The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

I held Jake tightly in my arms, his small body nestled against mine. I watched as Damon handed out warm mugs to the girls, hoping it would soothe their upset stomachs. Taking care of sick children was already a full-time job, and even though the pack was here, my controlling nature made it hard for me to trust them completely. But I knew I had to be prepared for whatever was coming.

Exhaustion had dulled my mind after weeks of caring for sick babies, including myself. Suddenly, numbers two and five entered the room, carrying blood collection kits. They carefully searched for a larger vein to draw more blood, rather than just a few drops from the heel. Mariella assisted them, guiding their hands.

Shortly after, number four appeared at the door and asked Damon, "The nursery is ready. How do you want to handle this?"

Damon glanced at him and replied, directing his words to Mariella, "Very well, my love. Cast a cleaning spell at the door of this room and the temporary nursery. Once you've collected the baby's blood, move them to the medbay for examination and cleaning. Then, administer any necessary medication before transferring them to the new nursery. As for this young lady," he looked at me, "she will also go to the medbay."

I nodded and said, "I'll take Jake to the medbay. He wants to be held."

Numbers two and five approached me, and number two assured me, "Don't worry, we'll take his blood, too. Come on, baby, let's position you just right."

As he adjusted Jake's arm to find a vein, number five noticed my expression and calmly said, "We used numbing energy so he won't feel a thing. Stay calm."

Mariella handed a bottle of blue velvet to number one, who had just finished feeding the girls and was now concerned about their feverish bodies.

She explained, "Here's Mimi's concoction for them. It's called blue velvet. It works well, but Giselle warned it might be something that babies will chop off. You always want to taste Mimi's formulas, so here you go."

I let out a heavy sigh; the sound echoing in the room, as they extracted three tubes from Jake. He continued to cough; the sound filling the air. I overheard Mariella's conversation with Number One, and the vial of the euthanizing agent still sat in my possession. I couldn't understand why I had saved it, but it remained in my grasp.

It was hidden in a safe in Alaska. A reminder of what happened. I just hoped if there would be ever another time, I would be strong enough to let them go, not torture than like I did those three, just in pure selfishness. I was too weak to do what would have been humane to do. 

As I glanced around, I noticed the bump bag was now half empty, and I cradled my sick baby in my arms. A thought crossed my mind - would it be beneficial to mix the bump into the steaming water?

Number Two looked at me and sternly said, "No steaming of any kind for these babies. We will provide them with additional help. And for you too, Missy."

Damon interjected, "Now, baby, you first. And Jake, too. Let's go to the medbay. There's a cleansing spell that will give you a tingling sensation. You'll be taken care of. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

His voice remained calm, but I could sense his worry. I understood my babies had been feverish for over a week, and it wasn't good for them, regardless of their immortality. It weakened them, and I had no idea how long it would take for them to recover.

Despite this, I stood up, and we left the room in a composed manner. To my surprise, Adam, Charles, Demon, and Lepard were waiting just outside the room. Charles gently took Jake from my arms, while Adam grabbed hold of me and teleported us to the medbay.

There, Number Nine and Ten stood ready to assist, and the boys guided me to the bed. Before I could react, Number Four approached, and I felt a sudden, sharp prick on my side. Damn flank. My mind became hazy, my legs refused to obey, and another prick followed, plunging me into darkness.

As number four expertly rendered Mimi unconscious, number ten approached, deftly inserting a cannula into her vein. He carefully injected a potent cocktail that he had prepared in advance.

He relayed the news to number one, saying, "Mimi is out. What do you want us to do?"

Damon let out a weary sigh, finding solace in the fact that Mimi was being cared for.

He addressed his team. "There's a referral, and Mariella has the tubes ready. Take the necessary tests, scan her, and I'll look up the results. Keep her sedated, ensuring she remains in a deep sleep. She needs rest, and we need to help her recover." 

Mariella approached Damon, wrapping her hands around him and squeezing tightly.

She reassured him, "We will nurse them back to health. The first batch of babies will move into the magic house in five hours - our five. Then, a few hours later, we'll make room for the wolf babies. Now, let me share my idea for a fever medicine for these little ones. It should help, but they might become irritable because of sweating. We'll have to comfort and soothe them." 

Damon pondered for a moment, a smile forming on his face.

He responded, "It's quite simple, my dear. We'll administer the fever medicine, clean them up, feed them, and then give them a dose of Salvatore's baby velvet. They'll sleep and rest, just like how you care for Mimi, except these won't be crawling eagerly on the floor. As for the young lady, we'll wait for the scan and blood test results." 

He had tasted Mimi's baby velvet, and he had changed it a bit, and he had already drained it into a jar a good amount and showed Mariella a light purple substance and he had written dosage there as well. It would keep babies resting nicely. Not so easy to chop off, as it had his will and his magic in it.

Mariella nodded, and the men listened intently to the instructions. Each baby was taken into the medbay, where Damon would analyze their results. They would receive fever medicine, cough syrup, and nourishment, followed by the velvet once their fever subsided. It didn't take long for the babies to succumb to sleep, with Mimosa and Shadow lending a helping hand.

Next on the agenda was Mimi. Damon could hear her labored breathing, even in her deep slumber. She had required another cocktail when she attempted to awaken. Damon was determined to keep her asleep until he could determine the cause of her distress. And made a suitable treatment plan for her, too. She was burning up as well.

Damon and Mariella carefully examined the scan results, their eyes fixated on the screen. The images revealed Mimi's condition with stark clarity. Her body was teeming with spleens. The infection had caused her thymus to swell to an immense size. Inflammation had taken hold of her lungs, causing their removal and the hope for new, healthier ones. To protect the rest of the pack, strict handwashing and hygiene routines were enforced, while Damon, Mariella, and two others prepared for Mimi's operation.

Blood tests unveiled the toll that sleep deprivation, malnutrition, and sickness had taken on Mimi. Damon suspected she couldn't be constantly sedated, as his teeth had once again provided a substance to aid her, requiring her to breathe it in. Despite the decades that had passed since her last encounter with the torturous CPAP machine, Damon knew this respiratory therapy would be no easy feat. Mimi's initial resistance would need to be subdued with heavy sedation. Moreover, being a mother to sick children, she might try to downplay her symptoms in order to care for her babies.

During the operation, a significant number of powerful spleens were removed from Mimi's body. Though she had attempted to create them for her offspring, these spleens were now unnecessary. Stored away safely, they held universal potential, capable of benefiting anyone. The concentrated essence of these small organs was evident in the few samples Mariella tasted.

As for Mimi's thymus, several members of the pack consumed parts of it, with number one being the first. This ritual would grant them enhanced immunity once again. Following the operation, Mimi's new lungs showed improvement, yet she developed a fever and remained in a deep slumber.

Damon attempted to place a mask on her, but her breathing ceased, defying any stimulant to coax it back. It was an inconvenient reflex, hindering the gentleness of the therapy. Despite the desire to administer the treatment while she slept, it was essential for Mimi to remain awake, her symptoms unmasked. This was necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. Thus, they allowed her to rest for a few days.

They had gathered all the healthy babies in the magical house, and the temporary nursery was bustling with activity. There were seven sick babies, four of them suffering from stomach flu. Bump, a soothing ointment, eased their symptoms and provided them with much-needed nutrients, encouraging them to crawl and engage in activities.

However, there was a risk of their fever spiking if they overexerted themselves. Additionally, three boys were coughing, crying, and restless. They had been fed, but their persistent viral cough was beyond the reach of any quick remedy.

Suddenly, I woke up feeling terrible and shivering from the cold. The light seemed unnaturally yellow, and my head felt heavy, a clear sign of a fever. Yet restlessness and breathlessness overwhelmed me; my lungs were sore, and I couldn't help but cough.

