Luke had just turned the sign on Kelly's door to close as Trina and Dawn arrived, both looking exhausted and miserable, especially Trina, who just hugged her slender shoulders protectively. Luke couldn't help but wonder if the girl was really up to the task at hand, which was probably going to be slaying her newly vamped boyfriend. He had to say, he didn't envy the girl. It was a lot to sit on such young shoulders.

"Luke?"

Luke nearly jumped out of his skin when Laura came out of the kitchen, her own eyes dimmed with grief. Luke couldn't help but feel sorry for his ex-wife. She had tried everything to protect and save the boy, but it had all been for nothing.

"This is a meeting that we have to have, Angel. I'm sorry. I know this is hard on you but…"

"It's not me that I'm worried about," Laura nodded towards the door, where Dawn seemed to be giving a comforting talk to Trina. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have picked his soulmate for this. I should have let you choose someone else. I did this to her...I did this to both of them. How am I going to make this right?"

"It's not your fault Angel. The girl simply fell in love with the wrong guy. Her emotions had gotten involved and now there's some heartbreak. She'll pull through it," Luke sighed, turning to face his ex.

""It wasn't just her falling for the wrong guy, Luke. When you had me look into sending for a slayer...I wrongfully thought that perhaps if a girl he's destined for just happened to be a slayer, it would give us a winning edge...but it didn't, and now...I'm afraid of what that means."

"Well, it shouldn't mean much, right? You did put some mojo to make sure that the kid kept his soul. If that's the case, we just have to get him away from the hellcat and Uncle Lurch…"

"If it was that simple. Luke...I have a feeling that they somehow compromised my spell...that Spencer may be soulless and if that's the case...it'll be like Stavros. Stavros was obsessed with me. The vampire demon will turn Spencer's love for Trina into an obsession...I mean...that's one thing that is in the Cassadine genes….and I'm afraid for her. She's going to have to be willing to stake him...but thanks to me...she loves him which will make it nearly impossible, putting her life in danger! I've put an innocent girl's life in danger, Luke!"

"She's a slayer, Laura! Her life is always in danger! This is no different! Her job is to slay vampires and she's going to have to do her job! The only difference now is that…"

"She'll have to slay her boyfriend and that's on me! I just...I had only wanted to protect Spencer...give him a chance to stay human...but all I ended up doing was not only dooming him anyway but breaking a young girl's heart while I'm at it," Laura's shoulders slumped in dejection. "I am so sorry, for all of it."

Dawn and Trina entered Kelly's. Trina's eyes scanned the room, looking for someone. "Is Dexter here?"

"No, darling. He's at the dock, keeping an eye out for The Haunted Star," Luke explained, motioning to a table that seated four. "Shall we get this meeting started?"

"I don't see the point. I failed. Helena won. Spencer's a vampire, most likely souled. We need to get him away from them," Trina stated, occupying one of the chairs. She turned grim eyes on Laura. "I'm sorry that I had failed him, Laura. I tried so hard...but I failed him and you and you'll never know how sorry I am."

"You didn't fail anyone, sweetheart. I am the one that's sorry for putting you in such a difficult spot. I should have known that Spencer wouldn't allow you to put yourself in danger for him. He loved you so much...and I'm glad that you survived. And you're right. The focus now is to get my grandson out of Helena's clutches…"

"That is if he's souled. We'll know that soon enough, when the Haunted Star docks," Luke remained standing, unable to really sit still.

"Well, if Laura's spell worked, of course, he's souled," Dawn frowned, not liking the implications. Was there any way that an ensoulment spell wouldn't work? If so...she definitely should call Buffy. Not because she thought Trina couldn't handle it...but for much-needed emotional support for Trina, because if anyone knew what was ahead for Trina, her sister would. She shuddered, remembering the days when Angelus had stalked them all, just because her sister had made his ensouled self happy.

"Laura feels that there's a chance that the spell was compromised somehow."

"Which means that Spencer may no longer be Spencer...he may be a monster which means...I…"

"Hey, we don't know anything right now," Dawn placed a hand over Trina's, wanting to give as much comfort as she could. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Not all soulless vampires are like Angelus. Spike was not like Angelus without his soul. He had a great ability to love. He spent a good century in love with Drusilla, taking care of her, making sure she was safe...then he fell in love with Buffy and…"

"That didn't go well, did it? Not until he got his soul," Luke snorted. "Yeah, I heard about that."

