Everything went exactly as it should, satisfying the evil. The evil spirit had made the core weak and when he manipulated a little, the rage inside them flared up, but this rage did not belong to the evil one, it only belonged to the good one and especially to the core. Once he got the rage for the core really surfaced, it broke out of its cage, in an evil spirit, and taught the invincible, destroying that disgustingly powerful love, corrupting what it could, and giving the evil one a chance to grow stronger.
He would drive the core against the invincible, destroy their relationship and build up his strength again, until one day he would be so strong that he would destroy the core and the good side in the process. The good side was part of the core. It was like a shell that the good side wore and he had kept the core's existence hidden from the good side so that it wouldn't find all its strength and become too strong. But now everything would go so much better again and no one would notice anything. One day, he would be victorious.
I had been putting up the house for another two days when Damon spoke again. "Then you are a naughty, naughty wife. I shall have to put you down at once. Maybe then you will consider your next velvet. You fear nothing, Mimi. Fine, I'll make you afraid."
Then nothing. Although I tried to think of apologies and explanations. Nothing. I went on with my daily life and now the shipments came, but for some reason, the men were businesslike and did what they had to do, nothing more.
There was piano playing at night, and the carpets were shifting as if there was a fucking poltergeist in the house, but I couldn't help it as it didn't have the top-of-the-range security like the other houses Adam had put in place.
I would just have to see what would happen. Maybe he's just talking, trying some kind of psychological torture or power play. I can take it.
The same went on. In my head spoke in a silky smooth, creepy voice my observant husband, who turned out to be a very good stalker.
I was putting up a room on the fifth floor, and I had just found the animal prints. I had a thick carpet of tiger print I was putting down on the floor when my husband gave his opinion.
" Why are you, Mimi, putting that color rug in that room? Tiger print doesn't really suit me. Wouldn't blood red be better? Remember baby, the bride wears blood and it won't be long before you feel your blood running again, only this time from somewhere other than your cunt."
Fine, we'll start threatening me. But what I'd like to know is where the fuck he saw that from. The room had enormous windows, and I'd been messing around in this room with this rug for a while, so if he's out there watching though.
I carefully went to the window and inspected the outside, opened the vent window, and sniffed. No smell of passionfruit or a burning campfire. Also, there was no one outside. I continued to the rest of the room.
I thought it must have been some psychic thing, how he'd got it out of my head and I got over it as I went on with my business. But then, just as I was calming down, the same thing happened again.
I was in the kitchen, in the fridge, inside when he said in my mind, "That ration is not enough then, Mimi. You won't be able to cope with your treatment otherwise. Try to eat while you still have time. The lesson will demand so much of you, and darlin, I will never regret my lessons."
Fine, he obviously sees through my eyes. I finished my meal and the voice in my head was quiet again. I resumed decorating again. And then I always got a surprise attack on my head with comments.
It felt like someone was chasing me and after that feeling, there was always a comment or a very casual observation about my decorating ability. I tested the next time I got that feeling in my head.
He dryly amusedly said, "Baby, if you keep your eyes closed, you're about to walk into that beautiful dark brown dresser. Open them. I'm not watching you through your eyes."
The feeling was even more overwhelming, and my heart was pounding hard in my chest. I rushed to the window. No one. He laughed low in my mind, as if he was enjoying my anxiety and desperation for real and the fact that I felt so fucking watched and persecuted.
Every time I went to eat it reminded me of how much the lesson would take and then I could respect as I should, know my place.
Damon said in an enjoyable voice as I put the dishes on the counter, " Baby, you know your place will be in the medbay after I teach my lesson, but I'll help you out, Samuel and Adam want nothing to do with you yet and I won't interfere, I won't speak for you. I will be your life, your happiness, and your destruction."
The plate fell to the ground and shattered. Damon laughed at my reaction and I swept the remains of the plate into the trash. I sat in the living room with my hands shaking and tried to calm myself down.
I didn't sleep that night, but wandered around the house. The gentleman was in my head, probably enjoying my condition. I felt so fucking haunted and Mimosa felt it, too. Mirella was still asleep and Mimosa and I were talking about what our options are but to be vigilant and remember that we're not gonna die, they can do anything to us, we can take it.
Then Reddington called one of the sniper gigs and I was delighted to receive it. I'd been walking all night and was a pretty damn nervous wreck. This would be just the distraction I needed and give my mind a little room to settle down so I didn't feel like such a fucking victim.
I went out to the car and packed my things. This would be as long as it would go. That's fine, I've got time. I read through the victim's file and I remembered this face. A medical researcher, the same one who put the bomb in my chest. Fine. God damn it, man deserves to die.
I looked for suitable ambush sites and found the perfect one, rooftop, sheltered and far enough away but not too far, unobstructed view. I pulled up near a large building. I parked my car aside.
This was a work car, a nondescript SUV. I didn't drive my Lexus to work, not after I'd actually bought a work car. One thing I liked to do was shop. It was good to be rich and have a set of skills that I can use to keep myself rich.
I went inside the building; it was empty now, an old office building, there were a lot of these when everyone was doing so much remote working so no one needed these office spaces anymore, these were well-maintained buildings and few people bothered to tear them down, instead they put them up for sale and hoped for the best.
For example, this building could very well be a medical facility, there was plenty of space and the rent was not terribly high, but what kept it in check was the location, the medical facility and especially the illegal one, didn't want to be in the downtown area where these buildings often were.
Finally got to the roof and walked to the right place. Oh, my mind was already preparing for this marvelous job.
I went to my place and took my position. I put my gun on and waited. It was a precise job to get everything just right to take the wind into account, all the little things, but it was just second nature to me to not think about taking things into account. I got the adjustments just perfect, looked through the scope, and kept my fingers ready.
Soon, soon, the victim would come. There was an overhead awning at the door of the club and it was a little in the way the victim would have to take a few steps out from under the awning and then I could kill it, but I watched.
I saw movement in the club's window. Someone was coming towards the door. I took a deep, calm, steady breath and didn't let the adrenaline attack me yet.
The club door opened, and I saw the victim come out. The man was walking as I remembered, slightly bent over and one shoulder was lower than the other, as if he had scoliosis. The victim took one step and the club door opened again.
I cursed softly when I saw that suddenly Damon came up to the victim and stopped him just so that the awning covered him. Damon walked straight into the path so that I couldn't get any shot at the victim. If he had taken those critical steps, I could of course in theory have shot through Damon, but there would be the danger that the bullet would just stay inside Damon. And besides, I didn't think the gentleman would take it too kindly if I shot him. Damon seemed to tell the victim how someone might stalk him. He was looking right at me.
The victim bolted into his car so fast I couldn't hit him, and then I couldn't get a shot off when Satan ran like a rabbit and darted into the car. The car had dark glass and when I fired; I killed. I didn't start shooting and hoping I'd hit him deadly enough.
And I cursed fiercely. What was supposed to be a complete nervous rest turned out to be anything but. I was just getting up when I was still looking through the scope. Then Damon looked right at me and pulled his finger across his throat.
A voice in my head said with eerie promise, "Soon, Mimi, soon."
Oh, I was pissed off, and it really pissed me off. How the hell is he in a mood like that now and what the hell am I supposed to do to solve this fucking thing? I packed my gun back, got down, and got in my car.
There was a black rose on the front seat with a card that said "Rest in pieces, wife dear. Soon."
Creepy chills ran down my spine. Definitely, this individual knew how to be a very disgustingly scary stalker when he wanted to. I wonder if therefore Rebecca and Nick warned me about Damon. If this is something he has done in the past.
I called Magnum and said, " Come over if you can. I've got a problem and I need some advice."
Magnum said, "OK, I'll be there in an hour. How was your gig?"
I said, "I'll tell you later. It didn't go well, not even close."
My voice was steady, but my mind was not. I really didn't know how crazy this was going to get. I drove back to the mansion. I would be there in 45 minutes, and Magnum would be there soon.
By the time I got back to the mansion, and I had just gotten inside when Magnum's powerful SUV pulled into the driveway, a voice in my mind said, " Oh, darlin, you want more power for your lesson when you call Magnum. Fine, yes, that's fine, actions and consequences, darlin, actions and consequences."
The voice fell silent. I took a deep breath and went to open the door.
Magnum stepped in, looked at me for a while, and asked, " I think you have a slightly bigger problem."
I nodded and said, " Come on, let's go into the living room and I'll explain."
I took him into the living room, and he looked across the ballroom, gave me a low whistle, and said, "Pretty damn nice mansion you got here."
I nodded and sat down.
I tried to keep my voice steady and said, " Damon is stalking me, I don't know how, but he talks in my mind, plays the piano at night, song is Amazing Grace, changes the position of the rugs, comments every time I decorate some. I haven't seen him outside, I haven't smelled him in the house and now he sabotages the gig by going in front of the victim and warning her. He tells me to eat enough, he had left a black rose and a card in my car just now, I haven't slept well as I don't trust this business at all. He talks about how I'm going to medbay and Adam and Samuel don't care and he will not talk to them. This house doesn't have good security, so I'm not so surprised about things now. "
Magnum listened carefully, and when he spoke, I hadn't even considered that point.
Magnum looked at me for a moment and said, "Are you sure there are no secret passages where he could spy on you? If I were you, I would change houses quickly. Now, if you tell Adam the same thing, I think he'll protect you, anyway."
I smiled wearily and said, "No, he won't. He left me a voicemail after I had left him one. He didn't answer the phone but let it go to voicemail and his response to me was that it was time for me to be an adult and if I was stupid enough to velvet Damon, then I would have to suffer the consequences myself. He does not protect murderers. He will not get involved in a marital dispute and he doesn't want me bothering him anymore. And his company is so busy that no one has to come in and set up security. He also said that there are always consequences for actions, and it's time for the murderous little bitch to learn that."
My voice was bitter. I had been very depressed after listening to Adam's emotionless voice just briefly explaining the matter. I had so hoped he would have helped, but no. I looked at Magnum and took a deep breath as I continued.
"Magnum, I mean, with him still mad at me and Damon saying I did the right thing. I don't know what would have happened if I had just killed those witches and called Adam to take care of everything. But I can't live or change the past and I know I did the right thing. I'm absolutely sure I did. But Adam doesn't see it and neither does Samuel nor Bran. They think I'm a murderous little bitch and they want nothing to do with me anymore, even though I really needed them."
Magnum sighed and said, "I would have done the same, exactly the same. Adam knows it, but he's grieving. And he's mad at you for taking away his chance to help. From what I understand, it's a matter of honour for an alpha to help someone out of their suffering, especially a member of his own pack. He would have wanted to help them out and also he wouldn't have needed you to do it, but you can't change the past and I'm sure he'll come to his senses at some point."
I nodded. I just didn't enjoy being so unprotected. Until now, someone had always protected me. Adam and, if not him, then Damon. And now neither.
Magnum, well he's not actually a super protector because he has other interests too. Women. He's a ladies' man and, as such, is a bit of a poor protector all the time.
And I didn't ask anyone to be my bodyguard. And besides, Damon was so fucking unpredictable that I wasn't sure it was wise for me to even involve Magnum any more.
Well, I'll just have to learn to cope. This is what Bran must have been talking about. Only you can always help yourself. No one else because, well as we've seen, things can get so messed up that you have no one left. Nobody but yourself.
I chatted with Magnum for a few more moments and then his phone beeped, Reddington and women, so he was in a hurry and left pretty soon. I sat in the living room in a lovely, soft chair and thought about everything.