Chapitre 213: 13. Pet Sematary.
As Charles told me, after he had taken from me many, many tubes for blood tests and an unpleasant spinal tap, he said, "Honey, now you get to go to the spa with these three gentlemen to relax and warm up, as you are not in the correct temperature. Afterward, you can enjoy a meal and rest."
I couldn't help but quip, "You sound just like Samuel. He made me do those things on our first day in Chicago, or maybe it was the second. But it was my first time in the sauna with Adam."
Adam looked at me, smirked, and said, "Just remember what we talked about, then. I almost made you a promise."
I blushed as I remembered my surprise at the size of his cock. It was quite unexpected at the time, but I was in a state of mind where I just accepted everything and moved on. When did that feeling fade away? I mean, I had been thrown into the new world, or it was the same world but I had learned about werewolves, vampires, and whatnot, and hell, I had become a werewolf myself and I had just taken it all with no knotting in my mind.
Wulfe said to me, "I can sense there's a story there too. Oh please, you guys have to tell us one day. But don't worry, we'll keep this young lady warm, relaxed, and ready for supper, or whatever it may be. I'm not sure how long we'll be in the sauna. I love saunas."
I looked at him and replied, "I know that, my boy, but I don't think you have the stamina to keep up with me in the steam. I can say that."
I had brought my luxurious big bath cape, which was more like a cape with a hood than a robe. It was huge, but one size fits all, so it was suitable for both males and females. I also brought a few large towels, and Adam and Charles made sure the boys had their bathrobes and such.
I had left my clothes in one of the rooms, my secret room. It would remain hidden, as it was originally an apartment meant for the lord of the house's mistress when this old, old house was built. It was well concealed, and in the past, I had transformed it into a pink haven for myself. I had briefly visited it when we were in this mansion, ensuring it was perfect. Oh my God, I couldn't wait to get in there and rest. It was as pink and fluffy as could be.
Men may have seduction on their minds, but there were plenty of females around. Once we went to eat after the sauna, I knew I would get to go to my pink haven. I had no intention of taking anyone else there. And I certainly wasn't going to tell Damon about our spa time. No need for him to come and ruin the fun and relaxation we were having.
I needed some normalcy, and with these three, I didn't have to push myself too much. Maybe I could let something show through without them immediately trying to take it away. They would let me be a little funky or moody. There was no need for me to try to be normal.
Although Damon hadn't said anything, I knew him well enough. He was impatient, and if he saw how much I struggled, he might give up on me. A part of me wanted his support, and that part was desperate not to lose him. But at the same time, that part remembered the past all too well.
I walked to the spa section, with Wulfe walking next to me and Colin and Magnum behind me. For them, it was natural. Both of them recognized me as their alpha female. Something in my mind was quite pleased about that, and to my surprise, it was my vampire side, my queen side. I rolled my eyes as I got a few good ideas to create a new hive, this time without the Salvatores, only an elite hive.
Wulfe grunted and spoke sharply to me, "Curb that, or I'll make you curb it. Don't even think about it."
I nodded, but the smugness remained. Oh, my wildcat, the bitch. She had awakened and was as wild as ever. Oh, my God, just another layer of complications to add to my ever-increasing list. But I seemed to thrive when faced with challenges, so bring them on, right?
We arrived at the spa section, which was incredibly spacious. The decor consisted of green, white, and blue tiles with varying shades. The showerheads were adjustable in multiple ways. To our left, there was a large glass door that opened up to the swimming pool, catching Magnum's and Colin's attention.
Magnum turned to me and said, "Hummingbird, I'd like to assess your fitness by having you take a little swim in there. It will give me an idea of your capabilities."
I glanced at Colin and weakly resisted. "But am I too skinny to burn that many calories?"
Colin replied, "My love, you need to build muscles. Swimming will kick your body into high gear, and once your system realizes it needs more food and calories, it will absorb them better. Right now, your muscles are dormant, and your body is sluggish. You know as well as I do that your body needs to be challenged, and quite a bit."
I rolled my eyes, realizing that relaxation and pampering alone were not in the cards for me. However, my physiotherapist was always sensible, so I couldn't really argue. The boys began to undress, and I hung up my bath cape and thick towels in their designated spot.
As usual, my hair was blood red, somewhat curly, and reached down to my arse. I knew how painful it was to sit on your hair if you weren't careful, and how irritating it could be to find your hair in uncomfortable places in the sauna. So, I had brought an elastic band with me and put my hair up in a bun.
I walked over to the sauna, my slender body looking quite emaciated and my pale, thin skin clinging tightly to my bones, which didn't help matters. The sauna had a wood-colored interior and smelled of burning wood, as it was fueled by wood rather than electricity. Adam and Charles had heated it up nicely.
I grabbed a ladle and a large bucket of water, making my way up to the highest seat and throwing water onto the stove. The water hissed loudly as it hit the hot stones, creating a cloud of steam. I had added a rose scent to the water, so the delightful aroma of old roses filled the air.
Wulfe opened the door and walked in. His body, although maybe less muscular than Damon's, was in good shape. He was also pretty well-equipped, but as he was not a shifter, it wasn't permanently up but rather hung loose. He was completely hairless, though I wasn't sure if it was natural or if he used a spell to ensure it.
I shook my head to dismiss my thoughts, and Wulfe said to me, "Keep on guessing. I'm not going to tell you. But thank you, Magnum will work me over and I might get buffer. I'm not like in True Blood, meaning my body can't change, but I can gain more muscles if I want. I'm not sure if I can make myself look older, but I like my Peter Pan vibe."
I nodded and replied, "You actually have a pretty Peter Pan look. Maybe it suits you. Maybe the whole Peter Pan is created after you."
Wulfe smiled and said, "I'm not going to tell you that either. Now, this scent is lovely. It brings back memories."
I threw a few ladles into the stove, causing the water to hiss furiously. Steam and heat enveloped us, and I took a deep breath while Wulfe grunted.
Curious, I asked him, "What's the matter? Can't handle the steam? Come on, boy wonder, we need to get warm."
He grunted and after a while, he said, "You were telling a story to Mariella. Tell it to me. I wanna hear your heartbeat."
I smiled at him and responded, "Well, it's a story. Maybe one could call it a beautiful trauma, if you believe in that sort of thing. But it taught me that no matter what, things will never be the same, and for me, there's only the boulevard of broken dreams to walk on, a runaway train to ride. And yet, it didn't make me lose my religion; instead, it made me have a walk on Pet Sematary."
Wulfe looked at me and said, "I'm not going to start this game with you, so go ahead, feel smug. But please, tell us the story."
The door opened, and Magnum and Colin stepped in, both of them with hardened cocks. I was glad I wasn't like Mariella. They were both quite well, let's say enticing if I had been in my normal mode. Though Anaconda ruled over Magnum.
I hit the steam a few more times, causing the men to groan.
Then I said, "Fine, it was one time when I was really making an effort to nail Sark and Krycheck, and it wasn't easy. We got to that nasty place that is still in North Dakota. It took a lot of effort from us, and I knew it would take a lot of manpower to even get the plan ready. My skills were going to be crucial in operating many facets at the same time."
Magnum grunted and said, "Yeah, I remember. There was a plan, but it never went through, and I didn't ask you about it because I was otherwise engaged at the time. But I've always wondered what happened."
I replied shortly, "Well, my personal life got in the way. Damon called me and asked me to make some free time for myself so we could go to our house in Vermont and have some fun."
As I was about to continue telling my story, the door of the sauna opened again, and Damon, Mariella, Elena, and Katherine stepped in.
Katherine said, "Oh, what a lovely scent! I had no idea one could make a sauna scent this lovely."
Elena grunted something and couldn't tear her gaze away from Colin's crotch. Well, an anaconda is called that for a reason. Damon calmly walked over and sat next to me. I had my bucket and ladle on the other side, but he reached over, took them for himself, and pressed a button on a remote, causing my mind to fog up. He had just given me a hit from my sedative organ. Fine, let's just be doped up then and not tell our story.
He said softly, "Relax, baby. Come on, there's no need to try to throw us out of here by trying to boil us alive. You were telling a story. Go on."
Wulfe remarked, "She's having some technical issues as you just sedated her."
Damon smirked and nodded.
He said, "She has to be relaxed. Come in here, in her mind. Let me show you."
Wulfe scrunched his face, focused, and ventured into my mind.
Damon had found something, and a little later Wulfe said, "Oh, that's nasty. Yuck. Fine, let's try it like this."
I didn't understand what he was saying to Damon, but I could feel them tinkering in my mind.
Mariella suggested, "Let's try to create those new rage wells or tanks at the same time and see what it takes. I can absorb some of that rage and try to purify it."
It was frustrating to be a topic of conversation without having any say in it this time. However, I could sense their thoughts in my mind. The fogginess was gradually starting to ease, or maybe I was just getting used to it. I was sitting there, with Damon holding me in his arms. I hadn't even noticed when he had placed me almost on his lap.
He whispered to me, "Go on, continue. So you were making time for us, and what happened next?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "Well, you had mentioned that you would be in Vermont by the 15th of May, and I was free on the 8th. So, I traveled to Vermont and went to our mansion. But the fridge was empty, and I thought I could at least find something there. I didn't want to go to the local farms, as something always happens there. I was waiting for our planned vacation. I was heading to the store."
Mariella sat down close to us, and the other girls were listening too. I briefly wondered why there were no wolves, but then again, they might have been preoccupied. And out of these individuals, some of them might want to hear this story without any distractions.
I said, looking at the stove. Damon let off some steam, but not too much. "So there I was, going into the shop, and as usual, I heard something I shouldn't have. I was in the bread section when I saw you and your girlfriend. This happened way after our club night, so I could also see that she was human, not a vampire, and she wasn't going to be one of your victims. You were wearing your leather jacket, the one I had always admired.
"And this girl said, 'I am so happy, my love, that this leather jacket I bought you as a Christmas gift fits you so well. And you really impressed my parents, even though they were originally against me going out with a vampire. But now, my love, they're talking about a wedding. Yeah, I know you've said you're married, but since you're not human, you can have many wives. And your wife, she's not definitively human, so she doesn't really even count.'"
You grunted, smiled at her, and said, "I'm glad you've done your studies, buttercup. Do you want that sweet belly of yours to swell with our baby?"
She said, "But I thought you were undead and sterile. You told me you can't have children."
Damon answered, "Well, I can't have babies with my wife. She's a freak and her body isn't made to have a child. I guess nature knows she would give birth to a monster. We still have time, though."
She said, "What do you mean? I would love to have you all to myself. Let's go on a cruise again, my love."
Damon touched the girl's cheek, just like he used to touch mine, and said, "But dear Betty, I can't. I have to try to fulfill my duty as a husband. I need to be with my wife. It's not so easy."
Betty asked, "What do you mean?"
I stopped my story slightly. I was pulling myself into a better sitting position as Mariella had come in next to Damon and he was gravitating towards her.
I was overwhelmed with emotions once again, causing Wulfe to pull me close, draping his arm around me and whispering in my ear, "Come on, let it out. You're doing great, just like that."
I tried to hold back my sobs, but tears filled my eyes. The feelings I had experienced in that shop resurfaced, and I had intended to control myself, but now it all came flooding out. I knew I was being foolish, crying over something that happened 140 years ago.
But as Wulfe reassured me, "Let them come out, it's okay. It's their right. Go on, there's nothing wrong with it."
Magnum, filled with hatred, directed his anger at Damon, saying, "So there you have it, the big supportive alpha, holding onto his crutch. Not the one who really needs it. I want to hear the rest of the story. Let's see how terrible this gets."
Mariella interjected, "Damon, I've told you that I'm always here for you. I understand you. But please, for the love of God, tell me there was some reason for all of this."
Damon shook his head and replied, "I've already told you. I've been a terrible person to Mimi for most of our lives. And now, I have the audacity to complain when I don't have her. Look at me now, unable to hold her in my arms because I'm too ashamed of my own past. She deserves to cry, she truly does, and I have no explanation to offer."
I gathered myself together and continued, "Well, Betty asked Damon why he found it so difficult to be with me.
Damon replied, 'You know, I prefer tall, curvy women like you. Not too plus-sized, but someone I can hold on to. Mimi, on the other hand, is short, flat, and often bony. Her face is forgettable without makeup, and she shows no interest in her appearance. She doesn't even try to please my eyes. You, my love, are the complete opposite of her in every way.'
Betty looked at Damon with genuine love in her eyes and asked, 'Then why be with her? Why marry her over and over again?'
Damon's response was harsh, at least for me. He said, 'She is a trophy. Being married to her has given me a certain reputation in certain circles. You should have seen those vampires at the club. We were the talk of the town. Besides, she is my masterpiece. Even if she tries to stray, I have a good hold on her. She learns, albeit slowly, but she is immortal, so I can't kill her even if I want to. Plus, she's rich, so there are many things to be gained. It takes some effort to get me going, but I've taught her to be a decent enough sextoy so we can carry on for months.'
Betty giggled and said, 'Well, isn't it nice for you to have someone who can actually love you instead of trying to convince yourself to be in the mood for sex?'
Damon replied, 'Yes, it truly is with you. I can be myself and don't have to be strong and moody all the time, constantly aware of the killer in front of me.'
"At that point, I walked away and drove back to the base, realizing that we had missed our opportunity. I messaged Damon, apologizing and explaining that I couldn't make it because of work. I chose not to reveal what I had overheard."
Mariella said to me, "You are a saint. I mean, I would have attacked him, screamed at him, and maybe even gotten a divorce."
I replied, "But you see, despite Damon saying what he did, it was true. It wasn't nice, but it was true. When you're with me, always remember that I am a killer. I don't care much about my appearance, and I'm definitely not going to primp myself for anyone. I'm not human, I'm rich. Sure, he taught me about sex, but he also taught me how to shoot. But then again, so did Adam. It was just an eye-opener about what our marriage was all about. We weren't in love; it was almost like a business relationship. You see, I've always seen myself as a monster, and this just added to that perception."
Mariella nodded, unable to look at Damon.
Magnum chimed in, saying, "That's a nasty story, but how does it relate to you meeting Dash?"
I smiled at him and said, "I'll get to that point soon. You were part of it, as well, if you remember. So there I was, throwing myself into work because it was obvious that trying to make our marriage work was futile. There wasn't much I could do. Besides, I didn't want to lose Damon, so I kept my silence. And then we started receiving hints of Sark's activities in other places, so I made a few plans and soon enough, I was leading successful missions one after another. But then, I got sloppy, as usual. My team consisted of 14 people, and we got 8 of them out before we were discovered. Fortunately, nobody died, but it was a nasty situation. After some time, I freed us and found a hiding spot. Magnum, care to provide some more details?"
Magnum looked sheepish and said, "Yeah, I had gotten caught, and then you came in the middle of the night. I was so doped up that I thought it was all a dream, and I even argued with you as you got me going."
Colin interjected, saying, "Oh, I'd like to hear a little more about what they did to you in that place."
Damon said to me, "This memory is rotten and inflamed. Now I understand why. What happened?"
I replied, "Well, we were actually making progress. We found a safe place in an enormous building with several of us. Magnum was a bit of an extra challenge, but I also got shot many times. Fortunately, Bran helped me. I connected with Adam, who then introduced me to Bran. Bran used Marrok's power to take over my body and build bombs. I had no idea it was so easy to make bombs, but it took us five days. It was tough for Bran, too."
Mariella listened eagerly as I continued, "Then it was time for us to escape. I got us out, more or less intact. I had tons of bullets in me, and the guards got lucky shots with tranquilizer guns during the escape. Since I had undergone various medical tests, my rage was not really functioning as it should. I couldn't push the drugs out of my system. I was pretty drugged, but I was the only one who could drive. I got us into a car and started driving out of there. It wasn't as easy as it seemed because there were three roads, and I had to guess which one was the right one. And then the police showed up. A motorcycle cop named Dash. He used to be a cop, so he could tell I wasn't human. My lights were on, but I was also heavily drugged."
Damon smiled and asked, "Please continue. How did you manage to get back? Or did you end up in jail?"
I let out a sigh and recounted, "At that time, Magnum had passed out because of the implants drugging him. The others weren't in much better shape. My vampire side wasn't working properly, but after a lot of persuasion, I convinced him to escort me to the nearest base, where I could find some identification and people to vouch for me. Although he seemed skeptical, he still allowed me to go. So, I found myself behind the wheel again, with Dash somehow helping me stay on the road a little better. When we arrived at the base, I barely had time to turn off the engine before Jake appeared. He told Dash that I was who I claimed to be and that I had been missing for eight weeks. I stepped out of the car and was soon in Jake's arms. He carried me inside to our base, which wasn't perfect in terms of the medbay. Colin and Samuel were busy, and the facilities weren't well-equipped."
I smiled as recalled my story. Dash had such an animate face.
" Dash followed us, and Jake carried me to my office so I could take a shower. Dash was quite surprised and insisted on providing me with proper treatment. When he saw the medbay, he listed all the things that Jake and the others needed to do for me. He promised to return the next day, and true to his word, he brought along six doctors and three truckloads of supplies. By the time he arrived, Jake had already taken me to the medbay, scanned me, inserted a cannula, and started an IV drip. Since there were other victims as well, Dash brought in his team and had spoken to Samuel, who provided the necessary medications. I woke up four weeks later in Chicago, where Samuel had taken me to complete my recovery."
Mariella and the rest of them fell silent, and I concluded, "You see, if I hadn't walked into that shop and heard what I did, I wouldn't have gone on that mission, gotten captured, and never met Dash. He was an incredible medic, and perhaps it was fate that things happened the way they did."
Wulfe nodded and responded, "That's an interesting way of looking at things. It does make sense, but there's still a nasty pool of rot in your mind, my unicorn. Whatever they did to you was not nice."
I replied wearily, "And when has it ever been nice to be captured in an evil medical facility?"
Damon questioned, "Why didn't Samuel or Dash or anyone call me? I was your husband, and I had no idea you were missing."
I told him, "I specifically asked them not to. You didn't have the right to know or treat me. It was your choice, your burden, or perhaps mine. Anyway, it's all ancient history now."
My voice sounded tired, my mind filled with something, as I once again started feeling all the time and became uncertain if everything was still bad. Was there a glimmer of something else, like hope or even love?
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone