At the cabin, everyone held their breath.  This was it.
At the Victorian house, Daniel got up from the table and walked out of
the room.  He returned quickly, carrying a piece of paper with him.
Pulling his chair back, he sat down leaning against the back, assuming a
very relaxed position.  With detailed movement, he unfolded the paper
and held it at arm’s length.  Lucky let out a sigh.
“I realize this is probably a big moment for you.  I mean, this is the
classic scene out of a movie, where the bad guy takes his time telling
the victims his evil plan so he can revel in his intelligence.  But if
you don’t mind, I’d rather speed things up here so we can get to the
part where the good guys save the day.”
Daniel gave Lucky a smile.  “You are a lot bolder than you once were,
Lucky, I give you that.  But I will warn you again to watch your mouth
around me.  My amusement with you is quickly wearing thin.”  He said.
“And unlike the movies, things don’t always work out to the advantage of
the ‘good guys’ in real life.”
Lucky smirked out him.  “Bad guys don’t always win in real life either,
though.  I think you learned that the last time you attempted this
plan.”
Daniel frowned.  “Fine, then, we’ll get to the point before I lose my
temper.  Stavros was in love with your mother, Laura.  Both you boys
know that.  It’s the reason Nikolas is even alive.  When Laura escaped
and went back to Luke, it outraged him.  He sulked for days.  Helena
despised him for being heart broken over a common girl, and Stavros knew
it.  He decided to make her pay.  Stavros had the Ice Princess, which
Helena wanted badly.  You see, it belongs with the Cassadine family, but
Stavros wanted to sell it.  But then he thought of something even
better.  He put it in a bank, with a lock on it that only the right
people could open.”
Daniel picked up the paper again.
“He left this note, well, poem, actually, on how to open it.  Enemies
great, though we may be, Our sons together hold the key.  In a steel
box, locked away, A precious stone does gently lay.  Though we all might
try best we can, The children hold the key in their hand.”  He put the
paper down, and looked at Nikolas and Lucky.  “You see, Stavros wanted
Laura back, and he wanted to enrage Helena.  He found a way to do both.
He thought Laura would eventually come back if she knew she could help
her first born son regain the precious Ice Princess.”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, and continued.  “In order to open the
lock on the box holding the Ice Princess, two thumb prints must be
pressed down on it.  The first print belongs to you, Nikolas.  The
second, of course, belongs to Lucky.”
Realization dawned on Nikolas.  “So he though Laura would want me to
have what should ‘rightfully’ come to me, and would have to come back
with Lucky to do that.  Stavros thought she would then stay with him, or
he would force her to or whatever.  And this would make Helena furious,
because she couldn’t get the Ice Princess without the help of a
Spencer.”
Daniel clapped his hands.  “Very good, Master Nikolas.  Glad to see all
the tutoring you’ve had hasn’t been a waste.  You’re not as dumb as I
thought.”
“How did Stavros manage to make my thumb print one that would open the
lock?”  Lucky asked.
“When you were first born, he snuck into the hospital where you were one
night.  I know you Spencers thought you were very sly and all, but you
were always watched by the Cassadines.”  Daniel said smiling.
“So now what?”  Nikolas asked.  “You’re going to drag me and my brother
to where the Ice Princess is to open the lock, and then what?”
“Well, you will live with me and Helena then, as we undo the damage
Stefan has done and make you a worthy heir.  As for Mr. Spencer, well,
let’s just say after he’s done what he good for, he will be disposable.”
Lucky glared at him.  “You think you could actually get rid of me?”
“No, I know I could.  And knowing this should make you a little more
cooperative.  I could kill you right now.  It’s not like I really need
you alive for your thumbprint, but it would be a lot less messier.  But
if I’m pushed, I’m willing to get my hands dirty.”
Nikolas had had enough.  He stood up quickly, knocking his chair
backwards.  “I swear if you even try to touch my brother you will have
to kill me too.”
Helena stared at him in shock.  She got up and walked over to him.
“Nikolas, you do not mean that.  We’re doing this for you.”  She said.
Nikolas stared daggers at her.  “You’re keeping me here by force and
planning on killing my brother for me?”
Helena put her hands on his shoulders.  “I didn’t realize you and Lucky
had become that close.  If he really means that much to you, I’m sure we
could keep him with us too.”
Daniel stood up and glared at Helena.  “You’re turning soft.”  He said
to her, and turned to Nikolas.  “Fine then, if it takes Lucky’s health
to ensure your cooperation, so be it.  But let that be a warning that
you mess up, Lucky will be punished for it.”
“Well I’ll be sure to watch my step, then.”  Nikolas said snidely.
Daniel walked over and jerked Lucky out of his chair, catching him by
surprise.  He twisted his arm behind his back and shoved him into the
wall.  “Sarcasm does not set well with me, either.”  He said between
clinched teeth.  “Now if you don’t want me to break his arm, apologize.”
“I’m sorry.” Nikolas said urgently.  “I really am.  Now let him go,
please!”
Daniel let go, and Lucky let out a breath and rubbed his arm.  Helena
walked over to him.  “Are you okay, Lucky?”  She asked.
Lucky looked up at her, confused.  She seemed sincere.  “I’m fine,
thanks.”  He replied.
“Helena, we need to settle a few details for tonight.”  Daniel said.  “I
think it would be best if you both stayed in your room today.”  He said
to the boys.  “But don’t get too used to it.  We’ll be leaving tonight.”
Daniel and Helena left the room then, and a servant showed up to escort
Nikolas and Lucky to their room.  Once they were there, the door was
locked again.
“Are you okay?”  Nikolas asked.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t think Daniel
would do anything like that just for a smart remark.”
“It’s all right, man, it’s not your fault.”  Lucky said slapping Nikolas
on his back.  “I was kind of proud, actually.  You’re starting to sound
like me.”
Nikolas laughed.  “Great, a dream come true.”
Lucky smiled.  “Well, he’s not giving us much time, is he?”
Nikolas shook his head.  “No he’s not.  I just hope Mom and Stefan and
Luke can get us before…” He trailed off.
Lucky finished for him.  “Before Daniel decides to kill me.”
Nikolas turned Lucky around to face him.  “I promise you that won’t
happen.  Your parents won’t let it, and neither will I.”
Lucky swallowed hard and nodded his head.  “I hope so.”
Chapter 25

