Seven Devils // Natasha Romanoff

Part 12 - Dreykov's Secret

I'm sitting in a helicopter.

Wait, how the hell am I sitting in a helicopter? Dreykov (just hearing the bastard's name makes my blood boil) just sedated me all of what seemed like two seconds ago.

I look around, immediately recognizing the helicopter; it was one of the helicopters that Natasha had access to, so it was destroyed after she defected. What is going on?

As Dreykov exits the cockpit and I get an immense sensation of deja vu, it dawns upon me; this is a memory. Not just any memory, but I think this is the one that Dreykov had Melina erase from my mind. She said that it would come back to me; this must be that.

My legs immediately take me over to Dreykov, me having no control over my movements. Realizing I'm just reliving the memory and can't change it, I resign to watching the interaction play out.

I'm very angry; I can easily tell by the way I storm up to Dreykov and how I greet him. "Dreykov, we need to talk."

He sighs defeatedly. "Vallonia, I don't want to hear it.

"No, you need to hear it."

He crosses his arms as he turns to me, stopping in the section between the two open doors of the helicopter; I don't know why, but he loves to leave the doors open for no reason whatsoever. I stop across from him as he states, "I'm not going to change my mind about this just because you disagree - you're too young."

"You're talking about mind control - and only because one Widow defected!" Oh my god - is this after Budapest? And I knew about the mind control?

"She almost killed me, and she killed Antonia!" Yep, certainly after Budapest.

"So what? The chances of a Widow doing something like that again are slim to none! You've said it yourself - Natasha is different from every Widow we've ever had! And you recovered in what, a couple of weeks?"

"I got lucky! Next time, I won't be so lucky. This is how we guarantee there won't be a next time!"

"Bullshit!" I scoff. "Face it; you're scared."

He points a finger at me threateningly. "Do not call me scared."

"You're a coward, Dreykov. This is so wrong, even for you."

"Don't you dare lecture me about bravery and morals. I raised you; I made you who you are!"

"Yes, so the fact that even I can see how wrong this is says so much about it!"

"Vallonia, just drop it," he warns lowly as he steps forward.

I take a step back in return. "No, I will not let you wait me out on this one-"

"Vallonia."

He's clearly getting extremely pissed, but I keep pushing. "I am quite honestly appalled-"

"Enough! You are one of my Widows, and I order that this will be done. If you fight me any more, I will not be so kind as to spare you from the mind control!"

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes as I step away from him. "If I have to be compliant in this to be one of your Widows, I would rather not be one of your Widows!"

His eyes are on fire, and I can tell how much that statement both hurt and enraged him. He flings his arm out, clearly not thinking about his actions at all, and it lands right in the middle of my chest, pushing me back.

Not being ready for his sudden shove, I stumble back into open air. Oh shit - he pushed me out the helicopter door.

My eyes go wide as I fall backwards, feeling the wind from outside the helicopter whip through my hair. I immediately reach for Dreykov to try to catch myself, but he is standing frozen, an oh shit expression written across his face.