A/N: Hello everyone, sorry for the long wait on this one. I wanted to get the interactions just right, I plan to post 14 a lot quicker. So fingers crossed work doesn't get too busy. Anyway, you know the drill...read, review and enjoy! :)

Chapter 13

The mansion was a vision of modern architecture and glass. It was an aggressive display of wealth that I had rarely encountered outside the corrupt elite I had been sent to help kill in my previous job. The minimalist white walls contrasted against the numerous windows, lit up with fiery light from the setting sun. As we pulled up in front of the entrance two more guards moved towards the car, and I was aware of many more lingering in the immaculate gardens that surrounded this powerful woman's home.

It was easy to forget in her average looking office in Copenhagen, how wealthy Diana actually was. Equally, with his simple tastes and nomadic lifestyle 47 was also deceptively well off, although I had seen his villa in Sicily so knew better. I had never been short of money when I was a handler, although my career had been cut off abruptly, and my exploits in my Uncle's forest had cost a pretty penny. I wasn't sure how much I had left from those halcyon days, but I doubted whether I would have been able to buy a house in Wales with it, let alone somewhere like this.

The guards backed off when they saw 47 step out from the driver's side. I tried to gather my nerves before exiting the car, my stomach still felt like it was going to evacuate its contents on Diana's neat stone drive. Seren touched my shoulder lightly making me jump, I turned to face her and saw concern etched on her slim face.

"Are you okay ma?" A fierce protective love coursed through me and I gave her a shaky smile.

"Don't worry about me Seren." I could hear 47's low voice talking to one of the guards, and I knew I wouldn't have long before he came to see what I was doing. "Cariad, mae arnaf angen i chi wrando arnaf fi." Sweetheart, I need you to listen to me. Seren sat up straighter in her seat; she was a smart girl, smarter than most, and she knew I meant business if I chose to speak welsh to her. She gave me a curt nod, her expression becoming serious. "Mae'r person yr ydym ar fin cyfarfod yn bwysig iawn. Peidiwch â gofyn cwestiynau a gofalwch beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud. Wyt ti'n deall?" The person we are about to meet is very important. Don't ask questions and be careful what you say. Do you understand?

She narrowed her eyes slightly, but nodded slowly at me. "Maent yn bwysig fel Tobias, ond nid ydynt yn hoffi Tobias?" They are important like Tobias, but not like Tobias?

"Yes, exactly. Not like him at all." I let out a heavy sigh and began to summon the strength to face my mentor. I knew Seren had understood, even if I wasn't entirely sure what I meant. She had been a brilliant teacher and had defended me when I had gone against the agency, but I couldn't forget her betrayal in Romania. She hadn't trusted me then, and I was pretty certain I didn't trust her now.

Before I could stall anymore the passenger side door opened and 47 quizzically stared in at me. "Come on. She's waiting." The bile rose in my throat as I stepped awkwardly out of the car, and opened the door for Seren. She hopped out, her head swivelling wildly around taking in every detail. I grasped her hand tightly, more for my own comfort than hers, and walked behind 47 as he led us towards the entrance. The guards eyed us balefully as we passed, but the small girl next to me was un-phased, an excited grin plastering her face as she spotted the vast gardens looking out onto the lake. I squeezed her hand, fear shooting through me as we stepped up onto the porch. No matter what, if I didn't like where things were going I was going to take Seren and run; I had done it before and was sure I could manage again.

The fear gave way to a stab of guilt as 47 looked over his shoulder at me. His mouth twitched up at me in a brief half smile before he entered through the double doors and into a large, lavishly decorated hallway. Seren's excitement intensified, and I gave her hand another squeeze to remind her of our agreement in the car. Instantly she sobered, her body becoming still as she stood in the entrance next to me. I glanced down and she returned my look with shielded blue eyes, sometimes I was thankful of her similarities with her predecessor.

The inside of the mansion was certainly more impressive than the outside; the hallway led off towards a set of stairs on one side and an archway dead ahead. Through the archway I could see a cavernous open plan living area, all modern furniture and tasteful, probably very expensive, art. The floor was covered in dark wood, and the walls were a mixture of wine red paint and grey slate.

47 was stood in front of me, blocking a lot of my view but I could just about see the several bodyguards that had congregated suddenly in the hallway with us. Their slightly bewildered expressions told me what I had feared most; he hadn't called ahead to warn her. Just as I was frantically starting to think this was a terrible idea and where exactly my exits were, I heard the brisk, sharp retort of heels on hard wood flooring. I felt myself feeling grateful for 47's broad frame stood solidly in front of Seren and me, as the disembodied footsteps stopped suddenly and a tense silence fell on the strange gathering.

"What are you doing here?" My mentor's clipped, formal tone was instantly familiar, and I found myself subconsciously straightening up as if responding to a feared childhood teacher. 47 was unperturbed by Diana's abrupt manner, and I could almost imagine the cool look he was giving her.

"I thought it best to speak in person." The gaggle of bodyguards all jumped slightly at his low voice projected out in the crowded hallway. It was obvious he had been here before, and made quite the impression it seemed. I couldn't see her, but I heard Diana shift and let out an annoyed sound at his enigmatic answer. I supressed a bitter smirk as I noted it wasn't just me that got frustrated at that trait.

"I'm glad to see you survived. Although I may need to remind you about protocol regarding interfering in a client's business. Also, going AWOL was not-" Her voice was icy, and I realised she was speaking cryptically for the benefit of her entourage. Did they not know what their employer did? My mind was just delving into the meaning behind this secrecy amongst her personal staff, when I became aware that she had stopped mid sentence. Suddenly my old mentor's face appeared around 47's arm, shock evident in her wide eyes. "Peregrine?"

She shot a disbelieving glare at 47 before wiping her expression clean, placing a careful smile in its place. Stepping around the assassin she walked a few steps towards me until she was level with 47. She was dressed impeccably in a navy blue dress, her red hair tied up in an elegant French twist, she always made me feel underdressed. He turned to watch the awkward, nervous exchange that was about to take place, his expression unsure. I could feel my palms growing clammy in Seren's tiny fist as Diana stared at me, sweeping me with her intelligent eyes. Finally, after assessing my dishevelled appearance, her eyes came down to settle on Seren and widened even more in astonishment. Seren tightened her grip on my hand, and I sensed her unease at the unfamiliar woman's scrutiny.

"Well, you have gathered quite the following haven't you 47." Diana's smile widened as she regarded Seren, I noted the smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she turned to face him. 47 stared impassively back, his blue eyes flicked to me briefly before returning to his long time partner.

"It's been a while Diana. Good to see you." I wanted to get out of this awkward situation, filled with disjointed greetings and double meanings. I was suddenly bone weary and finding it hard to stand. Diana turned back to face me, that smile that wasn't quite a smile still on her face.

"And you Peregrine." My stomach clenched uneasily at the sound of my codename.

"Please, call me Morgan." Her careful mask slipped at the casual use of my real name. I guess in a world like hers, such an apparent disregard for cover was alarming, however I had washed my hands of that tiring confidentiality when I had taken Seren from that lab. She regained her composure quickly though, and nodded sagely.

"Of course, my apologies Morgan. And who is this?" Instinctually all my muscles tightened as she addressed the girl clinging to me, I wanted to protect her but was unsure what exactly I was protecting her from. Seren glanced up at me, her ice blue eyes searching mine for permission. I gave it with a tense nod, and instantly the girl's neutral expression melted into a charming smile that she turned on Diana full force.

"My name is Seren." Her high voice rang out confidently, despite the throng of intimidating adults. Awed pride spread through me at the sight of Diana's taken aback expression. I saw her really look at the girl for the first time; taking in her slim face, alabaster complexion and arresting blue eyes, before clocking the six year old's unusually still stance. Diana's head snapped round to look at 47, one eyebrow raised harshly. A thin-lipped smirk twisted her lips, but her eyes remained stony, as she turned back to look at Seren. Her gaze flashed briefly to me, and I knew my mentor had put two and two together. I frowned as she smiled kindly at the girl next to me, keeping her voice light, not betraying her sudden revelation about her origins.

"What a lovely name." Diana looked at me, her expression guarded.

"What's your name?" Seren's imperious tone rang out unexpectedly. Diana blinked, taken aback once more by the abrupt question from the serious looking girl. Then quickly gathering her senses she answered in a cool, calm voice; similar to the one I imagined her using as 47's handler.

