Alexis slowly pulled the scissor across the spruce green ribbon,
coaxing it into a mass of dancing curls as she put the finishing
touches on the gaily-wrapped gift.
I wonder if he'll like it, she thought as she set a sprig
of holly in place between the ribbon curls.
She ran her fingertips over Cameron's name on the gift tag and smiled
as she set aside the package, her dark eyes gleaming as she looked
down at the dining room table with satisfaction, every gift organized,
neatly labeled and ready to go. Gifts for all the important people
in her life but, sadly, not as many as one would hope. She'd walked
away from some of her own accord, been abandoned by others but she
had to admit that of the last year and a half, she was somewhat
pleased with her life right at this moment in time.
She frowned slightly as she reached out and touched a present wrapped
in shiny burgundy paper, very masculine and regal. She ran a finger
over the label of its owner, her brother's name set out boldly in
script. Stefan had been a thorn in her side for quite awhile and
she still couldn't get a handle on what had happened to him to bring
him back to them such a changed man. He'd changed when Chloe died,
become more introspective but in a way that opened him up to the
life he was missing. He left them a better man in many ways but
returned an almost complete stranger. It puzzled her as it disconcerted
her and the brother she trusted completely all her life had in many
ways become an adversary. She bought him some paints and a set of
brushes, hoping he would remember his art and who he was when creating
his visions. She recalled as a child sitting for hours on a blanket
in the secluded cove where he hid his painting from his family's
prying eyes and how they talked of their dreams for the future in
that place reserved only for them.
And how much she loved him.
What he seemed capable of now frightened her.
She looked at the clock on the wall and noted than more than two
hours had passed since Cameron left with Kristina on his mission
to pick out the perfect tree. She offered to accompany them but
he merely shook his head, whispered something in Kristina's ear
that made her giggle and she could have sworn her daughter shook
her head in a mirror image of his own 'no'. His was a bad influence
and her daughter's love affair with cows just the tip of the iceberg.
He lavished her with every kind of cow toy manufactured and even
found a tape of children's songs that were sung in the language
of "moo".
She shook her head as she looked over at the picture of Cameron
and Kristina on the end table, their laughing faces peeping out
from the silver frame. He always had that effect on her daughter,
as if they both shared a secret and were so pleased as punch they
couldn't help but laugh.
She told herself that it was annoying.
But truth was she loved it - and him.
And focusing on Cameron and her daughter kept her from thinking
about what happened on Halloween, the night she was drugged and
almost pushed from the parapet by Helena, the night she was faced
once again with her Mother's past. That night was etched in her
mind, a memorial to her own vulnerability and opened up more mysteries
than it solved.
Her mind recalled that night as if it was today, her daughter sleeping
peacefully as the four of them stared at her Mother's necklace spinning
in Luke's hand, the look on Mrs. Lansbury's face as her words cast
the impossible into reality.
* * *
"Why could it not have been in the safe?"
"Because it belonged to your Mother. Mr. Mikkos had it made
especially for her - a diamond encasing a miniature rose."
"But couldn't my Father have stored it in Paris for safekeeping?"
"No, Miss Alexis, I'm afraid not. You see it was buried with
her."
"How can you be certain of that?"
"Because I put it around her throat the day she was buried."
Time inhaled a ragged breath that night, its inexorable march forward
stilled by words that hung heavily upon air, their weight cumbersome
as they tried to reconcile them with reality. They all looked at
the necklace swinging in Luke's hand, the soft light of the room
shooting prismatic flashes as it twirled.
Luke verbalized what they all were thinking. "Well now... who
would have thought…the Queen of the Damned... a grave robber."
"Luke..." Cameron rumbled a warning. "We don't know
anything yet and upsetting Alexis with such a possibility is unnecessarily
cruel... even for you."
"Hey, Doc, just calling them like they are. If Mrs. L here
says she put this on the diva's throat the day she was buried, how
would YOU explain it? Scotty, beam me a necklace?"
Luke suddenly stared at Mrs. Lansbury as a question popped into
his head. "Excuse me, but just how did YOU happen to be there
on burial day?"
Mrs. Lansbury looked at Alexis uncomfortably as their shared secret
of her place in this story was now at risk.
Alexis nodded slightly and sank from Cameron's arms to stand on
the floor. "I'm sure Mrs. Lansbury was asked by my father to
help him with the arrangements, weren't you?"
She glanced at Alexis. "Yes, Mister Mikkos was distraught and
asked my help."
Luke looked skeptical. "He flew you all the way from Greece?
Why you? Wouldn't that be questioned by Helena?"
"I always served the Prince and it was not her business as
to the reasons. He could just have easily chosen another of the
household staff."
"Ah, Mrs. L, but he didn't... he chose you. And for something
so deeply personal... and secret...he must have trusted you very
much."
She straightened her shoulders and looked up at him with all the
haughtiness half a century of serving royalty ingrained into her.
"Mr. Spencer, with all due respect, this is Cassadine family
business and you are not family..."
"But the diva wasn't a Cassadine, was she?"
She stared at him. "But Miss Alexis is and it is her and her
baby daughter I am concerned with now. Not that it is any of your
business but you may be assured that my interests will always rest
with her."
Luke stared back and was surprised to see the level of cool determination
staring back at him. This woman was not going to back down or spill
her guts and her loyalty was welcome but Tash was one of his closest
friends - on some days his only friend - and he wasn't ready yet
to throw in the interrogation towel.
"Well pardon me for being just a tad cynical. You've served
this family for... what... a gazillion years and that includes every
dark prince and prince wannabee. Alexis is my friend and your explanation
as to the why and wherefore of your connection to this necklace
and her mother just don't jive."
Alexis was annoyed. "Oh, Luke, just shut up. I have known Mrs.
Lansbury since I was a child and I trust her more than my own family.
How do you like them apples?"
He smirked. "The poisoned variety?"
She retorted, "But of course, I'm a Cassadine after all."
She wanted him to just give it up but when Luke was on a mission
there wasn't much one could do until he gave up or got bored. This
was Cassadine business so she could pretty much rule out bored.
Cameron had been listening to the interrogation and could tell Alexis
was getting frustrated with Luke. She trusted this woman for whatever
reason and his biggest clue was Alexis trusting her with Kristina.
If she felt that comfortable with this woman, he wasn't about to
argue the merits.
"Luke, just give it up. The lady is loyal and I doubt you'd
respect her very much if she revealed anything to you. Besides,
until we know a bit more it is useless speculating."
He turned to Mrs. Lansbury. "Ma'am, please tell us what happened
that day."
She looked uncomfortable but kept her eyes on Alexis who looked
at her with reassurance and more than a little pain.
"Mister Mikkos was informed of Miss Kristin's... death... by
Magda, the housekeeper. He came to me and said he needed to take
a trip and I was to come with him."
Luke piped up. "You didn't ask why?"
She looked at him as if he was an idiot and retorted, "You
of all people, after your incessant prying into the inner workings
of this family, should know the answer and why it is self-explanatory."
She sighed and focused on Alexis who was leaning back into the doctor's
arms. "We took the jet to England and arrived at the estate.
No one was permitted to touch her until he arrived. He walked into
the main room and stood staring down at her body for a very long
time. I stood by the doorway allowing him privacy and just when
I was about to call out to him, he fell to his knees, put his head
on her chest and sobbed like a child. He wouldn't let go of her.
I knelt next to him and finally managed to convince him that the
coroner had to be called so she could be moved away from all of
the bl... <looks at Alexis sadly> floor. He looked so lost
and alone, as if part of him was missing. I called the coroner who
came and made his pronouncement and we moved Miss Kristin to her
bedroom. I dressed her, put on her jewelry and stayed with her the
entire time."
"Where was Alexis?" Cameron asked knowing that Kristina
was already missing.
"There were no children there, Dr. Lewis," she said sharply
and left it at that.
"So you were with her the entire time, you didn't leave the
room for any reason?" Cameron asked gently, knowing how painful
it was for her to recall.
"No, Doctor, I stayed until they transferred her to the casket.
Mr. Mikkos asked for some private time with her and I retired until
he called for me."
Cameron interrupted. "So either you or Alexis's father was
with her…"
"Yes, Doctor, until the casket was sealed." She glanced
over at Luke. "So you see, Mr. Spencer, there was no opportunity
for anyone to remove the necklace."
