19

Luke, Roy, Sonny, and Robert were all gathered at the now empty Kelly’s, going over documents and copies of deeds that Helena Cassadine held. Ever since Zander’s disappearance, The men have been up in arms. Taking Zander only meant one thing. Helena was out for blood this time and no one was safe. Sonny had ordered new and more professional mob men to look after the Spencers and Cassadines after finding out that all the men he hired were now missing. There one had seen hide nor hair of them.

"How about here?" Luke pointed to a deed of a chateau in the countryside of France. "It’s secluded, heavily guarded, and elegant. Just what our Hellcat likes."
"Too obvious," Robert shook his head for the thousandth time. Every location Luke had pointed out, Robert had rejected. Now he was getting mad. They were just about through the deeds and still not even a suspected location.

"Damn it Robert!" Luke’s fist slammed down onto the table. "What in the hell is your problem?! The hellcat has my son and my daughter in law’s brother! My family is in jeopardy here and you’re playing guess that property!"

Robert sighed, tired and quite irritated himself. Chance’s disappearance had worn on him night and day and he felt like he was letting his son down each day he remained with Helena. "She has my son too Luke."
"Well then why are you throwing away every location I chose so far?"

"Because they’ve already been checked. I had the WSB on this since last week and they’ve checked all those locations and came up empty handed."
"Oh," Luke looked away from his friend, slightly embarrassed, but not by much. Lucky was in trouble and Luke was going to get him back by any means necessary, and if that meant pushing away his friends, so be it.

"Mate…calm down. We’ll find them and we’ll make Helena sorry she ever returned to cause such havoc," Robert squeezed Luke’s shoulder reassuringly.

Just then the bell over the door chimed, singling someone entering, which was impossible since they had been closed all day. The men looked up and gasped in surprise. There standing before them was Chance, who looked rather dirty and frightened.

Robert was immediately out of the chair and scooped the little boy into his arms. Chance just clung to him like he’d never let go. He examined him closely for any cuts or bruises and was relieved to find none. He turned to face his friends who stared at him in open-mouthed shock.

"He’s back! My son is back!"

"Daddy," the little boy tugged on Robert’s sweater. Robert was surprised to find an envelope clinched tightly in his son’s hand. "Bad lady."

Luke frowned and walked up behind his friend, reminding himself that this was Helena. Just because Robert had gotten his son back didn’t mean that Lucky was at home now with Liz and Zander with Emily. "What does it say?"

Robert handed the envelope to Luke, not wanting to let go of his son to do so himself. As long as Chance remained in his arms, he was safe. Luke’s anger rose to the surface when he read the note.

My dearest Luke,

The games have ended, and this time it’s for keeps. Since young Mr. Scorpio is no longer needed, I have returned him to his family, but do not assume the same can be said for Lucky and Zander. As of now, those two belong to me. Do not try to find them, if you do, I guarantee you’ll only find dead bodies. I’m sure you don’t want to find them in the condition I could arrange to leave them in. This is indeed good-bye Luke. I shall miss our games dearly, but I have your son to remember you by.

Helena

Luke looked at Chance as if he was about to ask where Helena was holding him, but Robert bursted that idea.

"He’s two years old Luke. He doesn’t know," Robert shook his head.

"Well what else am I supposed to do? It’s obvious that the old bat is planning to disappear with my son in her clutches! I can’t let that happen Robert! I can’t!"

"And you won’t. We will find the boys Luke. We will find them and bring Helena to justice. Trust me. Now let me go call Anna and tell her that we have our son back," Robert carried Chance out of the room.

Sonny watched Luke as he collapsed into a chair and buried his head in his hands, he wasn’t surprised to hear the sobs that shook Luke’s body consistantly. His heart went out to his friend. This wasn’t the first time that Luke’s son had gone missing, but Sonny silently promised Luke that it would be the last. Sonny was going to activate the rest of his organization. There wasn’t a patch of the globe that his organization didn’t cover. And in each pocket, were highly trained assasins who knew how to find their target and eliminate it. He’ll put them on the case and have them bring both Lucky and Zander back to the people that loved them.

Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed a number. "Yeah. It’s Sonny. Transfer me over to Oedipus. I want to activate the sleeper cells and the reapers. I have a very important mission for them and it cannot delay."

Hanging up the phone, Sonny was shocked to see Luke staring at him, cold knowledge in his eyes. "Luke…"
"Thank you," Luke nodded, knowing that soon, Helena will be dead.

"I know how it feels to lose a child, plus how it affected you when Lucky disappeared for all that time the first time. I will not let you lose him for good Luke. That’s a promise."

