The Axis My World Turns On

Specks in Her Eyes

Laura actively came up with 37 outcomes for Mattie's frantic call. She wishes she could say at least 15 of those included Mattie and the loss of a beloved designer jacket of some sort, or whatever the more well off people of the world spent their money on; but, strangely she could only come up with 2. The other 35 outcomes featured Carmilla in copious amounts of danger. One of them was Carmilla being mauled by a bear that wandered into the city, and Carmilla was without Sherman Hollis's monthly box of bear spray. Another was of Carmilla fighting off a small group of angry drunks after a bad eviction from Silas Brewery. In both scenarios, Carmilla won. But she did not walk away unscathed. She let herself hold on to those, as the other 33 outcomes had much more gruesome ends.

Her car couldn't move fast enough– and her GPS couldn't be more annoying– as she sped to the address Mattie so impolitely sent her. She didn't even have an internal monologue as she watched what she considered to be "normal" houses transform into mansions and castle-like properties, illustrating her entrance into Silas's upper class. There was no time. She's too busy squinting at every passing gold-plated set of numbers that glinted in her headlights searching for the perfect match to the set she received. She almost gives up hope, considering that maybe she was given the wrong arrangement of numbers, when she finally catches eye of her match on the right. Never give up, the old Hollis charm strikes luck again! Wasting no time, Laura pulls into the property and parks behind Carmilla's car at the center of the horseshoe driveway. Carmilla, who is supposed to be at Laura's house. Not here.

Her feet pound the pavement until she is face to face with a lion's face iron knocker against a red door surrounded by 3,500 feet of gray-brown brick and perfectly trimmed green shrubbery. Ignoring the urge to stop and stare, Laura lifts the heavy metal and gives it five heavy knocks.

It isn't long before she hears the clacking of heels against what she is sure are polished marble floors. She can't imagine Mattie living in this house with this knocker in this neighborhood without perfectly polished marble floors. Then again, Laura can't imagine anything but another 12 possible outcomes for Mattie's call. Hit by a bus. Escaped baboons attacked her with poop bombs. Clown car full of criminal clowns. Baboons and criminal clowns in cahoots against Carmilla. The discovery of a wasps nest in her car trunk. Mimes.

"It took you long enough!" Mattie's firm grip catches skin as she yanks Laura inside by the front of her shirt, pulling Laura from the image of a mime trapping Carmilla inside a metaphorical box.

"Follow me."

Laura was right. The floor is so smooth and clear that she can catch her reflection with no effort. The area is bright, white walls covered in color contrast glinting in the light of expensive-looking bronze metal sconces. The entryway's colors of white and gold evolve into white, dark gray, and sangria as they enter the living room. And, there on the huge white sectional, adding her own shade of red to the decor, is Carmilla. There's a white towel splattered in blood against her lip and ice against her midsection. Her hair is blood caked in places, and there's bruising along the chiseled form of her chin. There are more bruises on her arms and what Laura could see of Carmilla's abdomen.

"Carm?" Laura strides forward, but stops at the edge of the chaise. Carmilla looks so breakable. She fears she'll only make it worse if she touches her. So, she stands a safe distance away, physically struggling with her decision. "What happened to you?"

"That walking case of spitfire you dropped Mircalla for!" Mattie rages, grabbing the blood spattered towel to wipe at her sister's mouth. Something of a moan comes from the bruised mess of a brunette. To which Mattie shrugs.

"I'm still not over it."

"Danny did this?" Laura asks, wanting Carmilla's eyes to open. But they wouldn't. Carmilla's eyes stayed closed tight. And Laura hates it.