It is said that there is calm before the storm, but there is also calm in the eye of the storm and at its end. The town of Salem is now at the center of the storm. There is an eeriness that clings to the edges and most walk with the sense that what they have is false security. They can sense more trouble to come. They know that the murderess was now buried but they still looked over their shoulders because the darkness was still there following every step of the way.
The penthouse complex loomed with its artificial lighting suggesting happiness and glamour. But the sole inhabitant of penthouse number 14 new otherwise. Eyes looked towards the fourteenth floor and knew the mission lay ahead. Quiet steps approached the building and with skilled maneuvers countered the security cameras as they climbed the stairs. The solemn pair of eyes stared at the door as if to see through it. According to the informants John Black was still inside. He would get the message if he wasn’t already dead from alcohol poisoning. Hands clad in black leather pulled an envelope from the leather jacket and slipped it under the door. It would be a few more hours before daylight so the message would not be seen for some time; time that was needed for the stranger to retreat and observe the movement of the pawn, John Black. Again quiet steps retreated but this time they didn’t go far since the hideout was now above the prey.
~
They held each other with strong grips just like they did every night after her death. He looked her in the eyes and caressed the lines and angles of her soft face.
“I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how to live without
you next to me. My sense of self has been torn away…”
She loosened her hold on him so she could caress his face and she could look at those blue eyes that knew her soul.
“John, I love you. Please know that in your heart.”
John took hold of her soft hands and brought them to his lips then he gazed into the hazel world within her eyes.
“I do know; that you were my heart.” He gently pressed his lips to hers and he felt love wash through him.
“Then don’t give up, John…”
John could start to feel reality claim his mind and he fought it. He met Marlena there every night and she told him things that daylight erased from his mind. Every dawn he would awake with the warmth of her arms still wrapped around him, but the cruelty of time would remind him that he was once again alone…without her.
He felt the texture of the carpet materialize under him and he knew that when he opened his eyes she would not be there. John slowly opened his eyes and smelled the remnants of Jack Daniels and Jose Cuervo mixed with the faint fragrance of lilacs. He thought to himself that what he had done was a desecration of the place where the purest love had existed. He was sickened by what was now his bedroom. He rose to glance around to the images that flashed in his mind. Her laughter after they made love and the steam of the shower mixed with the passionate fragrance of their morning love sessions. A tear rolled down his cheek. She was a ghost in this house. Overwhelmed once again with the vast emptiness that engulfed him, he ran out the room and down the stairs hoping to find a reprieve from the ache.
He almost missed the cream envelope on the floor because of the ocean of tears streaming down his face. At first he thought it would be a card of good wishes from his daughter.
“Belle,” he thought. “That’s something our Belle would do, isn’t it Doc?” Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. Hate mail. Everyone now knew that Marlena was the Salem Stalker. With complete devastation he fell to the bottom step and stared at the envelope wishing to God that it would disappear or burst into flames. The seconds passed like hours. It was still there mocking his misery. Quickly he reached for the envelope and just touching it made him reel backwards, the aura was so strong. There were no markings on the envelope. He was compelled to open it knowing that his curious nature would prevail in the end. Slowly he opened it and fingered the cotton texture of the rough paper.
“It seems so old…” he thought. He unfolded the paper and at first could only register the crisp black letters that would have been written with an antique quill and the oldest of inks. Then, he began to read.
I have the key to your past
and your ancestry.
Now I have your children.
Soon I will have your true love.
I can see the ashes, and the
Phoenix’s rising…
Are you ready to claim your future?
There was a solitary scream from the Black penthouse as John fell to his knees clutching the paper that crushed the last of his heart.
The stranger grinned at the penetrating sound and knew the mission was accomplished. The game would now start and perhaps it would also finally end.
Two days earlier…
Belle walked up to her loft apartment with a somber face. She couldn’t concentrate on school so she asked for a semester off. The dean was very understanding even if he knew that she was the daughter of a killer. Belle couldn’t see how she could be normal ever again. Her mother was dead and her father was quickly following her into the grave. The only one she had was Brady, her hero and her champion.
As she reached the door she almost missed the note taped to the door. It had her name on it so she opened it.
Hey Tink,
I came by to cheer you up. Actually, I wanted some cheering up too, so
let’s do it together. I talked to Dad and told him that you and I are
taking a little trip. Pack your bags, we’re going skiing. Meet me at
Dad’s plane tonight.
Come away with me to Never Neverland.
Brady
This was the first time she had smiled in months. “See, Brady. That’s why I love you so much.” She quickly entered the apartment to pack and wrote a note to Mimi to tell her about her plans. The blonde whirlwind flew for the door and drove to the airfield. She got out of the silver Audi convertible with bags in hand. As she climbed the steps of the jet, she could only remember her mother telling her when Belle was sixteen how much she enjoyed flying with John because it brought her such peace and his private jet reminded her of the love they held for each other.
“Oh, Mom, you weren’t finished yet. I want God to give you back to me.”
She entered the cabin and saw Brady sleeping on the couch. “I suppose you’re going to tell me how I am so late all the time.” She barely finished the sentence when a gloved hand held a doctored cloth to her nose forcing her into a state of unconsciousness. What Belle didn’t know was that her brother was not sleeping voluntarily. He too had received a note from Belle to meet her at the plane for an early season ski run. He was taken off guard when he reached the plane, but Brady, being John’s son, did not succumb without a fight. He now had bruises and cracked ribs to show for his efforts.
Bell’s capturer placed her on the opposite seat as another man dressed in black came out with a syringe. He injected Belle with the sedative that would have her unconscious for the trip. After the injection, he pulled out a cell phone and dialed. “We have them both. Yes. We are ready for the trip. Very well, if those are your orders, we’ll do it.” He closed the phone and looked at his companion.
“Get the plane ready. We’re taking them to the home base. They are to be separated at the compound and no harm done to them.”
“Then, I guess the boss won’t be too happy to know we probably broke his ribs.”
“We’ll deal with it later. Let’s go.”
John’s Black’s jet took off carrying the last grains of hope he had left in the world.
~
More than half a day later Belle awoke in the comfort of a warm bed. She opened her eyes to a room only princesses can dream of. She lay
in an antique canopy bed with warm cream sheets. All around her tapestries graced the cool grey stones of the walls. A roaring fire
generously warmed the room. Belle was convinced she was in a castle. She would have thought that it was a dream if she didn’t have thelingering headache and the bruised arm from the drugs she was given.
