The Mistletoe

Chapter XVII

The following days were, let's say, strange, not to say embarrassing. During the day, I did my routine tasks, and at night, I tried to communicate with the raven. It's not like I could actually talk to animals, but I needed a clue, something to help me confront the beast.

Training sessions with Laura's father made me realize how good I was with weapons, be it firearms or blades. Many hunters were starting to track the beast, but it seemed unbeatable.

One day while chopping wood, I felt Carmilla behind me, staring intently.

"Good afternoon, Miguel. How have you been feeling? I see you work very diligently."

"Fine," I said. "It's the deal I made with Laura's father. As long as I'm here, I have to help with the chores."

She let out a slight sigh and asked, "How long do you plan to stay here? Do you have any plans?"

"Umm... I don't know," I said. "I guess I'll leave when the beast is gone. Laura's father is very involved, and he asked me to help, especially because of my firsthand experience with that kind of animal, you know, the one I had when I arrived here and the other one recently. How is Laura?" I asked.

"Much better. She seems to be getting her colors back. The doctor will come, I think in two days, and Laura's father is much calmer now."

Then she came towards me and did something utterly bizarre. She touched my cheeks with her hands and then my forehead, as if I had a fever.

"Have you been feeling like Laura lately? Any symptoms?" She asked, looking at me with a slight smile, a worried expression on her face.

"Uh, I don't think so. I usually have good health. Besides, the illness seemed to only affect girls, right? I haven't heard any cases related to males."

There was an incredibly uncomfortable pause, and she didn't release her hands from my face. I could swear by the way she was looking at me that she was going to bite me or eat me as if I were some kind of fruit or candy. I used that moment to ask her about her relationship with Laura because everything was making me uncomfortable, and I didn't want to get into trouble or misunderstandings.

"Are... you and Laura... girlfriends? A couple?"

She gave a small smile and finally stopped touching my cheeks. "No, not at all, we're just friends. I'd never fall in love with anyone."

"Is she teasing me?" I thought. "I saw them together!" I considered telling her what I saw, but if I did, I'd look like a pervert and have big problems. We'd all have big problems, so I played dumb.

Carmilla furrowed her brow, then smiled mischievously and asked, "Why do you ask? Did you see something?"

"Oh no...!" I thought. "What if she noticed when I peeked through the window? No, God, no, how embarrassing!"

She pinched my cheek, and I said, "You're quite the sly one, my dear Miguel! Always snooping around, I get it now... I'm not that foolish." She sat, crossing her legs, and continued. "Let's say we were... experimenting... nothing more, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. But I ask you not to say anything, please. Poor Laura is very shy, and her father wouldn't tolerate anything like that, would he?"

As I said, I never judge people, nor do I want to get involved in their affairs, but I needed to know in case there were misunderstandings. The last thing I wanted was to get involved in a situation that would divert me from going back home.

"I promise I won't say anything, but close the curtains next time," I joked.

"And why were you out so late? You must be quite good at climbing. Don't tell me you were spying on poor Laura!" She looked at me with surprised eyes.