Chapters 73 & 74
Chapter 73: To Tell The Truth
Stefan stands rigidly still, clearly taken aback. This wasn't how he imagined the conversation with Kevin at all. Kevin wasn't supposed to know before he was prepared. And he definitely wasn't prepared.
Kevin's question cuts through Stefan's fog. "I'm not going to go away until you answer me, Stefan. Why didn't you tell me we were cousins? You've had numerous opportunities over the last 3 years."
Laura stands back quietly, taking in the exchange. It's rare to see Stefan so thrown. She decides to wait her turn in getting an explanation. She almost feels sorry for Stefan-- if she doesn't think about the fact that once again he'd playing God with other people's lives. When would he ever learn?
Stefan struggles to regain his equilibrium, the alcohol he'd been consuming all night slowing his responses. "Who told you, Kevin? Was it Cassandra?" He asks, stalling for time.
Kevin crosses his arms. "It doesn't really matter how I found out, but in the interest of HONESTY, I'll tell you. Apparently Lucky went on a fishing expedition in the Greek archives looking for clues into Cassidy's background. You can guess what he found when he looked up my mother."
Stefan leans on the nearest chair for support. "Yes... of course that makes sense. He must have been pretty motivated to search fifty years worth of records."
Kevin persists in his demands. "I want answers, Stefan. Now. Why did you hide this? What did you hope to gain by keeping me in the dark?"
Stefan walks deliberately towards the liquor cart. As if by rote he pours Kevin's usual drink. "At the time, it was beneficial for both of us. Have a seat, the explanation will take a while. Obviously, I didn't intend for you to learn this tonight."
Laura takes a seat in the background, Stefan hardly seems to notice her, except to pass her a drink. All his attention is focused on Kevin and the thoughts racing around in his mind. He walks over to Kevin who is still standing. "Take this." When Kevin refuses the drink he offers, Stefan insists. "Believe me, you'll need it. Take it and have a seat."
Realizing he isn't going to get an answer until he does as Stefan demands, Kevin accepts a drink and sits in a nearby couch. "I'm still waiting, Stefan."
Once again feeling some measure of control, Stefan begins. "When I first arrived Port Charles, Kevin, you were in the throes of a mental breakdown. In fact, the first time we met, you were in the hospital just after you were caught stalking Felicia."
"Yes, I remember it vividly," Kevin replies, his tone impatient. "Must we cover well known territory?"
"It relates. I'm sure it doesn't surprise you to learn that I kept close tabs on you. I knew of your difficulties, and of Ryan's mental illness. At the time we met, you couldn't have handled learning you were related to the Cassadine. You were already consumed with idea that your family was cursed. Why confirm it? And I feared you would have a relapse."
Kevin shakes his head, unconvinced. "I don't believe you did it solely for my benefit. Not for one minute."
"No, I didn't. As I said, it was mutually beneficial." Stefan takes a seat on a nearby couch. "At the time we came to Port Charles, the Cassadine reputation was in tatters. Luke Spencer, as you know, did his best to destroy what ever credibility I tried to create for the family. Having your name linked to ours at that time would have made the task of elevating our reputation all but insurmountable. It has only been in the last year that the Cassadine name in Port Charles has been given any measure of respect. But the decision was much more complicated than this."
"Did you ever have any intention of telling me, Stefan?" Kevin asks. "I have to wonder since you've never given any inkling of this secret."
"When the time was right, I planned to tell you," Stefan replies. "Part of the issue was Cassandra and Mike. Neither Mike nor Cassandra were in the position to reveal her Cassadine connection. Mike's friendship with the Spencers was of particular concern. I'm sure this has all but destroyed whatever friendship Lucky and Mike had. That's unfortunate for both of them. I've had to weigh everyone's needs, not just my own."
Kevin frowns momentarily at the thought of Lucky and Mike. "This is the problem with deception, Stefan. It's not just you that gets hurt. Everyone... Cassidy, Mike, Nikolas, Laura, Lucky, me, even Lucy... we all get hurt. And why hide Mike's connection to you? Obviously so you could spy on Luke."
"That's my question." Laura cuts in, her voice hard with accusation.
Stefan turns to Laura briefly. "You are already aware that I watched you and your family from a distance since Stavros died. I had to be sure that Helena would not harm you. Mike watched over your family for that very reason.... how did you think I was able to act so quickly when you came to me for help with LesleyLu's illness? By the time we spoke in person, Nikolas was already in Switzerland being prepped for the procedure."
Laura is stunned into silence again. Mike had done this? She was supposed to believe that he used Mike as a spy to help her and her family?
Kevin voices her thoughts. "C'mon, Stefan! I don't believe for a second you didn't use Mike to spy against Luke."
"It's true, I tried." Stefan smiles slightly. "But by the time Mike could give me anything useful, he was fiercely loyal to Luke and Sonny. No amount of pressure could sway him. In the end he knew I'd always protect Cassandra."
Kevin gives him a puzzled look. "Melanie's been dead for years! Why keep Cassidy's identity hidden? Who were you protecting her from?"
"Helena." Stefan downs the rest of his drink and pours himself another. "Helena swore to get vengeance on Mike not only for leaving Melanie, but also for supporting me in the coup that overthrew her. Her intent was get her hands on Cassandra to do it. I stripped my mother of most of her powers when I staged that coup on Nikolas' seventh birthday, but up until recently, she still had the ability to cause great harm."
"That's true, Kevin." Laura adds quietly. "She was the one that arranged for Sonny and Luke to be murdered."
"I had NO idea..." Kevin answers, looking horrified and downing his drink. He takes a moment to mull the complex situation. Clearly he wouldn't have made the choices Stefan made. And he wasn't sure how much he should believe, but his gut told him that Stefan was telling the truth.
Stefan continues quietly. "Melanie and Helena were cut from the same cloth. Their natures were cruel, their minds twisted. The main difference between them was that while Helena sought power, Melanie sought perversion."
Kevin looks up at Stefan sharply. "You knew my mother?"
"Yes, unfortunately." Stefan's eyes are hooded, and it's impossible to read his thoughts. He quickly downs his recently refilled drink.
A horrible thought dawns on Kevin, and he is forced to utter it. "Did she abuse you?" The stillness in Stefan gives him the answer. "Oh, God. She did."
Stefan looks at Kevin intensely. "She tried."
Kevin and Laura listen with ashen faces as Stefan begins to explain.......
A teenaged Stefan clad in brown shorts and a partially opened white peasant shirt stands before his angry mother. A pretty blonde woman sits beside Helena watching the performance with interest. Stefan stares off into the space, unresponsive to his mother's harangue, silently hoping it will end soon. Clearly this is not the first time she's given this speech.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Stefan?" Helena demands once she's finished. Stefan says nothing as he continues to stare into the space below her right ear. Helena's anger escalates when he refuses to answer. "Answer me!"
"What could I say that you would listen to, mother?" Stefan replies as he continues to stare off. "Clearly you have already convicted me of the crime."
Helena rises from her chair to her full height, further enraged by his calm manner in the face of her fury. "You DARE to defy me when I ask you a question?! You think this is so amusing that you stand there as if this is nothing?! Perhaps you are even more stupid than I thought. How did you spring from my loins? You are a disgrace to the Cassadine name -- Stupid and weak. If I have to beat you to get my point across, so be it." She glares at him, even more infuriated when he still doesn't react. She raises her hand and backhands him across the face so hard the force knocks Stefan off balance. He has to take a step to keep from falling. One of the rings on her hand slices his cheek and he raises his hand involuntarily to cover the bleeding wound.
Stefan towers over Helena, glaring at her with pure hatred. She stands back smugly, having gotten the response she wanted, not the least bit concerned that he might retaliate. She knows he wouldn't dare. The blonde woman intervenes, stepping between them. "Helena, I think you made your point. I'm sure Stefan didn't intend to displease you..."
Helena looks kindly at the blonde woman. "Of course, Sister. You are right. Stefan is probably too stupid to tie his own shoes. " Helena sneers her son, dismissing him with a twitch of her hand. "Leave me before I change my mind and punish you further. Your riding privileges are suspended until further notice."
Stefan retreats to the library for some solitude to regain his composure. This is one of his favorite places within the compound to go.. quiet, serene..no one to harass or taunt him. Helena and Stavros never come here, they both detest the room and the wisdom held within it.
The walls of the library are covered from floor to ceiling with books. The room is huge; there are several large antique cherry wood tables in the center of the room, and in the far corner there are several overstuffed winged back chairs. Stefan collapses on the bench near the door, still trembling from the altercation with his mother.
The blonde woman enters the library and smiles when she sees him slumped on the bench. She sits beside him and puts her arm around his shoulders to comfort him. "It's okay, Stefan. I'm sorry she struck you. She shouldn't have done that."
"I failed, Tante Melanie, " Stefan says through his tears. "I swore this time she wouldn't goad me. But she did." He wipes the tears away. "I HATE her."
"Shhh.. it's okay now. She won't bother you here." Melanie brushes back a lock of his hair. "Let me see the cut."
"It's nothing." Stefan raises his head for her to see his cut cheek.
