It was a beautiful summer day; the sun shining brightly overhead. The gentle breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. I had been in Kansas for a few weeks now, surrounded by the vibrant green fields and clear blue skies. Thoughts of Damon leaving me still lingered in my mind, causing a mix of confusion and sadness.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my phone rang, jolting me back to reality. The sound of the ringing broke the surrounding silence. I was at the house on the base in Kansas, where I had been stationed for two weeks. Bran was also there at home, so I spent my time working on the base while Adam stayed with me.
On the other end of the line was Constantine, a familiar voice that had helped me in the past. He informed me of the presence of dangerous demons that needed to be dealt with urgently. The urgency in his voice was palpable. I had experience in demon-killing, having done it before with the help of specialized weapons given to me by Dresden and Magnum.
Considering the gravity of the situation, I asked if Adam could join me for backup. Safety in numbers, after all. With a hint of innocence in my voice, I asked if bringing him along would be all right. Constantine chuckled, amused by my request, and gave his approval. He then provided me with the address, which was a four-hour drive away.
After hanging up, I convinced Adam to come along, and he even called Magnum to join us. Excitement coursed through me, knowing that I would have four hours alone with Adam in the car. I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as the thought of teasing him during the journey crossed my mind.
We packed our weapons - guns, ammo, and knives - ready for the mission ahead. Magnum arrived to pick us up in the van, and I settled into the backseat. The sound of Adam and Magnum's conversation filled the air, their voices blending together. Meanwhile, I busied myself with texting the fleas and contemplating the upcoming battle.
As we drove, I couldn't help but marvel at the picturesque scenery passing by. The rolling hills and vast stretches of greenery were a sight to behold. I mentally marked potential sniping spots, searching for the perfect vantage point. The anticipation grew. As I knew, I would soon teach Adam the art of sniping, just as Murdoc had once taught me.
Murdock had taught Adam, too, but he knew a special relationship that Murdoc had with me. Adam knew Murdock had given me some tips and skills that he didn't share with him or Magnum. Adam competed with sniping and determined to get everything out of me.
We arrived at the designated spot, finding Constantine waiting for us in front of a weathered old warehouse. The building exuded an air of neglect, its faded exterior hinting at years of disuse. Constantine, dressed in his usual attire, gave the appearance of a lazy drunk, but I knew better.
I had learned to see beyond appearances, to perceive a being's true nature. My small, fragile, deceptive appearance belied my immense strength and resilience, making me one of the most formidable creatures in the universe.
Magnum hopped out of the vehicle and warmly greeted Constantine. We had planned our approach - Magnum would investigate the left door, while Adam and I would venture through the right. Constantine, ever vigilant, accompanied us. As we entered the warehouse, the sound of distant murmurs reached our ears, emanating from various corners.
The dimly lit interior carried a musty odor, a testament to its age and neglect. Yet, there was no trace of demonic presence in the air. We proceeded cautiously, Adam gesturing for me to take the right path, while he transformed into his wolf form, silently maneuvering toward the back of the hall.
My steps were calculated and soundless as I prowled through the space, my senses keenly attuned to any adversaries. I felt Adam's transformation, willingly granting him access to my power, for he remained our pack leader. I would give him anything he needed. Meanwhile, Constantine had stealthily vanished into the shadows, his whereabouts unknown to me.
Pressing forward, the voices faded into silence, not a single gunshot ringing out. I reached the rear of the hall, where stacks of wooden crates and imposing steel doors greeted me. The heavy doors, adorned with thick metal handrails, hinted at a hidden recess within the old factory. However, they remained untouched, locked, and rusted shut. Even my formidable strength failed to budge them.
Despite my heightened senses, there was no trace of the expected scent of ammonia that typically accompanied these types of demons. Instead, a faint hint of sulfur and gunpowder lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.
I wondered if Constantine had been misinformed. Suddenly, a deafening gunshot echoed through the air, followed by a piercing howl. Startled, I swiftly turned around, only to be forcefully slammed into the door by an invisible presence, as if an unseen hand had glued me to it. Struggling to pry myself free, I knew I was ensnared by a powerful spell, one that even my resistance to magic could only withstand to a certain extent.
The lessons learned from fight clubs and life taught me that potent enchantments could make me immobile. Though it was possible to break free, it was a slow and arduous process requiring immense rage and willpower. Thankfully, I possessed an abundance of both.
Emerging from the shadows, a figure dragged something behind them. Constantine came into view as they drew nearer, gripping Adam's tail tightly. Adam, unconscious, left behind a wide trail of blood on the ground.
Horrified, I exclaimed, "What the fuck are you doing? Help Adam!"
Ignoring my plea, Constantine released his grip on the tail, retrieving a gun from his pocket and pointing it directly at Adam. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, the sound of the gunshot reverberating through the air once again. The bullet penetrated Adam's body, yet he remained motionless. Blood was seeping onto the ground, forming a puddle underneath him.
I could faintly sense his presence through our mating bond, but the connection felt feeble. Desperately, I attempted to channel my powers through the bond, hoping to restore some strength to Adam. Aware that he regularly consumed my blood, making him more resilient than an ordinary werewolf, I could still feel his anguish and fury through our profound bond.
The scent of silver and Adam's blood permeated the air, intensifying my anger and driving me to unleash it with unyielding force. Still, Adam did not stir. Lost in the darkness where Adam lay, I couldn't even discern if he was breathing. Constantine's expression remained unnervingly playful, leaving me with an insatiable need for an explanation regarding the horrifying events that had unfolded.
Shocked and surprised, I watched as Constantine advanced towards me, extracting a pair of sturdy handcuffs from his pocket. Pushing me against the door's railing, he firmly secured both my wrists, employing an incredibly powerful magic to keep me in place.
Only when I was completely restrained, did he release his hold. The handcuffs bore mysterious runes, and suddenly, my rage dissipated, replaced by a tingling sensation that spread throughout my body, leaving me feeling inexplicably weakened.
Constantine's voice echoed in the dimly lit room, his words laced with a sense of urgency. "A rage resetting spell and willpower nullifying, too. Not exactly easy to do, but damn necessary, you see, otherwise this little medicine wouldn't work." The scent of incense hung in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of fear. "My friend taught me these spells," he continued, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and gratitude. "He has taught me already so much. I can even do so much more than before I met my friend."
Suddenly, Constantine reached into his pocket and retrieved a syringe, its icy touch sending shivers down my spine. He jabbed it straight into my arm in one swift motion, and I winced as the plunger was pressed. As I looked up, my eyes widened in horror. His right palm, exposed for all to see, had a coin sunk into the flesh. A sickening realization washed over me - Constantine was coined.
Memories of Dresden's warnings flooded my mind. Coining meant being under the power of a demon. The coins, inhabited by these malevolent beings of varying strengths, had plagued Dresden for decades. He had warned us not to pick up any strange coin, for even brief contact could expose us to their sinister influence. If we ever encountered a creature with a coin embedded in it, we were advised not to trust it, as it was a demon in disguise. Dresden had urged us to contact him directly in such cases, promising to help.
Desperation filled my voice as I questioned Constantine, "What did you do to Magnum?"
His response sent a chill down my spine. "He'll wake up, maybe; I just hit him on the head and then knocked over one shelf on top of him. But those shelves are quite heavy, so it is going to take time for him to get free."
Before I could protest, Constantine continued, his words piercing through my growing unease. "That injection was a very strong sedative, a will-weakening drug, very long-lasting."
The room seemed to spin as the effects of the injection took hold. My eyelids grew heavy, and a wave of drowsiness washed over me.
"You will probably sleep soundly for at least two weeks, long enough for my new friend to take up residence in your head."
He reached into his pocket, retrieving yet another demon coin. As he held it in his hand, a surge of panic washed over me, but I regained control. Constantine drew closer, his fingertips caressing my cheek. The touch sent shivers down my spine.
"It won't be much longer, my love," he whispered, his voice laced with anticipation. "The medicine will soon take effect. Don't resist it; surrender yourself. Once it kicks in, everything will be perfect. You won't even miss your former life. You'll be with Damon, and all your dreams will come true. No more suffering or anguish."
I glimpsed movement in the shadows, and as Adam shifted, his yellow eyes came into view. He was still alive. Through our mate bond, I pushed him, using every ounce of strength I had. The situation was far from pleasant.
Constantine's normally warm brown eyes now gleamed with an eerie green hue, his features sharper and more sinister. His inhumane expression sent chills down my spine. His hands appeared thinner, his nails resembling deadly claws. The demon within him had surfaced.
"I considered Adam for this, but his will is too strong. As the alpha and the strongest among us, my friend wouldn't be able to gain control even if Adam were asleep," Constantine explained. "The drug also contains a potent blend of long-acting vervain and aconitum, designed to keep your wolf and vampire subdued. I know you're a formidable vampire, but this enchanted vervain will suppress your vampire side for at least six months, allowing my friend to establish his hold over this body and learn to be a vampire as well. It will be an unstoppable force, a combination of vampire, wolf, and demon."
A sense of unease washed over me as Constantine continued, "Once my friend settles in, Mimosa will be expelled from you. However, I'm uncertain if she can survive on her own just yet."
My only hope now was Magnum, and if Constantine was telling the truth, if he had dumped Magnum on top of some heavy steel shelf, then Magnum may be dead or injured badly and could not have helped. I could not get my rage out at all and felt the medicine creeping up on me. I was fucked. It would be awhile before anyone started looking for us.
Constantine continued to calm me down. "In a minute, don't fight back. You'll feel it." His voice hissed in a whisper, sending chills down my spine.
The sterile smell of the room intensified, mixing with the metallic tang of fear. Adam tried to move. He was looking at us, and I could feel his worry over me through our bond. I continued to give him my strength. My legs went weak, and I slumped down. Darkness threatened to take over, and I fought it with every single ounce of power that I could find inside me. I wouldn't go down that easily.
Constantine's icy fingers stroked my hair, whispering to me in a creepy voice, "That's it. Just give up."
I desperately tried to resist the effects of the drug, but it was a daunting task, with no anger fueling me. The struggle became even harder as the handcuffs continued to restrain me, constricting my movements until I was on the brink of unconsciousness.
Constantine, with his eerie demeanor, began assembling wooden boxes into a makeshift table beside me. Finally, he approached and freed me from the restraints, relieving the strain on my hanging body. My legs, weakened and trembling, struggled to support me. The dizziness overwhelmed me as the drug swept over my senses.
This was my moment, my opportunity to fight back. I prepared myself, desperately seeking anger, but keeping it concealed. Constantine pulled me by the armpits and hoisted me onto the stack of boxes. My muscles felt as limp as cooked spaghetti, while the medicine threatened to overpower me. Slowly, I channeled my rage.
Opening my jacket, Constantine brandished a knife and ruthlessly slashed at my clothing.
With a chilling tone, he spoke, "I believe I'll place your coin in here."
The silver blade gleamed, its metallic scent filling the air. He delicately pressed the tip against my chest, hovering perilously close to my heart. I gasped in agony as the burning sensation seared my skin. Constantine grunted, satisfied with the mark left by the knife.
"I just need to weaken you a bit more, to give my associate a better chance. It's fortunate that you're vulnerable to silver. It will aid me in weakening your flesh," he remarked.
He retrieved a silver thread from his pocket and spun it in a mesmerizing circle, muttering something under his breath. The silver thread melded together, forming a solid circle. He pressed it onto my chest, aligning it with the designated spot. Instantly, the silver burned, sinking into my skin. The pain was excruciating, but it fueled my rage, granting me the strength to combat this wretched drug.
"That will weaken you further, enchanted silver," Constantine murmured, his voice dripping with malice.
I could see the glint of the coin in his hand, its silver surface reflecting the dim light of the room. The air was heavy with a sickly sweet scent, a mixture of chemicals and fear. I could feel the drug coursing through my veins, dulling my senses and rendering me utterly powerless. My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second as the drug tightened its grip on me.
Desperation flooded through me, my rage bubbling just beneath the surface, but time was slipping away. Constantine approached, his hand reaching out to stroke my hair with a chilling touch.
"Be a good girl," he hissed, his words laced with icy cruelty. "Close your eyes and go to sleep."
The coin in his hand seemed to taunt me, its malevolence emanating from its very core. I locked eyes with Constantine, defiance burning in my gaze as I fought against the effects of the medicine.
"Fine, have it your own way," he sneered.
Retrieving a jar and a new needle and syringe from his pocket, he filled the syringe with a larger dose of the drug.
"Same stuff, baby, but this is three times the amount," he gloated, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. "You'll be asleep for much longer this time, perhaps even half a year, nine months."
My heart pounded in my chest, my body trembling with the effort to resist. But my movements were sluggish, my limbs unresponsive. In one swift motion, he plunged the needle into my heart, pushing the plunger down. A wave of revulsion washed over me as his hand caressed my cheek, and I strained to turn away to escape his touch. My rage surged forward, fueling my resistance, but my body remained paralyzed, like limp spaghetti.
As if mocking my helplessness, Constantine retrieved a coin from his pocket and placed it on my chest, right where my heart lay. It sent a shiver down my spine, its coldness seeping into my very being. A strange presence tried to invade my mind, but I fought back with all my might. And then, in a sudden twist of fate, the stranger vanished as the coin flew and landed on the floor.
Just in the nick of time, Dresden appeared. He had been tracking the cursed silver coins for eight long months, and when his tracking spell showed multiple hits, he knew he had to make haste. Constantine had fallen victim to the coin. That much was clear, and when the cursed coin contacted my skin, Dresden's resolve solidified. He had already rescued Magnum, who was now at his side, ready to assist.
With a swift incantation, Dresden sent the coin flying across the room, and he darted towards it, snatching it up before Constantine could escape. The sight of Dresden sent the demon that had taken hold of Constantine into a panic, fearing that it would be banished. Constantine fled, leaving behind the remnants of his evil scheme.
As Dresden held the cursed coin in his hand, a sense of relief washed over me. Though weak, I knew I had been saved from a fate worse than death.
Dresden's urgent command pierced the air, his voice sharp and clipped. "Help them," he said to Magnum before darting after the Constantine.
As Magnum approached Adam, I struggled to find my balance and lowered myself onto a nearby seat. Adam lifted his head, and through our bond, I could sense the intensity of his desire to charge forward. Despite his wounds, he refused to appear weak. Focusing my energy, I channeled my rage and combined it with my willpower, drawing upon it for strength. I knew I was essential at that moment, that I needed to act—no longer a victim, but a savior.
"Stay back," I whispered to Magnum in a calm, hushed tone. "Turn around, calmly make your way to the car, and open the back doors. Prepare a first aid kit and gather some clothes for Adam. If you can locate the red metal box in my bag, take it and place it where I can see it. Now, go. No questions."
Magnum obeyed, understanding the urgency in my words. Suppressing the effects of the drug, I unleashed my pent-up rage. Adam's wounded state made him a dangerous werewolf, his consciousness barely intact.
I knew he wouldn't tolerate anyone's presence, except maybe mine. Rising to my feet, I slipped on my coat and approached Adam with measured steps. I reached out to touch him, stroking him gently. His bright yellow eyes remained fixed on me, a mix of trust and uncertainty.
"Adam, I need to get you to the car," I murmured, my voice soothing. "This might cause you pain, but I promise to be as gentle as possible."
The stench of silver clung to his bullet wounds. Searching for a solution, my eyes landed on a tarp nearby. I swiftly unhooked it and brought it over to the wolf. With careful movements, I rolled Adam onto the tarp, creating a makeshift stretcher.
"I have to remove those bullets, but only once we're in the car," I muttered, unsure if I was addressing Adam or myself.
Gathering the edges of the tarp, I dragged Adam's heavy weight towards the front door. My head spun, but I pushed through the dizziness, determined not to succumb to the encroaching darkness in my vision. It wasn't time yet. Finally, we reached the front door, and I maneuvered Adam closer to the waiting car. Slipping my hand under his form, I summoned every ounce of strength and fury within me. With a surge of power, I hoisted Adam into the car, his weight crashing down.
Magnum's voice echoed through the car as he spoke from the front seat. "I already called Samuel. Salvatore's on his way to the house."
I urged Magnum, "Just one more push." I stepped into the car and instructed him, "Get out calmly and secure those back doors."
I took the red box and opened it. Inside were three shots of powerful synthetic adrenaline, enough for me to get time to take the bullet out of Adam. I swiftly plunged the first one into my thigh, feeling it was helping to overcome the darkness that threatened to take me—boosting my rage.
With caution, Magnum approached the rear of the vehicle. Adam's low growl, our wolf companion, filled the air. I gently stroked Adam, assuring him, "Calm down; everything's fine."
Relieved, Magnum closed the doors, releasing a sigh of relief. The intensity of the wolf's gaze and growl had been unnerving.
Returning to the car, Magnum asked, "Should I take us for a drive?"
I replied, "Not yet. I'll explain later." As I prepared myself for another surge of adrenaline, I plunged the second syringe into my thigh; I diligently searched for the bullet wounds, desperate to locate the embedded projectiles.
Eventually, I slipped my finger into the wound, feeling the searing heat of the silver. Methodically, I extracted the first bullet, then the second. The effects of the adrenaline shots were wearing off, and I knew my time was limited before my rage subsided. I used the last shot. The sharp sting in my thigh would not get me far, but it would enable me to assist Adam.
Turning to Adam, I instructed, "Now, shift your form. It will help. Your weakness from blood loss will be there, but the wounds will close."
To Magnum, I commanded, "Drive, without concern for what happens here, just drive."
The car roared to life, and I could sense Adam's muscles beginning to shift. The transformation seemed to stretch on endlessly. I poured every ounce of my rage into him, sacrificing myself for my alpha, as I always did. Adam, weakened by silver poisoning and blood loss, finally completed the transformation after 45 agonizing minutes.
Exhausted, I slumped to the car's floor, my fighting spirit depleted. My rage had run dry, but knowing Adam would be alright was all that mattered. At that moment, I realized how deeply connected I was to the wolf within me. The drug took hold, and darkness overwhelmed me, relentless in its embrace.