"My name is Diana." Seren nodded once, seemingly satisfied with the woman's response. Diana gave us both one last lingering look before turning back to 47, all niceties melting away. "You must all be tired. You're welcome to stay the night." She walked back over to her still nervous security team, and span to face us, a reserved smile on her face. My insides clenched uncomfortably, I didn't like the concealed suspicion my old mentor was giving off. She had never been one for affection or displays of friendliness, but she was treating me like I was a particularly tricky client who shouldn't know too much. It made me uneasy.

"Why don't you go and rest for an hour then we can reconvene for dinner. We have much to discuss, I am sure." She directed this last comment at the assassin stood silently in front of us. He regarded her for a moment, before nodding solemnly. Flicking a brief glance at Seren and me, he walked purposefully off down the hallway as if he knew exactly where he was going. It confirmed my suspicion that he had been here before. I grimaced internally as that thought sent cold fingers of jealously across my chest; sometimes I really wished my body wouldn't betray me at every turn.

Diana watched 47 disappear into the living area beyond the hallway before fixing me with her forced smile once more. "There are two rooms upstairs you can use Morgan, and I'll get one of my men to get you some replacement clothes. I imagine you had little time to pack in all the excitement." My brow furrowed at her flippant use of the word excitement. Having my home invaded and my Uncle die in front of me wasn't exactly my definition of excitement, but you know…each to their own.

Diana took my silence as an affirmative, and turned briskly on her heels, leading the way up the wide, wooden stairs that branched off from the hallway. Letting out a minuscule sigh I tightened my grip on Seren's hand, before following my predecessor further into her gigantic house.

…

I brushed my fingers tentatively over the patchwork of bruises covering my stomach and back. It was like a Jackson Pollock of sickly yellow and deeply worrying purple. Judging by the extent of their coverage, I must have hit every tree root and rock in my ungainly tumble down the hillside. I had unravelled 47's carefully wrapped bandages to examine the ugly black stitches criss-crossing my arm and calf, like spider legs. The injuries were still sore, but bearable with the aid of 47's painkillers.

I let out another heavy sigh as I ran a hand through my matted hair; I needed a shower, bad. I hadn't had enough time in the past 24 hours to breathe, let alone wash. I had been en-route to the bathroom connected to my room when, I had been distracted by my trauma-ridden body in the full-length mirror. Standing in front of it in my underwear I felt a squirming knot of anxiety at my uncomfortable separation from Seren.

Diana had shown me to my room before leading Seren to an adjoining one. She had kept a calm expression as the strange woman propelled her out of my room, but before the door was shut between us I had seen a flash of desperation cross her face. I wasn't entirely happy about the temporary separation, but it did give me a chance to gather my thoughts for the coming meal and relieve some of my stress. I continued on my original journey to the en-suite bathroom and stood for what felt like an age below the large showerhead, letting the warm water wash over my aching body.

I did feel better once I was out and dry, and I let my mind focus on the task of re-bandaging my wounds carefully. There was a hollowness, which I had been wrestling with since leaving the farm in such dramatic circumstances, but now I allowed myself to delve into. I wouldn't admit it to Seren, and certainly not to Diana and 47 but I was scared. A deep, primal fear that came from the unknown. For all I knew Cicada were closing in on Seren and me as we rested here, and as much as I respected both 47 and my old mentor's capabilities I feared Cicada's power and intelligence far more. Out in the world I had hidden from for five years, I had no way of telling how they would strike next.

Awkwardly I pulled on the clothes Diana's security guard had brought me. A pair of jeans, a dark blue tank top, and a soft, checked shirt. It was what I had worn for years as a photographer and then as a handler. 47 and Diana had always expressed a frustration at me never changing my style, even in the field. I sighed as I looked in the mirror, it appeared Diana thought the old Perry was back; I wasn't so sure.

As I looked at the ghost in the mirror, my eyes drifted to the door to my room reflected behind me. My heart stuttered as I saw it was slightly ajar, I was certain it had been closed earlier. But it wasn't the door's opened state that had made my adrenaline spike; it was the pair of green eyes staring at me through the gap. Instantly I whipped around to see who was watching me, but they were gone as I focused on the crack in the doorframe. Had I imagined them? No, I was sure someone had been watching me, I had even felt that familiar tingle down my spine when your body senses an unseen set of eyes on it.

I remained fixed in place for a moment, my focus on the door, but the eyes didn't return and I told myself it had been a curious member of the security team. Unfreezing my limbs I continued getting ready for dinner, it was almost time to go down. However, despite my brain trying to forget what I had just seen I couldn't shake the eyes from my thoughts. They had been too low in the doorframe to be a bodyguard and they had burned with an unconcealed hatred that I hadn't seen before.

At around seven I moved reluctantly towards the door, dinner with my ex-teacher and mentor was the last thing I needed right now. All I wanted to do was curl up on the double bed with Seren and rock us both to sleep. I took a steadying breath in as I opened the door fully and almost let out an alarmed yell as the small figure stood in the doorway surprised me.

"Seren. Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack." I breathed out haltingly, trying to get my pulse rate down. The phantom owner of the green eyes must have freaked me out more than I cared to admit. Seren stared up at me innocently, her expression blank. She was wearing a blue pleated skirt, with thick wool tights and a white blouse. She looked like she was about to go to an extremely expensive school, not downstairs for dinner. She chewed on her lip anxiously, not responding to my jumpy mood. I noticed she was rubbing her upper arm as if it was hurting; I reached out and touched her hand gently. "Are you okay? What's wrong with your arm?"

She shook her head vigorously so her chocolate brown hair, which had been arranged in careful curls, fanned out, framing her face dramatically. "Nothing. My arm is fine."

I frowned down at her, sure she wasn't telling me the whole story but I could already hear the sound of Diana's voice floating up to us from below, mixed very occasionally with 47's brief, gruff replies. I took her hand away from her arm and held it as I began to move us down the corridor. "These are nice. Who did them?" I enquired, running a silky curl through my fingers. I had a feeling I already knew the answer, but wanted to distract myself from what we walking towards.

"Diana did. She said I had lovely hair." A strange feeling of jealously clawed at my stomach. It had been nice for Diana to look after Seren while I got ready, but I couldn't help the maternal outrage of another woman touching my daughter's hair in that way. I tried to shake the irrational feeling as we reached the bottom of the stairs and turned into the massive open plan living area.

Instinctively I tightened my grip on Seren as we stood awkwardly in the entrance to the sophisticated room. Designer furniture rested in the middle of the room, floor to ceiling windows dominated the far walls. I could imagine in the day they flooded the room with light, but now they were covered with wooded blinds. A grand piano was perched on a raised area in the corner of the room, and a mezzanine balcony was opposite, showing the doors of a number of other rooms upstairs. A few guards stood up there, leaning on the low wall, looking down into the living area. More guards were dotted periodically around the large floor space, trying to be incognito, there but not part of the proceedings. I was completely out of my depth in a place like this.

After taking in the impressive interior design my eyes were drawn to the two elegant people in the centre of the room. Diana was still in her navy, slip dress she had been wearing earlier, but 47 had changed out of his battered, weather beaten suit and into a fresh one; his appearance once again immaculate. I wondered absent-mindedly if he had his own supply of suits here, then the thought turned nasty and I quickly shied away from it. I couldn't help the feeling of not belonging though as I stared wide eyed at the perfectly suited pair, they were both holding wine glasses and Diana was smiling slightly as she murmured something to the assassin. His blue eyes were fixed on her face, intently listening to his trusted partner. The jealously I had felt at Diana doing Seren's hair intensified as I thought no one would put me in this picture voluntarily. Seren could easily wander over to the man and woman stood in this room and be mistaken for their daughter.

47 noticed my presence first, his ice blue eyes flicked to me and he angled his body automatically, opening up his huddle with Diana to include me. This simple gesture warmed my insides just enough to chase away the unattractive emotions I had been feeling. Diana turned, a little more reluctantly I felt, away from him to look at me as well. I took my cue and walked slowly over to the finely dressed pair, my shirt and jeans feeling a bit too casual next to them. Although, I reminded myself, Diana had technically dressed me. As I reached them 47's eyes swept up and down my body, and the faintest ghost of a smile flickered across his face, it was so quick I wasn't sure I had seen it but his eyes grew infinitesimally warmer as I halted by his side.