"You poor dear," Melanie murmurs as she kisses it gently. Stefan turns to look at her in confusion, not used to the familiarity. "Turn around, Stefan. I can feel all the knots in your back. A backrub will help you calm down." He shrugs and turns around obediently.
Melanie's eyes gleam avariciously as she begins the backrub. Once Stefan begins to relax, she rises to her knees and slides her hands down his chest from his shoulders to his stomach in a caress, parting his shirt to rub her hands on his skin. She bends over his shoulder and puts her lips near his ear, her blonde hair falling forward to touch his cheek. She whispers seductively, "You're such a sweet boy." She kisses him on the neck.
Stefan's mind races at the realization of her intent and his stomach churns in revulsion at the heavy smell of alcohol on her breath he hadn't noticed before. "STOP! What are you doing, Tante Melanie?!" He quickly stands up, violently thrusting her hands away.
Melanie smiles back at him innocently. "Only taking my lead from you. You came on to me, my darling nephew."
Stefan shakes with a mixture of fury and horror. "That's a lie! How could you?! I... I trusted you! Get out... Get out or I'll tell my parents!"
Melanie laughs shrilly."Oh, my dear Stefan! Don't you know by now your mother will NEVER believe anything you say?" She circles Stefan slowly as she pretends to consider Helena's reaction. "Let's see... will she believe the son she despises or the sister she adores? She knows how prone you are to lying and exaggeration. Tell me, who do you think she'll believe? You, with your deluded rendition of what happened, or me? You see, I'll tell her the truth.. that you found me irresistible... that you begged me for a backrub and kissed me out of some boyish infatuation. Which story do you think she'll believe?" Melanie watches with sadistic pleasure as she sees tears of helpless rage form in his eyes before he looks to the floor in despair.
She continues to circle him like he is the prey, taunting him with her words. "As for your father. Telling him is a stretch, isn't it? He doesn't like you much more than your mother does. He could care less what happens to you. He's too busy playing in his lab with his silly little inventions. He's always bowed to your mother's wisdom when it came to disciplining you because he couldn't be bothered. And when you've gone to him in the past in hopes he'd lighten your punishment... what happened?" Melanie smiles at him triumphantly. "Your mother doubled it, didn't she? ....So you see, I'm really the only one who's ever been kind to you in your short pitiful life. Why alienate me? Your only friend with any power to sway Helena when she's angry? Haven't I interceded on your behalf numerous times?"
Melanie shrugs magnanimously when Stefan refuses to answer. "Tell you what, even if you tell her your awful lies about me, I'll make her promise not to be too severe when she punishes you for it. Isn't that kind of me, considering?"
Stefan glares at her with murderous hatred. He whispers in a low growl, "Get out before I kill you. You WILL pay for this abomination.. this betrayal! That is a promise!"
Melanie smiles in admiration. "Quite impressive, nephew. You almost sounded like a Cassadine for a second. Very well, I'll leave." She strolls leisurely to the door, turning before she leaves to make her parting shot. "You've grown tiresome, anyway."
As the door closes behind her an enraged Stefan lets out a small strangled sob. He grabs the closest object, a book on one of the tables, and hurls it violently against the bookshelves. The wall of books shake under the impact of book and the book falls to the floor with it's binding broken. Stefan paces furiously until he spies an expensive Ming vase on the book shelf. He picks it up and smashes it against the opposite wall, shattering it into a million pieces. He picks up an ornate plate that was next to it and prepares to smash it as well.
His progress is halted by the appearance of a teenaged girl with brown hair, who emerges from behind a secret panel near the winged backed chairs. "Stefan, stop it! You're scaring me!"
"GET OUT, Alexis! Leave me alone!" Stefan yells. His chest heaves from the intensity of his rage. The hand holding the plate is suspended midair as the war rages within him, the war between an overwhelming desire to let loose his blinding fury and his wish for rational self control.
"I won't!" Alexis hollers back. She approaches him hesitantly, like he's wounded wild animal that will strike out at her violently.
"I said, GO away!" He yells again. As Alexis nears, Stefan regains control of himself. He turns away, lowering the plate to his side. His voice lowers to a harsh whisper. "I mean it. Leave me. That is an order." His body continues to tremble and he brutally wipes a few angry tears from his eyes.
"You don't leave me alone when I'm crying," Alexis replies. She stops advancing when she's a few feet from him.
Stefan uses cruel words, hoping if he hurts her feelings, she will leave. "You forget your place, Alexis. And I am NOT crying. I just want to be free of your constant pestering! Can't you ever do as I ask?"