“Brady.” She voiced her concern for her brother after remembering she had seen him on the plane as well. She ran to the window ignoring the bitter cold under her feet. She looked out to her left at the rolling hills with mists on the horizon and the cliff with the thundering sea below. A soft drizzle covered the grounds. She couldn’t tell if it was morning or late afternoon. Tears began to fall as she whispered,
“Daddy, where are you?” She fell to the cold stone floor wrapping herself in her arms to at least pretend she was being held. The exhaustion of weeping for her father and brother pushed her to a forceful sleep. She never noticed the person enter her room and place her on the bed again neatly tucked under the warm blanket.
Brady didn’t fair as well as his sister. He awoke to find pain shooting throughout his body from the bruised ribs. However, he noticed that he was well wrapped and bandaged. He looked at his surroundings and things began to register; the grey stone, the small high window, and the muted colors of the bed. He also noticed the warmth of the fire. As he went to move out of the bed he noticed the cuffs on his left arm. Brady couldn’t help but let out a sinister laugh, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Brady.” Flashes of his encounter with the thugs brought him up to speed with his situation. He remembered getting the note from Belle to go skiing and then getting grabbed when he reached the plane. He didn’t know that his sister was only one floor above him.
Brady turned as he heard the latch on the heavy door. He saw a freckled faced young woman probably no older than eighteen. She entered the bedroom with a tray filled with hot food. Behind her stood one of the men responsible for injecting him with the sedative.
“This here is Rose Marie. She’ll be bringing your meals. And don’t go asking her questions because she ain’t answering them. She doesn’t know anything except to bring you food, so be a good boy and don’t get any ideas.” At the end of his short speech he opened the door wider so that Rose Marie could exit. He looked at Brady with a smug grin and told him, “Now you have a pleasant day.” He laughed as he closed the door leaving Brady with hot blood running inside his veins. Except Brady knew that he was in no condition for a fight and the food next to him smelled better than anything at the moment.
“No.” She screamed as she flung herself from the bed and from the land of sleep. “Something is wrong, something is very wrong;” she thought. She looked around and the nightmare that is now her life registered once again. This is different. She knows something has changed and she is deathly afraid.
Marlena looked at the sweat beads clinging to her body and knew that it was not just a dream. Her children were in trouble. She could feel them and she could feel John. He was hurting more now. Ever since she awoke from death, she could feel his pain consume her. Her soul was connected to his still, and she knew his pain. “God, I beg you. Please watch over them. Give John the peace he needs and let him feel our connection so I can be with him again. Whatever has happened, please watch my children. Send your angels to them, please.”
Marlena could not help but sigh as she finished her prayer. She went to sit out in the balcony of her prison of hell. She looked over the palm trees and the tropical fauna and began to imagine the cool and crisp air that would have greeted her if she had been at home. She imagined how John would have come behind her and wrapped his arms around her, rocking her to a slow rhythm not talking but saying volumes. She almost could feel him arms and a flood of tears found the tracks down her cheeks. “Oh, John, will I ever see you again? Will you find me? I pray to God I’ll see you again.” She spent the rest of the night hours seated at her balcony reliving the days of past. She could see Brady, Belle, and John and she ached for them.
~
Marlena watched the sun rise above the fauna outside her mock penthouse. She continued to stare ate the horizon still reliving her life with John and their children. Marlena then thought of the nightmare that had begun to unfold the past year and a half. Deaths upon deaths plagued her family and friends, and her fights and mistrust of John and then her so-called confession and arrest. She remembered saying goodbye to her children through the news broadcast and then she remembers his piercing blue eyes. She was happy that last moment because the last thing she would see would be her husband’s face. She knew the pain he was going through, but she was content to have him next to her, even after the way she had treated him the previous months. The course of her thoughts brought her to her present surroundings. When she woke up, she was greeted by Alice and then, one by one her supposed victims came to meet her insisting that though it was hell, it was a living hell. She, Dr. Marlena Evans Black, was set up to be the murderer and they were all imprisoned on the island without any idea of how they got there or how to get out. They knew they were fighting a ghost for an enemy since they didn’t know their captive’s identity.
The aroma of the coffee registered within her troubled brain. “Roman.” If at all possible her heart felt heavier. Roman had offered to stay with her shortly after her arrival on the island. She was afraid and wanted the protection. Except, now all she could think about was having him gone. She felt suppressed with him around the house. Lately he was everywhere she turned offering his shoulder for her to cry on, but lately that shoulder repelled her. She cringed every time he touched her and couldn’t understand why, since they had settled their differences and they were friends. She knew that if she went down stairs with any signs of distress he would want to comfort her. Marlena quickly washed and changed for her day, intent on hiding the pain and turmoil in her heart. She quickly headed for the kitchen downstairs.
“Something smells delicious,” Marlena commented with a forced smile on her face. “What do I have to do to get you to give me a cup of that coffee,” she said with a light gleam in her eyes.
“Well, Doc, you’ve given me the best things in my life, our kids, so you’re not granting me much,” he replied in return as he turned to
gaze at her in the light of the morning.With a small laugh she answered, “I know, that’s why I offered. I come out winning any way you look at it.” When she thought about it, Roman was hardly ever around his children, Sami never seemed to notice that since she could not see past the hurt John and Marlena caused her. But she knew that Eric noticed and that’s why he never came home.
“Doc. Doc.”
Marlena snapped back to the present. I’m sorry, my mind was wondering, What did you say?”
“I wanted to know if you were ok. I heard you scream last night. I went to check on you and saw you on the balcony so I left you alone.”
With a small trace of anger showing she asked, “You came to my bedroom and entered without knocking.” It was more an accusation than a question and Roman knew it.
“Doc, I’m here to protect you and if I hear you scream in the middle of the night I can’t stop to ask for your permission to enter.”
“But, you could have let me know you were there and not sneak back out, Roman.” Marlena didn’t know why it bothered her so much, at some level she knew that it was harmless, but she couldn’t let go of the anger. She walked out the kitchen without ever getting her cup of coffee.
“Where are you going? If you’re upset we need to talk about it. We need to talk about what happened last night.”
“Roman, nothing happened last night except for the same things that happens every night. I had a nightmare about this hell that we’re living. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised Maggie I’d see her today.”
She walked out of the penthouse leaving behind a stunned Roman. “This is not going very well. Get it together Brady.”
Marlena walked fast through the replica of Salem Place. She was angry, very angry. “What is Roman doing coming into my room and not saying anything. Why am I reacting this way?” She knew something was different. It was perhaps different in her or in Roman, but something was off. She lied to him when she told him she had to see Maggie, but now that she thought about it, it sounded like the thing she needed most.
Maggie opened the door with a flourish. She was always on a huge ball of energy bursting at the seams. Maggie was wild and Marlena liked her for it. As soon as Maggie said hello, Marlena ran into Maggie for a hug. Surprised and a little thrown off, Maggie finally spoke, “Marlena, honey, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“Oh, Maggie I need help. I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, first you’re going to come in and have some tea.” Maggie led Marlena into the kitchen where she found Alice and Caroline.
“What is this? Did you have a sleepover and didn’t invite me?” Marlena asked as she kissed each woman on the cheek as she wished them a good morning.
“I thought it would be better for Alice to stay with me and Caroline dropped by this morning with fresh biscuits. Now the only thin we need to know is what is going on with you.”
“You were never one to beat around the bush, huh Maggie.” Marlena smiled but her face muscles slowly retreated as she looked at each woman in turn. She was grateful that she had her friends with her. It somehow made it easier for her.
“Something is wrong.” She paused and looked down at her hands and then she slowly got up from the table and went to the side window. “Sometimes I wake up and it’s as if I can feel John’s anguish. I know that he grieves for me but last night I woke up with this incredible fear. I’m certain that something has happened to Belle and Brady. I can’t shake it.” In the time that she spoke tears began to fall as she again remembered the overwhelming fear. She couldn’t understand why she was so vulnerable and so easily prone to tears. This place was slowly killing her and she was now just realizing it.
“But Marlena what can we do?” Maggie knew her question would be hard to answer but they needed answers, even to the hard questions.
Marlena snapped around from the window and three women could feel the anger radiating from her. “Maggie, we need to know who this bastard is that has done this to us. I can’t stand to know that he is not done with us and he may be coming for my family. I can’t go on another day in this hell and not do something.”
Caroline turned to face Marlena, “Then we need to talk to the men and find out if they’ve made any progress in trying to find out who our captive is.”
Marlena could only nod at the women; she then turned around to gaze outside the window. She knew actions had to be taken and soon.
John still gripped the paper in his hands after he had fallen to his knees. He spent time crying and raging beseeching God to make the misery stop. He slowly melted to the floor no longer able to hold his own weight. Closing his eyes he whispered, “I’m so sorry Doc. I failed you in the worst way. I let him take our children. I never saw it coming.”
John closed hi eyes and let his agony seep through his tears as the fog of sleep claimed him again. He saw her standing by the window dressed in a gown made with the softness of the clouds. Her golden locks kissed her shoulders and all he could do was walk to the vision of pure beauty before him. He stopped just inches from her and tried to gather the strength to touch her. She felt him standing behind her, but mostly, she felt his pain. She turned to look at him and the beauty of her face was too much for him. He reached a trembling hand to her face and traced the line of her cheeks. “I let you down. I failed our kids,” he removed his hand from her face and the lack of contact registered in the empty void that was his heart. “You haven’t failed me. When it comes to this evil you will never fail me or the children.”
Marlena too lifted her hands to his face and forced him to look at her. He saw the tears in her eyes and he shed some as well. “I need you to be strong for our children, for all of us. I need you to find them and fight. Can you do that for me?” “Yes.” The whisper was almost lost but it rang true in both of their hearts. She inched closer to him and placed her lips to his allowing the salty tears to merge into one trail as pure love, grief, and passion heated their skin. “I love you” Daylight pierced his eyelids almost as if challenging him to take on his lover’s promise. John opened his eyes and this time the light didn’t erase the imprint of Marlena from his lips or his memory. “I love you, too,” he whispered in response to her last words before she left him in his dreams.
The morning sun brought a new zealousness to John. He found the strength to react to the situation now staring him in the face and daring him to crumble. As hard as it was, he found a way to lock-in his emotions and began to function again.
He began by putting the letter and envelope in a plastic storage bag while mentally executing a list of actions, the first of which was to shower and get together supplies. John knew he was a target and he would have to rely on himself now more than ever. John decided to first see Bo. If anyone could help John start the quest to get his children back, it would be Bo. John opened the door to the detective unit office of the Salem PD headquarters and nodded to a few of his former co-workers as he headed for the door recently marked with the name plate Commander Bo Brady.
At the moment he reached to open the door, John began to remember the death of Roman Brady and the other circumstances that added up to the result of Bo’s promotion as commander. For years John had entered the same office to talk with his best friend and colleague Abe Carver; he, too, was now dead and buried. It was all a reminder of the nightmare engulfing them all and illuminated once again the abyss in his heart created upon his wife’s death.
John opened the door to Bo’s office hoping that the ache in his heart would subside long enough to begin the search for his children. “Bo, I need your help.” John felt that he needed to forgo the greeting and get to business. “Oh, hey man. I wish I could help you but I’m too busy trying to find Hope. The coastguard is calling off the search tomorrow after the storm, I’m sorry, man, but I can’t do it right now.” John stared at Bo in bewilderment. “Oh my God Bo, when did she go missing?” “Have you been under a rock or something? Hope and Patrick stole a plane to go after Jennifer. Jennifer believes Jack’s alive and with her pregnant, Hope followed her.
The plane got shot down somewhere in the Caribbean.” Bo only looked up once while explaining the situation to the man before him. His mind was too involved in finding clues to his wife’s whereabouts. “Bo, I need your help. I don’t know what to do right now.” Exasperated and with red-rimmed eyes Bo answered, “Are you not listening to me! I might lose my wife. I can’t risk anything else.” The desperation in Bo rose and he ended his comment in a louder tone. Before Bo could continue John broke in, “Bo, my kids are missing”” This was all John could say as he knew that the strain in Bo’s eyes was the same on he had when Marlena had been accused of murder. “What did you say? Your kids are missing?” Bo got up from the desk and walked around to stand before John.
John takes the baggie from his jacket and gave it to Bo. “I found that under my door hours before dawn. I’ve tried to reach Belle and Brady, but nothing.” Bo read the note as John began to pace trying to cage the beast lurking under his veins. Bo ran his fingers over the note and kept his attention on one word. “Phoenix”He’s supposed to be dead, how can he be rising. This has got to be a joke.” John stopped in front of Bo and took back the note. “If he is alive then he knows Doc is dead and now he wants the last thing that is a part of her and at the same time he takes everything from me. Stefano has come back Bo, and now everything is up for grabs.” “John, I’m sorry about this. I’ll do whatever I can but you know Hope has to be number one priority, but I’ll put some men on this right away.” “Yeah” I know, Bo.”
John looked at Bo expressing his deepest sorrow and regret with only a brotherly glance that came from the bond John and Bo had created. John took the evidence bag and quietly left the office. He knew that he had to rely solely on himself. John was satisfied to have warned Bo of Stefano’s return because whenever DiMera was in play, the playing field rose to different level altogether.
Stefano was a vicious king in the chess board of life, and for John there was only one pawn left to defend the other side of the board. John opened the door to his black Land Rover and reached for his cell phone. “Shane. Hey, man, it’s me John. I need some help. I need a complete sweep on any activity in the DiMera compound; anything legal or illegal. I need to know the movements. I’ll come see you in three hours.” John was being very demanding and he knew that his ISA colleague would have questions, but first he had to check out Bell and Brady’s apartments.
John drove down the quiet back roads of Salem to get to the Kiriakis Mansion. He knew that Belle’s loft was closer but John needed to find out how Brady was caught. He knew that Belle could have been completely overpowered, but Brady was trained to see and to fight. He knew that the kidnapping of his son had to have special consideration because Stefano knew John too well and knew Brady too. With the remnants of fall covering the grounds and a chill in the air promising a rough winter, John pulled up next to the Kiriakis guest house. John was glad that Brady had moved out of the Mansion when Nicole began to show too much interest.
He took out the key Brady had given him and entered the house. At first glance the space did not reveal much, but John began to analyze the area with the mind of a spy. A briefcase was lying on a side table along with bills. He noticed dirty dishes in the kitchenette and on the dinning table there was a note. John picked up the note from Belle and found out that his daughter had invited Brady on a spur the moment ski trip. John looked around again and concluded that Brady had left in haste but of his own free will. “So, where did it go wrong?” John spoke to the silence of the room. He knew he had to get to Belle’s loft as quickly as possible. On the way into town,
John analyzed the information he had in his hands. He knew that his kids were planning a trip together and somehow DiMera must have found out about it. John reached the loft apartments and barely gave himself enough time to turn off his SUV. He reached the metal doors of Belle’s apartment and began to pound on the door in hopes that Mimi would answer. The reply came from behind as Mimi and Rex opened the door to the other apartment on that floor. “Mr. Black!”
Mimi found it odd to see Belle’s father walking around since Belle had mentioned his seclusion after Marlena’s death. “Mimi, have you seen Belle?” John asked with a sudden desperation when he realized that Mimi could have been the last person to see Belle. “No. She’s on a ski trip with Brady. She left a note. I would have thought they told you.” Mimi responded in the same desperate manner because she was sensing something wrong. “Mimi, I need to see that note and get inside the apartment.” John was beginning to sense that there were more answers in the loft, more than what he found at the guest house. “Sure, let me get the key.” John answered Mimi even faster, “Don’t mind that, I’ve got a key.” For the second time, John pulled out a key and opened the loft.
He was always surprised at the difference in the loft since Belle had decorated. To him it seemed like home for the first time and it sometimes hurt that his little girl was growing up and growing independent of her parents. Mimi and Rex had followed John hoping to get answers for John reactions. Mimi reached over to the side table and retrieved two pieces of paper. “Here’s the note she left me telling me of the trip and the note Brady left her.”
Mimi passed the papers to John all the while carefully observing him. “Brady’s note?” John asked as he first read the quick note to Mimi. He could tell by the fast scribbles that Belle was in a hurry. Then he read Brady’s note. It dawned on him that his children were set-up. Someone had studied their handwriting enough to forge a letter to get them both to one place; the airstrip.
John pocketed the notes and quickly walked around the furnisher to get to the door. “Wait.” Rex followed John out to the entrance way. “Aren’t you going to tell us what’s going on? What has you so worked up?” John turned around and looked Rex in the eyes as he raised his brow. “Belle and Brady are missing. I have to go.” John didn’t wait for a reply as he took the stairs in a flash. He needed to get to the airfield. The day was clear and crisp with an occasional freezing wind.
He knew the airfield would be busy as people wanted to take advantage of the weather. At another time, the old John would have canceled his working day and somehow gotten Marlena’s schedule cleared so he could surprise her with a trip to the Smokie Mountains so they could warm themselves by a fire as they watched the last days before winter.
John knew that those crazy surprises and romantic gestures died within him. Now he was back at the airfield praying to find clues of the kidnapping. John parked next to his children’s cars as he looked up to the hangar that housed his jet.
Many men had praised the essence of beauty throughout the ages. They immortalized it in story and poems for others to read and believe. As Marlena walked the paths of her new prison, she understood how such beauty can be the root of evil and lies. As she looked at the beauty of the exotic flowers in combination with glimpses of the blue sea, she remembered that the devil himself was said to be the most beautiful of God’s angels. Beauty in the hands of evil was entrapments. These were her thoughts as she approached the doors to the faux Brady Pub. She looked around and wished that somehow it was Salem and the pub filled with customers as waitresses danced around to the clients. She wished that she could have heard Shawn’s Irish brogue greet her from the bar. But she took comfort in the small gifts she had now, that instead of a gilded cage she was in a replica of a pub with some of her friends. But how could she wish such a fate on those she loved?
Abe noticed Marlena standing close to the door. “Marlena, how is Jennifer doing?”
She snapped out of her reverie to answer Abe. “Given the circumstances, she’s doing quite well. The baby is holding up pretty well and now with the medicine and supplies that were left at the house; I think the baby will be better off. I just glad that Hope and Patrick were able to find Jack. How is Hope?”
Doug came from around the bar and spoke for his daughter, “She’s pretty exhausted but happy to have found Jennifer. Actually, she’s upstairs now taking a nap.” Marlena glanced up towards the location of the rooms. She was amazed at the courage Hope showed in her efforts to find Jennifer. Marlena turned to face Abe again.
“Abe, what are the chances of Bo finding the wreckage?” Abe looked at his friend and noticed that something was worrying her today. He decided to talk to her in private later.
“Well, Marlena, from what Hope and Patrick remember the crash was pretty far out to sea. We don’t know if we’re the only island in this area. From experience, I can tell you that the rescue team would search a certain parameter before calling off the search. They won’t search the shores if the crash was too far out. I’m afraid that it’s a toss-up right now. We can only pray that Bo will be relentless, and if there is on thing about Bo is that he’s relentless.”
Marlena smiled and remembered back to the early years of Bo on the police force; back when John was a cop. “Yeah, he is relentless.
John can attest to that. So, we will pray that he will find us.” She went to the bar and with a defeated grace took a sit on one of the stools. At that moment Maggie and Caroline entered from the kitchen. Maggie patted Marlena’s hand and gave her a compassionate smile before she headed to stand next to Abe.
With some haste in her voice Maggie began to ask her question, “Abe, what do you make of Patrick’s disappearance?” Marlena turned around with surprise at Maggie’s question. At the same time Hope was walking down the pub.
“What do you mean ‘Patrick’s disappearance?’” was all Hope said. In concurrence Marlena raised her brow pushing Abe to answer.
“We were holding him at my house because there was no sure way of trusting him. When I woke up this morning he had escaped. It turns out he knows some tricks which proves that he couldn’t be trusted. I pent the morning looking for him with no luck. He could be hiding anywhere out there.” As he finished he ran his hands through his hair, frustration seeping to the surface.
Marlena couldn’t hold her surprise and jumped off the stool. “Abe, this doesn’t make sense. He saved Hope and then helped Jennifer deliver the baby. He made sure we all got back from the jungle. Why would he just disappear?”
“That’s the thing, Marlena. Nothing makes sense. He comes tot the island and has coin that deactivates the force field, he helps everyone, but wont tell us who he is and why. He knew where Jennifer’s plane was headed. He’s got to be working with our captor.”
Hope came to the center of the room and joined in the conversation. “I never really trusted him, but I saw him out there in the jungle. He cared what happened to Jennifer and to me. Maybe he didn’t escape. Maybe he was taken from you house, Abe.”
“It’s a possibility, but I still lean towards the fact that he refused to give any information on himself. I think he knew something. I think he works for the lunatic that’s holding us here. With him gone, we won’t be able to get any information. We’re back to square one.”
At Abe’s last words, Marlena felt like a ton of brick fell on her heart. She looked around the restaurant and terror and sorrow overwhelmed her soul. Yet, she looked at her friends and was proud at their steadfastness. Most of them had been in this hell for months, but they were strong and kept faith. Again, she looked at the span of the room and walked towards the door. Her heart it seems could not hold another disappointment.
Belle sat by the window with a colorful afghan wrapped around her. She was looking out the magnificent view below her. The majestic sea crushed the rocks in a game of give and take. At the moment the sea was loosing the battle but the efforts were enough to create a never ending sight of sea foam battling for entry among the rocks forming the cliff where the castle stood.
“It’s a castle. Why am I the prisoner?” she thought. At this point tears were useless for her as she tried to commit the landscape to memory and somehow decipher the location in hopes that she had visited near with her parents before. She laid her eyes upon the seagulls flying close to her window. She envied them and envied the wind that blew ferociously through the few trees surrounding the grounds. They had what she didn’t; freedom.
At that moment the only thing to be heard in the room was the click of the door as it was opened, but Belle was too enthralled in the outside world on the other side of her window. At Belle’s door were three women each carrying bundles. One of the women was striking in her mature grace. She was a woman with long black hair with dusts of silver shining throughout her mane. Instead of making her look her years, the grey in her hair only distinguished her. She wore a long blue skirt with a simple crisp white shirt. She was dressed simply but the way she carried herself distinguished her from the other women. She seemed to be in charge as she directed the others to go about their tasks. When Belle finally looked around she saw a tray of food being laid out, a fresh set of clothes along with bath supplies. At that moment she looked up to the woman and saw the most magnificent eyes. They were clear silver blue. The woman’s face was touched by time as wrinkle lines gently played on the corner of her eyes. This woman had been a beauty in her youth, but graceful years had made her into a timeless marvel for her beauty shone through in her stature and face as her eyes and bright smile seem to cry out “welcome.” Just as Belle was going to inquire about the activities, a streamline of other young girls appeared carrying buckets of hot water to the porcelain tub in the corner of the room.
“You’ll have to excuse the fuss but they haven’t gotten around to connecting the hot water to this wing of the castle,” said the woman with a smooth accent as she smiled for Belle. Belle didn’t respond.
“Well, you’ll be wanting your bath now. My name is Molly if you need anything,” she spoke again as she motioned the rest of the girls out of the room.
“Wait. Your accent. Where am I?” was all Belle could think to ask.
Molly smiled and walked to the window and looked at Belle’s blue eyes, she resisted the urge to run her hands through the silky blond hair as she looked at Belle with all the tenderness she could muster. Almost at a whisper she responded, “You’re in Culzean Castle, my child.” She kept looking at Belle with sincerity and warmth so that Belle wouldn’t be afraid of her.
“Molly, where is Culzean Castle?” Belle asked in a small voice hoping to that the kindness she read in Molly’s clear eyes meant that Belle could trust her on some level. Molly looked into the blue pools of Belle’s eyes and Molly knew those eyes were the eyes of her father staring back at her, pleading. She knew that Belle was trying to hide her fears, but the childlike tone of her voice betrayed her. As a mother herself, Molly wanted nothing more than to hold Belle to her and assure her of her safety, but instead, Molly reached out her hand and tucked a strand of honey blond hair behind one of Belle’s delicate ears.
“Scotland.” Molly paused after her answer and tucked the afghan a little tighter around Belle. “Now, you take your bath and get some warm food into you.” And with those words she walked out the room making sure to lock it behind her.
“Scotland,” she whispered and looked around her at the food and then at the steam rising from the bathtub. She had nothing to loose. She took a piece of toast from the tray and then went to pour the salts into the water. The fragrance assaulted her; lilacs. She wanted to cry but instead a sweet smile graced her face as she remembered her mother’s favorite sent. Belle pealed the clothes from her body and submerged herself in the hot water as she inhaled the smells around her. She closed her eyes and wondered why she felt so at home.
John pulled the Range Rover into the middle of the empty hangar. He climbed out and looked around the enormity of the space. He saw some movement in the corner of his eye and quickly retrieved his 9mm from his waist ready to defend himself. He slowly approached the mechanic’s cubicles and heard groans. On the floor was his pilot. John quickly went to the man’s side and helped him sit up.
“Dan, what happened? Where’s the plane, Dan?” All John got back was a louder groan as the man struggled to focus on staying conscious.
The ambulance had arrived in les than fifteen minutes after John called. He was anxious to see his pilot and question him about his children. One of the paramedics came to John.
“Mr. Black, your pilot is going to be fine. He’s alert now, but we still want to take him to the hospital for observation.” John headed towards the ambulance to talk to Dan. For Belle and Brady, time was of the essence. John peered into the cabin of the medical vehicle and a sickening feeling washed over him. So many people were being affected because of Stefano’s sick obsession with John and Marlena.
“Dan, do you think you could talk to me? Are you up to it?” Internally, all John wanted was to pressure the man into giving him answers.
“Yeah. You need to know what happened to the plane.” Dan slowly eased himself up to the edge of the gurney all the while holding the side of his head. John couldn’t help but let some of his desperation come across, “It’s important. I need to know what happened to Brady and Belle.”
“I remember getting the call from someone in your office. She told me Brady and Belle wanted the plane for a ski trip to Denver. They wanted it ready right away. I thought it was strange that a return date wasn’t set, but she said that’s how the kids wanted it,” Dan couldn’t look at John in the face. As an employer John was one of the best. With the loving and respectful way the Black family had treated him, Dan felt like he let down his best friend. He had been entrusted with their safety in the air and he failed. John could read the anguish in the man’s face. John knew that feeling well. He put a gentle hand on Dan’s shoulder, “It’s ok. You were outnumbered. Dan, who placed the call?”
Dan snapped his head back and immediately regretted it. He looked at John, “You mean you didn’t know anything about it?” At John’s lack of reaction Dan continued on as the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach grew larger. “It was the secretary that was temping for you while Becky was on Maternity leave.” A black cloud covered the steel blue eyes belonging to John, “Dan, Becky is not on maternity leave.” The details of the kidnapping were falling into place and John wondered why they were leaving so many clues behind.
“They want me to find them sooner rather than later. What are you up to Old Man?” John thought. John gave Dan a sad but reassuring smile, “You go to the hospital and make sure that your injuries won’t be complicated by the drugs they gave you. You slept on that cold floor for two days. I’ll see you.”
John backed away and gave the paramedics instructions to have Dan see Lexie at University Hospital. He looked back to the hangar and headed to the control room. Inside, he sat at the computer keying in his login information and password. With the GPS tracking system he found out that his plane had indeed gone to Denver. He began to find out where it had gone afterwards. He was surprised to see that according to the GPS chip stored on the jet, the plane was in an airfield on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. John looked at the screen and shook his head as a smirk crossed his face, “The Caribbean. You’re getting too predictable Ole Man.” He quickly printed the coordinates and headed for his jeep.
~
His mind was exploding with possibilities and emotions. He knew the trail was left for him to find. He didn’t know if the trail was a diversion or truth intended to lure him. And then there was fear; fear of uncertainty, fear of danger, fear of loss, and fear of failure. He had felt like this only twice in his life, the night his wife died in his arms and the night.
Orpheus had taken her but he had gotten her back. His life was right again. But just like that he had stood at the airfield and watched her fly away in the plane and the terrible flash of light mocking his eyes. He saw the flames and the remains of the airplane fall to the water. And all he felt was mind numbing fear as he was crippled by the meaning of what he had witness. His beloved Marlena was engulfed in that blast and all he felt was a pit of blackness engulf him with fear.
John snapped out of that vision. He remembered how he searched for her endlessly but he still felt he didn’t search enough. She had come back to him nearly five years later abut the fear always lingered.
“Oh, Doc. I know you’re up there, please watch over our kids.” Tears threatened to fall and dig tracks down his face, but the anxiety would not let them. John looked at the unmarked building and briefly wondered how he had gotten to the ISA field office so soon. He needed to focus on the trail, and Shane Donovan, along with the ISA, was going to help him. As he walked the hallway to Shane’s office, he was reminded of the understated elegance of the interior. Anyone to just walk in would think they entered a building full of CPAs and financial brokers; ISA agents, all of them. He reached the receptionist for the right wing and she immediately smiled.
“May I help you?” She knew that John had to have cleared the security some how to get this far but it was her job to keep the fasade of business receptionist. John knew this too well. At other times he would have tried to trip up the receptionist to make sure security was up to par; it seemed every time he came someone new was guarding this wing. But today, for John, games didn’t exist except the on Stefano refused to end. Flashing his ISA security card for her to scan he was stern but still courteous, “I’m here to see Agent Donavan,” The agent before him withdrew the smile as she read the security screen when she scanned his card: Special Agent John Black, division administrator.
“Yes sir. You can go right through.” John nodded and headed for the third door on the right. The woman still stood staring at the back of the legendary John Black. At the academy, he was known as the agent ghost; the best agent in the ISA but without any past, history, or records of his missions. The students only knew that John Black was an agent to be admired even if his whole presence was clouted with an aura of mystery.
John knocked at Shane’s door and waited for the accented “come in.” He opened the door and approached Shane. Both men shook hands as only well respected men and former partners could. For these men, communication was found in their gestures. Trained to find the smallest glance and interpret its meaning.
“How are you holding up, John?” Shane knew of the agony and despair that John had lived. As a friend, he had tried everything to help Marlena and John find evidence to clear Marlena of the murders. But it seemed that the good doctor had fallen victim to her dark psyche.
John finally answered, “It’s been one blow after the other. I don’t know how long I’ll be standing.” His response was enough to put Shane on alert. John dispersed with any further pleasantries as he wanted only to find his children and not dwell on anything else. With a dejected tone he immediately stated his purpose. “Belle and Brady were kidnapped two days ago. As far as I can tell they were taken in my jet and these people have left a trace, as if they want me to find them. There’s been no ransom demand or communication to let me know they have them. Shane, there’s only this piece of paper.”
As John reached in his pocket for the note, Shane came out of his surprised trance. There had been no wires on the disappearance of John’s children. Two days and the ISA had not picked up a clue. Even Bo would have called Shane to let him know. John passed the note to Shane and knowing the trail of thought rolling through Shane’s head, he answered, “I only found out this morning when I got the note. The plot was elaborate enough to get Bell and Brady there of their own free will and knocked out my pilot injecting him with drugs to last him two days. It was well executed Shane, but they left a trail. I need help on this one.” John waited quietly as Shane read the note. He felt his body weighing down on him forcing him to stop and just not feel anymore. John reflected back and couldn’t believe that this was his life. Last time he had lost Marlena he couldn’t see for the despair and utter need to just end it all. He thought, “I had the twinners and Carrie back then to look after. They kept me alive.” If he didn’t find his children there would be nothing for him now that Carrie, Sami, and Eric didn’t need him anymore. But he pulled himself up a little straighter as he thought when he thought about the obvious trail left for him. “Belle and Brady are still alive; they have to be.” At that point he looked at Shane and noticed the look on Shane’s face when he encountered the word “Phoenix.”
“Shane I know from experience that anything pointing to Stefano should be taken seriously. Did you get any information on the DiMera business operations?” Shane gave back the note and looked at John.
“You didn’t give me much time, but the truth is we’ve been investigating the financial doings of the DiMera organization. Lexie inherited the legitimate portions of the business, but she appointed board members to deal with it. It seemed like the illegal connections disappeared with Stefano’s death.”
“There’s got to be something out there Shane.” John’s frustration level kept rising. He was sure that Shane would have information for him. There was a short knock at Shane’s door. Both men turned to see field director Howard Wilson walk through the door. He was a man of medium height and looked more the part of a retired football player than that of a director of an intelligence agency. He had brown hair cut short and wore a blue pinstripe suit that accented his broad shoulders. He was an intimidating man until anyone looked at his eyes. They were brown and carried hidden behind the cinnamon depths, a compassion that seeped through if anyone bothered to look. The man went directly to John with a hand extended. John took his hand and greeted his friend.
“John, they told me you were in the building. To what do we owe this pleasure?” Shane jumped in ahead of John. “He received a note saying the Phoenix has risen along with the news that his children were kidnapped.” John was surprised that Shane would rush into giving out information. Something wasn’t sitting right and he was further convinced when he saw Howard’s dark glance. At that point John remembered Shane’s previous answer “It seemed like the illegal connections disappeared.” Shane had used the past tense; seemed. John looked back and forth from Shane to Howard and he knew there were secrets. “What the hell is going on, Shane?”
The tropical breeze mixed with the musk of the foliage, seemed to dance and intertwine in her hair, as she stood gazing amazingly at the feisty activity of a hummingbird. She could see the flashing silhouette of the wings as the long beak tasted and drank from the bird of paradise. Sometimes her life was as simple as this moment, but she knew that it had been few the times were she could bask in the tranquility of life. She only knew such peace in the strong arms of her beloved, and fate smiled cruelly upon them, mocking the love and devotion shared by them. Her thoughts wandered to the months past and she cursed fate for handing her such dirty blows. If she had known of the agony of this make-believe life she was being forced to live, she would have held on tightly to his arms, and never have questioned his love and their sacred union when the monster had unleashed his cruelty. These were the thoughts of Marlena Evans Black as she pondered the heaviness of her heart.
The hummingbird soon had his fill and flew away… and just like that the moment passed. Yes, the fleeting moments that pass me by, she thought. The leaves and bushes behind her rustled. Any other day she would have been startled, but on this day she stood there not wanting to defend herself and let fate deal her another hand, almost as if she were ready to accept defeat. “Doc? ” It was one word and it had the power to nail one more peg in her coffin of despair. Without turning to face him she answered his call. “Yes, Roman. I ‘m right here. ”
Right there. She was there and not with John or her wonderful children; she was right there. Roman came closer wishing that he could reach out and comfort her as he wanted… wishing that he could take her in arms and hold her until she didn ‘t need anything but him. “I was worried about you. You left so suddenly this morning, ” he said, all the while hoping she would turn to face him so he could see the flawlessness of her face and dive into the hazel pools of her eyes. “I just came from the pub and Abe filled me in on the situation with Patrick. Abe was concerned about you when you left. What ‘s going on with you, Doc? ”
A gentle breeze rustled her golden hair. She went to wipe the offending locks from her eyes and noticed that there were tears slowing slipping down her face. She wiped them away. “Do you miss her? ”
She said it in almost a whisper. Wanting to see his face when he answered she turned around. “Do you, Roman? Do you miss her? ” “Kate, your wife. Everyone here have people they yearn for and fight to get back to, but you hardly mention her name. Do you miss her Roman? ” “Of course I do. I want to get back to Salem just like everyone else. Why would you ask me such a thing? ” Roman seemed bewildered and was caught off guard by her question. Did he not mention Kate like everyone else mentioned their wife or husband? He couldn’t remember. His mind had always been focussed on protecting Marlena since she arrived at the island. “I don ‘t know why I ; no, no I do know why I asked you. It ‘s because I ‘m dying inside from not being with John. My life is empty because I don ‘t have him or my children near me. I have no purpose without them. I ‘m going crazy out of my mind, yet you ‘re so strong. You ‘re always concerned for me when you must be missing Kate. You were taken on your wedding day but you put my security and safety ahead of anything else. ” Marlena had taken closer steps towards her ex-husband, expecting him to see her gratitude and despair in her eyes. Roman looked at those eyes and he did see those things and something more… he saw love. He thought this was the opportunity he had been seeking. His heart leaped and he grinned at the possibilities. He extended his hand to caress the silk that was her hair. “It ‘s easy, Marlena. It ‘s easy to put you first because I ‘m still in love with you. ” Roman looked into her eyes and raised his other hand to her hair as well. He leaned in for what he was sure would be the sweetest kiss. ~ The fiery light brown eyes peeked at the two people through the bushes. He knew the woman had had a hard time of it today, since she had sulked around most of the day and stared out to the horizon… as if lost in the events of another era. She was his assignment; and not a bad assignment at that. He enjoyed the surveillance of the pretty doctor. She seemed to involve herself with everyone on the island. Of everyone being held, she moved the most. She kept him busy and luckily for him, he was a sharp detail. There were times he thought she knew he was there, and no wonder… her husband had probably taught her to keep an open eye. But he knew the pretty doctor had too much on her mind. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was the only audience to the interesting meeting between the cop and the doctor. He smiled as he looked at the cop as he knew what was on his mind. He knew the history between them and knew the cop wanted to get closer. So much for wedding vows, huh, commander? he thought. He did however feel a little sad and disappointed as today would be his last day on the detail of Marlena Evans. He, in a way, would miss her and he’d probably never forget the haunted look that he had seen sometimes when he was close enough. He knew that the outcome of today was critical to the boss ‘s plans and he needed to keep an extra eye out. If anything happened today, it would be his hyde on the line. He looked back at the couple standing so close. He started to see fear in her eyes; he had learned to read her so well. He hesitated as he wondered if he should intervene. The boss wanted her alive and unharmed; he was to eliminate any threat to her. “Come on, commander, don ‘t make me end this dirtily; I don ‘t want the grief, ” he whispered in his mind, as he leaned forward with a hand to his pistol. His other hand reached for the silencer in his pocket and slowly twisted it onto the end of the gun. It was cold black steel ready to strike. ~ A few miles away in the waters surrounding the west shores of Melaswen, a diver reached the pick-up point as a black rod poked from the blue waters and rose until platform and latch from a submarine emerged. The diver rose along with the black sub and waited as the latch opened to receive him. Once inside he removed the head gear as well as the wet suit. A young man appeared with towels and a change of clothes. The diver quickly finished drying and got dressed, and immediately followed the narrow passage to the captain ‘s quarters. The door was open, letting him know that he was expected. He entered and faced the other person in the room. “What took you so long? ” “I had a small obstacle in the form of Commander Carver. It seemed that I was a little too mysterious for his taste, ” the diver answered, as he viewed the array of fruits on the shiny oak table. He took his time to look around the cabin and realized that it was designed more for functionality than style. He liked that because it kept the distractions to a minimum during the mission. “I want to know if everything is in place. Are your men ready? ” The diver nodded as he watched and felt the authority in the question as he watched the shadow walking across the room and picked up a green apple and held it, all the while looking for the answers. “The boats are ready on the southwest of the island at the appointed location. Each target has two men ready for the take down and the delivery. As it stands, the cameras on the southwest will be preprogrammed to show and emptiness and the guards on that shift are all my men. The only thing not covered is Dr. Evans. You never mentioned the details for her. My men are on detail but with no further instructions. ” The diver gave his report, never taking his eyes away from his captain. “You leave Dr. Evans to me. Just make sure she is where she ‘s supposed to be and leave the rest to me. ” With those last words the captain walked to the hatch and looked back throwing the diver the apple. “This has to work. “
Anthony DiMera walked with the stillness and stealth of a snake as he approached the leather chair. He entered the room wishing he owned it, but he knew by the haunting sweet smell of the Cohiba Cigar mingled with the tart fiery fragrance of Crown brandy that this was the Phoenix’s lair and Tony couldn’t own it, as much as he wanted and wished for it. The haunting strings of the violin along with the mournful soprano encircled Tony to remind him that he yet was not to reign. He was coming close.
