ATSSCH43

CHAPTER 43

~Cassidine Compound ~

It was nearly morning as Victoria walked through the dark halls. She checked ever inch of the mansion out carefully and knew just where everyone was. She knew the sun was close to forming and her timing wasn�t all that good but she couldn�t wait any longer. She walked into the room and over to Kristin� bed.

�Come on Kristin it�s time to get up!� Victoria stated as she shook her �We don�t have much time we have to get going.� She added as she flung the blankets off of her.

�I�m cold!� Kristin stated as Victoria pulled her up and removed her nightgown

�Here put these on and make it quick.�

�What happened to your face?�

�Don�t worry about my face and get dressed!� Victoria stated firmly

�It looks like it hurts.�

�Kristin we don�t have time for this now please get dressed.�

Kristin got dressed as Victoria peaked her head out the door and kept watch down the long dark hall.

�Where are we going?�

�To find Uncle Stefan!� Victoria replied as she pulled out a backpack from the closet that she had ready and waiting.

�What�s you got in there?� Kristin asked as she threw on her jacket.

�Hopefully enough to get us where we�re going!� Victoria shot back as she grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall.

�You�re hurting me!� Kristin screamed

Victoria stopped and eased her grip. �I�m sorry I didn�t mean to ......but you need to keep quiet nobody can know we�re leaving.�

�Not even Grandma?�

�Especially Grandma.� Victoria firmly stated as she opened a passage in the wall and they both disappeared.

~*~

~The Cave ~

Ned and Alexis are sleeping extremely peacefully, considering the fact they are sleeping on the cold hard ground.

Suddenly Alexis head flinches several times as her mind drifts off.

�Please no not again!� Alexis cried as Stavros came closer.

�You know you want me Lex so stop pretending you don�t.� He stated as he grabbed her and pressed her body tightly against his.

Alexis picked up her hands and tried to push him away but he was too strong.

�Tell me how much you want me Lex.� He whispered in her ear before licking it.

�I don�t want you I never have and I never will.�

Stavros just laughed as he placed his one hand on her cheek. �Oh please Lex I know just how much you like it when I touch you like this.� He smirked as his hand slid down her face and landed on her breast.

Alexis didn�t say a word as her eyes closed shut and she felt sick to her stomach. He picked her up slightly and forcefully threw their bodies against the wall. Hers taking in the full impact of the hit.

�NO, Stefan please help me! Alexis screamed as she sat straight up.

�Alexis what is it?� Ned asked as her screams woke him from his dead slumber.

Alexis just sat there as Ned looked at her, both their faces full of confusion.

�Is it the baby? Did you have another nightmare about losing the baby? Is it Kristin? Alexis what is it?� Ned questions as he rambles.

Alexis turned and looked at him. �I never told you...........�

�Never told me what?� Ned asked even more confused then before.

Her face became blank, as it appeared she was looking right through him. �I don�t know why but I never did.�

Ned took his hands and placed them on her face. Alexis looked into his and smiled slightly.

�What didn�t you tell me?�

Alexis took her hand and placed it on his face as well. �Who Victoria�s father was.�

�Alexis sweetheart I don�t care who he was.� He kissed the top of her forehead. �I only care about how her death affected you.�

�It was my brother.� Alexis quietly states.

�What was you�re brother?�

�He............he said I wanted him to but I didn�t.�

Ned was still somewhat confused but the more she spoke the more it all became clear.�

�Stefan stopped him a few times..........but he wasn�t always there.� She looks at him. �Why wasn�t he there? He always promised he�d be there.�

�I don�t know.�

Not a single tear escaped her eye as she continued to speak. Almost as there was no tears left to be shed.

�I always told him no but Helena would stand there and tell him I wanted it and deserved it.� She looked away. �She made it seem like he was giving me a treat for doing something good.�

Ned held her body close to his.

�And when he was done......I�d have to sit there and watch Helena reward him the same way he rewarded me.� She swallowed hard. �It was so sick Ned.�

�I�m so sorry Alexis I knew you�re life was hard but I never realized just how twisted it really was.�

�Alexis pulled out of Ned�s grip. �I can�t allow Helena to do to Kristin what she did to me!�

Ned furious as hell at the mere thought quickly got up and gathered their things. �And we won�t!�

�We have to find her and soon, Ned.�

Ned jumped to his feet pulling her up with him. �The sun is just about up. Hopefully will be able to find our way.�

~*~

�Where are we?� Kristin asked

�Lost it would seem.� Victoria shot back.

