Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 36

Juliette knelt there, her knees sinking into the cold ground, torn between her past and the present. The weight of old memories crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe. She remembered Elinor as she once was—the sister who had been her rock, her anchor when no one else understood.

But now, the Elinor before her was unrecognizable. Trapped under the gleaming silver net, writhing in agony, her eyes wild with fury, she looked more like a cornered animal than the sister Juliette had once adored. It was like watching a stranger wearing Elinor's face—a twisted version of someone she had loved fiercely, who had now been consumed by bloodlust, anger, and cruelty.

Yet, deep down, in the most vulnerable corner of her heart, Juliette still longed for that sisterly bond, for the one person who had once made her feel safe. Her voice barely a whisper, Juliette asked.

— Why, Elinor? - Her throat felt tight, her words cracking under the weight of all the pain and confusion swirling inside her. - Why did you have to go this far?

Elinor's eyes flared, even through the searing pain. She met Juliette's gaze, a twisted smile creeping across her lips, filled with bitter resentment.

— Don't act like you didn't know - she hissed, her voice sharp like glass. - You've always known who I am. You just chose not to see it. You made your decision the moment you chose them - she spat, her gaze flicking toward Laura and the others, her voice dripping with venom - Over your own blood.

Juliette flinched, the words cutting through her like a knife.

— It wasn't like that - she said softly, her fingertips hovering just above the silver net, careful not to touch it. - You made your choices, Elinor. I never wanted it to be like this. I didn't want you to become... this.

Elinor let out a low, humorless laugh, the sound grating against Juliette's ears.

— Become what, exactly? A monster? A killer? Tell me, what do you think we are, Juliette? We feed, we kill, we survive. That's who we are. That's who we've always been. You're just too weak to accept it.

Juliette shook her head, her heart pounding so loudly she could hardly hear anything else.

— That's not true. We don't have to be like this. I've shown you another way, Elinor...

But Elinor cut her off with a vicious snarl.

— Spare me your sanctimonious drivel. You've always been soft, Juliette. Look at you now, playing human with your pathetic friends, as if you can ever be one of them. It's ridiculous.

Juliette clenched her fists, swallowing back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She could feel the weight of her friends' stares, but their presence felt distant, like they were watching through a fog. All she could see, all she could focus on, was Elinor—the sharpness of her words, the bitterness in her voice, the twisted anger in her eyes.

— I loved you - Juliette whispered, her voice trembling. - You were everything to me. You're my sister.

For a moment—just a fleeting second—Elinor's expression softened, a flicker of the person she had once been flashing across her face. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the smirk that had become her armor.

— Love isn't enough in our world, Jules. It never was.

Before Juliette could respond, a voice broke through the tension, startling her.

— Juliette?

Her heart stuttered, her head snapping up as if in disbelief. She turned slowly, her eyes widening in shock. Standing in the doorway, looking confused and heartbroken, was Calliope.