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Chapter 35:

As the guard opened the red door, Catherine stepped inside…

Catherine was afraid. As she stepped inside the room, her heart pounded wildly against her chest. Everyone was looking at her. Every single man in the room was observing her. There were approximately 40 men in the room. Young and old and all of them were Grecian. At one point, she stood motionless at a spot, her hands trembling.

It was then, when one man walked towards her. She gulped and observed him. He looked like Vincent, a small smile gracing his face.

"Welcome, Miss Chandler. I am Parthenios Niarxos, Vincent Keller's cousin." He said, as he shook her hand.

She nodded." Yes, it's a pleasure Mr. Niarxos. I'm so glad that you want to see me. I've a very urgent matter to discuss with you. Its about Vincent. He's missing and I need your help to find him."

Niarxos immediately froze, as he heard those words."I'm sorry, Miss Chandler. But Vincent Keller is not part of this organization anymore." He shook his head." We cannot help him. I'm sorry, you are on your own." He replied, the look on his face really sad.

As those words reached her ears, Catherine didn't care that she was terrified being there. Anger took over the fear she felt. She was beyond outraged!

"What?! What do you mean you cannot help him? Wasn't he part of all of this? Doesn't he deserve your help? He's your cousin for God's sake! How can you stand there and tell me you cant help him? Huh?" she said, her voice loud and her body trembling from anger.

An older man walked closer to her." Sorry, miss. You have to go now. You don't belong here. There's nothing we can do. Vincent Keller left this organization 6 years ago; we are bound by the rules. So we're sorry, but we cannot help him. He's on his own. Now, please leave Miss." He said firmly.

Catherine felt so lost and didn't know what do now. She cant do this without their help. As she swallowed her tears, she pulled the 'key' and the marble necklace out of her bag again.

"Look at this! You all know what this is, right?! And you all know about the curse! Mr. Niarxos, I beg of you. Help me find your cousin. He's your family, don't you care what happens to him? Maybe he's dying right now! You don't give a damn about him? You'll let your cousin die, because of a stupid rule?! I don't know why he left your organization, but please help him." Catherine pleaded, as her eyes welled up.

Vincent's cousin attempted to swallow the lump in his throat. This woman who looked exactly like his ancestor was completely in love with Vincent. And she really needed his help. What should he do?

Catherine took 3 steps towards him and handed over the 2 objects that belonged to Vincent." Here, you can have these now. I don't need them anymore. To break the Niarxos' family curse we need: me, these objects and the one I've fallen in love with. But said person has been kidnapped and maybe is dying right now. So, I don't need those objects anymore. " she said angrily, her voice breaking at the end.

Vincent's cousin was speechless, looking at the objects in his hand. Oh, he was torn and Catherine knew exactly what she was doing.

"How old are you, Mr. Niarxos? 35? Do you want to stay like that till you die? You just got married, right? When you have a son or 2, do you want them to suffer like you and Vincent have? Do you really want to do that to your children? You and Vincent have a nephew, right? Xylia's son. Don't you want to make his suffering end? Don't you? He's your nephew." Catherine couldn't hold back anymore and let her tears flow… " Think of him and your future children. Don't you want me to break your family curse, Mr. Niarxos?"

She waited for 5 more minutes and saw that he was on the verge of breaking. She placed her hand on his upper arm and whispered." Please, help me find Vincent. After that, I will do everything in my power to help you and Vincent break this curse from hell. Please."

Catherine held her breath, as she watched how the wheels in his head were turning. She waited impatiently for his answer. Everyone in the room was holding their breath, curious what he was going to decide. He was their leader and they all knew that what he said was final. No one can make him change his mind, no one can go up against him. Even if the rest of the members of 'The Phoenixes' didn't agree with his decision. Parthenios Niarxos took every rule very seriously and never ever broke a single one.

"Mr. Niarxos. Will you help me?" Catherine asked softly.

He nodded and said." I've made a decision."

Catherine looked hopeful at him."And… what will it be?"

He opened his mouth, about to answer. But just as he was about to do so, the red door flew open! Someone barged in. Oh, God! It wasn't someone! It was something!

The Beast leaped at Catherine, grabbed her and threw her against the wall! Everything went by so fast, no one expected that to happen!

The Beast and Parthenios Niarxos stood face to face. Everyone was terrified; all frozen at their spot. But Vincent's cousin didn't look afraid at all. Catherine had bumped her head hard; God it hurt! As her eyes landed on the Beast and Parthenios, the hairs on the back of her neck immediately stood up. She watched, as the Beast roared and wanted to hurt Parthenios with his huge claws. But he avoided the blow and looked at the Beast without any fear whatsoever. In seconds they all watched as Parthenios changed into something else… Oh, God!

Catherine wanted to close her eyes, but she wasn't able to tear them away from Vincent's cousin. She watched as his fingers changed into claws, his teeth turned into fangs and his face changed into something else! His eyes were glowing yellow, just like Vincent's did that night!

As fear crept into her heart, Catherine watched powerless at the sight before her. In the next moment, everything turned into chaos when the two Beasts leaped at each other, fighting for their lives. At one point, Catherine's eyes landed on one of 'the Phoenixes'. He pulled out a gun and aimed at the two! Was it a real gun? Was it a tranquilizer? She was not sure. As the man fired, Catherine's eyes fell shut. She heard 6 shots and heard 2 bodies falling to the ground…

Oh, God! Was Parthenios dead?!

Is he dead?! :(

Well, you know what to do if you want chap 36. :)

Ruby.