Chapter 7

When Kate and John reached Europe they didn't care to stop and get a room for each of them. John was adamant on finding Marlena before it was too late. Knowing John the way she did Kate didn't argue with him. The found the castle that plagued John's dreams within a matter of a few hours. Now both comfortably dressed are in the catacombs beneath the DiMera castle. Kate was finding it difficult to keep up with John but she didn't dare tell him to slow down. If he was right Kate was just as excited to see Roman as he was to see Marlena. So much had happened in the months that passed the island escape. They both had a lot of time to catch up with their family. John drags his hands across the walls. He knew something would lead them inside the castle he just needed to find it. Nothing else mattered right now he could sense the Marlena was in danger and he would stop at nothing to get her away from Tony, away from any DiMera. Meanwhile Roman continues to hold Marlena as she softly cried on his shoulder. He knew she didn't want to marry Tony.

"Doc I want you to do something for me okay? Will you?"

Marlena pulls away from Roman's shoulder and wipes her tears from her cheeks.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to keep believing that John is on his way. We both know how much he cares for you and how much you love him. I bet he's on his way right now and you won't have to marry Tony tomorrow. Could you do that for me?"

"I have to believe that. If I don't then Tony will find out about the baby and he will raise it as a DiMera and I don't want to see that happen. John is the father of this baby and I want us to raise it. I don't want Tony to get his hands on it."

"Now that's what I want to hear. It's late we had better get some sleep. I want you to feel rested when John comes tomorrow. He is going to be so excited about the baby."

"I can't sleep Roman the sooner I go to sleep the sooner tomorrow will come and I will be forced to marry Tony. I want to be awake when John comes in to save me."

Roman understood that Marlena wanted to wait for John before she went to sleep. She did however; agree to relax on the bed and with a smile and nod Roman went back to the wall. A few minutes later Marlena closed her eyes though she was fighting the sleepiness in her eyes. Roman knew that before long the weariness in her eyes would fail and she'd be asleep. He remember how difficult her other pregnancies were and he prayed that John we be there before to long he had to believe. Each day though became more difficult for him to keep his spirits up but he did for Marlena. If she knew that he was giving up hope then she would too.

In the catacombs beneath the castle John continued to search for answers. He knew that something would take them into the castle. He just had to find the way so he could get to Marlena. Kate began to search the walls for answers too. John's eagerness was beginning to rub off on her and she became just as determined to find a passageway as John was. She couldn't wait to see Roman and finally have the life they both dreamed of together. John soon came across a lever on the wall that reminded him of the secret rooms at the DiMera Mansion in Salem. Without a thought he began to pull at the lever. He growled in frustration when the lever didn't move. Kate heard the expression and rushed over to John. Together they both pulled at the lever. It still didn't move and that made John angry.

"John maybe this is just decoy. Maybe this doesn't lead us into the castle. This could be a trap set to keep intruders out did you ever think of that possibility?"

"No Kate I know this isn't a trap. I know this will take us the dungeon of this castle. I remember being here a long time ago while I was a priest. I know this has to be the way I just have to get it open."

"John we tried to get this opened both of us and it didn't move. Maybe there is another way or another passage that will take us to the dungeon."

"No Kate listen to me I know this is the way I can feel it. I can sense we are close to Marlena we could always feel each other even if we were thousands of miles away from each other it's our connection. Can't you feel that with Roman? Can't you feel that we are close to him?"

"Roman and I don't have that strong of a connection all I know is what you keep telling me. "

"Then maybe you shouldn't be with Roman?"

Kate looked at John with anger in her eyes. Just because they didn't have the same connection that he and Marlena shared didn't mean that they weren't meant to be together. John had no right to say that.

"What did you just say?"

"Oh I'm sorry Kate I didn't mean anything by that its just I'm so frustrated its making me go crazy. I know that Marlena is in danger and every second that we are away from her puts her life in more danger. I know how much you love Roman its just…I'm really sorry Kate I hope you don't take to much offense from what I just said."

