of the voice. His skin, as well as his loins, became hot. Her dark silhouette moved against the night. Her shadow getting to him first. Sam walked further out standing next to him. She looked incredibly sexy. It was unfair how she unknowingly teased him with her beauty and sex appeal. She was innocent in doing so, but nevertheless it was torturous. Her little black dress clung to every inch of her like a well fitted glove. Nikolas couldn't keep his eyes from slipping below her face to her natural bust that she had exposed, but he made sure to remove his eyes and focus back up to the blackened sky. "Cats and dogs, huh? So you think tonight I might be able to get that Doberman? I've always wanted one growing up. Think this might be my chance?" Nikolas joked, which got a laugh out of Sam. Which in turn made his heart pound at the sound. "Fingers crossed. But no I doubt you'll be receiving this life long dream. Sorry Prince, you'll just have to walk into a pet store like the rest of us." Sam said. Nikolas bumped his arm to hers. "Well maybe I'll get lucky and it's hand delivered to me." Nikolas said, as he sneaked glances at Sam, who watched as a crack of lightning whipped across the sky. "Hey, this is what happens when you're a prince. You'll want the world because it's at your fingertips." Unbeknownst to her, she was exactly right. He wanted the world, the moon, the stars, and the whole goddamn ecosystem to call his. But, in all that yearning, craving, he mainly just wanted her. So badly, that sometimes it was insufferable.
Dinner had begun that night with the soft drops of rain pelting the roof and sound of thunder roaring through night somewhere in the distance. No kids were at this dinner tonight, with Spencer at a sleepover and Danny catching a light fever. Nikolas once again sat at the head as Alexis and Molly were to his left, Sam and Kristina to his right. Conversations were light and laughter filled the large dining room. Nikolas was quite enjoying himself tonight. He indulged himself in the red win that was sitting before him, letting it fill him with heat and giving him a bit more nerve. "So Sam have you guys chosen a date yet?" Alexis asked, taking a sip of water. With his delight went the mood. "We haven't really talked about it. I think we just want to live as an engaged couple for as long as we can, before all the stress of planning a wedding happens." Sam said, taking a bite of her roast beef. Conversations of this wedding was becoming a real annoyance. Nikolas tried his best to hide his irritation with that of a confident smile. Sam and her sisters seem to buy it. Alexis, on the other hand, seem a bit more skeptical. Which irritated him more.
Dinner was finished, but the rain hadn't let up. A storm had began just outside and the waves were violently thrashing against the rocks by the shore. They were undoubtedly trapped here, and secretly Nikolas rejoiced. Molly and Kristina decided to traipse the halls of the east wing in search of the study. Molly wanted to get a look at some of the older more dilapidated books, which survived through many decades. Kristina thought it was best they go together, seeing as the house was an enormous labyrinth in itself. Sam left for a second to call Patrick to let him know of the situation, which just left Alexis and Nikolas. Nikolas wasn't thrilled about this pairing, while Alexis felt comfort in it. She knew this was the right time. "I have request for you. It's not to make you upset or anger you. I'm just really worried about you and your health." Alexis said slowly. Trying her best to ease into the subject without causing him to go off the rails like she knew he would. "Well no fear, Alexis, cause I'm fit as a horse." Nikolas said, raising his half empty wine glass. The more he drank the more she was becoming alarmed. The alcohol seemed to be glued to his hand at this point. "I'm not speaking of your physical health. I'm talking about your mental state. I just want you to consider talking to Kevin. I think he might be able to help...with all this anger and resentment you seem to have built up." Alexis said with a sigh. Nikolas burst out into laughter. Alexis was taken aback by this. This wasn't the response she was expecting and didn't know whether he found what she said actually funny, or if he was being hysterical. Either way it wasn't looking good for his case of him being "just fine". "The nerve of you, waltzing into my home and basically calling me crazy. Your feeble attempts to coddle me are ridiculous." Nikolas laughed. Alexis immediately went in the defense. "I'm trying to help you. I can't do that if you're not willing to try. Can't you see I'm concerned about you? Obviously something is wrong. You haven't been right since Sam announced her engagement. Are you jealous?" In that moment Sam entered. She looked from Alexis to Nikolas. Puzzled, worried, and mostly sad. This was all directed towards Nikolas. She hadn't thought much of how Nikolas would reacted. They were always so supportive of one another that she didn't expect anything less from him. "Are you... jealous, Nikolas?" Sam asked. He couldn't possibly think of telling them the truth. His belief of him being as sick and twisted as he saw himself, would all be confirmed. He wasn't ready and neither was Sam...well not yet. In time she would. He was sure of it. "Of course not. Alexis is delusional and going off the word of a overly dramatic Elizabeth. Both you, and Elizabeth, concerns for my mental state is sweet, but completely unnecessary. I'm fine. I don't need to see a therapist." Nikolas insisted. Sam seem to take his words at face value, while Alexis pushed. "Are you sure? Cause you didn't seem fine yesterday. What's the harm in just having a little sit down with Kevin?" Alexis posed. Sam jumped at the sound of the wine glass shattering against the wall. "My God, Alexis! Do you ever give it a fucking rest?! I said I was fine so drop it! And give up any kind of notion that I'm sitting down with that hack Dr. Collins." Nikolas growled. Nikolas jumped up from his seat and grabbed another glass and filled it with more wine. "Don't you think you've had enough?" Alexis stammered, obviously frightened. Nikolas' hand slammed down on the bar. "ENOUGH!" The roar of his voice was countered with the sound of thunder, as well as the double doors to the dining room being thrown opened. Each one of them turned to look as she stepped forward. "Did you think you would throw a party and not invite me?" Helena inquired from the doorway. With her appearance the lights also, and almost instinctively, cut off.
"Great. This night keeps getting better. First my aunt accuses me of a mental breakdown and now Satan himself has crawled out of whatever decrepit coffin he was in to grace us with it's presence. Oh, and the fucking lights went out. Cheers." Nikolas said, downing his wine in one gulp. "Well if I knew my presence was this unwanted and displeasing, I might have chosen to come at a better time." Helena said walking further inside, thankfully with the help of the candelabras that sat around the room already lit. "Ha! That's laughable. You're presence is as welcomed here as a pedophile is at a park." Nikolas refilled his glass. "So why are you here, Helena?" Sam questioned. Helena walked right past her and grabbed a glass herself. "You're one Natasha's bastards. It seems as if anybody can just walk in here now. I remember back when this place had so much class and ambience." Helena said, running her finger along the fireplace. "Anybody, but you. Yet, here you are." Sam retorted. Alexis stood and headed for the doors. "Going already, Natasha. Something I said?" Helena smiled smugly, taking a sip of wine. "Of course not, Helena. It's always an absolute joy to be in your company, but excuse me while I'll go find my other two bastards." Alexis said, giving her a quick smile before replacing it with a scowl. Alexis closed the doors behind her as she disappeared into the darkness. "You really must hate me, to invite such lowly things in our home." Helena said. Sam rolled her eyes. "Grandmother, my hate for you knows no bounds and this is my home. You're just uninvited pest that won't stay gone." Nikolas countered, with his eyes lingering on Sam. "Maybe she'll die. Giving us all the peace we so desperately want." Sam added. Nikolas raised his glass, content at that thought. "Let us hope we are that lucky." Helena didn't take not one insult to heart. She was more so fond of Nikolas' behavior. She could see he was headed down a dark path. She didn't know whether to be elated or jealous she was excluded from it.
After being in a room with Helena for nearly twenty minutes was more than enough for Sam. Thankfully she overheard the bitch say she was just passing through and wouldn't be here long, but thanks to the storm they were all stuck under the same roof as her. Nikolas had drunkenly stumbled off somewhere in search of Alfred. Here Sam was walking down a narrow hall with only a candle to light her way. She didn't know what was scarier, the pitch blackness or the complete and utter silence. She was hoping she would come across, her mom and sisters, but that sadly didn't seem the case. She could be going in the totally opposite direction and wouldn't even know it. Then suddenly a sound of broken glass caught her attention. She swiftly turned to see nothing, but an overwhelming blackness. As much as she hated being that stupid person in a horror film who yelled, "Is anybody there?" She found herself in that exact position. "Is somebody there? Molly? Krissy?" Her mind wondered did she hear a noise at all or was it this damn house playing tricks on her. She sighed and pressed her hand to her face, trying to pull it together. When her candle was blown out. Hands found their way around her waist and mouth, pulling her into a tunnel just off to her left. She was caught off guard and had no time to react. Deeper into nothingness she went without so much as a whisper being able to escape her lips.