~ Chapter Eighteen - Part 1 ~

When Katalina and Damien got to the gym, Damien pulled out some mats and laid them on the ground. “Okay,” Damien said as he stood in front of her. “First, we are going to test you. This way, I know what I need to work on with you and what you already know.”
Katalina waved him off. “I need to learn everything. As you know, I do my daily workouts to stay in shape and run all the time, but when it comes to fighting, I don’t know anything.”
Damien pressed a kiss to her head. “Okay, dove. It looks like we have a lot of work to do then.”
Damien ran a hand through his hair as he quickly formed a training schedule for Katalina. He chose to start with hand-to-hand combat. He began teaching her everything that he knew about fighting. Damien was surprised at how quickly Katalina managed to learn everything. He could fly through everything he had planned on teaching her that day. They trained for several hours before Damien called it a day. “Okay, my dove. That's it for today,” he grinned as he pulled her into his arms. “It’s amazing how quickly you caught on to everything. Not many people can learn that fast.”
Katalina grinned brightly. “I’ve always been able to learn things quick like that. It’s how I was able to learn all of the medical stuff that I did.”
Damien grin widened. “That’s amazing, little dove.”
Katalina pressed a kiss to his cheek before intertwining her fingers with his. “Come on. Let’s go take another shower, and then I can make us some food.”
Damien rubbed his stomach with that same wide grin. “I am starving, and your food is so delicious.”
Katalina threw her head back and laughed as they walked upstairs. They quickly took a shower and got dressed.
Once they had gotten dressed, they went downstairs. Damien went to his office to get some work done, and Katalina went to the kitchen to make them something for lunch.

Atlas had been trying to figure out what to do about Katalina. He knew that she had the protection of the most robust werewolf pack in the world. However, he didn't know who else could already be protecting her.
For all he knew, Katalina already had an army behind her. Atlas hadn’t been able to get a spy on the inside of her little army yet. It pissed him off. He was seething in his rage when there was a knock on his office door. “What?” He growled as he turned his chair to face the door.
Martin hesitantly stepped into the room and closed the door. He stood in front of his desk with his hands behind his back. “Sir,” Martin said in a rough voice. “I think there’s something that you should know,” he said as he shifted from one foot to the other.
Atlas glared at him. “What is it?” He demanded as he leaned back in his chair.
“I have a spy inside a vampire clan. It’s a mighty vampire clan allied with the world's biggest, deadliest clan.” Martin sighed. “Do you remember the vampire clan you had before?” He asked. “The one with the leader whose wife and daughter you murdered?”
Atlas raised an eyebrow as he studied him. “Yeah. What about it?”
“The vampire leader. Do you remember his name?” He questioned as he finally sat down in a chair across from Atlas.
Atlas shrugged. “Of course I do. I remember everyone that’s ever betrayed me,” he said.
“What was it?” He questioned.
Atlas sighed in annoyance. “His name was Jacques. Jacques Bloodsworth. He’s been around just as long as the gods have,” he muttered.
Martin nodded. “From what I’ve heard, he’s the one gathering all of the vampires to Katalina’s side. After that, he went to his brother, who now runs the coven that he left after the war,” he explained.
Atlas glared at him as he tightly clenched his hands together. “That son of a bitch is still alive?!” He demanded furiously.
Martin cleared his throat as he stood up and moved closer to the door. “Yes, sir. It seems that he fell off the grid and has been in hiding for the past few centuries,” he explained.
Atlas let out a roar as he swept everything off of his desk. Then, after a minute, he took a deep breath and turned to Martin. “I want him found and brought back to me alive.”
Martin nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll grab a team and head out right away,” he left the room swiftly, not wanting to anger Atlas any more than he already was.
Atlas exhaled as he turned to look outside. He felt he would be able to use Jacques to get to Katalina. He just wasn’t sure how yet.

After Jacques spoke with Katalina, he went back into his brother’s mansion and sat with him as he made all the calls he had to. Finally, they agreed on when they should leave for Katalina’s land and even came up with some battle plans.
Of course, Jacques knew that Katalina would already have several plans in her mind, but he thought that it couldn’t hurt to suggest ideas. Especially since he and his brother had both been through this war before.
It had been a few days since then, and they were getting ready to leave. Several other covens had joined them and would travel the entire way together. In addition, other covens had agreed to meet either along the way or at the final location.
“Everyone is just about ready,” Michael said as they stood in front of the army that had gathered.
Jacques nodded as he looked over at everyone. “Alright. Katalina is going to need us there as soon as possible. I’m sure she has a long list of other creatures we need for our army,” he said as he turned back to his brother, who had been standing next to him.
Michael nodded and let out a loud whistle to gain everyone’s attention.”Okay, everyone. Gather your things, and let’s move out. There’s a lot of work to be done, and we must get to the little wolf’s territory as soon as possible.”
Everyone did as Michael said and started making their way toward Katalina. It was going to take them three days to get there. After that, it would have been only two, but with their belongings and families, it would take a bit longer.
Jacques walked behind everyone and pulled his phone out as they started their journey. He dialed Katalina’s number and waited for her to answer. “Hello?” She responded breathlessly.
Even though she couldn’t see him, he raised an eyebrow. “Well, hello to you as well. Am I interrupting something?” He questioned with a slight smirk.
Katalina scoffed as he heard metal clanging together in the background. “No, Damien and I are just doing some training,” she said with a grunt.
Jacques sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “As much as I don’t want you fighting, I know there’s no way for me to stop you.”
Katalina let out a breathless laugh. “There isn’t,” she sighed as Jacques heard the sound of a loud clang. “I know it’s going to be dangerous, Jacques,” she grunted again before continuing. “But how can I ask others to fight in this war and risk everything if I’m unwilling to do the same?” She asked softly.
Jacques already knew that was how she felt. “I know, little one. I understand. Just keep training, and please be careful.”
“Of course, Jacques,” Katalina said softly.
Jacques sighed as he looked around and noticed that he was now alone. “I was calling to let you know we were on our way. We should be there in about three days,” he explained as he started walking after the others.
Jacques could hear the smile in Katalina’s voice when she said. “I can’t wait for you to get back.”
Jacques chuckled. “Are you missing me, little one?” He asked, already knowing the answer.
Katalina let out a breathless laugh. “I am. I miss our walks and conversations.”
Jacques grinned. “I do, too, little one,” he looked around again. “I’ll be there soon.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Katalina said joyfully.
Jacques chuckled as he shook his head and hung up the phone.
Jacques was about to catch up to the others when he heard it. It was a small scream that sounded like a little girl. He stopped in his tracks and listened closely. Once he had a direction, he took off toward the screaming. When he got to the clearing, he frowned as he looked around. He could have sworn that the screams had been coming from that clearing, but no one was in the area. “What the hell?” He muttered.
Jacques turned around to go back the way that he came when he came face to face with three people. One was a vampire he had banished from their lands while still the coven leader. Another was a wolf that smelt like a rogue. The third was a warlock that he could tell was quite powerful. He glared at all of them before directing his attention to the vampire. “What are you doing on these lands, Martin?” Jacques demanded. “As far as I know, I banished you centuries ago, and Michael hasn’t lifted your banishment.”
Martin let out a snarl. “I still say that the banishment was bullshit,” he said through clenched teeth.
Jacques scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Martin, you know it wasn’t bullshit. I banished you because of your disgusting infatuation with girls barely old enough to use their powers. I banished you for that and for trying to come after my daughter,” he glared at him. “There is no excuse for what you were doing. We even had to bury a couple of girls because of what you did.”
Martin scoffed. “They were asking for it, and they were old enough,” he muttered.
Jaques’s glare turned icy and deadly. “They were not either of those things. You’re making excuses. You wanted them for your own sick and twisted reasons and tried to devise any excuse to get you out of trouble.”
Martin shrugged. “Let’s move on from the past,” he said as he smirked. “There’s someone that would like to speak with you,” he said as he gestured to the warlock.
The warlock said a quick incantation, and Jacques felt his world spin before going completely black.