Helena and Sarah both laughed as Zander was pushed into the setting room where Lucky stood next to a window that looked out into some dark woods. Zander glared at the guards as they stepped out of the room and closed the door behind them. He then turned the glare on Helena and Sarah.

"What do you want now?"

Helena smiled and sauntered over to Lucky who didn’t look away from the window. "Sarah and I have decided to let you and Lucky spend some time together. What is it you Americans call it? Male bonding?"

"Get your hands off my sister’s husband," Zander growled.

Sarah rolled her eyes. When was Zander going to see that Emily and Elizabeth no longer mattered. Lucky was no longer Lizzie’s husband and Zander was no longer Emily’s boyfriend. "I’ll be so happy when we send you through the programming. I’m getting so tired of your concern for my ex-sister."

"How about a kiss lover," Helena smiled, rubbing a hand over Lucky’s chest. Zander stared wide eyed and in disgust as Lucky turned around and kissed Helena in a way he had only kissed Elizabeth.

"Lucky no…what about Elizabeth? Your wife? The love of your life?"

"Silence!!!" Helena glared at Zander. "I allow you too much freedom Mr. Smith. Careful or I may be forced to place some restrictions. Now I am going out. I will leave you in the care of young Sarah, who will be right out that door. So don’t try anything."

Zander glared after both women as they leave the room. He turned his attention back to his brother in law, concern clear in his eyes. "Finally alone. Lucky listen to me, you couldn’t have forgotten about Elizabeth. You love her man! I never saw anyone as much in love as you two! Helena couldn’t have taken that away!"
"I don’t know who you’re talking about," Lucky’s voice was flat and lifeless. It was like his very essence was sucked out of him. "The only woman I love is Madame."

Zander looked at Lucky in disbelief. Helena had totally taken over Lucky’s mind. There must be some way to jog Lucky’s memory. To get him to remember the woman he had loved so much and give him the will to fight back. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Paging through the pictures he had he pulled out one of Lucky and Elizabeth last year. They had their arms around each other and looked carefree, happy, and totally in love with one another. "Don’t you remember taking this picture? Don’t you remember her?"
Lucky blinked in surprise at the picture. Shock and what looked like sadness crossed Lucky’s face. But those expressions were gone as quickly as they had come. He was back to being robotic Lucky within a couple of seconds. "I don’t know who this is or where you got this picture. Like I said, Madame is the only woman I love."

"Lucky don’t do this…listen, we can leave this place if we stick and work together. We can escape Helena and be back with our families and don’t say that Madame is your family! Because she’s not!"

"She is," Lucky’s breathing quickens as he becomes aggitated. He had no idea what Zander was talking about…yet he did. In a way he could recall taking that picture. He could recall the sound of the woman in the picture’s voice. Hear her say that she loved him and him returning the feelings in kind. That was when he broke off from the memories. He couldn’t remember her. It was too painful.

"She’s not! Madame is your captor! She’s brainwashed you man! And deep down you know it! Lucky come on, fight this! Fight her! I know you can! You’re Luke Spencer’s son for goodness sake! Lucky!"
"NO!" Lucky pushed his way past Zander and headed for the door. "Madame does love me and I will not leave her! I urge you to stop saying such things now! And this picture! Get rid of it!" Lucky pushed past Sarah and disappeared down the hall.

"Well well, what went on in here?" Sarah sauntered into the room. She frowned at the picture Zander held in his hand and gasped. "I see. You were hoping to jog his memory with pictures huh? Well as you now know, that’s useless. Madame has done a thourough job of brainwashing Lucky. She’s gotten rid of that cocky Spencer attitude and everything. He’s now her puppet sort to speak. As you will be mine," She plucked the picture out of Zander’s hand and to his anger, tore it to pieces and letted them float down to the ground. "Now we can’t have such things floating around here. You do understand. They cause so much trouble. Now I suggest you return to your chambers. Your programming will begin day after tomorrow and it’s somewhat strenuous. I want you in tip top form."

"Go to hell," Zander growled before barging out of the room himself, leaving Sarah looking after him with a dark glee in her eyes. She just loved it when men put up a fight. Little did Zander know that he was just a toy for her. Practice for the real prize…Nikolas. Smiling maliciously, she left the room and went to the monitors that showed both Elizabeth and Emily in their grief.

Sarah laughed, rejoicing in the pain that Helena and herself had caused, and to think, there was more on the way.

Preview: Alexis comforts Elizabeth. Lucky ponders the reasons to repress his memory and love for Elizabeth and his family. Zander comes up with a plan of escape.

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