The Cassadines are a family of secrets and lies that trace back to a time before any of them were born. Even Helena can not be sure of the forces driving the cursed family for all these years. It was a fate dark and twisted. What sin did a Cassadine commit to deserve such a curse for his own children?
The story that traces back to that day, when the Cassadines received a destiny in sorrowful shadows, is unknown. It has been lost over time, but the malicious shadow's loom has never shown mercy to these poor souls.
Pick any date in time, and you will find a suffering Cassadine.
That date would be in the December of 1977, almost twenty-two years ago. Alexis and Stefan were in their teens, while Stavros was off to college. They didn't see much of Mikkos now, but Helena was still a powering force in their life.
Sixteen year old Alexis lay in her bed reading a book by a French writer, when her door burst wide open. She quickly sat up to see Helena standing in her doorway.
Alexis was a bit shaken at first, but was able to utter, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Helena, starting to slowly age into an elderly woman, stood perfectly still. She smiled in a manner that sent chills down Alexis' spine. Finally, she answered, in her best patronizing tone,
"There is a soiree tonight at the Corvants' home, and they expect to see you there."
"They do?" Alexis asked, surprised.
"Oh yes. Their son is home from college for the weekend, and I thought you two might get along."
Alexis frowned, "What do you mean?" She could not have been suggesting something kind, not with a cruel mind like hers.
"The Corvants are thinking of investing in one of your... uncle's business dealings. When they mentioned their son needing an escort for the dance, I immediately thought of you."
"What do you expect me to do?" she asked.
Helena laughed. "You almost sound as though you were being sold into prostitution. Do not think such a thing... The Corvants have high standards, he would never go after a girl such as yourself. All you have to do is dance with him a few times, and that's all."
Alexis thought for a moment. She didn't like this, but she needed to get out of this manor. It had been awhile since she last attended a dance. She had not been to one since Mikkos had stayed on a more regular basis. It might be fun, the son of the Corvants could be a nice guy. What did she have to lose?
Alexis said to Helena, "All right, I will go."
Helena laughed, "What made you think you had a choice to begin with?" She observed Alexis' reaction wickedly, and then moved on.
Stefan was riding his horse, Cyrus, down an old dirt road that surrounded the manor. He had been on that horse for hours. He took his precious time before returning to the stables. This was the only time he had to himself. The only time when his mother wasn't trying to make him feel worthless, where his brother wasn't treating him like dirt.
Instead of those bad things, he felt good things. The rush of riding through the woods, wind brushing his skin. He went so fast sometimes he thought he could actually escape everything. When he was riding, he felt alive and free.
He had this fantasy that he rode Cyrus out of this place and found a wonderful, beautiful place where he could be happy for the rest of his days.
But he knew there was no such place. All there has been was this prison. He was a bird locked in a cage with no hope of escape.
The horse grew tired, and he knew he had to return to the stables. As he arrived, he found Alexis waiting for him.
"Hello, Alexis. What are you doing out here this day?"
"Helena told me that I am going to go to the function at the Corvants home... None of my dresses are appropriate, and I did not want to go to her."
"I understand. I will speak to Ms. Tyler, she will help you."
"Thank you, Stefan."
He got off his horse and started grooming it.
Alexis' voice was slightly trembled, "Stefan... I'm a little afraid of what might happen at the function."
"What are you afraid might happen?" he asked, only half paying attention.
"I don't know what they expect from me. Helena wants me to aquaint myself with this stranger and I'm worried about what he might expect from me."
Stefan was finally catching on. "Oh... I think I know what you mean. Don't worry, he can not force you to do anything you don't want to do. I will make sure of that."
"Can you, Stefan?"
"Yes. You are the closest thing to a sister I have. I wouldn't want to see anyone harm you."
"I doubt it will go that far... but thank you. I appreciate everything you've done for me Stefan... I'm sorry if I haven't said that much lately."
"I hardly do that much for you, Alexis."
"You do more then you know." she replied.
Stefan pulled out his watch and nervously muttered, "We better get going, we don't have much time left."
Alexis and Stefan walked back to the house together.
Alexis danced with Andrew Corvant, went everywhere with him, and would like nothing more then to go home. Andrew was a pompous jerk and his friends were completely stuck up. She hated being around people like this, who thought they were so much better then everyone else.
She followed him still, because if she didn't Helena would only be upset with her. She tried to be as tolerant as she could, but it was very strenuous.
