Bab 130: 10. Basket Case.
I woke up, feeling panic engulfing me. There were no coherent thoughts in my mind, just an overwhelming sense of fear and the desperate need to hide. I curled up even tighter in my nest, seeking solace. In this moment, there was no room for aggression or rage; my panic had consumed me entirely. I surrendered to the feeling, not resisting or attempting to regain control. With closed eyes, I trembled, allowing the sensation to wash over me, rendering me helpless in the grip of panic. I couldn't act, move, or even think. The strength within me had vanished, overridden by a flood of haunting memories that resurfaced one by one. Damien, Sark, and all the darkness from my past seeped into my mind, exploiting the weakened barriers fortified by drugs and the relentless effort to suppress my demons. My shields crumbled, and I became paralyzed with panic.
Charles stood in the bright and airy kitchen, the warm sunlight streaming through the windows, casting a soft glow on the countertops. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, a mix of herbs and spices that danced tantalizingly in his nostrils.
His mind was consumed with thoughts of Mimi, her fragile state weighing heavily on his thoughts. She had been confined to a secure, special padded room, a place of safety for her troubled mind. Charles knew that once the effects of the drug panic wore off, she would be thin and weak, but now was not the time for her to sleep and be lost in her own world. No, he was determined to make sure she ate, gained strength, and overcame this ordeal. The entire pack would rally behind her.
Recently, Charles had been visiting Bran, offering support in his quest to confront and conquer his own darkness. It seemed that Bran's past had caught up with him, a history of trying to impregnate every female he encountered. Now, vampire women were seeking him out, desperate to conceive. Charles couldn't help but chuckle at the strange twists of fate that life had in store for them all.
It had been roughly 24 hours since they had settled Mimi into her nest and slept after indulging in hearty meals. Yet, there was an unsettling feeling gnawing at Charles, a restlessness that refused to be shaken, no matter how hard he tried to rationalize it away. Perhaps it was Mimi's confused state seeping through their bond. Even Damon had cut off the connection. But the feeling persisted, urging him to take action.
Mimi had been placed in a room with an observation window, allowing them to monitor her condition as she gradually regained lucidity. Damn it, Charles thought, he had to go see her. Maybe being by her side would offer some solace, some semblance of comfort in this tumultuous time.
He walked silently to the observation room, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. As he entered the room, he glanced around, taking in the dimly lit space. His supernatural senses allowed him to perceive even the faintest details in the darkness. His eyes focused on a small mound nestled deep within the cave, constructed from mattresses and blankets.
Charles stood there, crossing his arms, and waited for some kind of reaction. But nothing happened. The mound trembled slightly, but then remained still. Something gnawed at him, a feeling of unease. He waited patiently, expecting her to move, to panic, to do something, but there was no sign of life. He tried to sense her presence, but it eluded him. He had been watching her for over three hours, and she hadn't budged.
Charles let out a sigh in his mind. He made his way to the medbay, grabbing an infrared temperature meter. He needed to confirm that she still had some body heat, as it would aid in her recovery from the drugs. Returning to the observation room, he pointed the thermometer toward the mound. The reading showed a chilling 34 degrees Celsius. He tested a few other spots just to be sure, but Mimi was dangerously cold.
He pondered his options, realizing he had to go inside, to cover her up, or do something to warm her. She wouldn't be able to rid herself of the drugs if she remained so cold. He glanced at the thermostat, showing that the room was warm, but it didn't seem to affect her. He gathered the warmest blankets he could find, trying to think of what else he could use. Heating pads were not a viable option without electricity, and there was no warming blanket available. He had to see if what he had would be enough. His gut churned with a cold, dreadful feeling, warning him that something was seriously wrong.
Taking a deep breath, he approached the door to the room, slowly opening it. Every sense was on high alert, prepared to defend himself if she were to attack. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him. Though it wasn't locked, it was protected by a spell, preventing Mimi from opening it.
"Honey, it's me, Charles. Are you okay?" he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He cautiously approached the cave, careful not to startle her. "I brought you blankets, honey. You're too cold."
