| Chapter One Ric Lansing stood at the edge of the dock, staring over the water, wishing desperately that he had the power to just take one more step, a plunge in the darkness of the river�and never come back up. It would so easy, just to take that one little step, to end his life, his misery, to save the people that he cared about. He saw Spoon Island in the distance and wondered if he could swim to the island or if he would drown, sink into the depths and die. He wanted to die, there was no question about that. He didn't deserve to live, or did he? He killed the person who had raised him, his father. Murdered the man in cold blood, or did he? Could it be considered murder if he was saving someone from the monster? He didn't know, he didn't care. He had murdered the only person that had ever cared for him, even in death. It had been his father's money that sent him to private schools and later to law school. His grandmother had looked after his education while his father was away. He sighed and turned away from the water. Thoughts of suicide would have to wait. He had a meeting to go to. ~~~ `Once upon a time, a young Prince walked out upon the cliffs and leapt. Servants who had heard his screams ran to the edge and saw him disappear into the ocean waters. His father killed the entire staff that day. He had no other sons. `He went to Italy one day soon after and saw a boy who looked so much like his own son. He paid the boy's family millions to keep quiet when he took the boy back to the island. Since his son's death was not reported to anyone, he very easily passed off the Italian boy as his only son. `Two years later, the Prince's wife returned to the island after a stay on another island during her period of insanity. She had never seen her son and believed that the Italian boy was he. The Prince had gotten away with it. Or so he thought�' ~~~ Luke Spencer saw her. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her and he was sure that it wouldn't be the last. But he had seen her. She was back. He had to find her, kill her, make her pay for everything that she'd ever done to his family and more. He wanted to see the fear in her eyes, the realization that no matter what she may have done, she didn't win, that she never would. He wanted to see her defeated. And he wanted that so badly. For more than twenty years or pain, Helena Cassadine would pay. ~~~ Ric walked into Sonny's penthouse. Sonny and Jason were watching him. Ric knew what they wanted, and it was something that he couldn't give them; answers. He had the answers, but they weren't his answers. They were secrets, his family's secrets, his friends' secrets. No, he wouldn't tell Sonny and Jason anything. They didn't deserve to know. He thought it funny. They were watching him, testing him, and he was doing the same to them. Did they deserve to know what their mistakes had cost the people they claimed to care about? No. They didn't even deserve to breath and Ric was going to make sure that they'd be begging for a breath when he was done with them. Maybe he was like his father. It was debatable. His father had killed for pleasure and obsession. Ric only killed in self defense and revenge. They were considerable differences but the basis was still the same. They killed people and to a certain extent they both enjoyed it. "Did you see anything?" Sonny asked. Ric looked at him. What was he talking about? See what? Where? Sonny must have noticed the blank look on his face. "You were on the dock, near Alcazar's yacht." Oh, that. Who cared about Alcazar? He was a nobody. He didn't have any importance in the real goal. He was only hired help. But Sonny didn't know that. It was another one of the secrets that Sonny and Jason were not privileged enough to know quite yet. Maybe they would prove themselves, but Ric doubted it. "I spoke with his guard," Ric lied. Lies always seemed to roll off his tongue so easily lately. "And?" Sonny prompted. "And nothing." Like a moth to a flame. "He didn't know anything." "He was lying," Jason said. "I doubt it." "How would you know?" "You really don't want me to answer that question." Ooh, big mistake. Yep, open mouth, insert foot. Now he had their attention. Great going, Lansing. So much for keeping secrets. "Maybe we do," Sonny answered. Ric raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to say something but his phone rang. "Lansing. When? Yeah, I'll take care of it. One hour, no longer." He hung up and looked at Jason and Sonny. "I'm sorry to cut this meeting short, but I have family business to attend to." He turned and left the penthouse. ~~~ 'It wasn't right, some said. It was illegal, they had all agreed. And it was sick. But the people who said those things didn't know the dynamics of the Cassadine family. They were very complex. Often, their customs frightened outsiders, but it didn't matter. `He had walked into her room late at night. He watched her toss and turn in bed, her nightmares getting worse as the time passed. He wanted to hold her, comfort her, make her his. He would and he did.' ~~~ It was nearing daylight when Ric pulled up in front of the motel. He got out of the rented car and walked up to the room and knocked on the door. Seconds later it opened and he walked inside. "Where is she?" The woman sighed. "In the bedroom. Ric, wait." "What?" "I have to get her to a hospital. She's getting worse and it will kill the baby." "I don't give a damn about the baby, Robin, and neithershould you." "How can you condemn her before she's even born?" "Because I can," Ric said. "That child should have never been conceived." "But she was and we have to live with that." Robin sighed. "Look, Ric, she's hurting. The only reason I called you was to calm her down." Ric looked at Robin. She was tired and that put her health at risk. "Do you know someone who's discreet?" "Yes. Tony Jones. He's been around uncle Luke long enough to know when to talk and when not to." "Go talk to him. I'll stay with Ky." Robin nodded and grabbed her coat. Ric gave her his keys. "Be careful. They're in town." "I know," she said with a smile. She kissed him softly on the lips. "I'll be back soon." He walked to the window and watched her leave. He was worried about her and she knew it. He turned away from the window and walked towards the bedroom. |