"Have you had enough dancing for one night?" Andrew asked out of the blue.
She replied, "No, I'm fine-"
"No, it's okay. Let's go someplace to relax for awhile." He replied.
She didn't know quite how to respond, but she didn't have much time to give a reply anyway. He took her by the hand and quickly led her to another room.
The room was very luxuriant. The walls were scattered with paintings of long dead princes. Expensive vases were everywhere. The rug felt very thick beneath her shoes.
She was sat down on white couch, which wasn't very stiff and comfortable. Alexis considered that the Corvants never actually sat in it. They saw it, thought it went with the room, and bought it without a second thought.
Andrew still somehow seemed to get comfortable in this rock of a couch. His mannerism seemed to suddenly change. It was like he was trying hypnotize her with his stare, but it was only making her feel even more uncomfortable.
"Now, isn't this more comfortable?" He asked, coolly.
Alexis didn't want to be rude, "It feels nice."
"Good." He put an arm around her and she froze. It grew very silent, when he began running his hand down her arm. He touched her chin and brought her lips to his. She quickly pulled away.
"I'm sorry, I can't-"
"Why not? Are you a virgin?"
She grew very insulted. "It is none of your business."
"Look, you don't need to be afraid." He continued to run his hand down her arm, "I'll be very gentle." He went in for another kiss, but she pulled farther away this time.
"I said I can't. I'm sorry, but I... I don't want to."
He shrugged, "You have got to be kidding me. What's the matter with you? The entire night you've been giving me the cold shoulder."
"I'm sorry... I probably shouldn't have come here-" She started to get up, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.
"No, no, no, you are not going anywhere until we settle this. Now, you don't need to be afraid."
"What the hell are you talking about, I said no."
He laughed, "Whatever you say..." He kissed her again. She tried to pull away but he kept her in a firm grasp.
"Stop it!" He still wouldn't quit, so she slapped him, "I told you to stop it!"
He looked at her angrily and slapped her. "Learn some manners, little girl."
Suddenly, Andrew was lifted off the couch and thrown to the ground.
Alexis took a moment to figure out what happened and saw that Stefan was there. He looked down at Andrew with great contempt.
"You do not force unwanted kisses on a lady nor do you raise a hand to one."
Andrew got up and replied, "I don't see a lady. All I see is a two bit whore."
With that, Stefan punched Andrew in the nose, and he went tumbling to the ground again. He put a hand to his bleeding nose and was even more angry now.
"How dare you... You can tell your mother that we will have nothing to do with her now." He got up and left.
Stefan immediately sat next to Alexis. "Are you all right?"
Alexis nodded, trembling somewhat.
"Are you sure? He didn't hurt you?"
Alexis shook her head and said, "I'm fine, I'm fine..." Then, she suddenly thought of something. "How's Helena going to react when she finds out about this?"
"It does not matter how mother reacts, I am only concerned with your safety right now. So, are you truly all right?"
He nodded again.
A few minutes later, Helena came stomping in.
"What did you do?" she snapped, angrily.
Stefan quickly stood and started to explain to his mother, "He was attacking Alexis, I had to stop him-"
"Oh, quit with your excuses. I want to go- now!"
Alexis rose, relieved to finally leave this place, but very afraid of what awaited at home...
Stefan and Alexis were both filled with fright on the ride back to their home. Helena was silent the entire time, but her eyes spoke plenty. They had been cold as ice. If looks could kill, they would be dead.
Arriving home, she told Alexis to go straight to her room. "I will think of a fitting punishment for you later."
Alexis looked sorrowfully into Stefan's eyes. He tried to give a comforting look before she turned and left, but this time he wasn't able to offer it. He was troubled by what his mother was about to say to him.
They were in the livingroom, where she sat down in an old chair by the fireplace. Stefan stood stiffly, awaiting her words.
"You have disappointed me tonight, Stefan. More tonight than you ever have before." she told him in an eerie manner.
He began to explain, "Mother, you must understand, he would have raped Alexis if I had not interjected-"
His mother shot him a quick, angry look. "All you care about is her. You never stopped to think about how this may effect your father or I."
"Mother, what was I supposed to do? Just stand back, do nothing, and let him harm her?"
"Do you really think I care what happens to that girl?"
Stefan shook his head, "Mother, I do not understand you at all. What has she done to deserve the hate you give her?"
"She was born." Helena said bitterly.
Stefan was confused by this statement, but went on to say, "I can remember a time when you were my mother. It is a faint memory, but you cared. Then, you turned as cold as ice. What has happened to you, mother? Why have you become this way?"
She stood up slowly, her expression hard to read. She walked slowly to Stefan. He thought he could almost see something compassionate in her eyes. He realized he had been tricked, when she slapped him across the face.
"You may not speak to me in such a manner again. You think I have been hard on you before, but watch now." There was such intense hatred in her voice, it made him freeze in terror. "You may be my blood, but you are not my son. I wish I had gotten rid of you when I had the chance! You have been nothing but a disappointment to me."
She put her right hand on his cheek and whispered so softly that he could not hear her. Then, she stated, "I curse you, Stefan. May you never be free of my spell. May you never find love, may pain follow you wherever you may go. You will never know happiness. You will know the true range of my contempt, before this day, all the despair you have felt will turn into fond memories."
She turned away, leaving Stefan to stand in shock. She calmly sat back down in her chair, and as if nothing happened, she said, "I suppose you will be wanting supper now. You may have your meal, I will tell the cook to have it prepared by the end of the hour. Alexis will have no food tonight. Now, go."
Stefan was still in shock for a couple of seconds before he was able to move. His first instincts were to see Alexis, but as if reading his thoughts, Helena said,
"Do not go to her. The only one she may see this night is me."
So he went to the stables and stayed with his horse. It was getting dark, so he could not go on a ride. All he could do was groom the horse, try to pass the time. His mother's words burned into his mind. What unspeakable things could she be planning for him now? He thought her treatment of him had been wicked before, but he had never heard the intensity in her voice as there was this night.
He was left troubled and anxious. He only hoped Alexis would not suffer as much as he was intended to, but he had a feeling she would not be shown mercy, either.
Helena watched Alexis standing out on the balcony, watching the sky above her. She really was a lovely young woman, almost like... her mother.
There had been so many times Helena wanted to take a knife and do to her as she had done to her mother. Or maybe just push little Natasha off the balcony now, as she had wanted to do before.
She had made a promise to Mikkos, and death would be too kind to this girl. She wanted her to wish she wasn't born, just as much as Helena had.
When she had brought Alexis into her home, she never expected Stefan to naturally adore her. No blood of hers could love something that had caused her so much pain. As far as she was concerned, her son had betrayed it. It was the day Alexis and Stefan connected that made Helena extremely despise him.
Stavros never failed her, though. He hated Alexis right away. The things he did to that bastard child had made her extremely proud.
Helena moved to the balcony. The glass door creaked as she opened it, causing Alexis to spin around and notice her right away.
Slightly trembling, she asked, "Have you come to punish me?"
Helena did not want to answer yet. She wanted Alexis to squirm. "The night is very cold, is it not?"
Alexis nodded.
"Why have you come out here, then?"
Alexis quickly responded, "Looking at the stars helps me to be calm."
Helena smiled wickedly, "Does it?"
She nodded again.
"I never did ask where you got that dress. How did you get ahold of it?"
"Um... Stefan and I went to Ms. Tyler. She supplied this dress for me."
"Did she? Well, when I go to return it to her, I will bid her thanks for you."
"When you return it?"
"For now on, you are going to stay in your room. Now, take off the dress."
"What?"
"Take off the dress. I would like to have it returned tonight."
"All right." Alexis was about to head back into her bedroom, but Helena grabbed ahold of her arm and said, "No. Out here."
Alexis responded, "Out here-"
"Do as I say!" Helena quickly ordered.
Alexis did as she commanded. She stripped to her underwear and handed the dress back to Helena. She hugged herself, shivering. It was very cold outside.
"Good. Now, may you have the rest of the night to calm yourself." Helena turned and started to close the doors when Alexis realized what she was saying.
"Wait- you don't mean for me to spend the night out here?"
"Yes, I do." she stated sadistically.
"I will freeze out here."
"Well, you should have thought of that sooner, little girl. You didn't want to take the heat, so may you spend the entire night out her in the cold."
Helena closed both doors and locked them from the inside.
Alexis started pounding, pleading with her. "Please, don't make me stay out here the entire night. Please!" she begged, but it did her no good. Helena turned off the bedroom light and closed the door behind her.
Alexis sat down and curled up. She shivered, hoping someone would come up and help her. She hoped Stefan would come to her aid again, but time passed and she knew there was no hope. She was stuck out here until Helena saw fit to let her in.
She only hoped she did not freeze to death.
General Hospital's Friendship Forever