CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOUR

"Well, if I had known to expect guests, perhaps I would have had the servants set something out." Helena's voice was cool and amused. One moment they'd been alone. The next, she'd been there, standing in front of one of the tapestry panels. No doubt she'd come through another set of tunnels.

"Looking a little outnumbered there, Helena." Luke said with a cock-eyed smile..

"Do you mean my lack of bodyguards?" Helena shrugged. She did return his smile; Sonny didn't know whether to be worried or relieved because of it. "As I've already stated, I was not expecting to have guests this evening."

"Well, we didn't want to intrude on any of your plans, so if you'll just hand over Alexis, we'll be on our way." Luke told her. "But I do have to tell you, if your plans included Mason Lane, I'm afraid he won't be responding with an RSVP."

Helena chuckled. "Well, I did have plans to meet with him, but his absence is just a minor annoyance. After all, he's already played his part. Alexis is mine."

"Where is she?" Sonny said. "If you've harmed a single hair on her head…" To his growing anger, Helena only laughed.

"Tsk, tsk…. Mr. Corinthos – you don't mind if I prefer to call you Mr. Corinthos? 'Sonny' is hardly a word to roll off of one's tongue - you have so much to learn. But if you'll be a willing pupil, I will be glad to teach you. Lesson one: I doubt if it's wise to make threats."

"I never make threats." Sonny told her. "Only promises."

"And did you promise my bastard step-daughter that you would keep her safe? That you would never ever let anything hurt her?" Helena asked, deliberately taunting him and thoroughly enjoying the flare of pain that flashed into his eyes. "Did you? Then you lied."

Sonny made a motion as though to lunge at her, but Luke snatched him back.

"Well done, Luke." Helena told him. "You really should teach your compatriots about the rules of engagement."

"Yeah, like the one talking about that the Black Widow is never more dangerous when caught alone in her web. But other than that, there are no rules as far as you're concerned."

""How astute." Helena shrugged one shoulder elegantly. "True enough, darling Luke and we both know why, don't we? It's because, I always have an – how do you saying it in America – an ace in the hole." Helena reached easily into her jacket and brought out what looked like a remote control.

"Yes, you always did know me best. Of all the opponents I have sparred with over the years, you have been one of the most worthy. One day I will have to dispose of you permanently and believe me, it will grieve me to do so."

Sonny watched, unbelievingly as Luke sketched a bow in Helena's direction. He gave Sonny a quick glance, as though warning him to stay silent. Sonny forced himself to remember they were on Luke's turf now, dealing with a familiar enemy.

"Thank you, darlin'." Luke told her. "And now that we've had our fun and games for the month, what do you say we pack up our toys and everyone just go on home."

Helena actually pretended to think his offer over. "No, I'm afraid I can't oblige you this time. After all, you've brought guests, and what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't provide a little entertainment?

"But tell me, where is my delectable Jasper Jax? Knowing his devotion to my little Natasha, I was sure that he was involved in this little rescue operation." She looked from Luke to Sonny and then studied the others. Comprehension filled her eyes. "Ah. I see. He went off to rescue the fair Caroline." Her eyes went back to Sonny. "In spite of his devotion to Alexis. How interesting. No doubt, he entrusted Alexis' care and well-being to you before he left. Whatever will you tell him when you see him? How will you tell him you failed?"

Her taunts pushed Sonny over the edge. He lunged for her again, only to bring himself up short as she pulled a pal-sized metal object from her pocket. He recognized it all too clearly. It was some sort of remote control. And he could only guess at what it controlled.

"Well done, Mr. Corinthos. I admire a man with control." Helena said with a little laugh. "I do believe you recognized my little toy? It's a remote detonator. And everyone present knows what detonators are for. And since I did promise you some entertainment…" she pressed a button and an answering rumble of sound echoed somewhere away from them.

"And there's more. I have a riddle for you? Are you game?" Helena looked around. "Come now, all these brilliants minds in one place...or is it matter of brawn over brains?" she turned to Luke. "Come darling, I know that you will be able to participate in our next little go-round. Tell me, do you know the story of the Lady and the Tiger?"

Luke stared at her, now that she's precipitated her so-called game to a whole new level, he was hardly in the mood to play.

"Indulge me, Luke. I insist." She smiled, a twisting of her lips that never ever reached her eyes. But she saw in his eyes that she had him this time. "Luke…I really do insist."

"How do we know that Alexis is even still alive?" Luke demanded. "That you didn't just blow her to kingdom come?"

Sonny's chest clutched painfully at Luke's words, but he steeled himself to let Luke play this game out.

"I give you my word that she is, Luke." Helena told him. "I'll even go so far as to tell you that she's here, somewhere in Wyndemere. As to where, well, that's a secret I think I'll keep. If you want to find her, then I suggest you indulge me and my whims and tell your friends the tale."

Luke turned to the others. "I don't know if you all know about the story of the Lady and the Tiger. It's an old folk tale – an ancient myth actually."

"There was a warrior, condemned to the arena because of his forbidden love for a princess. Her father, the king, had a unique way of dispensing justice. The condemned was given a choice of two doors. Behind was a bloodthirsty tiger-" and here he shot Helena a murderous glance. – "Behind the other a beautiful woman. The condemned was either killed – or wed – on the spot. Standing before them in the arena, the warrior looks into the princess' eyes, asking her which door should he choose. She gives him the answer."

"But what is the twist to the story, Luke?" Helena asked with a purely malicious purr in her voice.

"It's worthy of you, Helena." Luke said to her. He then turned back to the others. "The puzzle, the twist to the story - is which choice does the princess give? Does love or hate guide her?"

"Brava, Luke. And so, here we are, gentlemen. I'm going to take my leave of you now. And our modern day twist to the tale is one where you decide the outcome: Do you let your hatred of me win over your love for Alexis? You have a choice. You can pursue me – or you can save Alexis' life. You can't do both." Silence greeted her words. Luke was the one to break it and his words admitted their defeat.

"You win this round, Helena, but this isn't over." Luke said to her, an unmistakable growl in his voice. All pretense of charm had disappeared from it.

"No, darling, it never is." Helena said with a smile. "Do give my regards to Jasper when you next you see him. Tell him that I look forward to visiting him, perhaps in the South of France. We met there once; we danced among the roses… To Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers….tell him by all means, to remember the roses of Monaco, they make such heavenly bouquets…Or on second thought, perhaps I'll give them to him myself. But in the meanwhile, I give you this." She quotes them the riddle…. The Tiger's Eye shines high in the sky atop the highest tower. The key you seek, the love you keep, behind the largest flower. "And this…" She pushed another button. Somewhere above them, a muffled booming echoed. She pressed a second time and a second series of explosions erupted, shaking the floor beneath their feet and sending them all crashing down in different directions. A shower of plaster and bricks rained down on them, making everyone ducking for cover as best they could.

The room began to fill with smoke. Sonny coughed and groped his way to his feet, just in time to see Helena slip out of the room. A blink, and then there was only the echo of her caustic laughter left hanging in the air.

"Stop her!" Sonny shouted. A fresh blast shook the room and threw him facedown. Choking dust and debris rained down across the room. Sonny ignored the pain of his scrapes and abrasions and dragged himself back up, paying no mind to the crumbled mortar and shattered stone that scratched and tore his hands. "She knows where Alexis is!"

"Alexis is here! She's here in Wyndemere!' Luke shouted back over the sounds of crashing stone, mortar and beams; they seemed to be multiplying, the destruction growing, the sound echoing loudly both near and in the distance.

"How can you be so sure?" Sonny said. "That old woman is crazy." He heard the others pulling themselves to their feet and looked around in concern; even as he himself found it hard to catch his breath and coughed on the rising dust from the fallen debris and the rising smoke. Thankfully, everyone called out that they were more or less okay.

"Certifiable." Luke agreed. "But even insane people have their rules...Helena in particular. Say what you want, but Helena does love a sporting chance. We got to take what she gave us and use it." He motioned for the others to follow him through the main doors of the room. There was no need of subterfuge at this point. No doubt anyone in Helena's employ was on their way out of Wyndemere.

"She calls this a chance?" Sonny asked.

"For Hells? You betcha." Somehow Luke still managed to keep ahold of his cockiness. He hadn't even lost his cigar. "And now, we can stand here and debate the level of her insanity or we can go looking for Alexis."

By this time, they had made their way out into the main hall of Wyndemere. They stopped in front of the main staircase that rose up and branched out in four different directions. "Where do we start?" Sonny asked, bewildered and frustrated.

"Something in that little riddle she threw out is the clue." Luke said as the others gathered around. They were coated with layers of dust and plaster, but other than that, they were basically in functional, if battered, shape.

"It made no sense." Johnny said, leaning heavily on Max. His face twisted in frustration and pain and he tried to bite back a groan even as Sonny looked at him. His old wounds must have opened up, Sonny thought and took a step towards him in concern.

"You okay?" Sonny asked.

"Forget me." Johnny said, shaking his head, and did his best to ignore the pain that slashed through him as he moved. Despite his best efforts, a reflection of it flickered across his face; and a second groan escaped him but he thrust the pain aside, ignoring it. He could hurt later. There were more important things to do right now. "We've got to find Alexis." Johnny said. "Luke, what's in that riddle that we need to know?"

"Tiger's Eye and highest tower, what we seek is behind the largest flower…." Luke stopped. "Give me a minute… there's got to be something. She do love stretching the grey matter."

But they were running out of time; the rumbles and sounds of destruction were growing louder. The smoke was beginning to thicken and there was a fresh scent of fire in the air.

"I say we go back and find that madwoman and get the information from her by any means necessary." Sonny shouted angrily.

"Forget her! I told you, there are too many hidden passages in Wyndemere!" Luke shouted back. "And she knows every one of them. At least we know Alexis is alive. That's our priority now – to find her and keep her that way! We've got to find Natasha!"

"And how do we do that!" Sonny's fear was real now. This was no imaginary threat. Even with everything that Alexis had told him about Helena, he was having trouble accepting the lengths that madwoman had gone to. She was willing and ready to bring this whole place down around them. And they had to find Alexis before it did exactly that.