Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 2

The water cascaded down, hot and comforting, as Laura leaned into Carmilla, her arms wrapped tightly around the vampire's waist. The steam enveloped them, turning the bathroom into a warm, private sanctuary. For a moment, nothing else mattered, just the two of them, free from the shadows of their past and the uncertainties of what lay ahead.

Carmilla's cold hands traced familiar patterns on Laura's back, her touch both tender and possessive. The heat of the water mingled with the coldness of Carmilla's body, creating a cocoon of intimacy that Laura never wanted to leave.

— You know - Carmilla murmured against Laura's ear, her voice laced with playful mischief - For a human, you've got a lot of stamina.

Laura chuckled, pressing her forehead to Carmilla's.

— Just trying to keep up with my three-hundred-year-old vampire wife.

Carmilla's lips curled into a sly smile.

— Good luck with that, Creampuff.

Their laughter echoed in the small space, a brief, sweet escape from the weight of their reality. The soft sound of water splashing against the tiles provided a soothing backdrop, but even in this moment of tranquility, the outside world began to creep back in. As the water started to cool, the gravity of their situation edged into their consciousness. The plan, the move, the uncertainty, it all hovered just outside the bathroom door, waiting for them.

Later that evening, they gathered around a large, worn table at a quaint diner. The place had a rustic charm, with mismatched chairs and a warm, inviting atmosphere that almost made them forget the dire circumstances. The tension from earlier had lifted, replaced by a relaxed camaraderie as they shared a modest spread of comfort food. Jokes and teasing flowed as freely as the conversation, a temporary balm to their frayed nerves.

— So - Perry began, tapping her fork against her plate to get everyone's attention - I've been thinking about the snake. - Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, as if invoking its name could summon it.

Kirsch grimaced, his expression exaggerated as he shoved a piece of pie into his mouth.

— Can we not talk about creepy, mythical snakes during dinner?
— It's not creepy - Perry insisted, her tone serious. - It's powerful. And it might be our best shot at fixing this.
— Fixing what exactly? - Danny asked, leaning back in her chair with a skeptical raise of her eyebrow. - We still don't know what it can do or if it's even real.
— It's real - LaFontaine said with confidence, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of discovery. - The book is very clear about that. What we don't know is how to find it, or how to control it.

Carmilla, who had been quietly brooding until now, finally spoke up. Her voice was low, almost a growl, laced with the kind of authority that came from centuries of experience.

— And if we find it, how do we make sure it doesn't turn one of us into a monster?

A heavy silence fell over the table, the weight of her words pressing down on them like a dark cloud. The possibility of failure, of unintended consequences, loomed large in everyone's minds. The easy banter from moments ago felt miles away now, replaced by the sobering reality of what they were up against.

Laura, sensing the rising tension, reached out and placed a hand over Carmilla's. Her touch was gentle but firm, a grounding force in the midst of uncertainty.

— We'll figure it out - she said softly, her voice filled with the quiet strength that had seen them through so much already. - We always do.

Carmilla met her gaze, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes that she rarely let anyone see.