Chapter 20 : Nemesis

Lucky finds Emily at his doorstep and invites her in. "Hi Em."
Emily:"Hi, where is everybody?"
Lucky:"My Mom's out of town and my sister is at Aunt Ruby's"
Emily:"Wow! They let you stay here alone?"
Lucky(matter of factly):"Sure, why not?"
Emily:"So how are you doing?"
Lucky:"I'd be better if Cassadine would stay out of our lives."
Emily:"You mean Nik's Uncle? What did he do now?"
Lucky(in his most sarcastic tone):"Oh, he found an opportunity to ride
to my Mom's rescue again." He flounces onto the couch bitterly. "Man, I
hate that guy."
Emily:"You still think he had your Dad killed?"
Lucky(venting his rage):"Yeah, I can feel it, Em. He's practically
panting at my mother's heels. He's been waiting like a vulture for my
Dad to die since he flew into town a couple years ago." Lucky paces
angrily. "He should be dead, not my Dad."
Emily is shocked by Lucky's venom. "Boy, Lucky, you really hate him
don't you?"
Lucky:"Yeah, Em, I hate him more than I've ever hated anyone before."
He gets up and paces while Emily looks on helplessly, scared by Lucky's
agitation. Lucky stops suddenly and a look of determination crosses his
face. "Well it's up to me to do something about the vampire. No one
else will. They're either too scared of him or in his hip pocket."
Emily(getting scared):"Lucky, what are you going to do?"
Lucky gives her a small smile. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Suddenly he yawns. "Hey Em, would you mind so much if I didn't hang out
with you tonight? I'm really tired. I haven't slept much lately..."
Emily(unsettled):"Yeah.... I guess. You're just going to sleep, right?"
Lucky smiles reassuringly."Yeah, of course. That's what I said I'd do.
I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" He escorts her to the door.
Emily(uncertain):"Well... okay. If you're sure..."
Lucky:"Thanks for the talk, Em. I'll see you around."

Once Emily is gone he walks to the closet and pulls out his father's
revolver from locked suitcase on the top shelf. He takes the box of
bullets out of the suitcase and loads the gun.

Lucky walks slowly back to the couch. His hands get accustomed to the
feel of the gun. He sits on the couch pondering his next move, thinking
to himself, "Stefan Cassadine, meet your destiny."

....................

Stefan is sitting in front of his computer, which is connected to the
phone line. Mrs Lansbury enters the room.

Mrs L.:"Would you like me to prepare something for you before I leave?"
Stefan:"No, that won't be necessary. Has Nikolas returned?"
Mrs. L:"No sir. He mentioned he had a date tonight."
Stefan:"Excellent. Thank you. Have a nice evening." He returns his
attention to the computer as Mrs Lansbury leaves.

Stefan uses the computer to dial a phone number in Greece. He waits
patiently as the computer makes it's connections. After a few minutes, a
woman's voice comes through the speaker of the computer. The voice is
speaking in halted English.

Woman:"She's very weak."

........................

Meanwhile on the Cassadine Compound in Greece, Laura is led into
Helena's room by one of the servants. Since walking out of the plane it
is obvious who has control, and it isn't Helena. Laura is impressed by
the number of guards present. Even with her overwhelming fear, the
security seems excessive.

Helena's maid turns to Laura."She's very weak."
Laura:"Thank you, please leave us alone."

The maid obeys Laura. Laura looks around the room, noticing the
ventilator machine and it's insistent rhythm. The next thing Laura sees
is the huge bed in the middle of the room. On it is her nemesis....
looking very small and unimpressive.

Laura studies Helena's features, drinking in all the nuances; the silent
hatred in her eyes, the small amount of drool at the corner of the
mouth, the complete lack of movement. Laura expected her to look bigger,
more dynamic.

It takes great effort for Helena to speak, and her words are slurred.

Helena:"C..ome ... clother, ...Latha." Her face contorts from the
effort. Laura can see that the left side of Helena's face is paralyzed.

Laura involuntarily moves forward, a lump forming in her throat. Laura
mentally gathers her strength for the confrontation ahead.

Helena:"Thill ... prethy...lithle ...whore.."

Laura:"Not very impressive, Helena. This isn't the first time a
Cassadine called me a whore. I would think you'd try to be original in
your insults." Laura walks over to the side of the bed.

Laura:"I've never hated anyone as much as I've hated you, you and your
miserable son Stavros. You made sport of kidnapping me, tormenting me.
When Stavros and Stefan weren't around you were positively bloodthirsty.
I'm sure you relished your hold over me. You could send me running from
the room in tears when you put your mind to it. You didn't count on me
marrying your precious Stavros though, did you? I hated him, but
marrying him gave me freedom and power. Power to thwart you. And I did.
Until Nikolas came."

Laura walks around Helena's bed as she talks; Helena's eyes follow her.
"You knew I loved him. And you made sure I lost him. Oh yes, I made the
choice to leave alright. When you left that newspaper out with Luke's
picture in it. I remember your smug smile. Then Stavros died trying to
rape me, you threatened to kill my family if I ever tried to see
Nikolas. When he was four you ordered my mother's death because I tried.
You delighted in torturing me at the airport in Athens. Stefan told me
you taped it. You really are a twisted, sadistic bitch."'

