Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 122

~ The Plot Thickens ~

Two months had passed since Nikolas had last set foot on Spoon Island. If not for Dawn's impassioned plea and loving reprimand, he would have stayed away indefinitely. Her tears affected him. He hated to see her cry and even more than that, he hated knowing that he was the cause of her distress. So, against his desires to the contrary, he now stood at Wyndemere's door and knocked.

Nikolas drew a long deep breath as he waited. After what seemed like an eternity, Mrs. Lansbury greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Mrs. Lansbury." He smiled at her as she ushered him inside.

"Hello, Mr. Cassadine," she said. "I can't tell you how good it is to see you. How is Mrs. Cassadine? I trust that she is well."

"She's perfect," Nikolas said with a smile. "Thank you for asking. Is he here?"

"He's in the study. I shall tell him that you're here."

Nikolas shook his head. "You don't have to do that. I still remember where it is."

"Very well, sir," she said with a nod before she left him alone.

Nikolas' eyes were on her as she left the room, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Now that he was there, how did he make that first step? He glanced around the room in search of the answer. He knew he couldn't turn back. Dawn would be disappointed. She would look upon him with dismay in her beautiful brown eyes. He shook his head. He couldn't disappoint her. He wouldn't.

He found the study door ajar as he rounded the narrow hallway. Taking a deep breath, he knocked once and then entered. Stefan dropped the papers he'd been holding as Nikolas stepped into the room. His eyes shone with surprise and then with a small glimmer of hope. Nikolas spoke quickly in an effort to remove any feelings of hope from Stefan's mind. "I'm here for Dawn."

"She's not ill, is she?" Stefan said, rising from behind the desk. "Is there something wrong with the baby?"

Nikolas shook his head. "I didn't mean to alarm you. She's fine. Both are. I'm here because she wants you to attend the surprise birthday party I'm having for her."

"Oh." The soft reply was filled with disappointment. "I see."

"Very well then," Nikolas said. He looked away from Stefan. He knew that Stefan wanted more from him, but he wasn't ready to give him more than that. The lies still hurt and until they stopped hurting, Nikolas couldn't forgive him. "What should I tell her?" he asked, turning away as he placed his hand on the door.

"Tell her that I'll be there, of course," Stefan said. "Nikolas?"

"The answer is no," Nikolas said. "I came here today because she asked me to and for no other reason than that."

"I know that, but isn't there anyway we could just talk?" Stefan asked as he took a step towards him.

Nikolas moved to face Stefan again. "I said what I had to say, but on second thought there's something else I need to tell you."

"Please do," Stefan said. He clasped his hands in front of him as he waited.

"Dawn loves you. I'm not sure if she's told you that, but she does. Don't manipulate her and use her love for you against her-"

"I would never do that. Surely, you know me better than that!"

Nikolas shrugged. "I thought I did, but these days, I'm not so sure. Listen, I didn't come here to argue with you or anything. I came because today is my wife's birthday, and she wants to share it with you. I love her and I'm willing to put aside my feelings about everything just for tonight because she asked me to. Now, I'm asking you again...or maybe even demanding it—don't hurt her."