The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

I reluctantly climbed into my car as Adam took the wheel, the engine humming to life. The scent of gasoline filled the air, mingling with the tension that hung heavy in the car. Damon had provided him with the route to my base, but I couldn't shake off my lingering apprehension.

My crew meant everything to me, a secret I had kept hidden. They had been discovered one by one in various sinister facilities, yet they looked up to me as their leader. I accepted this role willingly, drawing upon my extensive knowledge of vampire lore to assist them in any way possible. I aimed to make their lives easier, sparing them the confusion and stress that accompanied the awakening of my own vampire side.

But why would evil scientists create vampires, one might wonder? The answer was simple. They needed subjects for their studies. Creating a vampire was relatively straightforward, but finding individuals who possessed the potential to become vampires was crucial. These scientists sought to exploit and control vampires, developing weapons and poisons to combat them. Vampires, with their immortality and regenerative abilities, were seen as a lucrative source of body parts, a medical goldmine. These scientists strived to engineer organs suitable for humans, despite advancements in medical technology over the centuries.

Human life, despite its extended duration, remained as fragile as ever. Mortals could abuse their bodies and perish without regard to what they ate or if they had vampire blood for breakfast. Sark and other evil scientists using their tests in my crew were working tirelessly to find a cure using vampire blood, an expensive and rare prospect. In contrast, they also explored methods to block vampire blood altogether, rendering it useless.

While other crews succumbed to the clutches of these scientists, my crew remained resilient. They managed to preserve their sanity and control their bloodthirst, a testament to their strength. 

With my mind buzzing with countless thoughts, Adam effortlessly guided my formidable vehicle. The sheer delight he exuded from driving this opulent SUV was tangible. All the while, I silently prayed that Salvatore would not discover my crew as threats or I have to witness their destruction. We arrived at our destination, the old factory. As I stepped out of the car, I could see my crew, about 50 of them, working tirelessly to empty out the building. The sound of their footsteps and the clattering of objects filled the air. 

Walking towards them, I noticed Damon getting out of the car as well. He stood a few feet away, engaged in a conversation with Charles, who seemed visibly agitated. Sensing the tension, ten of my crew members gathered around me, ready to defend me if needed. 

In an attempt to calm them down, I reassured them, "Come on, Damon wants to meet you. He has promised not to harm you, so there is nothing to worry about."

Matt, my loyal crew member, nodded and positioned himself on my right side, prepared to meet Damon. Dora and Bonnie stood on my left side. I released my vampire pheromones, instinctively trying to ease their anxieties and help them relax.

Damon glanced at the horde of powerful vampires surrounding me, his vampire senses detecting their potential. But he also caught a whiff of the vampiric pheromones emitted by the queen, Mimi. A desire sparked within him to claim her as his own. 

In his mind, Damon whispered to Mariella, who had also emerged from the car, "Darling, what is your instinct telling you? What should be our first move?"

Mariella responded, "You should take them. Mimi is the queen, constantly strengthening her hold over these vampires. They are confused and lack knowledge about being a vampire. Mimi had to learn everything on her own, and now she sees herself in them, trying to help. But she is unique, as are they? Too much power resides in her hands, and you deserve them, my love."

Charles had initially wanted to destroy them, but Damon had managed to make him reconsider, to not succumb to his vampire side. Damon took a step closer, allowing his vampire essence to emerge. On Mimi's right side stood a strong male vampire, while two powerful females stood on her left. Soon, they would be his. He had a group of skilled vampires who could teach and protect them.

Approaching us, Damon spoke softly, his voice carrying a hypnotic quality. "Well, hello there. My name is Damon Salvatore, Lord Salvatore. I assure you, I will not harm you. Instead, I offer my protection, my wisdom, and my blood. Will you accept?" 

Damn it, he was using his pheromones, invoking an ancient offer of protection. If my crew accepted, they would become his, and he would likely become their sire. However, according to tradition, I had to remain silent. This decision was solely up to them. I hadn't had the time to teach them these old customs.

Matt stared deeply into Damon's eyes, captivated by their abyss-like darkness. The scent of his pheromones wafted through the air, enveloping Matt in a mesmerizing aura.