"I'm not going. You can try all you want to get rid of me. But it won't work." Alexis crosses her arms defiantly, waiting for him to give up, which he always does. She knows he's never angry at her for long.
Stefan shrugs in resignation as he returns the plate to the bookshelf, unable to maintain his anger at his favorite cousin. This time his tone is gentler, and all that is left is a slight tremor in his hand. "Where did you come from anyway?"
"I was waiting for you. I knew this is where'd you'd come after Aunt Helena was done punishing you. When I heard Aunt Melanie come in, I hid behind the secret panel."
Stefan turns around to stare at her with a look of horror on his face, realizing she witnessed his humiliation . "You heard it all?"
"Yeah. Saw the whole thing too. She lied. You didn't come on to her." Alexis reaches up to touch his shoulder comfortingly. "She's bad, Stefan."
"What do you know of such things?" Stefan asks dubiously as he turns away again. He doesn't acknowledge her affection, but he doesn't reject it either. He allows her hand to remain on his shoulder, proof of the connection they share.
"I know enough. I may be a girl, but I'm not stupid. You didn't do anything wrong, she did." Alexis looks down guiltily as she lets her hand drop. "It's my fault...I should have confessed that I took the horse out. Then this wouldn't have happened..."
"No. You're not to blame." He forces her to look at him as he puts his hands on her cheeks. "Tell me you believe it, Alexis." She nods and Stefan releases her. "Anyway, Mother would have beaten you worse. You know this. Come... I want to walk on the beach. This room seems tainted now. "
Alexis ever practical, brings up the obvious. "What about the mess?"
"You'll help me clean it up when we get back. No one will notice, we are the only ones who come here anyway."
"And so you see I knew exactly what Melanie was capable of. " Stefan sums up. "When I received the request from my father after his death to look after Cassandra and Mike's safety, I did not hesitate."
Chapter 74: The Word Tilts On Its Axis
Kevin and Laura sit in stunned silence, both are rocked by Stefan's memories. Laura looks at Stefan with new eyes, for the first time in years seeing the vulnerable young man she knew back in Greece. Up until now, she'd thought that part of him was dead, but now she realizes it was just buried deep and closely guarded. The combination of alcohol and being caught off guard by Kevin's question ripped off the thick layer of protection. Instinctively she hates Melanie for robbing Stefan of his last bit of innocence, and yearns to hold him... to comfort him. Only Kevin's presence prevents her. Instead she quietly cries for him.
Kevin retreats into himself. He'd worked hard over the last few years to rebury his own frightening experience. Stefan's story touched him to the core. The only way he knows how to deal with it is to withdraw.
Stefan feels raw, like he's been through a trial of fire. It had been years since he allowed himself to recall that horrible nightmare. He questions again the choices he's made... not that he protected Cassidy, he'd never change that, but his choice to handle everything alone, to hold everyone at arms length. The feeling of relief is intense--a huge secret he's held inside for decades is finally out. But with the revelation of the secret comes the gripping fear that he will be rejected- something he's feared all along. To be rejected by two of the people he holds dear, Laura and Kevin. He doesn't have the courage to look at them.
Laura speaks first, as if she'd heard Stefan's silent plea. "If she weren't already dead I'd kill her myself. How could she do that to a child! I'm so sorry she hurt you like that, Stefan." Laura wipes the tears from her eyes, her voice cracked as she speaks. "No child should go through what you went through. And I'm glad Cassidy had you to protect her."
Stefan hears the crack in her voice and looks up at her, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. Her words are a temporary balm to his fears. He can't believe she understands. Yet he can see it in her eyes. "Thank you, Lasha." Stefan whispers in a voice hoarse with emotion. He risks a glance at Kevin and is surprised to see Kevin's face a blank. His stomach knots.
Kevin looks back at him with detachment. "It's a horrible tale, Stefan. With all the research I've done on women like my mother, they usually prey on anyone younger and weaker than they. They groom their victims by getting them to trust them." As what Stefan has told him sinks in, Kevin finds it impossible to sit, he gets up abruptly and starts to pace, focusing his attention to the small details in the room, the wallpaper, the modern American paintings hung in the gameroom, anything but Stefan. He pulls at his collar when he finds it difficult to breathe.
Stefan hides his fear the best he can. "Yes, I suppose you're right about that. She was a walking vulture."
Kevin realizes dimly he's not handling the situation right, he can see Stefan struggling, needing his reassurance, but all Kevin can think about is getting away from Wyndemere as quickly as possible. He needed to think. If he didn't he'd end up a puddle on the floor. Feeling badly for Stefan, Kevin makes a meager attempt to explain himself. "I have to get home.... I know I'm not saying the things you want to hear right now, and I'm sorry about that. I just can't. We'll work this out later. Good bye Stefan, Laura." Without waiting for a response, Kevin leaves quickly.