"You're one to talk, Luke. May I remind you," Laura gave Luke a stern look. Luke at least had the sense to look guilty and lower his gaze.

"Shut it about Spike! You have no idea what you are talking about! Spike's a champion and he could love with and without a soul! Who can say that it's not the same for Spencer!" Dawn argued, not wanting Trina to lose hope that things could still turn out good for her.

"The kid is a Cassadaine. That's what says it," Luke snorted.

"Dawn's right, Luke. We don't know how much Spencer has or hasn't changed. We won't know that until...the Haunted Star docks...and that's what Dex is keeping an eye out for now."

"Well, after it docks, then what? I sneak back on for recon?" Trina asked.

"Too dangerous. If Helena and Victor catch you, they'll definitely kill you...unless they have orders to do otherwise…"

Luke frowned. "Orders? From who? Nikolas? Sorry, Angel but that son of yours is a puppet if I ever saw one."

Laura and Trina's eyes met and both women felt a shiver run through them. It was Laura who spoke, her voice grim.

"From Spencer. Nikolas won't be their figurehead anymore. Spencer will be. He'll be the one in charge...and that's a bad thing if he's not souled. Spencer has a lot of my heart in him...but he also has a lot of Stavros. His humanity was what had kept all of that back...but if that's gone…"

Trina closed her eyes tight, her whole body shaking with devastation at the thought. "I'll have to take him out. I won't have a choice…"

"Trina," Dawn placed a hand over hers, her eyes sad. "It's not him. Remember that. If he's soulless, it's not him. It's a demon…"

Trina simply nodded. "Still...I take back what I said about not calling Buffy. We probably should have called her from the start."

"Trina…"

"I may not be able to...which means another slayer will have to do it in my place. So call Buffy...she's older, stronger, and she can take both Helena and Victor. She has no feelings for Spencer, so...she may be able to…," Trina began to choke on her words. She got up and shook her head. "I'm sorry...I...I just need a moment…"

"Trina…," Dawn reached for her slayer, but Trina had taken off, running into the lady's room as her tears began to flow.

"I'm so sorry…," Laura bowed her head, feeling terrible. "He loved her so much...and by the looks of it..she loved him. I should never have introduced them."

"Well, you know the saying, Angel. It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

"Shut up, Luke," Laura glared at her ex-husband as Dawn took out her phone and began to dial. "Who are you calling?"

"My sister. Trina has a point...plus, she's probably the only one that can get Trina through this. After all, she did send her soulless boyfriend to hell once," Dawn answered, hoping that Buffy could come help because she didn't know if Trina would be able to survive this without the help of the head slayer in charge.

…..

Dex frowned as he saw the Haunted Star drift back into the harbor. The Cassadines were back much quicker than he had thought that they would be, which was bad news for all of Port Charles...unless Spencer had his soul. Usually, he would be able to sense a souled vampire from a distance, but looking at the incoming ship, he couldn't sense anything. So most likely, Spencer Cassadine was soulless and just like his great-grandmother and great Uncle. Which means that Port Charles was in a world of trouble.

"Is that the Haunted Star?" Joss was suddenly standing behind him, startling Dex. The vampire whirled around and glared at the girl that he had come to care for.

"Joss, what are you doing here?! You shouldn't be here, it's not safe! There are three dangerous vampires on that ship!" Dex hissed, trying not to yell at her.

"I know. One of my best friends is one of them," Joss folded her arms.

"That's not Spencer. It's a bloodthirsty demon on that ship, Joss. If you see him, run," Dex warned. "In fact, go home, right now. Go home and don't come out and don't invite Spencer Cassadine in until I say it's safe, you hear me?"

"Oh my god, it's just Spencer! He's going to just end up being like his father Nikolas! It's no big deal!" Joss rolled her eyes.

"Joss…"

"What?"

"I can sense a souled vampire a mile away. If Spencer Cassadine still had his soul, I'd be able to sense it from where we're standing right now."

"And?"

"I don't sense a soul. The only souled beings here at the moment are you and me. There's not a soul on that ship. So just listen to me and go home."

"But Dex!"

"Listen to me and go!"