He pursed his lips. "Unless the old boy wanted a souvenir of
his great love…"
Alexis winced and walked to the crib to check on Kristina.
Cameron was appalled. "Luke, that is disgusting. You are unworthy
of calling yourself Alexis's friend."
Luke glanced at Alexis's back and sighed. "Sorry… force
of habit. I know how much he loved the diva and what her death did
to him." He reached out and touched Alexis's shoulder. "Sorry,
Tash. I have a big mouth."
She turned and shook off his hand. "Nice excuse…but sometimes
you are just an incomprehensible ass." With that, she walked
over to the fireplace and stared into the flames.
Cameron wanted to walk over and hold her but now wasn't the time.
He looked over again at Mrs. Lansbury.
"So, if the necklace was buried with Alexis's mother, how did
Helena get hold of it?"
"That, Doctor, I do not know. She would first have to find
the burial site."
Alexis turned. "That is in Sweden, near the village where she
grew up."
Mrs. Lansbury looked guilty. "That, Miss Alexis, is what Mr.
Mikkos wanted her and anyone else who took an interest to believe."
Alexis and Luke looked shocked and Cameron thoughtful.
Cameron murmured, "So he arranged for multiple burial sites…"
Mrs. Lansbury kept glancing at Alexis. "Yes. He was concerned
that certain people might choose to…"
"The word you are heroically trying not to utter is desecrate,
Mrs. Lansbury," Alexis whispered.
"Ms. Alexis, he was concerned so he arranged for five sites
that could possibly be her burial crypt with only himself and three
others knowing her true resting place."
Cameron queried, "Three?"
"Yes, Doctor, his personal solicitor…"
Alexis asked, "The barrister in London that contacted me a
few years ago?"
She nodded. "Yes, Sir Edwin, and the two men who buried her.
However, all have since passed away."
Luke snorted. "Or were killed."
She looked at him strangely. "Perhaps, Mr. Spencer. You are
aware of the Cassadine rule of no witnesses?"
He returned the look. "Intimately."
Alexis sighed and looked at her sadly. "So, where is my Mother
buried?"
Mrs. Lansbury looked puzzled. "I'm sorry, Miss Alexis, but
I do not know. Only once did Mr. Mikkos refer to it and then cryptically."
They were all silent for a moment until Cameron asked, "And
what did he say?"
She walked over to Alexis and took her hands in hers. "He said
that he had no more fears for her mortal body and would one day
again meet her soul in their Shangri-La."
* * *
Shangri-La
All she recalled of the reference was found in an old 1938 movie
called Lost Horizon she and Zander watched when he was living with
her. Shangri-La was a secluded land filled with snow-capped mountains,
forests, and lakes. A land where people co-existed harmoniously,
the integrity of nature was adhered to and life was peaceful and
tranquil… an ideal society. People remained youthful forever
but when they left this mythical land, they would age and die almost
as if the tranquility of that world had suffused their very marrow
making them immortal, the need to sustain it a daily measure of
their existence.
She wondered if her Father was being facetious or had he truly found
a hidden haven for his family that remained unknown except to him
and a few others, a place that mirrored the tranquil peace of that
mythical place. She thought of Sir Edwin Mayhew, the elderly barrister
who contacted her out of the blue to speak of her Father. She recalled
his courtly business-like manner but could even now sense the underpinnings
of fear that rested upon him like a misty veil, its intensity giving
even the air surrounding him a clammy, unnatural texture. He had
been frightened, enough so that he broke a quarter-of-a-century
silence to see her. And now he was dead, a fact she was not aware
of until Mrs. Lansbury related her story, a reality that could only
have been assisted by Helena.
She thought about the box of her Father's documents he gave her
in London, the properties he kept secret from the family and the
box of papers she found hidden in the Paris apartment. She'd given
them a cursory review when life suddenly overwhelmed her and her
only concern and fight became her daughter. Whatever they contained
were ghosts of a past she could never change. Kristina's world was
the future to build so she shook the ghosts of the past from her
heart and relegated their dusty folders and facts to the back of
the closet.
Crash!
Jolted from her reverie, she ran to the kitchen to find Alice looking
upset as she swept up the remnants of the black and white ceramic
cow Cameron had jokingly given her as a reverse housewarming gift
after he moved in. It was now in shards, its head the only piece
that survived its homicidal tumble from the counter.
Alice looked at her red-faced and chagrined. "Oh, Ms. D, I'm
so very sorry… I was taking down the mixing bowls and bumped
it with my arm. Was it a family heirloom?"
Alexis laughed until her sides hurt. "Only to Dr. Lewis but
he'll survive. Thanks for coming over, Alice. I usually buy my cookies
from the convenience store. Archway."
Alice clucked her tongue. "Cookies need to be home-baked. Nothing
like the smell of cookies baking in the kitchen to know it's Christmas
time."
"Well, I'd just find a cookie-scented spray and spritz the
kitchen so it's a good thing you are here. I'll leave you to your
craft. I have a few more presents to wrap."
She was walking out of the kitchen when the front door opened with
a crash. She ran into the living room, her pink fuzzy socks sliding
along the hardwood floor as she skidded to a stop and stared at
the biggest tree she ever saw being shoved through her front door.
"Hey, Paul Bunyan, think you may have gone a bit overboard
on the tree?" she shouted over the tree limbs toward what she
assumed was her doorway.
"Don't tell me, tell your daughter. She picked it out,"
Cameron's muffled voice weaved its way through the branches. "I
was opting for Charlie Brown's tree."
Alexis snorted. "That's right, Cameron, blame the child. I
mean she is only one year old."
He finally got the trunk through the door and stood up straight,
his hair askew and filled with droplets of sap and spiky needles.
"She pointed, I paid. That was our deal."
Alexis chuckled. "Making deals with one year olds. What would
YOUR shrink say about that?"
"That it depends on the tyke in question and yours happens
to be Mensa material."
Alexis glanced around. "Speaking of which… did you barter
her away to pay for the tree?"
She heard snickering drift in from the hall. "Nope… Uncle
Luke saved her from a lifetime of tree slavery. You need to watch
the Doc, Tash, he almost traded her for a Norwegian spruce."
"And HE would have traded her for a chance at that buxom blonde
who was doling out the candy canes," Cameron retorted as he
huffed and hauled the tree to the fireplace.
Luke walked in pushing Kristina in her stroller, a large candy cane
sucker in her mouth that matched that of her 'Uncle'.
"Merry Ho-Ho-Ho, Natasha. I'm shocked you allowed these two
to pick out the tree." He leaned toward her and stage-whispered
in her ear. "Amateurs."
"They insisted and I needed some quiet Mommy time to myself,"
she said as another crash sounded from down the hall.
Luke jerked his thumb in the direction of the kitchen. "I hope
there is someone in there or are you experimenting in the kitchen
again?"
Cameron muttered, "God forbid."
Alexis threw a stuffed Santa at him and smirked. "That tree
looks crooked. You might have to chop some off the trunk. Be careful
though… don't chop off anything useful."
He threw back the Santa and hit her in the nose. "Please don't
place any sharp objects in my hand right now. I've spent the last
hour with Santa Spencer here and committing a capital crime is not
on my list this Christmas."
"By the way, that is Alice in the kitchen. She came over to
make Christmas cookies."
Luke chuckled. "Well, by the sound of that crash, I'd say you
better dunk them in milk before you eat them or chance losing a
molar."
Cameron was grunting as he shifted the tree around. Alexis glanced
at Luke as she unbuckled Kristina from the stroller.
"Why don't you go and help? I'll give you a cookie."
He looked at Cameron and then toward the kitchen as another crash
and a muttered curse was heard.
"Think I'll pass… on both counts. Hasta la Ho-Ho-Ho, Toots."
* * *
Alexis turned from placing the last ornament on the tree and smiled
gently at the sight of Cameron and Kristina enjoying a siesta together
on the couch. Cameron was on his back, his long jean-clad legs hanging
over the arm of the couch, her daughter sprawled out on his broad
chest, her head tucked under his chin as her arm wound around his
neck. They looked exhausted from their tree expedition and probably
from spending quality time with Uncle Luke so she didn't want to
disturb them. She grabbed a chenille throw from the rocking chair
and gently placed it over them, tucking it all around. She deposited
a kiss on their cheeks and brushed the hair from Cameron's forehead
as she drank in the sight of them.
She felt so much at peace in that moment it unnerved her, that feeling
of happiness and tranquility she had tasted in such fleeting measure
during the course of her life, especially the last year-and-a-half.
That feeling started three days ago when Judge Mulcahey dropped
by unexpectedly with a Christmas gift for Kristina.
She hadn't heard much from the Judge since he turned the tables
on Judge Farmer and gave temporary custody to Cameron but he checked
in now and again saying he was still finishing up his investigation.
She hated waiting but Cameron assured her that all would be made
right and she had to believe. Believing is easy as long as you have
faith but she had lost faith somewhere between Sonny and the day
in court when her daughter was taken away from her. Still, she fought
the tremors that snaked up her spine when she opened the door to
find the Judge waiting at her door.
When he arrived she was alone. Cameron and Kristina were out on
a secret mission, Christmas shopping no doubt and she was nervous.
She was always looking over her shoulder waiting for the rug to
be pulled out from under her. The Judge seemed pleased she was alone
and after a lengthy admonition about the need to believe in justice,
he handed her a rectangular wrapped box.
"I'm sure Kristina will love whatever it is," she said.
He smiled with a twinkle in his eye as he pulled a box from his
coat. "This is for Kristina. That is for you."
She looked at him, puzzled, as she opened it and then started to
smile and cry at the same time.
Sitting regally beneath layers of delicate red tissue paper was
a court order giving her sole custody of one Kristina Davis.
At that moment, the door opened and Cameron walked in pushing Kristina
in her stroller. They both looked at Alexis and when Cameron saw
her broad smile he released the breath he was holding at the sight
of the Judge and smiled back at her.
Alexis beamed. "The Judge stopped by to wish us a Merry Christmas
and gave me the greatest gift of all… custody of my baby girl."
Cameron tried to hold back the tears in his eyes when he saw the
smile he waited for since the day he met her in the homeless shelter,
the smile that said her heart was full, never to be afraid again
that which fills it would be stolen away.
Since that day, her life had been happy and she looked forward to
what each day brought. She put a hand on her daughter's back and
felt her breathing in time with Cameron. It felt so right and she
wanted nothing to interfere with that happiness she pulled around
the three of them like a soft cashmere blanket, the kind with a
built-in state-of-the-art security system.
Suddenly a vision of her Mother's necklace twirling in the light
flashed before her and that singular moment of peace shattered and
her heart once again lay hopelessly upon the floor. The past still
beckoned to her, its mysteries waiting to be solved, and her happiness
could still only be found in fleeting moments.
A strange wonderful scent called her to the kitchen and when she
crossed the threshold she suddenly halted in mid-stride. Her senses
were assaulted by the scent of ginger and cinnamon, its spicy aroma
pulling her into memory as images flashed across her vision and
voices cloaked in echoed whispers danced about her head.
"Ms. D, are you alright? You look white as a cotton sheet!"
Alice asked with worry as she reached for her.
Alexis attempted to laugh it off but fell short. "I'm fine,
Alice. What is that you are baking?"
Alice smiled proudly. "Pepparkakor. I know you said your Mama
was Swedish and I was looking around online for something Swedish
and found this recipe for cookies. They are a tradition and have
this great legend that if a cookie…"
"Breaks into three pieces when you tap it, your wish will come
true," Alexis finished in a whisper.
* * *
Suddenly she was back in the big kitchen in Kent sitting on the
high stool by the old pot-bellied stove watching Magda roll out
dough redolent with spice. Mesmerized by the rolling pin, her head
bobbed back and forth keeping time with Magda's precise movements
until the dough was paperthin.
"Natasha…child… did you choose your cutters?"
Magda asked seriously. "The choice is very important."
Young Natasha jumped from the stool and ran to the big aluminum
tin sitting on the counter. She chose a star, a Christmas tree,
and a cow and ran back over to the table.
Magda looked them over and laughed. "A cow?"
"I like cows," she sniffed.
"So be it… these are your choices. Remember the legend…
you must tap the cookie and if it breaks into three your wish will
be granted. The simpler the cutter, young one, the greater the chance
of your wish coming true. Now, where is your Mama? She always loves
to help with the Pepparkakor."
"I'll find her!"
She dropped her cookie cutters and ran toward the conservatory where
she knew she'd find her Mama. She heard voices and skidded to a
stop outside the door.
"Are you certain she knows?" her Mother's feathery voice
was tinged with worry.
"Not certain because she is wily enough to not play her cards
but I fear so," her Papa intoned in his deep baritone.
"I will not run my life for fear of that woman. I will not
allow her to force me and our children from the home we have built
here."
"But, my love, I cannot be here all the time and I fear what
she could do to you and Natasha and Kristina. Please allow me to
move you to somewhere more secure."
"No, I will not flee from my own home. I will not give that
witch such power over me," Kristin said angrily.
She listened to her parents and was suddenly very afraid. Papa wants
them to leave their home. She loved their home and the gardens and
the ducks and her pony. She knew she could be punished but she listened
anyway.
Mikkos sounded resigned. "By Zeus, you are a maddening woman!
Stubborn and willful! But it is one of the reasons I love you. Well…so
be it. Stay in our home but promise me one thing."
Her Mother sounded relieved. "Anything… within reason,
my dearest."
He chuckled. "Always hedging your bets, eh? If you become unnerved
or sense any danger, leave immediately for our secret place. No
one will find you there and I will come to you."
She laughed, its silvery tones like musical notes. "I promise…
but if that day comes…"
"Yes?"
"Promise me you will come immediately… our home amid the
ice castles will only be perfect if we are all together."
She peeked around the door and watched them embrace as her Father
said, "I promise on my life I will meet you in Shangri-La."
* * *
"Ms. D, are you alright?"
Alexis heard a voice in the distance and shook the dust of the past
from her mind.
"Alice? Did you say something?" she asked as her mind
replayed scenes of her childhood set in motion by the simple aroma
of a gingersnap cookie.
"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Perhaps I have, Alice, but an informative one. The cookies
smell delicious… and I'm sure Kristina will enjoy them."
She walked out of the kitchen and over to Cameron's room. Since
he moved in, the masculine smell of him permeated his room and the
guest bathroom. She walked over to the bed and picked up his Irish
fisherman sweater and inhaled deeply of his spicy cologne.
"You know, that might be more interesting… for both of
us… if I was wearing that sweater… or maybe if you were…
with a garter belt," Cameron chuckled, casually leaning against
the doorjamb as he watched her.
She dropped the sweater as if it was on fire and blushed deep burgundy.
"I was j-just checking if it n-needed to be washed… you
know how men are about wearing things until they are ready to walk
away."
"Nice to see you are concerned about my laundry habits…
there is a hamper full of things in the bathroom if you are still
so inclined."
Alexis wrinkled her nose. "Ewwwwwwwwwww… that is just
gross."
"Well, you started it with your little attempt at deflection.
So, why are you in my room? Making sure I didn't secret away the
silver or one of those gaudy Faberge eggs you have laying around?"
"I was coming to get a box out of the closet."
He rubbed his beard with his hand. "A box? You mean the one
with all those hieroglyphics?"
She laughed our loud. "That is the Russian language and, yes,
that is the box. I just remembered something."
"About what?"
"Remember Shangri-La?"
"The myth?"
"The place my Father said he would meet my Mother again."
"Oh…yes…Halloween night and the necklace. So what
did you remember?"
"A conversation my parents had about it. It was a hiding place
my Mother was to go to if anything happened."
"That still doesn't tell us anything… it could be anywhere
in the world."
She bounced on her heels. "She mentioned ice castles."
He pursed his lips and whistled. "A cold climate still leaves
a lot of ground to cover."
She pointed to the closet. "Except I knew Mikkos Cassadine
well enough through years of observation. He would not have left
instruction to Sir Edwin to pass on these documents and papers without
a strategic reason. I think he wanted to guide me where I need to
go."
He raised an eyebrow as he lifted the box from the closet. "Shangri-La?"
She nodded solemnly. "Their secret place. That is where I will
find the answers."
Cameron put down the box and pulled her into his arms. "And
what about Helena? She tried to kill you once. What if she already
knows and will lead you into another trap? That necklace was a breadcrumb,
Alexis."
"I'm betting she doesn't know but for some reason she wants
to find it. Which only makes me more determined to find it first."
