The Mistletoe

Chapter XX

The Beast of Gevaudan had massacred a farm, and some soldiers had already perished trying to capture it. With the army engaged in the hunt for the animal, Laura's father was at home, and I didn't know if that was better or worse.

Everyone already knew what was happening between Carmilla and me. The maids thought it was some kind of romance or adventure.

"Shameful," said one. "A scandal," the other, and the whispers continued in the mansion.

The only ones aware of Carmilla's vampiric nature were Laura, her father, the doctor, who sometimes came to check on Laura and me, but it was clear that Laura was safe for now.

Laura wanted to remove the painting of "Mircalla" from her room, as that had been the name Carmilla used to approach Bertha and seduce her, according to General Spieldorf's letter, where he deeply lamented the death of his great solace, his niece, and swore revenge. The person in the painting was none other than Carmilla herself.

In the letter, he described Carmilla's companions and accomplices—the lady, the guards, and attendants. I realized then that they were the same vampires I had eliminated when I traveled to this era. "A couple less, now Carmilla won't have accomplices," I tried to console myself. There was a letter from a certain Baron Vordenburg, in which one of his informants had described a "rookie" vampire hunter, or a werewolf, after recognizing the bodies of Carmilla's accomplices, and it was necessary for them to contact this person. That person was me, but the letter never really reached its destination on time.

Carmilla gained more and more power within the mansion, and knowing this, she suggested that I move to her room, which caused protests from the servants and angered Laura. Laura's father, after thinking about it for a while, accepted the proposal, and arrangements were made, to the surprise and shock of the others. However, this was a masterful move on his part, and we discussed it during a supposed "expedition," using the beast as a pretext.

"Miguel," he began. "You must think I'm crazy for allowing you to sleep with Carmilla in her room, but as we already know— you, me, and Laura—Carmilla is a threat to our home, and no one is capable of entering to investigate, either out of fear or due to her insistent eccentricities. I thought about going myself, but she would suspect immediately and take away the only advantage we have. Carmilla doesn't know that Laura and I are aware of her nature, and we are waiting for the vampire hunters, but we need to know her weaknesses and the nature of the situation. We must understand what her long-term game is, having you inside will allow us to see what she is really planning. Would you be willing to be our informant?"

"Brilliant," I thought. "This way, I'll also know how she managed to bypass my defenses. Her plan wasn't random; there must be something behind it, something premeditated."

"Yes, sir. I will do as I am asked, I will check everything I can and keep you informed."

"Excellent, Miguel," he smiled. "One last piece of advice. I know you're in a vulnerable situation, but don't let your feelings get mixed up. Stay strong and keep your goal clear. Madame Perrodon has probably already transferred your things, be careful, son."

I felt the last message as if it were from my own father. I smiled, and we walked back home.

As I entered Carmilla's room I could feel that sweet, intoxicating aroma. I saw her smelling my clothes, almost in a trance, she was staring into my eyes and I could feel the ecstasy she was in, I could hear again, those damn primal drum chanting.

"Welcome my darling. Here there will be enough room for both of us, and you won't have to sleep in that horrible little room you were in."

They had prepared a double bed, very elegant. I could see the clothes that she had diligently arranged in a closet, and another one where my clothes were. There was also a mirror and I thought, "So vampires do reflect, another myth cleared up."