29.Kaikista kasvoista. (From Every Face.)

Magnum sat in the leather-clad car, the faint scent of gasoline lingering in the air. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, lost in thought. The image of the demon's razor-sharp sword nearly slicing Mimi in half replayed in his mind. He could still hear the sickening sound of the impact, the sharp clang of metal against metal. 

Mimi, undeterred by the danger, calmly adjusted her split safety vest, covering the wound with a mere bandage. Magnum couldn't help but shake his head. In his eyes, she was reckless with her own safety. Yet he understood her unwavering determination to protect everyone. Mimi was a beacon of strength, a role model for the entire damn organization.

Magnum had worked alongside countless individuals, but Mimi's bravery had left an indelible mark. He felt a responsibility to teach others that immortality didn't warrant unnecessary risks. He had drilled into them the importance of caution, no matter how advanced the safety equipment he developed. Mimi's example, though inspiring, had also led some to be foolhardy, thinking they were invincible as long as they took precautions.

But sometimes, precautions weren't enough. Magnum knew this all too well. He had witnessed the loss of nine of Mimi's closest companions, including Brutus. The memory of Mimi's anguish still echoed in his ears. She had vowed that no one else would die, willingly throwing herself between fleas and demons. However, there were others on the team, and such recklessness was far from ideal.

A heavy sigh escaped Magnum's lips. He hated the thought of exposing Mimi's behavior or betraying her trust. Loyalty bound him to her, but he couldn't bear to see her injured needlessly. Perhaps it was time for the pack to realize her actions. Adam, Mimi's second in command, was the logical choice to talk some sense into her. He needed to know about the gig.

Magnum discussed the matter with the rest of the team, finding a consensus that Adam should be informed. Mimi's tendency to conceal her injuries had become all too apparent, revealed by chance. The men shared many examples with Magnum, strengthening his resolve. Grabbing his phone, he dialed Adam's number, preparing to reveal the truth.

"Hauptmann here; what is it, Magnum?" Adam answered, the sound of his voice echoing through the phone.

Magnum said, his voice filled with urgency, "Well, I didn't feel like calling Salvatore, even though he said I should monitor Mimi for demons."

The air in the car was tense, filled with anticipation.

Magnum continued, "Mimi was at a gig today and broke Damon's programming. Now Mimi can kill demons again, and I can say that she did."

The words hung in the air, a mix of dread and triumph. "We've been talking amongst the men now, and everyone thought you should know about Mimi being hurt. That's all right. Nobody died, and nobody was really hurt, and we saved a lot of lives. Good job, Mimi. It was a big victory, but the lady is wounded."

Damon spoke, his voice tight with concern. Magnum could already hear the charge in his voice directly. "Adam put this on the speaker. So Mimi killed demons. How many, and what happened? What the hell damage? What the hell was this job anyway when Adam does not know about it?"

Magnum's words pierced the silence, filling the car with a sense of urgency. "This was a big job, and according to the boys, this was planned for at least two weeks." The air seemed to crackle with anticipation. "Over 30 of us were involved, and we saved the Fae; there were 300 or something like that. Mimi killed probably 100 demons, and there were at least 500 of them, as there was a nest near here that hadn't been destroyed by the demon squad,"

Magnum's words hung in the air, the weight of the battle felt by everyone in the room, "Yet Mimi was a wild one; she jumped about between a flea and a demon and killed the demons herself."

The air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the moment. Damon said softly when Magnum paused for a second, "Leave nothing out, Magnum; you know I will find out, and if I notice you withholding information on me..."

Magnum continued, his voice filled with determination. The car seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the next words. "Now, she probably got the demon blades, but there was a level 5 demon with a sword that went through Mimi's safety shield. The demon swung at Mimi from shoulder to opposite hip, and she just put on Colin's bandage and wrapped the vest better."

The room seemed to tense up. Adam and Damon got the gravity of Mimi's injuries.

"She didn't put on the strongest gear since Fae are so timid. The damage happened quite early in the gig, and I didn't notice that the lady had even properly vented her rage."

Damon grunted and said, "So she is controlling her rage, but she is still very reckless. Interesting." 

Magnum continued his report, his words hanging in the air. The sound of his voice reverberated through the car, accompanied by the rumble of the engine. The sight outside the window blurred as they raced towards their destination.

"Mimi lost Brutus and many other important fleas," Magnum explained, his voice tinged with concern. The weight of blame weighed heavily on Mimi's shoulders, and her guilt consumed her thoughts. "She's determined to prevent any more deaths, but she's not thinking clearly."

The car sped along the road, passing by a blur of scenery. Magnum's voice remained steady, his words punctuated by the occasional gust of wind that swept through the open windows. He knew the dangers they faced despite the impeccable safety equipment they possessed. No one could compare to Mimi's unique abilities, and her unwavering spirit had a way of influencing those around her.

"We're almost at the base now," Magnum stated, his tone showing the urgency of their mission. His mind raced with thoughts of what Miss, their trusted ally, could do to address the situation. However, his concern grew as he mentioned the poisoned swords that hindered the healing process. A flicker of worry passed through his eyes.

