He also realized that Faith had long since risen and gone for her usual morning ride on the grounds, but that he was not alone on the mammoth sized bed. A small lump sat in Faith’s usual place, staring down at him with serious eyes. She leaned over, seeing he was awake and gently patted his cheek with her hand.
“Papa awake. Time to eat,” she declared in a bossy tone. “Up, up, Papa.”
Stefan, despite the crushing memories of the night before, nevertheless cheered at the sight of his granddaughter. Few things in the world could make him set aside his own grief than that of a cherub faced child that he adored. She smiled when he took a breath and gave her small hand a playful bite. Like lightning, she slid off the bed and hurried across the room, excited clicks against the hardwood floor hurrying after her. Stefan sighed, knowing the pestilent mongrel that Verasha had discovered on the island weeks earlier and promptly adopted as hers, was trailing after her, as it always did now.
The animal had turned up, unexplained, on the island and after a clean bill of health, had unmistakably made a home in Verasha’s room. The child doted on the multicolored dog of unknown breed and the animal, in return, trailed Verasha like a shadow. Nikolas had said responsibility at such a young age was good for a child and Stefan had been instantly reminded of the charcoal colored cat that’d turned up in their stables on Cassadine Island when Nikolas was a boy. The one Stefan had not allowed Nikolas to keep. The one Nikolas had cried himself to sleep over when Mrs. Landsbury had found a suitable home for on the mainland.
Despite Nikolas’ unwavering insistence that his childhood, along with Andresj’s was a happy one, there were moments that let Stefan know that Nikolas would not follow the exact path he’d grown up with, and that even small moments, like the smelly beast now sniffing at the breakfast table by the windows, were of significance.
Verasha rushed back, her sandy curls springing with the energy she possessed all hours of the day. She clambered back up to the bed and bounced across, so quickly that Stefan was sure she’d tumble off the other side. His hands flung out as she plopped herself into his lap and held up her hand, a giant ruby red strawberry in her hand.
“Open Papa!” she ordered, and dutifully, he bit into the berry and chewed several times before allowing his brows to rise up with pleasure. “Delicious!” he declared and she offered a triumphant beam in reply, taking a bite of the fruit herself before offering it to him once more.
Stefan looked down at the child in wonder, marveling at how often the coloring in their family changed with each generation and how connected they were to each other. There were the fair skinned, light colors of himself and Andresj, and the olive tones and dark hair of Nikolas. Matvei clearly inherited his late mother’s bright blonde hair while Verasha and her older brother looked not a thing like their father, instead favoring their mother and inheriting, clearly, the tresses of Stefan and Laura.
And now, Athena would join their ranks. Where did she fit into all this?
Instantly, Stefan was reminded of her eyes.
His eyes.
His Mother’s eyes.
*~*
After ushering Verasha to her instructor’s capable hands, Stefan showered, dressed and headed to the stables to meet his wife when she returned. Instead he found Andresj, grooming his own steed using the techniques Stefan had drilled into him and Nikolas since they were young. Rytsar, his chesnut colored mount whickered at Stefan’s approach and the young man turned, brush still in hand.
Stefan smiled, his pride evident as he stood in the stall entrance. Andresj immediately came to him and the two men embraced.
“How did you sleep?” Andresj asked in a worried tone. He examined his father closely, and in turn highlighted his own ashen face and sunken eyes. Stefan cupped Andresj face in his hands, “better than you did,” he replied with a knowing look.
Andresj sighed and dropped the brush before grabbing a few apples. Rytsar flicked his tail with anticipation. As he fed the mount an apple, Andresj turned his head back to his Father, apprehension on his face. “I’ve ordered a thorough examination of the findings and the claims surrounding her.”
“Athena.” A tremble flickered in Stefan’s voice just as a tremble flitted over Andresj’ visage.
“Yes.”
Stefan took an apple of his own, offering it to Rytsar, who eagerly took it from his hand. “That will be unnecessary.”
“I disagree.” Andresj’ tone was tight. “We don’t know what we are dealing with.”
Once again, Stefan took his son’s face in his hands.
“I know what I am dealing with,” he stated firmly. “Athena has lived under Helena’s influence for well over 30 years. We are long past the point of rescuing her.”
Andresj reared back slightly, pulling his face from Stefan’s hands. “Are you sure?”