"I accept your offer of protection, my lord," Matt said, his voice filled with reverence.

He stepped closer to Damon, and one by one, the rest of my crew followed suit. Although I knew they would be safe, my vampire side seethed with anger. How dare Damon come into my territory and steal my crew? I forcefully suppressed my vampire instincts, knowing that Damon had far more knowledge of vampire affairs than I did. There was nothing I could do to stop him from taking my crew away. Well, I could try to find more vampires, but the Salvatores were on missions, making it difficult. Damon entered the factory, allowing the vampires to continue emptying it.

The space was vast, but I had the experience of turning it into another base soon enough. I estimated it would take a week to clear out all the rubbish, and then I could bring in more people to help build the base. I was also recruiting more into my fledgling group.

"Impressive space," Damon remarked, "but it will make a good base once we finish."

"Maybe a week to empty it," I replied, "and then it will take two weeks for my builders to lay the groundwork. Hopefully, I'll have recruited some more gang members by then. Dresden is available, so he can assist with charms and protections."

I found myself almost talking to myself as I contemplated the logistics. Damon stayed silent, and I made my way back to the car, ready to continue scouting for our plan. Damon joined me soon after, his silence speaking volumes. I gave Adam an address to investigate first, and the car rolled along the road.

As we approached the destination, I prepared myself for the possibility of a dangerous and unpleasant place. My locker held a camera and other surveillance equipment, tools of my trade. It felt strange to engage in this work as a group, but as a teacher, I knew it was essential to pass on these skills. It would all contribute to our cause and help us succeed. 

We arrived at our destination; the sun hanging low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow. As I stepped out of the car, I could feel a gentle breeze caressing my face. Walking towards the trunk, I could hear the distant hum of traffic in the background.

Opening my locker, I reached inside and felt the cool metal of my surveillance kit. Damon stood beside me, his curious eyes examining its contents. He eagerly touched each item, his fingers exploring the different tools. Number four, always meticulous, inspected my first aid kit. His dissatisfaction was evident as he discovered the strong medications I had for myself. He doubted my ability to administer the correct dosage.

I remained silent, observing as Lepard, Mariella, Adam, and Charles all took turns examining my kit.

Finally, I closed it shut and announced, "Now, I'll scout the area myself. If it's dangerous, I'll return, and we can gather evidence."

Mariella questioned my plan. "What are you planning to do?"

I replied, "The wind blows in this direction, from the back of the facility towards the west. I need to catch a whiff of the exhaust pipes, to detect any pheromones. It will give me an idea."

Demon chimed in, "But jaguars are rare here."

I smiled and transformed into a house cat, my fur a mix of red and white.

Before I could even move, Damon scooped me up, exclaiming, "Oh my god, you're the cutest little thing! I could cuddle you all day."

In my mind, I sighed, enduring his affectionate kisses and gentle strokes.

Eventually, he released me, saying, "Wait a minute, I want to learn that smell too."

He transformed into a stray dog, mimicking the animals we had seen in the area. Mariella followed suit, choosing to become a cat as well. I now had company.

We began exploring the perimeter, moving like stray cats, observing the yard. As I ran, my senses heightened.

In the distance, I spotted guards and whispered to myself, "Guards, alright, let's see what they're up to."

Damon grunted, running a bit further. The guards noticed him and he lifted his leg, marking his territory. At least he was committed to his role. I continued running and came across the exhaust pipes, or outlets, creeping closer to investigate. More guards were stationed nearby.

I inhaled deeply, and Mariella exclaimed, "It's putrid! I can smell pain, agony, oh my god."

I nodded in agreement, acknowledging the grim reality. "Yes, now we need evidence. Let's circle around and find a suitable spot to take pictures."

Damon, frustrated, interjected, "No need. Magic can help us."

I shook my head. "Nope, look up. Infrared cameras. Magic won't protect us from those."

Damon, irritated, responded, "Fine, let's do this the harder way then."

I stood there, silently rolling my eyes, taking in the surroundings. The use of magic wasn't as simple as it seemed in every place I traveled. Continuing to navigate the perimeter, I noticed the presence of several trees that seemed suitable for my purposes. However, I decided to inspect them closely before proceeding. With a burst of speed, I ascended one of the trees.

