Many thanks for all the messages and reviews on this one…. the journeys been a long one and I really appreciate all of you who have joined along for the ride. We still have a little way to go ….but the end is in sight!

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After a drive that seemed to go on for hours, the team finally arrived at their destination. Standing along the front entrance of the Louvre the group of friends and colleagues waited tense and pensive for Walter Sykes to arrive on the scene.

Helena's keen eye was the first to spot the foreboding suited figure strolling casually toward them in the distance, he had a group of 6-8 men following in his wake; Sam no longer seemed to be part of the gang.

'He's here.' The writer alerted the group and took a step forward half covering her girlfriend.

'Helena. How nice you could join us.' Sykes stood a couple of metres away from the brit.

'Cut the shit Walter. What do you want from us?' The inventor unconsciously let her hand slip to her thigh where she knew she concealed an incredibly sharp hunter's knife.

'My dear, there's no need to be rude regardless of the predicament you find yourself in. I would have thought it perfectly obvious what I want. I want the grail.' Sykes lowered his glasses and peered across the top of the rim at the archaeologist behind her raven haired protector.

Myka was the first to answer. 'You bloody idiot. We don't have the grail!'

The writer couldn't help smirk at the archaeologist's choice of words.

'I believe you Miss Bering…. But I am more than positive you found something in the Cathedral, something you did your very best to hide from me.' Sykes pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.

'That's because it's none of your fracking business old man.' Claudia gasped when she realised she voiced her thoughts out loud.

'Ahh Miss Donovan. We haven't been properly acquainted. It is thanks to you that I am here now. That smart phone of yours is a fantastic little gadget is it not.' The older man new exactly which buttons to press with the red head as Pete managed to catch the young American before she launched forward with her fists raised.

'So.' Walter looked back to the two women at the front of the group. 'Now we are all calm, shall we head to our next location? You will each get your own escort. Miss Bering you will drive with me.' Sykes nodded to his men who proceeded to surround the smaller group.

'No funny business any of you or the instruction will be sent to my people that Miss Well's daughter is no longer needed.' Sykes smiled sardonically.

Helena flinched as one of the suited monkeys grabbed her arm. 'I will make my own way thank you very much. I think you can trust I will certainly not be the first to make any foolish mistakes.'

The old man nodded at the body guard now standing behind the writer.

In a deathly silence the Brit and her band of American colleagues allowed themselves to be escorted to a convoy of three completely blacked out large SUV style cars. Myka was directed towards the front car while Helena was pointed to the second in line.

'Walter. I should ride with Miss Bering.' Helena's eyes were filled with panic; she would not be separated from the brunette.

'Should you now. I don't believe I agree with you on that Miss Wells. I think you will behave a lot better if you're not allowed contact with my favourite archaeologist.' Walter smirked as Myka was pushed down into the back seat of his vehicle.

'Wait.' Helena tried to maintain control of her wavering voice. 'I can help. Miss Bering may find her codes but I am the one who can crack them quickly for you.'

Walter looked quizzically at the writer.

'So far our journey has been littered with conundrums and I don't mean to belittle Myka's talents but this is most definitely where my uses lie.' Helena held her breath, she knew Myka could manage perfectly alone but she could not be separated from her.

'Very well Wells. Get in and do not make me regret this decision.' Sykes opened the opposite back door and Helena was shoved in less politely than the archaeologist.

Sat against the hot black leather seats, the doors remotely locked, the writer felt her palms begin to sweat. They were completely trapped and the Victorian did not like it one bit. From the position she was in sat directly behind Sykes, the time traveller could easily pull the knife from her thigh and have it at the old man's throat within seconds. The brit knew she could do nothing though….nothing until Christina and Myka were safe. Once her girls were out of harm's way Walter Sykes would be fair game.

'Where to then Myka?' Sykes turned his haggard face to stare at the women on the back seats.

Begrudgingly the archaeologist answered truthfully. She would give the man exactly what he wanted as long as he held Christina. 'The castle of Chinon. That's where the trail next leads us.'

'Thank you Myka.' Sykes turned back to face forwards as the driver pulled her way. 'See how easy this all is when we work nicely together and share things.' The old man tapped away on his phone and held the device to his ear.

'We're heading to the Castle of Chinon….Yes, bring them both and make sure they are kept somewhere nice and secure.' Sykes hung up and dropped the phone back in his lap.

Helena gazed across at her girlfriend. She longed to take her in her arms and tell her everything was going to be ok. Soon. Soon, she thought, it will be.

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Within the next few hours the archaeologist and her team were being escorted in to the old kings keep at the castle. With the brunette leading the way she racked her mind to figure out where the next clue would be. She knew the location…. but the keep was a huge tower made up of a vast amount of prison cells and officer board rooms. On a typical expedition she would normally dedicate at least a week to scouring the entire tower and Walter Sykes expected results instantly.

'Miss Bering, I hope you are not deliberately leading me astray.' Walter followed the archaeologist with his steely eyes as she explored the tenth room they had so far entered

'Mr Sykes this is not an exact science. From Chartres we were guided here …but any more than that to be honest you know as much as I do.' The archaeologist shrugged, she was feeling exhausted, physically and emotionally.

'Then what pray tell do I need any of you here for.' Anger lined the older man's vicious statement.

Helena answered from the other side of the room where she was being forced to wait away from the archaeologist. 'You arrogant ass…. Of course you need us….we are the first people in hundreds of years to be even slightly close to finding the elusive artefact.'

Laughing Sykes turned to the writer. 'Miss Wells you have such a delightful way with words. I do get the feeling however that you would say anything to me to make sure your precious daughter is left unharmed.'

Helena jutted her jaw out stubbornly. 'To be fair Mr Sykes I have no god damn reason to even know my Christina is still unharmed to make it worth helping you!' Helena knew she was playing a dangerous game but she needed to know her baby was ok.

'I'll tell you what…why don't we take a little break. Miss Bering come with me.' Walter took the archaeologist by the hand and gestured for one of his monkeys to bring the writer.

Climbing at least forty stairs the inventor and American were pushed through the next open doorway. There before them closed behind the cold bars of the old prison cell, huddled in the corner of the stone room was Christina. Forgetting the armed men around her Helena ran forward and called for her daughter.

'Christina! Baby…I'm here darling ….are you ok?' Helena stretched through the bars desperate to embrace her daughter.

'Mummy?' Groggily the little girl raised her head from where it was tucked in her arms. As soon as she spotted her mother she beamed from ear to ear. 'Mummy…can we go home now?' Christina ran to her mother's open arms.

'Soon sweetie, soon.' Helena stroked the little ones dark hair as the archaeologist watched the scene unfold her heart aching for the Wells family.

Without warning the writer suddenly found herself getting pulled away from the bars. The idiot body guard had pulled her back sharply by her hair.

'Now Miss Wells might I remind you ….you are not in control of this situation.' Sykes smirked at the writer whose blood was about to boil over.

'Open the door.' Walter ordered his guard to open Christina's cell.

As soon as the creaking metal was open the archaeologist and writer were pushed into the prison falling to their knees from the force as the bars were slammed loudly behind them.

'Don't say I don't do anything for you Helena darling.' Sykes taunted through the railings as the time traveller grasped her daughter in a suffocating hug.

'You have half an hour to remember exactly how much you have to lose and then we get back to work. I'm telling you now though…. if you do not have the answers to the next step in this journey before night fall you will learn that I am not a man of empty threats. The next thing that is removed from your daughter will be missed a lot more than a lock of hair.' Sykes turned on his heels and left the room his suited lap dog following in his wake.