14
Nikolas glared at the telephone sitting on his nightstand table. After hours of trying to come up with another plan to trap Helena. But since nothing else came to him, plan poison Helena was a go. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone and dialed Helena’s cell phone number. He took another deep breath, pushing back the sickening fear mixed with hatred. If this was to succeed…he had to act like he had a change of heart about being a Cassadine and a member of the Spencer family.
"Hello?" Helena answered, sounding rather preoccupied, probably trying to track Lucky down somehow.
"Grandmother, it’s Nikolas."
"Oh Nikolas. There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. How is Miss. Webber…and your brother. Where is he?" Suspicion was clear in her voice. Phone calls from her grandson were nonexistent. And she knew that he knew of her kidnapping attempt in Paris. What was his reason for calling? Was he having a change of heart?
"I want to see you Grandmother. How about I come to your yacht for dinner tonight? We can discuss my brother’s whereabouts then."
Helena’s voice was dripping with malice and greed. Dinner with the Cassadine heir. How can she resist?" Ok. That sounds reasonable. Be here at eight Nikolas."
"Yes mam," Nikolas grinned. So far, everything sounded like she was falling for the trap he was setting. "I’ll see you at eight grandmother."
After she hung up, Nikolas got up and rushed over to Jason’s Penthouse, to inform everyone that the plan was a go.
Lucky and Elizabeth sat on Jason’s couch, watching television, while Jason and Carly were setting at a desk, going over some last minute bills. Nikolas arrived just when Elizabeth was about to drift off to sleep on Lucky’s shoulder, the past few days catching up with her.
He quietly sat next to Elizabeth, wondering how he was going to tell everyone about his plan starting that night. He knew Lucky wasn’t going to be very happy. His brother had made his opinion on the matter very clear.
"Everyone, I have some news about Helena. I’m meeting her on her yacht tonight," Nikolas readied himself for protests and sure enough, they came.
"Are you crazy!" Carly yelled.
"Nikolas, tell us you’re kidding," Elizabeth sat up, now wide-awake.
"Sorry Liz, but I’m not. Her vendetta is stopping tonight. I even have the poison I’m going to use ready. Helena is dying tonight."
"You’re underestimating her Nikolas," Lucky spoke, her eyes and voice begging him not to go to Helena’s. "She knows things before you even do them. If she catches you…there’s no telling what she’d do to you. Please, don’t do this. I’m begging you here."
Nikolas sighed. He would have listened to Lucky, if Helena weren’t involved. If there was someone else who could accomplish what he was setting out to do. But there was on one else. There was only Nikolas and he was determined to do what he had to in order to save his brother. "I’m sorry, but I have to. Saving your life is worth the risk."
Lucky shook his head, searching his brain for another way to defeat Helena. A safe way. Something that wouldn’t get his brother killed but would get rid of Helena once and for all.
"Lucky I’m doing this. Nothing you say will change my mind."
"Promise us that you’ll be careful," Elizabeth took his hand. "Lucky’s right. Helena is capable of anything." Even though she and Nikolas have had their differences in the past, she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. They had once been the best of friends, plus he was Lucky’s brother. If Helena did anything to him…Lucky would forgive himself.
"I promise," Nikolas squeezed her hand as he got to his feet. "I better go get ready. I’ll call when it’s over," Nikolas waved, walking out the door, wondering if he’ll ever see his friends again after that night, or will he fail in his plot against the Cassadine Monarch.
~*~
Helena’s yacht was quiet, yet fully lit. Nikolas followed Helena’s manservant Andreas to her setting room, where he was to wait. Before the servant could get away, Nikolas grabbed his arm. He pushed the vial of poison and a one hundred-dollar bill into his hand.
"Pour that vial into Helena’s drink," Nikolas hissed.
"But Master Nikolas…what if she catches me?" Andreas fearfully asked.
"She won’t. Now go," Nikolas waved the servant away.