"No John I understand how much you love each other and I also know how much you want to find her. I didn't mean to sound so negative but like you I'm becoming more frustrated that we aren't getting anywhere."

Without finishing what she was saying Kate looked over at John. He had his eyes closed it seemed to her that he was trying to remember something from his past that could help them. She also knew that whatever she just said he didn't hear just by the expression on his face.

"John what is it are you remembering something?"

"It's not a memory it's a feeling like I was here before a long time ago."

John opened his eyes and continued to look around the catacomb before him. He headed towards the memory with haste Kate following quickly behind him.

"If I can't get that lever open there has to be something here that can help me get the lever to budge. I just need to find it. Quick look around here for some type of lubrication maybe some oil or something like that I know its here. These catacombs used to be mines. There has to be something here we can use on that lever to get us inside the castle."

Kate walks over to and old shaft opening and looks inside it. The walls were coated with a think layer of oil. John was right these were mines a long time ago. That's probably why Stefano built his castle above them. That if he needed to he could get out of the castle without being noticed.

"John quickly I think I found something that could help."

John rushed over to Kate's side and looked inside the shaft. It was covered in oil the walls seeped with the material.

"Kate you are the best this will work perfectly. Now all I have to do is find out how I can get inside without the catacombs collapsing."

"Are you sure that the walls will collapse? That opening is barely big enough for me. It's definitely too small for you to get through it."

"I have to get inside it Kate. This might be the only way we can get inside the castle."

Kate sighed softly as John began to pull pieces of wood from the opening. He was gentle afraid that the walls had been weakened over the years. Soon there was enough space for him to get it, but barely. Kate stood outside the opening with much caution watching John pull himself inside. In a matter of minutes John was inside and looked around for a container to put the oil in.

"Kate I need to find something to put this oil in. Go and look around out there while I look here. These catacombs were left just as they were after the mine dried up."

Kate agreed and both began searching for something to put the oil in. It was the only way they both could get to there lovers and save them from the evil trenches of the DiMera's. A few minutes later John called out to Kate. He had found a small container and allowed the oil to drip into the container. After what seemed like centuries John pulled the container away from the stream and hurried out the shaft. Seconds later he and Kate raced to the lever. Only John placed his hands in the oil he coated the lever with as much oil as he could. With that done he pulled on the lever once more this time a door on the wall slid open. John smiled at his success just as the catacomb began to collapse. Dirt and dust fell from the ceiling and John pushed Kate to safety him following just in time to watch the wall fall. They were not going to get out this way once they found their lovers.

Marlena bolted up in bed as if escaping a nightmare. Roman heard the commotion and headed to Marlena. Sweat soaked her hair as she breathed heavily. Roman grew concerned as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Marlena what's happened?"

"It's John he's in so much danger."

Roman placed a reassuring hand around her shoulder and Marlena continued to frantically catch her breath.

"Woh Marlena you have to relax it isn't good for the baby and you know that. Now tell me what makes you think that John is in danger?"

"It's the connection we share. We can always tell when the other is in danger and oh Roman it's so strong. It's as if he's right here in the castle and struggling to survive. "

Roman knew that John and Marlena shared a soul mate connection and if she sensed that John was in danger then he must be. That was one thing he never argued with. Roman just prayed that Tony hadn't found John and locked him in the castle like he had with them. Right now the life of Marlena's child was in his hands. After tomorrow Marlena would never see her child again and he didn't want Marlena to loose another child like she had all those years ago. He knew she couldn't bear loosing another child and each minute that passed was one minute closer to insanity for her.

"Marlena try not to get upset John has been in worse cases then what he has now and he has always survived."

"I know Roman, I know it's just the feeling was paralyzing."

"I know I can see it in your eyes."

"Roman could you just hold me in your arms. I would feel safer if I had you next to me."

Roman nodded and took Marlena into his arms. In a matter of moments Marlena again drifted into a dreamless sleep.

"Oh please John hurry."

Roman thought as Marlena rested in his arms.

TBC…Chapter 8