~ Chapter Twenty-Six - Part 2 ~

Benjamin shook his head. “I can’t believe this,” he let out a humorless laugh. “That could explain why your children are already so powerful,” he said as he looked at Damien.
Damien sighed as he rested his head against Katalina’s shoulder. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he muttered. “Everyone will want to get to them because of this.”
“Then keep it between us. No one else knows,” Benjamin said with a shrug.
Damien shook his head as he looked up at Benjamin. “She’s going to tell Ryan and Evelyn. They’re her family,” he said softly.
Benjamin nodded in understanding. “So just us and them then. No one else should know.”
“She’s going to have to practice this new power, though,” Axel said. “If she doesn’t, it might consume her. Or it could do what it did last time,” he said, gesturing to her body. “You said she was ice cold right after she used the gift, right?” He asked as he looked at Jacques.
Jacques nodded. “Yeah. She’s still not as warm as she should be,” he said with a frown.
Axel blew out a rough breath. “That’s because she used so much power without even knowing what it was. She may have had no choice, but she should practice it.”
Benjamin voiced his agreement. “Yes. If she doesn’t, with a powerful gift, it could destroy her if she doesn’t master it.”
“It can destroy her?” Damien asked as he felt his chest constrict painfully.
Axel scrubbed at his face. “If she doesn’t master it, yes. That or it’ll start to control her. And that is something else that no one wants.”
Damien didn’t have to ask why. One of the most dangerous types of power was a power that could control the person who possessed it. Most feared it. Some wanted it for themselves.
“We’ll keep her safe, Damien,” Benjamin said as he took in Damien’s concerned face.
“No one will get to her,” Jacques promised firmly. “Not again.”
Everyone went quiet as they got lost in their thoughts. “Let’s give Katalia some space so she can rest,” Benjamin said quietly. “Axel and I will start researching this new power and learn how to train her. We’ll also look for a place well hidden so she can practice without fear of being discovered.”
“Thank you,” Damien whispered. He looked up and stared at Jacques. “And thank you. For bringing her back to me.”
Jacques smiled briefly before leaving the room with Axel, Sebastian, and Benjamin.
Damien gently got out of bed so he wouldn’t jostle Katalina. He went to the closet and did quick work of changing his clothes. Before returning to Katalina, Damien entered the bathroom and rushed through his usual night routine. He wrapped her in his arms and curled around her protectively. With Daemon and Cerberus lying on the floor on her side of the bed, he finally closed his eyes and let himself relax enough to fall asleep.

