| Chapter Fourteen Lucky and Nikolas went riding one day, early in October. Nikolas was on Sheba and Lucky was ridding Smokey. They weren't paying much attention to the weather and by the time the storm started to blow around, them it was too late. Suddenly, lighting struck across the sky, sending both horses in a panic. Nikolas got control over Sheba, but Lucky found himself suddenly thrown over Smokey's head and landed hard on the ground. He felt sudden pain, as his leg struck a large bolder. Smokey was rubbing his head across Lucky's face to say he was sorry. Nik climbed down from Sheba and went to check out his brother. "Are you all right?" Nikolas asked, as he knelt down beside Lucky. "No. I think my leg is broken," Lucky said, trying to hide the pain. Nik gently checked out Lucky's leg and discovered it was broken, thankfully it was not a compound fracture. Nik quickly looked around and found two long sticks and placed a splint on Lucky's bad leg. They both were taught first aid by Stefan and Nikolas knew how to handle a broken leg, at least temporarily. He ripped his shirt up and tied the sticks to Lucky's leg to keep it stable. Nikolas was reaching for Smokey's and Sheba's reigns, when lightning flashed through the sky again. He had Smokey's reigns tight but he couldn't hold on to Sheba. Sheba ran off toward the house, leaving Nikolas with no choice but to help Lucky onto Smokey and walk back himself. Lucky looked at his brother and said, "You can't walk. I have to or your father will be angry with me. You're the heir Nikolas, I'm nothing." "You are something and I don't care what my father thinks. You can't walk on that leg. Now, get on this horse," Nikolas ordered his brother. Lucky did what he was told, with a lot of help from Nikolas. He was finally in the saddle. Lucky didn't know what bothered him the most. The pain in his leg or the thought of what Stavros was going to do. Nikolas started to walk back to the house. Fortunately for them, the rain was light and not very cold. Nikolas and Lucky were about half way home when two figures appeared over the next hill. Lucky took a deep breath when he realized that one of the riders was Stavros. Nikolas gently placed his hand on his brother's good leg, to reassure him that everything was going to be all right, but from the look in Stavros' eyes, Nikolas wasn't too sure. Stefan got to them first and dismounted. He quickly walked up beside the boys and asked. "What happen?" "The lighting frightened the horse. Lucas was thrown over Smokey's head. I think his leg is broken," Nikolas told his Uncle. Before Stefan or Nikolas could say anything else, Stavros reached them and pulled Lucky off of Smokey's back and started to shake him. "You shouldn't be riding. You should have given your horse to Nikolas. He is the heir and you, boy are nothing," Stavros yelled at him. Stefan had had it. He grabbed his brother by the arm and yelled, "You are the one who is nothing. He is hurt and Nikolas did the right thing. Lucas couldn't have walked anywhere. Stavros, I used love you but now, I can't stand the sight of you," Stefan said, and slugged his brother right in the face. Nikolas had grabbed his brother when the fight started and helped get Lucky out of the line of fire. The boys watched as the two men went at it. Stavros might have been bigger and older than Stefan but Stefan was faster. He kept on throwing punches at his brother and he might have killed him that day but a demanding voice rang out, "STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!!!!" Yelled Helena. She rode her horse up beside them and demanded, "What is going on here?" Looking at her sons in disgust. Stefan spoke up, "I have had it with his treatment of Lucas. He is hurt and Stavros doesn't even give a damn. He was shaking the boy because he was ridding and Nikolas was walking. He can barley stand let alone walk." "I'm in charge of this family and I have made a decision. When, Lucas gets better he will be publicly punished for disgracing the Cassadine Heir and that is final," Stavros said, and he climbed on to his horse and rode away. He didn't even look at Helena. Helena looked down at Nikolas and said, "Get on Lucas' horse. Stefan will tend to your brother and I will talk to your father and try to change his mind," Helena said, more to Lucky then to any of them. Stefan watched them ride way. He shook his head and looked down at Lucky who was leaning against him at that time. "I'm sorry. I did this to you. I should have kept my temper and Stavros would not