�I want to go back to the house.� Kristin began to whine.

�Well we can�t!� Victoria screamed as she noticed the light. �Come on we�re almost there.�

�But almost where?�

�On the outside.�

�My feet hurt and I�m hungry.� Kristin cried as Victoria pulled her along.

�I�m sorry we�ll stop in a little bit and eat but we can�t stop here.�

Kristin fell to her knees. �Why not?�

Victoria felt sorry for her but knew they couldn�t stop. She pulled her back on her feet. �I know you�re tried and so am I but if we don�t keep going they find us and take us back.�

�But I want to go back.�

�NO you don�t!� Victoria yelled. �If you go back they�ll do bad things to you.�

�No they won�t! She stated as she again fell to her knees. �Grandma loves me and she�d never let anyone hurt me.�

Victoria pushed her backpack off her shoulder and bent down. �Get on I�ll carry you.�

Kristin jumped on her back and Victoria stood up grabbing her backpack in her hand.

�Please trust me Kristin we can�t go back and we can�t trust anyone but each other.�

�NO!� Kristin yelled causing Victoria to stop short.

�What�s the matter?�

�Tommy. Grandma said Tommy was coming. We can�t leave without him.� Kristin yelled as she struggled to get off her back.

Victoria pushed her back up and began to walk again. �Tommy isn�t coming here; we�re going to Tommy.�

�But I though you said we were going to find Uncle Stefan?�

Victoria thought for a moment. �We are and Tommy is with Uncle Stefan.�

�He is?�

Victoria took a deep breath. �At least I hope he is.�

~*~

�Mrs. Lansbury.� Nikolas yelled �Where is my Uncle?�

�I�m not sure master Cassidine.�

Nikolas gave her a try again look. �He doesn�t go anywhere without informing you of his whereabouts or when he�ll return.�

�I swear this time he didn�t inform me.� Mrs. Lansbury replied. �He just said he was leaving and nobody needed to know where he was going or when he�ll be returning.�

Nikolas refused to believe her as he walked over and picked up the phone.

�Is there anything else I can do for you?�

Nikolas held up his hand telling her to stay where she is. �I need the jet fuelled and ready to go..........what do you mean it isn�t here......... he what......when..........well find out where the damn jet went and get back to me............I don�t care what Mr. Cassidine said I want to know where the hell my Uncle went and I want to know now!� He yelled as he hung up the phone.

Nikolas turned back and looked at Mrs. Lansbury. �Where is he?�

�I don�t know.� She again pleaded.

�This is pointless.� He yelled as he flew up the stairs.

~*~

�Andreas!� Helena summoned as she slams down the phone. �Get in here right away.�

�Yes madam what is it?�

�It would appear that Natasha and Mr. Ashton didn�t go the Islands after all.� Helena spun around to face him. �I want them found immediately!�

Andreas shook his head and began to leave.

�Bring me Victoria!� Helena demanded.

�Right away Mrs. Cassidine.�

Helena looks in the mirror and smiles an of so evil smile. �If little Natasha so much as thinks about coming here she�ll be sorry.�

�Excuse me madam.� Andreas said a few minutes later as he walked back into the room.

�Yes what is it?�

�Miss Victoria isn�t in her room madam.�

Helena walked over and stood inches from his face. �If you want to live to see tomorrow I suggest you find her.�

Andreas was clearly shaken �She must have taken Kristin with her.�

�What?� Helena yelled �I want them found immediately.�

�You want who found Mother?� Stefan nonchalantly asked as he entered the room

Helena smiled at her son. �Andreas do as you�re told.�

�Yes madam.� He replied as he tried to walk off.

�Not so fast.� Stefan said as he grabbed his arm. �Who is that must be found?�

�If you must know Natasha and her poor excuse of a husband.� Helena replied as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.

Stefan looked over at Helena and released his grip on Andreas.

�So my darling son what brings you to Greece?�

�Kristin.� He simply stated as he joined her.

