" What do you want?" Alex asked as the others were still trying to come out from their shock.
" You and Nikita in pain." Amanda said coldly and pressed a button. The room filled with Nikita's screams as 1000volt of electricity crossed her body. Amanda cut off the connection leaving Nikita's screams to be the last noise that they heard from her.
" Shit" Alex cursed loudly and turned quickly on her heels walking out of the operations.
" Where are you going?" Michael shouted at her. His face was still pale and his eyes dark, the impact of Nikita's agonized screams was obvious on him.
" To bring her back." Alex shouted back with rage in her voice.
" Alex, we don't know where they are, we don't know anything!" Birkoff tried to reason her. He didn't want to be the voice of the logic but someone needed to be rational in situations like that.
" It can be a trap, Alex. You can't search her in blind!" Sean yelled frustated. He couldn't lose Alex one more time. He wanted her to be safe and he couldn't risk her walking into a stupid trap of Amanda. She had already suffered enough in Amanda's hands.
" He is right, Alex. If you got caught by Amanda, it is over. She will kill you both. You can't go in blind." Michael said as calmly as he could, tears starting to form in his eyes as he thought of what Amanda might do to his love.
" I won't go after them. They will come after me." Alex said coldly and left the room before anyone could say anything else.
As soon as she closed the door, she took out her phone and called Tom.
" It is time. Get the limo and the helicopter ready. See you in 5' outside." Alex said and ran towards the elevator.
Nikita slowly woke up blinking her eyes. Her body was still in unimaginable pain. Her head was light. Bruises had started forming on her fragile body. She looked around and she figured out that Amanda had moved her in another torture room. She was placed on a chair without arms, her hands tied behind her back to the legs of the chair, her legs tied together. She pulled her handcuffs with force but she only managed to cause more pain to herself. She was trying to compose herself as she heard heels approaching. Her heart started racing like crazy, fear rising inside her. Amanda had already caused her a lot of physical and emotional pain and she had her less than two hours. She knew that the worst hadn't come yet but she needed to stay strong praying that the team will rescue her before she loses her fight with Amanda or break or die.
With effort she lifted her head in order to face Amanda. Her eyes radiated hate towards her former mentor and now her worst nightmare.
" I see that you are awake. Good." Amanda commented coldly as she trailed her fingers on Nikita's cheek and then walked towards the table with her torture tools. She took in her hands a small knife and walked back in front of Nikita, a devious smile on her face.
" Tell me, Nikita. How is your relationship with Alex?" Amanda asked with hate in her voice.
" We are good." Nikita replied coldly trying to keep her emotions under control, she couldn't let Amanda get into her head. She needed to fight her mind games.
" That is pity. I will have to re-educate her again." Amanda stated sarcastically.
" Re-educate?" Nikita asked with horror in her voice. She didn't like the sound of that word, it sent shivers down her spine.
" She will work with me someday. I will make it sure." Amanda said coldly.
" Leave her alone, Amanda." Nikita said through gritted teeth trying to control her emotions.
Amanda laughed and walked towards Nikita, her face inches away from Nikita's.
" NO" Amanda whispered threateningly and she suddenly pushed the knife inside Nikita's shoulder.
Nikita closed her eyes and dropped her head trying to control the sudden pain. Amanda grinned seeing Nikita's pained figure.
" Look at me." Amanda ordered and pulled Nikita's head up from her hair. Nikita obeyed and looked at Amanda with teary eyes full of hate.
Amanda's grin grew bigger seeing Nikita's teary eyes. She wanted to see Nikita suffer, she wanted to hear her screams, she wanted to smell her blood. Amanda smiled and pushed her thumb inside Nikita's bleeding shoulder.
Nikita's eyes closed in pain. She bit her lips trying to control her screams. Amanda took away her thumb and pushed Nikita's head down.
" You are weak." Amanda commented as she bent down in front of Nikita.
Nikita looked up at her with hate.
" Not as much as you." Nikita snapped. Amanda slapped Nikita on the face causing it to twist.
" She will give up on you someday. She doesn't need you in her life. You can only cause her pain. You hold her back." Amanda exclaimed seriously.
" Alex is a good person. She won't forget that. And she is free to go if she doesn't want me in her life. It is her choice." Nikita retorted angrily.
