Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 18

The next morning, the house stirred with a deliberate slowness, as if it were stretching away the weight of the previous night. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm, golden beams that danced across the polished wooden floors. For a fleeting moment, the sense of calm seemed almost tangible, making the night's looming specter of Elinor and Juliette's tangled family drama feel distant and almost forgotten.

Laura stirred groggily in bed, her eyes fluttering open to the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting up from the kitchen. She blinked, her body heavy with sleep, yet there was a strange and soothing serenity in the air. Carmilla was already up, she was by the door, pulling on her boots, looking over at Laura with a soft, easy smile that warmed Laura's heart.

— Morning, Cupcake - Carmilla greeted, her voice a soothing balm. - Kirsch's up to something downstairs.

Laura rubbed her eyes, stretching as she sat up.

— It smells like coffee and... Is that bacon?

Carmilla smirked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

— You've got the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to breakfast. I'm pretty sure Kirsch's cooking is his way of buttering everyone up after last night.

Laura yawned, her body protesting slightly as she moved.

— Maybe we could all use some buttering up - she mumbled, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. - Did you sleep okay?

Carmilla shrugged, adjusting her boot laces.

— As well as you can when vampire vendettas are looming over your head. How about you?

Laura stood and padded over to Carmilla, placing a soft kiss on her cheek before heading to the bathroom.

— Same. But you were right, whatever's coming, we'll face it. First, though, coffee.

Carmilla chuckled, following Laura out of the room. They made their way downstairs, drawn by the irresistible aroma of breakfast. As they approached the kitchen, Kirsch's cheerful humming drifted out to greet them.

In the dining room, the large wooden table was a sight to behold, laden with an almost comical array of food. Stacks of golden pancakes, crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, toast, muffins, and bowls brimming with fresh fruit adorned the surface. At the center, a steaming pot of coffee stood proudly next to a glass container of vegan blood, flanked by pitchers of orange juice and something green that looked suspiciously healthy.

Kirsch was at the stove, his apron, reading 'Grill Master Extraordinaire', slightly askew, and flour dusting his cheek. He was flipping another batch of pancakes with a goofy grin, clearly enjoying himself.

— Morning, dudes! - he called out when he saw Laura and Carmilla. - Hope you're hungry. I might've gone a little overboard.

Carmilla raised an eyebrow at the feast before them.

— A little?

Laura, however, was already making a beeline for the coffee.

— Kirsch, you're a miracle worker - she said, filling her mug.

Kirsch beamed, his satisfaction evident.

— Figured after last night, we could all use a pick-me-up. You know, before the next supernatural crisis hits.

Carmilla snorted, leaning against the counter with a half-smile.

— Always thinking ahead, aren't you?

One by one, the rest of the group trickled in. Perry was the first, her hair disheveled and her eyes still bleary from sleep. She looked around with a grateful smile as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

— Kirsch, this is... Wow. I didn't realize we had this much food.

Laf followed, surveying the spread with mild astonishment.

— Did you rob a bakery or something?

Kirsch shrugged nonchalantly, flipping another pancake onto the growing stack.

— Just wanted to brighten the mood. You guys seemed kinda tense last night.

Mel and Danny arrived shortly after, both looking a little worse for wear but visibly relaxing at the sight of the bounty before them.

— Kirsch, you legend - Mel said with a grin, helping herself to a plate of eggs and toast.

As everyone settled around the table, the atmosphere shifted. The weight of the previous night still lingered, but there was something undeniably comforting about the act of sharing breakfast. The simple joy of food and companionship provided a brief reprieve from the looming dread.

Juliette arrived last, her entrance marked by a quiet hesitance. She looked worn, with dark circles under her eyes and a palpable tension in her posture. She offered a small, shy smile as she took a seat next to Perry.

— Morning - she said softly, her voice carrying a strain of fatigue.

— Morning, Jules! - Kirsch greeted her with his usual enthusiasm, sliding a plate of pancakes and a glass of blood in front of her. - Hope you're hungry!

Juliette blinked at Kirsch's boundless energy, managing a small smile.

— Thanks, Kirsch. This looks... Amazing.

As the group dug into the feast, conversation began to flow. Initially awkward, the dialogue soon warmed up as Kirsch recounted a hilarious tale about trying to make pancakes with vampire-safe flour, with Laf chiming in with their trademark snark.

Perry, ever the optimist, raised her glass of orange juice in a toast.

— Here's to Kirsch, our very own breakfast hero.

Mel raised her glass in turn.

— And to not dying today.

Laughter and eye rolls accompanied the toast, breaking through the lingering tension like sunlight through clouds. For a brief moment, they all allowed themselves to revel in the peace of the present.

Laura sipped her coffee, glancing around the table at her friends. She met Carmilla's eyes, and they exchanged a quiet, understanding look. The weight of their challenges, Elinor, Oliver, the hunters, and the intricate web of Juliette's family, still loomed, but for now, they had this simple pleasure.

They had each other.

And that was enough.

— Alright - Kirsch said, clapping his hands together as he finished his own plate. - Now that we're all full, what's the game plan for today? Do we wait for Elinor to show up again, or do we go full Scooby-Doo and track her down first?

Carmilla leaned back in her chair, folding her arms.

— As tempting as chasing a psychotic vampire with memory-altering powers sounds, I'm not sure rushing headlong into danger is the best strategy.

Juliette, who had been quietly eating her pancakes, looked up with a mix of resolve and worry.

— We don't need to rush into anything - she said softly, her voice steady despite her fatigue. - But we do need to be ready. Elinor won't stop.

Laura reached out, placing a comforting hand on Juliette's arm.

— We know. But we've got time to figure this out.

Laf, ever the planner, grabbed a notepad from the side of the table.

— So, research then? Let's dig up more on Juliette's family history, Oliver's magic, and how we can stop Elinor from messing with our minds.

Perry nodded, her expression serious.

— We need every advantage we can get.

As the group began to strategize, the camaraderie at the table was palpable. The gravity of their situation hadn't disappeared, but they now had a plan.