Chapitre 182: 22. Spending My Time.
I was sitting quietly behind my desk, knowing that my time here was almost done. Soon, I would be heading to South America for the sniper round, and then to Canada after eliminating the targets here. There was a long list of tasks for me to take care of, and I understood that it would take time for the pack to recover.
I had already read the initial reports from our hospital, and it would be a while before everyone was back on their feet. During this time, they could decide whether they wanted to take a holiday in the Azores or spend time in Ireland. I had no objections to them having some time for themselves.
Meanwhile, I was busy clearing my desk. Alaric had also gone to the States to handle the press regarding our organization. Wulfe and Magnum had temporarily moved to the pack to assist in the recovery process and regain their full powers. I had instructed a group of my people in Brazilian bases to collaborate with the federal police and other authorities if they needed our help. I had also provided the police with the necessary contact information. Salvatores were not hurrying to become NSA agents, as their recovery would take time. Therefore, the pack was not pressured to rush them into becoming agents.
As I sipped on a bag of blood, I finalized a few procurement details and reviewed the latest debriefing reports. I was extremely satisfied with the loot we had acquired, and finding places to store everything was not a challenge. I simply directed it to various warehouses, ensuring that no single warehouse was overloaded. Of course, I didn't inform every base about the contents of the nearest warehouse. I just let them know that I was directing items there. The main list was available in our system, so if anyone wanted to see it, they could easily access it. It wasn't a big deal.
Ah, this blood was perfect. I had planned my route strategically so that I always had one or two houses nearby in case my predation wasn't successful. Ensuring a steady supply of blood was crucial for me to carry out my sniping missions. I was prepared to spend a significant amount of time on this operation, even though the pack had returned to America while I remained here. It didn't bother me at all, as I was focused on my important work.
We had other snipers or individuals approved by Murdock, but they were always engaged in other missions. This gave me the opportunity to shorten our list. I had acquired several new rifles to test them in real action. While I had already tested them at the shooting range, shooting at actual targets would truly put them to the test.
I felt no irritation, as I had just consumed my bags of blood and was feeling quite freaking high and in a good fucking mood. I calmly made my way to the Central Hub to see if there were any issues or if they needed my assistance with anything before my departure. I discussed our procurement needs with several people and showed them what I was planning to acquire for us. I was the perfect and friendly leader.
I also provided a few individuals with lists for the warehouses so they could complete tasks if they had free time or suitable personnel available. I didn't instruct them to consult Magnum or anyone else, but rather gave them the authority to proceed. As the leader of my organization, I didn't feel the need to involve the council in every decision.
The job needed to be done efficiently, and sometimes it was better to take action instead of waiting for multiple approvals and asking countless questions. I was patient and always willing to help anyone facing problems. I even cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood and make my team laugh and relax. It was important for everyone to find moments of happiness amidst the difficulties of this job. I encouraged them to chill out from time to time because the sad truth was that the job was already challenging, and constantly dwelling on negativity would only lead to burnout.
I also made sure that no one was working all the time, and that they took time to be with their families. I didn't want to repeat the mistakes I had made with Harrison. I missed the man he used to be, not the beast that Nick had turned him into. I was just thinking about how he ended up being soulless. Was it true that everyone Nick turned would end up soulless? Or was it something he could control, choosing whether someone would become soulless or not? If so, I was angry with him for taking someone important to me and turning him into a monster.
I briefly considered delving into the factors that determine what kind of vampire someone becomes when turned. Ruby turned out alright, even though she was originally mine and Damon claimed her as his own before Wulfe took her. As for me, I don't have a sire. My evolution made me a vampire. Damon has tried a few times to be my sire, but I'm too strong for him to control. I know it frustrates him from time to time. I'm not sure if Mariella was turned by Damon or if she simply wanted to be a vampire and it happened. But my guess is that Damon is more or less her sire, at least the one who can control her.
I remembered how little it took from me to stop Damon, but I did it. Wulfe I stopped him too. I was a strong vampire, and despite everything, I hadn't weakened at all. It was a scary thought, but it also made me feel quite smug. I was the strongest among us, so no Salvatore could demand my obedience just because they saw themselves as stronger than me. And to think that I could stop Wulfe as well gave me shivers. It wasn't as scary anymore, and I didn't worry about abusing my power. Not me. I felt pretty damn perfect and good about myself. I was high as a kite but no one noticed anything wrong with me.
Sure, my past was filled with nasty things, and I had killed those women. But if it wasn't me, someone else would have had to do it. I was the best for that kind of job, and those women weren't even human anymore. They had become pitiful creatures, and I simply gave them mercy. It was just one more thing that I had to do in my work. One more hit to take.
I walked back to my office, settled behind my desk, and began sifting through my emails. I had asked Will to handle most of the consultations at my clinic. He was a skilled doctor and more than capable of handling them. There was no need for me to do everything myself when I had a staff for that. I made sure not to involve Salvatores in this, as the clinic was still under the name of Springcove, not Salvatore Hospital.
It irritated me that my hospital had gradually become Damon's and the packs', and to my amusement, there was even a wing named after Mariella Salvatore. She had no part in establishing that hospital or what was happening there. It had been all my and Charles's project, at least initially. But then again, Mariella had taken Charles away from me, too. However, I was willing to let her have him, at least for now. Charles would need quite some time to recover, possibly weeks or even months, before he would be in perfect health again. Only then might I consider reaching out to him. I was uncertain though, as my sniping mission could take up a lot of my time.
After a few hours of work, I completed my tasks at the base and prepared for my sniping gig. Along the way, I planned to visit other bases if necessary and offer help in case any problems arose. I kept my work phone on, so I would be available if there was anything that required my attention, like a few targets to play with. Meaning I was ready to deal with Sark or Krycheck. I had given ongoing orders to try to capture them if it was safe. I was ready to have some fun and indulge myself with a little torture. It always helped me feel better.
As for predation, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to sink my fangs into a powerful demon king and drain him to my heart's content. Finally, I would allow my killer side to revel in the act of killing those targets, while my vampire side would relish in the taste of the demon king's blood. I would not kill them, but just use them as meals.
I stepped out into the hot and humid air of Brazil and made my way to my car. Earlier, I had stored my rifles and other reserved items in the vehicle. Feeling satisfied after consuming a bag of blood, my mood had improved and I was ready to embark on my first hunt for victims in the city. I eagerly searched for the perfect location to take them out, excited at the thought of looking through my scope, feeling the trigger beneath my finger, and experiencing the slight kick as the bullet was fired. The satisfaction of seeing my victim hit, the feeling of power, it was perfect.
I was tired of denying these emotions and sensations. After all, I had been a killer for over 150 years. Why should I suppress my feelings of power and triumph? It wouldn't destroy my soul, but rather offer a different perspective. Denying these feelings had become exhausting, and for what? Who was I trying to impress? Why did I have this foolish desire to be good and proper, to suppress my enjoyment of killing?
Adam enjoyed it. And Charles did too, not to mention Damon, who was a natural-born killer. Why did I have to be Miss Goody Two-Shoes, always striving to do the right thing, clinging to my morals, and feeling guilty when I experienced true pleasure? I was the one sabotaging my own happiness. I needed to learn to accept myself, my feelings, and my sensations.
I started up my large SUV and drove along the less-than-ideal road that led to the main highways and eventually into the city. It was refreshing to be in the city for a change. Although my bases were not shabby, driving on well-paved roads was a luxury. I didn't always have to navigate through jungle paths that had deteriorated due to recent rains.
Yes, driving into the city offered a sense of luxury. I began scouting for suitable spots to find the best vantage point for shooting my victims. It was essential to ensure that there was no one on those rooftops, as it wouldn't be ideal to have someone stumble upon me just as I was about to snipe my target. So much of my time was spent in my car, surveying certain rooftops to ensure there was no personnel nearby.
Once again, I found myself lost in the depths of my addiction, my thoughts consumed by an insatiable need for blood. The mere idea of going a day without it was repulsive, the scent of rich, thick blood lingering in my nostrils. I kept my obsession hidden, never revealing the overwhelming desires that plagued me like a fucking nasty obsession. Each day, I meticulously prepared my supply, the sight of the crimson liquid both enticing and alluring. I justified my cravings with elaborate excuses, convincing myself that I deserved to indulge in this forbidden pleasure. I needed to hide my blood consumption, but there was no alarm in my mind to wake me up and ask why was.
I did not see myself as a pathetic addict, but rather a powerful vampire, entitled to consume as much blood as I pleased. I reveled in the sensation of power coursing through my veins, my senses heightened with each sip. As the days went by, I became more adept at concealing my bloodlust, the thrill of taste, and texture dripping down to my throat adding to the intoxication. In my mind, I justified my actions, believing that as long as I didn't harm anyone, there was no wrong in satisfying my cravings. I was, after all, a freaking strong hive queen, stronger than Damon if I needed. At least I was eating only bad guys, not innocent humans.
What I didn't know at the time was that blood addiction is actually a sickness or condition, and it has nothing to do with a lack of willpower. It's just one more misconception that humans have. So, in order to overcome it, it requires proper treatment. The kind of treatment I went through was not the right one, but being resilient and immortal, I was able to endure it. It's a fact that once a vampire has this syndrome, their mortality increases by 30% even with treatment, because it's not an easy thing to cure. This was new information for the pack as well, and since I've had this little problem a few times before, let's just say that my treatment those times was vastly different from the first time.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone