CHAPTER ELEVEN

HARRY LOOKED OUT the window as the sun went down and the sky began to darken. “Dorman, we’ve got to get out of here. They’ll be arising any moment. The sun’s gone down. For all we know they’re awake inside there and can hear us out here. They could already be inside preparing to make a move against us.”

“So what if they are.” Dorman threw back at him. “Harry, we’re demons. What can they really do to us?”

“A lot.” Harry retorted. “Need I remind you that when we take on mortal form we no longer have any of our demon powers. That’s why you’ve been working for over an hour trying to burn a whole in that metal door with a blow torch. At the moment, we’re as vulnerable as any other mortal is to a vampire.”

“Damn, what is this door made out of anyway.” Dorman exploded. He banged it in frustration. “I’ve been using a blow torch on it for over an hour and I haven’t made a mark on it.”

“Oh great, Dorman.” Harry snarled. “If they didn’t hear us before, they probably heard us now. Any second now that metal door is going to rise and they’re going to go for our throats.”

INSIDE SONNY’S BEDCHAMBER the sound of Dorman hitting the metal door echoed through the chamber. Sonny’s eyes popped open and he sat up. Carly awoke a few seconds later. She noticed the way he was looking around the chamber. “Sonny, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He said as he climbed out of bed and put on his robe. “I thought I heard something just before I woke up and all through my slumber I felt a feeling of unease, but I was powerless to do anything about it. “

“Sonny, don’t you think this could be your imagination.” Carly suggested, clutching the bed sheet to her breasts. “After what happened to us on the plane it would only be natural.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Sonny admitted. “But all the same, I’ll feel better if I check the place out to make sure that’s all it is.”

“Well, there goes my hope of cuddling in bed a little.” She sighed as she threw back the covers. “I suppose it’s for the best. I’ve got to get to the public library before it closes, anyway. “ She added. “I also need to find out if anyone has heard from my mother.”

“And I’ll put my men on the street to look for her.” Sonny said as he pushed the button to raise the metal barriers that protected the room from sunlight. “I’ll also try to make a mental connection with your mother.”

Carly pulled on Sonny’s shirt as she followed him out of the bedroom.

STEFAN STOOD OVER Bobbie watching her sleep. Night had finally fallen and Sorel would be here soon. He could hear the dogs he had patrolling the grounds howling. They knew he was coming, as well. The island was engulfed by a heavy mass of fog making the surveillance cameras on the island virtually useless. It was a night for the most ghastliest of things to happen. You could positively feel it in the air.

Heather entered the bedroom and walked over to Stefan. “Are you sure you’ve changed your mind about mating with me.” She ran her hand down his arm and pressed her body up against his back. “you were so determined when you brought me to Port Charles and I’m more than willing to accommodate you.”

“Everything has changed, Heather.” he turned to her. “In fact, I’ve decided it’s for everyone’s own good that there be no witch child to mate with the vampire child.”

“Isn’t your sister pregnant with a child?” Heather asked. “When it’s born won’t it be able to mate with the vampire child when they both grow up.”

“Ned Ashton isn’t a pure-blooded witch.” Stefan lied to her, aware of the truth about Ned only few people knew. “So the child is of no consequence. The only possible candidate with me out of the running is the one in a million chance my mother can still reproduce and if that happens I’ll take measures to make sure the child is never born.”

“Well then, I guess I’ll be heading back to Colorado in the morning.” She went over to the French doors and pulled the curtains back. “My it’s foggy out there.” Without Stefan noticing what she was doing she unlocked them so Sorel would have easy access to Bobbie.

“Heather, I think it would be best if you retired to your room early tonight.” Stefan told her. “And I think it would also be wise if you were to lock all your doors and windows, as well.”

“Are you expecting trouble here, tonight?” She asked innocently.

“Surely you can feel it.” Stefan replied. “It’s in the very atmosphere that we’re breathing. So to be on the safe side you should bolt yourself into your room tonight.”

“Whatever you say, Stefan.” Heather smiled as she left the room. Damian had been very clear to her. She was to lure Stefan away from Bobbie, but how was she going to do it? Well, she’d better think of something and quick. When the Dark Master gave you orders, you either carried them out or suffered the consequences.

“I TOLD YOU so.” Carly smiled smugly at Sonny as he finished his search of the apartment. He’d found nothing amiss, but he couldn’t dismiss the feeling that something was wrong. That someone had been here. “I told you it was just your imagination.”

“So it would seem.” he sat down on the sofa. “But I still feel that something isn’t right. I can feel it in the very air. I have this feeling of my privacy being violated. “

“More of your powers?” Carly asked in a somewhat snippy tone.

“no,” He smiled back. “Even a mortal can feel it when their space has been invaded. Something doesn’t feel right about the very air around you feels when someone who has no business being there invades your space.”

“Well, you found no evidence that anyone was in here.” She pointed out. “So I suggest you just forget about it. We’ve got too many other things to worry about for you to indulge yourself in this obsessive belief someone was in the penthouse while we were asleep.”

“I suppose you’re right. “ Sonny agreed. “Why don’t you go up and get dressed and I’ll try again to make mental contact with your mother.”

SOREL ENTERED DAMIAN’S lair in a very cocky manner, even though deep down he was shaking in his boots. He couldn’t begin to guess why he’d been summoned by the Dark Master. It couldn’t be good whatever it was. “Is there some reason you wished to see me, Mr. Smith?” He asked. “There’s something I have planned for tonight and you’re keeping me from it.”

“Relax, Sorel.” Damian laughed. “You have nothing to fear from me. I know exactly what you’re planning to do tonight and I intend to help you succeed in your plans.”

“Excuse me?” Sorel asked in shocked.

“You’re planning to take another bite out of Bobbie Spencer.” Damian smiled. “But she’s under Stefan Cassadine’s protection and he’ll do everything in his power to stop you from succeeding in your goal. That’s why I’ve taken steps to help you.”

“Why would you do that?” Sorel asked.

“Ah, yes.” Damian chucked. “You’re not used to someone helping you, are you, Sorel. People generally scorn and revile you for what you are and what you do. But not this time, Sorel. You see, I wholeheartedly agree with your plans for Bobbie Spencer. I think what you’re planning to do to her is exactly what she deserves.” He confided. “When I was alive I had quite a few problems with Bobbie Spencer and it does my heart good to see someone finally giving her what she truly deserves. And to that end I’ve decided to help you succeed in your plans for her.”

“And just how do you intend to do that?” Sorel asked, not sure if he truly trusted Damian.

“I have someone inside Wyndemere who is working for me.” Damian revealed. “She will make the way easy for you to get to Bobbie Spencer, tonight.”

“I prefer for my victims to come to me.” Sorel informed him.

“Whatever.” Damian was beginning to get impatient with Sorel Didn’t the man ever hear you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. “You’ll have no problem getting to Bobbie, tonight. Now leave and get to it.” Damian ordered as he shooed him away like he was a pesky insect.

One moment Sorel was standing in front of Damian, and the next he was on the fog enshrouded dock of Spoon Island. “Boy, the Dark Master knows his stuff. I’m right where I want to be.” Then Sorel’s doubts began to nag him. “What if Smith is setting me up. What if I trust him that he’s made sure I have a clear passage to Bobbie and I walk into a trap?”

THE ONLY WAY Heather could think of to lure Stefan away from Bobbie was to set his stable on fire. She knew how much his horses meant to Stefan and he’d be sure to rush out here and make sure they were safe. When the dust settled he’d think Sorel had done it to lure him away from Bobbie. He’d never suspect she was behind it. Or, at least that’s what she hoped for. Heather didn’t even want to think what Stefan would do to her if he ever found out the truth. But as afraid as she was of what Stefan would do to her if he learned of her involvement in this, she was even more petrified what Damian Smith would do to her if she failed him.