"You're looking better Per-Morgan." Diana's stumble drew my attention away from 47 and towards her. She gave me that small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes again.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for the clothes." I replied in a restrained tone. I still wasn't sure what Diana thought of us suddenly appearing on her doorstep, but she was doing a bang up job of hiding it. She nodded, her eyes briefly creasing to match her smile before she turned away and started walking out of the living area.

"Dinner will be ready soon, if you'd like to come this way." I glanced at 47, unsure of what to do. It was remarkable how in five years I could learn to survive an army of hitmen and mercenaries but five minutes in the company of my old teacher could make me feel as naïve and inexperienced as when I first met her. The assassin looked down at my uncertain expression for a second before tilting his head in the direction Diana had gone.

"Come on. It'll be fine." He was up to his old mind reading tricks again, I thought sourly as I walked beside him into an adjoining dining room. A large mahogany table took centre stage in this room; it was polished to a fine sheen and was surrounded by matching chairs. Diana was stood on the other side of the table to us, waiting behind a chair set in the middle of the table. I noticed with some confusion that it was set for five people, not four and Diana must of noticed my perplexed expression as her face twisted into a pained smile.

"If you don't mind, there will be one more joining us." There was a strained quality to her voice, and I felt an ominous shiver run through me as I stopped behind a seat opposite her. 47 moved smoothly to stand beside me, Seren on the other. Just as I was preparing to sit down Diana's expression changed to one of apprehension as her gaze switched focus to something, or someone behind us. "Ah, here she is now."

Automatically I turned to see this mystery dinner guest, and instantly my muscles clenched in surprised fear as the green eyes I had seen lurking behind my door stared right back at me. They belonged to a lean, uncomfortable looking woman, her slightly sallow face framed by long, dark hair. She was stood still, her hands clenched in tight fists by her side, she seemed to crackle with a volatile energy more suited to a life or death situation, not a gathering at a dinner table. There was the faintest smattering of freckles around her nose, giving her tired face a youthful quality, but I suspected she was in her mid to late twenties judging by her stature. Her mouth was downturned and set in a tight line, pulling her usually pretty features into a mask of distasteful aggression, and those eyes. They still burned with the same hatred I had seen before, and they were focused in on Seren and me; they flicked in an agitated way between us before finally, after a tense and unexplained standoff, she looked at 47.

The change was instantaneous and alarming. Her body relaxed and her angular expression softened to one of relief almost, her mouth turning up at the corners, changing and lightening her features. The years appeared to drop off her as she smiled shyly at the assassin next to me, and I saw a connection I hadn't encountered before with this man. She was staring at him with a mixture of embarrassment and awe, much like a daughter might look at a long absent father. He gave her a fleeting half smile, and nodded his head ever so slightly in greeting.

"Victoria, you're late. Come and sit next to me." Diana's curt voice cut through the awkward reunion, making the woman flinch. I stared at her as she moved quickly around the table to stand by her guardian, the unpredictable energy I had detected building again as her eyes flashed periodically to Seren. I knew who she was, as much as she had aged I recognised her from her file. Still, it was a shock to see her in the flesh. I had read a lot about her when investigating the agency's apparent dubious experiments into cloning and genetics.

Her early life had been turbulent and violent, resulting in Diana kidnapping her at the age of fourteen and hiding from the ICA. It had been an unusually risky and selfless act for the experienced and pragmatic handler to take, and I had wondered back then how she could make the decision to turn her life upside down for one girl. Clearly my perspective had changed now, but Victoria didn't seem to be the relieved, well-adjusted person I had expected after all these years. She leaned away from Diana, as if trying to keep a respectful distance, and I saw no affection between the pair. If anything, the older woman looked embarrassed at the other's presence. An uneasy feeling crept over me as I slowly took a seat with the rest of the odd gathering.

Victoria sat opposite Seren and me, and an overwhelming desire to take us back upstairs tiptoed into my mind. Her green eyes seemed to burn into Seren, but the little girl next to me was apparently un-phased by this strange, hostile woman. She started picking up the various utensils laid out in front of us, examining the highly polished silver with interest. It was definitely a far cry from my Uncle's humble country kitchen back home. A pang of homesickness washed over me as I gently laid a hand on Seren's, forcing her to put down the butter knife she was holding. When I looked back up at the table my cheeks flamed harshly as the rest of our company were watching us intently. With the exception of 47 of course, he stared impassively ahead, as still as stone.

Diana made some inane conversation about the food as a pair of waiters appeared suddenly with our first course. It was a complicated looking affair, made up of what looked like prawns and some other fancy garnish. Gingerly, I picked up what I assumed was the correct tool for the job and started to eat. I felt myself beginning to retreat instinctually; it had been five years since I had last been in 'normal' society, and I had grown unaccustomed to small talk. My Uncle, being a straight talker, had never been one to shoot the breeze with me. I found myself matching 47's polite stare and it wasn't until he shot a sideways look at me that I realised Diana was talking directly at me. My host was wearing a concerned expression, but underneath I could just make out the slight tinge of annoyance.

"I said we have a lot to discuss Morgan. Starting with how you managed to last so long." I narrowed my eyes at her, conscious of Seren's attention being focused on our conversation. She didn't notice my reservation however, or chose not to. "According to my intel, just under a hundred freelancers and mercenaries attempted to complete the contract on you. It appears we put you in the wrong job." Her mouth twisted up into a genuinely amused smile at this last part, I didn't return it.

"It's funny how quickly you can learn when you have a price on your head." My voice was level and cold as I kept a stony eyed stare on Diana, I really didn't want to have this discussion with Seren around but I felt I wasn't going to have a choice. 47's mouth twitched at my abrupt response and I saw Diana's eyes flick to the small movement with lightning quick speed.

"Quite." Diana's voice was brittle, as if she was keeping something at bay. If the idea hadn't appeared completely bizarre to me, I would have sworn she was giving 47 a warning look. Her face cleared, the distasteful emotion evaporating as quickly as it had appeared. "Seren, do you remember anything before the farm?"

My whole body stiffened reflexively. What did she think she was doing? Seren looked up from her plate, her blue eyes locking onto Diana. I heard the woman's sharp intake of breath as she regarded the girl next to me. Glancing down at her I could see the unsettling resemblance clearer than ever to the man sat on my other side. A burning feeling on the side of my face drew my gaze to the person sat opposite us. Victoria was sat rigid in her seat, her eyes blazing as she stared at me, unblinking. I wasn't afraid to admit she intimidated me, more so than my old mentor. Her unabashed disdain for Seren and me made me feel on edge, as if at any moment she could leap across the table to attack us.

Seren was still oblivious to the acid look Victoria was giving us, or at least she was pretending to be. She cocked her head to one side, as if thinking about Diana's question before answering in a high, confident voice. "I remember meeting my Uncle Rudy, I remember travelling, on a train I think. And I remember the metal box where I used to sleep."

My blood ran cold at the child's frank answer. I felt like I was back on the farm when she had confessed to knowing her original name. Victoria's hostile expression widened to one of shocked surprise at Seren's admission. A new emotion flooded her vivid green eyes, one of deep fear.

"You remember all that?" Diana's voice was gentle, but I could hear the probing curiosity concealed within it. Seren was warming up to the woman's questioning, and she nodded her head, her mouth stretching into a warm smile.

"Yes, and I can remember the name I had before this one."

"Seren, digon." Enough. The words shot out of my mouth like a whip crack. Instantly Seren's smile vanished and she became unusually interested in her food once more. I wasn't ready to delve this far into Seren's subconscious memories, especially not in the present company.

"I know you don't want Seren to be exposed to her past, but there really is no getting away from it." Diana spoke in a condescending tone that sent a wave of irritation through me. I glared icily at her, but her expression remained unchanged, her cool eyes regarding me pragmatically. Before I could retort the waiters returned and removed our now empty plates. Diana became the gracious host, enquiring as to whether we had enjoyed the starter and would we like more drinks. She was definitely playing a game with me, and I was unsure of the rules.

Once the table was cleared the waiters were back almost immediately it seemed, carrying our main. The smell of cooked meat wafted over us, and even I was temporarily distracted by the impressive steak that was placed in front of me. I had done my best with my Uncle's meagre funds, combined with my hunting skills, however it had been a long time since I had had a meal like this. Seren too was transfixed, her eyes growing large at the sight of what she had been presented with. The heated conversation was diverted while Seren and me savoured our meal. I was conscious of Diana's curious eyes still on me, but for the moment I didn't care.

After a while I became aware Diana had switched her focus to Seren, the analytical look in her eyes putting me instantly off my meal. I could feel the tension building again and had a feeling Diana wasn't going to drop her previous train of thought.

"How much have you told her Morgan?" The question came out of nowhere, and it took a moment for me to collect my thoughts.

"Enough, for now." I spoke in a low voice, filled with warning. I hadn't come here to be interrogated; I threw a venomous look at 47 as Diana let out a patronising sigh.

"From personal experience, there is no point in hiding these sort of things." The tension increased between us, creating a dense atmosphere that settled around the table.

"I'm not hiding anything." I growled softly though clenched teeth. I felt 47 shift slightly next to me, he was angling himself towards me obviously perceptive to my building aggravation. I tried to steady my breathing; losing my temper here was not a wise idea, but I could already feel my patience slipping away. "I just want what's best for her, a normal childhood without the risk of becoming…" I trailed off, unsure how I wanted to finish that sentence. However Victoria's eyes flashed dangerously across the table at me, and I saw her straighten, outrage etched in her features.

"Like me? Like him?" She jutted her chin out, indicating 47 as she challenged me in a strained voice, as hard as steel.

"That's not-" I tried to defend myself, feeling the tension start to evolve into something I didn't like.

"It is." She spat the words at me. I could feel the force behind them, but didn't have any time to defuse the rapidly escalating situation before she drew breath again. "I tried to run from who I was, was told to, and it was useless in the end. It'll be the same for her." Now I could feel my own anger rising to match hers, Seren sat still and quiet next to me, her eyes zeroed in on the woman opposite.

"Victoria, I think you'd better go." Diana's voice was stern, the voice of authority but Victoria had reached the point of no return and her sudden anger seemed unquenchable.

"No, why should I? I'm just being honest. Something you wouldn't know much about." Victoria's voice rose with each sentence, her anger a crackling halo around her now. I was aware of 47 tensing next to me, his body angling more and more towards the confrontation erupting at our end of the table.

"Calm down." His deep voice cut through the argument like a knife, and for a moment it looked like Victoria was going to obey him. She stared at the assassin, a vulnerable look on her face before her expression hardened again.

"This is stupid. Am I the only one who can see history repeating itself?" Confusion clouded my already heightened senses, every nerve in my body wanted to grab Seren and get out of here. But like a deer staring down a charging bear I was fixed in place, running felt like the wrong thing to do. I tried to defuse the volatile situation as I became ever more aware how close Victoria was to Seren.

"It won't, not if I can help it." I spoke in a slow, steady voice but it had little affect on Victoria who was now almost visibly shaking with frustrated rage.

"You can't change anything. She's just like us." Her voice wavered on the last word, and I knew without her spelling it out that she was referring to herself and 47.

I shook my head sadly, making sure to keep my voice level. "You're wrong. About her, about yourself." Victoria's anger had been explosive up until that point, but now her eyes narrowed and I felt it condense down, until it was a hard, point directed at me.

"Really?" Her voice was quiet, but there was a deadly edge to it that made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. Adrenaline flooded my system as I felt a shift in the atmosphere, I was hyper aware of 47 shifting too, and Seren's statuesque posture. The detail in Victoria's face intensified as time began to slow down. Her eyes turned from a blazing green fire to a cold blankness that was all too familiar to me. "I'll prove it." She hissed, and my stomach flipped in a nauseating way as I predicted what was about to happen.

Victoria lunged across the table towards Seren, her hands outstretched, fixed in unfriendly claws. My body moved without me being conscious of it, a protective anger sweeping through me, taking control. I felt myself stand up to my full height, grabbing the back of Seren's chair and pulling her out of reach. Then I was sidestepping in front of her, directly in the path of the attacking woman. I prepared myself for the feeling of her strong hands around my throat, as the cold, metal of the steak knife filled my hand and I brought it up towards her face.