Knots of Love – Chapter 21

Flashback (2006)

The lift plummeted into the water. James Bond leapt in and swam down to where it had fallen. He reached the lift, pulling at the gates in an attempt to get them open. Vesper swam over, held his hands and brushed her face against them. He felt her lips kiss his hand before she looked at him with remorseful eyes. She was pulled back without warning, hitting the wall as air escaped her lungs. She moved her hand and reached towards him, trying to speak although the message was lost. He tugged the gate a second time and tried in vain to get Vesper out. She went slack and floated to the side. Bond kicked the door and finally managed to get it open. He stretched his arm towards Vesper, pulling her out of her flooded tomb and held her tight as he made it to the surface.

With his free hand, he grabbed the roof frame, continuing to exhale when he laid Vesper on the building's surface. He checked her over a couple of times and shortly after, began CPR. Vesper lay still while he tried to revive her. Bond lent over, pressing his hands against her heart and stopped at least twice to perform mouth-to-mouth. He opened her airway, trying again and a final breath filled her lungs. He stopped abruptly, somehow convinced he'd already lost her.

He breathed in and out through clenched teeth, before glancing at Vesper with pain filled eyes. It was at short notice that he held her against him and buried his face against her hair while continuing to hold her. Moments later, the numbness faded and he walked away, finding strength through his hate of her betrayal. He was already gone when her heart started beating. It was weak, but it was enough to know she'd survived.

Vesper Lynd opened her eyes, before rolling over and beginning to shake through violent splutters. She blinked a few times against the light of the sun, arising slowly from where Bond had left her. Of course she'd noticed he wasn't there. She remembered betraying him, for the sake of making sure Yusef wasn't killed. Except it meant hurting Bond. And she hated herself for having to do that.

Vesper stood up on what was left of the sunken building and rubbed her head a couple of times. The pain in her head felt more like a bullet had torn its way through the hardness of her skull and she felt a sense of remorse as she walked away.

Six years later

Vesper Lynd was admittedly dead. Her body was lost to the wreckage, just like the henchmen who'd tried to kill her and 007. She made it seem that way so the treasury and MI6 had something to believe. Her parents had signed a death certificate, she'd heard about that. Now a new birth certificate, papers and passport were in her hands, replacing the former life she once had. Hannah Lockhart was who she was now and it was Hannah who didn't look back to who she used to be. Quantum's demands led to Bond eventually hating her. She knew that would happen and a part of her mind believed she deserved it.

It wasn't long until she discovered the truth about Quantum. They'd tried to kill Bond a second time. But this time he hadn't been alone. There'd been a girl with him. Vesper shouldn't have been surprised although when she learnt who the girl was, she still felt the truth like a bullet against her heart. Her sister was a spy. It had taken Zara six years to alter from a loving teenager into a calculating agent. Looking at Zara now, Vesper knew she'd been partly to blame. She recalled their childhood and the times she'd found it hard to go on her travels and be away from Zara. Because of Vesper, Zara had been pulled down, if not dragged, into the trouble her sister had faced.

Vesper stiffened when she understood how. The moment she'd realised, it felt as though the world had moved on, while she was left standing motionless and alone. Knowing Mr White had taken Zara, Vesper knew she couldn't walk away. She hadn't been aware Zara was part of this life, not until now. Even Yusef had tricked her.

She inhaled. Something hardened inside her chest and she looked around with an icy glare. Had Zara known what she was getting herself into? The question echoed through Vesper's mind and she felt the urge to protect her sister, like when they were children. Throughout her life, all she'd wanted was for Zara to be safe. Yet danger had found her.

She was packing a bag within minutes and throwing in the nearest things she could find: shirt, jeans, underwear, a jumper and makeup etc. Her heart pounded in ferocious beats while she grabbed her keys. Vesper reached for her passport and seconds later, bolted out the door.

XXXX

She made a phone call when she left the airport and grabbed an envelope from a man waiting patiently for her to arrive. Vesper thanked him when she took the envelope, before going over to find her car. She felt something rattle inside the parcel and kept her hands on it while she continued walking.

She drove to where they were holding Zara captive and parked slightly off the road, hoping the car wouldn't be too noticeable. Opening the envelope, she gave a satisfied grin when she looked up towards the house. She climbed out of the car and headed inside, doing whatever she could to trying and find the men responsible for kidnapping Zara. Copying 007, Vesper observed from within the shadows and came face-to-face with the chaotic gunfire. Bullets were fired and guards fell near her. She saw Yusef in the corner of her eye, but he was already gone by the time she'd realised it was him.

Bond and Zara were at the other end of the room, each of them waiting on opposite sides. She didn't miss the evident fear in Zara's eyes and was still unable to believe how much she'd changed.

Vesper moved before Zara saw her then made her way up to the staircase. She stopped abruptly, catching fragments of hasty footsteps and the rapid breathing of someone running. She ducked back, timing it right until advancing slowly towards the footsteps. A taunting glare rested on her as she swallowed hard, and glared back with no trace of emotion.

"If only you knew her as much as I had."

The bullet fired and hit Mr White. Vesper smirked…and lowered her gun.

A/N: 0_0 Oh…my God. Spread the news, she's the one who's done it.