章 247: 7. True Colors.
As I opened my eyes, I noticed the cold winter sun shining in my face. It was low, and I realized we were no longer in New Hampshire, but in Halifax. It was their favorite trick to move me while I slept. How fucking long had I been asleep? I didn't feel drugged, just rested.
Charles was still lying next to me, sleeping on his back with his eyes closed. The blanket was carelessly thrown over his lower half, exposing his powerful, muscular chest. I admired his long lashes, straight nose, and slightly parted, kissable lips. Taking a deep breath, I noticed Adam was no longer in bed. I could see the indentation he left and hear the sound of running water, so he had just woken up.
I knew Stefan had planted some strange visions in my mind, but I couldn't remember them, not even in my backups. It was difficult to access my backups. As much of a dear friend as Wulfe was, my independence and need to keep my shit as my own suffered when he got involved. Even as a powerful creature, I couldn't match his strength as an ancient vampire wizard. I just had to get used to it.
I was being cared for and protected from my past, the dark things, and memories from the past I sometimes sought out and felt in my life. Remembering any of my past shed sessions was a challenge, and the sensations associated with them were absent. This was a cleansing of my mind, perhaps for the better.
However, I began to notice signs of Damon's jealousy and possessiveness. My moments of sex and wildly fucking with Adam or Charles were muted, while those with Damon were more vivid. But those experiences were not traumatizing for me, maybe for him. It only fueled my plan to create some heat, involving the entire pack except for the Salvatores and Mariella, who would be together.
The rest of us would have free time to enjoy ourselves. I couldn't wait for our intense sessions on the beach with Charles or Adam, who always found caves for us to sanctify. After the holidays, we would have 12 weeks of pure carnal pleasure. I had to approach this slowly, discreetly, and with the utmost secrecy. But damn, I felt smug.
I smiled to myself and noticed that Charles was still sleeping. "Fine, let's wake him up," I thought.
Reaching over, I pressed my lips against his, letting my tongue explore his mouth. I could feel him starting to stir as we kissed. He held onto me, deepening the kiss with a passion unlike any other.
Just as Adam came out of the shower, he said, "Oh, you two are already awake. Alright, time to head to the showers. Our esteemed pack leader has something to tell us."
Rolling my eyes, we stopped kissing, and I rolled onto my back.
In a dark voice, Charles said, "Oh, I am this close to letting Salvatore stew in his own juices and just having fun. But then again, I don't want an audience."
He got up as Adam walked to his dresser, which had some stuff in it, too. I noticed I was no longer wearing my nightgown, but Damon's shirt instead, which had a hint of passionfruit scent.
Adam explained, "You've slept for five days, no drugs, just safety and a dozen telepaths working on your mind. They're sleeping it off now. Wulfe really tried to remove as much emotional power from your memories that the Salvatores sucked out. He and Lepard even added some additional safeguards to your backups. They also worked on your darkness. Wulfe isn't sure if it's connected to your cavern of power, and it will be difficult to remove since it got stuck during the unloading process, but we're not there yet."
I nodded, hearing the shower start to run. I wanted to go be with Charles and have some fun, but Adam interrupted, saying, "Damon is awake and wants us to have breakfast at the big table. He has an idea of what we should do next. So don't even think about going to get some Cornick. We need to see what the pack leader wants first, and then we can see if we can find some time for ourselves, maybe in the fridge."
Adam's voice was damn seductive, too.
"What a way to wake up," I thought to myself.
I admired the view in front of me, enjoying the sight of a hunk like Adam dressing himself. I smiled as I watched the light play on his wonderful muscles and flawless skin. Oh, I wanted to be so naughty and repeat that one Christmas. Adam noticed something in my gaze, quickly put on his clothes, and went to my dresser. However, the door was already open, and Damon stepped in. I could sense from his aura that another bout of possessiveness was going on, and it was a little surprising to see Mariella and Wulfe walking behind him.
Damon turned to Adam and said, "You can go. The kitchen already has something. We'll join you shortly."
I refrained from rolling my eyes. Mariella said, "Good morning, Mimi. You can't believe how much shit we got from your mind. According to Wulfe, it's not even the tip of the iceberg. I have thousands of tanks of your black goo to clear up. I also arranged your energies, taking what I could use and leaving you plenty that is useful for you. Keep collecting. I have a wickedly fun time trying to find a suitable use for your punching energy or killing energy, since you had your panels open in that ship."
I nodded, realizing I had been robbed to some extent.
Wulfe stated calmly, "I have taken all of your magic, black and otherwise. So thank you for that. You truly are a treasure trove. We need to remember to empty you out from time to time, as you can get overloaded too. So there was loot for me as well. I've done a hell of a lot of work on your mind. The spells are working, so sure, you can try to fight them, but they are made specifically for you, not just by me, but also by the Salvatores, your biological halves."
I got up and sat down, saying, "Thank you, I guess. I had quite a lot of stuff in my mind, and now it feels like I have room to get some more."
Damon looked at the bathroom door as Charles stepped out, wearing a towel and drying his hair. Mariella smiled and went to him, wrapping herself around him, not caring that he was slightly wet.
She said, "You know, I've missed you. You make me sleep at some point, too."
Charles grunted, but he kept his expression gentle, not showing his irritation. However, I sensed his irritation, and then I felt as if Damon had somehow tapped into the bond between me and Charles. He was not happy. Well, it was just how things were.
Damon said to me, "Go ahead, baby, take a shower. We cleaned you with energy, but it's time for you to use some water and soap. Your bathrobe and mine are there, so make sure you take the right one."
I rolled my eyes as I got out of bed and padded to the bathroom. Mariella was all over Charles, distracting him, and Damon was talking with Wulfe about something.
I could see them clearing the bed and putting all the bedding in the washing machine. There was a glimpse of jealousy on Wulfe's face too, which I could see from the bathroom mirror. I closed the door and took Damon's used shirt off me, then stepped into the shower stall. I had my reserved bathing products there; I noted somewhat sarcastically. But considering my skin's sensitivity, I had to limit my choices.
It was always tedious to clean my long, thick, curly, blood-red hair, but I managed to wash it three times and apply some conditioner. Otherwise, it would have turned into a huge ball of hair on my head. Damon had once commented that I over-washed my hair, but I wanted it to feel truly clean and kind of squeaky in my fingers.
However, in its current state, it was quite a mess, so conditioner was necessary, and I had found one that suited me. It was actually a dog's conditioner, but maybe substances meant for animals were better suited for me, considering I wasn't human. I should look at it someday.
After getting myself clean, I stepped out of the shower, feeling warm, fresh, and wet. I grabbed one of my oversized, superabsorbent towels, but as I was about to wrap it around my hair, I noticed some little letters on it that said "D.S." Now he was even taking my towels. Fine. I took a pink one that said "Mimi" and wrapped my hair in it. Then, I put on my pink bathrobe.
I wasn't sure which room in Halifax this was. It wasn't the same as the last time, but rooms changed from time to time. I walked back to the bedroom, noticing that the bed was fully made and there were clothes reserved for me. Damon was sitting in a chair, waiting for me, and there was a selection of my hair products in front of him. So, he had found my bag of tricks; I see.
I received these products during my time at the hairdresser, and each one of them was suitable for me. He placed them on the dressing table, ready to be used. However, I had a suspicion that he might move them to a place where I couldn't access them.
I didn't have time to sit on the bed because Damon called out, "Come on, sit over here. I'll dry your hair while you're at it. These are nice products. They give me ideas and insights into your mind too, as I have taken quite a lot of information that you got during that PR time in hairdressers."
I rolled my eyes and walked over to sit, glimpsing my plain face staring back at me in the mirror.
Damon noticed my dissatisfaction and remarked, "You see yourself as plain, but I see perfection. Your facial features have perfect symmetry, which is why you perceive yourself as plain. Most of us have some asymmetry in our faces, which adds interest. But in your case, your fully symmetrical features may not stand out as much to you. Others see you differently. There's nothing wrong with your features. You have good coloring, expressive eyes, and flawless skin. It's your perfection that makes you see yourself as plain."
I replied, "Did you know that Sark, the evil one, also saw my face as symmetrical? It was a while ago when Damien was in the picture, you and I were going through a rough patch. They used some jelly on me that shut me down. I never told you about what I heard during that time or what I went through. Sark wanted me to be in my feral form, as his loyal companion. That's one reason why they had Freya attack the pack when we had our first litter, to push me over the edge."
Damon frowned and said, "That's creepy, and you kept it hidden. I can sense it, but it's alright. We'll address it in due time. Now, baby, tell me more. Share a fun story or anything that comes to mind."
Curious, I looked into Damon's eyes in the mirror and asked, "Why do you want me to tell you stories?"
