Author's Note: Hey guys, long time no see! I haven't updated this story for about six or more months. I have been actually busy as I studied really hard for a Japanese language test that was in December. On top of that, I had cataract surgery during the holidays and I had to prepare for that. And, I was recently discouraged and depressed during the fall. Just work and the people around me made feel like I couldn't do anything right. I felt like a failure but also pushed myself really hard when I was studying for the exam.

I want really to finish this story because I owe my readers that much. Also, I want to write another study for another series. The only way I can do that if I finish this one first. So, here is to 2017 and finishing "Indomitable Hope".

Tell me what you think about this chapter. It took me a long time write this as it was kind of a filler chapter. And also, I haven't seen "Beauty and the Beast" for a loooooooong time (I have yet to see Season 4!). Hopefully, in between my "Shadowhunters" obsession and real life, I can see the final part of BATB.

I want to give a special and dear shout out to xpetti 4Bemer. I was really surprised at your PM and your hope to have this story finished. Because of you, I am determined to finish it!

"Where is an 'unlock service door in the back of a mysterious manor' when you need?" The stubborn ADA questioned softly as he tried to find a way into the large house full of secrets. It took a couple minutes to search all the doors and windows, check the locks, and pray that something would open. The black-haired man finally had his prayers answered when a small door on the side opened up.

Aha! This one is unlocked! Time to enter!

The ADA crept quietly in, examining the various rooms and decorations for anything unusual. He made sure that no one nearby. He hated the thought of being caught by a maid, especially when he was conducting a search without a warrant. However, this search wasn't about his work or the current case he was investigating on. It was only about his curiosity.

The curly-haired man continued to check each room swiftly. He even checked the closets and any hidden areas in case any evidence or clues pop up to numb his curiosity.

He found what he was looking for in a closet that was located in a room upstairs. Inside, he found a small, locked door. Gabe searched his pockets for something like a paperclip that could easily pick the simple-looking lock. Once he found one in his back pocket, the ADA straightened it and placed it into the keyhole, fiddling with the lock with such caution while turning the door knob.

Success happened a few minutes later when the door popped opened, revealing a set of stairs leading down. Checking his surroundings for the last time to make sure that no one was around, Gabe headed down the stairs. He noticed that there were no switches nor sources of light along the seemingly long walk. The ADA took his time, treading slowly until he reached the final destination

At the bottom of the stairs, Gabe was able to find a light switch and flicked it without hesitation. The room became dimly lit, making Gable able to see the contents of the room. To him, it seemed like it was a laboratory of some sorts.

Gabe observed the room. Though it seemed like it was built a long time ago, the material that filled it was pretty new. He noticed that there was pretty new technology which included some machines that he didn't know about. There was also a desk in the middle of the room that had a bunch of papers and notebooks scattered about.

The black-haired man approached the desk and randomly took out a book to skim through. It seemed like it was about the cross-species experiments that were conducted when Windsor was sponsoring the agency. However, why did it mention his daughter? Wasn's she born after the millionaire left Muirfield? He looked closely at the dates, realizing that these logs were written recently.

What is going on? Gabe thought as he continued to read on, not noticing a pair of figures coming down the stairwell behind him.

The tall, handsome man didn't know how to response to the kiss. His eyes widen in shock as Tori's lips touched his. This woman was so bold to do such a daring move! Especially when he couldn't remember anything else clearly!

Was this how she said hi? Was it how she reassured that everything was going to be ok? Either way, it was a funny way to show it.

It ended as quickly as it started. The long haired women pulled away and gave the man a quick smirk. She gazed into his eyes. "Let me show you around the mansion since this will be your home for a while."

"Wait, what you do you mean "my home"?" Vincent quickly spluttered.

"Well, you don't have anywhere else to go? You said yourself that you don't remember your home or have any memories of your life before yesterday," Tori answered gently, "I just think you should stay here until you remember something. Or unless you are ready to leave. You don't want to live out in the streets, don't you?" Vincent mouthed a simple "no" as Tori continued, "Good. Stay here till you are ready. I don't think my father would mind. Let me take you on a tour around the place!"

The elegant redhead grabbed one of Vincent's hand without hesitation as she guided him to the main doors. As soon as they reached the hallway, Tori began to give Vincent a tour of the place. "Your room is located inside the guest suite that is located on the eastern side of the manor. Mine is in the center and my dad's suite is in the western half. I advise you to stay out of that part because my dad will get pissed off if you invade his space. He is a very private person when it comes to his affairs."

Vincent continued to listen as he looked around. The place wasn't too shabby. There were fine tapestry and paintings all over the walls. He noticed that the gorgeous redhead was guiding him towards a large stairwell built with the finest mahogany wood that he ever saw. They started to head down when Tori stopped all a sudden.

"Looks like my dad has visitors," Tori spoke as she stared down, sensing the presence of an unknown group of people.

"Visitors?"

"Yeah. I can sense that there is a female and male in the living room. Perhaps it's a business meeting? But, that would be odd. My dad would inform me if he had any guests over." She shrugged while heading up the stairs, grabbing Vincent's hand in the process. "Let me take you to the secret labs instead."

The guy just followed her, not knowing what to expect.

The pair walked for a short while till the pair reached another set of stairs. This one was hidden behind a regular closet door next to the guest rooms. Once Tori unlocked the door, Vincent peered inside to see a set of steel stairs spiraling down to an unknown destination. The fear of not knowing where this woman was going to take him made him nervous. Nevertheless, he calmed his anxiety down with reason; he should trust the woman for she took him in, feed him, and even gave him her trust. He resolved his fears and let Tori continue to tug him to the destination below.

As soon as Tori made sure the door behind them was properly closed, she led Vincent down delicately. "This lab is top secret. My dad doesn't really let in anyone else except me. It's because he works on beast testing and antidotes here.

Although he severed his ties with Muirfield long ago, my dad tries to find a cure to our condition. Sometimes he tests his experiments on himself and sometimes on me. Sadly, we haven't been successful in really curing ourselves of our curse. The most we got out of an antidote is a day of being "normal", no beasting out whatsoever."

The pair finally reached the bottom of the stairs. Vincent looked around his surroundings. The "lab" was pretty bleak with gray walls and dim lighting. There was stood a table in front of the pair with a bunch of papers and notebooks scattered across the table.

Vincent sensed that there was another person nearby. He looked at the woman beside him who recognized the same presence. She closed her to concentrate on this stranger's heartbeat. Tori followed the sound until she reached the other side of the room. It seemed like she must have found the person as Tori grabbed something with the shape of a person and dragged it along with her until the redhead rejoined Vincent's side.

The tall woman shoved the black haired man to the ground as she eyed him intensely. "It's nice to be joining us, ADA Gabe Lowan. What are you doing, sneaking down here into this restricted labs? Hm?"

Gabe turned his head upwards to look at her. "Hmm, nothing particularly. It's not really any of your business."

He noticed a tall man with dark brown hair by the redhead's side. He didn't notice it at first. But, when Gabe focused his concentration on the man's feature, he gasped.

"Vincent Keller? Is that you? Tori, what in hell are you doing with him?"

Tori stared at him, "He has no place to go and no one to turn to. So, being a kind and caring person that I am, I decided to give him shelter. I am going to ask you again, what are you doing where? What investigation are you conducting now?"

"It's none of your damn business. It's official police business that I can't tell you about."

The ADA abruptly stood up and turn his back to the woman, trying to find any clues to his "investigation".

"Then I suggest that you tell me right now or leave immediately," she splatted as she began to transform into her beast form. The once gorgeous woman grabbed one of Gabe's shoulders fiercely with a now-transformed clawed hand. This made him instantly turn around to face her. That was the moment she noticed something was different. Yes, he wasn't the same Gabe that she knew before.

"Something has changed about you. I can sense it." She closed her eyes once more to concentrate on the difference. She reopened her eyes and stared back into his. "I see. It's looks like you, Mr. Lowran, became a normal human being. You must have lost your abilities as a beast?"

This woman was starting to get under his skin. How dare he point his new found weakness out loud. He growled, "Again, it's none of your damn business. Why should I answer any of your questions if you can't answer mine?"

Tori lurched over and seized the front part of Gabe's shirt with one hand. The other was outstretched with its claws a mere inch away from the young ADA's face. "Because if you don't answer mine, I will claw you until you die. Furthermore, it seems you can't even defend yourself anymore. How pathetic!

I suggest you leave right this moment or I WILL shred you to pieces."

With that, Tori retracted her clawed hand in hopes that the curly haired ADA would get the hint and leave.

Fear and defeat crept into Gabe's eyes. "I guess you win, Tori. I will leave at once. But, mark my words, I will find out what you and your dad are up to and see if it's obstructing the peace of New York City." Gabe turned around and exited the same way he entered.

Tori smirked as she saw him leave. She looked at Vincent as she spoke, "Well, I guess that is over. Let's go to the kitchen and get some lunch."

However, Vincent was in deep thought as he was confused about this Gabe person. "Who was he?" The dark-haired man swore for a slight moment that he saw the black-haired person before. However, he had a feeling that they weren't the best of friends. Maybe enemies?

"He was no one. Don't worry about him. Let's go! I am S-T-A-R-V-I-N-G!"