Chapter 5
The jig is up for Alicia. Eve discovers that she is not the only 'prisoner'.
When Eve woke up, she slowly sat up and realized she was lying on a leather couch. She jumped up!
The last thing she remembered was sitting in Harmony Park with Evan! He was pointing at something behind her...Lexie, Liz(wearing a God awful shade of blonde that did not match her skin tone!) and...and...a woman that looked like her!
'Eve?'
Eve looked in the direction the voice had come from. She then gasped and stood up.
'Abe?'
Abe Carver came towards her. He then hugged her tightly. Eve threw her arms around him as well. She then pulled away.
'I can't believe I'm looking at you.' she whispered, unable to take her eyes off of him.
'Eve, I'm sorry that I'm looking at you right now. Are you alright? You were out for such a long time.'
Eve reached up and felt the bump on the back of her head.
'I'm no worse for wear, I guess. What happened? We saw you die!'
Abe took a deep breath.
'Sit down, Eve. There's a lot I have to tell you and not a lot of time to tell it in.'
Eve felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
'What does that mean?'
'Eve, I have been a prisoner here, ever since the day I supposedly 'died'! And in more ways than one.'
Abe looked over to his right. There was what looked to be, a big screen TV. He then looked at Eve again.
'That TV, is a really a monitor. I watched my wife, beg for herself and my baby boy, to be released by that bastard Stefano, for almost one year.'
Eve's eyes widened.
'God Abe, are you telling me that Lexie was in this same prison, and you two were not allowed to communicate? She has no idea you are alive at all?'
Abe shook his head, then hung it. Eve touched his face.
'What is going on here? How did Stefano make it so that you looked dead?'
'I wasn't shot...at least not with a bullet. It was some kind of drugged pellet, that temporarily stopped my heart...it did cause a wound similar to what would've been made by a real gun. Then, Lexie was given a double to take back home and bury.'
Eve slowly stood up. She looked away.
'A double?'
Abe stood up as well.
'You've seen yours, haven't you?'
Eve put a hand over her mouth!
'Where is she?!'
Abe put his hands on her shoulders.
'Calm down. There's nothing we can do now.'
'Oh, nothing we can do! I want to know why this is being done to me! What have I done to deserve having some stranger take over my life?!'
'Honey, your sister had a lot to do with that. Your sister and Stefano....they got married.'
Eve gasped, then scrunched up her face!
'Ick! And I don't know if I'm repulsed because Liz married Stefano, or he married her?! This was their idea?'
Abe rubbed one of her shoulders.
'Eve, they convinced Lexie that Julian was to blame for all of this. They came up with a plan to make him pay through you.'
Eve closed her eyes briefly, before opening them.
'If Stefano married Liz, then what about Marlena? Where is she?'
Abe took a deep breath.
'Liz convinced Stefano to let Marlena go. I think it was more out of jealousy than anything else. Eve...I understand that T.C. and Lexie are close...'
Eve stared at him. Oh God! She felt so badly for him!
'Yes, Abe, but Lexie would've never conceived of being with another man, if she hadn't thought you were dead.'
Abe turned away.
'I used to watch her on that monitor, crying for T.C.. I suppose the fact that I was allowed to view my wife's suffering, was done in order to torture me.'
Eve walked up behind him and turned him around. She could tell that his imprisonment had lowered his morale.
'We are getting out of here! We can't allow Stefano, or God forbid, Liz, get away with this!'
Abe smiled weakly at her.
'I could've gotten out of here awhile ago, Eve.'
Eve shook her head in confusion.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, Liz has made it clear that she wants me. I've fended off her advances, especially now that she's married to Stefano. She offered to help me leave here...if I married her. She even offered me the SAME deal after she married DiMera.'
Eve was getting more and more revolted!
'How in the hell was she going to marry you, when she was already married to Stefano?!'
'By killing her wonderful husband.'
Eve snorted with contempt!
'Liz may be bad, but she's no match for Stefano! And you did the right thing, Abe, even though it may not feel like it. Nothing good could happen to you, if you aligned yourself with my sister! We'll get out of here.'
Abe frowned. He touched the hand that she had placed on his shoulder.
'Eve, there's something else you need to know.'
Eve tilted her head. What more could there be?
'That woman that looks like you...Alicia...she works for Stefano.'
'I figured as much. Look, Julian will figure it out...I hope. No, I know he will.'
'Yes, but that's not really the problem.'
'What is it Abe? Just tell me.'
Abe squeezed her hand.
'Alicia, was Chad Harris's real mother. Chad's real father, was Stefano DiMera. Eve, these people are not playing around here, just because you tricked Tony or that Julian made a bad deal with Stefano. Stefano is determined to avenge his son's death. That's why Alistair was freed, and this plan was put into action. Only...'
'Only what?' a horrified Eve asked.
'I've watched Alicia. She looks like you and that's about it, really. But more importantly, she hates Julian with a passion. Passion enough to kill him. '
Eve cried out! Oh, her poor Julian! Her poor babies! She had to get out of here! THEY had to get out of here! Lexie and T.C. couldn't go on together, without knowing about Abe!
Suddenly, a door slid back. Tony DiMera walked in, dressed in a black tuxedo. Abe rolled his eyes, then looked at Eve.
'Yeah, about him...'
Eve put up a hand to silence Abe. She then looked at Tony.
'You're in on this too, hey?'
'Father and I did patch things up, for the good of the family, and...well...I know my poor, little brother, would've wanted his big brother and father, to be happy. How are you Eve? You looked so beautiful, sleeping on the plane.'
'I was unconscious.'
Tony waved a hand.
'Asleep, unconscious...what's the difference? Listen, darling, I will escort you to your room, where you can pick through an array of dinner gowns, then join me for a light supper.'
Tony looked over at Abe.
'Abraham, I would invite you to join us, but Eve and I haven't seen one another in practically a year. We have so much catching up to do. You do understand?'
Abe looked like he was about to take a step towards him. Eve pulled on his arm and whispered into his ear.
'It's alright. I'll be fine.'
Eve rubbed his arm briefly, ignored Tony's offered arm, then walked through the sliding door and into the hallway. Tony turned and smiled at Abe, before walking over to Eve. The door closed shut. Abe sat down on the leather couch. He put his head in his hands.
****
Fox walked into his father's study. Julian was sitting in a chair, listening to his Eve CD's. Fox frowned and closed the door. Julian looked up. He got up and turned off the CD player.
'Fox? Did you forget something?'
Fox and Whitney had joined Julian and Eve for dinner that night. It was not a good meal. Eve didn't say two words to anyone, including Whitney. Whitney was concerned, so Fox told her he would come back up to the main house, and ask his father what was going on.
Julian, for his part, was at a loss as to what to do. Last night, Eve had slept in a different room, locking the door. Julian didn't know what it was, but he had the strangest sense that he had lost Eve, yet again.
But she wasn't gone. She was in this house, as his wife and the mother of his children. Eve had quit her job at the hospital yesterday, then laid around, eating chocolates, and letting the servants change, feed and interact with the twins. It was almost as if he had married Ivy all over again!
'Father, Whitney is worried about her mother. Did the two of you have a fight?'
Julian turned away from the CD player.
'Yes, almost two days ago! It is so unlike Eve to let a disagreement fester in this way. She has never been afraid to just get something out into the open, and speak her peace. She's sulking, that's all.'
Julian tried to keep his tone light, but it was really beginning to eat at him! Father was in a nursing home, and Lexie and Marlena, had mysteriously shown back up, much in the same way Alistair had. What in the world was his wife still sore about?
'Father, she's taking it out on all of us. Even her own daughter.'
'I know, Fox. I'll talk to her. I'll make it clear that I won't put up with her childish behavior much longer.'
Fox frowned.
'Where is she now?'
'She went to bed early. I can only hope that that's a sign that she'll want company later.'
Fox smirked.
'So she's pulled an 'Ivy Crane' on you, hey?'
Julian scowled.
'God, don't even mention that woman's name!'
'You know, she dropped by the office the other day.'
Julian looked down at the CD.
'Who?'
'Mother.'
'God, Fox! I told you not to mention that God awful woman's name! Do tell me you told her to leave? After what she pulled on Whitney during that 'American Idol' thing...'
'No, no. I told her to leave. Unfortunately, Whitney got a look at her.'
'Why was Whitney there?' Julian asked, putting the CD back in a case.
Fox sat down.
'She overheard Luis and Sam talking about the kidnappings. Not that it matters anymore. Thank God Stefano let Lexie and Marlena Black go. Though, it is interesting that no one has seen Liz.'
'Thank God for small favors!' Julian hissed, then walked over to the bar to fix himself a drink. He looked at Fox, who shook his head.
'Mother was acting really weird though.' Fox commented. Julian rolled his eyes.
'Weird how?' he asked his son.
'I don't know, it was almost as if she wanted to apologize, or something. She was just...I don't know, odd.'
Julian shrugged, then sipped his drink. Fox stood up.
'I'm going to get back to Whitney. I sincerely hope that you patch things up with your wife soon.'
Julian nodded, then watched as Fox left the library. He then looked at his watch. Ten o' clock. He walked over to a drawer and pulled open the top one. He rooted around a bit, until he found a key. If Eve was sleeping in another room again tonight, Julian was going to make sure she didn't sleep alone!
****
A half an hour later, Julian closed the door to the nursery softly, then headed towards the room Eve had locked herself into, for the second night in a row!
He pulled the key out of his robe pocket, and inserted it. He turned it, and the lock clicked. Julian then eased his way into the room, closing the door quietly, behind him.
The room was pitch black, except for a beam of moonlight, that was coming in from the terrace. It shone directly onto the bed. Eve was fast asleep. Her back was to the door.
She was wearing a peach colored negligee. Julian sighed with lust, dropped his robe, walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed in. He then smiled and eased over to her, pulling down the spaghetti straps of her nightgown, while kissing her neck.
Eve stirred a bit. Julian's smile grew. He certainly didn't want to have sex with his wife while she was asleep! It was undignified.
He began to push the straps down lower, until her breasts were exposed. Julian then began to kiss one of them, until he began suckling it. It didn't take but a millisecond, for him to slowly spit the breast out! A dribble of spittle was left on it!
Alicia awoke and screamed! She backed away in a frenzy, falling out of the bed! Christ! That pervert had broken into her room and was now touching her! She could see that her night gown had half come off, and her breasts were exposed! And they were wet with slobber! Damn him! If she had a gun she would've blown him the hell away!
'What are you doing in here?!' she almost screamed. She turned and reached down to turn on a light. As soon as she looked at him, it was Alicia, that got the big surprise. Julian was standing on the other side of the bed. His robe was back on, and he was pointing a pistol, straight at her.
'Who the hell are you?' he asked in a calm, controlled voice. This particular room that this 'impostor' had chosen to sleep in, had a pistol in the top right hand drawer of the dresser on his side! Of course, Eve did not know this, and Julian knew with children in the house, he had to be more careful of leaving loaded weapons around. Then again, most people didn't have the DiMera's breathing down their necks!
Alicia began breathing hard.
'Why, honey...it's me...your wife...'
Julian cocked the pistol.
'I would ask you to make love to me, right here and now, to prove that you are my wife. But you are about a cup size off, my dear. Now, tell me who you really are, before I blow you away!'
Alicia began easing back towards the door. Julian pointed at the doorknob and fired! Alicia screamed and stopped moving.
'Where is my wife?!' Julian growled, growing more and more furious! This whole set up reeked of those goddamned DiMera's! Hell, maybe even Alistair had a hand in this! How long had Eve been gone?!
'Mr. Crane! Mr. Crane! Is everything alright?' a servant asked from the other side of the door.
'No, actually it isn't! Please call the police. I found an intruder in this room!'
Alicia glared at him.
'I am not an intruder! I'm...I'm...'
'You're who?' Julian asked, utter contempt filling his voice. His mind went back to the day of his fight with Eve, then her going out with Evan for a walk. When she returned, instead of his wife, he had this chilly stranger! Eve had been gone for two days then! Where had this switch taken place? Why had it taken place?
Alicia suddenly leaped at him! Julian, unprepared for the woman's attack, grappled with her for the gun. It ended up flying out of both of their hands, and sliding across the room! Alicia jumped up off of him, to run and get it, but Julian reached out and grabbed her foot, tripping her!
Julian then jumped up to get the gun. Alicia, seeing that she wasn't going to be able to get to it before him, jumped up and ran to the terrace doors, flinging them open. Julian stood up and pointed the gun at her. Was this crazy woman really going to jump?
Alicia jumped up on the balcony edge. She then looked over at him.
'You killed my son!'
Alicia then turned jumped! Julian ran out onto the terrace and looked down. The woman was nowhere to be found! He could see police cars coming in the distance. Julian hurried out of the room, and ran into two servants.
'Please check the children! I am going to wait for the police.'
'What about Mrs. Crane? Should I wake her?' One of them asked.
'Mrs. Crane is not here. She's been kidnapped.' Julian said coldly, hurrying down the hallway and towards the staircase. He was still holding the gun, and mentally cursing himself for not realizing that that cold, God awful woman, was not Eve! Her lack of feeling for him, the twins, Whitney...her quitting her job...it had been staring him in the face this whole time!
And what was that nonsense she uttered about 'his killing her son'? What son?
****
Alicia knew Stefano would kill her for failing him. But then again, Stefano had been the reason she gave Chad up in the first place. She had wanted her baby to have a chance. Celeste Perrault would empathize with her, so she had to get to her apartment! Hopefully, Lexie's mother could help her get away!
Alicia was still trying to get off of the grounds, when she saw the gardener's shed. She stopped and stared at it.
She couldn't just leave this property, without getting some form of revenge! She had come here to avenge Chad, her baby boy that Julian Crane had made commit suicide!
Alicia walked over to it. The lock was on the door, but left undone. Alicia took it all the way off, then walked inside.
****
Julian paced in the library, as the sirens got closer and closer. What the hell was taking Sam Bennett and company, so long?!
Julian reached onto the desk and picked up a picture of Eve, himself with Evan and Erin. He would not rest until he found Eve again. And the first person he was going to start with, was his own father! Though, he knew he probably wouldn't get any answers out of him.
Julian's mind then focused on Lexie Carver. God help him, he didn't want to believe it, but she had been 'let go' the same day that Alistair had been. The same day that his wife was snatched, and substituted for a woman who didn't even have the same luscious body as his Eve! The whole ruse was rather insulting, as if they really didn't think he would ever find out!
'I'll find you, my darling.' Julian whispered to the picture. He did not see Alicia in the hallway, carrying a can of turpentine and matches.
Alicia glared at his back, then decided, that this hallway, where Chad had crashed his car and killed himself, would be the perfect starting place, to finish Julian, Evan and Erin Crane's lives. She began soaking the hallway good and proper. Julian did not turn around, until Alicia dropped the can loudly, and lit the match.
****
By the time Sam and Luis showed up, they had to radio the fire department as well! Sheridan had driven over separately, and tried to run in, but Luis kept her from running in.
'Julian and Eve are in there! The babies!' she screamed. She then began to cry. Luis shook his head at Sam.
'Where the hell is the fire department?!' he yelled. The sirens could be heard in the distance.
'Hell Luis, we thought we were coming over to investigate a break in! No one said anything about a fire!'
Fox and Whitney came running, dressed in night clothes. Whitney screamed.
'Oh my God! Mom! Oh God, the babies...what's happening?!'
Fox broke away from her and ran around the side. Whitney began to scream even louder!
'Fox! Sam, Luis, stop him!'
Sam and Luis ran after Fox, who had run around towards the terrace doors that lead to the library. They were already open, and one could see that the fire was blocking the stairs and had crept into the library. Fox turned to look at Sam and Luis.
'Father must have gotten out! He's probably looking for a way back in to get the twins!'
'Come on!' Sam coughed, as he, Luis and Fox, ran around the property.
****
Julian had broken a window into a downstairs powder room and climbed back in. He then took the back stairs that the servants usually used, and hurried to the twins room. He threw open the door and saw that they were sound asleep. A thin veil of smoke was in the air on the upper level.
Julian picked up Evan first. He stirred and opened his eyes. He smiled at his father. Julian could not help smiling back, even in the face of danger. He then hurried over to Erin's crib. She stirred and awoke. She then began to cry.
'Honey, please, not now!' Julian almost whined, as he juggled both babies. He hurried from the room and went back down the back stairs. Only now, the fire had spread to the bathroom and hallways!
Julian then ran back upstairs with the twins. Evan was now crying as well! He set them both down in one crib, ran back to the door and closed it. He then looked on a diaper changing table, and found towels. He shoved them underneath the door, then got up, hurried over to the window, and threw it open.
'Help! Help! There are babies up here!'
Whitney and Sheridan pointed at him and screamed! Fox, Sam and Luis, ran around and saw him up there! The fire department was just pulling up. Sheridan ran over to them.
'Hurry! Please!'
'Julian, where is my mother?!' Whitney screamed.
Julian didn't have time for conversation! He would explain everything as soon as got the twins, and himself, safely onto the ground. He did not answer her, and turned back around to get the twins.
Fox was frantic, and the firemen seemed slow to get their ladders over there! He hurried up to the house, and began climbing the trellis, underneath the window.
Everyone else, was busy looking at the firemen. It was Whitney that turned and saw her husband climbing the trellis.
'Fox, no! Get down from there! Fox!'
Fox ignored his wife's screams. He was almost up to the window.
Then, one of the trellis's snapped! Fox fell, back down to the ground! He lay there, unconscious! Whitney screamed again and ran to him. So did Luis, Sheridan and Sam.
Two paramedics reached Fox, as the fire department got a very high ladder, and placed it against the house. A fireman hurried up the ladder. Julian, shocked to see Fox hurt on the ground, took a deep breath and handed the fireman Erin. Erin was now screaming.
Another fireman was eased over in some sort of contraption, that could only be likened to a rollercoaster seat/huge shovel. Julian handed Evan to him, who was crying as well. The fireman was pulled away to safety with the baby.
The same fireman that took Erin, came back up the ladder to help Julian. The fireman looked behind Julian in the room. The smoke was getting thick in there.
'Where is your wife, Mr. Crane?' he asked.
'She's been kidnapped.' Julian managed to choke out. The fireman helped him onto the ladder and down to safety.
Julian stood on the ground, shocked to the core at what had almost happened. The fire department began spraying the mansion with water. Julian stumbled over to Fox, who was being taken away by ambulance. Whitney was by his side, and had jumped into the ambulance as well.
Julian wanted to tell her that he would meet her there, but the words came out in a coughing spasm. Luis and Sam reached him.
'Julian? Julian? Who did you shoot tonight? Where is Eve?'
Julian was about to speak, when Luis and Sam, suddenly spun around like a roulette wheel. He then passed out.
The jig is up for Alicia. Eve discovers that she is not the only 'prisoner'.
When Eve woke up, she slowly sat up and realized she was lying on a leather couch. She jumped up!
The last thing she remembered was sitting in Harmony Park with Evan! He was pointing at something behind her...Lexie, Liz(wearing a God awful shade of blonde that did not match her skin tone!) and...and...a woman that looked like her!
'Eve?'
Eve looked in the direction the voice had come from. She then gasped and stood up.
'Abe?'
Abe Carver came towards her. He then hugged her tightly. Eve threw her arms around him as well. She then pulled away.
'I can't believe I'm looking at you.' she whispered, unable to take her eyes off of him.
'Eve, I'm sorry that I'm looking at you right now. Are you alright? You were out for such a long time.'
Eve reached up and felt the bump on the back of her head.
'I'm no worse for wear, I guess. What happened? We saw you die!'
Abe took a deep breath.
'Sit down, Eve. There's a lot I have to tell you and not a lot of time to tell it in.'
Eve felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
'What does that mean?'
'Eve, I have been a prisoner here, ever since the day I supposedly 'died'! And in more ways than one.'
Abe looked over to his right. There was what looked to be, a big screen TV. He then looked at Eve again.
'That TV, is a really a monitor. I watched my wife, beg for herself and my baby boy, to be released by that bastard Stefano, for almost one year.'
Eve's eyes widened.
'God Abe, are you telling me that Lexie was in this same prison, and you two were not allowed to communicate? She has no idea you are alive at all?'
Abe shook his head, then hung it. Eve touched his face.
'What is going on here? How did Stefano make it so that you looked dead?'
'I wasn't shot...at least not with a bullet. It was some kind of drugged pellet, that temporarily stopped my heart...it did cause a wound similar to what would've been made by a real gun. Then, Lexie was given a double to take back home and bury.'
Eve slowly stood up. She looked away.
'A double?'
Abe stood up as well.
'You've seen yours, haven't you?'
Eve put a hand over her mouth!
'Where is she?!'
Abe put his hands on her shoulders.
'Calm down. There's nothing we can do now.'
'Oh, nothing we can do! I want to know why this is being done to me! What have I done to deserve having some stranger take over my life?!'
'Honey, your sister had a lot to do with that. Your sister and Stefano....they got married.'
Eve gasped, then scrunched up her face!
'Ick! And I don't know if I'm repulsed because Liz married Stefano, or he married her?! This was their idea?'
Abe rubbed one of her shoulders.
'Eve, they convinced Lexie that Julian was to blame for all of this. They came up with a plan to make him pay through you.'
Eve closed her eyes briefly, before opening them.
'If Stefano married Liz, then what about Marlena? Where is she?'
Abe took a deep breath.
'Liz convinced Stefano to let Marlena go. I think it was more out of jealousy than anything else. Eve...I understand that T.C. and Lexie are close...'
Eve stared at him. Oh God! She felt so badly for him!
'Yes, Abe, but Lexie would've never conceived of being with another man, if she hadn't thought you were dead.'
Abe turned away.
'I used to watch her on that monitor, crying for T.C.. I suppose the fact that I was allowed to view my wife's suffering, was done in order to torture me.'
Eve walked up behind him and turned him around. She could tell that his imprisonment had lowered his morale.
'We are getting out of here! We can't allow Stefano, or God forbid, Liz, get away with this!'
Abe smiled weakly at her.
'I could've gotten out of here awhile ago, Eve.'
Eve shook her head in confusion.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, Liz has made it clear that she wants me. I've fended off her advances, especially now that she's married to Stefano. She offered to help me leave here...if I married her. She even offered me the SAME deal after she married DiMera.'
Eve was getting more and more revolted!
'How in the hell was she going to marry you, when she was already married to Stefano?!'
'By killing her wonderful husband.'
Eve snorted with contempt!
'Liz may be bad, but she's no match for Stefano! And you did the right thing, Abe, even though it may not feel like it. Nothing good could happen to you, if you aligned yourself with my sister! We'll get out of here.'
Abe frowned. He touched the hand that she had placed on his shoulder.
'Eve, there's something else you need to know.'
Eve tilted her head. What more could there be?
'That woman that looks like you...Alicia...she works for Stefano.'
'I figured as much. Look, Julian will figure it out...I hope. No, I know he will.'
'Yes, but that's not really the problem.'
'What is it Abe? Just tell me.'
Abe squeezed her hand.
'Alicia, was Chad Harris's real mother. Chad's real father, was Stefano DiMera. Eve, these people are not playing around here, just because you tricked Tony or that Julian made a bad deal with Stefano. Stefano is determined to avenge his son's death. That's why Alistair was freed, and this plan was put into action. Only...'
'Only what?' a horrified Eve asked.
'I've watched Alicia. She looks like you and that's about it, really. But more importantly, she hates Julian with a passion. Passion enough to kill him. '
Eve cried out! Oh, her poor Julian! Her poor babies! She had to get out of here! THEY had to get out of here! Lexie and T.C. couldn't go on together, without knowing about Abe!
Suddenly, a door slid back. Tony DiMera walked in, dressed in a black tuxedo. Abe rolled his eyes, then looked at Eve.
'Yeah, about him...'
Eve put up a hand to silence Abe. She then looked at Tony.
'You're in on this too, hey?'
'Father and I did patch things up, for the good of the family, and...well...I know my poor, little brother, would've wanted his big brother and father, to be happy. How are you Eve? You looked so beautiful, sleeping on the plane.'
'I was unconscious.'
Tony waved a hand.
'Asleep, unconscious...what's the difference? Listen, darling, I will escort you to your room, where you can pick through an array of dinner gowns, then join me for a light supper.'
Tony looked over at Abe.
'Abraham, I would invite you to join us, but Eve and I haven't seen one another in practically a year. We have so much catching up to do. You do understand?'
Abe looked like he was about to take a step towards him. Eve pulled on his arm and whispered into his ear.
'It's alright. I'll be fine.'
Eve rubbed his arm briefly, ignored Tony's offered arm, then walked through the sliding door and into the hallway. Tony turned and smiled at Abe, before walking over to Eve. The door closed shut. Abe sat down on the leather couch. He put his head in his hands.
****
Fox walked into his father's study. Julian was sitting in a chair, listening to his Eve CD's. Fox frowned and closed the door. Julian looked up. He got up and turned off the CD player.
'Fox? Did you forget something?'
Fox and Whitney had joined Julian and Eve for dinner that night. It was not a good meal. Eve didn't say two words to anyone, including Whitney. Whitney was concerned, so Fox told her he would come back up to the main house, and ask his father what was going on.
Julian, for his part, was at a loss as to what to do. Last night, Eve had slept in a different room, locking the door. Julian didn't know what it was, but he had the strangest sense that he had lost Eve, yet again.
But she wasn't gone. She was in this house, as his wife and the mother of his children. Eve had quit her job at the hospital yesterday, then laid around, eating chocolates, and letting the servants change, feed and interact with the twins. It was almost as if he had married Ivy all over again!
'Father, Whitney is worried about her mother. Did the two of you have a fight?'
Julian turned away from the CD player.
'Yes, almost two days ago! It is so unlike Eve to let a disagreement fester in this way. She has never been afraid to just get something out into the open, and speak her peace. She's sulking, that's all.'
Julian tried to keep his tone light, but it was really beginning to eat at him! Father was in a nursing home, and Lexie and Marlena, had mysteriously shown back up, much in the same way Alistair had. What in the world was his wife still sore about?
'Father, she's taking it out on all of us. Even her own daughter.'
'I know, Fox. I'll talk to her. I'll make it clear that I won't put up with her childish behavior much longer.'
Fox frowned.
'Where is she now?'
'She went to bed early. I can only hope that that's a sign that she'll want company later.'
Fox smirked.
'So she's pulled an 'Ivy Crane' on you, hey?'
Julian scowled.
'God, don't even mention that woman's name!'
'You know, she dropped by the office the other day.'
Julian looked down at the CD.
'Who?'
'Mother.'
'God, Fox! I told you not to mention that God awful woman's name! Do tell me you told her to leave? After what she pulled on Whitney during that 'American Idol' thing...'
'No, no. I told her to leave. Unfortunately, Whitney got a look at her.'
'Why was Whitney there?' Julian asked, putting the CD back in a case.
Fox sat down.
'She overheard Luis and Sam talking about the kidnappings. Not that it matters anymore. Thank God Stefano let Lexie and Marlena Black go. Though, it is interesting that no one has seen Liz.'
'Thank God for small favors!' Julian hissed, then walked over to the bar to fix himself a drink. He looked at Fox, who shook his head.
'Mother was acting really weird though.' Fox commented. Julian rolled his eyes.
'Weird how?' he asked his son.
'I don't know, it was almost as if she wanted to apologize, or something. She was just...I don't know, odd.'
Julian shrugged, then sipped his drink. Fox stood up.
'I'm going to get back to Whitney. I sincerely hope that you patch things up with your wife soon.'
Julian nodded, then watched as Fox left the library. He then looked at his watch. Ten o' clock. He walked over to a drawer and pulled open the top one. He rooted around a bit, until he found a key. If Eve was sleeping in another room again tonight, Julian was going to make sure she didn't sleep alone!
****
A half an hour later, Julian closed the door to the nursery softly, then headed towards the room Eve had locked herself into, for the second night in a row!
He pulled the key out of his robe pocket, and inserted it. He turned it, and the lock clicked. Julian then eased his way into the room, closing the door quietly, behind him.
