Disclaimer: I don not own anything to do with Beauty and the Beast or its characters.

However Cassiana and Jordan are mine.

Author's Notes: Chapter 2 is set before the events in Chapter 1

THE CASSIANA CHRONICLES

CHAPTER 2 – THE VISIT

I felt something as soon as I entered the room. A disturbance in the air. A presence.

But not violent or intruding. It wasn't a prowler, no one had broken in. But

something or someone was here. I wasn't scared. Whoever or whatever it was

didn't mean to harm me in any way. On the contrary all I could sense was love

and friendship, and also a deep sadness.

As I continued through the apartment the feeling grew stronger, until I pushed

the doors to my balcony opend and stepped outside, here the presence was

tangible. I turned slowly and scanned the area before me. She was leaning

against the wall at the far end of the balcony, her green eyes glittering in the

moonlight. We stood facing each other neither of us moving. She didn't

speak, she didn't need to. As soon as I'd seen her I had known who she was.

"Catherine." I whispered.

A slight smile touched her lips as she nodded.

"I wasn't expecting you." I continued. "But I suppose I should have been."

Her smile broadened. "I did not know myself, until today, that I would or

could return. I have been allowed back briefly to request your help. I need

you Cassiana. But more importantly he needs you. He's not handling this

very well. Actually he's not handling it at all."

Her smile faded, and a sad almost desperate expression replace it. She turned

slightly and I saw a solitary tear slide down her cheek.

This woman before me was Catherine Chandler. She used to work in the DA's

office, then about a year ago she disappeared. Kidnapped by a monster named

Gabriel, who for his own sick reasons had kept her prisoner until she gave

birth to the baby boy she was carrying. Once the child was born, he killed her.

The woman here with me now was Catherine Chandler's spirit, her ghost if you

like. From the things she'd just said and the images I'd been picking up recently

I had a pretty good idea what it was that she wanted me to do. But I wasn't at all

sure I could do it.

"Vincent always did let his emotions run away with him." I replied, as she turned

to face me again. "This is different though, isn't it? I can see his pain."

"And I can feel it." Catherine gasped. "It is engulfing him completely. It is

destroying him. He wants to die Cassiana, and if he does...

"Your son will die also." I said.

She nodded. "I can't let that happen. I love them both so much. I am unable to do

anything about it, but you can. You can go to him and talk to him. You can bring

him back."

"No! I can't go back Catherine. I can't do it."

"You love Vincent as much as I do Cassiana, how can you not go. He needs you.

My son needs you."

The anguish on her face pierced my heart, but she did not know what I was

up against here.

"If it was just Vincent I'd have to see I'd be back there so fast you wouldn't see me

for dust. But it wouldn't be just Vincent. I know that sounds selfish Catherine, but

you do not know the reasons why I had to come above all those years ago."

"Yes I do Cassi. I know a lot of things now that I didn't whilst I was alive. It's

amazing what you can see from the place I'm in now. I know about Jordan."

Now that did surprise me. That little piece of information I certainly hadn't

expected. "How much do you know?" I asked.

"Everything." Catherine replied. "Including who her father is."

Hearing those words I realised just what I had to do. "I think it's about time."

I said. "For Jordan's father to find out he has a daughter. He's visiting below

at the moment, maybe I could let him know when I go to see Vincent."

Her smile was dazzling as she replied. "Oh Cassiana, thank you. Thank you

so much."

"Like you said...I love him too. But I'm going to need your help."

"You got it." Catherine said. "But he had to be handled gently."

"Oh I know." I replied. "I have an idea though, listen..."