be so angry right now. I was trying to help you, but only made things worse." Stefan picked Lucky up and placed him gently on the horses' back and climbed up behind him. Stefan pulled Lucky close and they headed back to the house. Stefan noticed that Lucky was crying and tried to comfort him. "Don't worry. We will think of something," he said, rubbing Lucky's tears away. "You won't change his mind and she will not even try. Helena is mad at me because I didn't do what she wanted yesterday. Now, I'm going to pay for that. I should have played the piano and not gone to bed early, even if I was sick," Lucky said, thought his tears. "Lucky, I'm sorry. I would love to change everything, but I can't. I stick around this island because of you and Nikolas, the same holds true for Alexis. We love both of you and can't stand the thought leaving either of you alone with them, but you're right. Stavros might not change his mind but you will not be alone. We will be with you and will comfort you afterwards," Stefan said, with his own tears running down his face. He hated his family and would love to kill them all, but hated himself more. He wasn't man enough to do anything about it. It took about a half an hour to get back to the stables, where they found Nikolas and Alexis waiting for their arrival. Stefan gently handed Lucky down to Alexis. Turning the horse over to the groom, Stefan carried Lucky up to the main house. The house doctor looked Lucky's leg and said, "He needs to be taken to the main land. His leg needs to be set and a cast put on it. Alexis and Stefan rode with Lucky in the copter. It would be the first time in three years that Lucky was off the island. Stefan even thought about running with him but that meant leaving Nik behind. He couldn't do it and he realized Helena knew it, too. The doctor from the island had set Lucky's leg and even put the cast on it. He wouldn't let anyone check out Lucky that didn't work for the Cassadines. The marks on Lucky's body would have brought up too many questions. So, he kept contact from outsiders down to a minimal. They flew back that night and placed Lucky in his bed. Stefan sat up the entire night looking after him and was thinking of what to tell Luke and Laura about this. He decide to say nothing, because he couldn't hide the anger he felt about what was going to happen to Lucky, once he was healed. Stefan brushed his hand through Lucky's hair and looked down at the sleeping child. "Why are they doing this to you?" he asked himself. "You know the answer," Alexis said and sat down beside her cousin. "Alexis. I could have run with him today, but because of my own son, I didn't. Lucas did nothing wrong and I would love to change places with him, but I can't. Stavros is doing this because of me. I slept with his wife and he can't hurt Nikolas. So, he goes after Lucas to get to Luke and me. God! Why doesn't he just strike us all down," Stefan said, putting his hand in his hands. "Stefan, you did what I would have done. Stavros was pushing around a child that was hurt and you did nothing wrong. I heard about the punishment and I know Stavros will not change his mind. All we can do is stand by him while happens and tend to him afterwards," Alexis said. "We should be able to do more than that, Alexis. We are cowards and he is paying for it. Lucas should be with his parents and not with us. I was blind all those years thinking my father and uncles died at hands of monster. We are the monsters. Luke did the world a favor killing them, but he messed up and missed Helena and Stavros," Stefan said. "You're right, but what can we do. We don't have the power to stop any of this and I'm not leaving Lucas or Nikolas alone with them. Everything will work out, I know it but it is going to take time," she said putting a hand on Stefan shoulder. "Does he have the time, Alexis?" Stefan asked, looking at Lucky. "He is a Spencer and a survivor. We just have to pray everything will workout," Alexis said, and then left them to go to her rooms. Helena was listening to the conversation from her room and almost felt pity for them, but it was Lucky that she hurt for. She was ordered by Methos not to stop the punishment and that meant Lucky most probably would never trust her again either. "Good." she thought. "I hope he destroys all of us. Stefan is right. Luke messed up but Lucky might take up where his father left off." Helena climbed to her bed and prayed to her god to give Lucky the strength to survive all of them. Chapter 15 Return to Cassadine Revenge |