Stefan paused as he placed a hand on the stallion beside him, feeling the thrum of power in the animal before giving Andresj a long, hard stare.
“Yes.”
*~*
Alexis had already thrown open the front door as Dara pulled up the long, winding driveway. Emerging from the car with the promised box of donuts in hand, she gave a wave and Alexis beamed in response. Not a woman fond of hugging, she felt the sudden urge to rush out and throw her arms around her longtime friend. It had been too long since they’d discussed court proceedings, new legal stomping ground, and just plain gossiped over wine and bad legal movies.
“Marcus cooked bacon!” she announced as Dara climbed the steps. Dara’s face relaxed from apprehensive to contentment.
“Your husband is a godsend,” she declared as she passed the box and came into the home. Walking to the kitchen, she inhaled the aroma and let out a long sigh before snatching two long strips of crispy bacon from the plate sitting on the counter. Beside it sat a pot of coffee and fresh cut up fruit. Without realizing it, sudden tears sprang up as she remembered the last time they’d shared breakfast at the house. It had been just before Sonny had been arrested, almost 24 hours, and both Molly and Kristina had given Dara warm hugs before leaving for the morning for Tai Chi on Spoon Island.
Soon Sabrina and Faith had arrived and the four friends had talked for hours on end and made plans to get together again soon. With Sonny’s arrest, that time hadn’t happened.
Everything seemed to come back to Sonny. Her career. Her friends. Even the daughter he’d ignored for so many years. All the signs pointed out the obvious. To go near him would be stupid. It would risk so much in her life that she treasured beyond words.
And yet.
“Dara, I’m so glad you came.”
Dara turned and the two women embraced, and all the tension between them melted away. When they pulled apart, both had tears in their eyes and both laughed at the sight.
“Look at us,” Dara said with a watery smile.
“Couple of sad broads,” Alexis replied handing a tissue to Dara before dabbing her own eyes. They sat on the stools at the counter and Dara looked over her friend’s face. The dark circles under her eyes couldn’t hide the exhaustion or the sadness in her countenance.
“Tell me what’s happened,” she urged her friend, taking her hands and giving them a squeeze.
Alexis looked up to the ceiling and sighed. “Where do I begin?”
Dara leaned forward, her legal blood kicking in. “Bullet points, let ‘em fly.”
That seemed to work as Alexis sat back and looked at Dara head on. “Okay, Helena Cassadine’s son Archer is now running Cassadine Technologies, and it turns out Nikolas has a twin sister named Athena who could possibly take the entire Empire from Nikolas and the family. At the very least, she could break it.”
Dara gaped. “Whoa.”
“Stefan has a child he never knew about, never got to love or raise. Andresj has a sister he never got to grow up with or adore the way Sabrina and I adore Stefan. Nikolas was denied his own twin.”
Alexis shook her head sadly. “She looks like Nikolas, she has Stefan’s eyes, but she was raised by Helena. That blood in her veins is poison.”
Dara frowned at the sudden dismissal of a woman neither knew. She never really understood the formality within the Cassadine family, and she always respected the level of security attached to any potential threat from Helena, but this was something else entirely.
“Just like that? Are you sure?”
Alexis’ gaze was perfectly serious. “Right now? She’s Helena Jr. If I know Stefan? He’s not going to risk anything.”
Dara placed the bacon on the napkin next to her, the gravity of what Alexis was saying leaving her breathless. “You don’t think there’s some good in her at all? Even just for a moment?”
Alexis gave a sharp laugh. “This is my family. This is how we work. My brother stole my birthright from me. He doesn’t regret it to this DAY. You could confront him and he’d blink and you’d have your answer. This is how Stefan has always operated. I love him, but it’s who he is. He’s kept himself and the rest of this family alive because of it.”
Dara arched a brow. “But he doesn’t run the family anymore.”
Alexis tilted her head thoughtfully. “Running things is one thing. Influence? That’s something else. Power like that doesn’t just whittle away.”
Dara grabbed the mug of coffee Alexis had poured for her, clutching it tightly to warm her suddenly chilled hands. “I’m so sorry, for you and Faith and Sabrina, hell, your whole family.”
