Dark Waters and Amaretto Dreams
Sonny arrived back at the Harborview Towers, feeling mentally if not so much physically exhausted. Not that he'd admit it to anyone, or show it, but alone, in the back of his limo, Sonny found himself feeling so tired, he'd even dozed off a time or two on the way back to the penthouse. Nodding to Max who was on the door, he went inside.
Without having to call her name to confirm it, Sonny felt Alexis' absence. A momentary disappointment washed over him, but it disappeared quickly as his eyes were caught by something on his desk that hadn't been there when he left.
"Max!" he called out. The door opened immediately. "Was anybody here while either me or Ms. Davis were gone?"
Max gestured to the gift bag. "Yeah, that came from Ms. Davis while you were out. A messenger dropped it off, with her apologies. There's a note." he told him.
Sonny raised one eyebrow at him.
"Not that I read it." Max rushed to explain. "The messenger made a point of telling me, is all. It's inside the package. "
Sonny nodded a dismissal, then as the door closed behind Max, he picked up the gold and sienna colored gift bag, walked to the couch, sat down and examined its contents. He pulled out an open-faced box and inside was a small faceted bottle of liquor with two matching crystal stemmed glasses. And a note. Sonny sat the box down and opened it. He smiled as Alexis' perfume drifted up from it.
Dearest Sonny,
It seems things are more complicated at Windermere than I thought. I'm neck-deep in paper work and records and will be that way for awhile. My apologies, but I need to devote my total concentration to my Cassadine inheritance for the next few hours - I will call you as soon as I am able. In the meanwhile, please pour yourself a glass of amaretto and think of me as you drink I as I will be thinking of you. Warm, sweet and inviting and oh so sweet on my lips.
Forgive me my love,
Alexis.
Sonny smiled again and uncorked the bottle. He poured himself a glass, and sat back, bringing it up so that he could inhale its fragrance. Warm, sweet, inviting. All the things Alexis was to him. Sonny sipped at the amber liquid and imagined he could taste her as the flavorful drink passed over his lips and down his throat. Its warmth coursed through his veins. He smiled to himself. This amaretto was deceptively powerful and intoxicating. Just like Alexis' kisses.
He laughed to himself softly, stifling a yawn at the end of it. Sonny sat back, relaxing deeper into the cushions. He'd wait for Alexis right here in the living room. And when she got home, they'd share the amaretto... and the kisses...
Sonny closed his eyes.
Alexis sat in a room in Windermere, unable to do anything but sit stiffly against the soft cushions, still numb with shock. Everything had taken on the aspect of a very bad dream. Seeing Mason step out of the fog, she remembered being startled at the glittering, almost surreal look in his eyes. He stepped forward and gripped her arm. Before she could find her voice, he had turned her back towards the boat.
"Mason?" His silence unnerved her more than any threat would do; in response, her heart began to pound in her chest. Alexis twisted away from him and took a step backwards. Mason didn't move, but stood there and simply smiled at her.
That smile sent a thrill of fear through her veins, and not just for herself. "Johnny!" she called out desperately.
Mason's only response was another cool smile as the sounds of a scuffle and then a muffled groan came eerily through the fog; Alexis took a second step away from Mason just in time to see Johnny appear. A soft cry of despair escaped her.
Johnny was barely conscious, being dragged along in the arms of two hulking thugs. He'd obviously put up a fight because his captors showed more than a few signs of bruises and battering. A third man materialized, this one holding a gun.
Mason shook his head in false commiseration, then held out his hand to her. "Let's have no more ugliness, shall we, Alexis?" When she didn't move, he came forward and took her arm again and steered her onboard.
"Mason, I don't understand." Alexis said, her mind spinning in confusion. Why was he doing this? What did he want? She was forced to watch helplessly as Johnny was roughly hustled aboard and taken below.
He saw the question in her eyes and shrugged in response. "All will be made clear to you in time. In the meanwhile, shall we enjoy the trip?" Mason nodded towards the stairs leading below decks. "His continued well-being depends entirely on your continued good behavior, you know." he said matter-of-factly.
"Mason, what are you doing?" Alexis asked. She was beginning to be afraid of having fallen into the hand of a madman. What could Mason have possibly be thinking to take such an action? "Why?"
"I'm following the desires of my heart." He told her, a twisted smile curling his mouth. "You and I, alone in the fog. Tell me you don't find it the least bit romantic? No? I'm crushed."
His sarcasm wasn't lost on her but looking in his face, Alexis knew that it would be useless to ask again. And she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. Alexis turned away from him, her eyes staring out over the dark waters rushing by but not really seeing them at all. Her mind raced trying to come up with her own answers, but failed to come up with anything that made sense at all.
