A/N: I was wondering why I can't find this chapter...Silly me, I forgot to press publish yesterday xD

Chapter 21 –♚The Cursed Bloodline

After Axel unbelievably apologized, we continue to tour around the museum as previously planned. He acted like nothing happened and true to his words, become my guide. He delivered all the information about the artworks skillfully like he'd done this thing in his entire life. If it wasn't for his stoned-face, I can say that he's enjoying this.

When he's busy talking about the paintings, a blonde woman who's probably in her twenties, appeared out of nowhere along with her companions. "Hello there," She said seductively pushing me aside. She even glared at me. Her companions on the other hand throws me a disgusted look.

Seriously? What's wrong with these people? I asked myself in disbelief.

Axel stopped talking and looked at the woman coldly. Despite his cold greeting, the woman continued to start a conversation. "What's your name? Can you give us a tour?" She asked.

"No," He replied flatly. He looks irritated despite his stoned facial expression.

How'd I know? I just knew. Weird, I know but somehow, I can tell.

The women slightly frowned with his response, but didn't get discouraged. "Just for today," She pleads with a pout. She leans forward to Axel's chest and whispered,  but I heard it loud and clear. "We'll make it worth it."

I cringed at the scene unfolding in front of me. The woman is flirting with him, but he's not doing anything to stop her. It made me irritated beyond belief, but instead of bitch slapping these people, I'd rather leave unnoticed. I don't want to get another unwanted attention especially when I'm trying to maintain a low profile. I take a step backward to leave but when I'm about to turn around, somebody grabs my wrist. "Where do you think you're going?" Axel asked looking at me sharply.

"I- um..." I started, but no words seem to form in my mouth.

"Who's she?" The blonde ask with one eyebrow raised, not masking her irritation. Her friends, on the other hand, are standing behind her giving me the glares.

Axel ignored her. He's still waiting for me to answer his question. "I'm leaving?" I said. Unsure of what to say.

"I never said that you're allowed to leave without me," He said.

"But I thought you're preoccupied. I don't want to be a hindrance," I said hiding my sarcasm.

"Yes, I'm currently preoccupied," He said making me roll my eyes at him. He admits that he's preoccupied with these people. I cringed when I finally realize something. He's making it a habit of leaving me behind whenever a lady appeared to grab his attention. It's like I didn't exist whenever that happens. I was about to leave when I felt his grip on my hand loosened, but he surprised me when he suddenly snakes his hand on my waist and led me to the next painting. "and she's the hindrance," He said loud enough for the people around us to hear.

Suddenly, I heard a screeched. I wanted to turn around and see what's happening, but Axel's hold on my waist only tightens. "Don't mind it. We still got lots of artworks to visit." He said but defying his orders has become a habit of mine plus my stubbornness. I shove his hand from my waist and turn to see what's the commotion all about.

I gaped at the scene that greeted me. I saw the ladies earlier being taken away by men wearing black suits. They are manhandling them openly to the public. The people around the vicinity tried to help, but they got easily subdued.

Where is the security when you need them?

"The Louvre is under my control." The man on my side said. I wanted to gape at him, but I didn't. How powerful is the influence of this man? I wanted to ask him lots of questions, but right now I wanted this to stop. I wanted them to stop. I admit that I'm pissed off because of those women, but I don't want them to get hurt. "What you're doing is against the law," I said, but he just shrugged. "Stop this Axel," I said seriously.

"Aren't you pissed at them?" He asked while looking bored.

"But I don't like this! Stop it." I demanded.

"I'm not doing this for you," He said. He turns around and is about to leave. "The bitch is irritating so I want them out," He said coldly. I looked at him furiously. A lady doesn't deserve this kind of treatment even though their behavour is unpleasant. Before I can take a step forward to approach the group, two people in black suits blocks my way.

"Let me pass." I said with authority, but the two didn't even budge. I tried to pass them, but they stopped me by securing both my arms. "Let go of me!" I screamed, getting the attention of the people around us. Axel, who's standing on my side, just looked at me impassively. I want to help them, but the only thing I can do now stand and watch as his men take away those women. Afterwards, the two men holding me released me and left.

"I hate you."

"I know," He said as if he's expecting it. He starts walking away, leaving me alone standing in the hallway. I sighed when I can no longer see his figure.

I started walking along the hallways while admiring the artworks that I passed. I didn't following him because it only made my blood boil whenever I see him.

Yes, I'm mad.

'Why don't you just leave him?' My subconscious suddenly asked.

'I can't,' I told myself. I know that he's watching me every move. Even if I run away from here, he'll surely find me right away. The thing that happened in the café earlier is not a coincidence. It's like he placed a tracking device on me without knowing. Just thinking about this made me even more worried about my well-being.

'What did I get myself run into?' I've been asking myself that question a lot of times now. Will I allow myself to get trapped by a dangerous man?

'You already are.' My subconscious speaks.

As I walk, I noticed that my surroundings start getting dimmer. It made me stop walking when I realized that there are no longer people around me. 'Did I enter a restricted area without even knowing?' I asked myself. I decided to turn around and leave when I suddenly noticed a huge painting hanging on the wall. I stared at it. I think it's more than a hundred years old. It's a portrait of a beautiful woman wearing a crown. She's sitting on a throne holding her scepter. She has a dirty blonde hair and a pair of blue eyes. She looks regal and sophisticated wearing her gown in the picture. My eyes landed on the lower right side of the painting. There's an initial written on it saying 'F.K.1900'.

