The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

As Colin explained the whole thing to me, I couldn't help but think that I had been too happy. Everything had been too perfect, and now it seemed like this was just another consequence of that.

I didn't even have time to say goodbye to the cubs before I was whisked into the operating theater. All of the other litters were being delivered, and my babies were put to sleep so that I was no longer pregnant. I was still filled with hormones, but I didn't mention it. I had no idea if these hormones affected others, but since they were sick, it didn't seem to have much of an impact on them.

A few hours later, I woke up in a different bedroom, not in my usual wing. The cubs had been moved somewhere else for their protection, and all the litters were kept in the same area to minimize cross-contamination. My wing had been closed off, and after this, the entire house would be cleaned by a magical house, which meant we would have to move. I didn't know where we were going, but I now understood that I was the pack leader. It was just a matter of reality.

I had learned from my time with Damon that he would push his feelings into the Salvatore hive. So, his worry and desire to help, save, and heal Mariella would flood into the hive, making them somewhat useless for the greater good of the pack.

But there was no need to worry. We still had people left. I began to organize who would do what and where everyone would operate. I sat in the kitchen with Tim, Taylor, Dresden, Wulfe, Constantine, Murdock, Dexter, Colin, Magnum, and Alaric, who were all sitting at the table.

I spoke up, "Now, I am the power battery of the pack. This means that I will provide bursts of power to the hive. Don't take it immediately, as it is meant for protectors taking care of the females. I will direct the power if necessary."

Everyone was listening attentively to me.

I continued, "Tim, Taylor, and Alaric, you will be the outside team responsible for ensuring the cubs are ready to move to the Magic House as soon as they become immortal. This means you will be working with our older cubs, who will assist you. It's possible that it may take a few days for the Magic House to find placements for them, so they will be outside, and you guys will be with them."

They nodded in understanding.

Next, I turned my attention to Wulfe and the wizards. "The three of you will be in charge of making potions and scanning the cubs to identify their powers. Bind any powers that need to be bound and inform the Magic House about the rest of them."

Wulfe nodded, although he wasn't thrilled since he wanted to be with me. However, we were short on wizards, and his presence was necessary as my cubs tended to be incredibly strong.

Colin, Dexter, Murdock, and Magnum looked at me, awaiting their instructions.

I told them, "You will be the feeders. Your task is to prepare milk bottles, ensure the correct ratio, and make sure everyone is growing properly. We have my blood and Damon's blood, and it would be beneficial for the other cubs to have father's blood as well, so you will also need to donate blood."

Magnum nodded and asked, "What about you? What will you be doing?"

I replied, "I will be helping with feeding and continuously giving power. I will also keep an eye out for anyone who needs assistance. Don't worry about me; I'll be busy. You guys, on the other hand, will be quite occupied for the next three weeks or so. I'm not sure how quickly these cubs will gain immortality since they were taken out before, so it will be a trial by fire for you. I've been through this a few times already, so there won't be much that's new to me."

Wulfe reassured me, saying, "You can be sure, Unicorn, that I'll keep an eye on you."

I nodded and replied, "My boy, you will have your hands full. When you're not feeding and tending to the cubs or making potions, we will need to prepare food. As the females recover and the protectors need nourishment, we will require a lot of high-quality food. So, there will always be something to do."

Magnum glanced at me and inquired, "You seem to be holding something back, Hummingbird. What is it that you're not telling us?"

I maintained a neutral expression and replied, "It's not a significant matter, just Damon draining my powers constantly. This leaves me feeling tired, irritable, and thinner. But there's no need to worry, it's all part of the package this time. I'll get back in shape, so don't worry. Now, were there any questions?"

Indeed, there were many questions. I had to explain various things and demonstrate how to prepare milk bottles and guide them into position. There was a small corridor behind the feeding wall, where one could bring a cart filled with bottles.

They would then be placed in a designated spot, where a spell ensured that the correct bottle ended up in the corresponding cub's area. We would check the computer for recorded weights of each cub, and Colin had his own idea of how much weight fluctuation to allow, while I had mine. Eventually, we had to reach a compromise.

For one last time, I stood in my empty classroom. I had come here to retrieve a few things to be given to the magic house, and I had just entered. It still looked the same, but now it was devoid of life.

There was perhaps a faint hint of our presence, Damon, the cubs, and myself. They had once sat here and listened to my lessons. It hadn't been long, but I knew that these fleeting moments of happiness always came at a price.

I kept this thought hidden deep within my mind, no need to trouble Wulfe with it. It simply was what it was, and regardless of how hard he tried to convince me otherwise, my past and the universe had taught me this lesson repeatedly, so I knew it to be true.

Why did I always have to pay for my own happiness? But then again, I wasn't the one lying in bed, sick as a dog, being saved by others. I was the one who once saved others, and helped others.

And at least I had the chance to talk to my cubs, touch them, smell them, see them. In a way, I was fortunate. Mariella and the others, well, when they woke up, the cubs would most likely be in the magic house. They wouldn't get to touch them, hold them, kiss them, or feed them.

Maybe this wasn't a payment for happiness, but rather an opportunity for me to spend time with them. At least I possessed the strongest maternal instinct, and this helped. I had the chance to spend as much time with them as possible.

The soft carpeting, with its muted rainbow colors, absorbed the sound of my footsteps as I slowly walked out of my wing, carrying books and DVDs for the magic house. The beanbag chairs now sat empty, with no flood of students waiting for the night to begin or for a lesson to start.

