Disclaimer: I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy


Chapter 40

Pandora and Sappheire

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Taylor had reached them in that moment, delayed because he had to tie the speed boat, and with wide eyes he asked. "Mr. Grey! What the hell is that thing covering your whole back?!"

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Approximately forty minutes later, Ana stood in front of the long mirror in Parthenios' mansion, in awe of the marks on her back.

"Unbelievable" she uttered, and looked over to the bathroom door, when she heard it swing open.

Christian had taken a shower and walked in only his jeans towards her.

She locked eyes with him, and said." This is just… I cannot find the right words for it"

"Crazy?" he tried, and closed the gap between them.

She nodded." And amazing, beautiful… absolutely unbelievable"

Christian swallowed hard, and grabbed her lovingly by her wrist." Ana"

She smiled and placed a hand on his chest." Yes?"

"I have to tell… uhmm… this is not a good thing, what just happened." He tried to explain.

She furrowed her brows in response." Why not? But you said that your grandmother told you, if these invisible marks appear, you and I can break the family curse?"

Christian let out a deep breath, and nodded." Yes, that's all true… "

"But?" she said, and looked at him questioningly.

He ran a hand through his hair and said." Let's take a seat?"

He led her to the bed, and they both took a seat on it.

"I'm listening, Christian" he heard Ana say, her voice soft.

As he looked at her, he contemplated what the best way was to explain all of this to her.

"Well?" Ana asked impatiently at one point.

"When the invisible marks appear, you and I only have three days to try to break the family curse" he told her with a sad tone in his voice.

It was then, when she realized why Christian was worried and sad.

She placed a hand on his cheek, and said." Oh no… we still need two keys. And the second one isn't found yet…"

"It's hopeless, Ana… the 'Phoenixes' have searched high and low for it, but it's nowhere to be found"

"What does Andreas say? He's a very clever man, I bet he has a good lead in finding the 2nd key" Ana said hopeful.

Christian shook his head in response." No, on our way back here I've spoken to Parthenios on the phone… they've been unsuccessful up until now" he told Ana." Plus, they can't seem to get a hold on Andreas. He's been MIA for hours now, and that's strange. He would never abandon the 'Phoenixes' like this. Parthenios is worried about him"

"Do you think Andreas is in danger?" Ana asked with a worried tone in her voice.

"We're not sure" Christian replied." They'll keep trying though… call and search for him"

Ana then grabbed both his hands and squeezed them softly." They'll find him… I believe Andreas is just doing fine" she tried to lighten Christian's mood.

"I hope so… only bad news today" he pointed out." No key, and now Andreas is missing"

Ana heard the devastation in his voice and saw the sad, and disappointed look on his face… it was absolutely heartbreaking to see him this way.

He really had hoped that she and him would finally break this damned curse...

(Little did they know that it was a blessing in disguise, not having the second key… because Christian nor Calinico knew that Ana would die if they tried breaking the curse without the help of Demetra Marinos)

.

… In the meantime…

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Andreas Liakos sat motionless in his seat, as Demetra Marinos confessed it all.

"So you've known all your life that you were chosen to help the Niarxos family?" Andreas asked, his bright blue eyes locked onto hers.

She cleared her throat, and nodded." Yes, but I never believed in magic, Mr. Liakos. I thought that they were just "stories" and what my grandmother had taught me was something she had made up." Demetra explained, her voice shaky.

"Don't you have anything from your ancestors though? A book or letters to guide you on your journey?" Andreas asked curiously.

In response, Demetra got up from the couch and walked over to the corner of her living room. She grabbed a key and unlocked a drawer.

Andreas watched her like a hawk, and noticed that she grabbed a book from the dresser.

"This is it" she said, and walked over to the couch." Take a look"

The moment the book was in his hands, Andreas felt a warm breeze inside the living room.

"You felt it?" Demetra asked, her eyes locked onto his.

Andreas nodded, a dumbfounded look on his face, and that's when Demetra grabbed a chair and sat across from him.

"Is it magic?" he asked.

"Yes, it must be… open the book" She ordered.

"What will we find?" Andreas asked, feeling a bit restless and uncomfortable.

"I don't know"

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"I've never opened this book, Mr. Liakos… my grandmother and father raised me, because my mother had to leave us… 'Phoenixes' hunted my mom down and she had to leave to protect her family… to protect me from them."

"I'm so sorry for that" Andreas uttered, while avoiding Demetra's gaze." I'm sorry for the pain we caused you, Miss Marinos"

"Thank you… anyway, my father didn't want me to get involved with this so called 'magic' and forbade me to ever open 'the book'." She explained, and locked eyes with him." And I've obeyed him until now"

"Where is your father, Miss Marinos?" he asked.

"He died three years ago"

"And your grandmother?"

"She died last year" Demetra told him, her voice shaky.

Andreas looked at the beautiful, young woman and felt a tug at his heart… oh how much she had suffered in her young life.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Miss Marinos" he said.

Normally, Demetra wouldn't trust a 'Phoenix', but he looked and sounded very sincere, when he said the words.

"Thank you, Mr. Liakos"

"So, are you willing to help Miss Steele and Mr. Grey break the family curse?" he asked, giving her a hopeful look.

"I uhmm… I'm not sure" she replied, her heart pounding inside her chest.

Andreas knew that he had to play his cards right. That's the only way he could convince Demetra to help Ana and Christian.

He also knew that the young woman was terrified, and was overwhelmed by all that has happened. Feeling the burn on her back, finding out about the marks on her back, and finally discovering that she was the only one who could save Anastasia Steele.

For now, he wanted to make her feel comfortable. He wanted to ease her into it. So, Andreas asked Demetra about the one thing she surely knew better than anyone else.

"I don't understand one thing, Miss Marinos. Your ancestor who had cursed Christian Grey's ancestor was a very powerful witch, I have learned. Then how come there's a way around that curse? How come it's not binding?" Andreas asked, his brows furrowed, his blue eyes locked onto Demetra's green ones.

In response, she got up." I need a drink… do you?"

He shook his head." I don't drink on the job" he simply said.

"OK" She replied, and grabbed herself a drink.

While Andreas waited patiently for the gorgeous brunette, his hand slipped inside his pocket.

'Yes, both keys were still here'

As he thought back, remembering how Miss Marinos had surprised him by kicking him in the gut, the corners of his lips curled upwards into a smile.

Andreas was a skilled fighter, one that had beaten a lot of guys during training, so he was quite taken aback that a petite, young woman was able to beat him.

As his hand landed on his stomach, he still felt the pain…

'Yup, it's going to bruise tomorrow' he thought.

It was then, when Demetra returned to the living room with a glass in her small hand.

"You sure you don't want one?"

"I'm sure" he told her.

Demetra then took a seat on the couch and before saying anything, she took a swig from the glass.

"The witch you're talking about, her name was Pandora. She was powerful indeed, but she had turned evil since her husband left her for another witch. The reason? Well, because Pandora was unable to bare any children.

She was barren.

Her younger sister, her name was Sappheire, she was my great- great grandmother.

She tried to help Pandora get over her sorrow and pain that her husband had caused her. However, it was in vain.

Pandora had already turned to the dark side, and was more than willing to break up the two lovers, Christian's ancestor Soterios and Agathe.

That day she put a curse on the two lovebirds, and because Agathe was with child, it angered Pandora even more! That day the heavens turned dark, even though it was day time.

Pandora accepted the gold, and damned the Niarxos' blood line, starting with Soterios himself.

Only the men will turn into monsters, the female descendants were spared.

The only way to break the curse was to bring the three objects together; both keys, the small one and the big one, the marble necklace, 'Agathe' returning to Tinos, falling in love with a Niarxos and both returning with the three objects to the place where it all started.

There, the 'new' Agathe (Ana) must sacrifice herself in order to break the Niarxos' family curse, therefore liberating all of Soterios' descendants.

Only then, will the curse be broken entirely."

Hearing all of that from Demetra, instantly made Andreas very thirsty." I think I need that drink now, Miss Marinos"

She nodded, and handed over him her glass." Finish it for me?" she asked.

He nodded, and took a few swigs from the glass.

As he drank the warm liquid, Andreas observed the petite beauty, and noticed how her hands were shaking.

Then Demetra continued, her mesmerizing, green eyes locked onto his blue ones.

"Pandora was satisfied, when she found out that the curse worked!

However, her younger sister, my great- great grandmother, Sappheire, found out also what Pandora had done.

A very desperate and hopeless Agathe went to her and begged Sappheire to undo her sister's curse.

She tried everything! My great- great grandmother used every book and tried every spell she could think of, but Pandora's magic was too dark and very strong!