Once she'd been brought to this place and left alone, some of the numbness began to slowly wear off. Her eyes roamed over the room. It was one of the lesser used chambers of Windermere; Alexis couldn't remember the last time she herself had been in it. It was sparsely furnished with a leather love seat that she had been shown to, a small desk, and the walls were lined with books. One entrance, one exit. Two windows, but they were next to useless, Alexis guessed. They were on the lee side of the island, away from Port Charles. Not that signaling anyone was an option.
Alexis realized that her mind was trying its best to rationalize her thoughts, to try and create order and sense where there was none. She stood, paced to the window and then to the desk. It was locked; Alexis jerked at its handle in helpless anger. No chance of finding a letter opener, or anything that could be used as a weapon at all. And even if she could find something, what good would it do?
Examine the facts, her mind told her. Mason was keeping her in Windermere. How long could she reasonably expect it to be before someone wondered where she was? How long did Mason plan on keeping her here? He had to know that sooner or later, someone would either call or come looking for her.
Her head jerked around as she heard a noise; it quickly resolved itself into footsteps coming her way. Alexis moved back to the sofa and sat down, schooling her expression into a calmness she was not feeling.
When the door opened, Mason stood in the doorway and beckoned to her. Alexis didn't know whether to be relieved or even more frightened. She went with him, the guard trailing behind them, without a protest. As if what she had experienced wasn't already enough, Alexis felt a second shock shoot through her as she was led into the guest quarters in the east wing.
Looking very much at home, Helena sat, looking very relaxed in peach colored silk lounging pajamas. Very relaxed and very pleased with herself. She stretched like a cat, then stood up and approached Alexis, studying her carefully.
Alexis held herself stiffly, willing herself to show no emotion. She knew that it was important, could literally be a matter of life or death that she show no sign of weakness or fear to Helena. That would be like an aphrodisiac to her; it might even provoke her to unthinking vengeful action.
After a very careful perusal, Helena smiled to herself. "I did want to bid you a good night before I retired." She told Alexis, her eyes gleaming in satisfaction. "And to assure you that you are to be made as comfortable as possible – just for the moment, of course. Tomorrow, you understand, is another day. Tell me, are you hungry? Thirsty? Is there anything at all that either Mason or I can get for you?"
Alexis was proud enough to see that she hadn't lost her voice and that she spoke as clear and cool as she ever did. "For me - my freedom? And for you – perhaps a short trip off of a long pier?"
Helena chuckled. "How wonderful. You haven't lost that keen sense of humor. Good. I've no doubt that you'll need it. Of course, I must decline your requests. But if there's nothing else then, I'll have something nourishing sent to you. It's late and I'm sure that after the hard day you've had, you must be famished. Never let it be said that I am a neglectful hostess. But for now, I bid you good night."
That was an undeniable dismissal. A part of Alexis would have loved to throw herself at Helena, to rip her hair out of her skull, slap that smug expression right off of her face and possibly choke the life from her. If she had ever doubted that Helena had had a hand in Stefan's death, she had them no longer. Her appearance here and now made that knowledge painfully clear.
Instead, Alexis let Mason guide her through the halls away from where she had first been held, up into one of the towers of Windermere, to a second, smaller bedroom suite. While the guard took up a position outside the door, Mason insisted on escorting her inside.
True to Helena's words, a few minutes later, a knock came on the door and a maid that Alexis didn't recognize wheeled in a serving tray laden with food and drink.
Mason poured himself a cup of coffee. He made a gesture as though to pour Alexis a cup as well.
She refused his offer. "The only thing I want from you are some answers." Alexis said. "Like how did you get involved in one of Helena's schemes to begin with? And how could you let yourself become involved in my brother's death! You pretended to be my friend."
"I was interested in you. That was a part of my assignment, true enough. But surely you're woman enough to know that my interest was not fake. We could have had such a lovely interlude, Alexis – if only you would have allowed it."
"And then you would have turned me over to Helena without a second thought. I'm glad I passed."
Mason shrugged. "Business is business. But think of the memories we could have shared." He said with a laugh. "As for your brother's death - did I say I was involved in that?
"And as for the rest, let's leave that for Helena to explain. I will tell you this much. My involvement is purely business – monetary. All above board."
"And if murder happens, is it just collateral damage? The cost of doing business?"
"Alexis, why burden yourself with such wearisome thoughts? Nothing is going to be resolved to your satisfaction tonight. I suggest we stop the pointless bickering and if you're not going to eat anything, get some sleep?" Mason sat down with his coffee and gestured towards the door of her bedroom with his free hand.
He laughed at the wary expression that crossed her face. "Alone, Alexis. I've never had to force my attentions on any woman, and I don't propose that I start now." He waved his hand again towards her bedroom while making no motion to rise. "Go on and get a good night sleep…."
His last words chilled her, though she refused to show it.
"…While you can."