Katalina opened her eyes to see nothing but darkness. She frowned as she tried to look at her surroundings. There was nothing but blackness surrounding her, and she started to panic. “Where am I?” She whispered in a rough voice.
“Please do not panic, young one,” a soft feminine voice said from behind her.
Katalina spun around and gasped as she took in the middle-aged woman behind her. She was gorgeous. She had golden blonde hair down to the middle of her back. Her eyes were a brilliant amethyst purple that shone brightly in the darkness around them. Her smile was soft and instantly put her at ease. “Who are you?” She whispered in wonder.
“My name is Destiny,” she smiled brightly. “I am your ancestor,” she said softly.
Katalina’s eyes went wide. “You’re the reason I have magic,” she said in wonderment.
Destiny nodded. “Yes. You have that new power from me as well.”
Katalina stared at her with wide eyes. “I don’t know what type of power it is. I just found out that I had it. I only used it to break the barrier in Tartarus.”
Destiny nodded and moved closer to her. “Yes. You have to master your other gifts before the gift comes to life. It stays hidden and buried until it believes you are ready.”
“So this gift is like an actual living being?” She asked curiously. “It can sense things like that.”
Destiny smiled at her. “You’re a brilliant one, aren’t you?” She asked in adoration.
Katalina blushed as she played with her fingers. Before she could say anything, Destiny continued. “This gift isn’t an actual being. It can’t survive outside of you. However, it can sense when you’re ready for it to awaken. It can also sense when you’re in danger and usually works in tandem with your emotions,” she sighed as she stood directly in front of Katalina. “Katalina can use this gift for everything good. She can even heal anyone and anything. But she can also use the gift for great destruction. If she lets her emotions get too far out of hand, it can decimate an entire city in a single wave.”
Katalina rubbed at her face. “It sounds like a gift many people will want for themselves,” she muttered.
Destiny nodded. “Yes. Anyone who learns of you having this gift will come after you for it.”
Katalina sighed heavily. “Is it possible for someone to steal this gift from me?” She questioned in concern.
Destiny shook her head. “No. No one can steal it from you. No matter how hard they try, it won’t leave you.”
“And no one can force me to give it away, right?” She asked as she played with her hair.
Destiny shook her head once again. “No. No matter how one tries, the gift will never leave you.”
Katalina nodded. “Well, at least there’s that,” she muttered.
Destiny grabbed her hands softly. “You must know something about this gift, though,” she let out a small sigh. “You must learn to control this gift. Master it. If you don’t, it can take control of you.”
Katalina frowned as her forehead creased in confusion. “What do you mean?” She questioned.
“I mean what I said,” Destiny said a bit firmly. “If you don’t master this gift as you’ve mastered your other abilities, it will take over your body,” Destiny shook her head. “This power needs release. Once it awakens, it can not be bottled up. It needs constant release. And for you to release just enough of it to keep in control, you need to master it. And it needs to be soon.”
Katalina groaned in annoyance as she looked up. “Great. Another thing to add to my list of things to do.”
Destiny let out a small laugh. “Trust me. I understand exactly how you feel.”
Katalina looked at her with her head tilted slightly in confusion. “How so?”
Destiny smiled softly. “Ask Jacques when you wake up.”
Katalina stared at her in shock. “You know Jacques?” She asked in surprise.
Destiny laughed and nodded. “Yes. He was young at the time and didn’t care much, but he was sweet and helpful when you spoke with him. He often helped me, even if he doesn’t remember it.”
Katalina laughed. “I doubt that. He remembers everything.”
Destiny giggled again. “Yes, he does,” she sighed heavily. “Talk to Jacques. He’ll explain everything. Benjamin and Axel will help you train and master your gift.”
Katalina nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Destiny,” she whispered.
Destiny pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Master your gift and make me proud,” she whispered against her forehead before disappearing.

Katalina groaned as her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she was blinded by sunlight streaming through the curtains. She went to lift her arm to block the light but frowned when she saw the bandages wrapped around her arm. She followed the IV tubes to the stand sitting by her bed. Her eyes went wide as she realized that she was in her bed. Her head whipped to the left, and she couldn’t hold back the small sob that escaped her. “Damien,” Katalina sobbed out.
Damien’s eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice. “You’re awake,” he whispered as he gently caressed her cheek.
Katalina sobbed as she leaned into his hand and reached for him, causing her to let out a moan of pain. “This isn’t a dream?” She asked in a broken whisper.
Damien shook his head. “You’re here, my little dove. Jacques and Cerberus helped bring you back to me.”
Katalina sobbed into his chest as he held her close. “I was so scared,” she sobbed out as she clung to him with everything that she had, ignoring the pain that was once again coursing through her body.
Damien shushed her and whispered sweet nothings into her ear until her sobs stopped. Katalina looked up at him. “I need to talk to Jacques, Benjamin, and Axel,” she said hoarsely.
Damien nodded. “Of course, but there are a couple of things that we have to do first,” he said softly.
Katalina frowned. “What is it?” She asked.
“First thing is a shower and putting fresh bandages on you. Then we need to take you to get an ultrasound,” Damien sighed. “Hopefully, both of our little ones will make themselves known this time.”
Katalina let out a rough laugh. “I felt them both shortly after Atlas took me,” she whispered as her laughter died. “Even before Eileithyia came to me and protected our twins,” she sniffled. “At first, I thought it was just one baby, but shortly after being taken, our first child let that little shield down, and I felt the second one,” tears were once again sliding down her face. “Only three thoughts were going through my mind at that moment. One, our children would protect each other for their entire lives. Two, I had to keep them safe. I couldn’t let anything happen to them. And three,” she let out a slow breath as she looked into Damien’s eyes. “We had to get back to you,” she whispered.
Damien had tears as he held her close to his body. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you safe, dove,” he whispered in a rough voice.
Katalina shook her head against his chest and drew in several shaky breaths. “You kept me alive,” she breathed out.
Damien frowned as he pulled back just enough to look down into her eyes. “What do you mean?” He asked softly.