Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 13

Juliette could feel the weight of her fear bearing down on her as she walked through the school corridors. The knowledge that Calliope was somewhere in the building made every sound seem amplified, the clattering of lockers, the murmur of conversations, the distant chime of the bell.

It was as if the entire school was a ticking time bomb, each passing second drawing her closer to an inevitable confrontation she wasn't sure she was ready for.

Steeling herself, she grabbed her textbooks and forced her focus onto the mundane routine of her morning.

— Just get through today - she chanted silently. - One step at a time.

Entering her first class just as the final bell rang, Juliette took her seat, the teacher's voice a distant drone. Was it history? Math? The specifics escaped her, her mind was elsewhere, tangled in the storm of her fears. She felt the weight of her classmates' stares, curiosity and suspicion thick in the air.

It was clear they sensed something was different, but no one dared to ask. They preferred the pretense of normalcy, even as everything had shifted.

Juliette tried to shrink into her chair, focusing on the view outside the window, where the leaves danced in the breeze. She wished she could be anywhere but here, escaping the anxiety that gripped her.

But the minutes dragged on, and a new form of dread began to gnaw at her. Calliope's absence felt more ominous than her presence. What if Calliope was waiting for the perfect moment? What if she had something planned? Juliette's mind raced with dark possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Juliette shot up from her seat, her heart hammering in her chest. The hallways seemed even more crowded now, the swarm of students a wall of noise and movement. She kept her gaze low, maneuvering through the throng with a practiced but anxious gait.

Turning a corner toward her next class, she was stopped dead in her tracks by a familiar voice.

— Juliette.

Her heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she turned to see Calliope standing a few feet away. The girl who had once meant the world to her was now a striking figure of anger and hurt. Her dark eyes, usually full of affection and warmth, were now cold and unforgiving.

— Calliope - Juliette whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the hallway.

Calliope's gaze was a piercing examination, as if she were searching for a shred of the person she once loved, or perhaps confirmation that Juliette had become the monster she feared.

— We need to talk - Calliope said, her voice firm and devoid of warmth. The determination in her tone made Juliette's stomach churn.

Juliette swallowed, her throat dry.

— Okay. Where?

Calliope nodded toward a side door leading to a secluded courtyard, away from the eyes of prying students.

Juliette hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to flee, but she forced herself to follow. She cast a last hopeful glance for any sign of Carmilla nearby.

The courtyard was eerily quiet, the noise of the school now a distant murmur. Juliette's heart raced as Calliope closed the door behind them, isolating them from the world. The tension in the air was palpable, almost suffocating.

Calliope wasted no time.

— Why did you do it? - she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and heartbreak. - Why did you turn him?

The question hit Juliette like a punch to the gut. She had known this confrontation was coming again, but hearing the words made her guilt feel overwhelming, a tidal wave threatening to drown her.

— I... I didn't have a choice, Calliope. He was dying. I couldn't just...
— So instead of letting him die, you made him one of them? - Calliope's voice cracked, her eyes flashing with anger. - You turned my brother into a vampire, Juliette! Into the very thing he was raised to hate!

Tears welled up in Juliette's eyes as she fought to maintain her composure.

— I was trying to save him! You don't understand how much pain he was in. I couldn't...
— I don't care! - Calliope shouted, her voice echoing off the courtyard walls. - You had no right! You made him into a monster, just like you.

The words cut deeper than any knife could. Juliette felt as though her heart was being ripped apart. She wanted to explain, to make Calliope understand that her actions had been driven by love and desperation.

But the words caught in her throat, choked by the raw hurt in Calliope's eyes, the betrayal that twisted her features into something unrecognizable.

— I'm sorry - Juliette whispered, her voice breaking. - I never wanted to hurt you.

For a brief moment, Juliette thought she saw a flicker of the girl she used to know, a hint of the love they had shared. But it was fleeting, replaced by a steely resolve.

— I can't forgive you, Juliette. Not for this. - Calliope's voice was cold, final. - You've taken everything from me. My brother, my trust... my love. I can't ever get that back.

Juliette felt as if she were drowning in her own sorrow. She longed to reach out, to bridge the chasm that had opened between them. But she knew it was futile. The damage was irreparable, and there was no going back.

— Please, try to understand why I did it - Juliette pleaded. - Theo understood, he...
— You spoke to my brother? - Calliope interrupted sharply.
— Yes - Juliette said, her voice trembling. - And your mother! They're struggling, but they're glad Theo is still here...
— Now I know you're lying - Calliope snapped, tears welling in her eyes. - There's no way in hell my mother would be glad that her son is now a monster.
— Please, Cal - Juliette said, taking a tentative step closer. - They're fine. They're learning how to navigate this new reality.
— Where are they? - Calliope demanded.
— I... I can't tell you - Juliette said, her gaze dropping. - But they're safe, I promise.
— As if your word means anything to me. - Calliope spat.

Juliette's voice trembled as she asked.

— So what now?

Calliope's expression hardened further.

— Now? Now I make sure you never hurt anyone else. Not ever again.

Juliette's blood turned to ice. She had feared this, but hearing it spoken so directly made it terrifyingly real. Her heart raced, fear gripping her tightly.

— You don't have to do this - Juliette pleaded. - There has to be another way. We can figure this out...
— There is no 'we' anymore - Calliope cut her off, her tone icy. - You made sure of that.

Without another word, Calliope turned and walked away with a determined stride. Juliette stood alone in the courtyard, her world collapsing around her. The weight of her loss pressed down on her, a heavy blanket of guilt and despair.

Moments later, Carmilla was at her side, wrapping her in a comforting hug.

— I'm sorry, kid - Carmilla said softly. - In time, she might understand.

Juliette wasn't sure how long they stood there, the silence stretching between them. The courtyard felt emptier than ever, the quiet deafening. She had anticipated how hard this would be, but nothing had prepared her for the reality.

Finally, she pulled away from Carmilla's embrace, her voice shaky.

— It doesn't matter anymore. We have more important things to worry about.

She had no idea how she would get through the rest of the day. But one thing was clear, Calliope was right.

Their love was irrevocably broken, and Juliette was left to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart while trying to navigate the new dangerous challenges that lay ahead.