Prologue

*****25 years ago***** 

As the Andropolous family relaxed in their living room, Mr. & Mrs. Andropolous heard a commotion outside. They looked at each other & knew there was trouble coming. ''Ari, Andreas...go to your room & lock the door now'', Mrs. Andropolous said urgently. ''But mother, why?'', asked Ari. ''Don't ask questions. Just go now'', said Mr. Andropolous. Ari & Andreas did as they were told. Just moments after they were locked in their room, they heard some people force their way in. 
Once her men had secured the room, Helena Cassadine entered. She looked to make sure her men had Georges Andropolous secured. She then smiled evilly as she approached his wife, Althea. She stood & looked at her for a moment before striking her across the face with all her strength. Althea cried out in pain as Helena slapped her. ''You stupid, stupid woman. Did you actually think that I wouldn't find out?'', said Helena coldly. ''Find out what?'', asked Althea innocently. ''About your affair with my darling Mikkos'', said Helena. She caught a glimpse of Georges' shocked face. ''That's right, she's been having an affair with my husband. Now she must pay'', said Helena. ''Allow me to punish her...please.'', pleaded Georges. Helena walked up to him & caressed his cheek. ''Oh, but you will punish her, my dear, I promise, as will I.'', she said. She then nodded to the man standing behind Georges. ''Find their sons, now!'', she ordered. Georges & Althea looked at each other in fear. Helena smiled at both of them. ''You see, Althea took something very dear to me, now I intend to take something very dear to you. Your sons will be coming with me. They will be raised by one of my servants & will live their lives in servitude to me'', she informed them. ''NO! Not our sons, please!'', sobbed Althea. Helena ignored her sobbed pleas. ''Neither of you will ever come to find either of them or attempt to retrieve them ever. See, for the rest of your days, you will both be under survelance. If either of you make a move to locate or take your sons back, they will be killed immediately'', she informed them. ''And do note that none of this would have happened if Althea would have just stayed away from Mikkos.'' Helena took pleasure in the rage in Georges' face as he glared at his wife. 
A moment later, the guard came in with the two boys at gunpoint. ''Now, children, say goodbye to your parents. This will be the last you will ever see of them. From now on, you will have a new mother & you will be in service to me for the rest of your lives.'', Helena informed Ari & Andreas. The boys looked at their parents in confusion. Helena nodded at the guard who started to guide them out of the house. The boys protested loudly. ''Silence, unless you want me to hurt your mother & father!'', she ordered. The boys became silent & allowed the guard to guide them to the waiting car. They sat there, waiting to be taken to wherever they were going, silent tears streaking down their faces. They had no idea what the future would hold for them beyond knowing that they would now be in service to this woman in some way. 
Helena gave Georges & Althea a final triumphant smile. ''Perhaps you will now learn not to take what does not belong to you.'', she said as she turned & left. Althea looked at her enraged husband, heartbroken over the loss of her sons. ''I'm so sorry'', she told him, sobbing. ''You are the reason we have lost our sons forever!'', he shouted at her. ''You are losing me as well. You have brought the solitude on yourself!'', he raged as he stormed out of the room to prepare to leave. A devistated Althea sank to her knees, sobbing inconsolably. No one could know that Althea would not survive that night as she would take her own life in desolation. 
Helena joined Ari & Andreas in her car. ''My dear boys, don't be so scared. You will see that when I am happy, I'm quite pleasant to be around. Just do your best to do as you're told...properly...and we'll get along just fine'', she assured them. Ari & Andreas looked at each other. They decided that the best thing to do was to stay on this woman's good side. They looked back at her. ''Yes, ma'm.'', they both told her. ''Very good, boys.'', she said, smiling at them as the driver drove off. ''Very good''