"I don't have to…"

"You best listen to your new boyfriend there, Joss," a voice coldly spoke from the darkness. Dex and Joss's eyes widened in alarm as Spencer Cassadine dressed all in black, flanked by both Helena and Victor emerged. Looking into her former friend's eyes, Joss only saw a cold darkness.

Dex pushed Joss behind him, placing himself between Joss and the three vampires. "I see that you're soulless, Spencer. I'm sorry about that."

Spencer only gave a cold smile. "Why? I'm not. In fact, I've never felt so good...so strong! So carefree!"

"What do you want, Spencer? You can't have Joss if that's what you're after," Dex stood his ground, not liking the waves of power he sensed coming from the newly made vampire. This was bad. This was really really bad.

"You know what I want. Or rather who. Where is she, Dex? I know she's still alive. You were a good boy and saved her for me, so where is my Trina? Tell me now and I may even allow you to turn your girlfriend there. You want her just like I want Trina. Tell me where she is and we both can have what we want."

"I'm not telling you anything! That'd go against what you wanted before, wouldn't it? You were all about saving Trina. Now you want to kill her?"

Spencer's cold laugh chilled both Dex and Joss even more. "Wow. You all have so little vision! What is wrong with you?! I don't want to kill Trina! Never! I'd never kill my beautiful queen. No...no I don't want to kill her. I want to help her. Help her be the slayer she is meant to be. Make her more powerful than any slayer or vampire in the world! I want to…"

"Oh my god...you want to turn her," Dex stared in complete shock.

"I see that you're not as dumb as I thought you were, Dex. Good job. My goal is to make it so Trina and I are together forever and not only rule over this town, but the world for all eternity! Isn't that romantic?"

"It kind of is," Joss mumbled then winced when Dex gave her a quick glare.

"That's crazy, Spencer! There is no way that Trina will allow that to happen!"

"Really? Because I doubt very much that her love for me is gone. Just like my love for her isn't. In fact...let's just say my love for her has grown more...intense...it's more…"

"Tainted? That kind of love is called only one thing, Spencer. Obsession."

"Whatever. It doesn't matter what pions like you think, Errand Boy. The only thing that matters is Trina and I will have her. You will not stand in the way of that. Trina and I are meant to be. I was hoping that our reunion would be quick, with your help, but obviously, that's not going to happen. So I'll just go ahead and eat now and kill you afterwards then continue my search…"

Dex didn't even bother to question what Spencer meant by that. He just grabbed Joss and ran until they reached what Dex remembered as Cam and Spencer's place. Cam was just coming out of the house.

"Cam, don't shut the door!" Dex called

"What?" Cam frowned, as he suddenly found Joss being pushed into his arms and they both pushed into the house.

"Invite me in!" Dex demanded.

"What?" Cam frowned, still not understanding what was going on.

"Cam just do it!" Joss yelled, the fear in her voice clear and telling Cam that this was serious.

"Dex come in!" Cam quickly invited.

Dex entered just in time and he laughed as a vamped out Spencer, Helena, and Victor were stopped by an invisible barrier.

"Oh my god, Spencer?" Cam stared at his vamped cousin with tears in his eyes. "Oh my god, you're a vampire?"

"Don't be sad, Cam. After I turn Trina, I can turn you too. The three of us can rule this town together," Spencer grinned, showing his fangs.

"You know the rules I suspect, Cassadine," Dex smirked, standing in front of Cam and Joss, who sadly watched what had once been their friend. "You can't enter without an invite. And since you're soulless, you're not invited!"

"This is my house!" Spencer growled.

"When you were alive! You're not alive anymore! You can't come in," Dex folded his arms. "I suggest that you get out of here before the slayer does arrive and start slaying first and asking questions later."

"She will be mine, Errand Boy! You can't stop fate!" Spencer smirked. "I'll see you and Joss later, Cam. We'll discuss your turning at a later date."

"What are you doing, Spencer? Are you going to turn everyone that you have ever loved as a human? Me? Grandmother? Trina?"

Spencer just gave a cold smile as an answer, before melting back into the darkness with Helena and Victor by his side.

Joss let out a sob and nearly collapsed in Cam's arms, devastated over the loss of a friend. She had never even imagined this to happen to Spencer, who had been so young and full of life. She didn't even recognize him now.

"What are we going to do?" She sobbed.

Cam took out his phone and began to dial. "Call Trina. That's what."