Chapter 7
Vincent watches the Windsor's balcony from the neighboring rooftop. Catherine is waiting in the lobby. When Vincent signals that Tori has turned off the alarm and is on the balcony, she is going to draw Windsor to his door and away from the balcony sliders. Hopefully between the 2 of them they can convince him to cooperate. He doesn't have much hope, the beasts he has come across so far, are not big conversationalists.
Vincent sees movement at the balcony doors. A very pretty young red head is coming out on the balcony. She sighs heavily, leaning against the railing. A glass of wine in her hand. Vincent hits send on his pre typed text to Catherine. Tori on balcony…Go Time. He leaps for the balcony, landing behind Tori and stealthily enters the penthouse.
Catherine knocks at Windsor's front door at the same time. Identifying herself as NYPD and requesting to speak to Curt Windsor.
Two security guards are flanking Mr. Windsor as he lets Catherine into the penthouse. Catherine explains that his life is in danger.
"Mr. Windsor, the NYPD has reason to believe that you are in danger."
He looks condescending at her.
"Detective I am a wealthy powerful man. I am in danger all the time, which is why I have the guards." He gestures to his private security team.
Vincent smiles to himself. He likes making an entrance. So he blurs into the room and takes out the 2 guards.
"As you can see, they are no match for what is coming."
Vincent is still human, only his speed gave him away. But Curt Windsor is also a beast and having two beasts in the same room, creates another problem.
Windsor's beast rushes to the surface to protect itself from Vincent and Vincent's beast doesn't want to miss the party. Both men quickly transform and crouching down roar at each other.
Tori chooses this moment to come into the room.
"Daddy! What…..what is happening."
Windsor's beast turns on her as a threat and grabs her by the throat.
"Vincent!"
Catherine yells his name as he attacks Windsor.
Vincent hits Windsor hard enough to loosen his grip on Tori.
"Get her out of here!"
Catherine immediately grabs Tori and heads to the elevator. She takes a second to look back over her shoulder at Vincent and Windsor locked in battle.
Vincent notices everything she does.
"GO…..Go get out of here."
With Vincent momentarily distracted by Catherine, Windsor delivers a blow that puts Vincent through the doorway and into the hall. Quickly getting up he grabs both Tori and Catherine and blurs away with them.
Back at the Gentleman's club, Vincent is pacing. Checking windows and doors and clearly agitated.
"It's not going to take him long to track you down, Catherine."
"I know and I still want to talk to him, but we need to make sure that Tori is ok. She can call her Dad and arrange a meet. This can still work Vincent."
He keeps pacing.
"I don't see how, he almost killed his own daughter, why would he talk to us. I have to go report into my handler. He is going to be wondering why I haven't called in."
Tori has been quiet just watching the two of them, going back and forth.
"Can someone please explain what is going on?"
Catherine feels sympathy for Tori, there is no good way to learn about beasts especially that your Father is one.
"Tori let me explain. Your Dad must have experimented with his DNA and it made him into what you saw."
Looking at Vincent, her big green eyes wide.
"Is he like that too?"
Catherine shook her head.
"No Vincent is different, he is not like your Dad. Vincent would never hurt anyone, but Vincent is special."
Vincent is across the room on the phone.
"Condor….there was a problem tonight Sir. Windsor's beast went crazy and tried to kill his daughter. It was everything I could do to get her out of there."
Vincent's handler is not happy that he kidnapped a wealthy famous heiress and did not accomplish his mission to kill Windsor.
"I am working it out Sir, she won't be a problem."
Tori can see the way the Catherine is looking at Vincent. It is clear even to her that Catherine loves him.
"I don't understand, when did this happen to my Father?'
Vincent is still pacing rechecking windows he already closed and checked twice. Comes over to her. He is clearly agitated. Tori shrinks back in fear from him.
Catherine is watching Vincent's behavior, something is clearly freaking him out.
Vincent tries to calm himself down, he can see the fear on Tori's face and the confusion on Catherine's.
"Tori your father was an early investor in Murfield. It is the company that experimented on me and made me what I am. But I am different. I would never hurt you, like your Father did. Have you noticed anything odd about him lately? Has he been acting differently?"
"He has been on edge, kind of like you right now, since my Mom died a couple of years ago. He never really got over her death. I think I remind him of her, he keeps me pretty close. No friends, no life, under close guard at all time. To tell you the truth it really sucks. This is the most out I have been in years."
Catherine still watching Vincent tries to explain to Tori.
"Tori, your Father has recently gotten on the radar of a man who is trying to rid the world of beasts. That man sent Vincent to kill your Dad, but we came to your house tonight to try and talk to your Dad, to see if he would help us."
Vincent sensing where Catherine is going cuts her off.
"Not anymore Catherine, Windsor's beast is too dangerous, he clearly doesn't have any control, and he almost killed his own daughter. He clearly likes being a beast. There is only one way this ends."
Catherine is alarmed at Vincent's tone.
"What is going on with you?
Vincent shakes his head, he can tell he is acting strange, he just doesn't know why or how to stop it.