Damon interjected smoothly, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "We will join you at the base, and we'll make sure the lady understands the gravity of her followers' loyalty," he declared.

The call ended abruptly, leaving Magnum with a heavy sigh as he hung up the phone. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders.

As Magnum stepped out of the car, the cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying a hint of anticipation. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings. The base loomed in the distance, a formidable presence. Magnum had reservations about sharing the news with Mimi, but her safety, as well as that of the others, remained his utmost concern.

Magnum had confided in Adam earlier, withholding specific details about the casualties. He understood the toll revenge could take on a person's life, and he didn't want Mimi to be consumed by it. The images from the tapes replayed in his mind the state-of-the-art weaponry and bullet technology that even Reddington hadn't encountered. He knew that there was nothing that Mimi could have done to save her friends.

Magnum had witnessed the tests, the impenetrable armor suits created with the help of the Dresden spell. He had made 15 armored suits, but he had gigs and other stuff in his life, too, so he always had no time to make those suits. 

With a heavy sigh, Magnum pressed forward, his footsteps resonating on the pavement. He respected Mimi enough to protect her privacy, refraining from mentioning her struggles with alcohol or her ongoing recovery. The weight of the job and its consequences weighed on him, but he knew deep down that Mimi had done everything within her power.

I figured at least that cut wouldn't hurt too much. The vest took some of the force of the cut, and it's probably not that deep. I'll have a look at the base as soon as I get the fae sorted out and make sure everything is in place, and if anyone has any problems because I wasn't there, I can take care of that, too. Any damage will have to wait, and that just gives time to heal properly.

This was just one of the smaller bases, and there wasn't always that much room. I'd have time to take my gear out at some point. The lockers would be full with so many of us on this gig. I had time to wait. The car pulled up, and I got out of the car. My stomach was sore as the platinum demon blades moved, but I didn't let it bother me. I walked inside.

There was a hell of a hustle and bustle as everyone was unloading their gear or helping the fae who had now been brought to our base for safety. I walked into my office. And I got to work. This was a slightly cooler space, and I was in no hurry to take off my vest to support the damage and give it time to heal. 

 I started arranging accommodations for the fae, answering questions as I went, and checking my messages. I called at least eight people as I tried to find a demon-proof shelter for the fae before we could get them fixed up.

Hugh had shown that some would need a couple of weeks of treatment. A few men had gotten demon blades on another job, and Hugh was removing them. I had an enormous pile of demon lair locations and would have to go through those as well and get people to them. One demon division had come in a little earlier than us, so there were many people here. 

Adam and Damon drove up to the base. Magnum was outside meeting them. The men entered, and Damon raised his eyebrows; normally, from what he had seen, the base was pretty quiet, or if there were people there, then everything was in order.

Now, there were fae sitting on the benches. Damon recognized them directly. There were balls of light buzzing in the air.

Magnum said, "Energy fae, they are very grateful to Mimi, help where they can. "

Damon said, "Well, good if the lamp is out."

Adam was silent, and he walked towards the medbay. He saw the beds; they were full; 18 men were sitting on the beds or lying down. Adam saw Hugh removing a nasty-looking demon blade from one man's side.

Magnum said, " Not all of them are from this gig. Some of them are from the demon squad. They came here at the same time."

Adam growled, "What fucking demon squad?"

Magnum explained, and Damon was listening, too.

He said, "Oh fuck, and now that the lady gets to kill demons, then what the fuck is stopping her from joining them?"

Adam was silent. He looked around and asked, " Where is she?"

Magnum said, "In the office, trying to arrange accommodation for these faes and see what else is acute."

Damon said in a low voice, " Yes, the damage would probably have been pretty fucking good to look at. It would be acute."

Adam said, "I'll talk to the lady." Magnum nodded.

I wasn't even paying attention to my surroundings, and when there was a polite cough from the door. My door had been ajar, and I had noticed no one had entered. I looked up. I was surprised to see Adam.

He was looking at me with a stern expression. I saw Damon walking lazily towards the door too.

Adam said, " How bad?"

His voice was soft but low, and I could tell that Adam was losing his temper.

Adam said, " Magnum told me about Brutus, a shitty deal, but he also told me how the demon would slice you roughly in half."

 I frowned and said, "Oh really, it's not that bad, and I put Colin's super bandage on it; it'll heal in time."

Adam said, "How long and deep a cut is your injury? "

I shrugged and said, "It's probably not too bad now. Colin's bandage usually works pretty well, and once I change out of the gear, I'll see."

Adam came closer and pressed on my stomach. I gasped in pain. Oh, it was still sore.

He said, "You also have demon blades. Magnum told me, Platinum, can we chat?"

I looked at Adam and saw that he had let his temper get the better of him again and was about to start shouting. This was right on the point of being heard.

I said, "Fine, but let's go over here, a bit calmer."

I tried to take Adam into the soundproof room, but he didn't move.

