~ Chapter Eleven - Part 1 ~

Katalina relaxed into Damien as Lucas drove them to Daedalus’s house. It only took them an hour to get there from where Benjamin had teleported them. Lucas stopped the car and turned off the ignition. “Alright. He has a shit ton of traps set up, so follow in my footsteps exactly,” he said before they all climbed out of the SUV.
Katalina sighed as she walked behind Lucas with Damien, constantly watching her back and keeping her safe. They all followed in Lucas’s footsteps until they stood on the front porch. Katalina knocked lightly on the door, and they waited for someone to answer. After just a couple of minutes, a young-looking man replied with a sword in hand. “What do you want?” He demanded.
Katalina gave him a small, reassuring smile. “Hi. We’re sorry to bother you, but we’re looking for an inventor named Daedalus. Is he here?” She asked politely.
Lucas just chuckled as he watched the interaction. “Why are you looking for Daedalus?” The man demanded.
Katalina took a small step forward. “We were hoping he’d be able to help us,” she said gently.
The man rolled his eyes with a scoff as he looked at Lucas. “I should have known you wouldn’t be able to refuse to bring them here.”
Lucas laughed louder. “It’s the old prophecy, Daedalus,” he looked him up and down. “You’re looking good. Is that a new body, D?” He asked as he patted the man on the shoulder.
Daedalus laughed. “Oh, yeah. The old one was getting a bit rusty.”
Lucas chuckled and shook his head. As he went to respond, Katalina questioned. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but what is happening?”
Lucas shook his head with a smirk. “This here is Daedalus,” he said as he moved to stand next to Daedalus. He glanced down at the sword. “Was it necessary to answer the door with a sword that big, D?”
Daedalus shrugged. “I like to make sure I'm prepared for anything,” he said.
“And all the traps?” Lucas demanded. “You can kill someone with all those traps, you know?”
Daedalus threw his head back and let out a loud laugh. “That’s the point, Luke.”
Lucas rolled his eyes as Daedalus turned to Katalina. “You guys can come in,” he stepped to the side to let the small group inside. Once everyone was inside and settled in his living room, Daedalus sighed. “I take it that you’re the wolf in the old prophecy?” He asked as he looked at Katalina.
Katalina nodded. “Yes.”
Daedalus gave her a nod. “So what is it that you need from me, little wolf?” He questioned.
Katalina took a deep breath as she ran a hand through her hair. “There's something I’d like to speak with you about,” she said softly.
“Okay,” he leaned back in his chair. “Start talking. I’m all ears.”
Katalina leaned slightly into Damien as she started speaking. “First, I’d like to say it is an honor to meet you. You’ve invented some of the most amazing things. Don't even get me started on your biggest creation, the labyrinth. I’d never want to get trapped in it, but it was a brilliant creation,” she rambled in awe.
Damien wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her a bit closer while Daedalus stared at her with a raised eyebrow and a wide smile. “Easy, my dove. You’re rambling," Damien whispered into her ear.
Katalina blushed as she cleared her throat. “Right. I’m sorry about that. Down to business then,” she exhaled quickly before continuing. “We need your help finding the titan Prometheus,” she stated in a firm yet soft tone.
Daedalus chuckled as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Last time that I saw him, he was getting punished by Zeus,” he paused for a minute with a smirk on his face. “Again.”
Katalina frowned. “Do you know where he is?” She questioned with concerned eyes.
Daedalus nodded. “Of course. No one has set him free, so he’s in the same place,” he said with a shrug.
“How do you know that he hasn’t been set free?” Damien demanded.
Daedalus let out a laugh. “Trust me. If someone had set Prometheus free, those who know the signs would have easily been able to tell.”
“How so?” Katalina questioned with her head tilted to the side in curiosity.
Daedalus’s laugh rang through the quiet room. “Zeus would have been furious. Those of us who know the signs of his anger would have been able to tell if it happened.”
Katalina nodded. “Alright,” she ran a hand through her hair. “So where is he then?” She questioned.
Daedalus chuckled. “He’s in the Caucasus. In southern Russia.”
Katalina nodded. “Easy to get to by car,” she muttered. “Do you have a map?” She asked as she looked at Daedalus.
Daedalus got up and grabbed a map from the bookcase. He spread it out on the table between them as he sat back down. Katalina leaned forward and looked over the map. “Alright. So we’re here right now,” she muttered as she pointed at their location in Italy. With her other hand, she traced a line to Russia. “Where in Russia is he?” She demanded as she looked up at Daedalus.
“He’s in a secluded spot. Not in any city, but he’s easy for me to find,” Daedalus explained.
Katalina nodded. “Alright. Hopefully, it won’t take us long to drive there,” she leaned back into Damien’s arms. “What’s his punishment?” She questioned. “I’d like to know if we have any surprises waiting for us when we arrive.”
Daedalus shrugged. “He’s chained to a pillar. Every day an eagle eats his liver. Every night it regenerates. Then repeat.”
“So we just have to kill the eagle and then unchain him," Katalina nodded as she looked over the map. “Let’s just hope that Adrestia isn’t too far from there. Or that she’s at least on the way to Africa,” she mumbled as she let out a yawn and laid her head on Damien’s shoulder.
“Alright. Since we have a plan now,” Daedalus said. “Let’s get some rest. We can leave first thing in the morning.”
Katalina frowned as she looked up at him. “Why not leave now?” She demanded. “Anna doesn’t have long.”
Damien sighed as he pulled Katalina onto his lap and rubbed her back soothingly. “She has six days, little dove. We’re not going to do her much good if we’re dead on our feet by the time we get there,” he whispered. “I’m sure Atlas has some type of trap set up as well. So we’re going to need our strength.”
Katalina took a deep breath and nodded against his chest. “Alright, fine. First thing in the morning, then,” she mumbled tiredly.
Daedalus chuckled as he watched them. “You know, I have to admit that it’s been so long since I’ve been around wolves I’ve forgotten how easily beloved mates could calm each other down.”
Damien gave him a small smile as he continued to rub Katalina’s back. “Sometimes it’s easier than others. Since Katalina just got her wolf, her emotions are on hyperdrive,” he explained.
Katalina had her head lying on Damien’s shoulder. While Daedalus and Damien spoke to each other, Katalina tuned them out. Then, with her face nuzzled into Damien’s neck, his heartbeat under her palm, and his hands going back and forth between rubbing her back and lightly running his fingers through her hair, she was asleep within minutes.
Daedalus nodded as he took in what Damien had said. “That’s understandable,” he sighed as he stood up. “Let’s get you guys set up in the guest rooms. Then we’ll get you guys some food.”
Damien stood up with Katalina in his arms. “Hold onto me, little dove,” he whispered.
Katalina mumbled as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Damien chuckled in adoration as he looked at Daedalus and slightly tightened his grip on Katalina so she wouldn’t fall. “She’s completely out,” he said with a small smile.
Daedalus raised an eyebrow. “She fell asleep that quickly?” He asked in shock.
Damien let out a laugh, as did his two warriors. “Trust me, Daedalus,” Damien quietly said so he didn’t wake Katalina. “If my little dove is tired, she can fall asleep anywhere at any time,” he shook his head with that same small smile.
Daedalus chuckled. “Alright. Let’s get her into a bed,” he looked at the two warriors that Damien had with him. “Would you two like your own rooms?” He questioned them.
“Do you have a room with two beds?” James, one of the warriors, asked.
Daedalus nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’ll be fine.” The other warrior, Marcus, said.
Daedalus gave them a nod and turned to a hallway. “Follow me then.”