At the cabin, everyone was busily running to and fro, packing two vans
with supplies.  Luke checked things off on a clipboard.  They had the
necessities, food and water, weapons, maps of all surrounding areas,
anything and everything that could be used in breaking and entering,
disguises, the works.  If they did get Nikolas and Lucky out, he
thought, they could survive for months living out of the vans.  He
silently cursed himself for thinking ‘if.’  When was the right word.  He
would never give up trying to get his son back until it happened.
“Everything here?”  Laura asked.
Luke smiled.  “Yep.  We’re all set.  Now why don’t we go get the kids?”
Laura forced a grin back at him, but knew he was just as worried about
all of this as she was.  Daniel had said that Lucky would be
‘disposable’ after they got the Ice Princess.  They had to get to them
before that.
“So who rides with who?”  Alexis asked.
“You, me, Laura, and Stefan will be in the first van, and Jason and the
girls will be in the other.  There’s a woods behind the house Helena has
the boys.  We’ll park behind them, and walk to the house from there.  We
don’t have an exact diagram of the house, but we heard the boys talking
over the listening device about the parts they had seen of it.  Drawing
the best picture we can of it, the back of the house should be pretty
deserted.  If luck is on our side, we should be able to get in from
there, and unlock the door to the boys’ room and get them out of there.”
“That sounds way too easy, Spencer.”  Stefan said.  “What if luck isn’t
on our side?”
“Then we improvise.”  He said sourly.  “Laura dear, you and Alexis will
stay in the back yard and make sure everything stays clear out there.
Jason, I want you to stay in the van with Liz and Emily.  We’ll call if
we have to, but only if it’s an emergency.  We don’t need the girls
getting hurt.  Stefan, you and I will get the boys.”
“What do we do after we get them?”  Emily asked.
“Well, darling, we’ll take a little vacation as far away from Helena as
we can get.  We’ve taped everything that’s happened in the house since
Nikolas and Lucky got there.  We’ll turn it over to the police, and once
she and Daniel are behind bars, we’ll go home.”

