The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

I was exhausted beyond belief and utterly annoyed as I materialized into the Tallahassee safe house. The fatigue weighed heavily on me, my eyes drooping with weariness. The scent of stale air and the faint hum of the car engine filled my senses as I embarked on the drive to the base. Thoughts of seeing my beloved babies brought a glimmer of solace, but the thought of a loose schedule for world-saving tasks made my irritation grow. I knew I couldn't rely on others to handle everything; I had to be prepared if the need arose. This was my life, after all.

Salvatores getting entangled with government facilities, where Sark and Krycheck had gotten their hands on, was a disastrous situation. Damon, stubborn as ever, refused to acknowledge the gravity of it all, instead blaming me. But I had learned to take it one day at a time. The strain on my body was clear, even with the scales that somehow managed to regenerate. Although they provided a boost, the toll on my body was undeniable. Regrowing my body meant becoming thinner, and it would take time for me to regain my strength. With the hectic schedule, I barely had time to eat properly. If the world-saving efforts demanded my fighting skills, my days would become even more chaotic.

Yet, despite my fatigue and crankiness, I had to maintain my role as a leader. I dreaded the onslaught of stupid questions awaiting me. The road stretched out endlessly before me, amplifying my longing for a moment's rest on my couch, a chance to rejuvenate. But this base was perpetually bustling, constantly demanding my attention. And then there was the mountain of paperwork awaiting me. At least Magnum, Alaric, and Wulfe would be present at the base, offering some feedback on the recent events. However, my mood was far from receptive. Right now, I didn't want to be a good girl. I had already sent a text message to Magnum, informing him of my arrival. 

Mariella had made arrangements for several officials to come and meet them the next day. As Magnum's phone beeped, he looked a little irritated.

He turned to a guy named Dave and said, "She is coming, but you know, she will be..."

Dave sighed and responded, "I understand. Does she need anything?"

Magnum shook his head. Meanwhile, Mariella was engrossed in learning more about guns, listening to Harper, one of their gun experts.

Magnum approached Harper and said, "She's coming. I know you want her opinion, but she had DAG."

Harper nodded.

Confused, Mariella asked, "What are you talking about?"

She was not yet familiar with all the slang used here.

Magnum explained, "Mimi is on her way, but she has been killed and had to regenerate her body. Dead And Growing. She's a bit irritated, so it's good for you guys to know that she can be volatile."

Mariella was surprised. Mimi usually had excellent control over herself, except when she was in the gym. Nonetheless, she was eager to see this side of Mimi. Magnum stood near her as she continued to examine the guns and ammunition. She hadn't seen Alaric or Wulfe yet, and her focus was on learning as much as possible.

As I parked my car, I noticed Jarod was also at the base. Fine, it was time to sell this, as I didn't want anyone fussing over me and my eating habits. I grabbed my bag, got out of the car, and walked in. Of course, a sea of people started approaching me. I stopped when someone asked me something and tried to answer them. It was always the same thing. Even with Magnum, Alaric, and Wulfe at the base, people still sought my opinion on various matters.

After at least twenty minutes, I finally made my way to my office when Magnum called out from behind me, "Hummingbird, we have a little surprise for you."

I turned around, and it took a few seconds for my tired brain to register that Mariella stood next to Magnum, smiling and saying, "Surprise! I got in."

Magnum explained, "She's my newest recruit. Princess has talent, that's for sure."

I let out a low grunt, my eyes fixed on Mariella as I spoke. "Princess, huh? Cute name. Good for you. Boys will take care of you. And if you want to keep tabs on everyone's meals, go ahead. Have you seen the medbay yet?"

Mariella replied, "Nope. I'm planning to visit the facility where number one is. By the way, what happened to you? Who killed you?"

I grunted softly, "Number two. He teleported my body to Etna, so I regenerated in Italy. Luckily, because he had those damn poison bullets in his guns and I took several hits. I had a disguise on, so he didn't recognize me. But it seems these government facilities are filled with pain and agony."

Mariella nodded, "Oh, really? Well, it's not like that at home. We can talk more later. It seems like you have things to do."

The cries of my babies reached my ears. Magnum flashed a smile and walked away.

Mariella added, "Yeah, Dresden told me about your twins. Good for you. I've had enough of being a mother and a wife for a lifetime. I don't want to spend my days at home waiting for men to come home."

It seemed that life in this realm wasn't what I had imagined for them. Fine by me.