Laura stops to inspect a picture of Nikolas on her dresser. Laura turns
the picture face down. "A day never went by that I didn't long to see
Nikolas. I'd wonder what he looked like.. what it was like to see him
smile. I prayed your venom wouldn't poison him. Thanks to Stefan, it
hasn't. Stefan brought Nikolas to Port Charles because he is loyal to
me. He swore his allegiance to me and to my son before I ever left this
island. "

Helena struggles to speak. "Thefan's ...whore!"

Laura:"Well the blood of this whore runs through The Cassadine heir,
strong enough to cancel your insanity. Nikolas is an intelligent, loving
young man. Most of all-- he is free of you. And I plan to keep it that
way. I made a lot of mistakes with Nikolas when he first came to Port
Charles. I hurt him terribly. You helped reunite us actually. I know
you were behind the kidnapping of my daughter, LesleyLu. We weren't
ever able to prove that Victor was conspiring with you. After that
crisis, Luke accepted Nikolas. Since then I've been rebuilding our
relationship. Just when I thought we were free, you had my husband
killed. Were you hoping it would destroy me? Well I won't let it. You no
longer have the power to hurt me."

Helena's eyes are filled with disgust as she speaks."You.. thould ..
hafe... died.. noth.. Luke. Your whining ..ith tirethome.
Luke..amuthed ..me. Do whath you came thor, kill ...me!"

Laura pretends to consider. "As much as I hate you and wish you dead, I
won't do that. I'm not a killer. The next best thing is to make you
insignificant in my life and that of my family's. Your name won't be
spoken. You don't exist for me or for my family. No one will keep me
from Nikolas again, certainly not you. The feud is over, and you lost,
Helena."

Laura leaves the room.

..................................

Emily is sitting anxiously on her bed on the phone. She is waiting
impatiently for Lucky to pick up. "Come on, Lucky, pick. Where are
you? And why isn't your answering machine picking up?"

She calls another number, Ruby picks up right away. "Kelly's Diner,
Ruby speaking."

Em(biting her bottom lip):"Hi, Ruby? This is Emily, Lucky's friend."
Ruby:"Hi Emily, what can I do for you?"
Em(trying not to sound anxious):"Is Lucky there by any chance?"
Ruby:"No, honey. I haven't seen him since he dropped off Lulu this
afternoon. Have you tried him at home?"
Em:"Yeah, but I'll try again in a little bit. Thanks."
Emily tries Wyndemere in hopes of catching Nikolas. She hangs up when
she reaches the answering machine. Emily gets her coat out of the
closet and goes in search of Lucky.

......................

Stefan is listening to Laura's conversation with Helena through his
computer.

Laura:"... Then Nikolas came. You knew I loved him. And you made sure I
lost him. Oh yes, I made the choice to leave alright. When you left that
newspaper out with Luke's picture in it. I remember your smug smile.
Then Stavros died trying to rape me, you threatened to kill my loved
ones if I ever tried to see Nikolas. When he was four you ordered my
mother's death because I tried. You delighted in torturing me at the
airport in Athens. Stefan told me you taped it. You really are a twisted
sadistic bitch."'

Nikolas(appearing out of nowhere):"What the hell do you think you're
doing, Uncle?!"

.....................................

Laura sags with relief and exhaustion as she leaves Helena's room.
Alexis gives her a quick hug before entering the room herself. Jason
stands guard outside as instructed by Alexis.

Alexis walks up to Helena's bed confidently and sticks the barrel of her
revolver between Helena's eyes.

Alexis:"Is it a good day to die, Auntie?"
Helena doesn't seem concerned. "Go .. athead."
Alexis:"You really aren't looking very well, are you? My sincerest
condolences." She removes the revolver from between Helena's eyes and
begins walking around the room. She notices the overturned photo of
Nikolas. "I have to say. I'm very hurt that you didn't attend my
husband's funeral. Oh wait.. that's right. You killed him. The only man
I ever loved, the father of my unborn child!" With one clean sweep,
Alexis clears the dresser of all the valuables. They land on the floor
in a loud crash, breaking into a million pieces.

Alexis turns to look at Helena again, sneering at her."So how
incapacitated are you? Can you even feed yourself? Doesn't look like
you can even swallow properly."

Helena shoots daggers at Alexis."Dithloyal...Bith!"
Alexis:"I came here to kill you, the demon from hell that you are. All I
see is a withered up old crone who can't even go to the bathroom by
herself, much less curse properly. If I killed you, I'd be doing you a
favor."

Helena sneers back."Weak.."

Alexis:"No, I think leaving you alive to suffer is a more fit
punishment. Besides, we can test my theory that you are too inhuman to
die. When I wake at night and reach for my husband, I'll imagine the
sound of that ventilator going in and out to lull me back to sleep. And
it will comfort me to know that it will be the only sound you hear for
the rest of your godforsaken life." Alexis walks to the door as she
delivers her parting shot. "Live long, Auntie Helena. Live a long,
long time."