Tori comes toward Vincent.
"My Dad would get like this too. I didn't understand it before, but maybe it's because he is a beast."
Tori moves closer to Vincent. She is compelled, drawn to him. She is staring at him. Catherine watches as the two of them stare at one another. As they get close, both of them cock their heads. Tori's breathing is increasing and for just a moment, Catherine swears she saw Tori's eye's glow. Tori ducks her head quickly and backs up.
"I'm sorry" She laughs nervously. "I don't know what came over me."
Vincent is staring at her. He has gone completely still.
"Catherine"
She has never heard that tone from Vincent before.
"Get Tori out of here now." His voice is laced with menace. Catherine looks at him and his eyes are glowing and the veins on his neck are standing out.
"NOW" He yells at her.
Catherine jumps up and grabs Tori. Dragging her away, they head for her car. Catherine calls JT.
"JT, I know you have class, but something is really wrong with Vincent. I had to leave him at your place. Can you please go and check on him."
"What happened?"
Catherine explains Vincent's erratic behavior and then his damn near catatonic reaction to Tori. JT agrees to head home immediately. He calls Vincent on the way.
"Hey buddy what's going on?"
Vincent sounds fine, just concerned.
"JT you gotta find Catherine. I think Tori is a beast and I am worried about Catherine's safety. I had a visceral reaction to Tori and I didn't want to hurt her, so I made Catherine leave with her.
JT is shocked
"WTF, Tori is a beast too. Let me call Tess and get her to Catherine's between the two of them they should be able to watch Tori."
JT calls Tess and explains the situation. JT arrives at the club.
"JT I am pretty sure that Tori is a beast. I had a reaction to her and it was crazy man. Ever since we brought her here, I was keyed up. I couldn't settle down. I could feel the violence in me. Catherine was coming up with a plan for Windsor and all I could think about was killing him. Catherine could tell something was wrong. Then Tori got close to me and I could feel the violence and rage building, but there was also heat man….. You know what I mean?"
Vincent looks ashamed.
"I mean she is a kid, but for a moment, my body didn't care. Luckily my brain was still working. I made Catherine leave with her. All I could think about was getting her away from me. As soon as she was gone so were all the crazy amped up feelings. I am fine now."
JT is shocked and doesn't really know what to say.
"Well… Tess was on her way to Cat's so I am sure they are all safe now."
He totally sideswiped the whole animal attraction thing. Unfortunately Vincent wasn't going to let it go that easy.
"How do I explain this to Catherine? I just got her back, JT and now I got to worry about beasting out and some sort of weird primal mating thing!"
JT knowing that Cat and Vincent always work things out, told him to talk to Catherine.
"Be honest with her, let her know what's going on. Face it Vincent, she probably has it all figured out anyway."
"OK, but can you go over to her house and watch Tori and have her meet me at the boathouse. This is not a conversation I want to have over the phone and I obviously can't be around Tori."
JT went to Catherine's. He gave Tori a good look over, but could sense nothing from her and she seemed totally normal. Is it possible that she doesn't know? JT told Catherine to meet Vincent at the houseboat. He and Tess would stay with Tori. Catherine had been uncharacteristically quiet. She didn't ask any questions of him about Vincent, she just left to go the boathouse.
Catherine drove to the boathouse, the more she thought about it, it was clear that Tori had an effect on Vincent. His behavior was so out of character. What was that strange staring contest they'd had? If she were to be honest, she can admit that she felt the heat between them. The tension between them had been palpable. She would not have been surprised to see them tear each other clothes off right there. Her thoughts were making her sick to her stomach. After everything they have been through, can't they just get a break?
Vincent had been sitting on his couch, when Catherine pulled up. He jumped to his feet at her approach. He can hear her heart racing and knows she is hurting.
Catherine slowly opens the door and steps in Vincent's living area. Her body language is tense, arms folded across her waist, in a protective posture. Her heartbeat is racing and her breathing is short.
Vincent stands there, staring at her. She seems afraid of me. He sadly thinks to himself.
"Catherine"
He says her name softly.
"Catherine come here."
He opens his arms.
Catherine looks at him. She doesn't move. He can see the pain he has inadvertently cause her.
Catherine is afraid to move. She wants to run into Vincent's arms and ignore everything going on around them. Everything she has been through up to this point she has been able to handle, but this…..this might be too much.
He can see her struggle. He takes a step toward her. She doesn't back up.
"Catherine, I know your upset, but you have to believe me when I say that I love you. That will never change, no matter what."
He takes another step closer.
"I need you in my arms right now. Catherine… I need you."
Vincent doesn't move. The next step has to be Catherine's. He stands there emotionally bared to her. She can see the pain and regret on his face, she can also see the naked truth of his feelings for her. So different on his face than what she saw with Tori.
She walks into his arms and buries her face into his chest. She struggles not to cry. She doesn't want to give in to this weakness, this doubt.
Vincent drops his head on Catherine's. They stand there holding on to each other, both of them determined to fight this latest threat no differently than they have fought every other threat…..together.