(Author's Notes- Sorry for the long wait.  Glad you liked the last chapter!! On to chapter #9!!  Please Read and Review!! Thanks!! --Am)

Chapter #9- Deception

Castle- Nik & Em's Bedroom-

As Stavros began ransacking Nik & Em's bedroom, he sent Anthony and Darien under the bed and in the bathroom.

Digging under the cabinet of the sink, the boys stumbled upon the makeup kit used for the bruising.

Emily and Nikolas never thought they'd have to use a lock, because the boys weren't allowed in their room unless they were supervised, or they had a nightmare.  In addition, if they were allowed in their room unsupervised, they were not allowed to look in any cabinets, drawers etc. without their parent's permission.  The boys were very good about that.

They also kept the main door locked. Unbeknownst to them however, Stavros had made a key and was therefore able to get in.

Figuring Stavros trusted them to tell him the truth, the twins quickly tried to hide the makeup kit back under the sink, before Stavros could see what they possibly found. However hearing his footsteps quickly approaching made them panic and they made a lot of noise in the process.

"What have we here boys?" Stavros asked, very pleased they had found something, something very incriminating, while a still oblivious Jasmine waited for her husband in the library.

Emily Quartermaine didn't exist anymore. Emily Quartermaine died when she was 18, forever to go by 'Jasmine.'

Especially in Nikolas or Stavros' presence.

Stavros made sure Jasmine never revealed who she really was. Hopefully she forgot who she used to be.

Secluded Area-

"I never knew what hit me. One second I was walking on the docks to meet Emily, the next it was all black. Then I woke up, splitting headache, only for my captor to tell me I was finally home. For 3 years Stavros and Helena groomed me to be the evil Cassadine they've always wanted me to be.  I learned quickly to pretend to comply and obey, when in reality everything was telling me not to.  I only did it so I could avoid the brutal consequences that would ensue had I not.  Soon Stavros said it was time for me to meet my wife." Nikolas said.

Nikolas had paused and took a few deep breaths.

"However, before I was to meet her, Stavros had to, what he called 'prepare' her for my arrival.  I didn't want to know what he meant, but as I was waiting outside the door, Jasmine said she didn't want her sons' involved...they were 3 years old.  Stavros let them go hide, and as soon as they were gone I heard a struggle going on.  Ends up, Stavros had Jasmine chained to the bed..." Nikolas choked out.

"Nikolas, did he want you to do what I think..." Liz started off.

"Yes, although he didn't let Jasmine know that – though I'm sure she figured it out...He whispered that part to me..." Nikolas said a tear fell from his eyes.

"I had also asked her how old she was, she replied, barley a whisper that she was 19.  I made Stavros leave.  Apparently his 'suggestion' was supposed to be my initiation to being a real Cassadine.  She was SO scared..." Nik shook his head to try and rid himself of the memory.

"I was finally able to make him leave. I slowly walked over to her and sat down next to her.  She was crying, literally shaking so hard, and squeezed her eyes shut as if I were Stavros...it freaked me out but I knew I had to stay calm.  I slowly took her chained hand in mine, which made her shake even harder and pulled out the key I had stashed in my pocket.  I set her free which confused her even more.  It was like she thought I had something else up my sleeve..." Nikolas said still sickened by the memory.

"Nik..." Liz started, lost for words as he went over to him and hugged him.

"I reassured her I wouldn't hurt her.  That no one deserved to be hurt that way, and we made a pact that we were going to continue to deceive Stavros as best we could until we were out of there.  We did that with really good stage makeup that I was able to buy.  Something inside of me told me to get it and hide it. I can't remember how many times I'd go to the store in town every few months to buy more and more.  We used those so often...I still feel like I have been the abusive boyfriend. But I'm not...I swear I'm not."

"3 years after that, Jasmine and I were engaged.  We legitimately fell in love over those 3 years and planned to marry for love.  A couple of months later we were. Jasmine's sons and Stavros were our witnesses." Nikolas said, smiling at the memory.

"Her sons bonded to me like glue and started calling me 'Dad.' I loved them and loved their mother, so regardless of biology I became their father and couldn't be happier with them.  They've kept Jasmine and me alive so many times when we were both at the end of our rope.  They were our soldiers when we couldn't be theirs."

"Now, here we are.  We're this close to escaping, but Jasmine is pregnant and there's no way that she'll be able to endure that kind of stress.  We both know it.  So we have to wait.  And we're hoping you'll help us and we can return home.  Oh by the way, you know I'll help you look for Emily.  Practically everything I said in there was for show, with the exception of finding out if Stavros ever listened to me when I told him never to touch Jasmine.  I still want to kill him for what he did to her yesterday regardless if I was there or not." Nik said.

Just the fact that Nikolas didn't change over the years, was all Lucky needed.

"Welcome back bro. I'm sorry I was so harsh back there." Lucky said as he hugged his brother.

Castle – Nik & Em's Bedroom –

Stavros took the package from the boys' hands and inspected it. He was enraged with fury and hatred that his son had deceived him so easily. He should have known better...Stavros decided to use the makeup to teach Jasmine a lesson.

"Hey boys, come here, let me put this on you." Stavros said.

"No! Makeup is for girls!!" Darien said.

"People on stage, in plays wear makeup." Stavros said, thinking quickly.

"They do?" Asked Anthony.
"Yes, why don't we put this on and later you can put on a show for your mother and father."

"Okay..." The twins said.

A few minutes later, Emily got very tired and very bored.  She figured Nikolas was at least trying to explain some of his behavior to Lucky & Liz. 

Being 5 months pregnant also wore out Emily completely. She decided to go upstairs & take a nap.

As Emily quietly opened her bedroom door, she heard the laughing of her 6 year old sons. She wondered how they got in here, she wasn't very pleased that they didn't ask – but they usually always followed the rules so she wasn't that angry.

"Boys, what are you doing in Mommy and Daddy's room? You know you're not supposed to—" Emily said in a semi-stern tone but stopped short and gasped as she entered the bathroom.  She went completely pale at seeing her sons in the makeup (and the makeup that was on the floor surrounding them) that was so essential to her and technically her husband's survival.

"Boys...wha...what did you do? Why did you...you boys know better than this..." Emily said, completely shocked, and quickly going numb to be angry with her sons, just about ready to cry.

"Mama? Are you ok?" Darien asked, ready to cry himself.

"We're sorry we were in here and you're right, we know better but—" A trembling Anthony started.

"But I told them that you and Nikolas said it was ok." Stavros said, coming up from behind, making Emily jump.

"Stavros..." Emily whispered in fear as her eyes went wide.

"Jasmine...you've deceived me, and that my dear is a very, very naughty thing to have done...You need to be taught a lesson." Stavros said,

"NO!!" Both boys yelled as Emily and Stavros turned to look at them.

"You - you told us that Mama wasn't going to get in trouble!" Said Anthony.

"You told us that we were allowed to be in here 'cause you said that Mommy and Daddy told you we could!" Cried Darien.

"YOU PROMISED!!" Both boys yelled as tears came pouring down both their little faces.

"So you tricked my sons into being in here? How could you?!" Emily yelled.

Infuriated with Stavros and not willing to face him right now, she focused her attention back on her sons.

"Boys, come on lets get you cleaned up ok?" Emily said, willing herself not to cry in front of her sons.

"No! Boys go get cleaned up in the other bathroom. Now." Stavros said very firmly.

"I will not have you ordering around my sons." Emily countered.

Stavros gave a raised eyebrow to the boys, which had them quickly apologize to their mother as they scampered off and out of the room.

However, the look he gave Emily was far more fear-inducing as she huddled to the corner of the bathroom.

Completely trapped.

Secluded Area-

"Bro, you know we'll help you, Jasmine, and the twins. We just have to figure out a way to do so." Lucky said.

"I know. Jasmine actually found a secret passageway. We've gotten pretty deep into it but so far we've found nothing. And Jasmine's pregnancy has kept her from doing a lot lately..." Nikolas said.

"We'll figure this out Nikolas. I promise. It shouldn't be too much longer." Liz said, smiling that one of her eldest and dearest friends was his old self.

"Thank you Liz. Well, I better get back home and you two should get back to work." Nikolas said.

"Right. Bring Jasmine in, in a few weeks, or if you or she thinks anything may be wrong." Lucky said.

"I will, thanks."

"Do you mind if we pick up something at the market first, then bring it to our apartment before we bring you back to the castle?" Liz asked.

"I think Jasmine will be ok.  She's probably with the twins right now.  Besides I made sure the servants report to me." Nikolas said with a sly grin.

"Did you really order them to report to you?" Lucky asked.
"No, but don't tell Stavros that." Nik said, smiling at his own deception.

(Author's Notes- I hope you liked that chapter!! Next one coming soon!! Please Read and Review!! Thanks!! --Am)