Capítulo 82: 2. Moonlight Shadow.
Damon and Mariella walked into the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Mariella could sense the tension, knowing how close Damon had come to sinking his teeth into Mimi's neck. The thought of him taking over the pack and claiming this magnificent house as his territory lingered in the back of her mind. But for now, he seemed calm, although Mariella couldn't help but wonder for how long.
Mimi, the alpha, exuded power as they stepped into her territory. The weight of her presence hung in the room. Damon's own alpha instincts reacted strongly to this, but they were both willing to learn. They knew that one day, Mimi would become part of their pack, and they would all understand how to establish a solid foundation – how to recruit and expand their numbers.
Adam, observing silently, wore a knowing smile. He had seen it all before, but he kept his thoughts to himself, preferring to let it unfold as a surprise. Damon rummaged through the fridge, his displeasure evident as he discovered it filled with unhealthy junk rather than the nourishing meat Miss needed. Determined to ensure she ate properly, Damon vowed to provide her with the sustenance she required, not just what she preferred.
Carrying bottles of soda, they returned to the living room, where Mimi remained fixated on the satellite feeds and images displayed on the screen. Damon couldn't quite decipher the purpose of the satellite or what Mimi was searching for. The images seemed to be captured by some kind of heat camera, but they held a different quality. Damon and Mariella settled into the sofa and chairs, eager to learn.
Damon turned to Mimi and asked, "Can you put that on the screen so we can all see it? And if possible, explain what we are looking for. Teach us."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes in response. Rising from my seat, I retrieved the projector piece from my rucksack and connected it to my laptop. The room darkened as Salvatores pulled the curtains shut, creating the perfect atmosphere for my projection. A pristine white wall awaited the satellite feed.
With a few clicks, the feed appeared on the wall.
I began to explain, "This is a satellite feed. Right now, I'm searching for incinerators as they are the easiest targets to identify. Once we locate them, we can narrow down potential threats. This particular satellite is a hybrid, serving both weather monitoring and nature preservation purposes."
I looked around at everyone, their puzzled expressions reflecting their lack of understanding.
I continued speaking; the words flowing out of my mouth. "Well, over time, nature preservation groups have managed to secure enough funding to launch several satellites. These satellites are designed to monitor pollution levels, ozone depletion, wildlife migration, and even some weather phenomena. However, they are not constantly in use anymore, so we can borrow them. We have the necessary computers to receive and analyze the data with the utmost precision. It takes time, but it's necessary."
Damon furrowed his brow while Mariella seemed utterly confused.
Lepard broke the silence, his curiosity evident in his question. "You mentioned incinerators, so are you searching for something specific? What exactly comes out of incinerators?"
I met Lepard's gaze and replied, "Bingo! You have to know what to look for. Let's say that burning human bodies, even with their strong filters, releases certain compounds into the air. On the other hand, burning rubbish produces a similar effect, but when it comes to burning organic matter, the infrared and ultraviolet scales are unique. So, I'm searching for those markers. Once I find them, I jot them down and investigate further. Are they official crematoriums or government facilities for disposing of contagious materials? However, it's less likely that the government has financed such places here."
Damon remarked, wanting to understand the purpose of my search. "So, what exactly are you looking for?"
I scrolled through my findings, displaying a few locations on the screen. "This particular hue in ultraviolet and its corresponding pattern in the infrared show a place that burns organic matter."
They all gazed at the screen as I continued explaining. "Bolivia is a vast country, and I've requested satellite sweeps across the entire region. Processing the data takes time, so I'm constantly checking what has been done. I investigate my suspicions, but this isn't the only focus of my search. Not at all."
Damon speculated, "My guess is that it has something to do with the energy grid and energy usage."
I nodded, elaborating on his assumption. "Exactly. It's relatively easy to access energy usage reports, which are public knowledge and often used by energy companies for advertising purposes. By doing a little hacking, we can compare the reported usage to the actual expenditure. If there are discrepancies, it could indicate the presence of secret government facilities getting free electricity. Those discrepancies will be our key to finding what we're looking for."
Mariella fell into a contemplative silence for a moment before finally speaking up. "And how else do you find targets, then? Or are these two methods the only ones you use?"
I shook my head, pulling out a list of missing persons and a map displaying their last known locations. There was a clear pattern emerging, a cluster of disappearances in La Paz compared to other areas.
"As you can see, La Paz stands out as a city with a significant number of missing people. Official reports may downplay the issue, but it's worth investigating. It requires legwork, observing, and exploring the city. We also employ a bit of drone work.
Charles said, "That sounds like fun. We can all participate, stroll around, and see if we stumble upon anything."
I smiled and replied, "It also involves talking to people and being discreet when dealing with the locals. They might know dangerous areas to avoid or have information about the missing individuals."
Number two interjected, "So, you already have places in mind that need to be checked out? You're trying to keep us busy, aren't you?"
This individual was sharp as ever.
I conceded, "Yes, I do have some targets, but I'm always open to finding more. If you'd like, you can help."
Damon, number one, suggested, "Let's start by investigating what you've already found, and then we can make a plan for our next move."
Wearily, I responded, "My whole recruitment is based on finding evidence of victims and saving them. This isn't about pack saving everyone. It's my call, no negotiations."
Damon smirked and remarked, "You're quite impressive when you're bossy. I must admit, my mind is distracted by more carnal ideas than saving innocents."
I rolled my eyes and continued scrolling through the satellite feeds. The pack was efficient; Demon and Leopard had already spotted targets before I had a chance. It took us five hours, during which Damon made a meal in the kitchen. We had a total of 22 targets to investigate, some requiring a drive as they were scattered. However, within the city, we had five targets and three locations where people had last been seen. It was something worth looking into.
I had already found a base and purchased it without informing the pack. I needed to contact my crew to clear out the place, an old factory that still held some equipment. Those items would be taken to special warehouses for Magnum to inspect and potentially use.
Now, there was a little complication, a tangle in my thoughts. My crew, my very own group of vampires, gathered over the years. They had no sire; they had been made into vampires by evolving or turning into vampires through science. This made them abominations in the eyes of other vampires, freaks to be hunted. But I provided them with safe havens, blood to sustain them, and tasks to keep them occupied. They saw me as their queen, and their loyalty to me was unwavering. And deep within, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment having them by my side.
Even Wulfe, my closest confidant, didn't know the extent of my crew. I couldn't fathom what Salvatore would do to them, and I wasn't willing to find out. It was time to eat, and Damon had prepared some sort of meat stew for the rest of the pack. But for me, it was simply pure meat, nothing more.
He grumbled about the rubbish in my fridge, promising to fill it with suitable ingredients that wouldn't upset my stomach. I thanked him for the food, diving into the meal without bothering to defend my choices in stocking my fridge. It tasted just as delicious as ever, reminding me of how much I had missed his cooking. But I had also learned to fend for myself, living independently for the past couple of years or so. Time flies, and one must move forward.
As I ate, the memory of the vision Wulfe had shared with me lingered in my mind.
Lost in thought, I didn't pay attention until Lepard's voice whispered in my mind, "My love, he shouldn't have shown you that. You weren't meant to know or see the future."
I remained silent, keeping to myself the details that had tugged at my heartstrings. What had utterly broken my heart? I hoped that the vision would never come to pass, and I had no intention of sharing it with anyone.
In my vivid vision, I tightly gripped my special pendant, feeling its weight in my hand. The heart-shaped pendant had four chambers, each containing drops of blood and fragments of skin - the DNA of my beloved four: Adam, Charles, Lepard, and Demon. They had created it after the malevolent Sark had destroyed Damon's body. It served as insurance, ensuring that I would always carry a piece of them within me. The pendant was enchanted, preserving the tissues and allowing them to regenerate new bodies.
