My life felt unstable, especially since the recent art project. Damon had been seductive, though he hadn't fully succeeded, likely due to Mariella's presence. Despite the allure of being with the Secuders, it simply wasn't meant to be because of Mariella; she was the biggest obstacle to a more relaxed and gradual seduction. Consequently, I accepted the situation as it was.
I was exiting the gym with Mimosa, Shadow, Alaric, Wulfe, Tim, Taylor, Magnum, and Colin when we reached the top of the stairs. Immediately, I detected the scent of allspice, peach blossom, fresh blood, and a hint of cinnamon, a combination indicating that Mariella was manipulating vampire heat for her own purposes. While I could block this, Charles was the pack leader, and it was his decision. I didn't want to be caught in the middle of a conflict where Mariella could cast herself as a martyr, blaming me for driving Damon away.
However, as the alpha female and queen of the vampires, I had responsibilities to my hive and all who resided here.
Using the hive link that Wulfe had repaired for us after our strenuous workout, I inquired, "Mariella is twisting vampire heat; it's early in the cycle, but I can protect you if you prefer not to be affected."
Mimosa's voice was clear: "Please do; I don't want it, and I don't think anyone here does."
I nodded, and with everyone in agreement, I released a series of pheromones, binding them to me. This allowed them to utilize my power, signaling to Mariella that they were under my protection, rendering her pheromones ineffective on them.
It seemed my time in this house was drawing to a close. I was unwilling to remain while she was twisting heat, knowing she would likely try to entice as many as possible despite my protection. I couldn't risk being caught in a conflict where she might provoke Damon into attacking me or demanding I cease my protection.
Therefore, it was time for me to return to work, a refreshing prospect. I had been patient, focusing on recovery and feeling weak for too long; it was time to be strong once more.
"I agree with you, my unicorn; working is a good option, and many of us want to return to work, so we are all in," Wulfe's voice echoed in my mind.
It was almost sarcastic to think about how quickly things could go from perfect to a complete disaster. Recovering from that was certainly doable, but the scars left behind would linger for quite some time. I was just reflecting on how perfect my life had been in Australia, especially our sex holiday with Number Two and the connection we shared.
Now, it was all gone. I wasn't sure if he still harbored any of those feelings for me, or if Mariella had somehow completely destroyed them; it was almost too painful to contemplate.
However, work would help me focus my mind and prevent another bout of neurosis. I was tired of being weak. Being a leader, making decisions, and seeing things through would be good for me. Ironically, Damon seemed to have forgotten everything that had happened, and despite how I had behaved towards him, he had somehow just let it all go.
He took no responsibility for what I had gone through because of him, how much he had taken from me, and the state I was in. Sure, I had let him seduce me and talk to me, but I have a long memory, and even if I don't need explanations or excuses, some kind gesture of making amends would have been nice.
But with Mariella keeping them all to herself, there was no hope for me. I had Charles, Adam, and others, and now it was time to go to work. After this vampire heat, they would most likely return to the Azores, acting as if everything was fine and dandy, even though the truth was anything but.
A week later, I was sitting at my desk at the base. I was tired, and my eyes were stinging from exhaustion as I forced myself to check the next lot of supplies we needed for the next 50 missions or so. I had no time to sit and stay; however, I already had a few missions to complete, and the NSA wanted to brief me on some things, so my time was as valuable and my timetable as full as ever.
I had directed Wulfe, Magnum, the boys, Tim, and Taylor, as well as the wizards, to take care of threat reports. Murdock and Dexter were hot on the heels of the Sarks. Still, I also had my personal mission for General Dillinger and that damn Austrian guy. Both of them were going down, and I had set the stage; I would take my sweet time with them.
I knew how to keep humans alive for a long time, inflicting maximum pain and discomfort, and the thought was appealing. However, I had no idea that those upstairs were not as impressed with my dark plans; those people were reserved for others to dispatch.
As a creature driven by love, revenge, and a need to kill, it didn't really help me heal fully. I needed love, normalcy, and a family, and those upstairs had a plan in place to provide it for me, as well as for several others. Apparently, they were even less impressed with Mariella's little usage of white power and hoarding of men. Lessons would be learned for them too.
