Bloodlines
Part Five
The door stood ajar as always. Ever since childhood, Andresj' had slept with the door slightly opened. At the time, Stefan suspected it was his unconscious desire to reassure himself that he was not cut off from his new family. Over time it had just become habit.
The room was dark, except for the moonlight which streamed in through the bay windows and illuminated the large bed. Andresj' slept curled up in a ball, too tired to retrieve the covers he had kicked off during the night. Stefan picked them up and placed them over his sleeping son's form. A rush of protectiveness surged through him as he looked down upon the face of the child he had long come to consider his own.
Careful not to awaken Andresj', Stefan sat on the edge of the bed and watched him sleep. Though nearly seventeen and a man, Stefan still saw the little boy who had won a place in his heart.
The past week had been an emotional drain on them all, especially Andresj'. It was hard to believe things had changed so over just a week or two; a lifetime since Andresj's trip to the mall.
-flashback-
"My presence is required at the hospital. I shall be home in time for supper."
"While you're at the hospital, I thought 'Dre and I could go to the mall. I want to pick out a gift for Lulu," Nikolas told his father.
"You don't have to pretend, Nik. I know that you're really going to pick out a gift for my birthday," Andresj' stated. He turned toward his father. "Maybe you should tell Nik what you got me, Papa. That way he won't get me the same thing."
"I already know what Father got you. And it is completely different from my gift," Nikolas said.
"That was a tactical error, Nikolas," Stefan said wryly. "Your brother will no doubt seek to ascertain the nature of his gift through endless questions. I do not envy you."
"I can handle him. It is just a matter of distracting him with something else," Nikolas explained.
"Hello? I am still in the room, you know!" Andresj' said indignantly. Upon seeing the expressions on Nikolas' and Stefan's faces, he realized he was being teased. "Okay, you got me that time."
********************
Wyndemere slowly faded into the background as the launch moved steadily toward the docks. "I am glad you and Nikolas already have my gifts," Andresj' said innocently. "You must have gotten them here in Port Charles."
"I had no problem getting your gift," Nikolas replied, "but Father,-"
"Nikolas," Stefan warned, "you will ruin the surprise for your brother."
"No, he won't, Papa! What did you get me?"
Nikolas burst into laughter. "If could just see your face now, 'Dre . . . There is no way you are going to make it until your birthday."
"That was cruel. Just cruel."
*********************
The two brothers Cassadine stood in the food court of the mall, oblivious to the stares of the people going by. Several of them slowed as they passed, attempting to determine just who the two young men could be. The cold stares of the watchful bodyguards quickly sent them on their way, still wondering.
"Do you need me, Nik?"
"Not really. Do you have something else to do?" Nikolas asked his brother.
"Yeah." A sly smile appeared on Andresj's face. "I'll just meet you back here in a little while."
"I don't like the sound of that. Where are you going?"
"Now who sounds like Papa? You go find Lulu's present. I'll just be a little while."
********************
Two hours later . . .
"There will be hell to pay," one bodyguard declared to the other as Andresj' approached. "Absolute hell."
*********************
The limousine idled near the hospital's garage exit. Stefan had informed the driver that he would be there promptly at six. The bodyguards nervously checked their watches, counting the seconds before Stefan would appear.
The garage elevator opened and the driver slowly opened the car door for Stefan to enter.
"Ah, on time!" he said as he climbed into the limousine. "I trust you found-"
The remainder of Stefan's statement was cut off abruptly as he stared in shock across the vehicle. Not one, but two gold rings pierced his younger son's eyebrow. A third ring adorned his left nostril.
"What do you think, Papa?" Andresj' asked curiously, angling his head to allow Stefan a better view. "I had it done at the mall."
Foregoing a response, Stefan turned toward Nikolas and asked, "Did you know that this would take place when you helped arrange this outing?"
"Oh, no, Father! I had no hand in this." Nikolas' response left no doubt that Andresj' would face the repercussions of his actions all alone.
"It's not that big a deal, Papa. Lots of kids today have them," Andresj' insisted.
Stefan's anger was almost a physical thing. "You are not one of those 'kids'. You are a Cassadine, and my son."
Andresj' was unmoved. "So you're saying that you don't like my rings."
At that moment, Nikolas coughed and turned his head toward the window. But not before Stefan saw the smile he struggled to hide.
"You find humor in this situation?" he asked Nikolas incredulously.
"He's supposed to, Papa. It's a joke. Look."
Andresj' reached up and removed the two rings from his eyebrow. These were followed by the ring in his nose. "They're squeeze-ons. I didn't really have anything pierced . . . It was just a joke."
"I told you he wouldn't find it funny," Nikolas muttered under his breath.
"You should have heeded Nikolas' advice. I am finding it difficult to understand the humor of your 'joke'. Perhaps an extensive report on the history of body piercing might give me a better understanding."
This time Nikolas made no effort to disguise his smile. Stefan had quickly managed to turn the tables on Andresj', and just like that, the joke was on him.
********************
Stefan allowed himself a smile at the memory. He took great pleasure in his son's affectionate nature - so unlike his or Nikolas'. Andresj' wasn't afraid to make Stefan the object of his practical jokes. It was, he supposed, the greatest proof that Andresj' had fully accepted that he was truly and forever a part of the Cassadine family.
How had something so good come of such a bad beginning? Stefan had often thought of beginning that day again, of making different choices, only to be brought up short by the realization that to do so would cost him Andresj'.
His silent deliberation was interrupted as Andresj' changed position on the bed, only to change again seconds later. Stefan looked on his son with growing anger. 'Even in sleep you are not at peace. Damn Luke Spencer!' he thought. Softly he whispered a promise to the sleeping boy, "Do not worry. I will do whatever I must to make your life right again."
Bloodlines
Part Six
The room was silent, so silent that the very breath she exhaled seemed magnified tenfold. A silken black mask covered her eyes and allowed no light inside. Others might have been intimidated by the lack of sensory information, but she was not. Face-down on the table she rested, unclad except for a white towel draped across her hips.
Into the quiet another came. Silently he began to massage her exposed skin. It was slightly cool to the touch, but supple; kept that way by willing young men and the best treatment money could buy. He placed his hands around her neck, squeezing slightly to gain her attention. Kneading slowly and meticulously, he began working his way down her torso. He applied extra pressure to a spot just below her left shoulder blade, causing her to utter a muffled grunt of pain.
"So you received my little package. You're welcome," she remarked aloud as though he had voiced a comment.
Almost immediately, pressure was applied to an identical spot under her right shoulder blade. This time she was prepared and did not voice her discomfort, but instead commented, "Why did I help you? My reasons are my own, darling. Don't worry, I know exactly where you and I stand."
After a momentary pause, his large, rough hands continued their silent journey down her back, manipulating and soothing the bare flesh. Gently, almost lovingly, he applied oil warmed by his hands onto her lower back. Slow, circular motions massaged the oil into the still cool flesh. Lower and lower he traveled, until he reached the towel-covered flesh.
She tensed in anticipation of his next move. After several seconds, she realized he was no longer in the room. He'd departed as quietly as he had entered. "Damn you!" Helena cursed.
********************
The familiar handwriting jumped out at her from the envelope's surface, and she felt a moment's confusion. This couldn't be possible, unless everything she had been told was a lie.
With trembling fingers she tore open the large, brown envelope and removed the bundle of letters it held. For several long moments Diane simply held the stack of missives, smoothing their edges nervously. Finally she straightened her shoulders and began to read the one on top.
My dearest friend,
I wish that I could be with you when you receive these letters.
Each one was written with a mental image of your beautiful face
smiling at me. I have missed you so these past years. And I only
have myself to blame for the time and distance between us. I thought
that I could run from all the pain I was feeling, escape from all
the memories that just seemed to batter me. In the process I almost
sacrificed a friendship that meant the world to me. I say 'almost'
because I am filled with the hope that you will forgive me . . .
********************
"Oh, man! That smile means trouble," Sonny Corinthos quipped. The elegant mobster walked out of the club's back room, dimpled smile in place. "Who or what is it this time?"
"I'll give you three guesses, and they all contain the name Cassadine. Man, I tell you, I could spend my days just messing with Stefan's mind." Luke paused in the act of pouring himself a drink. "Oh, that's right. I already do."
"What's going on? Is he putting the moves on Laura?"
"No. Vlad's too subtle for that. But I want to send him a message and let him know that I am still watching out for Laura and Lulu. And you and I both know that the best way to get a man's attention is-"
"To mess with his family. So, let's see . . . Stefan would probably be happy if you whacked Helena. And Alexis can take care of herself. You don't want to push Laura toward Stefan, so that eliminates Nikolas. All that leaves is his other kid."
"The man wins himself a drink." Luke poured scotch into a glass and slid it across the bar to Sonny.
"How are you going to use the kid? What's his name, anyway?" Sonny asked.
"All I remember is Andresj'. There's another mouthful of names after that one, but who cares? Calling him 'boy' irritates him just fine."
Sonny laughed. "Luke, you are a piece of work. I almost feel sorry for the kid."
"Yeah, well, I've got nothing against the kid. But if finding out the truth about Cassadine sends him running while he can, so be it. And I've got a nice little Cassadine family secret that's guaranteed to shake things up."
"You've been digging around again?" Sonny asked.
"No, my man. Let's just say an old birdie told me."
********************
Letter after letter, Diane read until there was barely enough light in the room to see.
. . . and met a wonderful man. He is caring and intelligent and so
patient. I think I could easily fall in love with him - if I believed
in love anymore . But I will never give anyone that kind of power to
hurt me again. I can see you shaking your head at me. I know how you
feel when I say things like that, but it is how I feel. It is how I
have felt since the day my . . .
. . . Piotr has been a godsend. No matter how many times I have tried
to drive him away, he is always there for me. I know that I only have
to ask for something and he will see to it that it is provided. I
would never tell him so, but I feel secure knowing that he is there.
It is nice to have someone look after me the way he does. Especially
now . . .
. . . so amazing that what I first thought of as a curse has turned
out to be the most wonderful thing to happen to me. The thought of
anyone depending on me the way I depended on them terrified me. But
now I am full of hope for this child who has made me welcome each new
day.
. . . the newest addition to my family is just beautiful. He is named
Andresj' and he was born three weeks ago today. Piotr was at my side
when I needed him, as always, and did not complain when I nearly
crushed his hand from the labor pains. While in the middle of a
contraction I am afraid I also said something very unflattering about
his family tree, but he understood and simply chose to ignore my
comment . . .
There were sixteen letters in all; some dated just weeks apart, others separated by months. Reading the first fourteen was such a comfort. Knowing that her best friend had finally found happiness brought Diane great joy. The last two letters, however, held ominous overtones that frightened her even after all the time that had passed. Passages from the two letters replayed in Diane's mind like lyrics from a scratched recording.
. . . I have begun to be frightened - for myself and Andresj'.
And Piotr as well. Yesterday, I told him that I felt as though we
were being watched. I wanted him to scoff or tease me for having
too vivid an imagination. But he did nothing to dismiss my fears.
Instead . . . today Piotr suggested that he take all the letters I
have written to you so far and make sure that they are in a safe place.
If something should happen to either of us, he thinks it is important
that you get them. I am afraid . . . Who will care for Andresj' if
Piotr and I are gone? There is someone, but it is impossible. I
cannot send my child into the very danger I am trying to protect him
from . . .
Dearest friend,
It saddens me that you are reading this. It means that I am gone from
you and all those I have come to hold dear. Diane, if I am truly gone,
and Piotr is gone, then I pray with all my soul that Andresj' still
lives. Promise me that you will look for him, wherever and for however
long it might take. Make him yours and raise him with all the love you
once showed me . . . I am not so afraid anymore. Just knowing that you
will be Andresj's guardian angel has given me some peace of mind . . .
You will always be my best friend.
Love, A