Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 10

Some time later, the three vampires returned to the house, the tension from earlier still clinging to them like a shadow that refused to let go. The grand entrance of the mansion, with its high ceilings and dim lighting, felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were holding onto the secrets exchanged within them.

— Juliette, why don't you head upstairs and unpack? - Danny suggested as they stepped inside, her tone casual, though her eyes betrayed the weight of her thoughts.

Juliette nodded, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

— Yeah, sure.

Carmilla, already half-turned towards the living room, added with a wave of her hand

— We'll call you when dinner's ready.

Juliette offered them both a quick smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes, before darting up the stairs. The echo of her footsteps faded, leaving the house eerily silent.

As soon as Juliette was out of earshot, Danny's expression shifted from casual to serious, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.

— We need to talk to Laura. Now.

Carmilla glanced at her, brow furrowed.

— What's up, Xena? You're looking all intense. Something on your mind?

Danny's gaze hardened, a clear indication she wasn't in the mood for banter.

— Juliette's hiding things from us.

Carmilla's expression darkened, the lightness of their previous exchange evaporating. Without another word, they moved through the mansion with purpose, their footsteps barely making a sound on the polished wooden floors.

They found Laura in the kitchen, the warm, homey scent of freshly baked cookies wafting through the air. The contrast between the comforting smell and the tension they carried was almost jarring.

— You're back before dinner! - Laura greeted them, her smile warm as she pulled a tray of cookies from the oven, the edges perfectly golden. - I made cookies. They're chocolate chip, your favorite.

Carmilla, never one to resist Laura's baking, reached out and grabbed a cookie, taking a big bite.

— God, I love your cookies.

But Danny wasn't in the mood for small talk.

— Laura, we need to talk about Juliette. - she said, her voice tight with urgency.

Laura's smile faded, her brow furrowing in concern as she turned to face her wife and Danny.

— What happened?

Carmilla, still chewing on her cookie, mumbled

— Juliette's family is the keeper of that ruby snake or whatever.
— The Emerald Malkia - Danny corrected, her tone sharp as she shot Carmilla a look. - Lilith's snake.

The mention of the snake made Laura's face tighten with worry.

— And Juliette knows this?
— She has to - Carmilla said, swallowing her cookie. - Her parents mentioned it right in front of Calliope's family. No way she's clueless.

Danny crossed her arms, her voice laced with frustration.

— And it's not exactly a well-kept secret. If the Burns family knows, then so do the hunters. And that puts her in even more danger.

Laura's mind raced, piecing together the implications. They were dealing with too many threats, vampires, hunters, and now, the possibility that Juliette was hiding something that could tip the scales against them.