Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 25

Just as the world began to fade to black, Danny felt a sudden jolt, a hand grabbing her with startling force, yanking her out of the vortex. She gasped, stumbling backward, her legs trembling as she tried to regain her balance, the chaotic pull of the vortex still lingering in her body.

She blinked, disoriented, her chest heaving with each breath as her vision slowly cleared. The swirling shadows and reality-warping magic around her were suddenly... gone.

She looked up, still struggling to catch her breath, and saw Carmilla standing there. Her grip on Danny's arm was firm and unwavering, grounding her in the present, but her expression was tense, sharp with concern.

— Xena, you alright? - Carmilla's voice was steady, a strange calmness in it, but her eyes were searching, probing Danny for any sign of weakness or pain.

Danny couldn't find the words yet. Her lungs burned as she gasped for air, her body still vibrating with the remnants of whatever dark magic had tried to pull her under. She could only manage a weak nod, her hand pressing to her chest as if trying to steady the frantic beating of her heart. The look she gave Carmilla was enough, relief washed over her, but the weight of the situation still pressed heavily against her chest, refusing to ease.

Carmilla let go of her arm, but stayed close, her sharp eyes scanning the area, looking for any sign of further danger.

— What the hell happened? - she muttered, her tone low but filled with frustration. - I leave you alone for two minutes, and you're already getting sucked into some magic vortex.

Before Danny could respond, a voice came from behind them.

— I know who she is. - The words startled Danny. She spun around, her fangs instinctively bared, only to find Juliette standing there, calm but fierce, her gaze locked on the place where the woman had hovered moments before.

Danny blinked in surprise. She hadn't even realized Juliette was there, hadn't sensed her presence amidst the chaos. Her mind raced as she shot Carmilla a questioning look.

Carmilla raised her hands in a defensive gesture.

— Yeah, yeah - she muttered, waving a hand dismissively. - I brought the teenage vampire to the fight. But she insisted. - Her tone was flippant, but there was an underlying tension in her voice, a wariness that Danny hadn't heard in her before.

Before Danny could muster a response, the woman's voice cut through the air again, no longer soft and seductive but filled with venomous anger.

— You're too late - she hissed, her eyes glowing even brighter, the malevolent green light flickering like flames. - The darkness is already here. - Danny's heart pounded as the full weight of the woman's words sank in. This wasn't just about stopping her anymore. Something far worse had already begun. The vortex wasn't a simple display of power, it was pulling in the world around them, warping the very fabric of reality.

Juliette's voice rang out urgently, slicing through the rising tension.

— Where's Oliver?

— I'm here, little sister. - Oliver stepped forward from the mist, his presence commanding and calm in a way that sent a chill down Danny's spine.

He was dressed as impeccably as ever, his tailored suit spotless despite the chaos swirling around them. His hair was slicked back, not a single strand out of place, and his posture was unnervingly casual—too casual, given the circumstances.

— I'm sorry about your friend - Oliver said smoothly, though his voice lacked any real sincerity. His cold, calculating eyes flickered toward Danny, studying her for a brief moment before they landed back on Juliette. - But we can't let anyone stop us.