" You don't know the Alex that I know. The real Alex is the one who stared at me without blinking her eyes when I scratched the words on her body, the real Alex is the one who never called me Nikita even if she was seeing your figure, the real Alex is the one who killed her own child and her own husband in her dream when I pumped her full of drugs. The real Alex has no remorse, no morals, no hesitation. The real Alex thinks that love is liability. You haven't seen the real Alex yet and when you do, you are so weak that you won't find the power to stay by her side." Amanda argued calmly.
" Alex is a good person. She will not forget that." Nikita repeated firmly.
" Maybe. But her dark side will take over sooner or later." Amanda finished this topic and stood up.
" Now back to you. Which word do you want on your chest? The word ' Alex' or the word ' Pain'? You want the name of the person that you had destroyed her life or the word that describe what you are only capable in your life, causing pain? I will give you some time to think of it" Amanda said and grinned.
Laughing she left the room leaving Nikita alone with her thoughts.
" Where are we going?" Tom asked as Alex entered the helicopter.
" Julians' home." Alex replied coldly as the helicopter left the ground.
" Tell the limo to meet us there." Alex ordered Meredith, who obeyed immediately.
Alex took out her phone and dialed a number.
" Hello?" A woman replied from the other line.
" Svetlana. It's Alexandra." Alex said softly.
" Alexandra, what a wonderful surprise! How are you?" Svetlana replied.
" I am good. I need a favor." Alex replied seriously.
" Anything for you." Svetlana answered firmly.
" I know that you have a perfomance in two days, La Bayadere, and I know that you have to practice with your ballet but I have some young friends that they would love to meet you. Would you mind if we steal some hours of your time?" Alex requested politely.
" Of course not, Alexandra. You can come to my hotel anytime. I will take a leave today. I had a little accident last night and I want to rest my ankle. I will wait for you, Alexandra." Svetlana replied happily.
"спасибо, До скорой встречи! ( Thank you. See you soon.)" Alex said smiling. Her plan was in motion.
" Добро пожаловать. Я не могу ждать. ( You are welcome. I can't wait.)" Svetlana replied and hung off the phone smiling. She needed sometime off for herself, being a ballerina was a difficult, exhausting job.
" What are you doing? Why are we going to Julian's home?" Tom asked confused.
" I gave Julian a warning." Alex said coldly as ice.
" You aren't going after Julian's family, are you?" Tom asked scared of Alex's answer.
Alex looked at him without saying anything. It was complicated. She didn't even know what she was going to do if her plan didn't work. To be honest, she didn't really have an answer to Tom's question. It was just complicated.
After some minutes, the helicopter landed in the yuard of Julian's home. As soon as Alex placed her foot on the land, the door opened and Laura, Julian's wife, come out confused. When she saw Alex, her face filled with joy.
" Alexandra!?" Laura exclaimed happily.
Alex signaled to her helicopter to leave and ran towards Laura.
" Laura!" Alex replied and kissed Laura's cheek smiling.
" Come inside." Laura instructed and Alex obeyed. Tom and Meredith glared at each other anxiously.
" I am really sorry for coming like that." Alex said politely.
" Don't be silly. It was a wonderful surprise." Laura replied happily. She liked Alexandra.
" What can I do for you?" Laura added.
" Oh. I wonder what I can do for you." Alex said and smiled.
" I know that Mary takes ballet lessons and I know that she is pretty good at it. A friend of mine, Svetlana Zakharova, is here for some days and I was wondering if you would like to let me introduce her to your daughter." Alex said still smiling.
" Mary! Come here, please!" Laura shouted. After a while little footsteps were heard as Mary come running down the stairs.
" Yeah mommy?" Mary asked from the top of the stairs.
As soon as she reached the bottom, she froze staring at Alex.
" Are - are you Alexandra Udinov?" Mary asked in shock.
Alex blushed hearing Mary's confusion and admiration.
" I am being rude. I didn't introduce myself to you. I am sorry." Alex replied softly.
" My name is Alexandra." Alex added and lifted her hand to shake Mary's. Mary returned the gesture still in shock.
" Mary. Nice to meet you." Mary said politely.
" Nice to meet you, too." Alex replied and smiled.
" Mommy what is going on?" the youngest daughter- Anna- asked popping her head out of the kitchen's door.
" Miss Alexandra!" Anna yelled excited and ran towards Alex to hug her. Alex bent down and lifted Anna in her hug turning her around.
" How are you, Anna?" Alex said and kissed Anna's cheeks.
" I am really really good, miss Alexandra." Anna said and started playing with Alex's hair.
" Alexandra or Alex. Stop calling me miss." Alex ordered smiling and Anna smiled back at her.
" Girls!" Laura said with a warning tone. She didn't want the girls to annoy their visitor.
" It is absolutely ok." Alex reassured.
" So.. why are you here?" Mary asked confused.
" Do you know who Svetlana Zakharova is?" Laura asked seriously.
" Of course and I know. She is the best ballerina of our century. She is amazing." Mary replied seriously.
" Would you like to meet her?" Alex asked.
" Of course. It is one of my dreams. But I guess that it is just a dream." Mary replied sadly. She wanted so badly to meet Zakharova but she knew that it was impossible.
Alex smiled at Laura and Laura smiled back with teary eyes.
" Go and grab your coat." Laura ordered her daughter.
" Why?" Mary asked confused.
" You are going to meet Zakharova." Alex replied and she laughed seeing the stunned expression on Mary's face.
" Really?" Mary asked in a complete shock.
" Yeah." Alex replied.
" Yes." Laura reassured her daughter.
Mary's face got pale from the excitement and then suddenly, she started to jump up and down screaming full of joy and happiness. She ran to grab her coat and came back in a record time still jumping.
" Mommy. I want too." Anna said seeing her mother with pleading eyes.
" You all can come." Alex said and stared at Laura.
Laura looked up at her moved. She couldn't find words to thank Alex for making her daughters so happy. She couldn't remember the last time that Mary had such a gorgeous smile on her face.
" Lena! Grab your coat!" Mary yelled full of excitement. In a few seconds, Lena came down running her coat in her hands.
" What happened?" Lena asked as she ran down the stairs.
She froze as soon as she reached the bottom staring at Alex.
" Yeah yeah, she is Alexandra Udinov and we are going to meet Zakharova." Mary informed her.
Lena was standing in complete shock unable to form any words.
Alex smiled at her.
" The limo is waiting for us." Alex informed and the group left the house and entered the limo. Lena was still silent in complete shock.
" Are you real?" Lena asked after a while.
" Sure. You can touch me if you want.." Alex joked. Lena slowly lifted her hand and pressed her finger to Alex's cheek. Alex smiled but then Lena started crying.
" Lena?" Laura asked confused.
" I can't believe that I meet you in person." Lena said through her sobbings.
Alex's heart ached seeing Lena crying because of her presence. She took a seat next to Lena and hugged her.
" I didn't want to upset you. I am sorry." Alex whispered in her ears.
Lena lifted her head, wiped her tears and stared at Alex.
" I have read everything about you. I have watched all your interviews. I admire you, Alexandra. You are so strong. You have gone through hell but you are a wonderful person with a good heart. I admire you. I can't believe that I am talking to you." Lena replied.
Alex's eyes filled with tears that she didn't bother to hold back. She was touched by Lena's words.
" You are a wonderful person, Lena." Alex said as the car came to a stop.
The chauffer came out and opened the door for the ladies. They all stepped out. Alex spotted Tom and Meredith checking the perimeter. They walked inside the hotel, into the elevator and to the last floor of the building, where Zakharova's suite was. As soon as they knocked the door Zakharova ran to open it.
" Alexandra!" Svetlana greeted smiling and kissed Alex's cheeks.
" Svetlana." Alex returned the greeting.
" Let me introduce you. Laura, Lena, Anna and Marry." Alex added pointing to each person.
As soon as Svetlana's eyes met Mary's, Mary had to hold herself on the wall.
" Come inside." Svetlana ordered and the group obeyed.
" Make yourself at home." She added firmly.
Mary didn't take her gaze away from Svetlana and Svetlana soon took notice of that.
" Mary... correct me if I am wrong but you are practicing ballet, right?" Svetlana said politely trying to break the ice.
" Yes, madam. How- how do you know?" Mary asked confused blushing.
" You remind me of my younger self. And your body is perfect for a ballerina." Svetlana replied softly. After that, the two of them started talking about ballet and classes and routines.
" I am going to bring some take out. What do you want?" Alex asked as she stood up.
" Pizza" Lena replied.
" Burger." Svetlana replied.
" Chinese." Mary added.
" Ice cream" Anna exclaimed.
Alex's smile grew bigger.
" Ok. Ok. I will be back in an hour when I collect all of that." Alex joked.