Sappheire was unable to undo it, but she was a clever young woman and thought of another way for the curse to be broken/ lifted.

Instead of Agathe returning to the sea for real, Sappheire cleverly used her light magic so the new 'Agathe and Soterios' could have a fighting chance.

The two lovebirds still had to do all of what Pandora described in her spell/ curse, however none of the two had to die…

Sappheire named the witch who in future was going to help the two lovebirds, and she had to make sure the curse that Pandora had put on the Niarxos' bloodline, will be lifted forever…"

As those last words tumbled from Demetra's lips, tears began to pool in her pretty eyes.

"That's you" Andreas pointed out, his voice a pitch higher.

Demetra nodded in agreement." See? My name is written in the book."

As his eyes landed on that page of the book, Andreas eyes widened." Demetra… she will be the one" he read aloud.

Demetra got up and walked over to the window, and opened it." I need the fresh air." She uttered, and let out a deep breath.

Andreas nodded, and said. " And me? I think I need more than this, Miss Marinos… where can I…" he asked, while holding the empty glass up.

"In the kitchen" she replied, her face pale and expressionless, while pointing where the whisky was.

After a little while, Andreas returned with two glasses. She then walked back over to the couch and sat down. Andreas took a seat next to her, and noticed how pale Demetra was." Here you go" he said, and handed her one of the glasses.

All of a sudden, Demetra raised her voice. "This cannot be real… I can't… I cannot be responsible for the lives of that whole family!" she shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks, her hands trembling.

"But you are responsible, Miss Marinos!" Andreas reminded her." Please, help Mr. Grey and Miss Steele… you cannot let Ana sacrifice herself! Please…"

"But I don't wanna be responsible for them! I'm just a simple twenty-two year old girl. I'm a nobody…" she said, her voice trembling heavily." This is too big of a deal… I'm not my great- great grandmother. I'm not Sappheire"

She was at her breaking point, Andreas noticed this. He knew that he should do something to prevent Demetra from running. He saw it in her eyes that she was absolutely terrified, and he had to calm her down. Right away!

She was Ana and Christian's only hope…

"I think you should go" Demetra said, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

For a few seconds, Andreas was too distracted by her beauty. Her cheeks were a rosy color, her eyes shining and her scent was so addictive.

However, he knew that he should not be distracted by her. Andreas had one mission; he had to talk Demetra into helping the Niarxos' family.

"Miss Marinos, I know that you are afraid. But we need you. Please help this couple… you do know what will happen, if you don't help them, right?" Andreas said, and looked at her pleadingly.

Tears began to stream down Demetra's face, and she nodded." I do"

Andreas scooted closer to her on the couch, and although a huge lump formed in his throat, he swallowed it, and continued, while placing a hand on her upper arm." She will die, if you don't help them"

Demetra nodded, and whispered." I'm so scared, Mr. Liakos"

In her beautiful eyes, he saw the fear and helplessness, and God that tore at his heart.

However, he was trained from a very young age to be and act professional. He could not let this beauty weaken him…

"What if I do something wrong?! And both of them never wake up?! Huh? What if instead of helping them, I screw it all up and I uhmmm" she began, but was unable to continue, a huge lump stuck in her throat.

Andreas grabbed Demetra on her upper arms firmly and locked eyes with her." You can do it… you WILL help them and you three will succeed." He said, his voice very convincing." Miss Marinos, I may not know you well, but I can sense that you are strong and also brave… just like your great- great grandmother"

Demetra nodded, and knew that he was right… she had to do as Sappheire had prophesized.

"You are right, Mr. Liakos" She declared, her voice firm" I must help them… and I will"

"Thank you" Andreas replied, and smiled at her." I thank you from the bottom of my heart"

Demetra nodded in response." I must brew the potion myself… the ingredients and the amount must be precise. But don't worry, we will succeed, Mr. Li…" she began, but he cut her off gently.

"Call me Andreas" he said.

She smiled at that, and said." I won't allow myself to make any mistakes, Andreas… I can do this"

(If Demetra makes a mistake in brewing the potion, the consequences will be disastrous!)

"Now let's see what I will need for the potion" Andreas heard her say.

As their eyes landed on the fifth page of the book, Demetra gasped softly, while Andreas' eyes widened in disbelieve.

"How in the hell are we going to find this ingredient?!" Andreas said aloud.


Note: Hi guys,

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