“That’s my life, how’s yours?” Alexis asked brightly, the false cheer an attempt to defuse the weariness that had sprung up. “Is this bullshit at the D.A.’s office going to blow over anytime soon?”
Dara’s eyes darted from the dark pool of coffee in her mug to Alexis. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
Alexis winced in response. She knew the trial had taken a toll on Dara when the fallout came. “I’m sorry the case went south.” A pause as a deeper truth came forth. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Dara looked away, but couldn’t hide from the reality of why Alexis had taken the stand she did. “He’s the father of your child. No matter what he’s done or hasn’t done, you share a child,” she said softly.
Alexis took the mug from Dara’s hands and squeezed them gently. “But you are my friend. Sonny made his choices a long time ago. So did I. I had no right to take out my insecurities on you, or for that matter, let Kristina do the same.”
Dara offered a wry smile. “Well, she is your daughter.”
Alexis let out an exasperated huff before reaching for a blackberry to pop into her mouth. “How did I end up with Sabrina for a daughter? I mean, REALLY?!”
A gentle laugh filled the room and the women examined each other briefly. Even though they hadn’t shared a moment like this in months, Alexis was sure Dara was holding something back, keeping something in check. She wouldn’t pry, she’d hurt her friend and mending ways took time. Perhaps as the drama around Sonny faded into the background, so would the troubles between them.
“Did Jack call?” Alexis asked as she bit into a piece of bacon before reaching for a maple glazed donut. She gave Dara a knowing look.
Dara bit back a smile and Alexis laughed again. “That dog! I knew it!”
“He offered me a job,” Dara said as she took a sip of coffee, her stomach settling ever so slightly as they moved to a safer topic.
“Uh-huh, anything else?” Alexis asked suggestively as Dara’s cheeks heated at the implication. “I haven’t made any decisions about anything,” she replied, knowing full well she had.
She wasn’t leaving Port Charles. She had a new home, some feelers out from local firms and a strong desire to not uproot her life.
And of course…there was something else that wouldn’t let her go. Dara swallowed a mouthful of coffee, pushing down the flood of emotions that bubbled up whenever simmered near the edges.
“Well you deserve it and more. Happiness, success. Hell, take Baldwin’s job when the time comes and the time WILL come.”
Dara snatched a double chocolate donut from the box and bit into it, the sweet pastry swirling around in her mouth. “You think so?”
Alexis nodded confidently. “Baldwin is unpopular and in six weeks, nobody will remember Sonny’s case. That’s his legacy, not yours.”
*~*
Ronan nodded to the captain as he boarded the Hera for a late lunch with Helena. He made his way down the side corridor and Helena emerged, wrapped in fur, looking regal and content. Her ice blue gaze settled on him and she offered a smile. “There you are finally, I’m famished.”
“My apologies, Lady Cassadine,” he offered smoothly, turning back to instruct one of the staff to bring out the lunch when a realization set it and set in fast.
The guards were gone.
Ronan’s eyes flicked up a level and found it quiet. He turned back and was not surprised to see Helena, wearing an even brighter smile, and a silver pistol in her hand. He opened his mouth but she cut him off by pulling the trigger twice. The silencer muffled the shots and Ronan let out a gasp of pain as he looked down at the bloodstain blooming from his abdomen. Already he was feeling faint as Helena approached him, a wily pout on her face.
“Oh, dearie, did you really think I didn’t know?” She reached out with a gloved hand and stroked his cheek. “You thought you were so clever.” She slowly unscrewed the silencer and tossed it into the water. A striking young crew member approached and Helena passed the still warm weapon to him, waving him off as Ronan began to sway against the railing. “I did enjoy our time together,” she purred as she did up his jacket, despite the seeping blood that now began pooling down his dark slacks. With sudden strength, she pulled him close, so he heard every word she would say before he blacked out.
“In your last moments, before the blackness takes you completely, you remember that I am Helena Cassadine,” she avowed, her eyes glittering darkly. “I hope Robert Scorpio taught his protégé to swim with this much blood loss.”
With that, she gave the gentlest of pushes, sending Ronan over the railing, splashing into the cold waters. She did not watch to see if he surfaced. She turned to the captain. “Onward!” she called. He looked down at her, his gaze flicking briefly to Wyndemere.
“What about the wedding, Lady Cassadine?”
Helena offered up a throaty laugh.
“What wedding?”
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