But in this vision, as I clutched the pendant, I saw each chamber held only ash, signifying their destruction and death. I would lose those four as well, but I would keep that secret. The overwhelming sorrow was unlike anything I had ever felt before, a secret I couldn't share with anyone. It was imperative to prevent this future, but Wulfe had said it would be Mariella's decision, a future far from our reach.
And there were more complications in my chaotic life. That damned Harrison was relentlessly following me, his intentions far from pure. Damon seemed to have forgotten about Project Omega and Harrison, but it added yet another layer of danger to my existence. I could handle it though, as I had carried this burden for over a century, soon approaching two.
After our meal, Lepard observed me intently, and I decided not to stop him from informing Damon about the vision. It was up to him whether to share it or not. Damon broke the silence, suggesting we check out the locations and then move on, inquiring about our base. I nodded, informing him it was an old factory where I planned to have my crew relocate the equipment for Magnum's potential use. But before that, I needed to recruit some new members.
Damon asked about my crew and if we could meet them. I hesitated, searching for a suitable response to protect my crew without arousing suspicion.
Eventually, I replied, "Not sure yet. They have been with me for years, and Wulfe hasn't met them either. They are my secret weapon, so to speak, not actively involved in missions at the bases. They work more as scouts and such."
Adam's soft voice whispered, the words barely audible in the dimly lit room. "Well, honey, I am very eager to meet them. Are there some groups that even Wulfe had not seen? What are you hiding them for?"
I replied, my voice tinged with caution. "They are considered abominations by most, and I want to keep them safe. I have saved them, providing them with shelter and purpose. I can't predict your reaction, so I wish to protect them from being seen as a threat or something to be destroyed."
Number two's silky voice interjected, curiosity lacing his words. "Now, who the hell do you have under your thrall, baby? I can assure you, I won't destroy them. I want to meet them, see them. I am wickedly curious now. Spit it out. Do you have a horde of zombies or something?"
I took a deep breath and revealed the truth. "Vampires. I have my own group of vampires, but they were not turned. They were created through science and experimentation. Other vampires view them as a threat and seek their destruction. However, I have provided them with nourishment, my own blood, and a haven. They are fiercely loyal to me, each possessing unique powers. They have no sire, only me."
In Mariella's mind, Damon's voice whispered a reminder. "Remember what I told you about the queen. She is very pleased with her vampires, having taken them under her wing. They are loyal to her, but my goodness, they could be immensely powerful."
Mariella responded, her thoughts echoing. "You want them, don't you? You want to be their sire. Your vampire side desires Mimi and yearns to claim those special ones for himself."
Damon nodded and spoke aloud, his voice filled with conviction. "Baby, I promise there will be no killing. We won't hurt or harm them. Come on, we want to meet them. I can offer them my guidance. As an ancient, powerful vampire, Lord Salvatore, there is nothing for them to fear. None of us will bring them harm."
I relented, agreeing reluctantly. "Fine. We can go to my base. They are there, working diligently. But remember, they are mine, not yours. They may not see you as a vampire lord, and they may not show you the respect your vampire side desires."
A smile played on Damon's lips, his eagerness evident. He was always eager to add more vampires to his clan, to be their sire. He yearned to forge an unbreakable bond with Mimi, ensuring she could never sever it.
Damon's senses were overwhelmed as a rush of emotions flooded his being, causing a slight dizziness. He felt a deep awakening within his soul, transforming him from a mere monster to a man. Mariella played a part, but he couldn't ignore the impact Mimi had on his life and the void she filled. Delving into her thoughts, he sensed her silence about the recent events, not even mentioning Magnum or Murdock. He longed to assist her, though the experience had been harrowing.
As I packed my bag, I suggested, "We can head to the warehouses for your own cars, or you could buy one. The warehouse options come fully equipped."
Approaching me, Damon took the keys from my hand, asserting, "I'll drive. I already know the route from your mind, so hop on. I'm not in the mood to tolerate your complaints about other drivers while you force me making black velvet."
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