As I study the portrait, somehow, the woman looks oddly familiar, but I have no recollection of seeing her. It's impossible that I already met her. She's from the 19th century. I cannot possibly be alive during that time.

Looking at the portrait, it made me wonder who is that beautiful lady. She's probably a royalty or a noble by the way she's dressed.

"That's Queen Catherine." A voice suddenly says on my side.

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed, startled by the intruder. When I look at him, I saw a handsome guy wearing a suit. He has black hair and brown eyes. All in all, he looks Asian.

"I'm sorry for startling you miss," He apologized flawlessly in English. He speaks it like it's his native tongue, but he looks like a Japanese or Chinese.

"Err...it's okay," I said. "don't worry about it." I finished.

In this kind of situation, I should be running away, but I don't feel threatened by his presence.

"Want me to tell you more about this painting?" He asked. I nodded my head in response. Somehow, the word Queen Catherine is very familiar to my ears. It made me remember the Gemstones we're searching. I slightly shake my head when I realized that it's not possible.

'It can't be.' I told myself.

"Oh. You don't want to?" The guy asked.

"No... I mean that's not what I meant," I paused. I inhaled deeply. "can you tell me more about it?" I asked hopefully. Why is it posted in a dim and secluded area of the museum even though it looks so beautiful? This painting is a mystery.

The man smiles and shifts his gaze back at the portrait. "As I have mentioned before, that's a portrait of Queen Catherine painted by her first knight Frederick Klaus in 1900," He said. "So that's why there's an F.K. written on the lower right side," I said.

"Yes. She's a very loving Queen as described by her subjects but," He paused. "once a kind person turns bad, she can be your worst nightmare," he said meaningfully.

It made me turn towards his direction. "What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

The man just smiled and didn't give an answer. He shift his gaze back at the portrait and continue his narration. "She's been used by the man she loved dearly. The betrayal wakes her up from her dreamland to reality," Somehow, the man said those words with gravity. "The kind-hearted Queen they once knew turned into a different person. She becomes an iron-fist ruler. Merciless, but nonetheless, a good one."

My eyes squinted at his statement. Merciless but good? I don't think those words fits in one sentence. The guy on my side noticed my confusion. "What I mean is, she becomes a great ruler of their land," He explained.

'Oh, I see.' I mouthed. "What happens next?" I asked intrigued. The man chuckled when he saw my eagerness. "Years later, she becomes blinded by power and vengeance. To make her now powerful nation stands forever, she cursed herself together with her loyal subjects."

"What? How did she do that?" I asked in confusion. Instead of answering my question, the man ask, "See the stones on her scepter?"

I shift my gaze back at the portrait. I nodded my head when I saw it. "she gave away those stones to her knights as a reminder," He paused. "a reminder of their unbreakable loyalty and servitude to the main bloodlines of the throne," He said.

As I look at the painting, it made me think that 'what if those stones are the rumored Gemstones of Queen Catherine?' but I immediately brushed off those thoughts out of my head. I'm just thinking too much.

"But you know," He started, "it's all just a tale." He finished making me scowl at him. After seeing my reaction, he laughs. "Hey, I didn't say anything about it being real." He defended, still laughing.

"Fine fine." I said. He's being rude to me since we just met, but somehow, I find his presence comfortable.

After a few moments, he stops laughing. "Would you look at the time," He said while looking at his wrist watch, "it was nice meeting you," He said smiling. "Until we meet again...Oujo-sama."

"Tasha," A voice called making me turn around to look for the owner of the voice. I saw Axel looking in our direction with his usual stoned facial expression. I turn around once again to talk to the Asian guy with me. "Wait, I still didn't get your name-" I paused. "where did he go?" I asked myself in wonder.

"Who are you talking to?" Axel asked.

"I- nothing," I decided not to say anything. He just vanished. He doesn't need to know that I met an Asian guy who can disappear into thin air. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I should be asking you that question," He said. His gaze landed on the portrait. A flicker of emotion ran pass through his face but immediately masked it with indifference. "This is a restricted area. You shouldn't be here." He said. "Do you know that painting?" I asked but instead of answering me, he turns around and start walking away. "Let's go."

The same old Axel to me. I followed him towards the exit and after a few minutes of walking, I found myself finally outside the Louvre. "Where are we going?" I asked him.

I saw a black sports car parked in the driveway. The driver got out of the car and Axel entered the driver's seat. The passenger door opened. "Get in," He said. I did as he says. After I settled myself on my seat, Axel step onto the gas and the car starts advancing. "To the airport," He said. "Hold on. Are we leaving the country?" I asked. "I didn't get the chance to visit Notre Dame or any other tourist spots here in Paris," I whined.

"Stop whining. We're still going back," He said. "Why are we leaving?" I asked.

"I found the whereabouts of the next stone," He said. "Where?" I asked him curiously while trying my best to hide the feeling of excitement. Axel smirked and said, "It's in the Philippines."

♚End of Chapter 21♚