Chapter 3 Deadalus

Five months have passed since Dario was separated from his brothers, arriving to the city state of Sparta, as soon as he arrived he went to enlist in the army pretending to be an orphan born Spartan, where he was accepted because he had the strength to lift a sword and a spear, but he was not with the Spartans by birth since they began their military training at the age of seven, first his data was verified and Dario became Artemis.

He quickly learned that in the army there is no place for cowards, the best warriors were them, from childhood they are instructed in violence and that violence further increased his wolfish strength so much so that at the first full moon he killed almost half of the children, causing fear in the Spartans, He made the older ones hunt the monster that killed the children and those who remained alive said that it had been a wolf, but not just any wolf because it was bigger than normal, and so began the hunt, the surviving children he killed in broad daylight. In the second full moon within the army there was no more killing, no, he learned to control his transformation, but not his killer instinct and he could not avoid killing two adults. The training was hard and intense, he was forged with fire and blood, he was taught not to show pain, tiredness, fatigue, to be ingenious, to kill without remorse, that his pulse should not falter, to be furious as nature, without a doubt, Sparta had the best army. Not being a Spartan by birth, Dario had to work twice as hard, although he didn't need to because thanks to his wolfish side he was stronger and more agile than the rest of the children, with time all traces of the spoiled child were erased, five years in the Spartan ranks were more than enough to make Dario a man, although he was one of the best soldiers he never showed it or he would give himself away, by his fifteenth year he reached a wingspan of one meter and ninety centimeters, surpassing by far several Spartans, already with a man's body so well defined had the body that could be studied fragment by fragment, long black hair, black eyes, straight nose, thin lips but fleshy natural outline, a scar on the right cheek, thick voice no doubt was a handsome young man who raised a sigh among the girls of the place and one or another superior.

Night comes, he was replaced in the night guard, so several colleagues go to rest, but not him, he escapes from his cell to go with the healers because something more than fighting caught his attention, how to help the wounded? Hidden by the darkness he arrives at the hospital.

_ Boy where they find you here they will kill you.

_ I really doubt it. How can I help?

_ To boil that water to make an infusion and a paste.

_ Yes sir- follow the instructions-

_ I want to know something Artemis.

_ You will say.

_ Why are you interested in my art and not war?

_ I came here to learn to fight, being an orphan I have a lot of disadvantage, I heard that the best warriors were here, but then I saw you and your healers.

_ Yes they are, the best of the best. Your military training is not over yet.

_ I know, I have six years left – starting to make the dough- I am interested in knowing what happens here with you healers.

_ Not much, I can assure you.

_ I would not say that. Knowing how to return to life that is magical.

_ Thanks boy, you should go now, you should rest, a tired soldier doesn't pay the same.

_ In a week I have leave, I want to go with you to the temple of Apollo.

_ The Apollonias are not for men.

_ I swear that no priestess attracts my attention, it is not that they are not beautiful, but I prefer to learn from them. – He smiles when he sees Selene pass by, a slave with golden hair-

_ I will ask the king for an escort, I will give your name so there will be no problem and you will be able to learn.

_ Very well until then Pericles. – Stealthy returns to his cell but not before looking for the owner of his heart –

_ - A strong hand pulls the blonde- If they discover you, they will kill you.

_ It's worth it - caresses him on the face-

_ Not for me because I would stay without you.

_ If you put it that way - leans enough to give a kiss on the lips - follow me.

_ Where are you taking me?

_ You'll see - he takes her in her arms, showing off her physical prowess, she jumps until she reaches the roof of the villa-

_ I had never been so high.

_ They won't see us here.

_ That I can see.

_ Go to the cell tomorrow night, I'll be waiting for you.

_ I'll be there - he hugs her, she responds- you're free, I'm not.

_ When this is over let's get out of here let's run away together.

_ Sounds good.

_ I am strong, I know how to cultivate, carpentry I can give you a home.

_ I will look forward to the day we leave here.

_ A few more years. Let's go - the take in arms of a jump reaches the floor-

He arrives at his cell where his partner is waiting awake for him.

_ I want to think that you went in search of female company.

_ It's none of your business.

_ Yes, it is, at least I want to know where you are going because if they discover you, they will also punish me because of you.

_ It's okay, if I went in search of female company, happy?

_ No! You did not take me. -outraged-

_- He lies on his bed and stares at the ceiling- Are you happy being a soldier?

_ I am, like my grandfather, like my father I suppose you are too.

_ How good are you at keeping a secret?

_-he stands sideways looking at Dario- Very good, what! Are you a prince from a kingdom far, far away?

_ Yes and they want to kill me along with my brothers so as not to ascend to the throne. – He says seriously- although to be honest I don't remember much, only my older brothers.

_ Are you really a prince? - surprised-

_ No, but I do have brothers, two men and one woman, but I don't know when I was left alone.

_ In six years we will be free from school. We can search for your siblings. Do you remember their names?

_ I have them tattooed on my heart - the left side is slightly hit - Elian, Ciro and Lucrecia.

_ How are they? Your brothers. My sister is ugly as sin.

_ Hahaha! My sister is beautiful I think, her skin is white, light brown eyes, her long brown hair, she likes to wear it braided, she always smells of flowers.

_ You talk so nice about her that I want to meet her.

She _ she You will like her, she loves me very much.

_ What about them, your brothers?

_ Well they - her serious face becomes angry - they are unhappy, they spend their time fighting, they pay no attention, but it is Ciro who usually wins in blows, but never trust Elian's tongue.

_ Why? Is he a wizard?

_ Not that I know of, but if you don't care he entangles you with his words, his tongue, his lip except for many to Ciro.

_ Actually?

_ Once Ciro stole fruit from a merchant, the merchant went to jail.

_ If I get to know them I will not talk to your brother

_ Much noise in the cells! - shouts a guard-

_ See you tomorrow Artemis.

_ See you tomorrow Heraclius.

They close their eyes to give way to sleep, however, murmurs and even screams did not let Dario fall asleep, on the contrary, he became alert, to his sense of smell came a smell one that he already knew, he saw his companion who was only a year younger, thanks to the little learned by the healers led to the unconsciousness of his friend, he leaves his cell, he is guided by his sense of smell to find several companions of the highest rank and age.

_ What's going on? Why that fuss?

_ They say that Cerberus came out of Hades and is killing us.

_ Did you say Cerberus?

_ Yes - says a newcomer - he is very big, his eyes are red like blood and his jaws are fearsome.

_ How big? -serious question-

_ Two meters.

_ Go to your cells and do not come out, that dog is not Cerberus, it is something worse.

_ And you?

_ I will also go to protect myself.

_ It is a shame, not even a Spartan should hide is to die or live.

_ If in war not against the pet of a God.

_ In that case I'll go - says Dario seriously-

_ I'm with you.

_ No, you must stay in case I fail.

_ What Artemis says is true. Go soldier here we will stand guard.

_- He nods, leaves the place armor in hand, sees the moon- Not yet my body, not yet.

Dario puts on his armor and leaves the complex to go into the forest in search of that creature from Hades, when he reaches a clearing he removes his heavy armor, he sees the full moon, his black eyes turn white and he enters a kind of trance, letting himself be carried away by his celestial lover, a sly smile is drawn on his lips, he hears the howls those who came from the underworld, he finishes undressing, gets on all fours and starts running with each step his human body "falls" to pieces giving way to the wolf fur, despite running he listens to the origin of the howls, After a few minutes he stops in his tracks when he sees a whole pack of werewolves that is wiping out an entire camp of Spartan soldiers, he returns to his human form to try to count the aggressors, he observes that they are well structured, in the distance he can see the leader, he knows that if he defeats the leader the others will surrender, He growls, transforms into a wolf once again, howls challenging the alpha, the camp in flames, he arrives before everyone, a daredevil attacks him and that daredevil loses his life almost on the spot, he howls again, there is no choice but to accept the challenge, the humans who have been left alive or wounded are astonished and stay to watch the strange duel.

The camp is illuminated by the bonfires by the destruction of different tents, some survivors help each other to leave the place however the wolves do not let them leave forcing them to retreat, some of the wounded that are being illuminated by the moonlight begin to change, and those newly changed join the ones already there.

