I woke up in Chicago; I recognized the smell of it already in my dream, and it somehow brought a sense of security that I hadn't felt since that house no longer exists.
I woke up tired, and when I opened my eyes, Samuel was sitting in the chair next to me, and he said, " Do you feel wise now?"
He was looking tired; he had stubble and dark rings under his eyes, and he was thinner and paler than usual. I guess I must have been one hell of a patient to care for. I know how to wear men out, when I am sick.
I said, " Not too wise, tired, and weak. Did Damon get well? Is he where? Did he understand it was Damien, not him?"
Samuel sighed, looked at the floor, and said, " As far as I know, he's fine. He didn't take care of you at all now. He went to the women. Sorry. "
He was genuinely sorry. He told me that it had taken eight weeks to get me in this shape and I was now well enough to be awake. He and Colin had done tough work to get me in shape. I had had several infections and other problems too. My straps had taken a hell of a beating and, for the first two weeks, I had been in critical condition.
Oh well. Fine, maybe then a little ice age could be in place, or at least I keep myself busy enough not to be available. I got to sit up. I was still pretty drugged, limp, and utterly powerless. Samuel helped me to the toilet, and I weighed 37 kilos. I was a muscle-less whippersnapper, and I knew it would be another while before I was an Amazonian again. There was no power in my muscles and I shuddered as I remembered those machines that had torn me apart time after time.
Samuel said, " Magnum came yesterday. He's waiting for you. He gets you to your shape and helps you move on, no need for you to be weak and frail, you don't have time to remember the shed session while Magnum beats you to shape and then when you get your rage fully on, it helps too."
I said, "It is just those machines. He confessed how he had stolen those over the years, and not every shed is meant for me. He kills there a lot of victims, I could smell them."
Samuel hugged me. He murmured something, but I couldn't really hear it. I heard Colin's and Magnum's voices coming along; I was downstairs medbay and here downstairs or cellar floor we had also a gym, so this would be a rough time but rewarding, too. That's interesting. So, the sergeant major is back to get me in shape again.
Magnum came to the medbay. I was sitting on the bed and he approached me, took my hand, and pulled me to stand. There was no mercy as we started to walk. We went to the gym and started with basics, getting my shape up and same time controlling my rage. That would come out when I got a little better. But by that time, Magnum would be fully in control and I would have no choice but to do as he says. He had some quite inventive ways for me to unleash my fury. To get my rage in some shape.
He had now upgraded his routine and now there was a vampire aspect as he gave me blood, but not too much, and it had to be earned. So either I suffered bloodlust or I did what he wanted. And he knew the extent of my bloodlust. I was a talented girl when there was a certain blood as a reward for me. The better he got to know me, every aspect of me, he used them, molded them, shaped me best version of myself. There was no part of me that he did not want to whip in shape.
And yes, he did again. Recovering with a physiotherapist is not as fun as you might imagine, as this physiotherapist was relentless, overbearing, and bossy, but the results started to show, and once I got a good grip on my rage that allowed me to get better, things started to flow. He had gotten me in better physical shape. Samuel and Colin had left. There were just two of us, and he understood my frustrations.
I told him quite a lot about what Damien did to me, what he dictated and he understood that I hardly could tell these to Damon as he would just get all wound up and give Damien more power. I just had to try to remember Damien is real, and he is not part of Damon. I told Magnum also what Colin's leprechaun said, and Magnum was pretty convinced that Damien was very real. He was not part of Damon, but he could influence him and manipulate him, maybe even corrupt him,
Magnum left after four weeks. I was fucked, and so we had another night with Magnum. He got really mad when I told him about what Damon had done, how he had brought several humans and fucked all over the house with them. Magnum came at me, slammed me against the wall, and really kissed me, he pressed his thigh against mine, spreading them letting his hands wander all over my body, I kissed him back.
I needed someone to see me as a woman, someone to be with. I was angry with Adam, too. I took Magnum to my downstairs bedroom; I took my clothes off; he took his, and he came at me. It was like he had this need to have me for so long already. This time, it was not so sweet. He was now much harder and demanding, and it was obvious that my blood that he had consumed over the years had had a profound effect on him. This time, he went all night long. He was very dominating too. We were both sweaty and satiated in the morning, and he left after he had gone in my shower. Neither of us had any regrets, none at all.
Fucking Salvatore, I thought to myself. Adam had come almost as soon as I woke up, but they were having a party with Damon, and Adam had a little pussy with him. He had left pretty quickly to go back to the party. That's why I was angry. This little pussy happened to be a werewolf and Adam had gotten heat on her, and of course, Adam Dear would take care of that heat, too.
I was nothing for them but at least I was something very important to Magnum. and he was to me. He was pretty full of my bite marks as I had shown him how I love to mark my men. They were something that he was proud of.
I would go to the gigs. Now I needed to act, to be strong, not be a victim, and Magnum had given my spark back. I didn't feel anymore like I was a mere burden to everyone. I told Jake and Rob what had happened and what were my plans. Then I was a nasty leader and put those boys to do something else than hang around me. I wanted to do this alone, without backup or anyone panting at my neck.
First to Europe and then to America. Now I'd kick the shit out of every witch, wizard, and demon. I was so full of rage somehow that I just had to vent. My inner killer was out and swinging, my vampire side as well as it was still connected to me emotions. After two weeks Jake insisted on being with me, to be my backup. That man could be stubborn when he wanted to be, and he showed no respect for my leader status, so I let him be then my partner, my backup too.
I had left a week after Magnum had fixed me up, and I was still relentless. I destroyed witches' houses, wizards' nests, and demons' nests. I had a bunch of fleas with me, including Jake, and we were fucking hard at it. We had another emergency mission after I had been on the mission for a month. Sark had been spotted again near one of the facilities, and probable victims were to be rescued.
I started investigating, and Jake went on another gig in the US. I had to be on the base and look again at every little snippet of information and review it carefully. After a week of investigation, it was starting to look like a damn excellent target.
We had satellite images that actually showed targets being taken out of the car in an unconscious state and on a stretcher and transported inside. We had several pictures of the sark, both outside the facility and also inside. We had gone through the facility as thoroughly as we could, and I assembled my team. We would have a hell of a workload and this was a hot mission, meaning lots of enemies and stakes were higher at this time. There was no window when no one would be around, so we would just have to fight our way in.
My team was top-notch. It consisted of Angela, Katie, Gerard, Tyler, Jim, Billy, Mick, Pamela, Sandra, and Louise. All of these had been Murdock's pupils at some point, so they had the skills and nerves of steel. There were more women than men, but these women knew their stuff.
Jimmy, Billy, and Nick would be the destroyers; Pamela would be our driver, but she'd come along for the ride. Angela, Katie, Geragd, and Tyler would be the movers, and I, Sandra, and Louise would be the saviors. We would need all the hands on deck because maybe there would be again over 100 victims to be rescued and a hot mission meaning no time to waste.
We had new armor developed by Magnum and Magnum couldn't come along because he was chasing demons I had already gotten moving. These would also withstand some kind of hit from the armor-piercing projectile, yet we still had our body armor and other safety gear on. Jake and Rob were busy in the USA and this was time critical, as I didn't want to leave anyone in Sark's clutches more than necessary. I wanted to save as soon as possible.
As we approached the facility, the sound of our vehicle's engine reverberated through the air. I could feel the tension building up within me as I released six drones into the sky, their propellers whirring loudly. The sun cast a golden glow on the surrounding landscape as we carefully scanned every inch of the perimeter.
Equipped with a new camera, we were able to see the details on the roof, and the texture of the cover that concealed potential threats. With urgency, I relayed the information to our sniper teams, who had arrived and were on high alert.
To disable the shelter, I strategically dropped bombs, their explosions echoing through the air, creating a chaotic symphony. It was crucial to clear the path for the destroyers, their footsteps crunching on the ground as they advanced.
As we moved in, our eyes scanned the area, searching for victims. With a mix of trepidation and determination, I began waking them up, their slumbering forms transforming into werewolves and shapeshifters. Time was of the essence, knowing that more guards could be on their way because of the semi-public nature of the facility.
Gunfire erupted around us, its deafening sound filling the air, making it necessary for me to maintain a calm demeanor amidst the chaos. I had to be concise in my instructions, ensuring the victims were on their feet swiftly. Above all, I had to ensure the readiness of the transporter, its engine humming softly in the background.
Together, we worked tirelessly, each of us waking up nearly a hundred victims. The sheer magnitude of our efforts became evident as we realized we had potentially saved over 200 lives.
Just as we were preparing to retreat, disaster struck. I had given the order to fall back, the transport team had departed with the last of the victims, and our vehicle lay hidden in a secure location. Suddenly, a swarm of twenty guards emerged from the shadows, their presence catching us off guard. Panic filled the air, accompanied by Pamela's expletives as she urgently urged us to escape.
With caution, we began to reverse, but the guards, clad in their armor and helmets, proved to be formidable opponents. We could only take down a few of them due to their protective gear.
In a desperate attempt to confront the enemy, I found myself alone on the eighth floor, my heart pounding in my chest. Spotting Sark, I immediately pursued him. A single gunshot rang out, the impact of the bullet hitting his leg echoing through the silence. However, the guards, armed with an assortment of weapons, forced me to retreat.
Swiftly, I descended seven flights of stairs, my footsteps echoing in the narrow corridor, as I made my way towards the front door. The air outside was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and a hint of adrenaline. But my relief quickly turned to dread as I witnessed the sight before me. All members of my group were captured, their vulnerable forms kneeling on the ground, their hands bound tightly behind their backs.
Now I have a problem. The yard was brightly lit, the air heavy with the stench of fear and desperation. How the fuck do I save my entire group? I could feel the weight of their lives resting on my shoulders. I knew that if I surrendered, it wouldn't do any good, because Sark would torture them to death in front of me. The metallic taste of anxiety filled my mouth as I contemplated my next move.
But if Sark's condition was detected, or if I had Sark as a hostage, but before I could do anything, Sark stepped into view, fully recovered. His presence sent shivers down my spine. His pants were bloody, but his legs were intact. Oh fuck, they have healing blood. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. But would it have time to heal if I hit Sark in the head? The tension in the yard was suffocating.
"I know you're watching and seeing this. I've caught myself some entertainment again," Sark's voice echoed with sadistic pleasure. "Too bad there are ten of them. They're always running out. Don't give in, but look, I'm not going to spare you even if you do, not when I've got a better victim."
His words hung in the air, dripping with malice. He snapped his fingers, and two guards brought Damon. The sight of Damon, unconscious and vulnerable, fueled my anger. What the fuck, wasn't this supposed to be about drinking and fucking?
I summoned every ounce of courage and walked out of my shadow, facing Sark head-on.
"Here I am. What do you want? Let my team go. You've already got Salvatore, and you'll probably have me soon." My voice trembled, a mix of fear and determination. I kept my role on.
Sark smirked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "Fine, I won't do anything with your group, but I will give them to Krycheck. He will make them see new dimensions."
Pamela, our trusted ally, snarled at me sternly, her voice laced with urgency. "Flea, remember, we've talked about this, now do it. There is no other option..."
Oh fuck. We had a protocol. If someone was getting caught in a Krycek or something and couldn't be rescued, we talked about, if possible, a bullet to the brain because none of the fleas wanted the whole brainwashing thing and knew too much. The weight of responsibility pressed down on me, threatening to crush my resolve. Everyone was up for it, but not me. I couldn't kill my team. But Pamela's voice and the way she reminded me of what was being talked about. You don't give up on that. The air seemed to close in around me; the walls closing in on my sanity.
I was thinking feverishly, beads of sweat forming on my forehead, and I could already hear the distant rumble of a van pulling into the driveway. Time was running out. I took my gun, its cold metal sending a shiver up my spine, and fired.
The sound of the gunshot reverberated through the room, drowning out all other noise. I'm a professional, and I know how to shoot to kill. I killed my entire group in less than a minute, and Sark was upset about it actually. The weight of guilt settled on my shoulders, the names of my fallen teammates etching themselves into my conscience.
The yard fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of my ragged breaths. The sacrifice I had made for the greater good weighed heavily on my soul, but deep down, I knew it was the only choice I had.
My little show made everyone panic, and I kept shooting and dashing forward and grabbed Damon as Sark bolted. I lifted Damon on my shoulders and dashed at vampire speed to the edge of the woods. Then, into the car. I took Damon to my French base and had the medics check him through when I went to update the list. Damon was anaesthetised with some sort of implant and I left him in the care of the fleas. It was again one trip to Lake Lanier and this time I had killed them myself. These names I would carve with a very heavy heart.