She lead all the horses out of the stable to make sure they wouldn’t get injured in the fire, then she checked the stable to make sure it was completely empty. A lantern was hanging on a nail by one of the stalls. It was used when storms knocked out all the power. She poured the kerosene from the lamp all over a bale of hay, then she threw a lit match on it. Within seconds the stable was engulfed in flames.

Once safely outside of the rapidly burning stable, Heather looked toward the house. She hoped Stefan would be able to see the fire from the house. The fog was so thick it was pretty much concealing everything at the moment. Well, she rationalized, if necessary she’s run into the house screaming about the stable being on fire if Stefan didn’t arrive within a few moments. One way or another she would get Stefan away from Bobbie’s side, tonight.

CARLY CAME DOWNSTAIRS dressed and ready for action. “We’re you able to make a mental link with my mother?” She asked Sonny.

“No.” Sonny replied. “I may have a lot of powers, but that isn’t one of them. The only way I can link my mind with someone else’s is if I’m near them. What about you? Any luck finding Bobbie?”

“No one’s seen her.” She sighed. “I called everyone I could think of and everyone is starting to get worried about her.”

“Well, I’ve got my men out combing the streets for her.” Sonny replied. “She couldn’t have just disappeared without a trace. Someone has to have seen her.” He added. “At least we know Sorel doesn’t have her. If he did, he’d be still trying to use her as a bargaining chip against me.”

Carly leaned down and kissed him. “Well, I’m off. The library closes in two hours and I’ve got a lot of research to do in that time. I’ll see you later.” With that she walked out the door.

As Carly waited for the elevator car to arrive, Dorman and Harry watched her. “Maybe we should just nab her.” Dorman suggested. “Then we could use her as bait to trap Corinthos.”

“She’s just as lethal as Sonny is.” Harry declared. “We don’t want to mess with her unless it’s daylight and she’s helpless.”

“Then that leaves nabbing the kid.” Dorman replied. “We’ll nab him when the nanny brings him home. Then we’ll use him to lure Corinthos and the broad into a trap they won’t get out of alive.”

Inside Bobbie’s room, Stefan saw a strange light shining from outside her room. What could that be, he wondered. The last time he looked the island was enshrouded by fog. He went over to the window to see what it was. He tried to peer through the heavy mist but he couldn’t tell where that light was coming from. Just then Heather came running through the door.

“Stefan!” She gasped out of breath from having run up to the house from the stable. “Your stable is on fire!”

“What!” Stefan asked. Then everything clicked into place for him, or he thought it did anyway. “Sorel! He must have set my stables on fire.”

“Stefan, you have to get down there.” Heather insisted. “If you don’t your stables are going to burn to the ground and what will happen to all your beautiful horses.”

He looked desperately at Bobbie. “Heather, I can’t leave Barbara.” Stefan declared. “That’s what Sorel wants me to do. that’s why he set my stable on fire. To lure me away from Barbara so he can get at her.”

“look, Stefan.” Heather suggested. “I can stay here and make sure Bobbie’s safe while you head down to the stable and get some of your people together to save your stable. It shouldn’t take you that long, and in the time it takes you I’m sure I can keep Bobbie safe.”

Stefan looked back and forth between the stable and Bobbie. Finally he made up his mind. “Lock all the doors.” Stefan ordered. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Once outside the door Stefan called to Heather. “Have you locked the door?”

“Yes.” She made a big production of noisily locking it.

“Don’t let anyone in unless it’s me.” He ordered.

“I won’t.” She promised. As soon as she hear his footsteps retreating down the hall, she went over to the French doors and through them wide open. “Come on, Sorel, and do your thing.” Heather sighed as she looked over at Bobbie. “I’ve bought you some time, I just don’t know how much.”