The selection buttons were put away, perhaps to be used again someday. Definitely someday. However, I had no idea when that would be. Life was at its best when it was unpredictable, and there could always be something new lurking around the corner.

As I made my way back downstairs, I had to face reality once again. It was always after these crises that it was time to focus on Azores and Mariella. She would have the chance to sink her nails into every Salvatore properly.

Though it was still summer, I had no clue how long it would take for the females to recover and how long they would stay in the Azores. Would there be vampire heat at some point? I also knew that my own organization needed some attention, but I had Alaric and the guys to take care of that. I could direct them to handle it.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I didn't want anything too strenuous, as I could feel it in my skin after just a week or so. Damon drained me of my powers, my energy, everything I could give him. Even though I released a huge amount of my powers three times a day in the hive, he took most of it. The others only got scraps. I couldn't help it.

I was powerful, but it felt draining, both physically and emotionally. I couldn't allow myself to think about what I wanted, as it was pointless. I refused to let those wonderful dreams of having babies with Damon resurface. It was far too painful.

I had no idea when we would have those babies, whether it would be a year from now or ten years from now. I had felt them, and interacted with them, as had Wulfe and Magnum. I knew they were also dealing with the loss. But it was what it was. There was no use pining over them.

The time would come someday to have babies, and maybe it would be perfect then. But the sad fact was that the snowball was once again rolling down the hill. Damon would be attached to Mariella for a long time because of this. And if he ever decided to try to control me, I would be too strong in my powers to make it easy for him. And since it wouldn't be easy or fun, he might just drop it. So, no good times for us.

 What I failed to consider was other Salvatores and our relationship with them. Little did I know that all five of them were slowly breaking free from the Salvatore hive. It was like a dividing cell, needing time to gather everything necessary to live independently.

And it wasn't just one Salvatore, but five of them, each starting to distance themselves from the hive and the influence of Number One, all because they loved me more than Mariella. This would have a significant impact on all of us.

It would bring massive changes to my world, my perception of myself and my place in the pack. Not to mention the effects on Mariella, Number One, and the other females.

These five Salvatores would be a powerful force, working against the fast-rolling snowball of change. We would all learn a lot from this experience, and I knew I wouldn't like every lesson. But Mariella, Number One, and the others would also gain knowledge, and it wouldn't be all rainbows and roses. There would be hard lessons about choices, consequences, and actions.

As the days passed and we settled into our routine, the feeders kept busy, adjusting milk bottles and adding meat as the cubs grew older. Of course, we heard their first words and showered them with affection. We even managed to teach them a few things, even if it wasn't what we had originally planned.

Around ten days later, while Wulfe and I were feeding the cubs, he said to me, "I know this wasn't what we had planned, but I wouldn't change a thing. I want to be here with you, experiencing this together. Feeding these wonderful little creatures, hearing their first words, feeling their soft fur in my hands, seeing their adorable faces scrunch up as they taste meat for the first time."

I looked at Wulfe, knowing that he was truly my soulmate, my other half in ways that Damon could never be. He was my partner on the Boulevard of Broken Hearts, as we called it. Magnum was also with us, and he shared a story about why it had been so difficult for him to trust the cubs and love them. It was just one more tragic tale of our pack, and perhaps in time, he would share it with others.

Because of these two, I had to gather my strength and keep going, showing no weakness or fatigue. I didn't want to burden them any more than necessary during this difficult time.

I was the alpha female of the pack, more or less the leader. Regardless of how I felt or what was happening to me, I continued to give bursts of power and energy to our hive. Selflessness was crucial at this time, as I needed to give my pack everything I had.

I didn't reveal the true extent of what was happening to me to anyone. I took charge of everything, from feeding schedules to relocating cubs to the magic house or outside once they became immortal. Each cub that left was a small victory. It had been 18 days. And finally, the last cub went to the magic house.

The breeding season was over and Colin informed me that Elena and Katherine would soon be waking up, making things easier for a while. Well, easier in comparison.

Mariella was still sick and wolves too, the Salvatores, had separated from the pack without me noticing. This slowed Damon down as he was healing and tending to Mariella. Half of his powers were lost as half of the Salvatores no longer responded to his desperation to heal Mariella. 

I stood in my bedroom, gazing out at the now-empty yard. With focused intent, I released another burst of power into the hive, feeling the energy being absorbed almost instantly. It was ironic that my powers were primarily used for healing the weakest female in the pack.

A soft groan escaped my mind as a headache struck me, causing the light to shine in my eyes and my hands to tremble as my fever once again began to rise. I had been sick the entire time, but I couldn't afford the luxury of being ill.

I had to keep the cubs safe by suppressing my own illness with my powers. However, now it was time to let go, at least for a few hours. I made sure that Wulfe, Magnum, and the others were occupied, ensuring that none of them would notice my true state.

I walked over to my bed, curled up, and pulled the covers over me, shivering as the fever gripped me. I knew I only had a few hours to allow myself to be in this state before I had to pull myself together and hide my sickness from anyone else.

Once the others were fine, and on holiday, then I could finally let this run its course. As an immortal, unkillable, stubborn, self-sacrificing fool, I had no idea how my sickness had caused the Salvatores to be pulled into this.

They sensed my condition, and that was all it took for Damon numbers two, three, four, nine, and ten to be freed. It felt wonderful, but they also sensed that the baby was sick, even sicker than anyone else. It would take some effort to get her well. Once again, it was time for them to save the baby, their Mimi.