Chapter 14.5

Alexis was really getting sick and tired of waking up feeling groggy and confused all the time. This time she had been awaken by the sound of someone grunting in pain. She could barely make out what was happening and in all honesty she didn't really have it in her to care at the moment. She was so tired and scared of what would happen if no one was able to get to her.

While she feared for her life her biggest fear at the moment was thinking of what Valentine's intentions for the baby were. Thinking of the baby made her sit up, her head darting side to side as she tried to find the baby. She panicked when she didn't see the bassinet. "Sweet Pea" she got up searching through her cell, which proved to be empty. She sat heavily on the bed as fear for her child made her throat and stomach clench painfully.

As she continued to look around she noticed the blue romper the baby had been wearing earlier tossed carelessly on the floor. She reached for it with shaking hands. She picked up the soft fabric and brought it to her nose inhaling the sweetness of her baby. Tears, she could no longer contain, streamed down her face and her throat clenched painfully, as a sob threaten to escape. She felt the heaviness of grief envelope her at the implications of her baby missing. Without concious thought she laid down bringing her legs up into the fetal position. The pain, loss and fear of what he could have done with her baby making her feel desperate and at a loss as to what to do.

She laid on the bed staring at nothing as images of her childhood once again invaded her thoughts. She tensed when she heard two men's muffles voices as they approached her cell. She remained laying on the bed, her eyes closed hoping to keep the men from injecting her again so soon after the last time. She wanted the chance to clear her head and body of the drugs so that when she tried to escape she wouldn't have to battle her own body. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she recognized one of the voices as belonging to Valentine.

"How dare you put a hand on her" she heard Valentine's rough voice demanding an answer for what she suspected had happened earlier.

"Sir" she could hear the tremor in the other man's voice but she couldn't pin-point exactly who it was that Valentine was taking his anger outon.

"What part of no one is to touch her, didn't you understand" she heard a gasp followed by a thump.

"Sir she, she." the man was scared and Alexis thought vindictively it was the least he deserved for what she was being put through. The man was stuttering and she knew that Valentine would be even more infuriated by the display of weakness. Or it would please him. She knew the sick bastard would enjoy seeing someone squirm.

"Silence" he yelled impatiently. "Be grateful I have no time to deal with you now. Touch her again and you will be disposed of. Understood"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, now go and start preparing the great hall for my surprise. Get the child ready for what I have planned for him "

Alexis couldn't stop the tear that ran down her cheek at the thought of her baby being alive but in danger because of her. She was worried at the tone with which Valentine spoke of the baby.

She tensed as she felt Valentine's gaze focus on her. "Good too see your awake Natasha." He said as walked over to her and knelt down so that he could look her in the eyes. "You know it is not very nice of you to listen in on other people's conversations." he said caressing her cheek in a seductive manner that caused her to shuddered in disgust. "Don't" he growled, his eyes darkening in anger as he felt her recoil in disgust when he touched her.

"There is no one Natasha, no one to find you and no one to take you away from me. One word from me and my men will go and kill anyone who would ever come looking for you" he took her hand in his "If you love your friends and family then what you need to do is pray to God that they all have enough sense to stop coming to look for you because trust me Natasha they will never take you away from me and I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that they are no longer a threat to our life." He gripped her chin roughly so that she was forced to looked him in the eye "Do we understand each other."

Alexis nodded, paralyzed by the knowledge that her family, who had come looking for her, was in danger. "Let me talk to them, I will convince them to back off. Please I will stay here with you and the baby" she begged.

She gasped in surprise when he turned toward her his barely contained fury making his body vibrate "No, they had their chance. And the child is no longer your concern" he stood up and turned away from her.

"Damien" Valentine yelled, causing the guard, who Alexis had not know was there, to step forward.

Alexis got off the bed and went after him needed to know about his plans for her baby. "What do you mean. Where is my baby?" she shouted at him as he ignored her.

"Natasha, I do not think you two have been properly introduced" he indicated impatiently at Damien "Natasha, Damien, Damien, Natasha. Today my dear is a very special day" he said almost wistfully, making Alexis worried.

"What is so special about today and where is my baby?" she asked not wanting to know what sadistic new plan he had in store for her but desperate for any answers about her baby.

"Well Natasha, I don't want to ruin the surprise but here is a little hint. Our guests are really going to surprise you" He said turning away from her, dismissing her questions about her baby.

"Damien here is going to take you upstairs to your new room. I have chosen something beautiful for you to wear on our special night" he turned to her and once again gripped her chin so that she was looking at him. When she saw him start to bend over her for a kiss she tried to jerk away but he just held on to her even tighter making her eyes water and then unable to fight him off she felt his lips press against her.

Alexis was revolted and scared but she knew there was nothing she could do and from experience she knew that it actually excited him when she struggled so he just let him kiss her. Just as she thought as soon as he realized he was getting no reaction from her he pulled away and turned toward the guard. "Take her up to her room and make sure she stays there until dinner tonight" he kissed her hard once more before pushing her roughly onto the bed. Before he exited the cell he turned and said menacing to her "And don't ever bring up the child again. He is no longer your concern"

"Ms. Cassadine" Damien walked up to her and tried to help her stand up. When she still didn't move he grabbed her arms and tries to pull her up.

"Don't touch me" she said as she pushed his hands off her. Knowing she was out of options she stood up and walked pass him her head held high and her emotions once again masked.

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Alexis looked to the bed once again and a shiver of revulsion went up her spine at the implications of what he wanted her to wear for this special dinner that was to happen tonight. She sat as far away from it as she could her hair and make-up having been done by the make-up artist that apparently Valentine had hired just for this occasion. The tiara he had chosen just for this moment weighed heavily on her head.

His queen, that was what Valentine had always wanted her to be and now he would forced her to become his queen There was no one to help her. If she was to believe what he said then Julian was dead. She felt empty, and the only reason she had not chosen death was because there was still a chance for her baby to be alive. Also, Valentine had implied that if she didn't do as he ordered Molly and Kristina would pay the price.

She shook her head trying to rid herself of the thought but no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew that Julian would have come after her and Valentine would have shown him no mercy when he found him. Every time that she remember Valentine's threats she tried to reassure herself that Julian was alright by telling herself that she would know if something had happened to him. That she would feel a hole in her heart the exact size and shape of Julian if he was truly gone. Besides he would never die without telling her first he knew first hand how angry she would get if he left her again.

She nervously glanced at the white dress laid out for her. It was a wedding dress. The dress she would be wearing tonight when she was forced to marry Valentine.

She thought cynically 'why would this wedding be any different than her first two marriages without true love'. She thought of her favorite ex-husband, Jax, she had married him to help her friend Chloe and she had loved him. She still considered him one of her dearest friends and she was grateful to have been thrust into that marriage because they got to know each other better. Then there was her second ex-husband, Ric, the psycho as she referred to him in her head. That was a mistake that she regretted to this day. The only good thing that had come out of that marriage had been her daughter. And for that she would always be grateful. Now for the third time she was going to have to marry, not for love but because she had no choice.

She looked at the time and decided that it was not worth pissing Valentine off until she had a clear way of getting out of this especially when she didn't know where her baby was.

Damien stood outside of the door to gather his wits before knocking gently on the door. Valentine was ready and had sent him to get Ms. Cassadine. Just as he was getting ready to knock again she opened the door. He stepped back to give her room to step out without crowding her. Damien had always known she was a princess by title but now she looked every bit the Russian princess she had been born to be.

The white silky dressed clung enticing to all of her curves and Damien found it difficult to take his eyes away from her.

"Mr. Cassadine is ready for you" he said tearing his eyes off of her as soon as she turned her hard gaze to him. Alexis nodded and moved past him but he grabbed her arm before she could continue. "I'm, sorry"

Alexis looked at him and didn't know whether to feel sorry for him or to smack him. "But it that you are, it still doesn't help me, my family or my baby. So don't act like you have no choice in this. We all have a choice" and with that she walked past him.

Damien felt ashamed and pathetic as he watched her go past him. She was right he did have a choice and he had chosen to be a coward about it and now he was hoping to be absolved of his sins by her so that he could feel better about himself. Damien started walking after her feeling even more ashamed then ever.

Damien walked behind Alexis and could saw Valentine before Alexis was able to. He saw as Valentine stood up and walked over to them as soon as he spotted Alexis. Damien knew that Valentine didn't want to ruin the sick surprise he had set up for her before it was ready. Damien felt a cold shiver run up his spine as he thought about what Ms. Cassadine was about to endure.

"My dear Natasha" Valentine held out his hand to take hers in his. "It feels like I have waited a lifetime for this moment and now in only a few hours you and I will finally fulfill a legacy that was meant to be" he turned and started walking to the dining room Alexis having no choice but to trail after him.

"Now my dear" he extended a hand with flourish "say hello to all of our guests. Alexis was a few steps behind him and tried to imagine who could possibly be a part of Valentine's delusion. As she turned she felt the bile raise in her throat as she felt heat raise up her body and her breathing became labored. She couldn't process the monstrosity that was in front of her and when she felt the darkness overtake her she gratefully surrendered to the darkness.

***Sorry guys I was on a Mission trip and no internet available. Thanks for all the reviews. JMHO: Concerning the show right now I don't think I have ever wanted a baby to die more than I want Olivia's. Absolutely no reason to have that mediocre side story going on when Julian and Alexis talking about their pasts would be enough***