I replied, "Well, I must go check my paperwork and maybe grab something to eat. You go ahead, enjoy your stay. Not sure if Salvatore will let you be a part of this."

Mariella simply turned around and headed back to the tables, her blonde hair flowing behind her. I trudged to my office, feeling exhausted, and as soon as I removed my gear and opened my laptop, there was a knock on the door.

I sighed, "Come in."

It was Lizzie, one of our explosion experts, telling me about new types of explosives. I listened attentively, making a mental note. I instructed her to store them in a special safe, not to be used until one of our testers was available to try them out. My door was constantly knocked, someone always had questions or wanted to show me something. Even if Magnum and the rest of my team didn't see me as a leader, the rest of my people certainly did. And this was just my life. 

Mariella noticed just how exhausted Mimi was. Her tiredness was evident in the droop of her shoulders and the heavy bags under her eyes. Mariella, with her heightened ability to read pheromones and her pretender skill, could easily sense Mimi's fatigue. But Mimi was a master at pretending. She pushed through her exhaustion, putting on a facade of energy and confidence.

The scene that unfolded before Mariella was truly unbelievable. As Mimi entered the room, at least 30 people swarmed around her, bombarding her with questions and demands. And even when she finally made it to her office, the traffic didn't stop. People constantly interrupted her, seeking her guidance and approval.

Mariella couldn't bear to see Mimi overwhelmed by these trivial matters. In her mind, she carefully planned the times when Damon or a few others would be present, ensuring that Mimi wouldn't be disturbed by these silly questions. It was becoming increasingly important for Mariella to get the Salvatores on board as soon as possible. The process took weeks, and time was of the essence.

Observing the constant stream of people going to Mimi's office, Mariella glanced at the clock and realized that Mimi hadn't even had a break or eaten anything in several hours. Determined to take care of her friend, Mariella located the kitchen. She meticulously prepared food, making sure to use different ingredients and create larger portions to cater to everyone's needs.

Mariella had the unique ability to perceive the nutritional status of humans. She knew that many of these individuals had consumed Mimi's blood or other supernatural blood, altering their physiology and increasing their need for calories and specific nutrients. She made a mental note to involve Damon in this process. As he or them, several of them could cook large batches and ensure everyone received the nourishment they required.

One thing that Mariella believed would help bring Mimi and Damon closer together was the presence of Magnum, Wulfe, and the other attractive and professional individuals in the room. These handsome men were always there to lend a helping hand or share their knowledge. Mariella had earned the nickname "princess" among them.

However, something caught Mariella's attention and disturbed her. Magnum emerged from one of the rooms, cradling a baby in his arms. Mariella could sense the strong magic emanating from the child, but it seemed odd. Magnum was not supposed to have that kind of role.

He spoke to the little girl, soothing and lovingly. "Shh, Daddy's little girl is a little upset, aren't you? How about we go see Mommy? Would you like that? Daddy will take you to see Mommy."

Mariella realized Mimi had intended to raise her children, and Magnum had been there from the beginning, assuming the role of a father figure. But then, Mariella noticed Wulfe entering a little later, carrying a baby boy. He, too, referred to himself as Daddy. It became clear that Mimi's babies had multiple fathers in their lives, each with their own reserved role. 

Well, it might boost Damon to take Mimi as his own when he would witness this, but at first, she needed to ensnare him to get in. Some of them, at least. She put a text message on all the Salvatores' phones, asking them when they would be home. To her surprise, number four, ten, and nine answered her, telling their beloved that they would be soon at the New York Manor. Mariella promised to be there.

She went to Mimi's office and knocked on the door. Mimi's voice said, "Come in."

Mariella entered, amazed at just how big this office was. Magnum and Wulfe were sitting on the sofa, with little babies playing on the floor, surrounded by toys. The babies turned their heads to her, their striking violet eyes looking at her. Mariella let a bit of her magic out, creating a few little balls of magic and throwing them at the babies to play with. However, the babies snatched the magic and sucked it into themselves, giggling happily.

When Mariella came in and saw my twins, she gave them magic. I hadn't had time to warn her that these were mommy's babies, meaning siphons. This sometimes irritated Wulfe, as his minor distraction with magic did not work; the babies snatched it immediately. Mariella brought a huge tray for me.

Wulfe had told me how she had gone into the kitchen and made stuff happen there. Magnum told me that Mariella had talent, but she needed some workouts. According to Magnum, so did I. I told him I had sparred many times with Mariella, so she had learned from the best. Magnum snorted at my phrase.

She had brought food for the babies and she took their chairs, picked them up, and started to feed them with relative ease. I guess she had been a housewife then. Someday she might tell me more. I focused on my meal, hungry as ever while trying to rack my brain on how to differentiate friend from foe if we were to make an attack on that facility. Magnum had told me that Mariella had arranged for some big guys from the NSA to come and see these facilities, and we might do stuff together then. Fine by me.

I soon finished my meal, and Mariella had fed the twins. They were getting sleepy again as they had been entertained by their daddies a few hours before, eating. So, Magnum and Wulfe picked them up and put them in a temporary crib in my office. 

Mariella said to me with a mischievous grin, her voice filled with excitement, "Do you want more? There's a lot in the kitchen. Wait, a minute. I will get you some more."

She gracefully stood up, her footsteps echoing through the room as she approached my table. With a gentle hand, she took my tray, her touch sending a subtle tingle through my fingers.

She then turned to Magnum and Wulfe, her voice filled with authority, "You two come on, time for you two to eat as well."

The boys rolled their eyes, their disinterest evident, but obediently followed her into the bustling kitchen.

Meanwhile, I focused on my paperwork, the soft rustling of the pages filling the air. I had a few moments before Mariella returned, my fingers gliding across the smooth surface of my laptop as I worked. Suddenly, Alaric entered the room, his presence felt before he even spoke. He frowned as his eyes fell upon my desk, his disapproval clear. He wordlessly collected my papers, his grip firm but not aggressive, and swiftly took my laptop with him, emitting a soft grunt of dissatisfaction.

Just as I began to wonder about Alaric's behavior, Mariella returned, her footsteps light and hurried. With a small thud, she placed the tray in front of me, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting up, teasing my senses.

I looked up at her, my curiosity piqued by her earlier question. "Why do you want to be part of the fleas?" I asked, my voice tinged with amusement. "I mean, you were actually happy to go into that realm to spend years there. What changed?"

Leaning in closer, she began to share her own experiences, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and resignation.

"Well, we were there for a little over three years," she explained. "It doesn't seem like a long time, but my days were filled with cleaning the house, cooking, and taking care of the cubs and babies. I was almost always pregnant, and Damon, well, he found his balls pretty soon."

She paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "Meaning cage and withdrawal. It wasn't what I had expected. I, along with Mimosa and Shadow, had to keep this huge house in order. There was no cleaning service from the magic house, and when the men came back from their hunting trips, they were tired, hungry, and irritated. We had to care for them, and tend to their wounds and their needs. And the worst part? We didn't have as much time for intimacy. Every time we had sex, he would breed me, and soon I found myself more or less pregnant all the time. It took all the flavor out of it, you know?"

I couldn't help but smile at her candidness, my own experiences reflecting some similarities.

"Well," I replied, my voice tinged with a mix of amusement and frustration, "my five have also found their balls. Wulfe, in particular, has used his magic against me. He's become quite like Salvatore, giving me one warning before taking action. It's forbidden for me to have a little fun at fight clubs, you see. But in one club, I defied Wulfe's orders. He knew all the rules, even better than I did. So, he exercised his right to help me, joining me in the cage. And let me tell you, a creature like him can kill my adversaries with astonishing speed. Those fights soon became boring as he swiftly eliminated them all. And every time after the club, it was a meeting in the medbay. Wulfe would immobilize me with his magic, and Colin would gently knock me out. My naps ranged from a few hours to a whole week."

Mariella smiled and said, "It's good that they care for you. I have a plan, and you can't stop me. Magnum and Jarod are on board as well. I'm going to involve the Salvatores as well, but they'll have to go through the whole initiation process one by one. They'll be very useful here."

I just grunted, thinking that surely Damon and several others could be useful here. However, would they go through our initiation process? What about Adam or Charles? They never went through the process; they just barged in. My leadership would be a tight fit for all of them, but we have several bases, and I could be elsewhere if there were difficulties.

I looked at Mariella and said, "Sure, you can try, but have you thought about Adam, Charles, the boys, or the wolves? It will take a few weeks to get through, and we are busy here."

Mariella smiled and said, "I plan to get a few of them at first. I have to go to New York for a few days when they are free, and then we can start the process. Same with Adam and Charles–no more just barging in, but going through the paces."

She was smiling smugly, and it seemed that she had truly grown up, no longer a little doll for Damon to decorate.