" Can I come with you?" Anna asked.
" Of course. We will call daddy, too." Alex replied and left the room holding Anna's hand.
As soon as they were in the limo. Alex pulled out her phone and dialed a number. She had made her research and she had learnt Julian's personal phone number.
" Talk to your daddy and tell him that you are fine. Don't tell him where the others are, we will make him a surprise." Alex maniplated the youngest daughter and she hated herself for that.
" Yes." Julian replied his phone.
" Hi, daddy!" Anna greeted happily.
" Anna?" Julian reguested confused.
" Yes, daddy. I am with Alexandra, we are going to buy some ice cream!" Anna said.
" With Alexandra?" Julian chocked.
Alex signaled to Anna to give her the phone.
" Hi Julian." Alex said.
Julian's face change one million colors.
" What did you do to my family?" Julian said through gritted teeth not wanting to scream and risk her daughter hearing him.
" They are all having fun.. What is Laura's favorite ice-cream?" Alex replied trying to keep her tone neutral and not scare Anna.
" If you touch them.." Julian tried to threaten her.
" I told you. They are having fun...for now." Alex cut him off.
" Alexandra!" Julian shouted frustated.
" чтобы внести ясность. Каждый ушиб, порез или шрам на теле Никиты, он станет одним на вашем теле дочери. Держите Никита в целости и сохранности и счастливы и ваша семья будете продолжать наслаждаться их день. Не играй с моим терпением и их жизни. (just to be clear. Every bruise, cut or scar on Nikita's body, it will become one on yours daughter body. Keep Nikita safe and sound and happy and your family will keep enjoying their day. Don't play with my patience and their lives.)" Alex warned in her mother language not wanting to scare the little Anna. She knew that she wasn't going to make reality her threat, she liked Julian's family and she didn't want them to get caught in the line of fire but she wished that Julian would take her seriously and obey her.
" What do you want?" Julian asked.
" Meet me outside of the restaurant ' chinese talent' in 30' and pick up some chinese for your family. Bring Nikita with you. See you, soon." Alex said and hang up the phone.
" Let's grab some food." Alex said to Anna as the car stopped outside of a fast food restaraunt.
Meanwhile..
" Have you made your decision, Nikita? Alex or Pain?" Amanda asked as she walked back into her torture room.
Nikita looked up at her tired.
" Do whatever you want. I don't care." Nikita said casually.
Amanda slapped her violently.
" You will respect me." Amanda ordered firmly.
" You don't deserve my respect." Nikita retorted angrily.
" I have something that can change your mind." Amanda said and pushed a button.
Nikita tried to control her scream as electricity crossed her body but after a while the pain became too much and she gave in screaming out in pain. Amanda grinned and stopped the flow of the electricity. Nikita fell back into the chair trying to catch her breathe.
" Now. I think that I will write the word 'Alex' on your chest. It will hurt her when she sees it." Amanda said and went to grab her tools.
" I used nails on Alex because they hurt the victim in the worst possible way. Knifes create clean cuts but nails.. nails are unique. I wanted her to scream but she didn't. I wanted her to look into YOUR eyes and scream in pain, beg you to stop but she never did that. She knew that it was me and she was staring patiently all the time of the torture. She didn't even blink." Amanda said.
" With you, I will be merciful. I will use knife." Amanda said and walked in front of Nikita with a small knife in her hands. She bent down, the sharp edge of the knife inches away from Nikita's soft skin, when the door opened violently.
" Stop!" Julian yelled running inside the room.
Amanda straightened her back and looked at him confused.
" You told me that she wasn't going to do it. You told me that it wasn't something that she would do." Julian yelled at Amanda.
" What are you talking about?" Amanda asked shocked.
" Step away from Nikita. I am sorry, Amanda but I can't let you hurt Nikita anymore." Julian said with shaking voice.
" Julian? Everything alright?" Amanda asked confused.
" No. She has them." Julian replied in the verge of tears.
" Who has whom?" Amanda asked worried.
" Alex has my family. If we touch Nikita, she will hurt Anna. Please Amanda." Julian pleaded devastated.
" You aren't serious." Amanda commented.
" I am. Please, Amanda. She has my family. Please." Julian begged her.
Amanda nodded to Julian and turned to Nikita grinning. She bent down in order to whisper in her ears.
" Alexandra is making an apperance." Amanda stated and left.