Chapitre 219: 19. We Are The World.
"Come on, now. Hey, I don't have all day,"
Damon heard Mimi exclaiming as he and Mariella stepped into the kitchen. Mimi's snappy voice was directed at number seven, who was currently helping Charles in cooking. Charles seemed to be cooking as well, pouring whatever number seven had given into the dough. Mimi was also standing and cooking in this huge industrial-sized kitchen, resembling a cooking show with several teams.
Mariella voiced her confusion, "But they didn't tell us they were cooking. Is this some sort of rebellious act?"
She was feeling left out and could not help but blurt out, despite what they had been up to the last ten days.
Number two, who was cooking at his station, replied, "No, it's protector stuff. As you can see, 28 out of 30 pack members are involved. So, you two can go and do whatever you want. This is not a place for jealousy."
His voice was calm but there was this sharp edge to it, his opinion on them was not so high.
Number one took a deep breath, feeling something nagging at him. It was a strange feeling, something he had never felt, almost like something was itching his mind.
He asked, "Care to explain? I am your guardian, so it would be good for me to be kept up to date as well."
Number four, standing behind him, responded, "When you distance yourself from the Salvatore hive, shut yourself out, take over the main bedroom, with someone who was not supposed to be in there, and show more interest in other subjects than pack life, it's clear where your priorities lie."
Number one acknowledged his guilt as barb hit him, saying, "Guilty as charged. But please, we are here now. What exactly is this protector stuff?"
Number three approached Mimi, who was still waiting for number seven, and kissed her neck. His hands roamed all over her body, making her appear less frail.
Number five retorted smugly, "She spent five days with number two in their pink room after she tried to seduce you. She sensed your lack of arousal and your need to be with Mariella, so she let you go. But it cost her. If number two wasn't so sharp, her recovery would have suffered a setback. However, after five days, she has made progress. Now we are just figuring out who gets to be with her next. Her protector side is fully awakened, and as for the strange feeling, you are currently feeling, well, I'm not sure if it's my place to say."
Damon looked down at the floor, rubbing his neck. He had messed up. He glanced at Mimi, feeling ashamed. He also heard the pronoun about that pink room. Shit.
Number two also looked at Mimi, and Mariella said, "Oh, so now she's taking them all. And me... who will want me?"
Charles approached Mariella and not too gently sank his teeth into her neck. The searing pain caused Mariella to let out a grunt as Charles efficiently drank her blood. As this happened, Mariella felt their bond forming in a unique and stronger way. She realized that she was not the only one under Charles' protection; there were several others as well.
Number two then spoke up, saying, "Okay, let me explain who is whose protector. We are all protectors of Mimi, and she is ours. That is simple, right? Then, Charles, well, Mariella, you are his and he is yours. But he is also the protector of demons and leopards. Adam has wolves, and Mimosa is his protector. Demon belongs to Katherine, and Lepard belongs to Elena."
Number two paused and directed everyone's attention to a whiteboard that displayed the pairings. It was a straightforward arrangement. Mimi was connected to all ten of the Salvatores, and they were all connected to her. Mariella was responsible for Charles, Wulfe, Dresden, Constantine, and Magnum, with Charles as her protector. Adam was responsible for Mimosa, Shadow, Alaric, and Colin, with Mimosa as his protector. Charles was responsible for Mariella, Demon, Lepard, Dexter, and Murdock, with Mariella as his protector. Demon's protégé was Katherine, with Charles as his protector. Lepard's protégé was Elena, again with Charles as his protector. Mimosa was responsible for Adam, with Adam as her protector. Shadow had Tim and Taylor under her care, with Adam as her protector.
Damon read the whiteboard and found it interesting.
Number two then mentioned, "The protectors have activated their radars and tasted the bloods, so we are ready to go. Each protector has a notebook where they write down what needs fixing and how they are addressing it. Those who are not protectors help out those who have a lot to do. Mimi takes a few of us at a time, or else her brain would fry. Those were her words, not mine, but she is one tough teacher. It seems we all have little deficiencies and problems and she can't address all ten of us at the same time."
Mariella asked, "Alright, it seems like I have several responsibilities. Do we have enough space here to accommodate everyone?"
Number ten, who seemed a bit pained, entered the kitchen. He approached Mimi, who turned around and bit his neck, grunting and biting again.
Mimi then said, "Well done, you have earned a reward."
She turned around and handed him a bun filled with meats and cheeses, along with an ice-cold can of coke. Ten nodded, smiled seductively, and retreated to a corner to enjoy his treat.
Lepard called out, "Mariella, we have a designated space for you. You can take the first bite of your victims. Here's a notebook where we document everything, as medical records have been updated. There's also a section for feeding and protector-related matters. It might provide us with valuable information."
Mariella nodded, realizing the benefits of this project and her earlier jealousy fading away.
Demon was nearby and offered help, saying, "If you need help, just ask. Salvatore or someone else might be available to assist with chopping things up or anything else. We haven't conducted any blood tests yet, but we rely on our radars to see what's happening."
Mariella couldn't help but ask, "What did Mimi do to number ten? Why is there a reward?"
Number eight explained, "He was given a laxative, causing him to empty his bowels. Only then will our mistress stop or neutralize the damn laxative and reward us. It teaches us to eat better while sitting on the toilet, where everything pours out."
Mariella smiled and said, "I might need that formula, too. I have to ask Mimi."
Number six rolled his eyes, indicating that Mimi had played her tricks on several Salvatores.
Mariella replied, "Alright, let's get started. First, I have to taste my protectees and come up with a plan for their needs and dietary requirements."
Lepard added, "Remember, we are a pack. You can seek help from others. For example, Charles asked the Salvatore dental department to provide one supplement for your bun dough, as Salvatores are known for their excellent dental work. Mimi is quite skilled too, but the protectors limit what she can do. They watch over and care for her as much as she does for them. Besides, well, you might see it. Let's just say she doesn't work all the time if she's in the mood."
Damon approached closer and asked, "So you mean she goes to fuck with someone?"
Lepard chuckled, rolled his eyes, and replied, "If only. No, she goes to the gym. She might throw a tantrum. That's where she releases her rage. Well, Salvatores helps her channel that rage for purification, but sometimes it becomes too much, and multiple Salvatores are required. A few intense hours at the gym will help calm her down."
Damon grumbled, "So, what do you need me for? It seems silly to cook for just one person."
Lepard reassured him, "Not at all. Go and check it out. Everyone is trying to help her with her issues, and she has a lot of them. Since we haven't taken blood tests yet, it's all guesswork, but it's actually quite fun. Being a protector is both enjoyable and confusing."
Number five walked by and advised Mariella, "Remember, we're here too. As Mimi has taught us, use everything at your disposal, including your pack. Just because you're the protector doesn't mean you can't ask for help, a second opinion, or delegate tasks. Just keep in mind that we're all busy."
Mariella nodded in agreement. She had already written down her findings from her rescue radar in her notebook. She grabbed her pen and started to locate her protectees to assess their needs. Her first stop was Magnum, who was in a conversation with Mimi about work. Without much warning, Mariella grabbed him, sank her fangs into his throat, and began to drink. Something extraordinary happened in her mind. Her protector radar evolved when it came to Magnum, and an abundance of information flooded her.
She exclaimed, "Wow, what the heck?!"
Number four spoke up, stating, "We have evolved as protectors, and now that Mimi has taken her leap forward, she is now a part of the Salvatore hive. She is our queen and our protector, triggering a significant change. Good luck, as this is not as easy or simple as it may seem at first."
Damon remained silent, absorbing the information. He approached Mimi, gripping her and sinking his fangs into her throat, indulging in her perfect blood. It was slightly weaker than usual, but still rich, soft, and strong. He consumed 20 liters and suddenly felt her presence within their hive, as their queen. Though he still held the title of hivemaster, she now enveloped the entire hive, radiating her protector power. Damon realized that if anything were to go wrong with any of them, she would sense it.
His radar also updated, revealing an impressive list of problems that Mimi had encountered. He noted that some Salvatores had marked certain issues for her to address, and there were still many more to tackle. It was clear that he would also be kept busy. Damon approached the other Salvatores, who handed him their notebooks.
Number four explained the changes they had made in the medical records. "Firstly, there is now a whole new section dedicated to nutrition. Each protector must update their essentials there. Additionally, we have identified the most common problems and outlined the actions to take. We have also added a section on fitness. Magnum is currently leading in that area, providing guidance on what exercises to do and what to be mindful of. We will be taking each of our protected individuals to the gym, where the protector can learn along with them. What needs to be improved and how? Magnum is our expert for now, but in time my guess is that protector will learn tricks as well."
Number One grunted and complimented, "Good catch," he said. "Well done. What else?"
Number Four replied, "Well, most of us are vampires, so now we need to separate who drinks what and how much because of the VENOMS. This affects the blood values of vampires. Additionally, we have a reproduction section, which includes heats, sexual activity, arousal, and for males, a bump analysis and volumes. It determines who gives how much and to whom. However, we haven't taken any blood tests or scans yet. Let's wait a week or two to see what effect the feeding has, and then we can proceed with the scans and blood tests. We should also consult the protector for any additional requirements. But you, Number Two, and I are the top experts in pack medical matters, so we are the ones to discuss this with."
Number One grunted, realizing that they had been fucking in a room where they shouldn't have for ten days. The rest of the pack had moved on and started living as a pack. Damon was impressed, but also ashamed. Nevertheless, it was time to move on, help Mimi heal, fulfill his role as the protector, and address her medical issues once and for all.
Number One looked around the kitchen, being himself. He noticed that there was a suitable space next to Mimi. He walked over and started gathering his supplies. He marked in his notebook that he would handle the deficiencies in vitamins and trace minerals.
He wrote, "Smoothie, Number 1. Meant to boost vitamins C, D, E, magnesium, selenium, and molybdenum."
He proceeded to jot down the types and quantities of fruits to include. Then, he filled a jar by biting through the lid and poured the concentrate from his fangs into it.
He labeled it as "Vitamin supplement A, dose 1.2 ml / 500 of smoothie."
At the same time, Damon made sure that Mimi did not use anything for her dental stuff for them, that she wouldn't use herself. Mimi noticed this limitation from the glare she shot at him. Damon was simply being protective. Mimi was in a dire state and couldn't afford to use her resources for them.
He also stood close to her, leaning over her shoulder to read what she was doing. Her recipes were inventive, and Damon loved using everything she had. He might even make those recipes for her, too. Though, of course, he believed his versions would be better. Damon had no problem with his ego. He had a big ego and had no qualms about using it. Cooking together as protectors and pack members would be fun.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone