CHAPTER FOUR

CARLY WATCHED AS Sonny continued to pace like a caged panther spouting Spanish with every step that he took. “Would you please stop that. You know I don’t speak the language.” She added. “Just what are you saying, anyway?”

Sonny stopped and looked at her. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.” He added. “And furthermore, I wouldn’t crawl to you and beg for a glass of water if I were dying of thirst. Let alone beg you to marry me.”

“I’ll have you know, I don’t have to beg anyone to marry me.” He continued. “In fact, it’s them who beg me to marry them.”

“Why that’s the most arrogant and conceited thing I’ve ever heard anyone ever say.” Carly declared.

“It’s also true.” Sonny retorted.

“Well, then I must be a different breed of cat than you’re used to dealing with.” She responded. “Because the day would never come that I would beg you to marry me.”

“Yet, you expect me to beg you to marry me?” He spat.

“That’s right. “ She admitted. “I’m not the one who wants to get married, you are. So why shouldn’t you have to suffer a little to get what you want.”

“You’re impossible!” Sonny threw up his hands and stormed inside his bedroom. “I can’t deal with you.” She followed him inside and he rounded on her. “And, furthermore, I don’t want to marry you. I’m only doing this for our child.”

“Fine,” She returned. “Then you’ll just have to do some crawling for our child, as well. I don’t care if it’s as phony as a three dollar bill. For once in my life I’m going to be wined-and-dined and romanced.” She added. “If as you say women beg you to marry them, then you must know how to do stuff like that. Come on, Sonny, try your stuff on me. Try to make me beg you to marry me like all your other women have.”

“I’m warning you..” Sonny took a threatening step towards her. “Don’t push me.”

“What’s the matter, Sonny.” Carly smirked. “Afraid your stuff won’t work on me.”

“Oh, it’ll work on you, all right.” He assured her.

“Then what are we waiting for.” She threw her arms wide. “Romance me.”

HELENA LAID BACK in bed smoking a cigarette. “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it, Faison.” She held up the sheet and looked under it. “As you can see, it didn’t rot off.”

“Maybe not,” Faison replied as he lit up a cigar. “But it’ll never be the same again, either. You and I as parents is just a repulsive idea. I shudder at what kind of monster the two of us would produce.”

“Our child will be evil personified, won’t he?” She purred in pleasure. “Perhaps one of the most evil beings to ever be conceived.” She added. “He’d have to be with us for parents.”

“I still say you’re too old.” Faison retorted. “You’re long past your child-bearing years. You should leave this to the younger generation.”

“I want my blood flowing through both the vampire and witch child.” She declared. “And producing this child, myself, is the only way that’s going to happen. It’ll also prevent Edward from mating his grandson’s get with Sonny and Carly’s child when they grow-up.”

“Well, if you’re threw with me, “ He pulled back the sheets. “I think I’m going to go and take a shower.”

“Not so fast, Faison.” She grabbed his arm, preventing him from getting out of bed. ‘I don’t think it worked. If it worked I’d be able to tell and I feel nothing. It looks like we’re going to have to keep on doing it until I’m sure it’s worked.”

SONNY AND CARLY are sitting at the bar in his casino watching the goings on around them. “Is this how you intend to woo and win me?” Carly asked peevishly.

“I told you, “ Sonny replied. “I don’t beg to anyone.”

“I’m not asking you to beg.” She snapped. “I’m just asking you to put yourself out a little bit and wine and dine me.”

“I suppose this means until I give into your demands you’ll be withholding your favors from me.” He asked.

“You assume right.” She replied. “Your insatiable sexual appetite is the only leverage I have over you.”

“Nobody controls me.” He retorted. “I’ll just find some warm and willing female whose willing to service me, tonight.” He begins gazing around the room.

“Like hell you will.” She snapped. “That particular part of your anatomy belongs to me and only me from now on. You try sharing it with some mortal or immortal female and I’ll cut it off.”

“Must you be so barbaric.” He scorned. “Can’t you try to evolve from what you are.”

“I’ve got news for you, Sonny.” She returned. “You’re just as much a vampire as I am and you prove it every time you’re in bed with me.”

“I know what I am.” He answered. “But I’ve tried to raise myself up from what I am by refining the powers I possess as a vampire.”

“What powers?” Carly scoffed. “The witches who created us have all the power. We’re just the misfits who are neither mortal nor witch.”

“I can’t believe you or all people have discovered the powers we vampires possess.” He laughed.

“What do you mean?” She asked. “Me of all people.”

“Well, you love to scheme and manipulate people.” He retorted. “The powers we vampires possess go hand-in-hand with that.”

“What powers?” She wanted to know.

“Mind control for one.” He shrugged. “Take that brunette over there. I could will her to do anything I wanted her to do.”

“Prove it.” Carly dared him. “Make her start screaming that bugs are crawling all over her.”

“I don’t perform parlor tricks.” He sneered.

“It’s just like I thought.” She scorned. “You have no so-called vampire powers. You’re making the whole thing up.”

“Fine.” He snarled. “I’ll prove it to you, if you insist.” He begins to stare at the brunette standing across the room who at the moment has her back to him. She turns around and stares at Sonny. “You’re terrified of spiders. The very sight of them makes you scream. Look down at yourself. They’re crawling all over you.”

Across the room the woman looks down at herself and starts to scream. “Get them off me! Get them off me!”

Several people rush over to her.

“What’s the matter?”

“What is it?”

The woman just keeps repeating over and over again. “Get them off me! Get them off me!”

“What?”

“I don’t see anything?

“What’s she talking about?”

“Satisfied?” Sonny turns back to Carly with a smug look on his face.

“My god you really did it!” She replied in awe. “You controlled that woman’s mind. You made her think spiders were crawling all over her. How did you do it? You’ve got to show me how.”

“I might be willing to show you all the tricks of the trade so to speak.” He smiled. “If you agree to marry me.”

“Sonny, that’s blackmail.” She accused.

“Yes, it is.” He wasn’t the least bit ashamed of his tactics. “Carly, why don’t you give it up. We both know you’re going to marry me. If you weren’t you wouldn’t claim a certain part of my anatomy as your own personal property.” He added. “Speaking of that certain part of my anatomy. It would really appreciate it if you would use and enjoy it when we leave here.”

“We’ll see.” She smiled seductively at him. “But since your so gifted with the mind control, I don’t know why you don’t just make me do what you want me to do.”

“It doesn’t work on vampires.” He revealed. “It only works on mortals.”

She slides off the barstool and takes him by the arm. “Why don’t we head back to your room.” She pulled him to his feet. “And on the way you can tell me about some of the other powers us vampires possess that I wasn’t aware of.” She added. “And if you really impress me, I might show a certain part of your anatomy some of the vampire tricks I know that it will really enjoy.”

He smiles as he leads her out of the room. “You know, I think this is going to work between us. It’s just going to take a little give and take on both our parts.”

HEATHER WEBBER ENTERED the Dark Master’s Lair. “I was surprised when one of your emissaries informed me you wished to see me.”

“I understand Stefan Cassadine contacted you recently.” Damian Smith replied. “He wishes you to breed with him isn’t that right?”

“And what business is that of yours?” Heather retorted.

“Stefan Cassadine wants to produce a child to horn-in on the deal I struck with his mother.” Damian revealed. “It’s bad enough Edward Quartermaine has managed to weasel his way in on the deal, I won’t have Stefan Cassadine involved in this, as well.”

“So, what do you want me to do about it?” Heather wanted to know.

“I want you to play along with Stefan Cassadine.” Damian informed her. “I want you to make him thinking you’re willing to bear his child while secretly taking measures to prevent yourself from conceiving his child. “

“Stefan Cassadine is a very powerful witch.” Heather pointed out. “He’s not someone I want to cross. Just what would be in it for me to do what you want.”

“I understand you still desire a mortal who has remained unattainable to you.” He replied.

“Yes, I want my ex-husband Jeff Webber back.” Heather admitted. “I’ve been trying everything I could think of these past twenty years to try and get him away from his wife but nothing has worked so far.”

“If you do what I ask.” Damian promised. “Jeff Webber will be yours. I’ll make sure of it. Do we have a deal?”

AT THE SAME time Heather Webber and Damian Smith were striking their devil‘s bargain, member‘s from the netherworld were trying to strike a deal of their own with the creator. Leopold Taub and Olivia Jerome had been appointed as spokespersons for the group. “I’m sure you’re aware of the plan afoot in the underworld.” Taub began. “Damian Smith has struck a deal with the witches to produce a child that will be of vampire and witch blood. I’m sure you know if he succeeds this child will bring unmentionable evil into the world. And I’m also sure you don’t want that to happen.”

“Just get to the point.” The Creator replied impatiently.

“We know how opposed you must be to this child being brought into the world.” Taub smiled uncertainly. “And we’re willing to help you make sure that doesn’t happen. Being what you are there is nothing you can do to prevent this thing from happening, but we of the Hellfire Club can.” He added on a cold note. “And we will in exchange for you getting rid of Damian Smith.”

“What we seek, Creator.” Olivia piped up. “Is a peace treaty of sorts between your world and the underworld. It can only be for the betterment of everyone if we can all live in peace and tranquility.”

“That’s right.” Taub nodded vigorously. “And you’ll never have that with Damian Smith. This vampire-witch child Damian seeks to bring into this world will bring uncountable evil to anything and everything it comes in contact with. Once Damian accomplishes that, they’ll be no stopping him. Once evil rules the Earth, he’ll be out to try and dethrone you and take over you kingdom from you.”

“You’ve told me nothing I didn’t already know.” The Creator replied in a bored tone. “Just what do the two of you propose to stop him.”

“We’ll simply make sure one of the children conceived doesn’t make it into this world.” Olivia replied. “This wouldn’t be the first time I caused someone to have a miscarriage.”

“Ah, yes, Anna Scorpio.” The Creator recalled. “Of course, if the child was truly meant to be born nothing you did could have prevented that from happening.”

Olivia and Taub weren’t getting the reception they had hoped for, but Taub trudged forward anyway. “We figure the child that should die is Sonny and Carly’s. Several witches are trying to produce the witch-child that will mate with the vampire-child, but without Sonny and Carly’s child it will be all for naught. “

“I hate to disappoint you demons from hell.” The Creator announced. “But I don’t need or require your help. No deal. Furthermore, if you take it upon yourself to harm any child and claim you’re doing it in my name there will be hell to pay. Now take yourselves from my sight, immediately.”

Taub and Olivia rushed out before the Creator’s wrath descended upon them. “So now what are we going to do?” Olivia complained to Taub as they headed back to the nether world. “This was a total bust.”

“This isn’t over with yet.” Taub declared. “If the Creator won’t deal with us, we’ll go it alone. We have to stop Damian from achieving his goals. And there’s only one way to do it. Sonny and Carly’s child must die.”

SONNY ROLLED AWAY from Carly and turned his back to her. “That never happened to me before.”

“And you obviously didn’t like it.” She spooned herself to his back and wrapped her arms around his waist wanting to retain the closeness they’d just achieved as they were making love with each other.

“I feel like I was just mentally raped.” He declared.

“You knew it was a possibility with us both being vampire.” She replied.

“I thought it was just ridiculous folklore.” He replied. “Who would believe such a thing was possible that when vampires make love they don’t just become one in body but in mind, as well.” He added. “It never happened between us before.”

“The longer we’re together.” She reasoned. “The more vampire we become.”

He looked at her over his shoulder. “We are vampire.”

“Yes,” She agreed. “But because the mortal world has always made the vampire ashamed of what he is, we tried to conform and become more like them. You and I both being vampire is freeing us to stop pretending to be what we aren’t and to be what we are. Because of that our true vampire nature is asserting itself.”

“I don’t know if I can get used to our minds becoming one when we have sex.” He complained. “I don’t like it. I don’t like you being able to see into my mind and see all my thoughts and feelings.”

“Well, it goes both ways.” She told him as she flicked her thumbnail over his nipple. “You can see all my thoughts and feelings, too. “ She began to nibble on his earlobe. “That’s why vampires can achieve a closeness that mortals can’t even dream of.” She slid her hand down his body and beneath the bed sheets.

Sonny gasped in pleasure as she began to caress him. “If you keep doing that you know what’s going to happen next.”

“I know.” She smiled. “That’s exactly why I’m doing it. The only way you’re going to get used to this mental oneness we’ll share every time we make love is if we keep making love until you get used to it.”

He turned to her and took her into his arms. “Is this you’re way of agreeing to marry me?” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately.

“You take my breath away.” She said as they came up for air. “And the answer is no. Sonny, you and I are both vampire. A mortal ceremony will mean nothing to us. It only means something in the mortal world, but in the vampire world it means absolutely nothing. It’s time we stop conforming to mortal standards. We’re vampires, Sonny, and if we marry I want it to be a vampire marriage ceremony.”

“Carly, that’s complete myth.” Sonny declared.

“You thought about vampire sex.” She reminded him. “And you’re living proof it isn’t.”

“Carly, you and I are an anomaly.” He retorted. “Vampires don’t normally mate with each other. We generally mate with mortals.”

“They did at one time.” She answered. “It wasn’t until the mortal world shunned the vampire world that vampires mated exclusively with mortals so they could conform and fit into the mortal world. But there was a time vampires mating with each other was a common thing.” She added. “We both know what a vampire marriage ceremony entails. It’s a mating for life. In the vampire world there is no such thing as divorce. And I don’t think either of us is at the point where were ready for that. You’re uncomfortable with what happens when we have sex and that intimacy is nothing compared to what happens during a vampire marriage ceremony.”

“We don’t even know if those old stories are true.” He scoffed.

“Yes, we do.” She replied with a certainty. “I can feel it’s true and so can you. And until we’re both ready there will be no marriage between us.”

The phone suddenly rings. “Hello.” Sonny answered it answers impatiently. “Sorel, what do you want? You’ve done what!”

“What’s wrong.” Carly wanted to know. “What is it?”

Sonny turned to her. “Sorel has kidnapped your mother.”