Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 31

The next morning, the sun crept slowly over the horizon, casting a soft, golden glow across the rooftop where Carmilla and Laura had spent the night. The town below was still quiet, the world not yet stirring, and for a brief moment, everything felt distant, almost unreal. The blanket beneath them was crumpled, their glasses empty, and the old wine bottle tipped on its side, though neither seemed to care. Up here, they could forget—at least for a little while.

Laura stirred first, her head resting on Carmilla's chest. She blinked against the soft light, her body still warm from sleep. She could feel the steady rise and fall of Carmilla's chest beneath her cheek, the familiar, calming rhythm of her wife's breathing. It was peaceful, the kind of peace they rarely got these days. Just the two of them, alone under the vast sky.

Carmilla, feeling Laura shift, opened her eyes slowly, the morning light casting a soft glow over her dark features. She smiled softly, still heavy with sleep.

— Morning, Cupcake - she murmured, her voice a low, gravelly whisper. Her hand moved lazily, brushing a strand of hair from Laura's face, her fingers lingering against her cheek, tracing the soft curve of her jaw.

— Morning - Laura replied, her voice equally soft, her eyes half-lidded as she gazed up at Carmilla. Her fingers absentmindedly drew small circles on Carmilla's arm, savoring the warmth of their closeness. - Last night was... perfect.

Carmilla smirked, a playful glint brightening her sleepy eyes.

— I do try my best - she teased, though there was an undeniable tenderness beneath her usual sarcasm.

Laura rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips was undeniable.

— No, I mean it. After everything...after all of this...it was nice to just be us. No hunters, no witches, no world-ending drama. Just us.

Carmilla's smirk softened, her expression turning serious, thoughtful.

— Yeah - she agreed quietly, her thumb gently tracing slow, soothing circles on Laura's arm. - I wish we could stay up here forever. Just... forget about all the madness down there.

Laura sat up slightly, pulling the blanket around her shoulders as the morning breeze brushed across the rooftop. She turned, her brows knitting together in thought.

— We'll get through this - she said, her voice filled with a quiet but fierce determination. - Elinor, Oliver, the hunters... We've faced worse before. We'll face this too.

Carmilla sat up beside her, her gaze drifting toward the horizon where the sky was slowly brightening.

— I know - she said, though her voice held a shadow of doubt. - But it feels different this time, you know? There's so much at stake—Juliette, our friends... - Her voice trailed off, her eyes flickering briefly to Laura. - You.

Laura's hand found Carmilla's arm, squeezing gently but firmly.

— Hey - she said, her voice firm but filled with warmth. - We've got each other. That's what matters, right? We'll face whatever comes next together. Just like always.

Carmilla turned to her, her dark eyes softening, filled with a vulnerability she rarely let show.

— You're right - she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Laura's forehead. - Together.

For a long moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the day ahead pressing down on them, but not unbearable just yet. The wind tugged at the blanket around their shoulders, the town below still waking up slowly, unaware of the battles looming just out of sight.

Finally, Laura stretched, standing up and tugging Carmilla to her feet with a playful grin.

— Come on - she said, her tone lighter now. - We should head back inside before everyone starts wondering if we fell off the roof or something.

Carmilla groaned dramatically but let herself be pulled toward the stairs.

— I'm sure they're all fine. Probably still asleep. Or, you know, bickering. Like usual.

— Probably both - Laura said with a laugh, shaking her head as they made their way down the stairs.

As they descended, the events of the night before began creeping back into their minds. The laughter, the teasing, the wine, and the quiet moments of intimacy felt like distant memories compared to the harsh reality waiting for them below. The rooftop had been their brief escape, but the world had other plans.

When they reached the kitchen, they found the rest of the group already awake and gathered around the table. Perry was bustling about, her hands deftly making coffee, while Kirsch stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with a surprising amount of focus. Laf was animatedly explaining something to Mel, who looked vaguely interested but mostly skeptical, while Juliette sat quietly at the far end of the table, staring into her cup of tea, her usual calm exterior masking something deeper. Danny leaned against the counter, her arms crossed, listening but not engaging.

The moment Laura and Carmilla stepped into the room, all eyes turned toward them.

— Well, well - Mel quipped, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest. - Look who finally decided to join us. Had a good night, did we?

Laura blushed slightly, glancing away, but Carmilla just smirked.

— Oh, you know - she said, her tone casual, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. - Just the usual. Wine, stars, a little bit of... conversation.

Juliette's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile.

— Sounds... nice - she murmured, though her eyes held a distant sadness.

Laura shot her a small, sympathetic smile.

— It was - she admitted softly, before her expression grew more serious. - But we've got work to do. We need to be ready.

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, the lightheartedness evaporating as the weight of the day ahead settled over them. Everyone knew what was coming, and the gravity of it hung heavy in the air, pressing down on their shoulders.

Juliette nodded, her expression hardening, though the flicker of fear in her eyes was unmistakable.

— I'm ready - she said quietly, though her voice wavered ever so slightly.

— We all are - Laura added, her voice steady, though there was an edge to it, like she was steeling herself for the fight ahead. - We're not going in alone. We've got each other, and that's how we win this.

As the group gathered around the table, the plans they had meticulously laid out the night before resurfaced. Every step was reviewed, every detail scrutinized. The trap was set. Soon, they would face Elinor—and whatever else the day had in store.