The room was pitch black, except for a beam of moonlight, that was coming in from the terrace. It shone directly onto the bed. Eve was fast asleep. Her back was to the door.
She was wearing a peach colored negligee. Julian sighed with lust, dropped his robe, walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed in. He then smiled and eased over to her, pulling down the spaghetti straps of her nightgown, while kissing her neck.
Eve stirred a bit. Julian's smile grew. He certainly didn't want to have sex with his wife while she was asleep! It was undignified.
He began to push the straps down lower, until her breasts were exposed. Julian then began to kiss one of them, until he began suckling it. It didn't take but a millisecond, for him to slowly spit the breast out! A dribble of spittle was left on it!
Alicia awoke and screamed! She backed away in a frenzy, falling out of the bed! Christ! That pervert had broken into her room and was now touching her! She could see that her night gown had half come off, and her breasts were exposed! And they were wet with slobber! Damn him! If she had a gun she would've blown him the hell away!
'What are you doing in here?!' she almost screamed. She turned and reached down to turn on a light. As soon as she looked at him, it was Alicia, that got the big surprise. Julian was standing on the other side of the bed. His robe was back on, and he was pointing a pistol, straight at her.
'Who the hell are you?' he asked in a calm, controlled voice. This particular room that this 'impostor' had chosen to sleep in, had a pistol in the top right hand drawer of the dresser on his side! Of course, Eve did not know this, and Julian knew with children in the house, he had to be more careful of leaving loaded weapons around. Then again, most people didn't have the DiMera's breathing down their necks!
Alicia began breathing hard.
'Why, honey...it's me...your wife...'
Julian cocked the pistol.
'I would ask you to make love to me, right here and now, to prove that you are my wife. But you are about a cup size off, my dear. Now, tell me who you really are, before I blow you away!'
Alicia began easing back towards the door. Julian pointed at the doorknob and fired! Alicia screamed and stopped moving.
'Where is my wife?!' Julian growled, growing more and more furious! This whole set up reeked of those goddamned DiMera's! Hell, maybe even Alistair had a hand in this! How long had Eve been gone?!
'Mr. Crane! Mr. Crane! Is everything alright?' a servant asked from the other side of the door.
'No, actually it isn't! Please call the police. I found an intruder in this room!'
Alicia glared at him.
'I am not an intruder! I'm...I'm...'
'You're who?' Julian asked, utter contempt filling his voice. His mind went back to the day of his fight with Eve, then her going out with Evan for a walk. When she returned, instead of his wife, he had this chilly stranger! Eve had been gone for two days then! Where had this switch taken place? Why had it taken place?
Alicia suddenly leaped at him! Julian, unprepared for the woman's attack, grappled with her for the gun. It ended up flying out of both of their hands, and sliding across the room! Alicia jumped up off of him, to run and get it, but Julian reached out and grabbed her foot, tripping her!
Julian then jumped up to get the gun. Alicia, seeing that she wasn't going to be able to get to it before him, jumped up and ran to the terrace doors, flinging them open. Julian stood up and pointed the gun at her. Was this crazy woman really going to jump?
Alicia jumped up on the balcony edge. She then looked over at him.
'You killed my son!'
Alicia then turned jumped! Julian ran out onto the terrace and looked down. The woman was nowhere to be found! He could see police cars coming in the distance. Julian hurried out of the room, and ran into two servants.
'Please check the children! I am going to wait for the police.'
'What about Mrs. Crane? Should I wake her?' One of them asked.
'Mrs. Crane is not here. She's been kidnapped.' Julian said coldly, hurrying down the hallway and towards the staircase. He was still holding the gun, and mentally cursing himself for not realizing that that cold, God awful woman, was not Eve! Her lack of feeling for him, the twins, Whitney...her quitting her job...it had been staring him in the face this whole time!
And what was that nonsense she uttered about 'his killing her son'? What son?
****
Alicia knew Stefano would kill her for failing him. But then again, Stefano had been the reason she gave Chad up in the first place. She had wanted her baby to have a chance. Celeste Perrault would empathize with her, so she had to get to her apartment! Hopefully, Lexie's mother could help her get away!
Alicia was still trying to get off of the grounds, when she saw the gardener's shed. She stopped and stared at it.
She couldn't just leave this property, without getting some form of revenge! She had come here to avenge Chad, her baby boy that Julian Crane had made commit suicide!
Alicia walked over to it. The lock was on the door, but left undone. Alicia took it all the way off, then walked inside.
****
Julian paced in the library, as the sirens got closer and closer. What the hell was taking Sam Bennett and company, so long?!
Julian reached onto the desk and picked up a picture of Eve, himself with Evan and Erin. He would not rest until he found Eve again. And the first person he was going to start with, was his own father! Though, he knew he probably wouldn't get any answers out of him.
Julian's mind then focused on Lexie Carver. God help him, he didn't want to believe it, but she had been 'let go' the same day that Alistair had been. The same day that his wife was snatched, and substituted for a woman who didn't even have the same luscious body as his Eve! The whole ruse was rather insulting, as if they really didn't think he would ever find out!
'I'll find you, my darling.' Julian whispered to the picture. He did not see Alicia in the hallway, carrying a can of turpentine and matches.
Alicia glared at his back, then decided, that this hallway, where Chad had crashed his car and killed himself, would be the perfect starting place, to finish Julian, Evan and Erin Crane's lives. She began soaking the hallway good and proper. Julian did not turn around, until Alicia dropped the can loudly, and lit the match.
****
By the time Sam and Luis showed up, they had to radio the fire department as well! Sheridan had driven over separately, and tried to run in, but Luis kept her from running in.
'Julian and Eve are in there! The babies!' she screamed. She then began to cry. Luis shook his head at Sam.
'Where the hell is the fire department?!' he yelled. The sirens could be heard in the distance.
'Hell Luis, we thought we were coming over to investigate a break in! No one said anything about a fire!'
Fox and Whitney came running, dressed in night clothes. Whitney screamed.
'Oh my God! Mom! Oh God, the babies...what's happening?!'
Fox broke away from her and ran around the side. Whitney began to scream even louder!
'Fox! Sam, Luis, stop him!'
Sam and Luis ran after Fox, who had run around towards the terrace doors that lead to the library. They were already open, and one could see that the fire was blocking the stairs and had crept into the library. Fox turned to look at Sam and Luis.
'Father must have gotten out! He's probably looking for a way back in to get the twins!'
'Come on!' Sam coughed, as he, Luis and Fox, ran around the property.
****
Julian had broken a window into a downstairs powder room and climbed back in. He then took the back stairs that the servants usually used, and hurried to the twins room. He threw open the door and saw that they were sound asleep. A thin veil of smoke was in the air on the upper level.
Julian picked up Evan first. He stirred and opened his eyes. He smiled at his father. Julian could not help smiling back, even in the face of danger. He then hurried over to Erin's crib. She stirred and awoke. She then began to cry.
'Honey, please, not now!' Julian almost whined, as he juggled both babies. He hurried from the room and went back down the back stairs. Only now, the fire had spread to the bathroom and hallways!
Julian then ran back upstairs with the twins. Evan was now crying as well! He set them both down in one crib, ran back to the door and closed it. He then looked on a diaper changing table, and found towels. He shoved them underneath the door, then got up, hurried over to the window, and threw it open.
'Help! Help! There are babies up here!'
Whitney and Sheridan pointed at him and screamed! Fox, Sam and Luis, ran around and saw him up there! The fire department was just pulling up. Sheridan ran over to them.
'Hurry! Please!'
'Julian, where is my mother?!' Whitney screamed.
Julian didn't have time for conversation! He would explain everything as soon as got the twins, and himself, safely onto the ground. He did not answer her, and turned back around to get the twins.
Fox was frantic, and the firemen seemed slow to get their ladders over there! He hurried up to the house, and began climbing the trellis, underneath the window.
Everyone else, was busy looking at the firemen. It was Whitney that turned and saw her husband climbing the trellis.
'Fox, no! Get down from there! Fox!'
Fox ignored his wife's screams. He was almost up to the window.
Then, one of the trellis's snapped! Fox fell, back down to the ground! He lay there, unconscious! Whitney screamed again and ran to him. So did Luis, Sheridan and Sam.
Two paramedics reached Fox, as the fire department got a very high ladder, and placed it against the house. A fireman hurried up the ladder. Julian, shocked to see Fox hurt on the ground, took a deep breath and handed the fireman Erin. Erin was now screaming.
Another fireman was eased over in some sort of contraption, that could only be likened to a rollercoaster seat/huge shovel. Julian handed Evan to him, who was crying as well. The fireman was pulled away to safety with the baby.
The same fireman that took Erin, came back up the ladder to help Julian. The fireman looked behind Julian in the room. The smoke was getting thick in there.
'Where is your wife, Mr. Crane?' he asked.
'She's been kidnapped.' Julian managed to choke out. The fireman helped him onto the ladder and down to safety.
Julian stood on the ground, shocked to the core at what had almost happened. The fire department began spraying the mansion with water. Julian stumbled over to Fox, who was being taken away by ambulance. Whitney was by his side, and had jumped into the ambulance as well.
Julian wanted to tell her that he would meet her there, but the words came out in a coughing spasm. Luis and Sam reached him.
'Julian? Julian? Who did you shoot tonight? Where is Eve?'
Julian was about to speak, when Luis and Sam, suddenly spun around like a roulette wheel. He then passed out.