PROLOGUE

MRS. LANSBURY ENTERED the dungeon below Wyndemere. Stefan looked up from his task as she did. “Have you gotten it?”

“Yes, sir.” She handed him a little sandwich bag filled with several strands of bleached blonde hair.

Stefan took if from her and began to snip the hair into miniscule pieces. Then he mixed them into a blend of tobacco he was working on. “Spencer just loves this blend. Every time he sneaks into this house, he steals some of our best cubans from the humidor.”

“When Mr. Spencer smokes one of those cigars,” Mrs. Lansbury asked. “What will happen to him, sir.”

Stefan smiled, evilly. “Oh, I don’t think I’ll tell you. I want you to be surprised along with the rest of Port Charles when it happens.”

“Just what else is in the tobacco mixture you’re working on for Mr. Spencer.” Mrs. L inquired.

“Just a few other things.” Stefan answered, vaguely. “Just a few herbs that have the unpleasant side effect of causing you to hallucinate things that aren’t there, not to mention messing with your thinking abilities.” He sighed in pleasure. “Yes, once Spencer starts smoking my special blend, I’ll finally have Laura all to myself.”

“How will you insure that Mr. Spencer continues to smoke them?”

“Did I forget to mention that the herbs in this tobacco mixture are incredibly addictive?” She shook her head no. “Well, they are. Now I need for you to take these cigars to my contact so he can make Spencer think these are the latest shipment from his supplier in Cuba.” He added. “Oh, Spencer, as the druggies say. You’re about to go on one hell of a trip.”

UNBEKNOWNST TO STEFAN he was being watched. Helena had been observing him through her crystal ball. “So, Stefan has hatched a new plot against our Luke, has he?” She sighed. “How predictable.”

“Do you know what his plan is?” Faison inquired.

“Of course.“ She smiled. “Once Luke smokes one of those cigars, he’ll become infatuated with that tick of a woman, Felicia Scorpio-Jones.” Helena replied. “What a nitwit. It should be Jones-Scorpio. She’s married to Mac Scorpio. I guess someone should have told the idiot that when you remarry someone, his name comes last, not your ex-husband. Anyway, once Luke starts smoking Stefan’s cigars, he’ll start thinking she’s his new Laura.” She added grudgingly. “I must say it’s actually very clever. Stefan gets the real Laura all to himself, while Luke ends up with a Bargain Basement Laura.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Faison asked in disbelief. “I have a hard time imagining what Half-A-City Jones saw in that twit, so why would Spencer become enthralled with her?”

“The blonde hairs that Stefan snipped into the tobacco mixture belong to her.” She explained. “The incantation he recited while he prepared the mixture will insure the person whose hair is in the tobacco will become the object of the smoker’s affections.”

“Well, better him than me.” He puffed on his cigar.

“Not so fast, Faison.” Helena replied. “I want you to pretend to be obsessed with her, too.”

“What!” Faison exploded. “I wouldn’t waste my spit on her.”

“I could make you do it, Faison.” She reminded him. “You know I could.”

“Don’t even think about it, Helena.” He warned. “Remember, I’m just as powerful as you are in the covenant and don‘t you forget it.”

“Yes,” she acknowledged. “But I’m the Queen of the witches, which makes me the most powerful witch of all and don’t you forget it.” She decided to change her tact. “You would think your queen could ask you to do a little favor for her without you balking her. Come on, Faison, just do what I ask. If you do, I’ll tell you where Anna Scorpio is.”

“Anna is dead.” He snarled.

“No, she isn’t.” Helena informed him. “And neither is Robert Scorpio.”

“What are you trying to pull, Helena.” Faison glared at her. “I saw that ship explode. They were on it. There’s no way they can be alive.”

