(Author's Notes- Well here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!! Please Read and Review!! Thanks!! --Am)
Chapter #8- Surprise Visitors and Evil Plans
The Next Morning-
Nikolas had woken up only a few minutes ago. He was now watching his sleeping wife and was trying to think of a way for both of them, their sons, and Lucky & Liz to get out of Greece. Emily soon stirred, opened her eyes, but soon rolled back over letting Nikolas know she wasn't about to wake up.
One thing Nikolas knew: Emily was not a morning person, especially without coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
But, he had to get her up. Emily had woken up in the middle of the night, scared that Stavros might end up going after Lucky and Liz. She told Nikolas exactly what she said to Stavros while at the doctors, and Nik knew Stavros would want to see results of punishment.
Nikolas hated this, sometimes more so than Emily herself.
"Come on Em. You have to wake up..." Nikolas said.
"Mmm...no...too sleepy." Emily mumbled.
"I know you are, but it's necessary." Nikolas said while scooping Emily up in his arms and carrying her once again to the bathroom where he promptly placed her at the vanity.
Em just looked at her husband through her mirror with one question in her eyes. Her husband knew exactly what question that was.
"I wish I knew baby. I wish I knew. Come on, lets get this makeup on you..." Nikolas said as he started to apply the bruise makeup.
The real bruises on Emily's arms, Nikolas decided not to address the night before. But today was a different story. He was definitely going to talk to Stavros about putting his hands on his wife.
The makeup Nikolas helped his wife apply was what looked to be a handprint on the right side of her face, and another on her left shoulder. He put a little makeup on the small of her back, and Emily put some color under her eyes to make them look baggier than they actually were. Emily also put a little fake blood under her lip and her chin.
They needed effect, and that's what they were hoping to achieve.
They soon realized that Emily indeed looked like a battered wife, and it broke Nikolas' heart to think of him actually doing that...
"Ready?" He asked her softly.
"No...Am I ever?...Never mind." Emily said wanting to cry, but held it together.
"How about we discuss strategies later ok?" Nikolas said, wanting to give his wife a better option than their current situation.
"Ok. Let's go." She said as he escorted her out the door.
Doctor's Office-
"Shoot!! Lucky, I just found Jasmine's jacket here. And I'm on break, so why don't we find where Sta—I mean Lucien lives and give this back to her." Liz said.
"Good idea, come on." Lucky said as they made their way to a part of hell that Jasmine has to call home.
Castle – Study-
Stavros Cassadine was not in a happy mood. He never was when it came to Jasmine. She was always so disobedient, and he knew he couldn't effectively correct her because she was pregnant. He was just about to call his son into the room for a private conversation about her when the doorbell rang.
At the same moment, Nikolas and Emily were walking down the hallway toward the study when they heard the doorbell as well.
Nikolas quickly winked at his wife to let her know he was going to start yelling, make demands, and give orders.
Quickly giving his wife a kiss, they entered the study.
"Jasmine! Don't just stand there, get the door!" Nikolas said.
"Wait, no." Stavros interjected.
"Why not father?" Nikolas questioned, getting his interest peaked.
"Yeah, it's not like it's going to be anyone who knows us anyway. It's not like they're going to care – no one does." Emily said.
Nikolas was quite stunned that she said that, toward Stavros no less.
"What have I always told you Jasmine? Women are to be seen, not heard – fine! Go! Now!" Stavros yelled.
Emily left the room, and went to the door, trying to look at it from an angle. She wanted to look from her left side as opposed to her "bruised" right side.
"Yes?" Em asked, shocked at who she saw.
"Hi Jasmine. We're sorry to interrupt you, but you left this here yesterday." Lucky said as he handed her jacket to her.
"Thanks, I didn't realize I even left it." Jasmine replied with a small smile.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a servant lightly and accidentally tugged at Jasmine's left arm which made her flinch in pain. However, her first reaction was to look at who was grabbing her arm, and therefore exposing the right side of her face.
As Lucky and Liz looked at her in shock, Lucky then brushed past Jasmine (Liz quickly following) and stormed into the study where he, for the first time really saw his brother in almost 7 years.
As Emily rushed right after them (as best she could) she soon entered the heavily tense room.
"I can't believe it's really you..." Lucky said as he laid eyes upon his older brother, who (as much as he wanted to hug his brother) stayed emotionless.
"Lucky, Elizabeth." Nikolas replied nonchalantly.
"After 6 plus years you're not even happy to see us are you Nikolas?" Liz asked puzzled.
'I will say it's been a long time." Nik said.
'Geez, now I know what Emily feels...This IS hard...' Nik silently thought as Emily returned to his side.
"Jasmine, I want you to get your boys, and Liz and I are getting you and the kids out of here. There's no way I can let you live like this – especially when you're 5 months pregnant." Lucky said.
'Lucky, you will never know how much I love that you're my brother. Always protecting those in need and those you love, even when you don't know they're right in front of you. I will never stop calling you my brother for wanting to protect my wife as much as you do right now...' Nik thought.
"Over my dead body!" Stavros roared, which of course brought 4 pairs of eyes to stare.
"Why not Lucien? I saw you put your hands on Jasmine yesterday, saw you forcefully kiss her, and heard the threats you made to her when you got home." Lucky said.
At Nikolas', Jasmine's, and Stavros' questioning and surprised looks, Lucky continued.
"That's right. I followed you two home last night. And you my dear brother, I thought you loved her. She had no marks on her face from the time I followed her home, through the time I left from my spot near your window."
At Nikolas' and Jasmine's shocked expression, Lucky elaborated.
"Relax – I let you have you're privacy...or what I thought was privacy. Maybe I was wrong to leave. Maybe I should have stayed. Maybe I would have been able to save her from some of the hell she was going to live through. And now I come back here, (which I didn't expect to,) and find her beaten up? What – did you know I was there and only pretend to be nice to her till you knew I was gone, then let her have it? She's 5 months pregnant!! Do you have any idea what damage you could've done to your twins that she's carrying?" Lucky yelled, somewhat scared for Jasmine.
"Actually, I'm quite proud of my son-in-law. He has finally shown some physical proof of his reinforcement to Jasmine's disobedience. I'm glad to see physical results instead of just mental results." Stavros said.
"I wasn't taking to you! And how could you be so cruel to your own daughter? It just sickens me!!" Lucky said.
Both Nik and Em wanted to cry at Lucky's passionate concern. If only he knew everything. Emily was glad Lucky didn't know who she really was, because he probably would have killed Stavros right then and there. Sometimes she wasn't sure if Nikolas was planning on killing Stavros himself or not.
"I know of him kissing my wife...And Lucien, if I may ask, what is the one cardinal rule I have for you and you only? I want you to repeat it to me." Nikolas asked, for once able to turn his real fury on his father.
Stavros gave a roll of his eyes. Lucky and Liz were both intrigued at Nikolas' one rule. Emily had a strong feeling she knew exactly what that rule was. Problem is Stavros disregarded that rule, no matter how small the act, every chance he got...She told Nik this and he's been trying to fix it ever since. He's even been tempted to "forbid" Jasmine of having any encounter with Stavros, but it wouldn't work because Stavros would then get suspicious.
"Well? What is it? What is the only rule that YOU have to follow?" Nikolas asked, patience diminishing at each second ticking away.
"That I am not to touch or punish your wife without you're permission." Stavros said, thinking he could dodge this bullet.
"WRONG!! You are not to touch or punish my wife AT ALL, regardless of what I say, which may or may not be out of pure frustration aimed at my wife. So get it right!!" Nikolas roared.
"Nikolas what happened to you? It's been 6 years. Yes, I'm sure you've changed, we all have! But since when do you beat up on women? Since when do you not care about their feelings or who they are as people? Hasn't Elizabeth or Emily taught you anything over our years of friendship?" Lucky countered, not remembering that Nik has tried to get home over the past 6 years.
"Do NOT mention Emily's name!" Nikolas shot back at Lucky.
"Ooh, I hit a nerve didn't I Nik? You loved her didn't you? Hell do you even know where's she's been or what happened to her?" Lucky said.
"Back off Lucky. I have no idea what you're talking about. I have no desire to see her, nor do I know where she is right now. I'm happy here, in Greece, away from everyone."
Em's ears shot up at Lucky's statement. Granted she knew it was true, Nikolas did love her - very much. But she wondered how her husband would dodge this question knowing that A: she was in the room, right next to him and B: if what he may say would hurt her. Em knew he wouldn't mean any of the nasty things he may say and would more than likely make it up to her.
"Well incase there's still a part of you that cares about the 4 Musketeer's Emily went missing. She left after your funeral, and we haven't heard from her since. We're worried sick thinking about what ifs. We have no idea where she could be. We've had me, my dad, Jason, and Sonny looking for her for 6 years! Know what we found? Nothing!!" Lucky said as he grabbed the crystal glass and threw it against the wall making the girls jump.
"I don't care!!" Nikolas gritted out through clenched teeth. "She is nothing. She probably ran off with Juan or whoever she was dating at the time."
'Baby, please forgive me. I mean nothing that I say right now...' Nikolas thought, wishing Em could read his thoughts.
"Well the fact that you even remember his name means you haven't stopped thinking about her. Even you miss her, and you know it. Help us find her." Lucky said.
"Would you just leave Nikolas be. He doesn't want anything to do with whoever you're talking about." Stavros piped up.
"Jasmine! Go into the library and wait for Nikolas to get you." Stavros suddenly barked, feeling she was getting a free ride out of this.
"Lucien! Do not order my wife around. Jasmine, he's right – go wait for me there while I show our 'guests' out. And by the way Lucien, don't go near nor discipline my wife. I have asked that the staff report to me if you do not do as I ask. Remember: punishing my wife – that is for me to do." Nikolas said, about to escort Lucky and Liz out on Lucky's side, as not to make Liz feel threatened.
As Em left for the library, Stavros went in another direction completely, looking for the twins.
As Stavros left, Nikolas went ahead of Lucky and Liz.
"Come with me." He said quietly.
Lucky and Liz looked at each other briefly puzzled, but soon followed.
Nikolas had reservations about leaving Emily alone in the house with Stavros. Hopefully she would be with their twins because Stavros wouldn't hurt her in front of them, no matter what kind of example he was trying to set.
Nikolas soon realized that Lucky and Liz came via Lucky's car and asked if he could drive them anywhere secluded. He told them there was something they needed to know, but couldn't risk getting caught.
Castle-
Stavros Cassadine was livid. And a livid Stavros was not a good thing. He was determined to make Jasmine's life more hellish than it already was, and was going to use the one thing that would shatter her most to bring her down.
Her children.
Stavros wasn't suspicious of anything, he just wanted to get her into trouble, and if Nikolas wasn't going to teach her a lesson, he'd be damned if she got away with it.
Although he was quite pleased with the progress Nikolas began to show. He figured that slap to the face had to hurt. He'd be glad to continue that. Regardless of Nikolas' orders, Stavros was still his father.
He wanted anything to get Jasmine in trouble. No matter how small or insignificant.
And where's the best place to start – in their bedroom of course.
"Boys. Come with me. I need your help looking for something." Stavros said to Anthony and Darien.
"What are you looking for?" Anthony asked.
"Well, I'm not sure yet but it's in your parent's room."
"But Mama and Dad aren't in there, so why would we go there? Plus can't you just ask them?" Darien asked.
"You're mother and father already said I can come get you. And because you are young, you can help me look under things and such." Stavros convinced the young boys.
"Okay." They both said.
"Wait...Will Mama get in trouble at all?" The boys asked, just to make sure.
"I promise. Your mother will not get in trouble." Stavros said.
Secluded Area-
"So you want to explain to me, how 6 years ago you were dead set against ever becoming The Cassadine, yet now you are going to be that Cassadine?" Lucky said really annoyed.
"Look...this goes NO where – got it?....It's all an act." Nik said, eyes cast downward.
"What?" Liz asked.
"You both actually believe I'd EVER lay a hand on a woman? How could you even think that I could do that – with what you and Em taught me? No way! How could you guys actually think I'd ever want to be The Cassadine? I don't. I guess my acting is better than I thought..." Nik asked shocked, yet at the same time a bit marveled."Well, yeah...you were very convincing." Lucky said.
"Good. Hopefully Stavros is still thinking what you thought." Nikolas said.
"So you're not brainwashed?" Liz asked.
"Nope, maybe a bit stressed with trying to protect my wife and kids but other than that we're all just trying to get home." Nik replied with a smile and out of the blue scooped Liz up in a big hug as he spun her around.
"It's SO good to know you're alive...but I don't get it...Jasmine's face, her arms..." Liz said.
"The bruises on Jasmine's arms are real – not by me I assure you. But by Stavros – which Lucky, you saw him kiss her – which I want to kill him for...However, the bruises on her face, shoulder, and the small of her back, and the extra baggy/black eye look is all stage makeup – all fake."
"It's so convincing even to me, that every time I see Jasmine I just want to hold her and tell her that I'm sorry for hurting her. Yet we both have to remind ourselves that those 'bruises' wash off. The ones on her arms however, must dissipate naturally though." Nik said.
"Ok...mind telling us the story from the beginning?" Lucky asked, still puzzled but very glad Nikolas never hurt Jasmine.
(Author's Notes- Well I hope you liked that chapter. TBC soon with Nik's explanation and Stavros' evil plan revelaed...Please Read & Review!! Thanks!! --Am)