Nodding, Andreas left, just as Helena entered. "Nikolas! My darling grandson! Come! We’ll go to the dining room and begin our feast," Helena led him into another room, where dinner was set up on a table seated for two.
"Madam, I brought the champagne that you have requested," Andreas entered with two glasses of champagne. He looked at Nikolas secretively before exiting the room.
"Set Nikolas. We have much to talk about. Such as, your dear brother’s whereabouts," Helena picked up her glass and began to bring it to her lips. But then she changed her mind and sat the glass down, much to Nikolas’s dismay.
"What about Lucky?" Nikolas cleared his throat, hoping that he wasn’t coming off as a quivering mess.
"Where is he? My dear, you’re so tense. Are you alright?" Helena frowned,
Nikolas forced a smile. "I’m fine."
"Oh really? Here, have a sip of my champagne. It’s a bit more potent then yours," She held out her glass to him. "Go ahead. Take a sip. It’ll calm your nerves."
"Oh, that’s perfectly alright grandmother. I’m fine. Really. Now, how about Lucky?"
"Why don’t you have a drink Nikolas? It wouldn’t happen to be…poison…would it?"
Nikolas’s heart filled with terror as she dumped the contaminated liquid into his lap and pointed a gun she had hidden under the table at his chest. She knew. She’s known all along that he would try to kill her. And he hadn’t disappointed her. The truth was right there. Shining in his terrified eyes.
"Really Nikolas. You didn’t honestly think that you could fool me did you? Really. And now I’m going to have to punish Andreas as well. But not before I take care of you and your precious little brother. Andreas! Come and tie my grandson to his chair. I’ll move him later."
"Yes madam," Andreas entered the room, looking neither Helena nor Nikolas in the eye.
"Bring me his cell phone. I know exactly how to find young Spencer now, and how to get him back."
"Yes madam," Andreas took the phone out of Nikolas’s pocket and brought it to his boss.
Smiling with dark anticipation, Helena pressed redial.
It was Carly that answered the phone, oblivious to who was on the other line. "Morgan residence."
"Tell young Mr. Spencer to come to me if he wants his brother to live. He’ll know where I am," She hung up the phone before Carly could say anything in return.
Helena’s smile sickened Nikolas. So far, she was winning. Soon, Lucky will be back in her hands and her plans against the Spencer’s could commence. Nikolas could only close his eyes and hope that Lucky would stay away.
~*~
Lucky sat in tense silence, thinking about the message Helena had left. What was he going to do? He couldn’t leave Nikolas in Helena’s clutches like that. But he couldn’t let Helena get her hands back on him again either. What could he do to save his brother without giving himself up? Go to his father? No. Luke hated Nikolas. He probably wouldn’t lift a finger to help him.
Sighing in defeat, Lucky made his decision. He could only hope that Luke could take care of everyone and stop Helena’s diabolical plans. "I’m going back," he looked up at Elizabeth. "I’m turning myself in."
Elizabeth grasped his hand tightly in hers, her eyes begging him not to do this crazy thing. "Lucky, let’s talk to Luke first. There’s no need for you to go with her. Luke can get Nikolas back."
"Dad hates Nikolas," Lucky gently touched her face, wiping away a tear. "There is no other choice."
"But Lucky…I love you…she’ll…"
"I love you too Elizabeth.
I’ll always love you, no matter what happens," he
pulled her close. He looked over at Jason, a tear in his own
eyes, knowing that he may never see Elizabeth again. "Jason,
will you take care of Elizabeth for me? Make sure that she’s
ok?"
"Ok," Jason nodded, wrapping an arm around Carly’s
shoulders.
After kissing Elizabeth’s lips one last time, trying to his own tears, and hugging her even tighter, Lucky stood up and left the penthouse, not even daring to look back. If he did look back, he knew that he would never make it to Helena’s yacht, and Nikolas would be lost.
Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth headed for the door, destination Luke’s club. She knew that if anyone could save Lucky, Luke could.