Dance with the Devil: Chapter 9

Starr had left her brother on the pier and made her way onto the Haunted Star. She found Lulu at the bar talking to another woman whose voice sound familiar. Whatever the other woman was selling, Lulu didn’t seem to be buying.


“Look, we really don’t need any promoters. We’re just starting out, we’ve got a house singer, but right now we just need to take it one step at a time,” she told the woman.


“No, you need to strike while the iron’s hot. A house singer? Yeah, that’s good for a regular act, but you need bands to come in here to get them in the door. I was a successful booker for a club outside of Philly. It was just like this town, suburban, out of the way. I got a lot of the top indie bands in,” the other woman said.


With that, Starr knew exactly who it was. “Oh, my God, Sarah?” Starr exclaimed. At that, both women finally noticed her.


“Hey cousin. How you doing?” Sarah said, coming over and giving her a hug.


“What are you doing in Port Charles? How did you hear about this?” Starr had so many questions.


Sarah smiled. “I was doing an internet search for new club openings and when I saw Starr Manning headline this new club up here, I figured I could come to support you and help launch this place.” Sarah turned back to Lulu. “What do you say?”


Lulu gave off a nervous smile. “I really need to think this over, talk with my partner.” She remembered reading about Todd Manning’s shooting in the paper. “How’s your dad doing, by the way?”


Starr had forgotten about the past day’s events for a moment. But shortly, the smile returned to her face. “He’s doing much better. They were going to move him out of ICU today.” Starr moved closer to Lulu. “That’s why I was coming here. I still may need a few days till all the craziness dies down and we have a better picture of his recovery.”


“Wait, your dad was in the hospital? What happened?” Sarah asked, startled by their words.


Lulu nodded, her eyes wide. “It’s OK, very understandable. Take as much time as you need.” She pointed back to Sarah. “It looks like you two need some serious catching up. If you’ll excuse me.” With that, Lulu left the room.


Starr turned back to Sarah. He older cousin stood there with an expression that told her to explain. “Yesterday afternoon, my dad was shot.” Before she could continue, she received a text from her mom. “Everyone’s back at the hotel. That probably means your mom too.” That confused Sarah even more, but she followed Starr back outside.


While Starr was relaying the last twenty-four hours to Sarah, Jack was sitting at the pier listening to music when Molly came up to him. “Hi, how’s your dad doing?” she asked.


Jack sat up and pulled the earbuds out. “Uh, he woke up and seems to be doing fine.” he told her.


“I’m glad.” Molly looked around sheepishly. “I bet he’s getting stir-crazy in the hospital.” At that, Jack merely shrugged his shoulders. Molly continued. “Wyndamere has a great library, if you want to bring him some books.”


Jack looked back at the island. Even in daylight, it still looked like something out of a thriller. He was saved from answering that question by the return of his sister with another woman. “Jack, we need to get back to the hotel. Dad’s having some more test and Mom was convinced to get some rest.”


The other woman smiled at him. “You look like your father, that’s for sure.” she said. Jack was confused until she held out her hand. “I’m your cousin, Sarah Roberts. You know, as is Cord and Tina?”


“Hey,” was all he said. “Your mom called you?”


Sarah shook her head. “I was actually in town because of your sister’s act at the Haunted Star. I ran into her there.” Sarah noticed the other girl there. “Hi,” she said warmly.


“Hi, Molly Lansing-Davis.” She held out her hand and Sarah shook it. After that, a horn blew. “Oh, I need to catch the launch to Spoon Island. Jack if you think your dad would like any of the books from the library, let me know. I’m always at Kelly’s.” With that, she walked off.


“Well, Jack, you seem to have made a friend,” Starr said with a twinkle in her eye.


“ ‘I’m always at Kelly’s,’” Sarah teased.


Jack started to walk away, muttering, “Whatever,” as the three third-generation Lords made their way to the Metrocourt. As they came up to the doors, Viki, Clint, Blair and Sam also approached.


Starr threw her arms around her mother as Sarah explained to her Aunt Viki and her Grandpa Clint what brought her to Port Charles. Clint told them about the allowance he had received and why Sam was with them. As the group trudged into the lobby, Carly came around the front desk.


“Has there been any change in Todd’s condition?” she asked after the appropriate introduction were made.


“He’s awake and out of ICU. They’re running more tests on him right now so we took the opportunity to come back here for a bit,” Blair explained.


Carly nodded. “Look, you all have been through hell for the past day. Let me make a reservation for you at the restaurant,” she checked her watch, “even if it is a little early.”


Viki smiled. “That would be lovely. Thank you very much.”


