DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, dead or otherwise, except for the original ones so don't sue. Because if ever I do own them, I'll only make them do my assignments and projects (damn, I'm lazy!). Okay? Okay…
A/N- I have this crazy notion to end this story by the first week of October, so that I could start on my second Jack-Irina centric fic. But the story seems to extend until chapter thirty, so… I don't know what to do… thank you for the encouraging reviews, I really appreciate them. :-D
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sloane was entertaining some people when Nadia knocked and opened the door into his office. She is so bored inside the house. She wants to go out.
"Ah, Nadia. Come in." Sloane said as he stood up and motioned her to come closer. There were two blondes inside, one male, and one female.
"Nadia, do you remember Mr. Sark and Ms. Reed?
She gave them a bored look. "Oh, yes, father." She answered. She definitely remembers these two blondes.
"You look so much like your mother." Sark remarked. "Doesn't she, Mr. Sloane?" he asked.
"Is that a compliment or an insult, Mr. Sark?" Nadia asked coolly. It might be a compliment considering that her mother is beautiful, but she resents Irina. The woman abandoned her, fro crying out loud! Her father implied that her mother hates her.
Do you really believe everything your father is telling you?
There was doubt inside her. But she grew up in Argentina, which is so far from Russia. And her mother didn't even try to find her.
"Oh, that is very much a compliment, Ms. Santos. Your mother is one of the most stunning women I've ever encountered in my whole life." Sark answered sincerely. Irina Derevko is a goddess walking amongst men. And her children definitely take after her.
"Enough of the banter, children." Sloane said. "Now, if you could just leave Ms. Reed and me alone. We have some business to discuss."
Sark and Nadia looked at him. Nadia listened to her father and went out of the room.
"Go on, Julian. The business doesn't deal with you." Lauren said to Sark. Sark cocked a brow. A dead woman is ordering him around.
But he went out. He found Nadia standing in front of the door.
"Do you believe everything your father tell you?" Sark asked after closing the door.
Nadia looked at him. That was the very same question she asked herself a while ago.
"No. I'm not that naïve." Nadia answered.
"But it seems that you believe his lies about your mother." Sark said and walked away from her.
"Irina Derevko is a sociopath. A manipulative, scheming sociopath. She abandoned Sydney and Jack Bristow. She fooled my father. And she's now raising a monster who is the heiress to her organization. How can I not believe what my father said when I witnessed part of her evil?" Nadia replied when she followed him.
"You're judgment of her is so cloudy. You don't know her. Don't conclude when you don't have enough evidence." Sark said when he heard her reply. "Don't say things you'll regret later."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Nadia asked.
"Your mother is one of the most protective persons I've ever known. She wouldn't do that to any of her children if she didn't have any option. And apparently, she didn't have any choice. They captured her before she knew she was pregnant. And she's been looking for you ever since Ana was born."
Nadia stared at him.
"Stop making up stories." She scoffed.
"I'm just saying this because your mother saw your sister die in front of her! And she blames herself for bringing her into the world. Now ask yourself, if Irina Derevko really hated you for being Arvin Sloane's daughter, why did she continue her pregnancy with you?! So that you could suffer?! I don't think so!" Sark said and stalked off, leaving the dazed-with-the-revelation Nadia. He is fuming with anger.
He is partially responsible for Ana's death. He was the one who introduced her to Simon Walker and Simon Walker introduced Anya Ivanovnich's services to the Covenant.
'Irina, I'm sorry.'
-x-x-x-
Sydney is sitting on the carpet in the living room, scanning photo albums. The one she is holding seems to be one of the most recent ones, since it was filled with Jacob's pictures.
"It appears that looking at photo albums are one of your hobbies. You've been here all morning." Sydney looked up and saw Katya entering the living room carrying a plate of cookies.
"Not really. Mom seems to be a bit hesitant to tell us about Ana's childhood. Looking at pictures… it makes me feel that I can know more about her."
"Well, your sister was wonderful. She was the one who kept your mother sane when everything was chaotic for her." Katya said. "Here, have some cookies, your mother made it."
Sydney smiled and took one. She continued flipping the pages of the album.
"What year would Ana be in school?" Sydney asked, munching on the biscuit.
"Ana graduated from Cambridge University, two years ago." Katya informed Sydney.
"Really?" Sydney asked. "You mean, she was some sort of genius?"
"Well, yes. Your mother didn't know what to do when it came to Ana's studies and extracurricular activities. Ana tried out everything. And then, she settled with painting and playing the violin." Katya revealed and took one cookie from the plate.
"She was born in Russia, right?" Sydney asked.
"Yes. Irina slipped her out of the country a little before the Soviet Union fell. But…" Katya hesitated. "But your mother really regretted not slipping her out of the country earlier."
"Why, what happened?" Sydney asked.
Katya gave a little smile and patted her niece's shoulder. "You should ask that question to your mother." She then stood up and left the room.
Sydney was confused with the reaction. Shaking her head, she turned to the last page of the photo album and saw one of the most beautiful portrait of her interaction with her mother, her father and Jacob.
The paper was torn from a sketch pad. The frayed edges might distract you from the image but the illustration captured the moment, the tenderness and the affection that they gave to the baby. The scene depicted seems to be so alive and so happy. She looked at the corner of the paper and saw the signature to be A.G.D.
Ana's initials.
She then realized that Ana wasn't in the picture. She drew herself out.
-x-x-x-
"What exactly do you want me to do?" Lauren asked Sloane. She can't believe she's seeing him again. But then, he was the one who gave the Covenant Rambaldi's 'resurrection' fluid. She should be thankful that he gave her a second chance to live.
"Give your captive to me after you've finished programming her." Sloane said, sipping his brandy.
"They will not agree with you." Lauren answered. "They need a replacement for Julia Thorne. And they got her."
"I'm not going to take her away from them. Tell them that… I'm giving them a free hideout for her." Sloane answered.
"They will want to know why." Lauren replied. "There is obviously a catch for this… perk."
"My daughter needs company. The Covenant took interest in the prophecies in my hands. I can… share it with them, in exchange for a friend for my daughter."
"You do know that they are going to give her a new identity and a new personality?" Lauren asked.
"Of course. They did that to Julia, didn't they?"
"Well, then. I'll inform them of your… request." Lauren said as she stood up. She then walked towards the door. But before she could get out, Sloane called out to her.
"Ms. Reed, please inform your superiors that your prospective assassin won't be brainwashed that easily. If they want her to assume her new identity quickly, I suggest you implant a microchip on her. She will not be able to control herself when it comes to killing." Sloane said.
He watched her go out. When she was gone, Sloane smiled.
"…what you have done to my daughter is nothing compared to what I will do when I find yours…"
"Jack, oh, Jack, you didn't know what you were talking about before. Don't you know your daughters are going to be with me?" Sloane said aloud. "I will make them hate you. I will make them mine."
He chuckled as he finished his drink. Finally, he's going to witness what Rambaldi saw in his visions.
Nadia will be the Passenger, Ana will be her Protector.
Sydney will not have a chance.
A/N- short… and the italicized part by the end? Not mine, that is from episode 19 of the third season… so what do you think? Hehehehe :D