As he drew nearer, something made him pause. The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the pounding of his own heart in his ears. Fuck. Mimi's heart had stopped, and she wasn't breathing. Charles crawled into the cave, gently pulling her icy body closer to him. Her expression was slack, but there was a trace of fear etched upon her face. She was dead, again. He knew she would wake up eventually, but she had died from sheer terror.
Charles cursed softly under his breath, his heart threatening to burst from his chest. He had to find a way to help her, to establish some kind of connection.
He tenderly wrapped her cold body in thick, warm blankets, cradling her gently in his arms. With each beat of her rapid heartbeat, he could feel the desperation coursing through her. She took a shaky breath, her eyes vacant and unfocused, trembling in his embrace. The scent of panic and fear hung heavily in the air, filling the room with its suffocating presence. The silence that followed was deafening, a haunting reminder of her ultimate demise. Fear had claimed her life.
Charles felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness, unable to save her from the depths of her torment. The pack's telepaths were indulging in their own desires, rendering them useless. Perhaps Wulfe could offer some help, but he too was weary. Leaving Mimi cocooned in the comforting embrace of the blankets, Charles stepped out of the room, his frustration, rage, and heartbreak consuming him.
Wulfe, having slept for two days and replenished his strength with a selection of exquisite blood, made his way to the kitchen. As Charles walked through the corridor, Wulfe's telepathic abilities sensed his friend's despair, anger, and frustration, emanating from him like thick waves.
Wulfe reassured him, "What's wrong? I can sense your distress. Don't worry, I'm on my way. I won't stay here for too long."
Charles pleaded, "No, don't go. Maybe you can help. It's Mimi. Those drugs have wreaked havoc on her. Usually, she'd fight back, trying to regain control, but not now. She's given up. She's just trembling, unresponsive..."
Charles choked on his words, the cruelty of the situation weighing heavily on his heart.
He swallowed hard and continued, "She dies from fear and panic, only to be revived, but she doesn't react. All I can do is hold her in my lap, breathe in her panic, her fear, and watch her die, time after time. I have no idea how long this will last, and there's nothing I can do. The Salvatores are preoccupied, oblivious to her suffering. They've turned off their bonds and radars."
Wulfe's voice trembled as he said, "I can and I will help. Come on, let's go see her. We need to get her out of her hiding place. She is withdrawn deep in her mind, but we need to bring her back."
They ascended the stairs to the room. Wulfe steeled himself, burdened by the knowledge that it was his fault she was in this state. He had instructed them to use those drugs, but now he was determined to make her well again. Charles cautiously opened the door, revealing an eerie silence that still hung in the air. She had not yet returned. Charles gently sat on the floor, cradling her in his arms, softly stroking her, and wrapping her in blankets.
Wulfe positioned himself next to Charles and declared, "Alright, I will delve into her mind first, and then we will formulate a plan to bring her back. She could be trapped like this for months."
Charles began to speak, recounting the torment Mimi had endured over the past. He told about those two years, including the sessions inflicted upon her by Damon in the hospital, simply because he had helped her. Charles poured out his words, and Wulfe listened intently. The history of his unicorn, her journey through a troubled pack, and her return to a web of jealousy, brutality, and love.
As Mimi took her first breath, Wulfe slipped into her mind, only to be met with shock. Her once pristine and pure cathedral had transformed into a nightmare. The atmosphere was suffocating, the walls now a dark, putrid black, oozing memories of her traumatic past. The paintings on the walls came to life, showcasing her worst moments, while hands and voices echoed through the room. Large balls of black fear rolled across the floor, growing in size.
Wulfe focused his energy, using a spell to push this darkness further, attempting to restore some semblance of the white floor. But he knew it was only a temporary solution. This would take time, and Mimi herself would have to do most of the work.
Wulfe turned to Charles and asked, concern clear in his voice, "This is vile. Are you sure you can handle this?"
Charles nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes. Wulfe slipped back into Mimi's mind, casting another spell to push the haunting memories back into their frames.
