Velika: The story of a lover

Daniel Heinrich returned to sober completely after several hours, during the whole time Velika O'Sullivan was sitting beside him, crossing her fingers together and sank in her deep thought about what their next move would be. All the acting was good, at least she didn't find any flaws, but what would Romeo Leontes react, what would Astoria Leontes react after she said all those cruel words? She knew that European woman shouldn't be trusted, but she was calculating the percentage that her ally would turn against her. The key was Romeo Leontes, how he would react directly connect to the fate of Velika O'Sullivan and her friends. Then, the question back to the start point. The war was irresistible, they had to fight, but with only three of them, they could never win. All she could do is hoping Romeo Leontes to contact them before Astoria Leontes found their temporary shelter, which, shouldn't be long.

"Did I say something ridiculous when I was out of my mind?" This was the first sentence Daniel Heinrich said when he woke up, "Please don't tell me."

"Not in the mood to tell you either." Velika O'Sullivan face was so gloomy that made Daniel Heinrich a little nervous. He squinted his eyes and immediately realized what was going on now as he saw Nicholas Watson sitting in the sofa, cleaning his glasses' lens.

"There's always a way out." He put his hands around Velika O'Sullivan's shoulder, she retrieved a little bit but didn't shake his hand off, "We only need to figure it out."

"Wow, that's not hard at all." Taunted Nicholas Watson.

"Braddock has already declared I'm a rebel," Said Velika O'Sullivan slowly, "No wonder he and Astoria would work together to hunt me down, though we aren't sure what makes Braddock Astoria's marionette, probably the micro bomb. He's Astoria's insurance, in case Romeo didn't contact me, she has someone to chase me after."

"The woman always plays safe," Nicholas Watson put his glasses back on, sighed, when Daniel Heinrich was unconscious, Velika O'Sullivan briefly told him of her story, "If her plan didn't work out, she will definitely kill us, we knew too much. Do you think Dean O'Sullivan would help us out?"

"No," Velika O'Sullivan shook her head firmly, she started rubbing her temples again, "He wouldn't."

"But he's your husband" Nicholas Watson rose his voice, he sank himself in the sofa, which was the same color as his hair, "I thought he loves you."

"Unfortunately, he does." Answered Velika O'Sullivan coldly, "And that's what makes it a tragedy."

Daniel Heinrich kept quiet, in this kind of situation he better kept quiet. Velika O'Sullivan was on the point of break down, and he needed her to be calm. Instead, he threw himself into his thoughts. He could barely remember anything before he was poisoned, all the conversation he had with Astoria Leontes was in broken pieces, however, he did remember she taught him she wanted to make a deal with him.

What was that deal again? He remembered he said yes to her as her bargain was so perfect that he couldn't resist. She said something about The Sinking Boat, something about XYZ-2421-ERA, and something about Clarabelle Lewis, who was missing since the occupation with Dean O'Sullivan.

Hold on, Daniel Heinrich bit his lips and thought harder, now the plan came into his mind and he had a slight smile on his lips, he then coughed to hide his smile from Velika O'Sullivan, now he remembered the plan, which Velika O'Sullivan would never agree, but he really needed her to say yes to it. Astoria Leontes was a brilliant woman, she knew how to act, she really did.

Daniel Heinrich used to think he was the only person smart enough to make perfect deal, now he knew there's a woman was capable of this as well, now the feeling he had for Astoria Leontes was mixed with hate and admire. She still wanted him dead no less, but she took everything in control and gave him a chance to fight for his life.

When he was still in mediating, the phone rang, broke the delicate balance in the room.

It was from The Sinking Boat, no wonder.

###

"They said the President wants to meet us." Velika O'Sullivan said after she hanged up the phone, she held her arms and looked at others seriously, like a statue of a divine ancient goddess from Greek myth, "Shall we go?"

"Why not?" Nicholas Watson stood up slowly, Velika O'Sullivan could tell he was excited about that he finally discovered something to hold onto during this storm which was never supposed to get him involved, "It's not like we have anything else to do."

"Heinrich?" Velika O'Sullivan turned to the German with concern in her dark eyes.

"Yes, we should go." Daniel Heinrich looked up, right into her eyes. Her face was pale, dark cycles revealed under her eyes, she seemed lost some weight, and what even worse was, her mental state was about to collapse, he could tell from the way she looked at him. She never admitted she needed him to be her partner, or she actually wanted him to be around, but he knew she did, Velika O'Sullivan was different than Astoria Leontes, even she tried to hide her feelings, sometimes her expressions gave her away, he knew this was the time she required him to get her through things that she couldn't bear any longer. After all, she was only a young woman in her twenties, when others enjoying their youth, she was already fighting for life and death. Oh, well, so did Daniel Heinrich. Their tragic pasts somehow connected them together, formed an invisible bond that both of them couldn't deny its existence.

