Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 5

As Juliette reached the top of the stairs, Perry and Laf guided her down a dimly lit hallway toward a small but cozy bedroom.

— Here you go - Perry said, pushing the door open with a slight creak. - It's not the Ritz, but it's quiet. You'll be able to catch some sleep.

Juliette offered a faint smile as she stepped inside, placing her mug on the nightstand. The room was simple but comforting, a soft bed with a patchwork quilt, a small desk by the window, and a lamp that bathed everything in a warm, amber glow. It was the kind of place where she could almost pretend everything was normal, if only for a fleeting moment.

— Thank you - Juliette murmured, glancing back at Perry and Laf. - For everything.
— No worries - Laf replied, their smile small but genuine. - Get some sleep. We'll figure out the next move in the morning.

Perry gave her a reassuring nod before they quietly closed the door behind them, leaving Juliette alone with the lingering silence. She sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the night pressing down on her like a weight she couldn't shake.

The room might have been comforting, but her thoughts were anything but. She replayed everything in her mind—fear, guilt, the searing pain of losing Calliope, and the crushing burden of what she had done. The guilt gnawed at her insides like a persistent ache, a constant reminder of her failures.

She wondered if things could have been different if she had made another choice. But deep down, she knew regret wouldn't change anything. She had to keep going, for the people she still cared about, for the chance to make things right.

She lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind a tangled mess of anxiety and exhaustion. As she drifted into a restless sleep, her dreams twisted into a dark, surreal landscape. One moment, she was in the safe house, and the next, she found herself in a forest, standing before a tree she knew all too well.

— Cal, are you here? - Juliette's voice trembled as she scanned the shadows, the forest's eerie quiet amplifying her sense of dread.
— Get out of my dream, you monster! - Calliope's voice sliced through the air, sharp and filled with venom. She stepped out from behind the tree, her face contorted in fury.
— I didn't mean to intrude. You know I can't control it - Juliette's voice wavered, tears already stinging her eyes. - I'm sorry, Cal. I never wanted this.
— I don't want your apologies. - Calliope spat, her eyes blazing. - I want my brother back.
— I was trying to help him - Juliette pleaded, her tears flowing freely now. - I didn't want him to die. I thought... I thought I could save him.
— You turned him into a monster, just like you! - Calliope's voice broke into a scream, her anger palpable.
— I saved his life! - Juliette's voice rose, fierce and desperate—this was the first time she truly believed it. - If there had been any other way, I would've taken it, but I couldn't just let him die!
— Because of you, I didn't just lose my brother. I'm losing my entire family! - Calliope's fury gave way to a deep, aching sorrow.
— What? Your family? - Juliette asked, confusion and fear mixing on her face. - What do you mean?
— You really don't know, do you? - Calliope's voice dripped with bitterness. - My mom... She freed Theo and left with him. No one knows where they are.

Juliette's heart sank. She just wanted to help.

— Cal, I'm so sorry. I never wanted any of this.
— Sorry? - Calliope's voice trembled, more from pain than anger now. - You're sitting in your cozy little bed, surrounded by monsters while my family loses everything.
— I'm not home! - Juliette's voice cracked with frustration. - I'm too afraid—afraid of what Elinor might do next.
— Don't expect pity from me, Juliette - Calliope said, her voice cold.
— I'm not asking for pity - Juliette said, her voice firm despite her tears. - Elinor killed Theo, and I couldn't let her get away with it. I turned her in for all the other murders she committed.
— So why are you scared? - Calliope challenged, her eyes narrowing.
— Because she'll get out, Cal - Juliette's voice broke into a desperate plea. - And I'm terrified she might come after me... or you.
— You're just trying to scare me - Calliope accused, her eyes narrowing further.
— No, Cal! I swear, that's not it! - Juliette's voice was a desperate cry. - I love you, Calliope. Please believe me.
— I'm done with this - Calliope's voice was cold, final.

Everything went dark. The forest, the tree, and Calliope all vanished, leaving Juliette alone in the void. But even in that darkness, she clung to the small, fragile hope that somehow, some way, they could find a way to make things right.

As the night deepened, the house fell into an uneasy silence. Each person was lost in their own thoughts and fears, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Yet beneath it all, a thin thread of connection held them together, a bond that just might be strong enough to carry them through the trials that lay ahead.

In the living room, the group had settled into a quiet but resolute discussion. Laura, Carmilla, Perry, and Laf sat around the table, their faces etched with concern.

— She's tougher than she thinks - Perry said, breaking the silence with a thoughtful tone.
— Yeah, but she's hanging by a thread - Laf added, their expression reflecting deep concern. - We've gotta be careful. Push too hard, and she'll snap.
— We'll give her space - Carmilla agreed, her tone resolute. - But we can't ignore the fact that the hunters are after her, and now us, too. We need to stay ahead of them.

Laura leaned back, her gaze contemplative.

— We will. But we can't forget that Juliette's not just some pawn in this game. She's a person, and she's been through hell. If we're gonna make it through this, she needs to trust us.
— Trust isn't handed out on a silver platter - Mel said, returning with Kirsch and Danny. - We're gonna have to earn it.
— I'm all in - Kirsch said, his usual carefree attitude replaced with a rare seriousness. - Whatever it takes to keep her, Carmilla, and D-Bear safe.

Danny remained silent, but her steely gaze spoke volumes, she was resolutely with them.

— Then we're doing this together - Laura said, standing with a newfound determination. - No more secrets, no more holding back. We're in this for each other and for Juliette.

The group nodded in agreement, a sense of unity settling over them. They knew the road ahead would be tough, but for the first time that night, it felt like they had a real shot. They would protect Juliette, and in doing so, perhaps they would find a way to protect themselves too.