Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 16

The silence in the house was thick, almost suffocating, like the air itself was too tense to move. Laura stood by the window, staring out into the twilight as if the darkening sky held answers. Every minute that passed felt like it dragged on for an eternity. The house, usually so warm and full of life, felt like a cold, unfamiliar place—a place where something terrible was about to happen.

Danny sat at the table, her fingers drumming nervously on the wood. The rhythmic tapping was the only sound, and it grated on everyone's nerves, but nobody said a word. Even Laf, who always had something sarcastic to say, was unusually quiet, leaning against the wall with their arms crossed, their face unreadable. Perry, normally so talkative, sat beside Danny and Mel, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her lips pressed into a thin line. Kirsch, usually the joker, was uncharacteristically serious, his brow furrowed with worry.

The sudden sound of an approaching engine snapped everyone to attention. Laura's heart jumped into her throat as she saw the familiar outline of the minivan pulling into the driveway. Relief and dread twisted in her gut, an unsettling mix that made her feel sick.

When the front door creaked open, Carmilla was the first to step inside. Her face was set in a grim mask, the kind that usually meant things had gone very, very wrong. Behind her, Juliette followed, looking pale and shaken. The sight of her like that made Laura's stomach twist even tighter.

Danny was on her feet in an instant.

— Is everything okay? - she asked, the worry in her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

Carmilla exchanged a glance with Juliette, the hardness in her gaze softening just a touch.

— We had a little... encounter - she said, her voice tight, but there was no mistaking the weight behind her words.

Juliette swallowed hard, her eyes wide with fear.

— Elinor - she whispered, the name barely making it past her lips. - My sister. She found us.

The room went dead silent. Laura felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The name alone carried a weight that was hard to bear.

— And Calliope also decided to drop in for a chat - Carmilla added, her tone laced with dark humor, though her eyes were anything but amused.

Laura's gaze met Carmilla's, and in that moment, they both knew—they were in serious trouble. Whatever was coming for them wasn't just a problem, it was a storm, and it was closing in fast.

— Juliette - Laura said softly, taking a step forward. - We need to talk. All of us. Together.

Juliette hesitated, her eyes flicking around the room as if looking for an escape route. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, trapped and terrified. But there was something else in her eyes too—something that looked a lot like trust, or at least the hope that she could trust them.

— We're not here to pressure you - Danny said, her voice gentle as she tried to coax Juliette into opening up. - We just want to understand what's going on. We want to help.
— Please, let us help you - Perry added, taking a small step closer, her tone full of genuine concern.

Juliette looked at each of them in turn, and after a long, tense moment, she nodded slowly.

— Okay - she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. - I'll tell you everything you wanna know.

They gathered around the table, the usual comfort of the familiar setting overshadowed by the seriousness of what they were about to hear. The food on the table—spaghetti, meatballs, and vegan blood—went untouched as they focused entirely on Juliette.