Laura looks after Kevin in surprise, clearly he wasn't handling this well at all. She hopes Lucy can help him, if anyone could, it would be Lucy. Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a choked sob. She turns her attention back to Stefan and sees him bent over on the couch with his head in his hands. Without hesitation, Laura goes to him, kneeling at his feet.
"I've lost him, Lasha... he hates me." Stefan says in anguish, his body shaking with silently sobs.
Laura runs her hands through his silken brown hair to soothe him. "Shsh, Stefan, it's going to be okay. Kevin feels overwhelmed that's all. He'll come around. I'm sure of it."
Mike, finding it impossible to sleep, returns to the cemetery. This time he visits Luke's grave. He smiles sadly at the inscription on Luke's headstone: 'This is just a temporary setback.' So Luke. God he missed him something fierce.
"Well, Luke. If you're paying attention at all, you know all about my latest screw up." Mike shakes head in unhappiness. "I never meant to disappoint you. I remember promising to watch out for your son and make sure he didn't get into trouble. The irony is I ended up being his worst trouble."
Mike walks around Luke's grave as he continues to talk. "From everything I know about you, though, you understand the credo, protect your family at all costs. You certainly did that yourself. That's what I did, pal. I had to protect Cassidy and that meant working with Stefan. He had the means to make sure she'd be safe."
"I don't even know if you can hear me, but I have to try anyway. I want to thank you for giving me a chance, without you I doubt I would have made peace with Michael. I felt sick every day since you befriended me knowing that I was working for your sworn enemy. If I had any other way, I'd have taken it. I'm so sorry...." Mike's voice fades. He begins to walk away but turns abruptly to face Luke's headstone one last time. "I'll keep my promise, pal. I'll watch out for Lucky even though he won't have anything to do with me. I'll make sure no one hurts him."
Stefan and Laura stand face to face holding hands after he's calmed down. He smiles at her gratefully. "Thank you, Lasha. I don't know how I would have managed had you not been here."
"But you didn't have to, Stefan. I was here. I am here." She reaches up to cup his bearded cheek, stroking it with her thumb. His eyes close in response, rocked to the core by her tenderness. "What you did tonight, being so honest with Kevin andme, took guts. It would have been easy to whitewash it and we wouldn't have been the wiser."
Stefan looks unsure. "Perhaps I should have... I swore I'd never tell because of the damage it could do. And now Kevin can't stand to look at me."
"That's just temporary. He just needs time to make sense out of it all." Laura replies. She is still amazed by how vulnerable he'd been tonight. Baring his soul, crying.. those were not things she ever imagined he'd do. Unconsciously she steps closer, her body only inches from his. "You're so different tonight...."
"I feel different... lighter," Stefan answers, finding her proximity pleasant yet disturbing. He breathes in her scent and becomes entranced. She's so beautiful standing in front of him with a look of admiration, her long glorious blonde hair framing her face, the Cassadine medallion around her neck. He could almost believe she was there for him and him alone. Unable to resist, he leans down to kiss her on the lips.
The tentative kiss from Stefan ignites Laura. Without thinking twice, she opens her mouth to deepen the kiss. She wants this kiss more than anything. She revels in the feel of his arms around her as he pulls her into his embrace. It feels right. It's as if she's being transported back in time.. to when she was held captive on the island and Stefan had been her only solace. It had been ages since she'd felt the comfort of this man's touch.
An instant later, a panting Stefan breaks the kiss to look into her eyes. What he sees there is his undoing, a intense yearning that mirrors his own. Pulling her to him again, he tips her head back, kissing her ravenously.. beginning with her mouth then trailing down her neck. Laura's knees buckle and she grabs his collar to keep from collapsing. He quickly puts his hands on her hips to steady her, making it feel like a possessive caress.
They are both lost to a passion laid dormant for two decades. Laura tugs at Stefan's shirt in frustration, hungry to feel his skin under her hands. Finally giving up on the buttons she pulls it over his head. She alternately kisses and nips his chest with her mouth while her hands delight in the feel of his muscled shoulders.
Unable to stand her torturous seduction any longer, he buries his fingers in her blonde mane of hair tugging it roughly to force her head back. He makes love to her mouth with his. Their desire for each other spirals out of control, beyond reason, beyond caution, beyond anything other than this moment where they want each other. Abruptly Stefan breaks the kiss,and lifts Laura into his arms. Wordlessly he he carries her out of the gameroom and up the stairs to his bedroom.