Daniel Heinrich always had the arrogance about himself, considered himself better than Dean O'Sullivan and he figured Dean O'Sullivan felt the same to him, the superiority in their hearts made them couldn't get along. He knew Dean O'Sullivan grew up in an upper-class family in Ireland, they moved to the United States when he was about thirteen years old, that was why he had the Irish accent for all his life. He was well educated, been to university, knew how to play piano and had good manners, he was the kind of man that could conquer any girl with a single wink. They were fond of the way he talked, how he dressed himself and they were obsessed with the music that fluently, smoothly and gracefully flew out under his slim, pale fingers. Even though he wasn't handsome, he was popular than others, he stood out. Character counts, said Dean O'Sullivan. But for Daniel Heinrich himself, he grew up in Germany, moved to the country under witness protection program. He was the child who witness the murder of his family, and the child who took the revenge. Dean O'Sullivan grew up under protection and got into this business only because he was a scholar and all the relationship issues placed him in the situation of life and death. However, Daniel Heinrich on the other side, he entered the business because he wanted to, he believed he was made for this, or, he was just too desperate to revenge. From all the aspects, he experienced more, he suffered more, he had seen more than that Irish, which made him feel he was better. Then why would Velika O'Sullivan remained to stay in this sick relationship with Dean O'Sullivan when she knew perfectly she shouldn't, and she said that she didn't love him anymore. Was it because she wanted Dean O'Sullivan to believe that she was still in love with him so she could take use of him? Even he was desperate to know, he never asked, and she never brought up the topic.

"Okay then," Velika O'Sullivan nodded, "Let's get moving, people. We have an appointment in about half an hour at The Sinking Boat headquarter."

"I'm not worried," She flipped her hair and winked, "Because I have you around, Nikki."

Noticing Daniel Heinrich was so quiet all the way downstairs and got into the car, Velika O'Sullivan was slightly worried, as whenever Daniel Heinrich was staid like now, there must be something really troubled him and he couldn't think it through, so she asked if he was alright.

"Can I ask you something, Velika?" He questioned her instead of answering her question.

"Yes?" She was surprised by how formal he sounded.

"Why did you love O'Sullivan?" He asked so seriously, like the judge in the court asked her to confess her sin. She was silence for several seconds.

"I told you before," She finally said, slowly, he knew she didn't want to talk about it, it like he asked her to face her scar again, "He was the one who saved me, got me out of my misery, it's my gratitude. Now I look back, it was more like dependency than love."

"Gratitude?" Daniel Heinrich rose his voice a bit.

"Yes." She answered resolutely and turned to the window. She heard he sighed and she knew he understood what she talked about, no need her to explain.

In her mind, Dean O'Sullivan was complicated. He had his own thoughts and he barely told her what was on his mind, he always did things before he told her, just like when he left her, he only left a note without any foreshadowing her leaving. He was a smart man, too smart and had had everything planned, he was thorough, there was no way to break his defence. When she was with him, sometimes she felt he didn't need her at all, he could live a vivid and wonderful life without anyone but himself. Sometimes at night when she couldn't sleep, she started at ceiling and wondered why he wanted her around, he knew everything about her, but for her, he was still a mystery even now. But he did get her through the miserable days, the days when she thought of suicide countless times. When she had no hope in life, he was there, even though he got her into another mystery, she was grateful, it was him who brought her the most wonderful time in her life. Plus, he left her for her own good.

Mutual dependency, that was what Velika O'Sullivan would call it now. Neither of them wanted to be alone, and that was the reason they stayed together, regardless both of them knew that it was never a healthy relationship.

Not many people had the courage to marry a young woman who had such a terrible past and chose her over his parents. Call him young and stupid, thought Velika O'Sullivan, like she would care.

The moment she became Velika O'Sullivan, she knew she could never get away.

"Velika," He called her name, brought her back from her thought, she turned to him and looked into his pretty green eyes, "I remembered what I said when I was in the dungeon now. Seriously, where do you want to go after all of this is over?"

Velika O'Sullivan laughed, she said mockingly: "Oh well, travel, I guess. Maybe I can go to Germany?"

"You don't speak that much German." Daniel Heinrich laughed too.

"But you do, do you?" She shrugged. They looked into each other's' eyes for several seconds, then finally, Daniel Heinrich threw his hands:

"Yes, that's fair enough."

Velika O'Sullivan lowered her head when she entered The Sinking Boat, avoided eye contact with people, Daniel Heinrich was walking beside her, she had the impulse to hold his hand but she didn't, it wasn't the time to show her fragile side, she had to be strong, after all, she had nothing to be afraid of, she gambled, it was her own decision.

The operation centre had renovated already, new glasses were placed, reflecting the sunlight, people were all busy working on their computers, seemed like any companies except a secret agency for assassins. The most dangerous and frightening truth is always hidden beneath the fake peaceful cover, Velika O'Sullivan was fully aware of that. She could sense something was coming, something would absolutely shock her.

Daniel Heinrich knocked on the door of the President's office, they heard a male voice told them to get in and they did. Velika O'Sullivan and Daniel Heinrich exchanged looks, they nodded at each other. With a deep breath, Velika O'Sullivan pushed open the door.

It was Romeo Leontes.

"Romeo?!" Velika O'Sullivan acted like she was stunned, looking at her old friend's angular face, had nothing on her mind besides called out his name.