He replied, "I want to get to know you better. Yes, we were married, but I was never really there for you. I wasn't truly your husband. And even though I know Mariella in a different way than you do, I want to get to know you too. I feel like you know me much more than I know you."
I sighed and reluctantly said, "Fine. The first time I met Charles, I was still human. He made me feel safe, and at that moment, I never imagined falling in love with him. But the first time I laid my eyes on you, I was still human, remember? In Nick's place, you opened the door where I was sleeping. They were unloading the brainwashing, and when I saw your eyes, it felt like they reached into my soul. And they still do."
Damon smiled and replied, "I had forgotten about that, yeah. You looked like you could use someone to take care of you. When Elias and Nick tried to lie to me, claiming that you were one of their donors or lovers, I didn't believe it for a second. But my life back then wasn't perfect. And then I saw you in the mall several times before Spike captured you."
In a quiet voice, I said, "God, it feels like a lifetime ago. Well, technically, it has been a few lifetimes. And our life... why do you want me? You have Mariella. Why hold on to me? I'm not perfect for you."
Damon responded, "There isn't just one reason, baby. You and I, we are meant to be together. Maybe this relationship is the universe's way of helping us grow. For me, it's about being a husband, lover, and man. And for you, it's about learning trust, love, and companionship. No more being a lone wolf."
He fixed my hair, stepped away, and said, "Now, dress yourself and be in the kitchen in ten minutes, or else..."
He showed me a remote, smiled, and added, "Oh, I would love to come and embrace you lovingly on our way to the kitchen, in a sedate way for everyone to see. So hurry up. Let's go, put on those clothes, come to breakfast, and I'll tell them what we're going to do."
He had teleported my stuff away and walked off before I had a chance to open my robe. It seemed that Mr. Salvatore had some issues with self-restraint. I couldn't help but smile. It felt so familiar and safe. It was a comfort amidst the whirlwind of change that had been my life for the past few years.
I put on my clothes, a silk button-down shirt with loose sleeves and a red velvet skirt. Damon rarely put any kind of pants on me. He had bitten my makeup, and I was ready to have breakfast as nine minutes had already passed. I put on my reserved pumps, said goodbye to my comfy fuzzy slippers, and walked to the kitchen calmly. Knowing it had been ten minutes, my lazy footsteps were audible to Damon.
The kitchen welcomed me with its cozy and homely atmosphere, adorned with warm wooden paneled walls, soft rugs, and a long mahogany table surrounded by comfortable chairs. Despite its size, it exuded a sense of comfort rather than an industrial feel. As I approached my seat, I was greeted by a feast laid out before me. There was steaming coffee, sparkling coke, piles of perfect steaks, mashed potatoes, plenty of gravy, and various other dishes on a huge tray. However, there were four big smoothies in front of me. I decided to drink them at first.
As we enjoyed our meal, the table was filled with chatter and laughter, creating a lively atmosphere among the 30 of us.
Damon spoke up after we had finished eating, and it was time for dessert. "Now, here's what we're going to do. We'll go on field trips to some of our less frequently visited houses and castles. I've written the names of these places in a bowl, and I'll draw one name. Max will accompany us, exploring the house while we get to see it, too. Then, Max and his team will provide me with a list of what needs to be fixed or improved, and you can also help with the decoration. Who knows, maybe we'll find some new houses for us to live in after this."
I remained silent, intrigued by the idea. I owned several houses, big castles, mansions, and manors that the pack had never visited. I had been to some of them myself, so this could be an interesting experience.
Mariella chimed in, "Oh, please, Mimi, teach us more about interior decoration while we're in these houses. I want to learn and apply for it myself. It's good to have an idea of what I'm doing."
I nodded and replied, "Sure, but keep in mind that I don't strictly follow my teachings, so don't be surprised."
Number five added, "We'd like you to explain some rooms to us and suggest any improvements or changes we could make."
It seemed like the pack was eager to learn about decorating, which was fine by me. Let's see what comes out of this.
As numbers two, four, and ten brought out huge cakes and began to cut them for everyone, I said to the group, "Sure, I have a few ideas for decorating in mind, but let's discuss that later, after our field trips, assuming there's still a need for more rooms."
Damon eagerly responded, "You bet we will! I can't wait for our field trips. It might take us hours or even a whole day in each house, but Mariella, could you kindly message Max and ask if he and his team are ready? That way, we can head out after dessert."
Mariella promptly took out her phone and sent a message to Max. It was time to have fun as a pack. Let's see what comes out of this.
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