He reached the leather chair where his father was enjoying song and drink. Tony spoke to the back of the chair and its occupant, “Well, Father, I see you’re back to your old self.” Tony reached over to the tray filled with liquor and poured himself the expensive brandy; enjoying the elegance and power the DiMera name brought. The leather chair slowly turned to reveal the Phoenix himself; Stefano DiMera. He was older and his face drawn with the same emptiness and evil fire in his eyes. He puffed the cigar one more time and smiled at his son as he meticulously pushed the smoke through his lips. He raised the glass towards his son. “Not even the devil can keep me down.”
Stefano stood to face his son not wanting to give up any advantage by having to be looked down upon. He turned and pointed around the room with his cigar as he looked back to his son. “But I see that you have been busy in my absence. Did you think that because I was…;” Stefano paused because he didn’t want to even express weakness by mentioning the heart attack that took him out of the game for years, “…;you thought you could play while I was away. Is that it, Tony?” He turned to his son with the evil gleam in his eyes and with just a little bit of pride for his heir. “Well, Father, I wanted to do something for you. A bit of a …; thank you gift, if you will. For showing me everything I know, and now that you’re well, we can both enjoy it.” Tony took a sip of the brandy and stared at his father no willing to give up any advantage. He knew this was his game and Stefano would only be a spectator. Tony went to a wide window and pushed a button, watching the blinds retreat. The window revealed a mountainous view and in the middle a clearing with homes all clustered around with the seas as the backdrop. Tony continued to look out the window. “You see Father; your. son’ has given you what you’ve always wanted; power and control over Salem.” He paused to admire what he created and turned towards his father.
Stefano contemplated his son’s words and looked out to the window. Never looking at him, Stefano answered, “What good is power and control if it’s over the wrong people?” He began to feel the anger and disappointment that always followed after spending time with his son. He roared at Tony as he flung the crystal against the wall, “You have given me nothing!” Tony was surprised by the sudden outburst. As a grown man, he still wanted to please his father just like when he had been a child. Tony himself became enraged at the fact that he still had that weakness. “I have Marlena. You’ve always wanted her. And Roman Brady, you’re enemy. I have them all at your disposal, and yet you stand there and tell me I have nothing. I’ve done what you could never do. I took your precious Marlena and no one will ever find her because they think she’s dead; really dead. That’s more than you ever did, Father.” He ended by glaring at his father allowing for the first time for Stefano to witness the hatred Tony harbored. Stefano saw the pure loathing in his son’s eyes and immediately saw the threat to his life garnished in the brown pools of fire in Tony’s eyes. He crossed the room to his son and quickly circled Tony’s throat with his thick hand, the Phoenix emblem shining from his ring. He clenched his teeth and stared down at his son. “Do you have John Black? If you don’t have John Black, you have nothing!”
Tony was slowly squirming under the strong hold; he began to gasp for his next breath. Disgusted with his son’s apparent weakness, Stefano released him. “You, my son, never understood my quest. You were too weak to understand the threat that John Black is to our family. Marlena was my prize. I wanted and still want her, but what I want more is John Black. I want control of him and then I want to destroy him.” He pounded his fist on the solid oak of the desk. He looked back to Tony, “So, if you want your game to work get the pawn.”
Tony looked at the shattered glass and then looked to the window at his creation. He thought to himself, “This is my game, Father, and I’m going to win it.” He walked out of the room and smoothed the front of his beige linen shirt. He knew that he was Tony DiMera and could be as ruthless as the phoenix; beside, he had pulled the greatest scam of the world when he staged the death of all of the beloved patrons of Salem. He was joined down the hall by his assistant Bart. “Well, boss, was it a nice family reunion?” “You know Bart sometimes I don’t know why I tolerate you. If it weren’t for the fact that you know so much, I’d kill you for asking stupid questions.” Bart just scrunched his face and motioned with his hands, “Well…;ah…;you know…; I’ll just shut up now.” He took a step back to make sure he wasn’t in Tony’s eyesight. “Thank you. Silence would be appreciated at this point. I do have an assignment for you as a matter of fact. I want you to bring Rolf to me. I do believe he came with my father.” Bart saw Tony walk into the control room. “Well, well, well. This just keeps getting better. I’m definitely sticking around for this show.” Bart took the left corridor as he whistled.
~
Stefano stared out the window at the brilliance of the island below him. He had spent a large majority of his life living on islands like this one because he would be virtually untraceable. He thought back to the years he spent building his empire; an empire to prove to his own father that the DiMera name would be forever respected and feared. He knew that his plan to ensure the DiMera legacy was accomplished as he remembered back to his encounter with Tony. He had prepared his heir in the only way possible. The Phoenix would live on in Tony. Stefano tilted his head to an angle as he heard a rushing crescendo towards the end of the aria. “I wonder how Tony will react when he finds out that I created him in my image.” He smiled and began a menacing laugh intertwined with the high notes of the soprano. “Yes, Tony my son, it’s perfect.”
The Jarlena Journal 