Special thanks to JW13, Goofygirl, Lovesonny, and LafilmeMichellel and everybody else for reading again especially since it's been so long since I've continued this. Anyway here's your update read, enjoy, and let me know what you think.

EM

Chapter 28

Connor pushed the two women through the doorway. He led them over to the table pulling out two chairs as he did so and forcing them to sit back to back as he rebound their feet and loosened the rope on their hands only to retie and secure them even tighter to the back of the seats. Finally he stood up to look at them.

"If you two can be quiet I'll remove the gags from your mouths. What do you say?"

Both women nodded. Tears filled their eyes as the pieces of material were removed. The area in and around where the gag had been was sore and their mouths were dry. Connor seemed for the moment to be in a generous mood as he offered them each a sip of water.

"I know you're dying to ask what's going on here. Maybe even why I chose this place." He said looking around him and then back at them.

Emily decided to play along. "Why did you choose here? Why did you come back at all and more so how did you survive that night?"

Connor squatted down in front of her sliding the back of her hand along the side of her face taking in the quickness of her breathing relishing in the fear he could still provoke with just a touch.

"It was the beginning of the end of my life as I knew it," his voice level rising as his anger rose, "as I wanted it." He stood up and paced before the women. "Do either of you know what it's like to fight so hard to get back to what you left behind. I was a prisoner of war and everyday I dreamed of this place of my wife and our reunion only to return to find her in the arms of someone else," suddenly stopping to face them, "not just anyone either but someone who looked just like me."

Elizabeth looked up at him almost afraid to speak. "Mary thought you were dead. When she saw Nikolas she thought…"

"That I was alive?" Connor finished for her. "Yeah I know and to be honest I don't blame her anymore but I do blame those that destroyed her."

Emily spoke up. "We didn't do anything to her. She couldn't accept that Nikolas wasn't you. As soon as he regained his memory and told her he knew the truth she set out to kill me which ended up causing the death of another innocent girl instead." She leaned back as Connor suddenly bent down before her and put his face in hers.

"My Mary was a beautiful woman and your privileged prince broke her heart. That's when I decided I would break his."

"Is that why you raped me? To get back at Nikolas?" Emily asked.

"He had everything. A life anyone would be proud to have and grandmother who doted on him as well as a beautiful woman to call his own after he cast my wife aside." He stood up. "I watched you get married that day. Did you know that? My life was over and he could pick up the pieces and go on. How fair was that? After Helena's "death" she sent for me and offered me a new start and I took it." He reached down to stroke Emily's face again grabbing it in his hands as she tried to turn from him. "I just enjoyed the extra's along the way."

……………………….

Nikolas sat stunned as he watched the silent scene play out before his eyes. He shook his head in disbelief. Connor was alive and he has Em and Liz but how, why? He stole a glance at his grandmother. She was thoroughly enjoying all this. He could see it in her eyes.

"Kind of reminds you of the prince and the pauper doesn't it?" She said looking at her grandson. "You look so much alike and yet you are so different. How I wish you had some of his qualities. Other than the question of blood he would be the perfect Cassadine. You should have seen him stroll into the clinic to release me. So strong, so confident nothing like the near death form of a man I found gasping for air after clawing his way through the shallow grave from which he'd been left to die."

Nikolas threw his head back as it all began to sink in. "You did show up at the safe house that night. Connor told you about everything they were planning."

"Oh yes that was our plan all along. Shortly after I watched everyone leave. Did any of you really think I would be so stupid to fall for such a trick? Luke Spencer has and always will be a fool. Connor's only mistake was allowing his desire to covet everything of yours override his common sense."

Nikolas put his hands over his eyes. "You're conspiring with a rapist Helena. Have you no compassion for what he did to her? She was trying to get me out of prison for supposedly killing you. You would've let rot in there if you'd had your choice."

"Possibly. The thought did cross my mind. After all you were intent on marrying that foolish girl, someone so beneath you. You were already determined to ruin your life why should I not have allowed you to suffer the consequences?"

Nikolas looked at her in disbelief.

Helena looked back at the screen. "Soon it won't matter. She will be out of our lives forever. One down and eventually another to go," she said referring to Courtney, "sooner or later you will realize that not just any woman will be acceptable for your life."

……………………….

Connor left to tend to something in another room. Emily looked around her trying to wrap her mind around what he had told them and of Helena's involvement as well.

"What do you think he'll do with us?" Elizabeth whispered to her friend.

"I don't know but I'm going to try and find a way of getting us out of this. I'm so sorry Liz. I had no idea until he showed up at Jase's that he was alive. I just hope…" Emily stopped to think about something from earlier.

"You hope what? Emily?"

"I hope Michael got away safe and maybe he was able to tell someone what had happened. And surely by now Lucky knows something's wrong where you're concerned. Liz we have to hold on to hope that they'll find us."

Neither woman heard Connor come back in. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for. I want the men in your lives to experience the pain and the loss that I did when you all stole Mary from me." He pointed to the camera on the wall in front of them. "Even Prince Cassadine himself has a front row seat."