In Nikolas’ and Lucky’s room, the boys laid on their beds, trying to get
a little sleep.  One of the first rules, Lucky had said, was to get
plenty of rest when you know something big is going to happen.  Nikolas
stared at the ceiling.  He never could sleep during the day.  Lucky, on
the other hand, was out the minute his head touched the pillow.  He was
used to making his body sleep when his mind thought it was necessary.
It wasn’t a peaceful sleep this time, though.  He was tossing and
turning, and mumbling out loud.  Nikolas got up to see what was wrong.
He leaned close to figure out what he was saying.  All he could pick up
was something about Daniel and some lady arguing.  Lucky had a
frightened expression on his face, so Nikolas shook him hard.  Lucky
woke up in a panic.
“You okay?”  Nikolas asked.
No, Lucky thought.  Another dream had surfaced, another memory.  “I’m
fine.”  He lied.  “It’s just kinda spooky being in this gloomy house,
you know?”
Nikolas nodded his head, but didn’t believe him.  “Yeah, it is.  Lucky,
if you want to talk about anything, if you had a dream that bothered
you, I’ll listen.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine, really.”  Lucky managed a smile at his brother.
“Why don’t we try to sleep again, okay?  We’re going to need energy when
Mom and Dad and Stefan break us out.”
“Sure, but I’m not sure that I can sleep during the day.”  Nikolas said.
“Well, then just make sure you drink a lot of caffeine” Lucky replied.
Nikolas chuckled and walked back over to his bed.  He picked up a book
and started to read.  The Scarlet Letter.  A good story overall, but way
too much detail.  If this didn’t put him to sleep, nothing would.
Lucky turned over and closed his eyes, to make believe he was asleep.
But he was thinking about his latest dream.  He wanted to tell Nikolas
about it, but wanted to make sure he understood it himself, first.

It was another flashback from when Daniel had kidnapped him the first
time.  Though he was really a prisoner in the house they stayed at, he
had been allowed to roam it as he pleased, unless Daniel had something
for him to do.  It had been late at night, and he couldn’t sleep.  He
got up and wandered down stairs.  No one had been in the kitchen, so he
got himself a glass of water.  He was about to go back up to his room
when he heard voices.  One was Daniel’s, the other a lady he didn’t
recognize.  They were in the study across the hall.  He had silently
crept out and hid under the stairs to listen to them.
“I won’t allow this, Daniel!”  The lady had shouted.  “You’re taking
this too far!”
“I’m merely letting my mind invision the full possibilities of this
plan.”  Daniel replied.
“You mean you’re imagining yourself as leader of the Cassadines.  You’re
not even part of the family.”
“Maybe not by blood, but I certainly have the personality, don’t I?”
Daniel asked.
“I’m going to explain this one more time.”  The lady said.  “We are only
doing this to collect the Ice Princess.  Once we have done that, we will
restore it in the Cassadine treasury for the heir, and return young
Spencer to his parents.”
“You know the Spencers will be upset when their son comes back with this
story.  They’ll come after us.”  Daniel said.
“The boy has never seen me here, and even if he had, he wouldn’t know
who I was.  There is no way Luke would link this to the Cassadines.”
“Even so, I say we get rid of the boy just for insurance sake.”  Daniel
replied.  “We could use his death as an example.  If Stefan saw how far
we were willing to go, he’d hand Nikolas over to us for fear for his
safety.”
The lady had become mad then, and yelled at him.  “We are not doing this
to control Nikolas!  This is only to give him what is rightfully his.
And you will not harm the Spencer boy.  He is an innocent child.  You
have already done enough damage to him, teaching him to kill people for
goodness sake.  You’re cold blooded even for an assassin.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, my dear.”  Daniel replied.  “And don’t
get in my way here.  You may have hired me to begin with, but from now
on I’m the one in charge.  Try to go against me, and it just may be the
Cassadine heir that I off instead.”
With that Daniel had left the room quickly.  Lucky remembered that he
had crouched back under the stairs as far as he could.  It had worked,
cause Daniel never noticed him.    When he was gone, he ran up the
stairs to his room and got back in bed.  He heard someone come through
the door, and pretended to be asleep.  He did his best not to shake, in
fear that it was Daniel.  But then he felt whoever it was stroking his
hair.  It definitely wasn’t Daniel.
“I’m sorry I got you into this.”  He heard the person whisper.  It was
the lady.  “I promise you I won’t let him hurt you.”
Curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he rolled over and looked at
the lady.  Even though she was sitting, he could tell she was tall, and
she was pretty.  He had sat up and gave her a questioning look.  He had
felt safe with her for some reason.
“Are you going to bring me back to my parents?”  He had asked.
The lady never replied, but gave him a hug, and then quickly left.

Lucky brought himself back to the present.  Daniel had accused Luis of
double crossing him when his bombing job went wrong, but he realized it
really wasn’t him.  It was the lady.  She had never given her name, but
he knew who it was now.  He said a silent prayer that he and Nikolas
would get out of this alive.  His heart told him he would.  Now he knew
that he had one more ally in the house.

Chapter 26

     Lucky stared out the window, tapping his fingers on the pane.
“When do you think they’re coming?”  He asked Nikolas without turning
around.
“It will be a few hours yet, probably.  They’ll wait until it’s dark.”
Nikolas replied.
“They are coming, right?  This listening device is only one way.  What
if it’s broke, and they don’t know Daniel and Helena are moving us
tonight?”  Lucky persisted.
“Lucky, relax.”  Nikolas said.  “Even if the device was broke, Luke
would come and get you out.  He wouldn’t leave you here with no idea of
what was going on.  They’re coming, and everything will be all right.”
Lucky nodded, still not turning around.  He still had Daniel’s old
Cassadine medallion with him, and he turned it over in his hands.
Staring out at the woods behind the house, he leaned against the window
frame to await the arrival of help.

“We’re coming, Cowboy, don’t worry.”  Luke whispered.  He was driving
the van, with Laura beside him.  Alexis and Stefan were in the back.
They had rigged the listening device up in the van, and were listening
to Lucky.  Laura put a hand on Luke’s shoulder.  “He knows in his heart
that we’re coming, he’s just a little nervous.”  She said.  Luke nodded.
“I know, but he shouldn’t have to be.”  He replied.  “He shouldn’t have
to be in that house.  He shouldn’t have to be tortured by Forst.  He
shouldn’t have to have all those memories.”  Luke’s voice was dry, and
he paused, and took one hand off the wheel to pick up a soda.  Putting
it back down, he continued.  “I swear Laura, that man will regret laying
a hand on a my son.”  There was determination behind his voice, and
Laura knew better than to argue with him.

It was dusk when the two vans pulled over to the side of the road, and
into the woods.  Jason, Liz, and Emily covered the vans with branches,
while the others prepared themselves.  Alexis stared at the gun Luke
pushed in her hand, and watched as he turned to pack a small case with
lock picks and other tools.
“Why do I have the sudden urge to order someone named Baby Face out on a
hit?”  She asked.
Luke smiled to himself.  “Don’t tell me you’ve never handled a gun
before ‘Tash.”
“No, I haven’t.  I guess we all can’t be lucky enough to have worked
with the mob.”
“Hey now, you don’t have to have been with mob to learn how to shoot.”
Luke said, giving her a grin.  “They just teach you the best.”
Laura smiled, and quickly loaded her gun expertly.  Alexis looked at her
eyes wide.  Laura chuckled.  “It doesn’t take too much talent.”  She
said.  “I was surprised how quickly I learned.”
“I wasn’t.”  Luke said, giving her a peck on the cheek.  “Stefan, how
about you?  You all set, or do you need a little Tai Chai practicing to
become one with your gun?”
Stefan looked at him straight faced, doing his best to hide his smile.
“I think I have it figured out, thank you.  The guns will only be used
for intimidation purposes, right?”
“If your asking if we are only going to shoot if forced too, the answer
is yes.”  Luke replied.  “Now let’s get going.  It’s dark, and I don’t
want to miss them.”  Stefan nodded, and the foursome took off through
the woods.

Nikolas paced back and forth.  He was trying to stay calm, but was
losing the battle.  It would be much harder to escape once they left the
house, so their best bet on getting out was tonight.  There was a knock
at the door, and he jumped.  Lucky still stood unmoving at the window.
“What?”  Nikolas asked irritably as Helena walked in.
“I know it isn’t pleasant for you to be here, but you needn’t bark at
me.”  She said.  “I simply came to inform you that we will be leaving in
about half an hour.”
“We are we going.”  Nikolas asked, knowing the answer.
“To a town called Polk in Colorado.  That’s were the Ice Princess is.”
She walked over to Lucky, and stood behind him.  “Lucky, you must
believe I don’t want you dead.  That’s Daniel’s plan, not mine.  Once
you help us with this, I’ll be more than willing to send you home
unharmed.”
“What are you doing?”  Nikolas asked.  “Is this some last ditch effort
to get us to trust you?  I think you wrecked all chances of that when
you brought us here.  You’ve ensured I will have a life of hell being
‘The Cassadine’, and you’ve practically signed a contract on Lucky’s
life.  Why don’t you just leave and let us at least have a little
peace.”
Helena looked at her grandson sadly.  “I know my ways have not always
been the best.”  She said.  “But you must believe the only goal I have
ever had in mind was only to give you the life you deserve, and that
includes owning possessions that are rightfully yours.”
“Did you ever stop the think that the life you think I deserve might not
be the life I want?”  Nikolas asked.
Helena was silent.  She didn’t want to admit it, but the thought hadn’t
crossed her mind.  Brought up like she was, she assumed everyone wanted
a life of royalty.  “I’m sorry, Nikolas, I guess I never thought things
all the way through.  I will do my best to give you what you want.”
“Then why don’t you let us both go right now?”  He asked.
“Because it’s Daniel calling the shots now.”  Lucky said from the
window, his back still towards them.  It wasn’t a question, it was a
statement.  Nikolas looked at him curiously, and Helena knowingly.
“Yes, I’m afraid that is the way of it right now.”  She admitted.
“Why would you let him be in control?”  Nikolas asked.
“He’s threatening her.”  Lucky said.  “And she’s afraid.  Luis was her
brother, and he killed him.  Who know what he would do next.”
“You’re right.  I’m afraid now that if I do anything, he would still
kill you.”  Helena’s words came out tired, like someone finally
admitting they had been defeated.  Nikolas stared at her in surprise.
He still thought this was a game of hers, but it was certainly her best
one.
“Lucky,” She continued.  “If I had the power to do anything for you
right now, I would.”
Finally, Lucky turned around and looked Helena straight in the eyes.
“Would you bring me back to my parents?”  He asked, echoing the words
from his dream.
Helena stood still, thought racing in her mind.  He had remembered her
from that night.  The night she had first begun to fight Daniel for his
life.  She said nothing, only repeated her actions of long ago.  Walking
over to Lucky, she gave him a hug, and left the room.

