Velika: The story of a lover

Daniel Heinrich stood in front of Velika O'Sullivan's door for several minutes before he dared to press the doorbell. He felt ashamed for no particular reason. For times he reached his hand out, almost touched the bell, but he just couldn't bring himself to it. Thoughts of what he should say to her, or how he should act were swirling in his mind. Finally, he rang the bell without getting to any conclusion.

The footsteps came nearer and nearer, then the door opened. This was the first time he saw her in months. She didn't physically change that much, but he knew she was different, he smiled at her and waited for her to speak.

"Ah, Heinrich," She stepped aside and let him in, "I was wondering when you will show up."

"You were expecting me?" He asked and walked inside. She motioned him to sit on the couch.

"To some extent," She went into the kitchen, "Coffee?"

"Please." He answered politely. She seemed kind, wasn't as vigilant as before, like the fence in her heart had broken down. It was a positive sign, but he was curious about how that happened.

"Here," She handed him the coffee and sat beside him, he nodded, "So, did Astoria send you to me, tell me it's time to get back in the game?"

"I came here on my behalf, well, I believe that's what Leontes wants too." He shrugged, "I presume you already heard about Clarabelle Lewis."

"I did, and I'm sorry." She took a sip of her coffee, "Do you know what the next step will be?"

"No, that's why I came to you," He leaned forward a little, and said in a low voice, "Leontes doesn't trust me, I know that's because of my old business. I'm the soldier on the chessboard, she can take me out at any time and I believe that will happen soon."

"Did you forget I'm Astoria's partner in crime?" She sneered, "Why would you trust me?"

"I don't," He smirked, "But I read your file, I know who you assassinated before. If I turned you in, you'll be dead, for that part I can guarantee."

Velika O'Sullivan frowned. He was threatening her. Years ago, she successfully assassinated a very important politician and the police never found the murderer. If her secrets exposed to the public, she would come to an end. How did he even get access to her file? It was in the basement with only permission from Astoria Leontes, and herself. She knew Astoria Leontes wouldn't authorize him. Since she had information that would threaten Astoria Leontes' life, she wouldn't want to mess with Velika O'Sullivan. Then must be someone else, someone else Astoria Leontes trusted, the craftiest one.

Of course, it was Dean O'Sullivan, her husband.

"I told you Dean left shortly after he joined a research group, right?" She said in a dry, flat tone and he nodded, "You see, that research group belonged to Romeo Leontes."

"What?" Daniel Heinrich did guess this, but he was still surprised when he heard she say it out loud.

"Yes, it was Romeo who developing XYZ-2421 all along," She kept going, "Dean was in medical school, Romeo could use his help. When Dean found out they were doing those cruel experiments on patients. Well, if you ever heard of Valentine, the asylum located on the North Brother Island where the island appears to be abandoned but not. They imprison people there and use them for experiments. Dean decided to quit, but Romeo made him involved way too deep, he worried that Romeo will come after me once he stopped helping develop XYZ-2421, so he left me, and thought it would protect me. However, weeks later, Romeo Leontes showed up in the cafe where I worked, told me that he had a job offer. As I was beyond desperate, so I agreed."

"How did you know about this?" He asked.

"I always suspected the motivation of Romeo bringing me in Natural," She continued, "Why me? I acted as I trust him a hundred and twenty percent, do whatever he told me so he wouldn't be suspicious. Later when I achieved my reputation in Natural, I started investigating him. My good friend, Nicholas Watson, discovered Romeo forged his financial record, the transaction was with Bryce Sanchez. I knew Sanchez was Astoria's lover and the report might be fake, but I believed in what I convinced myself to believe. The disappearance of Dean couldn't be simple, so I went to Astoria, and she told me the truth. I only half-believed it, until one day, I heard Romeo on the phone, yes, I did bug his phone, after Edmund Leontes passed away, he was asking technicians to inject XYZ-2421 in his father. Honestly, years ago when I let you go, I didn't expect we would-be allies and I would be collaborating with Astoria."

"Why are you telling me this?" He frowned.

"Because, if you want to live," She paused and gave him a foxy smile, "You have to trust me and become my real ally without holding anything back."

"Save it, O'Sullivan," Daniel Heinrich laughed sarcastically, "We are not getting married."

"Oh, you never know." She laughed and lit up a cigarette.

"You really should consider quit smoking." Said Daniel Heinrich seriously, but she rolled up her eye.

###

A week later. San Francisco.

Daniel Heinrich was sitting in a cafe that located at the end of a quiet alley, barely anyone was aware of its existence, most of the customers were the residents in that alley, attracted by the pure, mellow aurora of the coffee. Leaves of Autumn was that cafe's name, peaceful, and suited the location well, the owner was a kind, gentle little elderly man, in his seventies, he opened up this place after his wife passed away, to spend his suddenly owned spare time.

Daniel Heinrich wouldn't know this place if Dean O'Sullivan didn't tell him. Every day around four in the afternoon, Dean O'Sullivan would come for a cup of mocha, He was one of the oldest customers, back in his long-gone school days, he used to come here with Velika O'Sullivan after school, enjoyed their leisure time. After he left, for a while he avoided this place, threw away all the memories about her behind, but later, he missed the coffee and the comfortable time he had there, or some part of him just couldn't run away from her. The chair she sat, the cup she used, all had her shadows, each detail in that cafe reminded him of her, he had to go back. Dean O'Sullivan once selfishly thought he would keep this little cafe as a secret place for him and Velika O'Sullivan, but now he gave it out to Daniel Heinrich since he didn't want to risk himself to contact Velika O'Sullivan directly.

Now Daniel Heinrich was here, tasting the delicious coffee and wondering when Velika O'Sullivan would show up. Two days ago, Lewis had successfully assassinated Braddock, it was on the news yesterday, accusing Velika O'Sullivan had murdered Braddock and she was an assassin of a secret agency, she must have read it. Daniel Heinrich was amused by the word choice 'a secret agency', no name directly pointed out, he was positive that Astoria Leontes was going to frame The Sinking Boat, meanwhile, she had to make The Sinking Boat couldn't predict her move, so she kept it low. As soon as Velika O'Sullivan saw the news, she would come back. Dean O'Sullivan knew his wife well enough, she would show up anytime from now, so he asked Daniel Heinrich to wait for her at Leave of Autumn every afternoon.

"Why don't you go by yourself?" He asked.

"I don't believe exposing my position can do any good for us all." Dean O'Sullivan rose his eyebrow, "It is your life tied on a thread, not mine."

"May I sit there?" He heard a voice, dragged him back from his thought.

"Pleasure," She sat in front of him, "To be honest, I didn't expect you to sit here."

"I understand," Daniel Heinrich nodded, took a sip of coffee, "You thought it would be Dean O'Sullivan, of course. Well, according to him, he decided not to show up because it will benefit us most if he keeps his head low."

"It's true," Velika O'Sullivan laughed dryly, "Now that I'm back, Astoria must put more eyes on Dean. I guess she trusts him, she doesn't know Dean is in touch with me, or somehow, he collaborates with you. We need Dean inside Natural to give us updates. After all, we can't believe any word Astoria says. She's a deceitful creature. Gorgeous, but deceitful."