Q.E.D. Part 4
Nikolas looked up from his reading. "This is about the execution ofTsar Nicholas II and his family...."
Stefan nodded. "Yes, it is. I'm pleased that you remember yourRussian history."
Nikolas looked back at the diary. "But... no one survived. The bodieswere burned and buried in a mass grave."
Lila spoke next. "Two of the bodies were never found: the tsar'syoungest daughter, Anastasia, and his son, the tsarevich Alexie."
Nikolas shook his head. "Are you asking me to believe that these arethe memoirs of Alexie Romanov? And that he and his sister survivedthe execution?" He looked over at Stefan.
"Yes," Stefan replied. "Alexie Nicholaevich Romanov lived for tenmore years, dying at the age of 24." Stefan glanced over at Lila."His sister, the Grand Duchess Anastasia, died in 1945, at the age of44."
Lila nodded her head. "So.. Helena told you."
Stefan waved his hand in a dismissive motion. "My mother told menothing. And she doesn't know that I have this information." Helooked over at Nikolas. "I think she wanted to wait until she hadenough... control over Nikolas before she shared any of this withhim."
Lila eyed Stefan warily. "Where do you stand in all of this?"
"I can assure you, I do not stand with my mother." Stefan stood upand started to pace. "She wanted to hide Nikolas away on that island,with no contact with the outside world, until he became entirelydependent upon her for everything. She was hoping to make him...pliant... to her wishes."
"How did you get Nikolas away from her?", Lila asked.
"My mother thinks that we are here for another reason." Stefanallowed himself a little smile. "Let's just say that she and I differin our interpretation of the word... timoria."
Nikolas stood up and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I hate tointerrupt your private discussion, but may I remind you that I'mstill here in the room? You needn't talk about me in the thirdperson." He walked over to Stefan. "You promised me an explanation,and I haven't heard anything yet. All I've heard so far is aquestionable interpretation of history. What does any of this have todo with me?"
Stefan put his hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Perhaps you should sitdown."
Nikolas sighed and returned to his chair.
Stefan pointed to the diary. "Those words that you just read werewritten by your great-grandfather, Alexie Romanov."
"What?! But, I was told that my great-grandfather was named AlexanderCassadine, and that he was supposed to be a descendant of Cassander,one of the Macedonian kings ..."
"Well, there is a grain of truth to that story." Stefan replied. "Weare, indeed related to a Cassadine, who claimed to have royal blood.She was your great-grandmother, Ariadne Cassadine. Your grandfather,Mikos Cassadine, took on his mother's last name."
"But... why?"
Stefan looked over at Lila. "Mrs. Quartermaine... Lila. You're moreacquainted with these events than I am, perhaps you'd like to explainthem to Nikolas."
Reginald shot a warning look at Lila. She smiled reassuringly. "Iknow you're concerned, Reginald, and perhaps you have a right to be.But Helena already knows about this, and I'm not divulging any newinformation." She took a sip of her tea and continued:
"As you may already know, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and King GeorgeV of England were first cousins. The resemblance between them was sostrong that when Nicholas attended George's wedding, some peoplemistook him for the groom. Anyway, when Nicholas was forced toabdicate and he and his family were sent into exile in Siberia, manythought that George V might try to save his cousin's family.
"However, Europe was still in turmoil from World War I, and Englandwas weakened by the war effort. George could not afford to openlyassist his cousin. He had no idea how the new Russian governmentwould react.
"Then, the Bolsheviks began executing other members of the Romanovfamily, and it became painfully obvious that the tsar's entire familywould be killed. In desperation, George accepted an offer made by aGreek espionage agent to rescue Nicholas' family." She paused, andlooked over at Nikolas. "The agent's name was AlexanderCassadine.
"Alexander told the king that any open attempt to rescue the tsarwould result in war with Russia, but that he could save the heir tothe throne, Alexie, and perhaps one other child, one of Nikolas'daughters. He would smuggle them out of Russia, and eventually bringthem to England, where they would remain hidden from the world untilevents in Russia righted themselves. You see, no one thought the newgovernment in Russia would last long.
"Anyway, Alexander rescued two of the tsar's children, Alexie andAnastasia. He brought them to Greece, to his family's secludedisland. And unbeknownst to King George, he had no intention ofbringing the Russian heir to the throne back to England. Instead, hetold King George that Alexie had died shortly after the rescue, whichwas believable, since the tsarevich did have hemophilia. He broughtAnastasia to England instead. And although she knew the truth abouther brother, she also knew that Alexie's life depended upon herdiscretion.
"Anastasia changed her name to Anne and lived out the rest of herlife in anonymity, in a small estate in Yorkshire. She married HenryMorgan, a commoner, and the couple had one daughter."
Lila paused, and Stefan added, "... and that daughter's name isLila." He looked over at his nephew. "Nikolas, Mrs. Quartermaine is acousin of ours... A very important one, indeed."
Nikolas looked at Lila Quartermaine with a renewed respect and awe."So, you are royalty. I should have known."
Lila laughed. "You're very kind to say so, Nikolas, but I'm hardlyroyalty. According to Tsar Paul II's Rules of Succession, Anastasiacould not have been heir to any throne in Russia. That right ispassed on through the male Romanovs only." Her expression sobered andshe looked directly at Nikolas. "However, you and your uncle are theonly surviving direct descendants of Alexie Romanov, heir to thethrone of Russia. And you, Nikolas, would be considered by some to beRussia's sovereign."
Nikolas looked over at his uncle. When he spoke his voice was low,but his tone was that of subdued fury. "How long have you knownthis?"
Stefan met his nephew's gaze. "I found the diary before you wereborn."
Nikolas stood up and walked over to the fireplace. He ran his handover the smooth, cold metal of the empty wall safe. "And you waiteduntil now to tell me?"
Stefan moved to stand behind his nephew. He placed a tentative handon Nikolas' shoulder and felt him tense at his touch. "Would it havemade a difference if I had told you earlier?"
Nikolas spun around to face his uncle. "I guess I wouldn't know, asunaccustomed as I am to hearing the truth."
He pushed his way past his uncle and left the room. Lila saw Stefanwince when the front door slammed. Stefan reached for his cell phoneand punched in a number.
"Nikolas is leaving the island. Follow him at a discreet distance."Stefan pocketed his cell phone and turned toward Lila and Reginald."I'm very sorry. I didn't mean for this meeting to turn out thisway."
Reginald stood and spoke for the first time. "Excuse me for asking,Mr. Cassadine, but just what did you expect to accomplish today? Whatis it that you want from us?"
"I wanted you and Lila to give Nikolas what I have been unable togive him... the truth. The diary alone is not enough proof. Irequired verification..."
Lila spoke next. "You realize, don't you, that I am bound by apromise not to tell anyone outside of the family about my family'shistory. I cannot publicly verify the authenticity of thatdiary."
"I understand," Stefan replied. "Helena has carefully hidden away allother evidence of Alexie's existence, except for one importantartifact; and that is in a very safe place. Certainly the last placethat Helena would ever look."
"And where is that?" asked Lila.
Stefan paused and his eyes seemed to focus on some distant unseenobject. "At the home of Luke Spencer."