บท 167: 7. Always On My Mind.
We walked through different parts of the bunker, and I opened a few doors that led deeper into the structure. Most of what I found were just corridors and rooms—nothing too special. At the end of one corridor, there was a well-functioning kitchen, and I had stocked it with supplies as well. This was one of my safe houses, so to speak—not the ones that Wulfe had programmed in my mind, but a place I could use to lay low and find safety after a rough mission.
Although it wasn't very homely since it was an underground bunker over a mile long, I had thought that when I eventually had the time, I could make it feel more like home. I had supplies on hand, and I could transform some of these rooms to make them cozier—putting in different kinds of lighting and carpets. I still had some old rolls of carpet left from various houses; I could definitely use those to improve the ambiance.
I had my blood stash in another part of the complex, but I wasn't thinking about it until Wulfe said to me, "You are clearly making this some sort of shelter, or even a home, but I have not yet found a single bag of blood. It's hard to believe that you have zero blood stashes here, Unicorn. So tell us, what is going on with the blood?"
I knew I couldn't lie—well, there was nothing actually stopping me from lying, but Wulfe would definitely notice.
I replied, "My blood stash is in another part of this huge complex. It goes off in three directions for a mile each, so I have a lot of rooms, and I haven't even explored them all."
Number Two added, "This would be an excellent base—lots of rooms for people to bunk in, plenty of space, and it's pretty well-hidden. I'm not sure if you're on the right track thinking of this as your personal space. I mean, there's potential for so much more: rooms, probably extra supplies, and such."
Number One nodded and said, "We could turn this into a safe haven. It wouldn't be hard to convert one wing into a medical area, and there are plenty of rooms and chambers. I think we can make this a new kind of space. But let's eat first, and then we can look at your blood stash to see what you have and if we need to move it somewhere else."
I replied, "Well, I have a few prisoners, or donors, in secure cells capable of giving me blood. They're in collection machines, so I will need to find a new place for them."
Magnum leaned against the cold, metal wall, a glint of determination in his eyes. "The nearest blood farm isn't far; we can teleport them there."
I turned to him, feeling the weight of our situation. "These are special donors," I replied, my voice a soft echo in the cavernous space. "I'm not sure a regular blood farm is a suitable place for them."
The air felt heavy around us, and I could sense my companions' anxious anticipation. They all looked at me, their eyes filled with questions that hung in the air like a thick fog. Their hope and concern were palpable, and they were waiting for clarification.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "The donors I select provide me with strong enough blood, which means I don't have to drink as much. I can give you samples after we eat. Let's focus on meals first."
As I spoke, Salvatores strode purposefully to the fridge, their hands deftly preparing a variety of dishes, while the cool air wafted out, carrying the scent of fresh ingredients.
Number Two approached me, an eager look on his face. "What do I lack?" he asked, extending his arm towards me as if offering a taste of his blood. "Taste my blood."
I shook my head. I was not sure if he felt the hive thing too and wanted me to bite him in order to get the hive going.
"That's unnecessary," I said firmly. "What you need is more fat, fewer carbs, and definitely more caffeine. Plus, your A-C-E vitamins are low too."
I could feel his presence in my mind, probing subtly, examining the intricacies of my protector powers, trying to discern what they lacked. He was trying to find the spot where I got my information so they would have forewarning before I had the chance to nag them. His brow furrowed in concentration as he mulled over what might be best to eat next.
I gently reminded him, "Remember, you are my biological half, at least in a way. You're not my mirror, but you share my essence, so what I eat can benefit you, too."
He nodded thoughtfully and responded, "You mean I should consider what I would give you if you were lacking in those areas?"
"Exactly," I said, feeling a sense of relief as I got my point across. "You won't stray too far with that logic. And for goodness' sake, read that damn manual! It really does help."
He let out a chuckle. "Well, Mariella has read it, but yes, maybe I should take a look, too. It might give me some insight into what and how to eat."
With a roll of my eyes, I settled into a chair at the table, casting an expectant glance at the preparations. I was managing to stay composed. Wulfe took a seat beside me, the atmosphere still buzzing with unasked questions.
He paused, looking at me earnestly. "So, tell me, Unicorn—should I be worried? What have you discovered about your meals? How much do you actually consume? It's no wonder you feel like a powder keg if you indulge as much as you please."
He leaned in closer, his expression serious. "But that will change; controlled feeding is essential, you know that just as well as I do. It may be dull, but it's effective."
The conversation hung in the air, a mix of worry and understanding, as he and others prepared for the next steps.
I glanced at him and replied, "Well, maybe, but then again, I'm about five to seven times stronger than before. Even though I gave away that power, it still boosted me. So, my need for strong blood is quite significant..."
Wulfe seemed slightly concerned by my confession.