Face to face the two snarl at each other and neither of them move, it is not until the opponent jumps Dario that the fight begins, the brown wolf bites Dario's right hind leg and he howls in pain, but he does not allow himself to be intimidated by a simple bite and responds with a bite on his right side, he prepares to charge head on at his "enemy" hitting him several times making him cry, The brown is being overcome by Dario's dexterity and when he sees that, he gives an order, the other wolves start to kill the little one of the Lycaon's. What nobody counted on was that he got on two legs, he stopped being a wolf and became a humanoid of almost two meters, his head conserved very well the wolfish factions, even the muzzle, His toes ended in sharp claws, he stood on two legs without his tail and with that advantage he killed all the wolves, even the newborns, one of the survivors wounded his right side with a bronze spear, He pulls it out of the place and gets dangerously close to his aggressor, however his reasoning stops him and he flees from the place scared, he finds a river, he gets into it even though the moon is full, he bathes his whole body, he takes his hands to his head, little by little he becomes a man again, he comes out of the river still bathed in blood, he lets the fine sand fall. He opens his eyes looking in all directions because the scent that carries a fine wind scares him.

_ Well, well, in all my years on this earth it is the first time I see men like you.

_ Who are you? - is on guard _ Mmm! And you are handsome – a slender figure appears before him – very handsome, even though you are a boy.

_ I am a man - he says loudly trying to scare away the undesirable-

_ I see that - see Darío's crotch- And tell me "man" What's your name?

_ Even if you know my name I will never be your slave, I am a free man. - points to the long hair -

_ Just like me. I introduce myself so we can calm down, do you think? My name is Daedalus son of Lilith.

_ Why your mother's name first?

_ And why not? - see the young man's wound - you better not move too much or you won't stop bleeding. But if you care so much Daedalus son of Adam.

_ Dario son of Eleuter son of Lycaon.

_ Cursed King – he says without stopping to cure the minor- Come, I will help you bathe, we must clean or it will get infected.

_ I will not die if that is what worries you.

_ That does not mean that it is not painful for you, right?

_ I appreciate. Tell me why do you help me?

_ I am a good man. -He looks up and the blue eyes are fixed on the black ones-

_ I think I had never met a man like you.

_ Believe me there are no men like me, not even my brother Cy.

_ I also have brothers, three to be exact.

_ And why are you not with them?

_ I want to know what my path is, besides that I had to be strong for them, not all the time I was going to be his younger brother and cry in his lap.

_ So you decided to travel to Sparta and become a man.

_ It was difficult for me to pass myself off as one of them, but I have proven to be a good soldier.

_ Yes, they are racist with foreigners - gives a strong squeeze to the bandage making the minor grunt- I'm sorry. You smell sweet, your blood is sweet.

_ I don't know, I've never tried it. – between talk and talk the sun begins to rise-

_ I was late I must go - Dario holds him tight-

_ Do not go please.

_ Sun.

_ What's the matter with him?

_ You must not see me or I will die. - His voice sounds worried-

_-The younger removes his hood, the older man's fine features are exposed, as well as his vampire fangs, he stands up completely, takes him in his arms and covers him with the hood- So the sun won't see you .

_-Surprised by the gesture, the older man hides his face in the young man's chest- Thank you.

_- After a while walking he enters a cave- Here Apollo will not see you so you will not die.

_ Thank you for your help young arcadio.

_ Will you be okay if he left you alone?

_ Of course - the minor was going to leave, but he is arrested, he pulls him to give him a kiss on the lips- What if I ask you to stay?

_Although he is not of that type.

_ And yet you know what I'm talking about - he takes his hand intertwining fingers, the youngest stares at him in such a way that the older's legs weaken- yes, if you know what I'm talking about.

_ Yes, I know, it's an obligation while I'm in military training, but outside of it, it's an aberration.

_ So, has any girl already won your fierce heart? – he asks while passing his right hand over the well-turned abdomen of the young man-

_ There is someone yes, but I'm not up to it.

_ You are a prince. Why wouldn't you be at his height?

_ Because she is a slave - it is he who gives a caress on the face-

_ Oh! A slave, give me her name and at night I promise to set her free for you.

_ Where is the trick? She -holds his right hand tightly-

_ There is no trick, well yes a little - she smiles mischievously-

_ Tell me something, what are you? – Passes her left hand through the older man's thin waist, pulls him, leaving him almost at the same height-

_ I am the son of the night, something like you condemned to wander for all eternity drinking the blood of my brothers.

_ That means that Zeus also cursed you.

_ It was not your God, he was mine. So, what do you say? A "night" for your slave.

She _ her Her name is Selene, she has golden hair, blue eyes, she is the one who goes to my cell every night.

_ Tonight I will go for her, I will bring her here.

The older one wasted no more time devouring the younger one with kisses and soon moans of pleasure filled the cave. Daedalus was on top of Dario when a drop of blood fell on the minor's face, which makes him stop.

_ Excuse me - it cleans quickly staining the rest of his face-

_ - Grope for the older man's hood- Stop moving – clean carefully- Why are you bleeding?

_ I haven't eaten, I was going to do it last night, but those wolves came to do that massacre, I only drink so I don't starve, never else.

_ You drink his blood to stay alive, right?

_ Yeah. – leans on the chest of a minor-

_ Drink from mine.

_ Hmm? I don't know if I should, I've never drunk from a wolf.

_ I'm not just any wolf - gives him a kiss on the forehead - I'm a werewolf, prince, although not heir to the crown.

_ Blue blood, royal blood – see the jugular that jumps pumping blood, licks her lips- please, my lover, excuse the pain that I am going to cause you.

_ You know I'm strong - they look into each other's eyes, he smiles at the older one, he opens his mouth, his fangs stick out, he sticks them into the younger one, he closes his fists in pain-

_- he withdraws from the minor swallowing his blood when doing so was orgasmic while intoxicating to such a degree that Dario had to hold him- Don't worry, Daedalus, I'll take care of you.

_ What kind of blood flows through your veins?

_ Of a werewolf - removes a few hairs from his face, kisses his lips-of a prince.

_ I'm very sleepy.

_ Sleep peacefully, I'll take care of you, you have my word. Now sleep.

The older one lets himself be guided by the younger one, he does not realize when he leaves him alone in the cave, by the time he opens his eyes it is night again, a bonfire lights up the cave, the moon is about to rise.

_ You will go hunting. – Daedalus asks still dizzy-

_ I must finish what I started to kill those I needed, I cannot allow this evil to spread.

_ I understand you perfectly. – He stands up, shakes his head as if settling the ideas- I have to keep my word and go for your wife.

_ Even she is not mine.

_ But she will be.

_ I don't know if you accept me when I tell you what I am, a monster.

_ - Deadalus hugs the boy from behind- We are monsters, it doesn't mean that we don't have a heart - gives a kiss on the right shoulder blade- you know something, I'm married.

_ Actually?

_ That's right, he is in Athens waiting for me.

_ He? Is it a he?

_ The most beautiful mortal that these eyes have seen, his tanned skin, his eyes full of life, you know it's the best.

_ No, tell me.

_ That he loves me despite being a man-eating monster.

_ And that he, is he like you?

_ Yes, unfortunately there came a time when I had to do it like me.

_ Do I forgive you?

_ With time he did it, now he says he can't live without me.

_ And you without him?

_ I can not be away from my Ramses. - Let go of the hug- I'll go for your girl, I suggest that you go far from her, beyond the Aegean, be happy with her while she's alive or decide to make her like you.

_ - Having said that, the older one disappears from the cave, the younger one goes out to bathe with the moonbeams- My wife for all eternity.

That night he did not change into a wolf, he stayed waiting for her "lover" almost at dawn he arrived with her and some of the minor's personal belongings.

_ Artemis. I did not believe this man that you had sent him for me.

_ You know what I feel for you. - hugs her- let's go away where we are both free.

_ If you allow me. In two days a ship leaves for Athens, in the march, I suggest the same.

_ What do you say Selene? Let's go?

_I will be a free woman by your side. -breaks the slave bracelets-