Chapter 8

John and Kate slowly approach a dead end. John grunted in frustration and anger.

"John maybe it was another secret passageway we can't have come this far to end up at a dead end. You know the DiMera mansion has many secret passageways let's just look around for the key."

"Key?"

"You know like the lever there has to be something around here."

"Right you look that way I'm staying here. If you find it just call my name I'll be there in a minute. Do not pull that switch until I investigate it."

Kate nodded and headed to the opposite direction. John returned to the wall searching for a lever of some kind that will lead them to Marlena and Roman. John once again closed his eyes as he places his hand on the wall. Carefully tracing the patterns as if he were a blind man; with a gasp John's eyes shot open he remembered. This passage required a certain pattern to open it. One of DiMera's more clever ideas, carefully John pressed along the bricks the pattern required. Soon after the wall slid open John looked into it with amazement.

"Kate come here quickly I found the way."

Kate quickly approached John with a smile on her face. Both shared a friendly embrace and went inside. It was along hallway at the end of it was another door this one didn't require a password or lever.

"Do you think this will lead us right to Roman and Marlena?"

"I don't think Kate I know I can feel Marlena. She is this close to me I just have to find her. I pray Tony hasn't got his hand on her yet and it isn't too late for her."

"John how did you find the opening to this hallway?"

"I don't know I just felt that all I had to do was put my hands on the wall in a certain pattern and the wall would open and it did."

"That's amazing John come on lets get to our friends."

John smiled and both headed down the long passageway. It was traced with medieval items of knights and armor; the appearance frightened Kate as they both continued to walk down the passageway. With each step closer to the door fear filled her body. .John seemed not to be affected by his surroundings his mind was on a one way track and that was to find his friends and most importantly his wife. Soon they reached the door John approached it with caution as he placed his hand on the doorknob. With a gentle turn the door opened.

"John you did it!"

Kate shouted with excitement.

"It was too easy there has to be another way. I want you to stay here while I go inside."

"John I don't' want you to go inside by yourself. Tony could be waiting for you and if he finds you we won't be able to get to Roman and Marlena."

"Don't you think I know that? That's why I want you to stay here that way if Tony is waiting for me you can still go inside and get them while he's preoccupied with me."

"You're willing to sacrifice you own life?"

"I would risk my life to save Marlena from that man. That's why I need you to stay here do you understand me?"

Kate knew when John has his mind on something not to argue with him. She nodded as John went inside the door.

In their room Roman continued to hold Marlena in his arms giving her the security she needed to feel safe. Roman began to drift to sleep as the sound of Marlena's gentle breath became steady. Roman placed Marlena's head on the pillow and covered her up with the blanket at the end of the bed. He pulled her hair from her eyes and sighed softly.

"Marlena you must know that I would do anything to make you feel safe. Now just sleep hopefully when you wake up John will be here and we will be getting the hell out of here."

Roman turned away from Marlena and closed his eyes he himself had to try and get some sleep tomorrow would be a big day and if he had to make the decision to let Marlena go and leave him behind he would hesitate for John to take her to safety. After all he has already come face to face with a DiMera Tony didn't bother him.

Meanwhile on the other side of their wall John was making his way down a passageway full of traps. He managed to defeat all of them but with each trap things became more dangerous. He was happy that he convinced Kate to stay behind at the other door. She would have never made it as far as he had.

"I can feel you Marlena keep sending me your love."

John thought to himself as he struggled through the dangerous course leading to the door. After what seemed like a million years John reached the door. He placed his ear against the door listening to the other side. He heard some sound but it was really faint and he couldn't be sure if it was Marlena on the other side or not.

At the same time Marlena woke from her sleep sensing John's closeness. She turned to Roman who was asleep next to her. She smiled and softly touched his shoulder. Her touch brought Roman out of his sleep.

"Marlena what is it are you okay?"

"It's John he's so close to us Roman I know he's here I just hope Tony didn't capture him too. He's the only one who can help us now."

"John will be just fine this wouldn't be the first time he confronted any DiMera it's his hobby."

Marlena laughed lightly at Roman's comment. She knew he just wanted to lighten the tension she was feeling. It worked and she was smiling again and she had a positive attitude and knew John was coming to save them. Her forced marriage to Tony wouldn't take place.

"That's true isn't it?"

"It is."

A few moments later Roman heard something behind a banner hanging on the wall. Protectively he placed himself in front of Marlena. If anything or anyone was behind it they would have to get through him to reach Marlena.

"Is anyone in here?"

It was John, Marlena's eyes lit up as she heard John's voice. Roman wasn't sure if he was hearing was in fact John and he called out to the voice.

"Who's there?"

John came from behind the banner he was covered in dirt from the castle. His hair was disheveled and damp with perspiration. The room became silent as each exchanged looks to one another. Marlena ran to John and fell into his arms with relief. John couldn't do anything but take Marlena into his arms.

Meanwhile Tony woke from his own sleep sensing danger in his home. He quickly called his men and demanded they do a full search of the castle. He could sense an intruder and he also knew that it was John. After all it would have been only what he expected. Tony quickly threw on his bathrobe and headed to Roman and Marlena's room. With a turn of his key the door opened. Tony saw John holding Marlena in his arms Roman standing guard in front of John and Marlena.

"Tony how did you find out?"

Roman questioned as John pulled quickly away from Marlena's embrace placing her behind him. He pulled Tony from the door and into a choke hold he closed it behind him then locked it this was a fight between him and Tony and it was going to be a fair fight.

"This is my home Roman and I sensed there was an intruder I only guessed it was John. After all he was here many years ago as my father's pawn. I knew he would eventually find you."

"Tony your control ends here. You won't control any of us now. It's time all you DiMera's give up you will never break our spirits."

"This is exactly what I planned John, it's you that I want I don't want Marlena or Roman."

"What?"

"I never intended to keep Marlena here I knew that you would come searching for her and then finally I would be able to settle the score between us."

"Al right pal you want to settle the score come on I'm not afraid of you."

"No John please don't do this lets just get out of here."

"Doc I know what I'm doing I've wanted to get even with Tony for as long as I can remember. Today is that day and I'm not leaving here until I'm sure he's dead and buried."

"Haven't you remembered anything John? The Phoenix never dies he will always rise from his ashes. My father proved that more then once and before I killed him he said the same thing and he has yet to come back."

"What are you afraid of your father's pawn Tony? Have you forgotten that your father trained me to kill? "

"John think about what you're doing here. You can't take him on yourself let me help you."

"No Roman, get Marlena out of here."

"I'm not leaving you here to fight Tony by yourself."

"You have to Roman get Marlena to safety I can take care of Tony myself. Go the way I came in you will see two passages go to the one on the left. The right one is covered in booby traps. I don't want to risk Marlena's life. Once you get to the end there will be a door Kate is waiting for you on the other side. Now get Marlena out of here."

Roman wanted to stay and argue but John was right Marlena's life comes first and he took Marlena out of the room.

"I can't leave him Roman what if something happens to him?"

"If anyone can take care of himself it's John you know that and so do I. He will be just fine now we have to get out of here and get you to a doctor."

She nodded and both went down the passageway.

TBC…Chapter 9