“Well, Todd’s become a friend, so,” Carly said.


Clint looked startled. “Todd, friendly?” he questioned. Was this woman talking about Viki’s brother?


Carly was taken aback. “Yeah, from the first time he walked into the lobby. He was quite charming and a little mysterious.”


“Todd, charming?” Viki asked. She had never known Todd to charm any woman, with the exception of Blair.


Carly threw the older blond a confused look but was waved off by Blair. “Look, I need to straighten out some things down here, I’ll be up in a bit.” When Starr gave her a knowing look, she told her daughter, “I swear to you I will not run back to the hospital.” Carly saw the concern on a number of their faces and reassured them she would make sure Blair got up to her room. With everyone gone, Blair turned back to Carly, who offered her a hug, which she gratefully accepted. When she stepped away, her eyes were moist.


Carly moved her to a chair. “There’s something you don’t want the rest of the family to know, is there?” she asked.


Blair nodded. “The doctor did a pinprick test on his feet but Todd didn’t respond. I know they left one of the bullets in because it was too close to the spine and his condition was still critical at the time.” Carly nodded. “I’m so scared of what the lasting damage could be and how Todd would react. If you hadn’t noticed, he can be pretty volatile.” Carly laughed, remembering the mysterious “Mr. Pleasure” she had met that day in the lobby and then seeing him standing in the courtroom with a gun trained on Sonny. Blair looked up at Carly’s laugh and felt a giggle coming forward herself. It subsided and Blair got up. “Look, I’m gonna need one more hotel room. My aunt’s a doctor and she insisted on checking in on him, so I expect her tomorrow.”


“Oh, that’s sweet. You all seem real tight-knit.” Carly said, as she moved to the desk and booked the room. “I’ll put her on the same floor as the rest of you.”


Blair thought about that for a minute. “That’s really not necessary.” At Carly’s look, Blair explained. “First off, my aunt hates Todd, hated him from the moment we got married, with the feeling being mutual, so if you want to see any fireworks, swing around the hospital. Second, she has a long-running feud with Viki, and the fact that my aunt is still technically Todd, Tina and Viki’s stepmother, you may have fireworks in your hotel.”


Carly was stunned by what Blair had told her. She looked to the side. “Well, Todd told me he was from a small town. Ok, I’ll put her on a floor a few away from the rest of your family.”


Blair let out a chuckle and made her way up to her new room. It was a two-bedroom suite with all of her kids in in. Starr was asleep and Sam and Jack were watching TV in the main room. Even though the bed looked comfortable, she didn’t want to be tempted to fall asleep. She walked back out into the hallway and bumped into Viki. Todd’s sister gave her an admonishing expression, but Blair merely shrugged her shoulders.


Viki could tell something was bothering her. They walked to the elevator and went to the restaurant. Viki just had a tonic water, but Blair order a scotch. “There’s something bothering you, I can see that. What happened?” she asked.


Blair considered for a minute telling Viki about the exam today by Dr. Webber. Then she remembered Todd’s lack of worry and put aside any fears she had. However, Viki was aware that there was something off with her. “I spoke to Dorian today. She insisted on coming to give a second opinion.”


Viki took a deep breath and scowled at her drink. Then, she drew herself up and she was once again the prim Victoria Lord. “That is kind of her, but unnecessary.” When she saw Blair’s expression, she understood. “You told her that but she insisted. Typical Dorian. Well, you can never have to much information. I do owe her thanks. She help convince a judge to sign off on Clint’s release.” They sat there for a while until the rest of the family arrived. Tina, Cord, Sarah, Clint, Natalie, Liam, Jack, Sam and Starr gathered around a long table as Carly personally handed out menus.


Blair looked around the table as she ate, surprised by her own hunger. This was a group who often didn’t like each other and Todd generally less. But here they all were, together in this upstate New York burg, for him. When the meal was finished, Blair made her way to the hospital alone, despite the late hour. Elizabeth Webber was on duty and allowed her into the room.


When she got there, she saw Todd, lying awake, his famous insomnia on display. He saw her come in, and then saw the tears in her eyes. She walked over to him and he kissed her. She could tell by his expression that Dr. Webber had told him what may have happened. But she also saw something else--that look of determination, that “the bastards won’t beat me down” attitude.


“I’ve faced a lot worse than this, Blair. We’ve faced a lot worse. Ireland, Asa, Max, my mother,” he told her, a cocky grin on his face. “As long as I have you and the kids, I can face anything. I know that now.” With that said, he maneuvered his body as far to the side of the bed as he could as she move his legs. Then she got on the bed next to him and they finally fell asleep in each others arms.


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