“Our common enemy, The Creator, reincarnated them.” Helena revealed. “Because you made it your mission in life to keep them apart, he’s given them another chance to be together. They look the same, but they have no memory of each other or of you. They haven’t even met yet, but they soon shall. If you can prevent them from ever meeting, you’ll finally be able to have Anna all to yourself.” She added. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you where she and Scorpio are, if you pretend you’re obsessed with the Jones woman.”

“I still don’t understand why the Creator would give the Scorpios another chance at life.” Faison complained. “What’s so special about them.”

“The love the Scorpios share is special.” Helena answered. “You should know that by now. No matter what you’ve tried to do in the past, you’ve never been able to destroy it or keep them apart. Just think of Robert and Anna as the Creator’s own personal public service announcement for true ever-lasting love. He‘s hoping they‘ll inspire others to believe in true love conquering all. You know? All you need is love and crap like that.”

“You’re making me sick.” Faison changed the subject. “Speaking of true love, the Dark Master’s version, at least. How are things going on the Sonny and Carly front.”

“The time for them to come together has finally arrived.” Helena purred. “And once they do the child will finally be conceived.”

“We’ve really had a hard time bringing them to this point, haven‘t we?” Faison sighed.

“Yes, it’s been one thing after another.” Helena grimaced. “First, there was that Barrett creature and that mafia princess.”

“But you took care of them both.” He reminded her.

“Yes, I had to influence Mr. Silvers into betraying Mr. Corinthos to get rid of that mob creature who had attached herself to him like a blood-sucking leech.” She smiled. “There was no way I was going to allow that woman to have Sonny Corinthos’ child. Then I had to cast a love spell over Jasper Jacks so he’d fall in love with Brenda Barrett.” She chuckled. “Why else would a multi-billionaire corporate raider fall in love with a brainless twit like that. It certainly wasn’t for her conversational skills that‘s for sure.”

“And now there’s the problem of Jason Morgan, Hannah Scott and AJ Quartermaine to be dealt with.” Faison complained. “It never stops.”

“The Scott woman and the Quartermaine oaf are just hangers-on.” Helena declared. “If they continue to make a nuisance of themselves they’ll have to be dealt with. Perhaps I’ll even turn them into toads.”

“Helena, you know that folklore isn’t true.” Faison replied. “Our kind don’t possess the power to turn mortals into toads. If I possessed that kind of power, don’t you think I would have turned Robert Scorpio into a toad, years ago.”

“In both their cases, a toad would be a step up.” Helena sneered. “Perhaps I’ll have them fall in love with each other. I can do that. The two of them deserve each other.” She smiled. “As for the problem of that zombie, a grave has been waiting patiently for him for over three years. I think it’s time he was in it. But first, I’ve decided to make everyone think he left town. The last thing I want is for everyone to be mourning him. I’ll have him walk in on Sonny and Carly after they give into their passions for each other, then I’ll make him think he’s been betrayed because they had sex with each other.”

“Well, Corinthos should enjoy that.” Faison retorted. “It’ll give him something new to brood about.”

“Faison, be fair, you know that’s what his kind does.” Helena reminded him. “A vampire loves nothing better than to be dark and brooding.” She added. “By the way, does he know he’s a creature of the night or is he completely in the dark about the truth of his nature?”

“Oh, he knows all right.” Faison answered. “And he revels in the sexual prowess that being a vampire gives him. Not only that, Corinthos’ knows Carly is just like him and because of that she attracts and repels him at the same time. He absolutely hates the fact that he wants her in a way he‘s never wanted any other woman before.” He added. “You know vampires. They prefer to mate with mortals so they can pretend they’re just like other people when deep down they know they’re not.”

“Well, at least he’s aware of the attraction.” Helena grimaced. “Carly’s so obsessed with that zombie that she hasn’t acknowledged she wants Sonny as much as he wants her. Why do vampires have to be such obsessive creatures. Sonny and Carly would have gotten together months ago if Sonny hadn’t been obsessing over the Barrett creature so much he got involved with that inane clone in some pathetic attempt to pretend she was that midget model come back to life.”

“Do you think if we told Carly what Morgan is she’d stop obsessing over him?” Faison asked. “Why she hasn’t figured out that he’s a zombie by now is beyond me. The stare is a dead give away.”

“As obsessed with having him as she is, I doubt it would even matter to her that Morgan is a zombie.” Helena asked. “Besides, she’s a vampire. What is mating with one of the living dead, when you’re a creature of the night. I should have never allowed Tracy Quartermaine to reanimate him after that car accident so she could make her families life miserable” Helena added. “And we should have never allowed her to join the European Covenant, either. I knew she was going to be trouble right from the start.”

“But it was a golden opportunity we couldn’t pass up when she broke away from the American Covenant.” Faison reminded her. “It was a great blow that we dealt to the old man when his daughter became a member of our covenant. Besides, you have to admit you did enjoy watching the way she made the Quartermaines makes fools of themselves trying to make the zombie love them and be their Jason, again.”

“That’s true.” Helena admitted. “I especially enjoyed the time he drove his motorcycle into the Quartermaine mansion. I can still see the looks on all their faces. You know how I’ve loathed Edward Quartermaine ever since he replaced my beloved Mikkos as King of the Warlocks. That title should have gone to Stavros when Mikkos died and when Stavros died, it should have been passed on to Nikolas.” She added, “On the other side of the coin, if Tracy Quartermaine hadn’t reanimated Jason Morgan, Carly and Sonny would have gotten together when she first came to Port Charles like I planned, years ago.” She sighed. “The brief pleasure I’ve had watching the Quartermaines prostrating themselves at that zombie’s altar doesn’t make up for all the trouble he’s caused me and my long-range plans.”

“Speaking of the child.” Faison brought up the subject he’d been wondering about. “Once it’s born we’ll have accomplished half of our goal: a child who is a full-blooded vampire; something that‘s virtually unheard since vampires don’t mate with their own kind. But where are we going to get ourselves a full-blooded witch-child. I know you want the witch-child to be of Cassadine blood, but it can’t be Nikolas. He’s only half-witch.”

“Don’t remind me.” Helena snarled. “If only Stavros had mated with the woman I had picked out for him, this wouldn’t be a problem. But he had to become enthralled with Laura Spencer. Yet another reason I despise her so. So, that means I have no choice but to produce a full-blooded witch-child with Cassadine blood flowing through its veins, myself.”

“Helena, aren’t your child-bearing days long over.” Faison asked.

“Not me, you fool.” Helena spat. “I’ll leave that to Natasha.”

“Alexis?” Faison repeated. “But she isn’t even a part of the covenant. And she’s in love with Ned Ashton. Are you forgetting he’s only a quarter witch. It’s really a shame that the Quartermaine bloodlines have been so diluted by all their marriages outside of the faith.”

“I’m thrilled about it.” Helena told him. “If the Quartermaine’s bloodline wasn’t so diluted, Edward Quartermaine and his clan would be a major threat to me. Thank goodness Edward didn’t preserve the Quartermaine bloodline the way we Cassadines have.“

“Back to the topic at hand.“ Faison redirected the conversation. “I see a major flaw in your plan to use Alexis as your brood mare. You know how she feels about you, Helena, so I highly doubt she’ll agree to mate with another witch and bare his child just because you want her to.”

“That’s true, but I have no intention of asking for her permission.” Helena informed him. “Once I acquire the sample of witch sperm that I need, I’ll just have her artificially inseminated without her knowledge and allow her to believe the child is Ned Ashton’s until it comes time for me to claim it as my own.”

“Just whose sperm are you planning to use?” Faison wanted to know. If he had anything to say about it, it would be his sperm that was used to impregnate Alexis. If he were the father of the child, it would put him in a position of great power.

Helena was well aware of what Faison was thinking. Amongst Helena’s many powers was the ability to know what someone was thinking, even if that person was a fellow witch, and she had no intention of allowing Faison to gain power through this child. “I’ve decided the donor will be Stefan.”

“But that’s inbreeding.” Faison was outraged.

“It’s been done for centuries.” Helena shrugged. “Especially in our set.”

“And there’s a reason why it was stopped.” Faison reminded her.

“As long as the child is born with the right equipment to impregnate the vampire child,” Helena replied. “It doesn’t matter to me if he’s the village idiot. He’s not important in the grand scheme of things. The child that Sonny and Carly’s daughter produces is the important one.’

“Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse.” Faison replied. “Sonny hasn’t even impregnated Carly yet.”

“But he soon will.” Helena declared. “And very soon that staring idiot will be a thing of the past. I‘m going to order Tracy Quartermaine to de-animate him, at once, and then you and I are going to put him in the ground where he belongs.”

“You know, we may have another problem on our hands.” Faison pointed out. “I don’t see Sonny Corinthos just handing over his child to you. He doesn’t like you any better than your own son does. For that matter, I don’t see Alexis allowing you to take her child from her, either.”

“Perhaps, they won’t be around to object.” Helena replied coldly.” Once the children our born there’s really no further need for them. I could just simply dispose of Mr. Corinthos, Ms. Roberts, Mr. Ashton and dear Natasha.” She sighed. “In fact, the more I think about it, the better it sounds to me. With the four of them out of the way, I can raise their children, myself.”

“SO HOW DOES it go in the enemy camp.” Edward asked as Tracy entered.

“The time has finally come, Daddy.” She told him. “Helena is about to arrange circumstances so Sonny and Carly have sex, so they’ll conceive a child together.”

“So, it’s finally going to happen, at long last.” Edward rubbed his hands together in glee. “And once the trollop gives birth, I can finally toss her out of this family for good.” He sighed. “Oh, darling, you don’t know how hard it is to pretend to like her. The cheap little tart honestly thinks I want her in this family. And you don’t know how I hate having AJ in charge of my company. But it was his price for bringing her into the family.”

“He still doesn’t suspect the real reason you wanted him to marry Carly, does he?” Tracy asked.

“No, of course not.” He sighed. “AJ still thinks it’s because I wanted Michael. He has no idea I could care less about his brat and that I wanted Carly to be under my control when she conceived Corinthos’ child.” He added. “Helena hasn’t figured out the truth about you and Ned, yet, has she?”

“No, Daddy,” Tracy smiled. “I’m able to block my thoughts when I’m around her. She has no idea that Ned and I our full-blooded witches. She still believes our bloodlines have been watered down by mortal DNA.”

“As powerful as Helena is she’s never discovered the truth about you.” Edward smirked. “That you’re really the daughter of my she-devil mistress, Beatrice and that Lila agreed to pretend she was your mother and raise you as her own child.”

“You’d think she’d be suspicious, though.” Tracy mused. “I mean, how could someone as angelic as mother produce something like me.”

“How true.” Edward smiled. “But most people blame it on me. You are a chip off the old block, darling.” He added. “By the way, I’m really going to need your help once the child is conceived. Somehow we have to make sure Corinthos never finds out it’s his, because if he does it‘ll ruin all our plans.”

“Maybe AJ should finally follow through on his threats.” She suggested. “You know, have Carly committed to Ferncliffe. If he does it before anyone knows she’s pregnant, you can simply take the child from her once she gives birth.”

“We’ll use that as a last resort.” He told her. “If we have her institutionalized, Corinthos might decide to play hero and rescue her. And then everything will blow up in our face.”

“Maybe we should just wait until the child is a reality before we decide what to do.” She offered.

“That’s a good idea.” Edward agreed. “Have you found out where Helena intends to get the witch-child that will mate with the vampire child once it grows up.”

“She plans to impregnate Alexis Davis with her son’s sperm.” Tracy announced.

“The woman is depraved.” Edward declared in huffy tones. “So, it looks like Helena and I both have a fifty-fifty chance of gaining control of the child.”

“Ned and Alexis have been going at it like bunny rabbits and a pregnancy hasn’t occurred, yet.” Tracy complained. “Ned must be using protection. What are we going to do about that.”

“Don’t worry I’ll take care of it.” Edward promised.

“Well, you’d better be quick about it.” Tracy warned. “There’s no telling how much time we have before Helena makes her move. If Alexis isn’t pregnant by Ned before Helena tries to impregnate her with Stefan’s sperm, we’ll be in the position of not knowing who the father of Alexis’ child is.”

“Don’t worry, I have faith in our Ned.” Edward declared.

“Father, why is it so important for a child to be born of parents that are a full-blooded vampire and a full-blooded witch.” Tracy asked. “Hasn’t it ever happened before.”

“Never.” Edward told her. “Tracy, our kind aren’t drawn to each other. We prefer mortals. which is how vampires are born. And vampires despise witches because they instinctively know that witches are to blame for making them what they are. “ He added. “They’re neither mortal nor witch. They’re not normal nor do they have any of the special powers a witch possesses. They’re just something in between.”

“How come AJ isn’t a vampire.” Tracy wanted to know. “I know Alan isn’t a vampire because Mother is neither a mortal nor a witch and as a result Alan is half-witch and the other half we haven’t a clue about, and Monica’s a shrew, but she’s still a mortal shrew. So shouldn‘t AJ be vampire.”

“It only happens when a full-blooded witch mates with a full-blooded mortal.” Edward explained. “With all the mixed-breeding that’s been going on for centuries full-blooded witches and full-blooded mortals are a dying breed.”

“Well, if AJ isn’t a vampire.” Tracy retorted. “Then just what is he.”

“He’s one-quarter witch, another quarter we’re not actually sure of what and half mortal.” Edward replied. “Which basically makes him nothing in our world. And Jason is three-quarters witch and a quarter we‘re not sure of what, because his mother was a full-blooded witch, which puts him a step above AJ in the grand scheme of things.” He added. “I think AJ has always sensed that extra witch Jason has in him and that’s why he resents him so. But for all that, Jason is also nothing in our world, as well.”

“Speaking of Jason.” Tracy looked down at the ground. “Helena has ordered me to de-animate him. She says he should have been put in the ground years ago, and that’s where she wants him now.” She added. “Daddy, if I don’t do it, there could be trouble.” She added. “She might realize you set me up to becoming a member of her covenant so I could spy on her for you.”

“Jason never has been the same since you brought him back.” Edward sighed. “But then, when you become a zombie you never really are. Perhaps it is time for Jason to be finally put to rest.”

“Daddy, you still haven’t told me why the child is so important.” She reminded him. “And why you and Helena are racing to make sure he carries your bloodline.”

“Tracy, vampires are many things.” Edward explained. “They’re very sexual creatures. The opposite sex find them irresistible. They’re obsessive, self-destructive. They’re also very human. We’re not sure what the child of two full-blooded vampires will be like, but we are sure if a full-blooded vampire and a full-blooded witch have a child together, it’ll be without a shred of humanity. In short, it’ll be a creature of such evilness the world has never known and will eventually become the ruler of the underworld. The Dark Master has promised whoever is responsible for bringing this child into the world will be made supreme ruler over all the witches all over the world. And both Helena and I want that power.”

“Why couldn’t Sonny or Carly just have sex with a full-blooded witch and produce a child.” Tracy inquired. “Why do they have to have a child together who will mate with a full-blooded witch.”

“Sonny and Carly were born vampires because one of their parents was a witch.” Edward explained. “With Sonny it was his mother and with Carly it was her father. Only the child born of two vampires will be a full-blooded vampire. Sonny and Carly’s blood has mortal and witch DNA mixed in with their vampire blood, but their child’s blood will be pure vampire. So you can see it wouldn’t work with Sonny or Carly mating with a witch because they don’t have pure vampire blood flowing through their veins. The child must be the product of the union of two vampires.” He added. “Does that answer all your questions.”

“So, we have to get control of Corinthos’ child to have the Dark Master bestow on us this power he‘s promised.” She sighed. “Some how I don’t think that’s going to be as easy as it sounds.”

“It’ll be easier than you think.” Edward replied confidently. “In fact, it’s just come to me what we need to do about this situation. As soon as Carly gets pregnant by Corinthos, I’ll cast a spell over her so she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Sonny never finds out it’s his baby. In fact, I’ll make her decide to pass the kid off as AJ’s which will ultimately give me complete control over the child.”

“Daddy, that’s brilliant.” She beamed at him.

“They don’t call me the King of the Warlocks for nothing.” Edward retorted. “Now, there’s something I need for you to do for me. We need to lure Faison over to our side.”

“How are we supposed to do that.” Tracy asked. “Helena’s got him securely in her pocket with the knowledge of Anna Scorpio’s whereabouts. What could we do to get him on our side.”

“I want you to tell him he’s really Ned’s father.” Edward suggested craftily. “That Ned isn’t the product of that fop, Larry Ashton, but of the tryst you had with Faison before you married Ashton.”

“And should I also tell him you set me up to getting pregnant by him.” Tracy returned. “So your firstborn grandson would be a full-blooded witch, just like you.”

“Tell him what you like.” Edward shrugged. “Just bring him over to our side. We need him if we have any hopes of beating Helena.”

HELENA ENTERED THE Dark Master’s lair. “You summoned me, Master.” She purred.

Damian Smith motioned for her to sit down. “Please sit down, Helena.” He smiled as she obeyed his bidding. “I summoned you here to warn you of a plot against you. Edward Quartermaine has plans to make sure the witch-child has his blood flowing through its veins.”

“But that’s impossible.” Helena replied. “We all know Edward’s bloodline has been corrupted over the years and that none of his offspring are full-blooded witch.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Damian corrected her. “Tracy is full-blooded witch and so is Ned.”

“Are you telling me that fop, Larry Ashton, was a full-blooded witch?” Helena asked in disbelief.

“No,” He answered. “Larry Ashton is not Ned’s father. Faison is.”

“That crafty old buzzard.” Helena exploded. “He’s been plotting this for years. I bet he even sent his spawn to infiltrate the European Covenant so she could spy on me for him.”

“No doubt.” Damian agreed. “So, now that you know, what are you going to do about it.”

“Aren’t you showing undue favoritism to me.” Helena asked.

“I know what it is to have people plotting against you.” He revealed. “At the moment there’s a little uprising brewing with brethren. They’re not pleased when Father retired he put me in charge. Ryan Chamberlain, in particular, thought that honor should be given to him.” He added. “Besides, I loathe Edward Quartermaine. I’d like nothing better than for you to defeat him.”

“Speaking of Frank,” she replied. “How is he, these days.”

“I just got a postcard from him, this morning.” Damian revealed. “He’s in Bermuda vacationing with Faison’s ex-mistress, Desiree. You remember the one he murdered, but made it look like suicide.” He got back to the subject at hand. “So, what are you going to do about Edward’s little plot.”

“I’ll have to step up my plans.” Helena answered. “I’ll need to get a sample of Stefan’s sperm, immediately.”

THE BRETHREN WERE gathered in the main salon of the Hell Raiser’s Club, as Ryan Chamberlain began addressing the crowd there. “It’s nepotism, I tell you. What has Damian Smith ever done to deserve to be appointed the Dark Master. Has he even killed anybody?” He added. “I’m a serial killer. I have a whole string of murder victims. Some bodies the police still haven’t found. Can Damian Smith say the same thing.”

“I can top that.” Leopold Taub replied. “I tried to murder the entire town with carbon disulfate.”

“Don’t you mean we tried to murder the entire town.” Harlan Barrett interjected.

“Oh no, Harlan.” Taub replied. “You’re not riding on my coattails.”

“What do you mean riding on your coattails?” Harlan asked. “It was my cannery that produced the stuff.”

“But you were long dead by the time Faison and I tried to off the entire town.” Taub reminded him.

“I would have been there.” He angerly retorted as he pointed an accusing finger at Bill Eckert. “If he hadn’t shot me in the head.”

“Well, I got paid back for it, didn’t I?” Eckert returned. “What a way to go. Shot by mistake. They were gunning for Luke Spencer and they got me, instead. By all rights, he’s the one who should be down here, not me.”

“But you deserve to be here.” Lily Rivera spoke up. “I don’t. What am I doing here. You all hear the reverent way Sonny speaks of me like I’m the Madonna or something.”

“That’s just the spell Helena cast on him talking.” Olivia Jerome declared as she sauntered into the room. “You were no saint, Lily. You earned your place in hell just like the rest of us.”

“Just what did I do that was so bad.” She wanted to know.

“Let me see.” Olivia began to tick off the list. “You used Stone Cate’s dying to get close to Sonny. Then you used Sonny’s legal problems to force him to marry you. You and I both know that given a choice he wouldn’t have married you on his own. No, you needed Daddy holding the keys to his freedom to get him to marry you. Then the minute you get the old ring on your finger, you started trying to get pregnant to finish tightening the noose around Sonny’s neck.”

“Sonny never complained about anything that I did.” Lily declared. “He thought I only had his best interest at heart.”

“Sonny is a vampire with a guilt complex.” Olivia threw back at her. “Even on his best days he doesn’t think straight. You’re here for the exact same reason I am. We both wanted a man who didn’t want us and we didn’t know how to take no for an answer.”

“If that’s the case,” Lily snarled. “Where’s Brenda. She’s worse than the two of us put together. Don’t tell me while we’re down here, she’s up there.”

“Actually, it could be worse than that.” Olivia told her.

“I don’t see how.”

“She could still be alive.” Olivia informed her before turning to Veronica Barrett. “So, Veronica, is there any chance your darling daughter could still be alive.”

“I don’t know really.” Veronica sighed. “One minute I had my foot on the gas pedal and the next I was here. I suppose anything is possible.”

“Would you ladies mind taking your hen party some place else.” Ryan rudely interrupted. “We’ve got business to discuss here.”

“And I know exactly what that business is.” Olivia responded. “So, tell me, Ryan, if you succeed in getting Damian ousted as the Dark Master, who do you see taking his place. Yourself, maybe.”

“No way, Chamberlain.” Bill Eckert piped up. “I refuse to be ruled by a chick killer.”

“I have to agree with Eckert.” Harlan seconded it. “There’s no way I’m taking orders from you.”

“Maybe we could do what Harlan and I did with the cartel.” Taub suggested. “Instead of having one supreme ruler, we could all equally share in the power.” He looked towards Olivia. “I’m sure you must be getting tired of being the devil’s concubine. First Frank and now his son.”

“Whatever the case.” Ryan tried to take back control of the meeting. “If we want Damian out, we’ve got to act fast. If he succeeds in the plan he’s got going with the witches, we’ll never be able to get rid of him.”

“Then we’ve got to stop Sonny from having sex with Carly.” Lily declared. “If we can stop that from happening, we can thwart Damian’s plans.”

“How did I know you were going to say that.” Olivia smirked. “Sorry to disappoint you, little Lily, but as we speak Sonny and Carly are ripping each other’s clothes off and going at it like a couple of animals in heat. There’s nothing like watching vampire sex to get you really hot.”

“It doesn’t matter if Sonny and Carly have already made part of the prophecy come true.” Taub announced. “For the rest of it to come true, they need the witch-child, and if we can’t stop that child from being conceived, we can get rid of Damian for good.”