Outside, Laura and Alexis stood by the edge of the woods, as Luke and
Stefan snuk to the house.  The crouched next to the door, and Luke
quickly picked the lock.  He got his gun out, and checked it one more
time to see that it was loaded.
“Count, I need you to do me a favor.”  He said, not looking up.  “If we
happen to run into Forst, you go on and get the boys out.  Don’t wait
for me.”
Stefan looked at him for the first time with admiration.  He understood,
he’d do the same for Nikolas.  He nodded at Luke, and they carefully
entered the house.

Chapter 27
 
     Stefan and Luke looked around them as they entered.  Their thoughts
were the same as the boys when they first came.  The house was the
gloomiest they had seen.  They were at the end of a small hall, which
connected the backdoor with the rest of the house.  A man was standing
guard at the other end, his back to them.  Luke and Stefan shared a
glance, gloating.  Helena didn’t expect them to find them so soon, not
knowing they had set the boys up to be taken, and therefore did not
tighten security.  Luke guessed she only had guards stationed at each
entrance.  Motioning to Stefan, Luke crept up behind the guard, and
tapped him on the shoulder.  As the man turned around, Stefan knocked
him out with the handle of his gun.
“That wasn’t bad.”  Luke whispered, as he tied the man’s hands together,
and duct-taped his mouth.  Stefan nodded at him.  “Perhaps there isn’t
too much difference between our families.”  The words escaped his mouth
before he realized what he was saying.  He looked up Luke, who took no
notice, at least it seemed.  He didn’t let himself read too much into
it, though.  It was only the stress of the situation and the desire to
get his son back that kept Luke from denying any truth to his last
remark.
Walking out of the hallway, they found themselves in the main room of
the house.  Doors lined each side, and the stairs wound around in the
middle.  The guard was stretched out in a chair by the front door,
asleep.  Stefan chuckled, as he went over to assure the guard would stay
that way for awhile.  Luke, on the other hand, was uneasy.  This was
easy, and experience had taught him that easy was not always a good
thing.  He helped Stefan tie up the guard and put him in a closet so he
wouldn’t be noticed.  They turned to the stairs then, and to their hoped
for reunion with their sons.

Daniel paused as he was looking at map, tracing the route he thought
best and most inconspicuous for the trip to Polk.  Something told him
all wasn’t right.  His mind told him he was paranoid, but intuition told
him otherwise.  There were two kinds of bad guys, those who logically
covered every detail, and those who went by their gut.  The first were
successful half the time, the other always.  He smiled as he placed
himself in the right category, and walked out of his room and down the
hall.  Daniel Forst was a man who never failed.

Nikolas and Lucky were both pacing now.  Since it was too dark to see,
window watching had been given up.  They checked their watches
periodically.  Helena had come in and said they would leave in half an
hour about twenty minutes ago.  Time was running out.  Lucky stopped and
stared at the door when he heard footsteps outside.  He looked at
Nikolas and smiled, letting out a sigh of relief.  This was it, his
father had come.  He started to the door, but stopped dead when it
wasn’t his father who came through the door.

Slowly, Stefan and Luke made their way down the hallway.  Both were
calculating which room was the boys from what they had heard over the
listening device.  Stopping in front of one halfway down the hall, Luke
looked at Stefan, who nodded.  Luke prepared to pick the lock, and
stopped in surprise when he felt the knob turn.  He tried to ignore the
voice in his head screaming about how wrong this was, and pushed the
door open.  He and Stefan stepped inside, and found Nikolas sitting on
his bed.  He stood immediately, and went to them.  Stefan hugged him.
Luke waited impatiently.
“Where’s Lucky?” He asked as soon as they parted.
Nikolas said nothing, and both men noticed the worried expression on his
face for the first time.  A thousand thoughts raced through Luke’s mind.
He was about to ask again, when a voice behind him stopped him.
“Don’t worry, he’s right here.”  Daniel said, stepping out of the
bathroom, with Lucky in front of him.  Luke began to rush forward.  “I
wouldn’t do that.” Daniel said, as he drew a gun up to Lucky’s head.
Luke stopped, sweat breaking out on his forehead.  He tried calculating
in his head.  Even if he could reach his gun before Daniel could do
anything, he couldn’t get a clear shot without hitting Lucky.  Trying
his best to stay calm, he forced out his words as steady as he could.
“What do you want?  I’m sure I could help you with nearly anything, just
let my son go.”
Daniel smiled at him crookedly.  “You’re probably right.  From what I’ve
heard over the years, you’re a man of many resources.  But I’m afraid
this is one of those times when ‘nearly anything’ doesn’t cut it.  I’m
after the Ice Princess and the control of the Cassadine family, which
are two things only they boys here can help me with.”
With a warning glance at Luke, Daniel stepped forward, pushing Lucky
along.  He nodded his head over at Nikolas.  “Are you coming, Nikolas?
I hope you remember how your brother’s well being counts on your good
behavior.”  Nikolas nodded, and stepped with Forst to the door.  Stefan
stepped forward.  “Look, I think we can make a deal.” He said.  “Spencer
and I only want the boys’ safety.  If you’d be willing to give us that,
I think we could help you with what you want.  I’ll transfer all control
of the Cassadine empire to you.  I’m sure Alexis could find a loophole
somewhere to make someone else the heir.  All you have to do is let us
come with you and the boys, and let us all go once you have the Ice
Princess.”
“I admit that is a very good proposition.  But see, to go along with it,
I’d have to trust you two, and be willing to do some teamwork.  And the
truth is I’m suspicious of you if you breathe wrong, and I never did
play well with others.  So I think I’ll just stay with my plan, thank
you.”
Stefan glared at him.  “Things will be easier on you if you cooperate
with us!”  He yelled.  “You are sure to be caught on your own.”
Daniel held the gun more firmly to Lucky’s head, and clenched his teeth.
“You are in no position right now to be doing any yelling.”  He said.
“That is, unless you want young Spencer to have one more hole in his
head.  That probably wouldn’t bother you too much, right?  It would just
be one less Spencer in the world.”
Luke stood unsteadily.  His mind was spinning.  He wanted to tear
Daniel’s smug smile of his face, but couldn’t endanger Lucky.  Habit
also had him wanting to lunge at Stefan.  But logic won the war in his
head this time.  Despite how little he trusted Stefan, he knew he would
never let harm come to a child.
Nikolas looked at his uncle.  They communicated their feelings silently.
He glanced over at his brother, who had his eyes closed.  He prayed he
could handle this.
He had been trying to stay focused on what was going on, but it was
impossible for Lucky.  Once Daniel put the gun on him, he went back to
the past.  Seeing that man he had been forced to kill.  A voice in his
head screamed at him that it was only fair for him to die this way to
know what he had done to that man.  He shook his head.  No, that wasn’t
right.  Daniel had forced his hands over his to pull the trigger, it was
Daniel who had killed that man.  And he would not let it get to him now.
He would not let Daniel kill him too, be it physically or mentally.
Opening his eyes, he looked at his father.  Luke calmed down when he
did.  He saw determination in Lucky’s eyes, not fear.
Stefan finally spoke, answering Daniel.  “You hurt that boy, and I will
come at you with everything I have just as if it were Nikolas.”  The
words were soft yet icy, and said so much.  Daniel was a little shocked,
but didn’t let it show.  One thing he hadn’t counted on was the Spencers
and Cassadines uniting.  This could be okay, though, he thought.  It
would be a lot more interesting this way.
“I guess I’ll watch my step, then, Stefan.”  Daniel replied.  “Now I’m
sorry, but it really is time for us to be going.”  With that, he backed
out into the hallway, his eyes never leaving Stefan and Luke.  Nikolas
followed, giving one more glance back to his uncle.  Daniel closed the
door to the room, and locked them inside.  Then he relaxed his hold on
Lucky, but still keeping the gun on him.  They walked quickly down the
hallway and stairs, and out through the front door.  Helena was out
there waiting for them.
“Run into a little trouble?”  She asked, smiling.  Daniel ignored her
and told her and the boys to get in the van.  He climbed in the front,
and cursed out loud when it wouldn’t start.  Lucky grinned at Nikolas.
His dad had tried his way, and he recognized this as his mom’s.  Getting
out, Daniel opened the hood.
Taking this as their chance, Laura and Alexis crept to the van.  Lucky
saw them in the side mirror.  He thought for sure Helena did too, but
she made not notice of it.  He heard the lock being picked then, still
nothing from Helena.  The back doors opened, and the boys crept out to
Laura and Alexis.  Now Lucky knew for sure that Helena was purposely not
hearing anything.  They turned to go, when once again Lucky felt Daniel
put a gun on him.
“I’ll give you two credit for being craftier than the men, but it still
isn’t going to work.  Now, I’m a little tired of this, and need to be
going, so why don’t you just return my spark plugs.”
Laura handed them over, telling Lucky she was sorry with her eyes.  She
got an ‘it’s okay mom, everything is going to be fine’ look in response.
Daniel backed her and Alexis up to the house just as Luke and Stefan
were coming out.  It hadn’t taken them too long to get out of the room
Daniel locked them in.  They had to admit they were defeated, now.
Jason would come, but the best he could do now was to just pick them up
and follow the boys.
“It’s been interesting, but I must leave.”  Daniel said.  “Perhaps we’ll
run into each other some other time.”  He then replaced the spark plugs,
got the boys back in the van, and took off.  On the steps of the house,
Laura crumbled into Luke’s arms.  No one said a word as they waited for
Jason to come get them.
 

Chapter 28

     Jason had come soon after Daniel had taken off, and they had all
been driving now for a couple of hours, tracking him.  They had driven
back to the other van, and were split up just as they were before.
Stefan drove the second one.  No one talked there, they just stared or
slept.  In the first van, Jason glanced back at Emily and Liz in the
rear view mirror.  They both looked devastated.
“They’ll be all right, you know.  This was just a minor set back.”  He
said to them.  They either didn’t hear him, or didn’t believe him.
“Hey.”  He said a little louder.  This time he got them to look up.
“We’re still going to get them out.”
Both girls nodded.  Liz felt the tears filling up her eyes, and couldn’t
stop them from coming.  Emily leaned over and gave her a hug.  “Emily,
Lucky helped me so much and protected me from everything.  I thought I
was supposed to do the same for him now, but Helena and Daniel still
have him.”  Liz sobbed.
“I know, but that’s not your fault.  It’s not anybody’s.  You have done
a lot to help Lucky.  You helped him sort out all those dreams and
flashbacks he was having.  Going to Helena’s was something he had to do
for himself.  I’m sure he doesn’t regret that even now.  He found out
what Daniel was up to, and was able to stand up to him.  Nikolas and him
are confident now, and they’ll make it out.”  Emily replied, tears
streaming down her own face.
“She’s right, Liz.”  Jason said.  “Lucky grew up learning how to survive
situations like this, and Nikolas isn’t stupid.”
Liz nodded.  “I know, but what if Daniel and Helena are still too
powerful for them?  Nikolas will end up living like the perfect little
heir under Daniel’s control, and Lucky will be killed.”
No one responded to her this time.  They were both scared about this
thought themselves.  Jason turned on the radio to a station that played
slow, soft songs.  The girls leaned back, and soon fell asleep, with
their worries still invading them in their dreams.

“I don’t mean to be an unruly captive here, but would it have been too
much to ask to get a van that actually had seats in the back?”  Lucky
asked irritated.
Daniel glared at him in the mirror.  “You should be happy we got the van
we did, it allowed you two to sneak out the back and nearly escape.”
“Yeah, thanks so much.  I enjoyed being held at gun point and all.”
Lucky replied.
“For someone whose life is in danger, you think you would be a little
less irritating to your kidnapper.”  Daniel said.
Lucky sighed, and stretched his legs out.  Nikolas did the same, and
exchanged a glance with Lucky.  It was awfully uncomfortable sitting on
the hard floor of the back of the van.  They had been in there forever,
too.  Impatiently, Nikolas started to drum his fingers on the floor.
Picking up the beat, Lucky joined him.  Soon, they both began slapping
the floor with their hands like they were playing drums.  The sound
echoed around the van.
“Enough!”  Daniel finally yelled.  “If you two don’t stop it right now,
I’m going to stop and inject you with a sedative!”
Lucky and Nikolas stopped, and laughed.  “Sorry if we were bothering
you.”  Nikolas said sweetly.  “We were only trying to lighten the mood
of the trip.”
Helena turned around and looked at them from the passenger seat.
“Why don’t you open that box in the corner.”  She said.  “There are a
couple of pillows and blankets, and a radio in it.  Perhaps you could
listen to some music instead of making it up yourselves.”
“Perhaps we could.”  Lucky said cheerfully, as he opened the box.  He
turned on the radio, and quickly picked out a station that played heavy
metal.  He grinned at Nikolas, and turned the volume up as a Metallica
marathon started.  It didn’t take long for Daniel to become irritated
again.  He pulled over to the side of the road, reached back to grab the
radio, and threw it out the window.  Pulling back onto the road then, he
let out a satisfied sigh.  Helena turned to look out her window, and
brought a hand up to her face to hide her smile.
“That was just a bit extreme, don’t you think?”  Nikolas asked.
“Look,” Daniel said agitated,  “I need you two to get the Ice Princess,
but you don’t have to be in perfect health for that.  And if you want
your little brother to live after the Ice Princess is in my hands, you
both better behave.  Now just lay down and sleep before I kill you.”
“It might be for the best if you both did get some rest.”  Helena said.
She was proud that both of the boys were standing up to Daniel and not
being threatened by him, but she was afraid they were pushing him a
little too far.
Lucky and Nikolas decided they had annoyed Daniel enough for now, so
they listened to Helena and laid down.
“Don’t be nice to them Helena, they won’t learn to obey you.”  Daniel
said sternly.
“There is no need to be grumpy towards them.” She replied.
Daniel looked at her suspiciously.  “I hope your not turning soft on me
here.  Why didn’t you hear the boys get out when Laura and Alexis tried
to get them back?”
Helena smiled at him sweetly.  “Well, my dear, I hate to admit it, but I
am older than I used to be and my hearing is not as good.  Add that to
the fact that I was being entertained by what an idiot you looked like
trying to fix the van, I was sufficiently distracted.  Besides, I
thought you had everything under control.”
This seemed to shut Daniel up, and Helena leaned back happily.
In the back, Lucky watched them amused.  He wondered if it was unhealthy
to get so much entertainment out of being kidnapped. But after the
disappointment of not getting away earlier, he and Nikolas had to be
light hearted in order not to fall apart.  Glancing down at the floor,
he saw Daniel’s gun.  Unable to drive with it in his hand, he must of
thought it would be close enough by his feet.  He slightly nudged
Nikolas’ shoulder, and pointed it out to him.  Lucky turned over onto
his back.
“You know, Nikolas, this is just like a slumber party, isn’t it?”  He
said nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”  Nikolas replied, wondering what Lucky was
getting at.
“Yep.”  Lucky repeated.  He sat up and punched his pillow a few times.
“You two ever been to a slumber party?”  Lucky asked to Helena and
Daniel.
“I don’t believe I know what you are talking about.”  Helena said.
“You don’t know what a slumber party is?”  Nikolas asked, sounding
surprised.  “That’s too bad, they’re a lot of fun.  It’s a pajama party
where everyone stays up all night.”
“If everyone stays up, how can it be called a slumber party?”  Daniel
asked.
“Well, you’d have to go to one to really understand.”  Lucky said.
“There are all kinds of rituals.”  He gave Nikolas a look, and they
prepared themselves.
“What kind of rituals?”  Daniel asked
“Scary movies, truth or dare, pillow fights.”  Lucky rambled, as he and
Nikolas suddenly sprang to their feet and hit Daniel with their pillows.
Unable to see, Daniel swerved of the road, and the van hit a tree.  The
impact threw them all off balance, making Daniel unable to fight back
yet.  Lucky dropped to his knees and grabbed the gun.  Helena tried to
get it away from him, and was rewarded with a sound smack in the face
from Nikolas’ pillow.  Daniel got up from his seat and lunged at
Nikolas.  Helena rummaged in the glove compartment for anther gun.  They
were all stopped by the sound of a gunshot breaking through the
windshield.  Lucky stood with the gun, frantically pointing it back and
forth between Helena and Daniel.  Taking a moment, while everyone was
still surprised, he composed himself.
“Give me the other gun.”  He said to Helena.  He got no resistance from
her.  “You.”  He continued, pointing to Daniel.  “Let him up.”  Daniel
slid back, and Nikolas stood up, and walked over to his brother’s side.
“What do you two think your going to do?”  Daniel asked.  “We’re in the
middle of no where.  Hand over the guns now, and I’ll forget all about
this whole incident.”
“No such luck.”  Lucky said, smiling.  “Or no such lucky, pun intended.
We’ll be fine, thank you.”  He handed the other gun over to Nikolas, and
hoped no one noticed how hard he was shaking.  Opening up the driver’s
door, the boys climbed over the seat and out of the van.  Lucky shot
both of the front tires, and then he and Nikolas took off running down
the road.  Daniel looked after them and cursed under his breath.  Taking
out his cell phone, he quickly called some of his guards.  He wasn’t
giving up yet.

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