Chapter 22
Luke looked at Sean, Robert, and Anna. They weren't lying. "Why?"
"He helped us, we helped him."
"How?"
"Twenty-two years ago, when I first started looking for the Ice Princess, I got a mysterious phone call. The caller said that he had what I wanted and that he would give it to me if I granted him and one of his brothers immunity for what the other was planning." Robert sighed. "We made everyone believe that the weather machine was Mikkos' idea, it wasn't. Tony built it. Freezing the world was Tony's idea."
~~~
"Cassadine?" Liz asked.
"Yeah," Sarah answered. "It's a long story. Something that I might tell you later if I come back."
"Come back from where?"
"Wherever Aiden, our daughter and I end up after this whole thing is over."
"Who's the guy upstairs?" Gia asked.
"That was Mikkos Cassadine, Alexis's father and Aiden's grandfather."
~~~
Stefan didn't bother to stand but motioned for his uncle to sit. "I assume from your distracted demeanor that you know about Zander and Jordan?"
Stefan looked up. "And I assume that you know where they are."
"I know everything, at least I thought I knew everything."
"What happened?"
"Your half-brother is James Lieman."
~~~
"So you lied to everyone back then?" Luke accused Robert.
"I was ordered to," Robert said. "It was in everyone's best interests that the world thought Mikkos wanted to take over. Very few people knew the truth."
"Like who?"
Anna sighed. "I did, Stefan did, and a few others. Not many could know. Helena and Stavros would've used it to their advantage, using Tony's kids. We couldn't let that happen."
"So you faked their deaths?" Luke asked.
"Yes, and we've provided protection for them, but it seems that our guards are working for the enemy," Sean said.
~~~
Frisco watched around him as Zander and Jordan expertly secured the safe house. He didn't need to help them instead, his job was to wait for Mikkos and Sarah. When they got there the three of them would go to the island and find a way to get Aiden and Sabrina off. Frisco was going over the blueprints of the house trying to find the easiest way in and out. He figured that it would be easy to get in and out through the hidden passages. He just hoped that Lieman didn't know about them.
~~~
"What?" Stefan asked.
"Sarah put it together a few weeks ago. Donnelly just did. As far as we can tell, Lieman is also the director of the WSB."
"And Donnelly sent the WSB down to the island."
"He's there now."
"So how do we protect them Victor?"
~~~
Sonny hung up the phone angrily as Benny walked into the office. "Sonny, we have a problem."
"With what?"
"The shipments to South America."
"How so?"
"They're disappearing."
Sonny gave him an odd look. "How?"
"We think that Danielle Cortez has something to do with it."
"Danielle Cortez? Antonio's wife?"
"Yes. She's begun to get quite a reputation. She is supplying guns and ammo. She doesn't run any drugs. She owns four legitimate businesses. She's involved in blackmail and extortion."
"Anything else?"
"Not that we've found."
"What are her legit businesses?"
"She has a chain of nightclubs in Paris and here in the states, she owns a private school in New York where she sent her three children, she owns a PI business out of Australia, and a chain of restaurants here in the states."
"See what else you can find out about her." Benny nodded and left the office. Sonny sighed. This was all he needed.
~~~
"What?" Gia asked.
"His name is Mikkos," Sarah said. "Mikkos Cassadine."
"He's supposed to be dead," Liz said.
"So is half the town."
"He tried to freeze the town."
"Actually that was his younger brother," Sarah said. "Look, I can't explain everything right now. What you two need to do though is find Nikolas and Lucky, they need you right now."
"Why?"
"Lisa Marie is alive, but in hiding, they just found out. Go to them, but don't tell them about me or Mikkos."
~~~
Danielle Cortez threw the glass she had been drinking out of against the wall just as her son walked in.
"I didn't know you hated the decor that much, Mother," he said.
"Is there something you need Isaiah?"
Isaiah sighed. "Avery called. She wants to go to Port Charles."
"Why?"
"She wouldn't say."
"Where was she when she called?"
"New York."
"And where is Maria?"
"In Port Charles."
"Tell her that she can go," Danielle said with a sigh as her private phone rang. "And tell Gino to come in here." Isaiah nodded and left his mother to her own doings. He hated her life and he hated her.
Danielle answered the phone. "Is something wrong?"
~~~
Isaiah walked into his room after calling his older sister. Something big was about to happen, he could feel it. Whatever it was it had to do with his mother's business. He pretended that he didn't know what was going on, and she pretended he didn't know. It was a circle. Ever since his father's death she had taken over the business.
He hated it and he hated her because of it. He picked up his cell phone, thinking that maybe a talk with his sister would calm his nerves. He was about to dial the number when he felt the cold, distinctive feeling of a gun being pressed to the back of his neck.
~~~
"Possibly," the voice on the other end of the line said. Danielle stiffened.
"What is it Mikkos?"
"Helena."
"What has she done this time?"
"It's a long story. Where are the children?"
"Isaiah's here, Avery and Maria are in Port Charles."
"I'll have someone look for them. Danielle, I need your help."
"Anything Mikkos."
"Your best men need to go to the island. Aiden and Sabrina are there. So is James Lieman."
"I'll have Gino get a team together."
"The WSB is there. Lieman is the Director."
"That's just great," she said. "I'll get Isaiah and we'll come to Port Charles to help."
"Does he know?"
"No. Mikkos, Helena is trying to start a war here."
"How so?"
"She's having her people steal Corinthos' shipments and trying to pin it on me."
"What are the shipments?"
"Guns and ammunitions."
"She's preparing for war."
"That was my thought. We'll be there soon." She hung up and turned to her right hand. "Get a team ready. Our best men. They are to go to my stepfather's island. Aiden and Sabrina Cassadine are being held prisoner there. When they are found, I want them brought to Port Charles where Isaiah and I will be going."
She stood up and walked out of her office.
~~~
Luke walked into Laura's room. She was sleeping peacefully. He smiled. So much had happened in the past few days that most of it was hard to believe. He couldn't believe that his daughter, his Starshine was actually alive. And so was Mikkos Cassadine. And Robert had known about it the entire time.
Luke sighed and sat down next to the bed. He would have to work with his worst enemy to kill his other worst enemy.
~~~
Danielle walked into her son's room and stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing Helena Cascading holding a gun to Isaiah's head.
"Damn you Helena," she said coldly.
"Such language, Danielle."
"Why are you here?"
I came to see my grandson. Is that such a crime?"
"For you, yes."
Helena smiled. "Do zvidaniya, my daughter. I hope you and my husband have fun because you will never win."
She pushed Isaiah away from her and disappeared into the secret passage. Danielle caught her son before he fell and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Was she here when you walked in?" He nodded. She sighed. "We're going to Port Charles. When we meet up with Avery and Maria I'll explain everything, I promise. But right now, we need to go."
~~~
Jason Morgan sat in a motel room holding a picture of Robin. Sonny had called and told him what was going on. He was going home.
~~~
Avery Cortez walked into the small diner on the docks; Kelly's. She didn't like Port Charles already but this little place looked promising. She sat down at the counter and looked at the menu and sighed, There wasn't anything that even remotely sounded good. She settled for coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. As she nibbled on the muffin she looked around. She wondered where her sister was. She was thinking the Port Charles Hotel so she hacked into their mainframe and found that her sister wasn't staying there.
Now Avery was at a loss. She didn't know where else her sister could be staying. She ran her hand through her dark brown hair and turned to the door. Maybe her sister would just walk in.
Seconds later, she did.
Maria moved with the grace of a cat. Her uncle had told her that with a little training she would make the perfect spy. At first it had been just something he'd typed in an encrypted message. They both knew that her mother would throw a fit if she found out that they were talking.
But the more Maria thought about it, the more it appealed to her. She'd be able to move around, put some of her skills to good use. So when she had left home, she went straight for her uncle's safe house. That was four years ago.
Now, she was a fully trained, highly lethal agent for the WSB. No one in her family knew, not her mother, brother, or sister, and she wanted to keep it that way, so when she saw Avery sitting at the counter she put on the happiest face she could manage and sat down beside her.
~~~
Robert Scorpio sighed. He had a lot of work to do and none of it was going to be easy. He was about to start looking for Helena when the room phone rang. He answered it.
"Hello."
"Hello, Robert," came the soft feminine voice. Robert sighed.
"Danielle, is there something you need, or have you just called to harass me?"
"Oh, does big brother not want me to call?" Danielle asked innocently.
"Are you drunk?"
"Possibly."
"You are, I can hear it in your voice."
"Go to hell, Robert. I know what you've done."
"And what would that be?"
"You took Maria from me. You made her into one of you."
"At least she's not like you or worse, like your mother." Danielle was silent. He'd hit a nerve with that statement, he knew. Robert sighed. "Danielle, Sydney is safe here. Helena can't get to her. She knows how to defend herself."
"I just called to let you know that I'm coming to Port Charles. If I see you, I will kill you."
"Good-bye Danielle."
She hung up. He smiled.
~~~
Gia found Nikolas in the park.
"Hey," Gia said. "How are you doing?"
Nikolas looked at her, stood up, and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm glad you're here."
~~~
Liz found Lucky at Kelly's. He was sitting at the counter drinking coffee as she walked up and sat beside him.
"I know about Lisa Marie."
"How'd you find out?" he asked.
"I have my ways. You should be glad that she is alive, that Helena hasn't won yet."
"I just don't understand why they did it."
"Only your parents can answer that question."
"Like they would."
"Have you asked?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
~~~
"Why are you here?" Maria asked.
"I could ask you the same question," Avery said. "Where have you been for the past four years?"
"Around."
"Right," Avery said accusingly.
"What's with the attitude?"
"I've been looking for you for a year. It's like you dropped off the face of the earth."
"I did, in a sense."
"What does that mean?"
"It's a long story."
"Where have you been staying?"
"Here in town? At the PC Hotel."
"I checked."
"I'm not there under my real name."
"Why not?"
"Because someone in this town is trying to kill me."
Luke looked at Sean, Robert, and Anna. They weren't lying. "Why?"
"He helped us, we helped him."
"How?"
"Twenty-two years ago, when I first started looking for the Ice Princess, I got a mysterious phone call. The caller said that he had what I wanted and that he would give it to me if I granted him and one of his brothers immunity for what the other was planning." Robert sighed. "We made everyone believe that the weather machine was Mikkos' idea, it wasn't. Tony built it. Freezing the world was Tony's idea."
~~~
"Cassadine?" Liz asked.
"Yeah," Sarah answered. "It's a long story. Something that I might tell you later if I come back."
"Come back from where?"
"Wherever Aiden, our daughter and I end up after this whole thing is over."
"Who's the guy upstairs?" Gia asked.
"That was Mikkos Cassadine, Alexis's father and Aiden's grandfather."
~~~
Stefan didn't bother to stand but motioned for his uncle to sit. "I assume from your distracted demeanor that you know about Zander and Jordan?"
Stefan looked up. "And I assume that you know where they are."
"I know everything, at least I thought I knew everything."
"What happened?"
"Your half-brother is James Lieman."
~~~
"So you lied to everyone back then?" Luke accused Robert.
"I was ordered to," Robert said. "It was in everyone's best interests that the world thought Mikkos wanted to take over. Very few people knew the truth."
"Like who?"
Anna sighed. "I did, Stefan did, and a few others. Not many could know. Helena and Stavros would've used it to their advantage, using Tony's kids. We couldn't let that happen."
"So you faked their deaths?" Luke asked.
"Yes, and we've provided protection for them, but it seems that our guards are working for the enemy," Sean said.
~~~
Frisco watched around him as Zander and Jordan expertly secured the safe house. He didn't need to help them instead, his job was to wait for Mikkos and Sarah. When they got there the three of them would go to the island and find a way to get Aiden and Sabrina off. Frisco was going over the blueprints of the house trying to find the easiest way in and out. He figured that it would be easy to get in and out through the hidden passages. He just hoped that Lieman didn't know about them.
~~~
"What?" Stefan asked.
"Sarah put it together a few weeks ago. Donnelly just did. As far as we can tell, Lieman is also the director of the WSB."
"And Donnelly sent the WSB down to the island."
"He's there now."
"So how do we protect them Victor?"
~~~
Sonny hung up the phone angrily as Benny walked into the office. "Sonny, we have a problem."
"With what?"
"The shipments to South America."
"How so?"
"They're disappearing."
Sonny gave him an odd look. "How?"
"We think that Danielle Cortez has something to do with it."
"Danielle Cortez? Antonio's wife?"
"Yes. She's begun to get quite a reputation. She is supplying guns and ammo. She doesn't run any drugs. She owns four legitimate businesses. She's involved in blackmail and extortion."
"Anything else?"
"Not that we've found."
"What are her legit businesses?"
"She has a chain of nightclubs in Paris and here in the states, she owns a private school in New York where she sent her three children, she owns a PI business out of Australia, and a chain of restaurants here in the states."
"See what else you can find out about her." Benny nodded and left the office. Sonny sighed. This was all he needed.
~~~
"What?" Gia asked.
"His name is Mikkos," Sarah said. "Mikkos Cassadine."
"He's supposed to be dead," Liz said.
"So is half the town."
"He tried to freeze the town."
"Actually that was his younger brother," Sarah said. "Look, I can't explain everything right now. What you two need to do though is find Nikolas and Lucky, they need you right now."
"Why?"
"Lisa Marie is alive, but in hiding, they just found out. Go to them, but don't tell them about me or Mikkos."
~~~
Danielle Cortez threw the glass she had been drinking out of against the wall just as her son walked in.
"I didn't know you hated the decor that much, Mother," he said.
"Is there something you need Isaiah?"
Isaiah sighed. "Avery called. She wants to go to Port Charles."
"Why?"
"She wouldn't say."
"Where was she when she called?"
"New York."
"And where is Maria?"
"In Port Charles."
"Tell her that she can go," Danielle said with a sigh as her private phone rang. "And tell Gino to come in here." Isaiah nodded and left his mother to her own doings. He hated her life and he hated her.
Danielle answered the phone. "Is something wrong?"
~~~
Isaiah walked into his room after calling his older sister. Something big was about to happen, he could feel it. Whatever it was it had to do with his mother's business. He pretended that he didn't know what was going on, and she pretended he didn't know. It was a circle. Ever since his father's death she had taken over the business.
He hated it and he hated her because of it. He picked up his cell phone, thinking that maybe a talk with his sister would calm his nerves. He was about to dial the number when he felt the cold, distinctive feeling of a gun being pressed to the back of his neck.
~~~
"Possibly," the voice on the other end of the line said. Danielle stiffened.
"What is it Mikkos?"
"Helena."
"What has she done this time?"
"It's a long story. Where are the children?"
"Isaiah's here, Avery and Maria are in Port Charles."
"I'll have someone look for them. Danielle, I need your help."
"Anything Mikkos."
"Your best men need to go to the island. Aiden and Sabrina are there. So is James Lieman."
"I'll have Gino get a team together."
"The WSB is there. Lieman is the Director."
"That's just great," she said. "I'll get Isaiah and we'll come to Port Charles to help."
"Does he know?"
"No. Mikkos, Helena is trying to start a war here."
"How so?"
"She's having her people steal Corinthos' shipments and trying to pin it on me."
"What are the shipments?"
"Guns and ammunitions."
"She's preparing for war."
"That was my thought. We'll be there soon." She hung up and turned to her right hand. "Get a team ready. Our best men. They are to go to my stepfather's island. Aiden and Sabrina Cassadine are being held prisoner there. When they are found, I want them brought to Port Charles where Isaiah and I will be going."
She stood up and walked out of her office.
~~~
Luke walked into Laura's room. She was sleeping peacefully. He smiled. So much had happened in the past few days that most of it was hard to believe. He couldn't believe that his daughter, his Starshine was actually alive. And so was Mikkos Cassadine. And Robert had known about it the entire time.