I attempted to rouse myself, sensing someone picking me up. Still heavily drugged, I found myself sitting on a chair, with someone standing behind me. Then, something was brought close to my face, and I instinctively tried to turn away. However, firm hands held my head in place while a mask was placed over my nose and mouth.

Panic surged within me, and though I could hear voices, the drugs clouded my understanding. I felt a rush of air or some other substance being forced into my lungs, making it even more difficult to breathe. I fought against the machine, desperate to break free.

A sharp prick in my neck further blurred my mind, leaving me unable to resist as much. Someone's hands gripped my sides, pressing against my ribs, forcing me to inhale. Amidst the chaos, I heard snippets of conversation, but their meaning eluded me entirely.

Time lost all significance as the drugs, panic, and uncertainty merged into a disorienting haze. Eventually, the onslaught ceased, and exhaustion washed over me. I surrendered to the welcoming darkness, too tired to fight any longer. 

The pack of Salvatores was exhausted. It had been an incredibly challenging time for them, and now they had to put Mimi through torture. Her panic about the breathing therapy consumed her, and no matter who was by her side, it didn't ease her anxiety.

The breathing therapy involved four of them. One person sat behind Mimi, gently guiding her breaths, pressing against her ribs, and speaking soothingly to her. Another operated the machine, ensuring it blew consistently and at the right speed, while also making sure the necessary substances were administered. A third person continuously injected sedatives into Mimi, keeping her as drugged as possible. Lastly, someone had to hold her down as she fought desperately to escape, using every ounce of strength she had.

Everyone pitched in, taking turns based on availability, to give her the therapy three times a day for 30 minutes each session. Afterward, she would usually be completely exhausted, sleeping for a few hours. During the rest of the time, it was business as usual to care for her.

She would crawl on the floor, feverish, desperately trying to make it to the bathroom or anywhere else, appearing innocent and weak when one of them, responsible for her, would pick her up. They would then administer fever medicine, wash her, and ensure she was comfortable. Since this was a virus, antibiotics were not effective, but her weakened state made her susceptible to secondary infections if she didn't take it easy. The rest of the group tended to the babies, ate, and engaged in furious sex if time allowed.

Damon and Mariella had a strict two-hour rule for their fucking before they had to attend to other responsibilities, either taking care of the kids or Mimi. There were several instances when Mimi, driven by her determination, crawled into the corridor, leaving the medbay when no one was present, desperately trying to find her babies. The spell placed on her prevented her from using her powers to conceal her condition, but her stubbornness pushed her forward.

The Salvatores truly hoped that as the babies recovered after three weeks and the girls were allowed back into the magic house, as their stomach flu had subsided, Mimi would also improve. She had experienced a few stomach issues, resulting in her vomiting directly onto the lap of number one a few times until they were able to settle her stomach.

Thankfully, no one else fell ill, mainly because of their strict hygiene protocols, rigorous handwashing, and proper disposal of anything contaminated. It was a challenging task when Mimi once again crawled up to the linen cupboard, her weak body trembling, and she pulled the doors open and grabbed what she could reach, spilling its contents onto the floor. She was then usually curled up in the middle of those linens. The sight of all those linens scattered wastefully was disheartening. Everything went to the trash, with no washing.

She had repeated this act multiple times, driven by her fever-induced restlessness, her frail legs unable to carry her properly. As a result, the linen cupboards were securely locked, denying her any further access. 

After five weeks, the last of the babies were taken to the magic house, and Mimi did not require respiratory therapy for four consecutive days. The relief was palpable as she was anesthetized and placed on a feeding regimen. The rest of the pack let out a collective sigh, knowing that the long and arduous process was finally over.

They had accomplished their goal, and now Mimi would sleep for several weeks, allowing them all to rest as well. Or, perhaps, indulge in passionate sex like wild creatures, for they were a pack driven by desire. But above all, they were immensely proud of themselves.