Adam's voice boomed with anger, his face contorted with frustration. "Fuck Mimi with you. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO KEEP YOU SAFE," he shouted, his words piercing the air—the room was filled with tension, the smell of heated emotions lingering. 

"That's why Damon programmed you to stay safe, you fucking moron," Adam continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "Why the fuck do you have to go in front of demons, right to be a sitting duck?" The sound of his words echoed, bouncing off the walls. 

"How can you have no self-protection sense whatsoever?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "Just because you fucking can't die doesn't mean you have to seek harm and trauma like its nothing." The weight of his words settled in the room, suffocating the air.

"Those swords are motherfucking poisoned, and you haven't even looked at how bad it got," he hissed, the venom in his voice palpable. "You fucking incredible, irresponsible idiot! No wonder nine fleas are dead again." The sound of his anger reverberated, creating an atmosphere of tension and fear.

"I'm sure you know what for and who to blame," he sneered, his voice dripping with accusation. "Do you realize they are only human and worship you? If you fucking set such an example, then no wonder people are dying, thinking they are as immortal as you." The weight of his words hung heavy in the room, choking the air.

"No amount of magnum shields will help if you don't set an example," he spat, his voice filled with frustration. "Brutus and others are no fucking excuse to make a martyr of yourself and take all the fucking hits like some horseshit superhero. How many more have to die because of you?" The sound of his anger reverberated, creating an atmosphere of tension and fear.

"These people trust their lives in your hands, and look what happened to Brutus," he concluded, his voice filled with bitterness. "That's the bottom line." The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

Adam's piercing scream reverberated through the base, echoing off the walls. His face flushed crimson, and his hands clenched into tight fists as he took a few menacing steps toward me. I could tell by the intensity of his outburst that the entire base had heard him.

In stark contrast, I remained silent, burdened by the knowledge that nine of my trusted friends had lost their lives because of my actions. The weight of guilt bore down on me, amplified because Adam, too, held me responsible. Perhaps Magnum had divulged everything, showing Adam the damning recordings that showcased my monumental failure. Adam locked eyes with me for a fleeting moment before storming away.

Before I could utter a single word, he vanished through the doorway. Suddenly, a voice pierced through the heavy silence coming from the entrance.

"Darling," it said, dripping with disdain, "Adam pretty much-covered everything I would've said. You do not know how much of a role model you are, and the consequences of your recklessness. Those who follow you become demons themselves. You lack the expertise, the knowledge, and the resilience to face demons without suffering yourself. Letting a level-five demon slice through your armor and then sit on it is a pitiful display. Imagine if people were as careless with their own safety and well-being. I believe you already understand that, darling. Brutus and his comrades certainly do. I only wanted to protect you, but it seems I can't. When you refuse to listen or obey, I simply cannot protect you anymore. You think you're a hundred times superior, faster, and stronger than you actually are. And these people trust you; they want to emulate you, and then comes the devastation. Gather your belongings. We're heading to the house. I'll drive. Once we're there, I'll assess if I even bothered to help you in any way! I doubt I'll be in the mood for a doctor for quite some time."

Damon's voice was a volatile mix of anger, frustration, and boredom, as if he was scolding a wayward child. I noticed the deafening silence that enveloped the room. No one dared to speak, their ears still ringing with Damon's tirade. I couldn't conjure up any excuses, as guilt washed over me.

The scent of passion fruit wafted in the air, a subtle reminder that Damon's anger hadn't reached its zenith. Despite his harsh words, I recognized he had a valid point.

He walked over to my locker and took my car keys from there. He grabbed me by the arm and started pulling me along.

I said, "I'm in the middle of something. Just go to the house. I'll be there. "

Damon looked at me coldly and said, "Magnum's got it. At least he's got some sense. Now fucking come on."

He showed me the flank syringe, and I followed behind in my full tactical gear. Magnum came into my room and didn't even look me in the eye as he pulled the door shut behind him. Damon held me tightly in his grip.

He pulled me with him and slammed me into the car. I buckled my seat belt in the back seat while Adam was in the driver's seat, and Damon got in the other front seat. Fine, let's be quiet then. Let the fucking Salvatore not to treat me. I'll be fine. I'm always fine.

I wasn't alert now and didn't realize we were being watched. I was too full of self-pity and wondering what the fuck I could do. The high I'd gotten from a job well done had now evaporated and had been replaced by bitter self-loathing.

We set off driving and had just turned onto a major road when a truck hit the side of us. Our car spun around through the roof and hit the guardrail. I was properly strapped in, and my gear protected me. My work truck was a sturdy SUV, but both men in the front seat were unconscious. I was trying to unbuckle my seatbelt when the Poison was heard.

I froze in place and didn't put up a fight when someone came to get me out of the car and threw me on the floor of the van. I was shaking with fear and couldn't move. Damon and Adam were also thrown, but they were put in shackles. They put earbuds on me, and Poison was just playing. I was lying on the floor of the van shaking and terrified, I did not know where I was or where we were going. I was completely helpless and unable to do anything.