Damon's voice interrupted my ascent. "Stop playing squirrel. Don't give in to your feline instincts."

Ignoring his comment, I climbed higher, ensuring that the branches could support my weight. Satisfied, I shifted back into my human form, wanting to see what lay ahead. Hidden by the branches, I knew this was a good vantage point.

Returning to my cat form, I descended and declared, "It's time to gather evidence. You two can head back to the city with the pack and talk to people while I handle this myself. Teleport there."

Damon grumbled in response, and we hurried back to the car. As I transformed back into a human, I grabbed my kit, then shifted back into a cat, ensuring my kit was secure with me. Now equipped with a camera, I knew this process would take some time.

Damon and the rest of the pack teleported back to Mimi's mansion, leaving her to her task. They went to cook and brought back supplies from various locations, unsure of their next steps. Mimi was deeply engrossed in her work, so it would take time to grab her attention. Damon, however, was ready to try. He patiently aimed to bring her back into the pack, but it would require effort.

Meanwhile, Number Two engaged in a lengthy conversation with Magnum about plans involving the young lady. Magnum wasn't thrilled, as he had concerns about Mimi's proximity to dangerous areas. He disliked not knowing if there were traps waiting for her. However, Mimi had been stubborn, disregarding his advice and directing him to other missions.

As I conducted my scouting mission, taking pictures of both living and deceased victims, I knew it was almost time to return to town and recruit more allies. Running back to my car, thoughts of my next steps filled my mind. To my surprise, the pack was waiting for me. They had brought a thermos full of coffee, food, and Damon had even printed out the pictures using a portable printer, ensuring everyone could see them. Charles had already begun cross-referencing the victim's photos with missing persons' reports. As I devoured the mountain of pure wagyu beef before me, it became clear that shaking these allies off my back wouldn't be so simple. Nevertheless, it was time to head into the city and find more support for our cause. 

Charles said, his voice tinged with excitement, "I found five hits already, so that is something. We have evidence of their whereabouts and can show this around. There's a contact number for anyone who spots them. Maybe we should reach out and let them know we're onto them." 

I replied, my voice filled with urgency, "Later, we need to find our crew first. The werewolf pack. Not sure if the vampires are interested in saving them. I'll make initial contact, and then you can join me."

Adam smirked and said, his words laced with skepticism, "You still do it that way? Despite your reputation, surely they've heard..."

I interrupted, frustration clear in my voice. "There are plenty of young girls in the pack. They'll tell them they are the flea, and then they're not. They won't recognize me. So, I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way."

Adam just smiled, enjoying the anticipation of seeing me in action. As the men packed the car, I stood a little further away, my senses focused on the task at hand. Unbeknownst to me, Charles approached from behind, his hands enveloping me, pressing me against him. I froze, unsure of how to react, unwilling to relax in his grip but also refraining from lashing out.

In a soft murmur, Charles spoke into my ear, concern clear in his voice, "You haven't slept. You've just been working. Honey, I can still sense that something's not right. It must have been awful, but talking about it helps."

I sighed and replied, my voice heavy with resignation, "Charles, I've been raped enough times that it was just one more. At least he wanted me to feel pleasure. It was just one more time."

My hand instinctively reached for my neck, tracing the marks left behind.

Confusion etched on his face, Charles asked, "Then what is it?"

Not entirely sure why, I confided, "I lost them all over again. They showed me what genuine love felt like, and then I lost them. I... I didn't even get to say goodbye. They kissed me, both of them, one last time..." My voice broke, tears threatening to escape.

Trying to hold myself together, I fought back the tears, determined not to cry. Charles gently turned me to face him, allowing me to bury my face against his chest. His arms wrapped around me, providing a sense of security, his touch soothing, and his whispered words filled with love. I mustered up strength, focusing on my work, but feeling drained and worn out, questioning whether any part of my spirit remained.

Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice Damon approaching. Suddenly, I felt a sharp prick on my side, a drug invading my lungs, and my mind immediately shut down.