I DO NOT OWN BATB!

Thank you all for the feedback.

Your reviews have blown my muse and me away! OMG! :) Thank u SO MUCH! So please keep 'em coming, you all. :D

To Julia: Awww... Glad that u both enjoy reading my story. :)

Here is chap 24. Hope you enjoy.

Review? PLEASE?

But suddenly, he was startled by a loud yell." FIRE! FIRE!" They both heard Calinico shout and heard the fire alarm blare loudly...

From the moment they heard Calinico shout, everything went by so fast before Catherine's eyes. Vincent grabbed her nightgown and gave it to her. He looked at her once more, before saying.

"Wear this, please. We have to get you all out! Follow me, okay? Take my hand."

Catherine shook her head, so Vincent turned around and said."Stay behind me, okay?"

She followed his instructions and walked behind him. As they entered the hall, they saw a lot of smoke. Vincent began searching for the others, but saw that the guest rooms were all empty. As he reached the end of the hall, one of Vincent's maids told him that Calinico had gathered JT, Mr. Chandler and Heather. They were already on their way down the stairs.

"Mr. Vincent… where, where is Miss Catherine?" the older woman asked, her voice shaky.

Catherine tried to keep up with Vincent, but the smoke made it hard for her to breathe. So she stopped and gasped for air, but ended up inhaling the smoke instead. She began coughing and suddenly felt two arms around her, picking her off of the floor like she weight nothing.

"Vincent." she whispered, as her heart rammed wildly against her ribcage.

Without saying a word, he carried her bridal style down the stairs. She had her eyes locked on his face and involuntarily inhaled his scent. Her left arm automatically landed around his neck for support, as she felt one of his arms under her legs. As his other arm was supporting her back, she couldn't help but close her eyes, her nose landing in the crook of his neck.

Catherine was trembling, terrified and overwhelmed by the chain of events. Being so close to him, was one of the scariest things she had ever experienced. She was seeing him in a different light now. Everything had changed for her, now that he has revealed his darkest secret to her. This man… or man- Beast… he had saved her for the 3th time now. She was so frightened, but she wasn't sure what she was afraid of. She had seen his claws not long ago, his eyes glowing yellow, his veins popping… and yet at the moment he was gently carrying her in his arms.

How was that possible?! When he threatened to hurt Philip with his bare hands, she believed that he was capable of being very violent. And yet at the moment, Vincent was just plain, calm, human Vincent. She didn't see one glimpse of the Beast.

His claws were replaced by normal nails and fingers and his eyes were its natural hazel color. Catherine was terrified of the inhuman thing he could become… so very scared of the Beast…

()

As Catherine looked in the mirror, she tried to understand about Vincent's condition. She walked towards the balcony and admired the sunrise. The fire fighters were able to put out the fire, that began in the library. But there was a lot of water damage. Until further notice, Vincent decided to let them all stay at his hotel, including him.

"Calinico… So, now you can be pampered instead of pampering others." JT joked, making the others chuckle.

The butler shook his head, frowning deeply, making the others smile.

Since Vincent had put her down in front of the villa, she hadn't spoken one word to him. They had thrown each other glances now and then, but hadn't spoken to each other.

Catherine was leaning on the railing and shook her head."How can it be? How is it possible? How can he be the creature that was in the forest?" She whispered.

She tried to understand, but wasn't able to. She just couldn't. So did it have something to do with the curse?! Suddenly she was taken out of her thoughts by her phone. She received a text from Heather.

H: Hey, sis. We are all downstairs having breakfast by the pool. Come join us?

C: Is Vincent there too?

H: Yes, he is! Your very hot boyfriend is taking a bite of a croissant at the moment. Get your butt downstairs, now.

C: I'm gonna get ready first, okay?

H: Okay, but hurry up, sis. There are guests… WOMEN guests who are gawking at him. :p

Catherine rolled her eyes as she texted back: OK!

She took a shower and washed the scent of the smoke from her hair. After the shower, Catherine got ready and wore a dark blue summer dress. With her straw hat on top of her head and sun glasses in her hand, she walked out the hotel room. Her GUCCI bag was over her shoulder, as she went downstairs with the elevator.

As she got closer to Vincent, her fear was beginning to consume her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to see him, after what had happened. What will she say? What will he do? Where do they go from here? She was pretty sure that they couldn't go back to what it was… as if nothing happened. Catherine wasn't sure if she was strong enough to be with him now...

Her stomach was tied in knots, cause she remembered telling him that she loved him and that she wanted to spend her life with him. But could she? Could she love him now? Could she accept all of him?

As she stepped out the door and saw the others and Vincent from afar, she froze at her spot. Her head was spinning and she swore that she was about to throw up. She got cold feet and turned around, walking away from the others.

Catherine was just about to step back into the elevator, when she heard her name being called. Vincent! As she turned around, her heart kicked up a notch. There he was… so handsome in a grey button down shirt and black jeans.

He watched her with pleading eyes and smiled."Hey, how are you?" he asked.

Catherine nervously played with the strap of her bag."I… I am doing fine." She replied, her voice trembling.

Vincent was about to put a hand on her cheek, but she turned her face the other way and closed her eyes for mere seconds.

At that reaction of hers , Vincent knew that she was still afraid of him. His throat closed up, an unbearable pain gnawing at his heart. He had lost her… he had told the truth and now he had lost her. The truth hadn't set him free! It has completely DESTROYED him!

She looked up at him, her eyes welling up." I am so sorry, Vincent. But I can't… I just cant." She whispered.

His beautiful, hazel eyes were boring into hers, as his words left his lips.

"So, when you said that you loved me and wanted to spend your life with me… Was… was that all a lie?" he whispered, a tear rolling down his cheeks.

As her tears rolled down her own cheeks, Catherine shook her head."Vincent… you, you ambushed me with your deepest, darkest secret. I don't know what… what to do… what to think. Its very overwhelming...Please, please try to understand... I just need… I need some space… I am sorry…" she said, breaking eye contact and looked at the floor.

At that very moment, Vincent felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest. Was he really losing her? For good? But wasn't she supposed to break the curse?!

"Catherine. You don't have to be afraid of me. Never should you be afraid of me. I will never hurt you. My grandmother and Calinico has seen me in Beast form since I was a little boy and I have never ever hurt them. Even in that state, I recognized them and knew that they were the ones I should protect and NEVER hurt." He explained.

But still she didn't say anything.

"Catherine, will you please look at me?" he asked, his voice pleading.

She looked up and locked eyes with him. Her eyes were teary; she was so confused and overwhelmed by it all. In the back of her mind, she knew that she musn't be afraid, but she couldn't help feeling the way she did. As she tried to convince herself that he was still Vincent, seeing him in his inhuman form was not something she was ready to see. Her heart needed a break; even if it was just a tiny one...

"Please, let me explain it all to you. From the very beginning... from the very start. Let me tell you all about me and my family. Please, Catherine. My heart needs you..." he pleaded.

She hesitated for one split second, but she did want to know all about him.

"Okay, where can w..." she began, but was cut off by Mr. Chandler.

" I am so sorry to interrupt, you 2. But I have to go back to New York. There's this huge case back home and I am needed there." Cat's father said.

Heather walked towards them and smiled."I will be going home with dad, cause there are some things I need to do." she said, while winking at Cat and Vincent.

But when they took a good look at Vincent and Cat, Mr. Chandler frowned and so did Heather. They realized then that something wasn't right…

"Catherine… you can stay in Tinos if you want, until the end of your vacation." Mr. Chandler said.

Knowing that she was going to be without her dad and Heather, made Catherine panic completely! Without thinking, Catherine looked at her father and said."No… I will not be staying here any longer, dad. I… I wanna go home with you too. Let's pack our stuff, Heather." she stated, her throat closing up.

She was so torn; she wanted to hear Vincent's explanation but she needed her family's support. At the moment, it all became too much for Catherine, so she walked into the elevator and waited for her little sister.

"Are you coming?" she asked, her voice trembling heavily.

Heather nodded and immediately jumped inside.

()

As they walked into Cat's hotel room, Heather placed a hand on Catherine's shoulder.

"Catherine… what's wrong? Something happen between you 2? What is it?" Heather asked with a worried tone in her voice.

As she felt Heather's hand on her shoulder, Catherine couldn't hold back anymore. So, she let her tears flow freely. Her sobs were loud and almost never ending.

"What's the matter, sis? Did Vincent hurt you? What happened?" she asked, while trying to not cry herself.

"No… he didn't… didn't hurt me…" she replied.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

"I… I love him... So much, but…" Cat said.

"Then what's wrong. That's good, right?" she asked.

Cat shook her head furiously."No… I… He… Last night he told me something about him… a very dark secret… and I… I just cant stay… I am so confused and afraid and I… I just can't take it." She explained.

"Wait… what? But, don't you think it would be better if you talked about it more with him? You know, to clear things up and let it all sink in." Heather asked.

While it pained her so much, Cat said."No… I... I wanna go home…"

()

Vincent was in his hotel room and lied down on his bed. All his energy was drained from him, after hearing her say that she was gonna leave. As he thought back on how amazing it felt, when he kissed the scar on her hip, a tear rolled down his cheek. He looked up at the ceiling and felt so lost. He was devastated and couldn't believe that this was happening!

She was really leaving him? He was never gonna see her again? He had really lost the love of his life? Catherine was going to leave and there was NOTHING he could do… Absolutely nothing? He couldn't force her to stay. If she were to stay, it must be of her own free will.

As Vincent's mind drifted off to her, he didn't even realize that Calinico and JT walked into the room.

"Mr. Vincent, you can't let her go." The butler desperately said.

"He is right, Vincent. You mustn't let her go."JT stated.

Vincent stared at the ceiling." I can't force her to stay. She is free to go whenever she wants." He said.

"You are giving up?! You mustn't give up now! You're so close to breaking the curse with her help! You have to FIGHT for her! FIGHT for her love! Don't sit here and mope around and feel sorry for yourself! Go and beg her to stay!" JT said, his breathing harsh.

Vincent sat up and looked the other 2 men in the face."I told her, okay? I told her and she is afraid of me! I showed her my claws and she can't stand it anymore to be touched by me! How? How can she help me break the curse if she doesn't accept me? How? Huh? I don't blame her, you know. If I were her, I'd be afraid of me too! I am a BEAST! A MONSTER!" He growled.

At that, Calinico got very angry." If you don't get out of that bed now and go after her, I am personally going to put you down like a MONSTER! How dare you say that! Your grandmother would turn around in her grave if she knew that you called yourself that! What you 2 have… the connection between you 2 cannot and will not be broken so easily, Mr Vincent."the older man said.

"No! Let her be. She deserves a life of her own choice. I could never ask her to give up everything for me. That would be unfair and very cruel. And even though it meant that I was going to be a Beast till the day I die... at... at least she would be able to have a normal life. I love her too much... I need her to be happy... even if it's not with me..." Vincent said, on the verge of breaking down.

"Vincent..." JT began, but Vincent abruptly cut him off.

"If she wants to go, she is free to go!" Vincent said, almost shouting.

"Mr. Vincent..." Calinico tried, but he too was cut off.

"I said I WILL LET HER GO!" he roared. His eyes went all yellow, his chest heaving heavily, the veins on his neck popping and his claws and fangs descending.

It was at that moment, when the 3 of them heard a knock on the hotelroom door. Vincent immediately tried calming himself down, his breathing shallow.

"Come in." he said after a few moments...

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! What a MESS! :(

Will he really not try and stop her?! Arghhhh!

Do u want chap 25? Then Please leave me reviews?

Ruby.

:)