Alex pulled the car into the driveway. The gravel turned the tires bone white with dust. Chloe smoothed down her dress as she climbed out of the car. She looked up at the mansion. In the dark, it was lit by powerful floor lights that cast dramatic shadows over its face. Only two windows were lit on the second floor, making the building look vaguely human along with its leafy beard. A man in a black and white uniform was hobbling towards them. Chloe took the boy's hand briefly and kissed his cheek for luck. The man led them through a different entrance to the side of the mansion. The path there led them around the walls of it. Before they entered, Chloe took note of a small window at the base of the left wall. It was set right at the very bottom along the ground, probably looking into the basement. A dim light seemed to be coming from it, but it could have been a reflection from the butler's torch.

"The master is waiting for you upstairs," said the man, pointing to a narrow set of stairs.

Chloe recognised the floor they came to and the locked door from the party. This time it was wide open, no need to care about the camera either. Down the long white hallway was Vaughn's office. The door was ajar, allowing the thick, acrid scent of cigar smoke to find them. Alex knocked twice.

"Enter."

This was the first hurdle, and it would be down to luck whether it was one foot high or ten. If Yassen Gregorovitch had someone slipped past MI6's notice and was waiting in that room, it was all over. Chloe pushed the door open the rest of the way. It was just him, reclined in his plush armchair with a thick cigar between his teeth. His white smile gleamed through the mist of smoke that clouded his head like a dark halo. He rose to greet them.

"John," he said and shook Alex's hand firmly. He took the cigar from between his lips and held Chloe's hand. His lips touching her skin made it crawl as if it were alive with ants.

"Irene," he said.

"I'm flattered that you remember my name," Chloe said politely.

"I never forget a name or a face."

"I was wearing a mask."

"Ah- that you were. Sharp this one," he said this to Alex as if it were some inside joke.

"Too sharp for her own good," he offered, playing along.

Vaughn laughed too hard and too long. Chloe realised that he'd been drinking. There was a drained glass of whiskey next to an equally empty decanter on his desk.

"Where's the party?" Chloe said innocently. Vaughn had instructed Alex to tell her they were going to a party. He must have said the same thing to Mike Chapman too.

"Oh, there must have been some misunderstanding. It's just us." there was that smile again. An inside joke between him and Alex.

"I-"

Vaughn raised a hand, cutting her off, "am I not enough fun for you two? Here- drink! Everything is more fun with a drink."

The man turned away to rummage in a cabinet full of bottles. Chloe used the time to take a good look at Vaughn's study. The first thing she noticed was the camera on the ceiling. It was dome-shaped (the kind that had no blind spots) and was set into the centre of the ceiling, She slid her eyes over the desk. There was a desktop monitor and a PC to the left of that. That was the second hurdle. How were they going to get the RAT in the computer right under his nose? Vaughn returned with two more glasses and a bottle of champagne. Chloe knew that drinking anything from this man was a bad idea, but what could she say to get out of it? It would be strange to refuse after coming with the intent of partying. She thanked him for the drink. The CEO looked at her expectantly and she took a hesitant sip of the liquid.

"Well?"

"I'm not such a big fan of champagne," she said truthfully.

"Honesty- I like that! Most people would have pretended to love it even if it made them want to vomit."

"It's not in my nature to lie."

"Ha! Is that so? Still, I would prefer if you finished your drink. It would be such a waste otherwise."

"No thanks," Chloe laughed, trying to lighten the atmosphere, "I don't like it."

Vaughn was still smiling. He rolled his eyes at the girl, but something about his smirk set her on edge.

"John- tell her. Shouldn't she finish her drink?"

He was speaking like a character in a kid's cartoon, voice almost patronising. Alex caught on. The boy shot his girlfriend an apologetic look.

"Finish the drink, Chloe."

The girl knew it was time to play her role. But it was too soon. They hadn't delivered Kyra's device yet.

"You're freaking me out," she laughed, "knock it off, I'm not drinking it. Get me a beer or something and I'll have that."

Vaughn jerked his head at Alex. The boy walked to her, another apology in his eyes. The glass of champagne was in one hand, his other arm wrapped lighting fast around her neck.

"Drink it. Now."

Chloe struggled against him, pleaded for him to let go. When her efforts failed, she relented and drank the whole thing.

"Put her on that chair," Vaughn indicated to a wooden seat against the wall. Alex put the glass down. Chloe noticed a white residue at the bottom. They had anticipated this and were relying on Chloe's tolerance to save her.

"Feeling sleepy?" Vaughn teased but Chloe was glad he said it. It meant that the drug should have taken effect already. It hadn't. Her hard-won tolerance had paid off. Chloe sat down hard in the chair as Alex guided her. She lolled her head from side to side and let her eyelids slide open and shut. She had to make it believable.

"Did you drug me?"

"Good of you to catch on," Vaughn laughed cruelly, "and here we were just praising your sharpness."

"What's going on, Alex? What is this?"

Even though she was well aware that he was acting, the boy's look of disdain hurt. It was the second time she'd seen that face, the first time it hadn't been Alex.

"He wants you gone. He's sick of you and he wants you dead. Isn't that right?"

Alex nodded. Chloe gaped at him. Vaughn shoved a piece of cloth into her open mouth and tied it around her head. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a zip tie. This went around her wrists.

"Now that that's out of the way…"

Vaughn smiled pleasantly and offered Alex a seat.

"One second," Alex said.

He walked over to Chloe and grabbed her by the hair. The girl looked up at him weakly.

"Stupid girl. You'll get what's coming to you."

He circled to her back and made a show of tightening her restraints. Chloe felt him squeeze her hands in reassurance, before joining Vaughn on the sofa. He reclined, one arm thrown over the back.

"Sorry about that. Just wanted to make sure she wasn't going anywhere."

"No worries. Quite a lot of you guys like taking part."

"I've been dying to know what this is all about," Alex said, "when Mike told me what you could do for me, I couldn't help but think there was a catch."

"No catch. I'm just a charitable kind of man."

"Come on," Alex smirked, "you must get something out of it. Humour me. You have money, power, reputation, all the women you could ever want. What does this give you that money can't buy?"

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

Chloe and Alex could see that his guard had been raised. Alex changed tactics.

"Something tells me the two of us are of a mind. And, I have to admit, I look up to you a great deal. You are everything a guy like me dreams to be. I guess I just can't let the opportunity to pick your brain pass me by."

Vaughn laughed in a deep baritone, "alright Alex. I like you. I do. If you really want to know, I'll tell you."

Alex leant forward in his chair. Chloe pretended to be passed out on hers.

"It's spiritual," the CEO said.

"Spiritual?"

"Yes. She-" he pointed at Chloe, "- is a symbol. A representative of everything holding you back. She is the reason you can't reach the heights you strive for. Didn't you tell me as much? You need to sever that weight and free yourself."

"Like a sacrifice?"

"Exactly."

Alex considered this for a while, then said, "what a load of bullshit."

Chloe almost snapped her head up. She had to trust that Alex knew what he was doing.

"Excuse me?"

"I think that's the line you feed your 'followers', but I think there's another reason you do this. The real reason."

Through her lashes, Chloe could see Vaughn's face darken. To his credit, Alex didn't shift or fidget under the scrutiny. Then the man snorted and threw his head back, sniggering like a child caught in a harmless lie.

"So? Was I right?"

"I do like you, Alex," Vaughn said again, "Yes. I suppose you're right. That's the reason I give the guys and they eat it up. They all need someone to blame, I suppose. Their lives are falling apart, they have no future. They see themselves as expendable and insignificant. Little worms trying to wriggle through the dirt. Then they meet a girl. They fall in love, but when it's not perfect, that's just another reason to loathe their lot in life," he took a long drag from the cigar, "and when they feel so out of control, who's there to be their scapegoat? Maybe if they just got rid of her, things would be okay. That's when they come to me. And I give them what they want."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Vaughn's eyes narrowed. He lifted one leg over the other.

"Don't be slow," he said. Loathing creeping into his words like a poison.

Alex's lips quirked as if coming to a realisation, "I knew we were of the same mind."

"Really?" Vaughn questioned, though his tone was pleased, "then you must come to the summer eclipse. That's when they die."

Chloe nearly choked. Finally, they knew the endgame. But that didn't stop her blood from turning cold. If MI6 didn't come through. She would meet that fate, in whatever form it took. Alex also had to regain his composure, masking his discomfort with a laugh.

"I would like nothing more."

"You're okay with leaving this one alive for now?"

"The anticipation is half the fun."

"I couldn't agree more, son."

"Why during the eclipse?" Alex asked, "what's the significance?"

"Another silly question," Vaughn took another drag from the cigar. Chloe realised he was doing it on purpose to add emphasis to his words, "why do it on any other day? The eclipse is so close. How glorious will it be to spill so much blood as the sun blots out the moon? Of course, the guys think there's some kind of spiritual significance to it all. Let them think what they want, I say."

"You've really got them wrapped around your finger, huh?"

"Like you wouldn't believe."

Vaughn threw the stub of the cigar into an ashtray.

"Time to get this one stowed away I think," he said, standing.

Chloe had to create some kind of distraction. The plan had been for her to deliver the device while Alex kept Vaughn busy, but it looked like it would be the reverse. It was so tempting to open her eyes. Any kind of communication with Alex would be helpful. Instead, she had to trust that he'd pick up on her plan.

"Mmmf," she groaned into the material of the gag and lolled her head, eyes rolling around in their sockets.

"Oh?" Vaughn sounded amused. He grabbed her chin, turning her from side to side, "she's still barely conscious. Is she a drug user?"

"Yeah," Alex said, hoping it was the right answer. Vaughn was still focussed on Chloe, who was struggling pathetically at her restraints. He didn't notice Alex slip behind the desk. Vaughn knelt in front of the girl.

"The drug addicts are always annoying. You better not go into withdrawal while you're here. It's so unsightly."

Chloe just groaned and squirmed, pretending her eyes couldn't focus enough to see Alex slip the RAT into the USB port. She kicked her foot against the chair leg to mask the distinctive click.

"I would give you another dose, but you'd probably just enjoy it."

"I don't know if that's how sedatives work," Alex said. It would have been more suspicious if he remained silent. Now it was just a waiting game. One short minute and Kyra's program would be transferred. It had only been twenty seconds. Alex slid back around to the front of the desk, blocking the computer with his body.

"Where did you find her?" Vaughn asked over his shoulder. Even with her eyes closed, Chloe could feel his studying her every twitch, "on some street corner I bet."

"No just- just a friend of a friend kind of thing. A buddy of mine hooked us up."

"Let me introduce you to some real women sometime," he said, "every man needs to experience real women at least once in their life."

Neither Chloe nor Alex had any idea what a 'real woman' was to Vaughn, and Alex wasn't brave enough to ask.

"Sure. Sounds fun."

"'Fun'," Vaughn scoffed, "an inadequate word if there ever was one."

He stood back up and Chloe heard his knees click. It was easy to forget that he was a middle-aged man. His thick hair and relatively wrinkle-free face made his true age hard to tell.

"I've been meaning to ask about one thing," Alex said, stalling. Another twenty seconds to go, "Mike's probably going to kill me for saying this…"

"Spit it out."

"He said that you owed him, but not why. For the outside, it looks like you're the one doing him a favour."

"You should keep your distance from that boy," Vaughn wore the face of a man who'd just smelt something vile, "he's… weak, shall we say."

"Why?"

"Well, like you, he wants a certain somebody disposed of without a trace. He's weak because he refuses to do it himself."

"And why is that a favour to you?"

Vaughn's sickening smirk pulled at his lips, "you should know how to spot when a man is talking himself up, Alex," Vaughn said, "though I suppose it is half true. The reason he sees me as owing him a favour is because I get to take his place in the eclipse."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you've heard in the news. Seven girls now. Their seven partners minus one are all waiting for the eclipse to take their place. Now, I get to participate."

"You weren't before?"

"I did have someone lined up, but she got away," Vaughn didn't elaborate, "enough now. She needs to go to the vault before she wakes up proper."

After a quick call, a burly man with a shaved head came for her. Sanderson. He took sick pleasure at the sight of Chloe's ragdoll form after giving him so much trouble the night before. Alex used the distraction of his arrival to retrieve the device. He gave the okay symbol, hand low at his leg. Chloe wished that made her feel safer. She was still going down into the vault, whatever that meant, but at least Jones and everyone at MI6 would be watching out for her now that Kyra's malware was in place.

"Want to see the setup?"

"Sure."

Sanderson, slung Chloe over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a sack of flour. The sudden change in position made her head spin. The drug had some effect tolerance or no, though she still had her wits about her. Sanderson headed the party down to the vaults. Down two sets of stairs was a kind of gallery. There were dozens of paintings and sculptures lining the walls that no doubt cost a fortune. Nicole and her employer had similar tastes, it seemed. Vaughn seemed more interested in the female form, however. The majority of the images depicted women, some reclining, some bathing, others being brutally murdered. Chloe thought of all the oblivious guests that must have seen these paintings, admired the craftsmanship and theme, all while completely unaware of the real women below. Sanderson's shoulder was digging into Chloe's middle, making it hard to breathe. With every step he took, it dug in a little more. Vaughn stepped towards the biggest painting the girl had ever seen. Enclosed in a golden frame was the scene of a massacre. Roman soldiers pursued women and children as they fled from spears and swords alike.

Vaughn ran his hand under the bottom of the frame. There were four clicks as if he had entered a code, and the frame swung open. Another obstacle blocked their path. This time in the form of a rectangular vault door. It was silver with a wheel-shaped handle; several hydraulic sleeves shot off from the middle. The CEO stepped back, allowing Alex to do the honours. The boy took hold of the handle and pulled hard. Chloe was expecting the groaning of metal or the screech of rusted joins, but the door opened noiselessly. Sanderson entered first without a word. A short harshly lit corridor took them to a larger room.

"Jesus…"

With her head on the big man's back, the girl couldn't see why Alex had reacted in such shock. Sanderson took out a set of keys.

"Get back," his voice was gruff and harsh. He wasn't talking to Vaughn or Alex.

There was the sound of many shuffling feet before he opened another door. The man let Chloe slide to the floor. She groaned as she made the impact, but continued to pretend to be out of it. The door was locked behind her. She snuck a look under her eyelashes. Thick metal bars were the first things she saw. Past them were three pairs of feet.

"Look at them all..."

"I knew you'd appreciate it," Vaughn said.

"How long did this take? When did you make this place?"

"It was already here. It was the mansion of some paranoid oil barren before I got my hands on it. The man was terrified someone would try and steal his money, so he made this thing to keep people out. A happy coincidence."

"What happened to him in the end?"

"Hmm," Vaughn thought for a moment, "what was it, Sanderson? Assassination?"

"Suicide."

"That's right. Anyway. We should leave the girls to it. There's always a big fuss when a new girl comes in. I'll show you out."

Chloe watched three pairs of feet exit through the vault door. The slam seemed to vibrate the whole room and suck out the air pressure. After a beat, she felt a hand on her side.

"Are you alright?" said a woman.

Chloe sat up, rubbing the shoulder she landed on, "I'm okay."

The girl turned to the voice. It was Christie, her curly red hair was tangled and greasy. She was still wearing the party dress from when Chloe had last seen her. Behind her were the other girls. A rush of relief made Chloe's heart tighten. They were alive. Vaughn had said as much, but to actually see them was the solace she needed. Now all MI6 had to do was get them out.