Charles let out a low whistle and inquired, "What are those black balls?"
Wulfe replied, "Fear, panic, terror. Come on, we need to keep going. We need to connect with her."
Charles focused his thoughts as they traversed through this nightmarish realm. He channeled his love for her through their bond, allowing it to seep into her essence.
Wulfe grunted and urged, "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. I can sense her presence, though faintly."
Charles persisted, pouring his love into her, pushing it with all his might. He was giving a piece of his soul to bring her back.
They finally arrived at the door, a sturdy steel barrier adorned with claw marks on its exterior. Wulfe, focused and determined, muttered something to himself, causing the door to vanish before their eyes. As they stepped into the room, an aesthetic ambiance greeted them. A simple bed, a lone table, a chair, and a small window adorned the space. Mimi lay curled up on the bed, barely moving.
Wulfe approached her, gently stroking her and speaking softly, "My unicorn, this won't help. I am sorry. I had no idea that these drugs would do this to you. It was never my intention, but I will help you." He murmured to her, and finally, she stirred and let out a sigh.
When Wulfe and Charles somehow managed to find me, I didn't want to react or succumb to panic. The nightmares had become overwhelming, causing me to retreat deep into my mind. But then, they found me.
I wearily said, "It's okay, just leave me be. Eventually, I'll be fine. I don't want to be strong. I'm too tired. Let me rest."
Charles responded, "Honey, you have to push past this. I'm sorry, but you need to be strong. However, you won't be alone. We'll be with you every step of the way. You need to come out, start fighting off these drugs and panic. Then maybe I can assist you in breaking free from their grip. But ultimately, it's in your hands to rid your blood of them."
Wulfe said softly, "Now, come on. Let's push a little further out there, and then I'll give you some power. I'll help you as much as I can, but it's up to you, my love, to push those memories back to wherever they came from."
Determined, I rose from the bed and followed their lead. As panic started to flood over me, Wulfe used his powers to push away the worst of it. I focused on opening my metaphorical vault, slowly shoving all of this emotional turmoil back inside. Wulfe and Charles assisted me, their love empowering me. Though tired, I knew I had to keep going. There was no rest for the wicked, as the saying goes.
Charles let out a weary sigh as he reflected on the difficult past five days. It had been a grueling struggle, but they had managed to push all the shit back into hiding. Charles now knew exactly where that hidden stash was, and he vowed to deal with it relentlessly. He decided to share the horrors he had witnessed and felt with Damon. He knew it would be a battle of wills, as she was stubborn as hell. Damon would get in there, those horrors would be made powerless to hurt Mimi anymore, and he would not ask permission from her.
Wulfe approached him and said, "Give her to me. I will give her some of my blood. She smells like a burning candle, and it will help her fight off the effects of the drugs."
Charles carefully lifted Mimi, still cocooned in blankets, and handed her over to Wulfe. He whispered to her, positioning her closer to his neck.
Wulfe's voice filled my ear as he said, "Come on, unicorn. Smell me, sense my blood. You want it, don't you? Look, there's a vein. Open your eyes and let your fangs emerge. That's it, sink them in, just like that..."
I felt a loss of control as my fangs involuntarily extended. The scent of Wulfe's vein overwhelmed me, and soon warm blood trickled down my throat, nourishing my body. The surge of power felt like a jolt of super adrenaline coursing through my veins as Wulfe's abilities intertwined with mine. I drank as much as I could, aware that there would be consequences for indulging my vampire side. The pure power was almost addictive, but I was sated. There was no hint of bloodlust within me. I laid there, tired but content, in Wulfe's arms. He smiled and brushed my hair away from my eyes, welcoming me back.
Wulfe then handed me over to Charles, who cradled me in his arms and gently laid me on a padded floor. He settled down beside me, pulling me close so that I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a comforting lullaby that helped me drift into a deep sleep, allowing my body to purge itself of the lingering effects of the drugs. As I succumbed to sleep, I felt safe and protected in Charles's embrace. Nothing could harm me in this sanctuary.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone