Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 17

The silence in the house had taken on a new weight, settling into every crevice and corner like a cold mist. As the group dispersed, heading off to their respective rooms, the echo of the earlier conversation still lingered in the air, thick with unspoken fears. Juliette's revelations had shifted the mood drastically, and now, even the familiar comfort of the old house felt foreign, almost menacing. Each creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind rattling the windows, made the ancient place seem alive with secrets.

Carmilla led Laura upstairs, their fingers intertwined, but the usual warmth between them felt muted under the pressure of what they had learned. The shadows in the hallway seemed to stretch longer than they should, and even the flickering light from a dying candle did little to chase away the unease. Carmilla's heart was still racing from the encounter earlier, Elinor's name alone had sent chills down her spine. Now, even the safety of the house felt like a fragile illusion, something that could shatter at any moment.

When they reached the door to the main suite, Laura hesitated, her hand on the knob, as if she were delaying the inevitable. She glanced at Carmilla, who gave her a small, reassuring nod, but the subtle tension in Carmilla's jaw betrayed her unease. Laura pushed the door open, and they stepped into the dimly lit room. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting silvery beams across the dark wooden floor, giving the space a ghostly glow. The bed, large and inviting, felt like a distant comfort, something they couldn't quite allow themselves yet.

Carmilla sat heavily on the edge of the bed, the usual grace in her movements replaced by a rare heaviness. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, rubbing her temples with her fingertips as if trying to massage away the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. Laura stood for a moment, watching her, feeling the weight of her own worry settle like a stone in her chest. She crossed the room slowly, sitting beside her wife, her hand resting on Carmilla's knee.

— You okay? - Laura asked, her voice soft, yet laced with concern.

Carmilla didn't respond immediately. She stared down at the floor, her dark eyes clouded with thoughts that Laura couldn't quite reach. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost a whisper.

— I've dealt with a lot of crazy things, Creampuff. Hunters, goddesses, ancient curses, even that nightmare of a war back in the day. But this? This feels different.

Laura frowned, tilting her head to catch Carmilla's gaze.

— Different how?

Carmilla let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping slightly.

— Juliette. The way she looked at me today... Terrified, vulnerable. It reminded me of you, back in the beginning, when everything was so... Uncertain.

Laura's heart clenched at the memory. She remembered that feeling all too well, the confusion, the fear, the constant uncertainty of who to trust and what to believe.

— That was different - she whispered, gently squeezing Carmilla's knee. - I was scared, yeah. But I trusted you. I always did, even when I didn't understand what was happening.

A small, bittersweet smile tugged at the corner of Carmilla's lips.

— You always saw something in me that I couldn't even see in myself.

Laura smiled softly and shifted closer, resting her head against Carmilla's shoulder.

— That's because you're not the monster you used to think you were.

For a moment, Carmilla said nothing. Her fingers absently stroked Laura's arm, the repetitive motion soothing but absent-minded.

— Maybe not - she murmured, her voice barely audible. - But I can't help feeling like something's going to go wrong. Juliette's family, Elinor, Oliver, their parents... This isn't over. It's just getting started.

Laura could feel the tension coiling in Carmilla's muscles, the stress she tried so hard to mask. It wasn't often that Carmilla let her guard down like this, but Laura knew the signs. She turned slightly, wrapping her arms around Carmilla's waist and pressing her cheek against her chest.

— We've dealt with worse - Laura whispered, her voice steady even though her own heart was racing. - We'll deal with this too.

Carmilla looked down at her, her dark eyes softening as she brushed a strand of hair behind Laura's ear.

— You always know how to make me feel better - she said, her voice low and affectionate. But the worry lingered in her eyes, and Laura could see it plainly.

— Carm...- Laura pulled back slightly, her expression serious. - You're not in this alone. You know that, right?

Carmilla's gaze faltered for a moment, her usual confidence wavering.

— I know - she said, though it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than Laura. She sighed and lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as if the weight of the world had suddenly become too much to bear. - It's just... This is bigger than us, bigger than most things we've faced before. Juliette's family, their connections... It's all tied to Lilith, to something ancient and dangerous. I don't know if we're ready for that.

Laura lay down beside her, turning on her side to face Carmilla, her hand resting gently on her chest.

— We've never been ready for anything, not really. But we've always figured it out. And we will again.

Carmilla turned her head to meet Laura's gaze, her expression softening.

— You really believe that?

— I do - Laura said firmly, her eyes locked on Carmilla's. - Because we've got each other. That's always been enough.

Carmilla stared at her for a long moment, then finally, she smiled, really smiled, the tension in her face easing slightly. She reached up, cupping Laura's cheek in her hand, her thumb brushing over her skin in a slow, tender caress.

— You're too good for me, Laura - she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Laura smiled back, leaning into her touch.

— Maybe. But I'm not going anywhere.

Carmilla's lips quirked up in a faint smirk, but the warmth in her eyes betrayed how much the words meant to her. She pulled Laura closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, then to her lips, slow and soft, as if savoring the moment.

They lay together in the quiet, their bodies curled around each other as the moonlight bathed the room in silver. Outside, the world might have been preparing for another storm, another battle, but here, in this small space, they found a fragile peace.

— Do you think Elinor will come after Juliette again? - Laura asked after a long silence, her voice small, as if she were afraid to disturb the stillness.

Carmilla's hold on her tightened slightly, her fingers threading through Laura's hair.

— Yes - she said quietly, the certainty in her voice leaving no room for doubt. - And next time, she won't hesitate.

Laura shivered at the thought but pressed herself closer to Carmilla, finding comfort in the warmth of her embrace.

— Then we'll be ready - she whispered, her voice resolute.

Carmilla kissed the top of her head, her lips lingering there for a moment.

— We will - she promised, her voice soft but strong.

And with that, they closed their eyes, letting the quiet of the night envelop them, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it side by side.