7. Hasta Manana.

When I discovered that the rest of the pack had abandoned me to go fucking in Ireland, I was quite frankly disappointed. What is so wrong with pack life these days that you always have to run away to fucking Ireland? It always made me feel like I'd done something, that Damon had to run away and I didn't understand what it was. 

It wasn't my place. I went to work then. I left a note for the pack or a message in the pack email. "I went to work because I banished you to Ireland, so apparently I'm somehow disturbing the pack. I'm at work, and I'll be back some time. Now I'm still not sure about the wedding. I feel like no one in the pack would even want to marry me. I've protected my thoughts again. Talk to Magnum, and he'll get word to me if there's anything important. I won't have any men. I remain uncorked. Then one day. Mimi."

I was fucked and hurt, too. You can talk to me if something bothers you, but as it's my existence, I can't do anything about it. I was packing my bag when goddamn Salvatore come out of the portal room and tried to explain something.

I said to him, "I am leaving for work as it is painfully obvious that it is not meant to be for me to have sex in this pack or be in this pack, go and fuck for six months for all I care. Forget my bank vaults. "

I had one bag of very powerful demon king blood preserved as my fucked upness had awakened my bloodlust and then this goddamn idiot tries to come to give some explanation. My vampire side was out. I was not sure if my eyes were red or what. He said nothing, just turned around, and walked back to the portal room.

I went to my car, the metallic click of the keys in my hand echoing in the quiet night. The car door creaked open as I reached inside and grabbed the bag of blood, feeling the cool plastic against my fingertips. With a quick motion, I almost ripped it open, the sound of the packaging tearing filling the air. As I brought the bag to my lips, warm blood flowed down my throat, its coppery taste soothing my vampire side. It was rich and potent, sliding effortlessly down my throat. Satisfied, I closed the bag and placed it back in the car. 

After quickly stowing my gear in the backseat, I started the car and drove towards the nearest base. The engine rumbled beneath me; the vibrations resonating through the steering wheel. My vortex, a constant whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, churned restlessly within me. The simmering rage threatened to consume me, but I hoped that this would not be a bad time to focus on my work.

Finally, I parked my car at our Atlanta base, the concrete beneath me solid and unyielding. I grabbed my gear bag and stepped out of the car, the brisk night air hitting my face. I walked briskly towards the door, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the hallway. This was a back entrance, a hidden path that only a select few knew of, but I made sure that my people were aware of my presence.

Entering my office, I placed the bag on one of the chairs, the soft thud breaking the silence. I put my computer starting too, lifting my laptop lid, putting everything ready. It was time to tell I was in the house. With a flick of a switch, the fluorescent lights illuminated the main hall, casting a pale glow. It was a signal, a beacon that showed the boss was present. It didn't take long before the first knock resonated through the room.

"Come in," I called out, the sound of my voice low and commanding.

To my surprise, it was Magnum who stepped into the room, his footsteps heavy and purposeful. We hadn't had much time to bond, but he entered carrying a large pot of coffee and a tray of cakes. Higgins, it seemed, had taken up baking, providing us with treats. I smiled at Magnum, a gesture of appreciation for his thoughtfulness.

"It's good to have you back," I said, my voice tinged with relief. "This whole damn time has been one big rollercoaster, and now our pack has gone into Ireland, a place where I am not welcome. So, I am free to do my job."

Magnum shook his head, a mix of frustration and disbelief on his face. "Your pack, oh my god, I would want to shout at them for so long. They just don't see what treasure they have," he exclaimed. "Well, we have a lot to do. Sniping missions here and there. Bad guys like Sark and Damien have been very active, keeping us busy. Thank god Salvatore isn't trying to come up with his fast solutions again."

I nodded in agreement, my eyes scanning the room.

"How about you and I become a mobile unit, so to speak," I suggested. "We'll tour around America, offering our help wherever it's needed and doing some sniping at the same time. It seems like we have quite a list on our hands."

A small smile played on Magnum's lips as he responded, "Sounds like a good plan. Oh, I have missed working with you."

I sighed, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me. "It won't be long before my rage pops out. I am a little more volatile nowadays. My feline side is affecting me too, along with a few other things," I confessed, the air around us heavy with the unspoken challenges that lay ahead.

I poured out my heart to Magnum that year; the emotions flowing like a rushing river. I could still feel the weight of Damien's manipulation, how he had coerced Damon into betraying me. The shed session, and the vulnerability it brought, almost resulted in me having his cubs. My vortex, my inner turmoil, I shared it all with Magnum as we embarked on our tour. With each word, I could feel the weight lifting off my shoulders.

Magnum listened intently, his unwavering presence a comfort. He understood the depths of my anger towards the pack, and he shared in my fury. As I traveled across America, I revealed every intricate detail of the pack's actions and their newfound sanctuary. Magnum couldn't comprehend Damon's behavior, nor could I. They had created a sanctuary where they could live the pack life they desired, leaving me feeling unnecessary.

"They don't even need me," I said to Magnum, frustration evident in my voice. "They have alpha females there now."

Magnum's response was laced with indifference. "Let them indulge in their own desires. Let's focus on our business."

And so, we delved into the matters at hand. Magnum and I had always worked well together, and his rekindled relationship with Higgins didn't distract me. Above all, he served as a sounding board, someone I could confide in without bias towards the pack or Mariella. Magnum held no regard for her, and I appreciated his unwavering support.

When I shared with him my energy manipulation abilities and my prowess at siphoning, we uncovered intriguing results. Magnum proposed a few ideas, and we even put my physical fitness to the test. But amidst our work, there were always losses. This time, I found the courage to reveal them to Magnum. I showed him the tiles from Lake Lanier, each one representing a life lost. Sadness and anger filled his eyes as he grasped the extent of our losses. At that moment, I felt understood, or at least I convinced myself that I did.

To protect Magnum from the pain, I used my vampire power to erase his memory of the plaques. He would never remember them, and it was for the best. Sharing our burdens felt cathartic, even though I couldn't allow Damon to discover the plaques. They were mine to bear, my responsibility alone. I couldn't bear the thought of breaking Magnum's heart, seeing the genuine pain in his eyes. We needed to maintain our fighting spirit, to keep pushing forward.

I toured America for six months. Magnum said no one had contacted him or anyone else. I knew then how fucking little I meant to the whole fucking pack. I did not want to do anything with them and as I used my lust for other purposes, it made me careless, and again; I learned I was still sloppy.

I was abruptly conscious once again, the sensation washing over me like a wave. I could feel my body regenerating, slowly returning to its previous state. In this stage, I found myself reduced to a mere postage stamp-sized piece of tissue, nestled amidst the damp darkness of a dense forest, cushioned by the softness of moss beneath me.

It took a grueling 24 hours for my physical form to fully regrow, and the anger within me burned fiercely. Transforming into a jaguar, I sprinted towards the nearest house, Safehouse, or base, whichever would be closest. I used my radar to find my closest sanctuary, which happened to be a castle in Texas.

Seventeen hours later, I arrived at the castle, only to discover my phone overflowing with messages from Magnum. Apparently, I had been unreachable for over a week. I hastily replied, requesting surveillance tapes for a specific facility in my office, and informed him I was en route.

My vortex, the source of my powers, crackled with heightened activity, intensifying my fury at the inconvenience of regenerating my body. After satiating my hunger and dressing myself, I hopped into a car and made my way to the base. My rage simmered just beneath the surface, and my feline instincts were far from content, leaving me in no mood to restrain myself completely.

Exiting the car, I grabbed my bag and entered the bustling base. It was filled with unfamiliar faces, individuals who had yet to work closely with me. I pushed through the crowd and was approached by one of our planners.

He hesitantly informed me, "Boss, we have a minor issue with a project. Would you mind taking a look and providing your opinion?"

Exhausted and irritable, I snapped at him, "Fine, sure. I can come and hold your hand, doing this damn job for you. Let's go. Show me what you're failing to grasp."

He walked away silently, and I followed, scanning through the plan and pointing out a few flaws, without bothering to be overly friendly.

I inquired, "Do you need me elsewhere? Are those surveillance tapes in my office?"

One of our hackers, visibly fatigued, responded, "Yes, they are on your desk, as you requested. They are for your eyes only."

Nodding, I retreated to my office. Discarding my jacket, I started up my computer and settled behind my desk. Opening the surveillance tapes, I watched intently, searching for any actions that required my attention. My desire to take action, to confront someone, burned within me, and I had no choice but to be at work, assuming the role of a leader and pointing out the glaring mistakes of these imbeciles.

Impersonal voice dictated, "The subject is identified as Mimi salvatore, a.k.a The Flea, she is a leader of rebels, she and her groups have brought down many unsavory medical places....."

I watched those tapes and listened to them, too. "She is healthy, but she is not human. Her tissues are not compatible with humans...."

I felt this powerless rage growing inside me as these tapes revealed the entire story.

" ...If she is unable to procreate with humans, she is no use to our super-soldier program, she is too far gone to be a good candidate for our conditioning and it is not likely she obeys orders as she has been in leadership position...."

Sentence after sentence made my rage boil over. As I watched those tapes. Tapes about me being studied, and assessed without my knowledge. These scumbags just decided that I was nothing.

"Terminate her, use our new neurotoxin, about 1000 times the dose, and then we can do the autopsy, see if there is something to be learned here...."

I knew I had a target, at least one, and oh boy, how humanity once again showed me its ugly side. I always killed the one who gave orders to kill me. Eye for an Eye, but those soldiers, or whatever who were just obeying orders, those I did not kill. 

Some scientists, who were looking at my seemingly dead body, dictated, "...deceased is female, about 160 cm tall, in lean shape. An autopsy will commence at 13.30 GST."

I had many tapes to be watched and every one of them made my rage boil over and good. 

"it appears the subject's tissues are destroyed after death. There have not been any samples left, as all of them desiccated, Sir.."

Another voice said, "Freak, fine, I will deal with this. Give me those samples and I will throw this carcass into the incinerator. The world is a better place when these goddamn mutants are destroyed." 

I sat behind my desk, my rage bubbling and boiling over. My felines were as angry as I was.

The door was knocked, and I said, "What! Come in, better be important."

I was too furious, my rage churning in my mind. I was about to let it burn this disappointment, this frustration, to nothingness. 

Magnum opened the door.

He looked at me, not saying a word, and then he said, "We have a lead in yet another Sark/Damien facility."

I said, "Goddamn it, those too aren't taking any vacation. Fine. Start drawing up a plan and I will be there soon."

I had shown him those things that Damon had noticed, so he could see where it was safe for me to go. I sat behind my desk, sighing, before leaving my office. I could still smell the fear that had burst out from Magnum.

I went to see that plan, and it was painstakingly obvious that everyone was more or less afraid of me. Well, to be honest, my feline side was out, so my eyes were jaguar's, not mine. My vampire side noticed this fear, boosting my bloodlust, and coloring part of my blonde hair into more white. And also giving me the distinct scent of burning candles. Every one of my people knew the fact that vampires would smell some sort of burning or fire when it was hungry, and these could smell my bloodlust. 

I was pissed off, my rage out in the open and everyone was afraid of me. I got that plan done. I would not go in there, but we would have a decent group taking it down. I slinked back to my office.

I learned a very valuable lesson this time that made me question my work as a flea. That lesson stung for a long time, and I would not share it with anyone, as no one knew what had happened. I lost my faith in humans and humanity too, sort of. I felt so damn once again that I did not belong; I was not human and now my people were afraid of me.