I gave him a tired smile and explained, "I didn't mean to freak anyone out. It's just what I've become. I'm trying to control myself, and my impulses, but it takes time. I'm not there yet, and my impulse control is shaky. My bloodlust is off the charts, and I'm exhausted from constantly restraining myself. I'm going through a bit of a crisis here. It's not so bad when I have things to do, but during this free time..."
Wulfe interrupted me and reassured me, "I'm still stronger. Damon is still stronger, and there are ways to suppress your power. You may be strong as hell, but I won't let you indiscriminately drink just any blood you like. You can count on that."
His voice grew firmer, showing that he wouldn't give in. However, his threat to control me ignited the first sparks of bloodlust in my veins.
Wulfe continued, "I understand that you have issues with this, but you can't help it. We'll get to the bottom of this and help you, even if your vampire side doesn't want it or the kind of help we'll offer. I'll find a way to sever the link between your feelings and bloodlust, although I'm not sure how just yet. Don't worry, we've got your back, even if you don't want it."
I turned to Wulfe and sincerely said, "Thank you, but I must warn you, I can be difficult at times. A real cunt, my tongue is sharp and I might say even to you very nasty things. I have very poor impulse control, and it doesn't sit well with me when someone tries to deprive me of my blood."
Damon glanced at me and replied, "Don't worry, baby, there may be some starvation, at least from your vampire side's perspective. But we've got you, just like Wulfe said. Be as difficult as you want, we can handle it. Let your sentences fly, we can take them. And if we can't, Wulfe and Magnum can."
I was quiet. I knew that I might set those two off as well. I remained seated at the table while the Salvatores prepared food for everyone.
Damon looked around and said, "When we eventually get to the pack's house, we need to figure out the seating arrangements and who acts as whose protector. Darling, I don't think you're meant to be everyone's protector. I have a feeling that this pack isn't what it should be until we have Murdock and Dexter with us. Then we'll see who belongs to whom."
I stayed silent. I already had ten protectees, and this was something new for me. I was used to being protected, not getting angry every time a Salvatore was too lazy. And if there were more protectors needed, maybe Mariella could take care of the Salvatores as well. But our original pack consisted of ten Salvatores, my foursome, me, the wolves, and Mariella. That made a total of 18 people. Then Magnum and Wulfe joined us, making it 20. Bran and Samuel were not part of our pack; they were just friends. But now, with this new version, we would have Elena, Katherine, Alaric, Colin, Dexter, Murdock, Tim, Taylor, Dresden, and Constantine. A total of 30 people are in this pack. So there would be a lot more folks to hang around with if they wanted to.
Who was going to be whose protector? Well, I already had one third of the pack as mine. So, there were Charles and Mariella, Adam and Mimosa. I wasn't sure if the boys would be Shadows' protectors or not. I was one hell of a hard protectee, considering I had ten protectors. Yay me.
And then there was the issue of heat. If we were to breed, who would be responsible for tending to the cubs, children, and holidays? Would the wolves have more company on their island or not? Would I have any holidays just for myself, or would Wulfe and Magnum always be hovering around me? Would Damon want to have holidays too?
He was keeping our bond wide open, somehow merging our strap from the hive to our bond within the pack. I wasn't sure what it would end up with, and if he would want to merge all of my hive strands, combining the hive with the pack. It was scary, though. But then again, it felt like something new and exciting. Would I have any power over anything? The whole hive thing had been one hell of a rollercoaster, and now this. I could see from Wulfe's expression that he had told Damon about the hive and what he was currently doing. I wasn't sure if it had been Wulfe's idea in the first place. Even Damon had thought it in the first place, but as he was actually doing it.
I started to eat as a plate was placed in front of me, and I drank as much cola as I could. Someone was making coffee. Although I had my instant coffee, I had brought about 15 different blends of beans. I liked using blends because they suited me better than just one type of coffee bean.
Colin had, at one point, wanted to test different coffees and see what I needed from them, how the caffeine amount varied, and what affected it. But there was always something that came up. This kitchen was not any better than the rest of this place, but one thing that made me use this space was my memories of that one bunker.
Plus, there had been a few Sarks places where I had been imprisoned. In the bunker, so I was here making better memories, or maybe replacing the bad ones with slightly better ones. I was trying here, and that was all that mattered. I was doing something to improve things, and it was all I could do at this time.
The pack was gathered together, eating and discussing their mission.
Damon turned to me and asked, "Why are there so many missions all of a sudden?"
I replied, "It's normal, not any bigger flood than usual. We have most of our supplies and crew ready, so we can deploy them more efficiently. It ebbs and flows. Sometimes there are fewer missions when there are fewer doers, but now is an efficient time to act. That's what it's all about - you get used to it. There is always something to do somewhere."
Damon grunted, and I continued, "Not only do I have to ensure that as many missions as possible are ready and being deployed, but I also have to oversee the ones that are about to be made, give them the go-ahead, and then debrief the completed missions. It's just a matter of how much time I want to invest in this organization, but I won't be jobless anytime soon."
Wulfe chimed in, "Speaking of debriefing, are there any interesting details in those mission reports? I love reading them."
Magnum added, "Let me know as soon as you get those looting lists. I'll most likely melt down most of the plastic from those shed session machines and reuse it. I'll also check if the blades are usable, in case one of the Salvatores needs them in the medbay or field kit. And then I'll melt and reuse them again. There are circuits and such that can be repurposed, so they'll have a new life. I've already got a crew washing them and taking them apart to salvage the good parts."
I nodded and replied, "As soon as I finish debriefing, I'll send you those lists. Wulfe, if you'd like, you can debrief as many missions as you want. Why don't you take Princess with you? You two would make a great team. Alaric can show you the ropes, so I won't have to do that."
Wulfe grunted and suggested, "Let's see if Princess is up for it, but we could also include the boys."
He looked at Number One and Number Two, who were often referred to as the boys.
Magnum addressed Lepard and Demon, saying, "Hey kitties, I want to know how skilled you are with your hands. Can you dismantle those devices? I can show you how, so you'll have something to do as well."
Demon grinned and replied, "Sure, we have no problem with that kind of work."
I then turned to five and seven, saying, "You two, Sark told me about some places that could be taken down or at least checked out. But first, we need to confirm their surveillance. If you're up for it, there are a few places owned by Sark that we can destroy. We just need to make sure no one gets hurt. Meaning no victims in them. If they check out, you can have some fun without worrying about saving anyone. You can blow those places up."
They nodded in agreement. Before I could continue, Charles spoke up, saying, "What about us? Where will you send us? It seems like you're trying to push us away, honey, always making sure you're left alone. Your suggestions always take us away from you."
I reassured Charles, saying, "I'm about to embark on my mission, and I won't be taking any of you with me. As I mentioned before, there's work to be done. We have to focus on the task at hand, not constantly be by my side. You know this as well as I do. My mission involves rescuing over 200 victims, and I'm uncertain about their condition. So, I need to be at my best, not in a cuddly and soft mood or seeking protection. Now, as for you and Adam, how about going after Krycheck? I know we have a lot of information about at least three places. You two can take them down. Just be cautious. They're not interested in you, which gives you a window of opportunity. Strike and show them what you're capable of, once and for all."
Adam shook his head and exclaimed, "You really know how to entice us with a target we can't refuse. Well done, honey. Really impressive."
I maintained a neutral expression as everyone finished eating.
Then I stood up as the Salvatores were about to have dessert and informed them, "I'll go get some fresh blood for now, so you can taste it too. Stay here, and you'll get to see it later."
Wulfe gave me a sharp look, but I quickly walked away. It wasn't a long distance, especially for a vampire. I teleported to the location, knowing exactly where to go. I grabbed a few small bags, which were still warm. Each bag contained about 450 ml, but they would definitely have a strong impact.
I had to drain three bags in that spot and reserve one for myself. The blood coursed through my veins, but I disposed of any evidence of my little feast. This particular creature was an energy sorceress, incredibly rare and naughty as fuck. The blood was perfect, and I had saved plenty for myself. It was such a treat that I struggled to let it go. I had moved my reserves to various locations, like Moldova, Bhutan, Nepal, Moscow, and Paris.
Returning to the kitchen, I handed out bags to everyone, although the labels didn't specify the species.
Damon looked at me and remarked, "Whatever creature this is, it must be incredibly strong for such small bags."
As I handed one bag to Magnum, I said to him, "You might not be able to drink it all. I can help."
Wulfe interjected, "Nope, unicorn. I told you no."
He reached over and took my bag, saying to Damon, "Missy had a few bags while getting them. I can smell blood on her breath. No overeating."
I sat down and remained silent. Damon ripped the bag open, took a sip, and his eyes rolled back in pleasure. He groaned and started to suck. The same phenomenon occurred with every Salvatore. Wulfe drank his bags as quickly as he could, his eyes turning black, and his claws extending. It seemed that his vampire side was incredibly excited by this blood.
After Wulfe finished both bags, he spoke softly, but there was an edge in his voice that I had never actually heard. "Goddamn it, where in the world did you find one of them? They are as good as ever, but unicorn, this blood is too strong for you. No wonder you're all over the place. No more of this blood for you, not for a long time."
Damon, still high from the blood, asked, "What is this nectar? It's wonderful."
Wulfe replied, "Energy sorceress. Rare as hell, and I thought I had killed them all. Those bloods are kept under lock and key in a magic house with very strict instructions on when we can have them. They're the worst thing a vampire can have, and our little unicorn is already addicted. Contact the magic house, tell them we have a black energy sorceress, and let them take it away. We'll move out of here right now, and unicorn, your reserves will be found too."
I was less thrilled about the whole situation, but I was determined to show them I wasn't hooked on that blood. I would do just fine without it. I wasn't that weak.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง