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Chapter Ten:
Histories

A small smile crossed Jack's face. "Our search for Elena has not been going as planned, and I can't get in touch with your mother." He paused. "I think that we should speak to Sloane."

Sydney visibly blanched. "No way."

"Sydney, consider this. The CIA still uses him as a consultant. Push aside your personal feelings and realize that he is a valuable asset."

"Dad, this is Sloane."

"And our options are dramatically slimming."

Sydney slumped back in her seat. "You honestly think that this is a good idea?"

Jack nodded. "I've organised a flight to Zurich in a few days time. I think that both you and Vaughn should come as well."

"How are we supposed to explain to the kids that we are flying to Switzerland?"

"We'll come up with something," Jack said. "I take it this means you're agreeing to this?"

Sydney nodded. "Yes. I'll see Sloane."

"You're making the right decision, Sydney."

Sydney rose from her chair, feeling sick to her stomach. "I hope so, dad. I really hope so."

Lexi was sitting cross-legged on Sydney and Vaughn's bed, watching her parents as they both packed themselves a bag.

"Where are you going again?" she asked, twirling a strand of her red hair around her finger. It was still so bright that Sydney suspected a re-dye job had been done.

"To a bed and breakfast," Vaughn replied.

"And why can't I come?"

"Because, you bug us," Sydney said with a grin.

Lexi pulled a face. "I don't think parents are supposed to speak to their kids like that."

Sydney let out a soft laugh. "You dad and I need a couple of days alone to—"

"Stop right there," Lexi held up a hand. "I don't want to know." She shuddered slightly.

Vaughn gave her a gentle push. "Get out of here," he said, good-naturedly.

Lexi laughed as she jumped off the bed. "Fine, I'll just to my room and think over the fact that my parent's are abandoning me," she said dramatically, putting a hand up to her forehead.

"Listen to you, you little drama queen," Vaughn chuckled. "We are not abandoning you. Ana is more than capable of looking after you."

"Well, you'd better hope so," she said ominously as she backed out of the bedroom door. Both Sydney and Vaughn, looked at each other, smiles on their faces.

"She's your daughter," they said simultaneously.

Sydney sighed as she shifted in her seat, placing her head on Vaughn's shoulder.

He turned away from watching the clouds out of the small window. "Not long now, Syd," he murmured, running a hand over her hair.

"I cannot believe that we are doing this," she said quietly. "Getting help from Sloane?" she almost spat out his name.

"Just think about why we are doing this," Vaughn said.

Sydney closed her eyes. "I hate lying to them, Vaughn. The one thing that I said I would never do…I hate lying to them."

"So do I, Syd."

"Whatever Sloane tells us, we need to seriously consider telling Ana and Billy what is going on. We can't keep living like this, Vaughn."

Sloane had obviously been warned about Jack's visit, but when he saw Sydney and Vaughn standing beside him, a brief look of surprise flickered across his eyes.

But after a split second he had composed himself. "Come in," he said, gesturing into his office.

Sydney drew in a deep breath and held Vaughn's hand tightly, as they followed Jack through the door.

"So," Sloane sat himself down on his large plush chair, "what is so big that it brings the three of you here?"

"We need some information," Jack said.

"Surprise, surprise," Sloane chuckled softly and Sydney could feel her stomach churn. "Information on what…or should I say, whom?"

"Elena Derevko." Jack replied.

Sloane's eyebrows rose. "You wan to know about Elena?"

Jack nodded. "Everything you've got."

"May I ask why?" Sloane inquired, rubbing his chin.

Jack turned to Sydney and Vaughn, a questioning expression on his face. The two of them glanced at each other, having a small conversation with their eyes and then nodded at Jack.

They promised that they would do all that it took to keep their children safe. Even if it meant doing a deal with the devil.

The second person was there again, telling Ana to do it. But there was no gun this time. She tried to strangle me. I could feel her hands, wrapped so tightly around my neck, crushing my windpipe. And she was looking straight in my eyes as she did it. Her eyes, they were different. They were the same colour, but they weren't Ana's. She had been changed.

It wasn't as dark this time, the surroundings were slightly clearer. We were in a building of some sort. It was dank and grey. I've never been there in my life, but it seemed so familiar. Almost like—

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Billy jumped in his desk chair as Ana's voice broke into his mind. Looking up, he saw her standing in his bedroom doorway.

"Uh, just some homework," he muttered.

Ana frowned as she stepped into the bedroom. "Since when do you do homework on a Saturday morning?"

Billy slammed his journal shut. "Since now," he retorted. "Can you please go? I need to get this down."

"Fine," Ana backed out of the door. "I just came to find out if you have plans for tonight. Lexi wanted to hire some movies."

"Oh," Billy ran a hand through his hair. He was having trouble looking at his sister without feeling her hands around his neck. "Um, I'm doing nothing. Movies sound good."

"Ok," Ana said. "I'll leave you to your homework then."

Sloane was sitting in his seat, his legs crossed. "I figured this day would come. I have been hearing rumours, that it was Elena behind the Covenant. It makes perfect sense, given her obsessions. The perfect way to enact Rambaldi's words, to make sure that your children would not lead a normal life…" he trailed off, turning to Sydney. "How is Anastasie by the way?"

Sydney's stomach rolled. "That's none of your damn business."

"Arvin," Jack's tone was clipped. "We are here to talk about Elena and nobody else."

"But it is all interrelated Jack," Sloane replied lightly. "Elena wants one of your children dead. She is not going to be working alone. I guarantee you that. There is somebody out there, following, tracking, however you want to out it, your family."

Sydney looked at Vaughn. "Freya," she murmured.

"Excuse me," Sloane sat forward. "What was that?"

"Do you know anything about Freya Gregersen?" Sydney asked. "I came across her name in relation to Elena."

Sloane looked mildly surprised. "You'd never heard of her before then?"

"No," Sydney replied. "Why would I?"

A small smile crossed Sloane's face. "I guess that it's time for a history lesson," he paused, clearing his throat. "Freya is Katya Derevko's daughter."

"Hang on," Jack spoke up. "I have never heard anything about Katya having a daughter."

"Biologically she isn't. For a brief period of time Katya was married. Her husband, Ivan Gregersen, had a infant daughter from a previous relationship. Not long after the wedding he was arrested- he came from a long line of career criminals- leaving Freya in the hands of Katya. What I find interesting is that Freya has been connected with Elena. That means that Elena and Katya must have been working together. That makes complete sense. The two share similar ideals. It would not surprise me if Katya had been in as deep as Elena."

"Had?" Vaughn questioned.

Sloane nodded. "Katya died, over 25 years ago. Hadn't you heard?"

"There were whispers," Jack replied. "But the news of a death of a Derevko should be taken with a grain on salt."

Sloane let out a soft chuckle. "Quite right you are. Anyway. After Katya's death Elena would have been the only family Freya had. It would be natural for the two of them to form a bond."

"So you would say that she is definitely involved in this?"

"Given that she was raised by one, maybe two Derevko's, yes."

"Did you know that Freya had a child?" Sydney asked.

"I was not aware of the existence of a child."

"It wouldn't be a child anymore," Jack out in. "They would be in their early to mid twenties by now."

"Then the chances are they would be involved as well."

"Do you have anything else solid?" Jack pressed.

"Not completely. But keep this in mind. Even though she was raised by a Derevko, Freya is not one of them. She does not have the strength that all Derevko women posses- whether they choose to use it for greater good or not," he added, seeing Sydney's expression. "If Elena trusts her as much as I assume, the chances are that she could be a real weakness within the organization."

"I knew it," Sydney muttered as she, Vaughn and Jack were being driven back to the airport. "Freya is the one we need to go after. Think about it. Our chances of even getting close to Elena are little to none. If a Derevko doesn't want to be found, they're not going to be found. We need to shift the focus onto Freya and finding out the identity of her child."

"All the focus?" Jack questioned.

"Yes," Sydney replied. "We are wasting our time looking for Elena. We've gotten absolutely nowhere."

"What about Ana and Billy?" Vaughn out in. "If they are being followed, we need to warn them. So that they can be vigilant."

Sydney fell silent. For weeks she had wanted to be nothing but completely honest with her children, and now the time had come. Vaughn was right. They had to be made aware of they were going to stay safe. They had to be told.

The only question was how?