Luke sighed and sat down next to the bed. He would have to work with his worst enemy to kill his other worst enemy.
~~~
Danielle walked into her son's room and stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing Helena Cascading holding a gun to Isaiah's head.
"Damn you Helena," she said coldly.
"Such language, Danielle."
"Why are you here?"
I came to see my grandson. Is that such a crime?"
"For you, yes."
Helena smiled. "Do zvidaniya, my daughter. I hope you and my husband have fun because you will never win."
She pushed Isaiah away from her and disappeared into the secret passage. Danielle caught her son before he fell and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Was she here when you walked in?" He nodded. She sighed. "We're going to Port Charles. When we meet up with Avery and Maria I'll explain everything, I promise. But right now, we need to go."
~~~
Jason Morgan sat in a motel room holding a picture of Robin. Sonny had called and told him what was going on. He was going home.
~~~
Avery Cortez walked into the small diner on the docks; Kelly's. She didn't like Port Charles already but this little place looked promising. She sat down at the counter and looked at the menu and sighed, There wasn't anything that even remotely sounded good. She settled for coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. As she nibbled on the muffin she looked around. She wondered where her sister was. She was thinking the Port Charles Hotel so she hacked into their mainframe and found that her sister wasn't staying there.
Now Avery was at a loss. She didn't know where else her sister could be staying. She ran her hand through her dark brown hair and turned to the door. Maybe her sister would just walk in.
Seconds later, she did.
Maria moved with the grace of a cat. Her uncle had told her that with a little training she would make the perfect spy. At first it had been just something he'd typed in an encrypted message. They both knew that her mother would throw a fit if she found out that they were talking.
But the more Maria thought about it, the more it appealed to her. She'd be able to move around, put some of her skills to good use. So when she had left home, she went straight for her uncle's safe house. That was four years ago.
Now, she was a fully trained, highly lethal agent for the WSB. No one in her family knew, not her mother, brother, or sister, and she wanted to keep it that way, so when she saw Avery sitting at the counter she put on the happiest face she could manage and sat down beside her.
~~~
Robert Scorpio sighed. He had a lot of work to do and none of it was going to be easy. He was about to start looking for Helena when the room phone rang. He answered it.
"Hello."
"Hello, Robert," came the soft feminine voice. Robert sighed.
"Danielle, is there something you need, or have you just called to harass me?"
"Oh, does big brother not want me to call?" Danielle asked innocently.
"Are you drunk?"
"Possibly."
"You are, I can hear it in your voice."
"Go to hell, Robert. I know what you've done."
"And what would that be?"
"You took Maria from me. You made her into one of you."
"At least she's not like you or worse, like your mother." Danielle was silent. He'd hit a nerve with that statement, he knew. Robert sighed. "Danielle, Sydney is safe here. Helena can't get to her. She knows how to defend herself."
"I just called to let you know that I'm coming to Port Charles. If I see you, I will kill you."
"Good-bye Danielle."
She hung up. He smiled.
~~~
Gia found Nikolas in the park.
"Hey," Gia said. "How are you doing?"
Nikolas looked at her, stood up, and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm glad you're here."
~~~
Liz found Lucky at Kelly's. He was sitting at the counter drinking coffee as she walked up and sat beside him.
"I know about Lisa Marie."
"How'd you find out?" he asked.
"I have my ways. You should be glad that she is alive, that Helena hasn't won yet."
"I just don't understand why they did it."
"Only your parents can answer that question."
"Like they would."
"Have you asked?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
~~~
"Why are you here?" Maria asked.
"I could ask you the same question," Avery said. "Where have you been for the past four years?"
"Around."
"Right," Avery said accusingly.
"What's with the attitude?"
"I've been looking for you for a year. It's like you dropped off the face of the earth."
"I did, in a sense."
"What does that mean?"
"It's a long story."
"Where have you been staying?"
"Here in town? At the PC Hotel."
"I checked."
"I'm not there under my real name."
"Why not?"
"Because someone in this town is trying to kill me."