11
The next day was bright and sunny day in Port Charles. Elizabeth woke up feeling happy and refreshed. Sighing, she turned to look into the most beautiful face on Earth. Lucky. Peacefully sleeping, unaware that he had an admirer this early morning. Kissing him once, Elizabeth sat up and yawned. It was a beautiful start to a day of new beginnings and new resolutions. Forgetting about her dark suspicions from the day before was one of them. In fact, she was going to tell Nikolas that she no longer believed that Lucky was behind the murders. Maybe she could convince him of the same thing. After all, she could be very convincing. Especially of shoddy suspicions like that.
~*~
The cottage seemed quiet as Elizabeth used her key to let herself in. Nikolas didn’t appear to be home, but she decided to wait for him anyway. She wanted to talk to him as soon as possible…set things right for Lucky as soon as possible. Tell him that she was taking Lucky of her list of suspects and he should do the same. Besides, after last night, she knew that Lucky was innocent. There was no way someone so gentle, so warm and loving could murder anybody.
She was about to set and watch a bit of television, but she heart the floor above squeak, as if someone was up there. Frowning, Elizabeth got to her feet and looked up at the ceiling. Someone was up there. It could just be Faith or Portia, but still…it was best to be safe then sorry. Taking a silver candelabra off the mantle, Elizabeth headed upstairs, swallowing down the fear that began to rise in her chest. Getting scared was not going to help anything.
She stopped just outside Portia’s room, the door was slightly opened, making it easy for Elizabeth to take a peak inside and listen to the voice belonging to her soon to be sister in law.
"It’s all in place Grandmother. Our plan to destroy the Spencers. They’re not even going to know what hit them. They don’t suspect me at all. Even Lucky trusts me now, that’s making my plans so much easier!"
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. She knew it! She knew that there was something wrong with Portia! That it wasn’t just about her jealousy! There was something just plain wrong about her and now Elizabeth knew what that something was. Standing flat against the wall so she wasn’t seen, she continued to listen to Portia’s conversation with her deceased Grandmother.
"It’s your programming I’m using Grandmother. You see, I’m the one killing all those people on the docks. It’s so easy. No one even suspects pretty little me. It’s perfect. So let me tell you how I’m using this to destroy daddy dearest’s family. You see, I’ve stolen personal items off the victims. I give them to Lucky to give to the people he loves and loves him. How do I keep Lucky from remembering that I gave him the items? I used your programming to make him forget. Not only that, I also made him forget where he was the night of the murders. So, now not only does my dear half-brother doubt his own innocence, but others do too. Others like his precious girlfriend and Luke. Soon Luke would have lost everything he loves. His wife, his daughter and soon…his precious son," Portia burst into evil laughter.
Elizabeth blinked back her surprise. So. That was the explanation for the gifts, for Lucky’s weird behavior. The programming was indeed back. But Helena wasn’t the puppet master this time. This time Portia was, and not only that; but she was the murderer that they had accused Lucky of being. Lucky was innocent and it’s time to let everyone know who the guilty party really was.
Without a word, Elizabeth left the cottage with one destination in mind. Luke’s club.
~*~
Elizabeth found Luke in his office, his feet propped up on the desk, a shot of vodka in his hand. His bright blue eyes lit up at the sight of his son’s one true love standing before him, wringing her hands nervously.
"Why, hello there Cowgirl!" Luke grinned, his feet hitting the floor as he pushed away from his desk. "This isn’t about the Cowboy is it?"
Elizabeth sighed, her nervousness growing, knowing that she must be looking pretty high strung right now. But how could she not be? She’s here to tell Luke that his son is not the murderer, but his newly found daughter is. Not only is she a murderer, but she’s controlling Lucky, using Helena’s brainwashing. Sighing, she took the chair on her side of the desk. "Luke…I have to talk to you…about Portia."
Luke frowned, concern deepening his the
blue of his eyes. "Portia? What about her?"
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth told Luke what she had overheard
at Nikolas’s cottage. After she was finished, Luke sat back
in his chair, his face and eyes void of emotion. Elizabeth just
sat there, waiting for the floor to drop out from under her. What
if he didn’t believe her? How was she going to keep Portia
from Lucky then?
"Mr. Spencer…say something. Please."
Luke sighed, staring back at the girl in front of him. He loved her as if she was his own daughter. He would do anything for her. But to believe what she had just said about his true daughter…it was impossible. True, Portia did hate him, perhaps even more then Helena did. But she loved her brother. That was one thing Luke was positive about. She would never do anything to harm Lucky. In fact, she wanted to help him. Faith had told him so.
"Elizabeth darlin, I’m sure that you thought you heard Portia say those things, but Portia loves Lucky. I know she does. She would never hurt Lucky by using him in one of Helena’s endless schemes against my family. It must have been someone else you heard. Like…"
"Who? Nikolas? In Portia’s room? With Portia’s voice?" He didn’t believe her. She couldn’t believe that he didn’t believe her…or rather couldn’t.
"He’s a Cassadine. I wouldn’t put it past him. Listen, I’ll put a man on the kid. Get to the bottom of this…"
"But he didn’t do it! It was Portia Luke. I know what I heard…who I heard…"
Luke sighed, holding a hand up for her to stop. He wasn’t’ going to have anyone bad mouthing his daughter. Not even Elizabeth, a girl he was very fond of. "Elizabeth, do yourself a favor. Go home and get some rest. I think you need it. Go to that Spa that you and Audrey went to that one time. Get away from Port Charles for a week or two. I’ll take care of Lucky while you’re gone. Just go somewhere that you can relax."
Elizabeth sighed, holding back tears of helplessness as she got to her feet. "I can’t do that Luke. Not without Lucky. Not when he needs me right now."
Lucky could only shrug, not knowing what else he could say or do to calm the girl. She looked so upset…so lost. He wished that he could believe her, but he couldn’t. Portia was his blood. His blood couldn’t hurt it’s own. It was impossible.
~*~
Elizabeth wiped more tears from her eyes as she stepped off the bus. Her destination was the box car. The one place where Lucky and herself were once happy and safe. A place where she could think of how to protect Lucky from Portia’s evil. She couldn’t believe that Luke wouldn’t believe her. He barely knew Portia. Why did he believe in the girl so much? He had known Elizabeth for a while, yet Portia’s word was gold. Why…Because Portia was blood. That’s why. She was a Spencer, whereas Elizabeth wasn’t…by blood anyway. The only people who would possibly believe her now were Nikolas and Laura.
Frowning, Elizabeth heard laughter coming from the boxcar. Two familiar laughs. One laugh belonged to Lucky, while the other one belonged to Portia! She was alone with Lucky right now, probably brainwashing him to forget more incriminating evidence she hand him. Well she wasn’t going to get away with it this time! Elizabeth was going to stop her! Her control over Lucky was ending now!
Arriving at the boxcar, she found Portia on top of Lucky, laughing menacingly. Angry, she hoped up into the boxcar and launched herself at the girl, taking Portia off guard.
"Elizabeth!" Lucky got to h is feet. What had just happened here? Portia was just arriving and the next thing he knew, Elizabeth was knocking her to the floor. "Elizabeth stop!" He pulled her away from his struggling sister.
"What is your problem?!" Portia dusted herself off as she got to her feet, openly glaring at Elizabeth. She had never liked Lucky’s fiancée.
"You stay away from him!" Elizabeth glared at Portia, not bothering to struggle against Lucky’s hold on her. As long as she was between Lucky and Portia, the little witch couldn’t hurt him. Lucky was safe.
Portia laughed, now highly amused. This little whisp of a girl had some nerve. Elizabeth should be the one staying away…if she knew what was good for her. "Why don’t you stay away Lizzie. Hmmm? I mean you actually think that you matter in this family. You’re not even blood. Where as…"
"Portia, leave. Ok," Lucky interrupted. Things were quickly getting out of hand. He had to put a stop to it now before another fight broke out. And it would. Elizabeth won’t stay put when pushed too far and Portia was definitely pushing her there.
"But I…" She tried to protest. This was supposed to be the day she set the plan for the Spencer family in motion. But now it had to be delayed because of the little bitch.
"Go home Portia," Lucky sighed, suddenly tired.
"Fine. See you later Lucky," Portia glared one last time at Elizabeth before leaving the boxcar.
"Elizabeth," Lucky turned his
fiancée around to face him. "What was that all about? Why
did you attack Portia like that? What’s going on?"
Elizabeth swallowed, apprehension trying to overwhelm her. She
had told Lucky’s father about what she had heard at the
cottage, but he didn’t believe her. What if Lucky had the
same reaction? Could she handle that? She looked into his eyes
that were asking for an explanation and knew that she had no
choice. Her and Lucky had a deal. No lies. She just hoped that he
remembered the pledge that they had made so long ago.
"Lucky…you know I would never lie to you, right? Not about anybody, even if I don’t like them. I would never lie about them. Never."
"I know sweetie. Now tell me. What’s going on between you and Portia? Why did you jump her like that?"
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth told Lucky everything. From her going to Nikolas’s cottage and overhearing Portia’s conversation, to her telling Luke and his disbelief. After she was done, they both were quiet for a few minutes. Especially Lucky. In fact, he was quiet for so long that she was beginning to think that he wasn’t going to believe her.
"Well…that explains a lot," Lucky sighed, releasing her so he could run a hand through his hair.
"You believe me?" Elizabeth asked, a bit surprised. She was sure that Lucky’s reaction would be the same as his fathers.
"Of course I do. I know you would never lie about something like this," he took her hands in his. "But Elizabeth…we can’t bother my dad with this again."
"I…I don’t understand. Lucky, she has it in for your family. She’s taking Helena’s place as the big bad!"
"Yes, by using me. But you and I will be leaving for New York in a few weeks anyway, taking away her ammunition. There’s no use in upsetting my father over something that’s never going to happen anyway. There’s no use in taking away another kid, since I’m leaving and Lulu’s with mom. Do you get what I’m saying?"
Sighing, Elizabeth gave into his pleading blue eyes. "Ok. Fine I bring up Portia’s hateful activities to Luke again."
Lucky smiled happy relief and love in his eyes. "Thank you," He wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace that always made her feel safe and loved.
"Anything for you, Lucky," She sighed, closing her eyes as she worked on banishing the knowledge of Portia’s plans to the recesses of her mind.
Unbeknownst to the couple inside, Portia stepped out from behind the boxcar, having heard everything that was said inside. So…Lizzie was on to her. Well there was only one thin she could do now. Get ride of Elizabeth Webber, before she could ruin even more of her plans for the Spencer’s.
No, Lucky won’t be going anywhere. Because his whole reason for leaving PC will be gone from his life forever.