Chapter Three: Family Sacrifices

"What are her weaknesses?" Elena asked absently, holding up a length of fabric to the light.

Sydney shrugged. "Tweezers, maybe. What are you going to do with that?"

Elena skimmed her fingers across the silk of the sari. "Curtains, maybe," she mused. "Or some nice throw pillows."

Sydney considered the red silk again. "It's very bright," she pointed out. "I wore a wig that color once. Twice, actually."

Elena nodded. "Exactly. The place where we are currently living could use a bit of color."

"Where are you all living, again?"

"That's a question better left unasked, dear," Elena advised. "If you knew, we would expect you to visit, which I hardly think is your idea of fun at the moment."

Sydney blanched. "Visiting… mother and aunts… small house…" She wandered to the other side of the shop, face white and legs slightly unsteady. Elena followed her, the sari tucked under her arm.

"Don't forget that your father would probably visit too," Elena continued wickedly. "And we have very thin walls."

Sydney clamped her hands over her ears; ignoring the odd look the shopkeeper was giving them. "Hear no evil see no evil speak no evil…" she muttered, as if it was a mantra.

"That's right, Sydney," Elena said soothingly. "Keep telling yourself that." She walked unhurriedly to the desk and dropped the sari on the surface. Sydney escaped into the sunshine, barely watching where she was going.

Which would explain why she immediately walked into a certain former handler.

She bounced back, cheeks flushed. "Sorry," she said quickly. "Not watching where I'm going these days…"

He studied the wall. "No problem." Looked towards the street. "Taking the week off?"

She shrugged. "Yeah. Yeah, dad and I are… umm… doing family things." Her shoes became extremely interesting. "How's Lauren?"

"She's fine," he replied. "She wants to have dinner again."

Sydney hid her wince. She would take an orange juice enema over another dinner with the Vaughns. "How lovely!" she chirped, crossing her fingers behind her back. "I'll take a look at my calendar…"

A slim hand clamped onto her shoulder. "Sydney, are you ready to go?" Elena asked calmly, tucking the paper wrapped sari into her shoulder bag. "We'll be late meeting your father."

Vaughn's eyes widened. "Sydney, I don't believe I've met your…?" He shot her a glare.

"Aunt," Elena supplied smoothly. "I'm Melissa Bristow, Jack's little sister." She smiled charmingly. "I'm in town for the week, catching up with Jack and little Syd." Her arm slipped around Sydney's shoulders. "Isn't that right, Sydney?"

Sydney smiled brightly. "That's right, Aunt Lissa." She beamed at Vaughn. "So nice to see you, we'll talk later, must run!"

She turned, dragging Elena with her down the sidewalk. Vaughn stared after them, eyes thoughtful.

Something, he mused, was not right with this picture. At all.

Elena tried to look back at him. "He's rather attractive," she said neutrally, patting Sydney's shoulder. "Don't worry dear, we'll deal with his little blonde problem."

"The three of you are out to destroy me," Sydney stated grimly. "I'm really doubting your intentions right about now."

Elena sighed and relinquished her hold on Sydney's shoulder. "Keep acting like a little girl and we'll send you to your room before the fun starts."

Sydney smothered a giggle. "I apologize," she replied contritely. They walked silently down the next stretch of street. Finally, Sydney asked, "What was my mother like as a child?"

Elena tilted her head, smiling softly. "Scrappy. She and Katya were like kittens, always attacking each other in play. Katya was rebellious, and Irina was the tag-a-long."

"And you were the serious one?"

She shrugged. "I tried to keep them alive. It was a full-time job. I didn't have much time to experiment with other identities."

Sydney considered this. "Do you regret that?"

"Not at all. What good would being irresponsible do me if I ended up losing my sisters to a squabble over the front seat?" Elena replied reasonably.

"They fight over the front seat?"

"Sydney, dear, they fight over everything. My advice is never to get between them, ever." She pulled up her left sleeve and showed Sydney the long scar above her elbow. "1970." Pointed out another on the other arm, above the wrist. "1995." She paused to examine a dress in a window display.

"They were fighting with knives?" Sydney asked, aghast. "And they cut you?"

"Only if I get in the way. Just call me the sacrificial lamb," Elena replied, making a face at the trim on the hem. "Trust me, they stop fighting as soon as blood is shed- mine or theirs." She suddenly laughed. "Especially if Irina is the one cut. Katya once accidentally sliced her across the stomach, and I have never seen Katushka be so much of a mother hen. Rina was waited on hand and foot for a month straight." She tossed back her hair. "But usually the blood is mine."

Sydney grabbed her aunt's arm and examined the longest scar while they walked. "I don't think I ever quite realized how violent this family was," she mused. "I mean, I knew you were all violent… but knives against sisters? Crazy."

"Normal," Elena retorted. "And I think your boyfriend is trying to get your attention."

"Huh?" Sydney spun around, nearly smacking into Vaughn. He took a hold of her arm and pulled her into a small side street.

"Sydney, there is no way in hell that is your father's sister!" he hissed, glancing at Elena, who had sauntered after them.

She seized his arm, seeking out a particular nerve. "Mr. Vaughn, I'm in town on business," she said pleasantly as he gasped in pain. "I suggest you go your way and we'll go ours, hmmm?" She smiled. "I'll tell Irina you said 'hi'." She released him, and reached for Sydney's hand. "Come along, dear. Your parents will be missing you."

"Hardly," Sydney muttered. "Not the way they're going at it."

"Like bunnies," Elena agreed. "Still. We can have tea with Katya." She glanced back at Vaughn. "Silence, Mr. Vaughn. It's your best option at the moment."

He almost looked like he agreed.