Dance with the Devil: Chapter 61

When Victor arrived back at Todd’s house that evening, he found his brother going over some papers in the study.  He was about to head up to his room, when Todd spotted him and called him in.  “How was your wanderings around Port Charles?  See any interesting sights?  Meet any interesting people?”

Victor poured himself a glass of scotch.  “This town doesn’t have much of a harbor, does it?” Victor asked, trying to ignore his question.

“But according to our sons it’s got a really spooky house on the island in the middle of it,” he said, dropping a hint.

Victor turned to face him.  “You having me followed?” he asked.

“No, not at all.  But a friend of mine saw you getting off the launch from the island.  That place doesn’t have the greatest reputation.  Murder, attempted murder, big black bottomless pit.  And the family that owns it, well, lets just say they’ve got the Lords beat in the creepy department,” Todd told him. 

“Okay, fine, yeah, I was there,” Victor confirmed.

“Who were you there with cause it‘s my understanding that no one currently lives there?”  Todd asked.  “What did you discuss?”

“I met with that Cassadine woman and it was nothing.  She just wanted to meet the new guy in town,” was all Victor said.

Todd knew there was more, but decided not to fight it.  Instead, he grabbed his briefcase and pulled out some papers.  “Lansing stopped by before I left the office, handed these over to me.  Once Blair gets back we’ll sign them.”  He handed the documents off to Victor.

“Everything looks in order.  How was your attorney taking it?”

“Well, he wasn’t happy, but he didn’t verbalize anything specific.  Mostly, Lansing’s just all talk, but once you lay down the law, he’ll save his opinions for himself.  It may take a few repeated comments, but he eventually learns,” Todd explained.

Just then Blair walked in with Jack and Sam carrying takeout bag. “Dinner’s ready!” she called as she poked her head into the study, her sons heading for the kitchen.  Seeing the two brothers, she asked them, “What’s up?”

“Ah, we, got these papers that need to be witnessed, if you’d do the honors,” Victor said.

Blair looked at Todd, who shrugged his shoulders.  She watched as first Todd, than Victor signed, then she followed suit.  “Thank you, Blair,” Victor said.  “Look, I’m going to go to my room.  I’m not so hungry.”

That was when Sam came in.  “Have dinner with us, Dad!  We got Chinese,” his young son said, then pouted. 

Victor couldn’t say no to that face.  “Fine,” he came out with at last. 

“Yes!” Sam shouted.  “Help me and Jack set the table,” he said as he dragged his father to the kitchen table.

When they left, Todd handed the document back to Blair and she placed it in the safe.  Then she turned back to Todd.  “What did he say about his visit to Spoon Island?”

“Exactly what I thought he’d say,”  Todd said.  “Nothing.  He said he met with her, specifically Helena Cassadine.”

“We need to figure out what happened over there,” Blair remarked.

“Hey, you guys’ ready to eat?” Jack asked when as he came upon his parents.  “I’m starving and San’s already taken half the moo shu pork for his plate.”

Todd looked at Blair, then at Jack.  The old scheming glint was in his eye, something she hadn’t seen since before he had been taken from them. 

Jack seemed to sense his father’s mood.  He remembered Starr telling him stories about when she was younger all the trouble she and their dad would cause.  The expression on his face was exactly the way she would had described it.  “What’s going to be the plan?” he asked, mirroring his father’s look.

Sam was nattering on about his day.  “And Emma took my crayon.  I needed the red and she grabbed it first and wouldn’t let me have it even when she was done with it.”

“Well, girls can be like that, just take things and never give them back,” Victor agreed.

“I hope you asked for it nicely first, before you tried to grab it back,” Blair’s voice carried as she entered the kitchen with Jack and Todd.

“Yes, Mommy.  But I didn’t finish my picture in time for then end of school because of her,” Sam grumbled.

Victor looked up at Jack.  “So, I hear you made varsity here as well,” Victor said. 

“Yeah we have a match tomorrow.  I’d really like it if you came.  I know Mom and Dad will be there,” he said.

“Sure thing.  Just tell me the time and place,” Victor agreed.

Jack shot Todd a look then added, “Great, you can meet Molly there.  She’s been coming to all my matches lately.”

“Who’s Molly?” Victor asked.

“Molly Lansing Davis, Ric Lansing’s daughter.  Her mother’s also an attorney in town, Alexis Davis,” Jack explained.  “You know that house in the harbor, Wyndamere?  Alexis is the caretaker for it.”

The comment about Wyndamere had the desired effect as Victor seemed to perk up.  Before he could say any more, though, Sam piped in.  “It’s really spooky there.  Molly said there’s hidden corridors and secret rooms.”  Turning to his brother, Sam then said, “I bet that’s where that lady came from because I never saw her come in.  She just appeared there like magic, poof!”

Feigning ignorance, Victor asked, “What lady, again?”

“The woman we were talking about today, Helena Cassadine.  That was when she met Jack and Sam, over at Wyndamere,” Todd said. 

Victor realized he was trapped.  With no way out, he slammed his chair back and left the kitchen.  He headed out the door and drove to the Metrocourt.  He sat down at the bar and ordered a scotch.  Downing it, he ordered a second one.

“You may want to ease up on those,” a voice called.  He looked over and saw Carly standing behind him.

“Why the hell would you care?” he asked sullenly.

“Well, I’ll care if you crash your car when you leave here,” she retorted.  Then, she sat down next to him.  “What happened?’ she asked.

“Why do you think something happened?” He slid his eyes to her.  “Maybe I just want to drink in peace.”

“Something happen between you and your brother?” came Carly’s next question.

“Nothing we haven’t been through before.  It’s even more irritating now that we’re under the same roof,” Victor said.  “I swear, it feels like he’s going to turn into our sister and start lecturing me.”

“Which sister, Viki or Tina?” Carly asked.

“Viki.  She’s like a damn mother hen.  ‘Todd, you really must control your temper.’  ‘Todd, how could you do such a thing!’  ‘Todd, I really think--’”

“You should quit while you still can, Victor” Viki interrupted as she approached the bar.

Carly looked from Victor to his sister.  Seeing he may be getting one of those lectures he had just mentioned, she decided to get out of the line of fire.  “I have some things I need to check on,” she said as she left.

“Todd called.  He said you made a hasty exit from the house, after you slammed some chairs around.”  When Victor merely raised an eyebrow, Viki continued.  “He’s worried about you.”

“He’s worried about me?”  Victor couldn’t keep the humor at of his voice.  “Well, tell him I’m touched.  Really, I am.”

“I’m worried about you too,” she added.  She sat down at the stool that Carly had vacated.  “Especially if you’re going over to Spoon Island.”

“Did Todd tell you that?” Victor sneered.

“No, a friend of the police commissioner’s did.  He saw you get off the launch,” Viki replied.

Victor remembered seeing a man standing on the dock at the time.  “Well, what does he know?” he said defensively.  “Look, Viki, I am thankful that your worried about me.  But I could care less if that freak is concerned.  He ruined my life, stole my kids.”

“Victor, he was taken from his family for eight years and we still don’t have the full picture of what he was put through.  He’s still suffering because of it. including he honestly believed he killed you!”

“Really, he did?” Victor asked incredulously.

“Yes.  And there is still a part of him that believes that, despite the fact that you are alive.”  Viki looked at him and could tell her words were not making a dent.  He still had the same expression on his face as he did when she had arrived.  “You know, I think I’ve come to realize something about you and I know you won’t take it well.”

“What is that, Viki?” her brother snarked.

“Your attitude, right now, is reminding me very much of Father,” she said.  When he gave her a nasty look, she added, “In fact, you remind me of him more that Todd, now that I think of it.”  With that, she walked away, hoping it would give him something to think about.

Victor turned back to the bartender.  “Hit me again.”  If there was anything that would make him drink more, it was the comparison his sister had just made.

From in the corner of the restaurant by the balcony, Helena Cassadine watch her subject silently, but with great interest.


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