I was talking irritably on the phone with one of the other base leaders, who had the audacity to ask for more supplies, even though I had already given them everything they asked for. I needed those supplies for others and didn't want to make their lives too easy.
"Listen, Mac, I already gave you those guns and ammo. What more do you want?" My voice was terse as I paced in my large office.
My desk was semicircular, with one desktop computer, three laptops, five phones, a few printers, and stacks of papers. There was also a big table with the latest holographic display, which I used to pinpoint and plan my attacks. This was one of my biggest offices, with two huge sofas, a few chairs, and a luxurious shower.
I was still ranting on the phone when my door opened and someone stepped in. I turned around, a scowl on my face, only to see Damon stepping in, pulling the door closed, and locking it. His expression was neutral, but there was an edge to it, and I wasn't sure why this particular pussyslave had barged in.
After a few snappy sentences, as I did not yield, I ended the call and asked Damon, my tone irritated, terse, and leaderlike, "What is it, Salvatore? I am working; shouldn't you be in the midst of vampire heat?"
He took a step closer. "Soon, baby, soon, but I have told you, if I recall correctly, several times, what your leader attitude does to me and what I want to do to you..."
His voice drawled softly as he stepped even closer. I, however, was too irritated to get his drift and walked near my desk. Huffing, I realized I had to again take care of what-if forms when there had been casualties, so I walked up to one bookcase, reaching to the upper shelf where those folders had been placed.
Damon's strong body pressed against me; he plucked the folders and put them on a table. I could feel him grinding his cock against my back. Oh, he was lustful. Fine.
Before I could react, he moved with sudden force, grabbing me and pulling my hands behind my back. He then threw me over my desk, ripping off my jeans and panties.
"I told you, baby, didn't I? Well, let me make it clear to you..."
With a brutal thrust, his hard cock slammed into my pussy, and he forced his forearm against my face, making me bite down as he fucked me like a beast in rut. His dominance was evident, and this kind of passion consumed me, my mind flooded with sensation after sensation.
Then, he used some sort of energy that made my asscheeks tingle and burn as if he had spanked me. I wasn't sure if he had ever fucked me with a cock this large; it felt like it was growing thicker, longer, and harder with each punishing thrust.
Yet, my pussy welcomed it all, sopping wet and greedily swallowing his enormous cock, no matter how huge it got. I could feel him hitting my cervix, loosening it, prying it open so he could flood inside me.
As he finally flooded me with what felt like liters of hot sperm, I had already come five or six times, shuddering and drenched in sweat. I had no idea what had brought this on. When the flood finally ended, he remained hot and hard inside me, panting against my neck and maintaining his grip.
I tasted his hot blood in my mouth as my fangs had sunk deep into the meaty part of his forearm, and I had been gulping his blood throughout. He then pulled away, but used some kind of spell to seal my cervix shut, preventing any leakage. I felt a sensation of heat inside my pelvis, a feeling of fullness.
Finally, he released me and took his arm from my jaws, remarking, "Now you might remember this little while, wife. It is good to continue after vampire lust."
He adjusted his clothes, opened the door, and walked out. I had no time to say anything before I yanked up my panties, locked the door, and headed to the shower to wash up, thankful that I had a change of clothes here.
Hours later, I could still feel his hot output inside me, and I wondered how much he had managed to stuff in me. However, I focused on my work, trying to get my mind back into the right mood to deal with things.
I hadn't had many chances to go on missions recently because my guys, most of whom were free, had somehow become aware of my plans and were bored. Consequently, they were more than ready to take those missions, which was fine by me. I needed to plan my revenge, my little torture session, and I had some rough plans reserved for those shitheads, but I wouldn't be the one to deal with them this time.
A few days later, Mimosa's voice came through the hive, "Mimi, you need to come to the newest mansion in Minnesota. Vampire Lust has just begun, and we've been summoned by Upstairs, so you and the rest of the pack need to come over."
I rolled my eyes, thinking, "Minnesota? Really?"
It was autumn, meaning it would be chilly there, and soon there might even be snow. I wasn't in the mood, but when Upstairs gave an order, you obeyed. I wasn't even thinking about what this was all about. As I prepared for the long drive, I muttered to myself. I was in South Carolina, and the drive to Minnesota would take 23 hours since my newest mansion was right on the border, in the middle of nowhere, with ample forests and wildlife but also a hell of a lot of roads to be cleared of snow in the winter.
