CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SONNY AND LETICIA stood outside the warehouse that Michael was being held prisoner in. Leticia grabbed Sonny‘s arm as he made a move to enter the warehouse. “Mr. Corinthos.” Leticia whispered. “They wanted Carly to come with you. What are they going to do when they find out you came alone.”

“They’ll just have to deal with it.” Sonny retorted. “There the ones that gave you a time limit. There was no way I could go out to Spoon Island and get Carly and a make it here in the allotted time.”

“Mr. Corinthos.” Leticia gave him a knowing look. “Even if Carly had been at the penthouse would you have really allowed her to come with you?”

“Hell no.” Sonny retorted. “There’s no way I’d allow her to put her life and the life of our child in danger by walking into a trap with me.”

“You think this is a trap?” Leticia asked.

“I know it is.” Sonny answered. “I have a feeling these people are connected with the people who tried to kill Carly and I on the plane. The only way I’m going to find out why someone wants to kill Carly and I is by walking into their trap.” He added. “At the first possible opening I want you to take Michael and make a run for it.”

“What about you?” She asked.

“Don’t worry about me.” He told her. “The important thing is to get Michael out of these people’s clutches. When you escape, I don’t want you to return to the penthouse. They might have some of their people waiting for you there. I want you to take Michael out to Spoon Island.” He added. “That’s where Carly is now. She’ll protect both you and Michael.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Corinthos.” With that Sonny and Leticia headed into the warehouse.

CARLY ENTERED WYNDEMERE in full vampiress regalia. She wore a long black evening gown that was cut low in the front and was backless in the back. She had a matching cape tied over it to protect her for the night air. And her make-up consisted of black lipstick and black eye shadow. Stefan looked her up and down as she walked towards him. “How dramatic of you, Ms. Benson.” He smirked.

“It’s not every day a vampire enters and witch’s lair.” She told him. “So I thought I’d dress for the occasion.” She looked up towards the stairs. “Now where’s my mother?”

“She’s upstairs.” Stefan told her. “But before I take you to her, there’s something I need to discuss with you.” He added. “I wish your lover had come with you since this involves him, as well.”

“I didn’t come here alone if that’s what you’re thinking.” Carly informed him. “Sonny sent two of his men to keep me safe. If you try to harm me in anyway, you’ll find a vampire army swarming all over this island to rescue me.” She rubbed her stomach. “As you can see I carry my lover’s child. He’ll kill anyone who tries to harm me or our baby. Even if that person is as powerful a witch as you, Mr. Cassadine. Now why don’t you tell me what my mother is doing here with you?”

“I saved your mother from Sorel.” He told her. “I brought her here.”

“Why would you put yourself out to save a mere mortal.” Carly wanted to know.

“Barbara and I were once married.” He answered.

“Your marriage also ended on a sour note.” She reminded him.

“I understand you and your lover have a very discordant relationship.” Stefan threw back at her. “Yet it’s evident just by looking at you that you’re one very sexually satisfied woman. And I’m sure if someone were to look at your lover they’d be able to say the same thing about him.” He added. “Sometimes the way things appear to outsiders isn’t the way it really is.”

“All right.” Carly returned. “For whatever reason you saved my mother from Sorel, but that was days ago. Why hasn’t my mother returned to the Brownstone and why hasn’t she been in touch with anyone.” She added. “Sonny and I have been searching for days for her.”

“Things are complicated.” Which was the understatement of the year. “You see, I wasn’t able to get to your mother in time. By the time I got to her Sorel had already begun the process to enslave Barbara.” He added. “And tonight Sorel came here and fed off her again. I’m sure you of all people know that all it will take is one more time and your mother will be completely under Sorel’s control. Once that happens there will be nothing you nor I can do to free her from him.”

SONNY AND LETICIA entered the warehouse. Sonny looked around the place and could see no one in sight. He yelled out to make his presence known. “All right, I’m here.” Sonny said. “Come out and show yourself.”

“You were supposed to bring your woman with you.” Dorman said as he came out from behind one of the crates.

Sonny swung in the direction the voice came from and stared at Dr. Pierce Dorman in shock. “Dorman!” He gasped. “But it’s impossible. You’re dead. You died in the morgue at General Hospital.”

“Hello, kid.” Harry stood behind Sonny. “Long time no see.”

“Harry!” Sonny swung around in his direction. “But it can’t be you! It’s impossible! You died in the catacombs when we were fighting over a gun. I know you did. I buried your body there.”

“I guess you could say were demons from hell.” Dorman smiled at him. “And we came back just so we could take you back there with us when we return, Sonnyboy.” He added. “So where is your woman. Why didn’t you bring her with you.”

“I’ll answer your question.” Sonny retorted. “But only after you’ve answered mine. Where’s Michael?”

“Harry, go get the brat.” Dorman ordered. “We made it clear that you and your woman were supposed to come here. The deal wasn’t just you.”

“You also put a time limit on your demands.” Sonny returned. “Carly wasn’t home when I received your demands. Even if I was able to turn myself into a bat like mortal folklore claims is a power of the vampire, I wouldn’t have been able to fly to the location Carly is in and get here in the allotted time.”

“Maybe it’s for the best you came alone.” Dorman declared. “If your woman came with you I’d have to make a quick job of disposing of the both of you. But since you’re here alone I can take my time in killing you.”

“Why do you want to kill Carly and I?” Sonny asked. “What do demons in hell care if Carly and I mate together.”

“Since you’ll soon die I suppose there’s no harm in telling you.” Dorman replied. “I’m sure you remember your old friend Damian Smith, don’t you, Sonnyboy? Well, he’s now the Dark Master of the underworld. He has some very big plans for the child your vampiress is carrying. Plans the other demons in hell want to stop. And the only way to do that is to kill the both of you.” He added. “We thought of causing her to miscarry your child at first, but the way you two can’t keep your hands off each other, I’m sure in no time at all there’d be another little Sonny on the way. So we decided the best way to make sure no vampire child born of two vampires comes into the world is by killing the both of you. The other vampires will think you and your vampiress were killed because you two broke all the rules by being together and no other vampires will even attempt to mate together the way you and your woman did, ever.”

“Here he is.” Harry returned carrying Michael in his arms. “All safe and sound as you can see, Sonny”

“Give him to me.” Sonny yanked Michael out of Harry’s arms. “Are you all right, sweetheart.” Michael nodded shyly. “Good. Here, Leticia, take him.” As Sonny put Michael in her arms he signaled her to be ready to make a break for it.

“You’ve got me.” Sonny turned back to Harry and Dorman. “So why don’t you let Michael and Leticia go. There’s no need for either of them to witness what you two have in store for me.”

“Sorry, Sonnyboy.” Dorman replied. “The nanny and the kid are still of a use to us. We can still use them to lure your woman into the same trap we lured you into.”

All of a sudden all the windows in the warehouse started to break. While Dorman and Harry looked around wondering what was happening, Sonny took off running in one direction and Leticia took off running with Michael in her arms in the other direction. “You get her, Harry.” Dorman ordered. “And I’ll get the vampire.”

Sonny ran to the back of the warehouse looking for another way out. Unfortunately, Dorman and Harry had picked wise in their location for this showdown. The only way out was the way he’d entered. He quickly doubled-back the way he came dodging this way and that between crates to throw Dorman off his trail. For a second Sonny actually thought he might make it. The door was just in front of him and Dorman was nowhere in sight. All he had to do was sprint a few feet and he would be home free. He didn’t sense Dorman standing behind him until it was too late as Dorman smashed a plank of wood over his head.

Sonny collapsed in an unconscious heap at Dorman’s feet and he dragged him out from between the crates as Harry ran back into the warehouse. “I lost her.” Harry panted for air. “She got away.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Dorman told him. “We’ve still got our prized catch.” Dorman signaled to Sonny laying on the floor. “That’s all that really matters.”

“What are we going to do with him?” Harry asked.

“We’re going to give Sonnyboy a little blast from the past.” Dorman smiled evilly. “Then we’ll find his woman and deal with her next.”

“I’m surprised the witches haven’t done something to stop us by now.” Harry commented nervously.

“Haven’t you heard, Harry?” Dorman chuckled. “The witches have got plenty of problems of their own. The Queen of the Witches and King of the Warlocks are in a race with each other to find Cesar Faison. Edward Quartermaine wants to form an alliance with Faison, while Helena Cassadine wants to kill him. As for Stefan Cassadine, he’s too busy trying to stop Sorel from enslaving Bobbie Spencer he has no idea what we’re up to. So our little vampires are all on their own. The witches won’t lift a finger to stop us from what we’ve got planned for them.” He added. “Now help me with him.”

STEFAN AND CARLY entered Bobbie’s bedroom. She was laying on the bed in a coma-like sleep because of the loss of blood she suffered, tonight. An I.V. was pumping another pint of blood back into Bobbie’s body. “She looks so pale.” Carly commented as she took Bobbie’s hand in hers. “And her hands are so cold. It’s almost like touching a corpse. If I didn’t see her chest rising and failing I would think she was dead.”

“As bad as she seems right now.” Stefan replied. “She was so much worse when I found her on the grounds after Sorel was finished with her. Her breathing isn’t as labored as it was and she has a lot more color in her cheeks. By morning she should be back to normal.” He added. “Of course, no amount of fresh blood will remove the vampire toxins in her bloodstream.”

“Why haven’t you taken her to the hospital.” Carly demanded. “As bad as she is that’s where she belongs.”

“And how would I explain the marks on her neck.” He asked.

“You’re a witch.” She threw back at him. “You could cast a spell over any number of hospital personnel so they wouldn’t question the marks on my mother’s neck.”

“Barbara is safer here at Wyndemere than she would be in the hospital.” He declared.

“I can see that she is.” Carly signaled to Bobbie’s current condition. “You’ve done a fine job of protecting her from Sorel, tonight.”

“The woman I had living here was in cahoots with Sorel.” He said in his defense. “But she’s gone now and with the help of you and your lover I can set a trap for Sorel and dispose of him for once and for all.”

“Why would I help a witch.” Carly laughed. “Witches and vampires despise each other. It’s because of witches that vampires are cursed. Vampires suffer for the sins committed by our witch parents.” She added. “So why would I or Sonny want to help a witch.”

“Because I’m your father.” He announced.

“What!”

“You heard me.” Stefan replied. “I’m your father. I’m the witch that mated with your mother and cursed you into being what you are. I know you must have me for what you are...”

“I don’t hate you.” She cut him off before he could say more. “That wasn’t always the case. If I had learned you were my father before Sonny, I would be trying to tear your throat out as we speak. But now I’m happy about what I am. If I wasn’t what I was, I wouldn’t be Sonny’s other half. I wouldn’t complete Sonny the way he completes me. You have no idea what Sonny and I have found together. It’s like together we’ve built this own little world for ourselves where we belong and everyone else is the outsiders. It’s incredible. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of having with a man, but never really thought I’d have. And I wouldn’t have it if I wasn’t what I was.” She added. “So in a weird way, I guess I should thank you for making me what I am and in effect giving me Sonny.”

“Then you’ll help me.” Stefan said confidently.

“No, I won’t.” Carly surprised him by saying. “I may be grateful to you for making me what I am because it’s all lead to me finding my soul mate, but that doesn’t mean I trust you or I would ever join forces with a witch.”

“Caroline, I’m the only one who can save your mother from Sorel.” Stefan exclaimed. “You have to help me trap him.”

“Sonny and I will protect my mother from Sorel.” She told him. “As soon as I fill him in on what’s going on, we’ll make plans to move her to a location where Sorel will never be able to find her.”

Just then Leticia ran into the room with Michael in her arms. “Carly, thank goodness I’ve found you.”

“Leticia, where have you been?” Carly asked with an edge to her voice. “Sonny and I have been worrying ourselves sick about you and Michael. Where were you?”

“Two men kidnapped Michael and me.” Leticia gasped. “They’re demons from hell that Mr. Corinthos once knew. Their names are Harry Silvers and Pierce Dorman.”

“I’ve heard of them both.” Carly commented. “Go on.”

“They let me go and told me to bring you and Mr. Corinthos back to the warehouse or they’d kill Michael. They’ve got Mr. Corinthos now. He caused a diversion so Mikey and I could escape and he told me to come to you.” She added. Carly, he’s in terrible danger. Those two demons are going to kill him.”

“Where is he?” Carly asked desperately.

“He’s in a warehouse on Pier 30.” Leticia answered.

“Let me come with you.” Stefan offered.

“Thanks but no thanks.” Carly retorted. “The day I can’t handle two demons on my own will never come. If you want to do something look after your grandson.” As she stormed out of Wyndemere she muttered under her breath in a rage. “If they’ve harmed a hair on Sonny’s head there won’t be enough left of them when I’m through with them for them to creep back to Hell.”

SONNY REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS to find himself strapped to a gurney. An I.V. stand was standing by the head of the stretcher. And Pierce Dorman was looming over him with a nasty looking needle in his hand. “I’m so glad you awoke for the main event.” He said to Sonny, then he looked over at Harry. “Harry, remember the time we shot Sonny up with heroin.”

“Yeah,” Harry laughed. He looked down at Sonny. “You were supposed to die then, but one of your females managed to save you.”

“But that won’t happen this time.” Dorman promised as he shoved the needle into one of Sonny’s veins and his blood began to flow through the I.V. tubing and out of Sonny’s body.

“What are you going to do to me?” Sonny looked in panic at his blood being siphoned out of his body.

“Consider it a variation on an old theme.” Dorman smiled. “Instead of injecting something into your body, this time we’re taking something out. Your blood.” He patted the medical equipment surrounding Sonny fondly. “This is the equipment blood banks use when you go in to donate a pint. Only this time you‘ll be donating a lot more than that. I’ve rigged this baby up to draining every drop of your blood out of your body.” He added. “I wish I could stay around and watch this to the bitter end, but Harry and I have to track down your woman and take care of her.”

“Hell isn’t so bad, Sonny.” Harry patted him on the shoulder. “Lily’s been waiting patiently for you to join her there for years.”

With that they walked out of the warehouse while Sonny struggled desperately to break free of the straps tying him down to the gurney as drop by drop of his blood was being slowly extracted from his body.