�That poor child. Is she still missing?�

�Let�s not play games shall we.�

�If Natasha were a better mother none of this would have ever happened.� Helena calmly stated as she got up and walked over to the mini bar. �Care for a drink?�

Stefan� calmness started to slowly fade �Where is she mother?�

�I take that as a no.� She replied as she made herself one. �That�s such a shame I do so hate to drink alone.�

Stefan got up off the sofa. �We both know you have her and this would go a lot better for all concerned if you just told me where it is you�re keeping her.�

Helena took a sip of her drink and sat in the chair beside her. �I�m really surprised you didn�t show up sooner then you did.�

�I will not allow you to destroy Alexis yet again mother.� He stated as he turned to leave.

�Just how do you think you�re darling sister will react when she finds out your part in Victoria�s so called death.�

Stefan stopped and looked back. �I did what I did to protect my sister!�

�From her own child?� Helena asked through laughter

�From the consent reminder of what you and Stavros did to her.� He yelled

�Do you honestly expect me to believe that?�

�I don�t care what you believe Mother!�

�We both know the real reason you�ve allowed Alexis to believe her daughter was died that night.�

�Why don�t you enlighten me mother?�

�Because Victoria was a consent reminder of what you couldn�t protect Alexis from.�
Stefan didn�t say a word as Helena continued.

�You promised her you�d always be there to stop him.� She stated as she took her finger and rubbed it across the top of her glass causing a loud piercing noise.
�Getting rid of Victoria and never speaking Stavros� name somehow rid you of that guilt.�

Stefan didn�t say a word as he turned around and walked out.

�Or maybe it didn�t.� She laughed to herself.

~*~

�Victoria please I�m hungry.� Kristin whined

�There�s a clearing just ahead, we�ll stop there and eat.�

�Can�t we just stop here?�

~*~

�Alexis how much further can the house possibly be?� Ned asked

�There�s a secret passage just up ahead.�

�Alexis wait.� Ned quietly stated as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

�What is it?�

�Quiet I think I hear something.�

Ned and Alexis listened for a brief moment.

�Oh no someone�s coming.� Alexis nervously stated

Ned pulled her back into the bushes. �Just stay quiet and get down hopefully they didn�t hear us.�

~*~

Victoria stopped walking and put Kristin down. She grabbed her by the hand and continued to walk.

�I thought you said we could stop and eat?� Kristin somewhat cried.

�We will I promise just a few more feet.�

�I can�t wait any longer, I�m hungry.�

~*~

�Oh my god Ned that�s Kristin� voice.� Alexis said almost not believing it.
She got up and began running towards her.

�Alexis wait we don�t know if Helena is with her.� He yelled as he tried to run after her.

�Kristin!� Alexis yelled

�Mommy, mommy!� Kristin yelled as she ran over to her.

Victoria just looked at Alexis as Kristin flew into her arms.

�I missed you so much mommy.�

�And I�ve missed you.� Alexis yelled as she held her daughter tight.

�It really is you.� Ned yelled as he placed his arms around the two of them.

The tears slowly began to fall in Victoria�s eyes as she actually got to see her mother for the first time in her life.

�Are you okay sweetie?� Ned asked as he took the child from her mother.

�Yep I had a lot of fun with grandma and Victoria.� Kristin stated

Alexis was taken back a bit by the name as her eye caught a young girl standing in the distance crying.

Ned saw the look on Alexis� face and followed her eyes.

�It can�t be. It just can�t be.�

�But it is Mother.� Victoria cried

Alexis carefully walked over to the girl and placed her hand on her face. She stared into her eyes and began to cry.

Ned put Kristin down and walked up behind Alexis placing his hands on her shoulder for emotional support.

�They told me you were dead. That you didn�t survive.�

�I know.� Was all Victoria said before throwing her arms around her mother. �I love you mom and I want to go home.�

�I am so sorry.� Alexis cried back

�I know it wasn�t you�re fault mom and I�ve never blamed you.�

Alexis pulled Victoria back and held her face in her hands. �If I had known I would have found you.�

�You had no way of knowing. I know that.�

�How can you not hate me?� Alexis asked

�Because I love you mom.�

�What�s that noise?� Ned asked

�Oh no it�s a plane.� Victoria yelled. �Grandmother must have figured out we�ve left.�

�Come on.� Ned yelled as he picked up Kristin and Victoria� backpack. �We�ll be safer back in the cave.