So, I took my trusty big SUV and loaded up something to eat since the drive would take time, and I didn't want to stop all the time to see if gas stations had anything suitable for me. I cleared my desk, called in Joshua to be the base leader, and then I was off on my way, wondering what the fuck this was all about.
The drive was grueling, especially since I was heading towards colder, wintery weather, even though it was still September. It would be much colder further north, and I wasn't looking forward to that, but I was curious to see what this was all about. I sang and ate all the way, cursing at other drivers as my road rage flared up.
I was just fucked up once again, but then again, I felt my rage, and it felt magnificent. I really had learned to enjoy this feeling. I wondered if this was yet another world-saving mission or something else, maybe some interdimensional job or something like that. Little did I know, this was about to affect my life for years to come and would be a lesson for us all, encompassing both good and bad times.
After a long drive, I finally arrived at my largest mansion in Minnesota, a place we hadn't lived in before. I knew it was top-notch and wouldn't need any renovations, but I couldn't help but wonder what this was all about.
As I got out of my car, the door opened, and Adam and Mimosa emerged. Adam took my keys, saying, "I'll drive this into the garage. You go inside with Mimosa; we've been waiting for you. And before you ask, I have no freaking clue either. Mimosa seems to have some inkling, but she's staying quiet."
I rolled my eyes and, carrying my bags, followed Mimosa inside. The interior of the large, wood-colored mansion felt cozy, and it wasn't too bland, as I noticed lots of art, paintings, statues, and even some of my trophies.
The floor was made of cork, and the house was mostly heated by wood, which meant that spending the winter here would take some effort. Sure, a magic bubble might stave off the worst snowstorms, but our plot was large and extended way past the bubble, meaning snow shoveling would be necessary if one wanted to drive anywhere in the winter.
These were just little things that crossed my mind. My original idea for this place had been a cooler spot for the summer, as it was right against the border, and summers would be cooler here than in, say, California. But it wasn't meant to be like that, not yet anyway.
As I entered the living room, I was struck by its size and cozy atmosphere. The color theme was a muted green and gold, a choice made by the previous owner. While I contemplated making changes, I was also inspired by our art project and envisioned a jungle or dinosaur-themed mural on the large wall, which was already a suitable shade of green.
The chairs were high-backed and invitingly soft, and as I sank into one that felt like a small sofa, Wulfe came over and squeezed in beside me. It was funny how he, though not a blood relative but a spiritual half, had this constant need to be near me, to touch me, to sit by me; there was nothing wrong with that.
The lamps in the living room were mounted on the walls, casting a soft, upward light, and a few floor lamps offered additional illumination when needed. The rugs were soft underfoot, with asymmetrical patterns of gold, green, and black. However, despite their cleanliness and pleasant texture, they felt boring to me, too safe.
I wanted something more whimsical or playful, something that would add to the room rather than simply emphasize its safe and somewhat dull color scheme. It's funny how my mind works; I wasn't necessarily planning on redecorating, but my keen eye couldn't help but notice these issues.
They didn't irritate me so much as depress me, in a way that wasn't conducive to creating a welcoming space. After all, a room should be a place you want to spend time in, not one that leaves you feeling dispirited.
As Mimosa and Adam finally walked in and sat down, a shimmering appeared near the fireplace. Slowly, it coalesced into the form of a man, who stepped forward and smiled at me, Reddington. He was wearing white and looked exactly as I remembered.
Wulfe gripped my hand, squeezing it hard, and muttered, "He is here, but why?"
Reddington began, "I have come to tell you about the change that is about to happen. This will affect all of you, including those who are not currently here, and there is a reason for that."
I interjected, "But… how? Why? I don't…"
He raised a hand, gently silencing me. "Patience, young one, let me explain."
He walked closer, and I caught the familiar scent of his expensive cologne, with a slight tang of firearms; it was definitely him.
He sat down. "Now, some of you might perceive this as punishment, while others will see opportunity. For you, my chosen one, this is a reward, and a challenge wrapped into one. You will live here, in this house, for the next thirteen years, like humans, but not *as* humans, although you will operate in the human world."
Charles looked at me, smiling happily, while Wulfe pressed closer, as if afraid of losing me.
Reddington continued, "I will give you a choice, though it's only mandatory for Mimi, the Salvatores, and Mariella. The rest of you have free will in this matter. This will be a kind of pocket dimension—no Sarks, no threats, no riches, no fleas, no other houses. However, you will have to work, live in this house, raise a family, and pay taxes, just like humans."
Charles immediately exclaimed, "I'm in! I'm most definitely in!"
Wulfe added, "So am I! I won't leave you, my unicorn. If I can live with you for the next thirteen years like humans… oh my god, we will have so much fun."
I was still trying to process everything. Adam declared, "I'm in, too," and Lepard and Demon confirmed their willingness as well.
Reddington said, "Now, Charles, you will be pack leader for now. And there's more: after the Salvatores have had their vampire heat, if they choose to come to you, you may tell them about this. But if they go to the Azores, you are not allowed to tell them unless they ask. They will be summoned here when the time is right, but they will not be told anything beforehand."
I sighed. "Fuck."
I was going to be the bad guy here. I could already envision Mariella's rage about this.
"You have time to prepare," Reddington began. "During this initial vampire heat, you can gather everything you need or think you might need. Remember, you are no longer wealthy, so money doesn't grow on trees. With babies on the way, tuition, childcare, and everything else will cost money, not to mention taxes and gasoline. Do I need to list everything? Then, after the vampire heat ends, you'll have a couple more weeks to put on the finishing touches. I will provide a list of jobs, and if the Salvatores go to the Azores, Mimi, you get to decide who gets which job, so everyone can contribute until the time is right. In the meantime, you get to help Mimi and the rest of them get everything in place. There will also be additional people joining this pack, as not all of you will want to take part, correct? For those who opt out, they will live in the normal world, but time flows differently there than in this special pocket God has created. Mimi will spend 13 years here, while the rest of you will spend 13 months. You also have a world-saving mission, as well as a few other troubles, so choose carefully. This is about free will, and your choice decides your path."
I ran my hand through my hair, feeling overwhelmed. A buzz went through the hive as everyone eagerly began planning what we would need. I could feel Alaric calculating tuitions for the children, while Colin was planning for food and meat. Murdock and Dexter were considering taxes, cars, and maintenance. Magnum was thinking about heating water and road plowing, and Mimosa and Shadow also had lists of things on their minds.
"Mimi, we will not be joining you," Mimosa stated, with Shadow nodding in agreement beside her, and Elena and Katherine following suit. "You possess something meant for me, someone I am destined to care for. Therefore, give me the information."
Mimosa was referring to my targets. Reddington nodded, indicating that Mimosa was indeed the one dispatching them. However, since heaven seemed to dictate these matters, I had little room to argue, and I released the information to her via Hive. Mimosa, along with Shadow, Katherine, and Elena, smiled beastly; it appeared those four were going to follow in my footsteps, learning how to deal with enemies.
Magnum, Colin, Tim, and Taylor looked at me, and Colin said, "My love, I won't be with you, as it is only thirteen months until I see you again, even if it is a longer time for you. You need this; you need time to grow, to be part of your family, and as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. When we meet again, we can have some fun."
I was shocked, having become very emotionally attached to Colin, and the thought of him being gone for thirteen years felt nearly impossible. As Magnum and the rest of the pack also told me they had to leave to save the world, I felt overwhelmed. While we had a few weeks left before this would begin, I would lose them for so long, and they had been there for me. Could I do this without them?
I hadn't even considered what my life would be without Mimosa, Shadow, Elena, and Katherine, or who would take their place. This was almost too much. Wulfe wrapped his arm around me, squeezing me against him as if to say we've got this, and everything would be fine.
But my question remained: Would it be okay? I could come up with a million problems and issues right off the bat, and most of them were related to the Salvatores and Mariella. What would their reaction be when they found out about Mimosa's and Shadow's absence, for example? Thirteen years without a chance to say goodbye or plan any of this. This was going to be epic, and I wasn't using the word in its pleasant meaning.