~ Chapter Twenty-Three - Part 1 ~

Katalina stared at Max wide-eyed as he opened her cell with a cruel smile that promised nothing but pain. He rushed to her and yanked her arms behind her back. He held her firmly as Martin quickly stuck a needle in her arm and gave her a sedative. She thrashed against Max’s arms until the sedative took its hold on her. Her body went leaden, and her mind became foggy.
Max carried her to a cell down the hall and easily strapped her to the work table he had inside. He lifted the table until she was fully upright and smirked as he folded his arms over his chest. “I have to admit I was starting to think this day wouldn’t come,” he said in a gravelly voice.
Katalina was breathing heavily from fighting off the sedative. “I never wanted to see your face again,” she said quietly.
Max chuckled. “I’m honestly surprised you didn’t hunt me down after what I did to you and your parents.”
Katalina glared at him. “I’ll be honest. I was hoping you were already dead. And even if you weren’t, you aren’t worth the time to hunt. Surely you would have pissed off someone else, and they’d get the job done.”
Max shrugged. “No one has been able to catch me yet,” he said with arrogance.
Katalina scoffed. “That would be because you’re a coward who has everyone else take the fall. You run when you realize you’re going to lose and make others die in your place.”
Max’s face contorted with rage as he raised his hand and hit her. Katalina moaned in pain as her head whipped to the side. She tasted blood in her mouth as she said. “This proves my point further. You didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself. Instead, you gave me some weakening sedative and strapped me to this table.”
Max growled at her as he went to the table of tools he had in the corner. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he said as he walked up to her with an electrocution stick.
Max tortured her mentally and physically for the rest of the day. He told her everything about the death of her parents. He spoke as if it were a movie that he thoroughly enjoyed.
While Max was choosing another weapon to use on her, a soothing, melodic voice sounded through her mind. 'Be at ease, young Katalina,' the voice said. ‘My name is Eileithyia. Your mate and Artemis asked me to help you protect your children.'
Katalina frowned. 'The doctor said I'm pregnant with one child,' she said in confusion.
Eileithyia sighed. 'You're pregnant with twins, but the bigger of the two is hiding the other,' there was a pause before Eileithyia continued. 'Now I need you to stay calm. I'm going to put a protective shield around your womb. So no harm will come to your twins. The shield will remain until the war is over or until they're born.'
Katalina couldn't help the sob of relief. 'Thank you so much.'
Eileithyia sighed again. 'I wish I could help you more, young one.'
'This is more than enough,' Katalina whispered. 'This is everything.'
Eileithyia left her mind, leaving her alone with Max again.

The torture had her blacking out several times. Max used the electrocution stick to leave burn marks all over her body. Including her temples. He used several wicked knives to cut varying sizes over her body. Finally, he used a whip to leave her back a rugged mess of torn skin and blood. He indeed did his worst. He was even going as far as breaking one of her legs.
When Max had finished, he threw her back in her cell. Katalina moaned as she tried to peel her eyes open. She knew that she was back in her cell. She didn’t know what was going to happen next. She could take only assume one of two things would happen. She would be left in her cell until Max was ready to torture her again. Or Atlas would be sending her to Tartarus. She didn’t even have enough strength to raise her head as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
Atlas chuckled as he took her in. “Mm. Now that is a masterpiece, Max,” he said as he folded his arms over his chest.
Max smirked. “Only the best for the king,” he said in pride.
Atlas tilted his head slightly as he studied her. “Do you think she’s ready for Tartarus?” He questioned rhetorically.
Max responded anyway. “Now would be a good time to send her there. She has hardly any strength left, and I’m almost certain she won’t be able to heal that well in Tartarus. You know, magic draining energy down there and whatnot.”
Atlas nodded. “Indeed,” he sighed. “Alright. Fetch Samson for me. It’s time for her to join Jacques in their eternal prison.”
Max darkly chuckled as he made his way upstairs to get Samson. It didn’t take them long to return. “You needed me, sir,” Samson said as he stood beside him.
Atlas nodded. “Yes. Put her to sleep and then send her to Tartarus to join Jacques. Max has done his job rather well.”
Samson nodded and looked at Katalina. He quickly put her to sleep before sending her to Tartarus.
Atlas smirked. “Now, the world shall be mine.”
Atlas left the empty dungeon and made his way to his office with that smirk on his lips.

Jacques didn’t know how long he had been in Tartarus. The days blurred together when there was only darkness and fire. There were only the screams of those suffering in the deepest depths of Tartarus. He was sure Atlas hadn’t told Katalina he was down there. And if he had, he hoped that she wouldn’t come for him. There was no way out of their prison. Atlas had made sure of that.
Jacques felt that not even Hades would be able to get them out. He knew that he would be dying in Tartarus. He had accepted it. As long as Katalina was safe, he would endure every single day.