Vampire lore - Carmilla/First Kill

Chapter 44

As Carmilla parked the van just far enough from the house to avoid detection, she killed the engine and glanced at the clock on the dashboard—3:47 AM. The sky was still deep and dark, with the faintest hints of dawn on the horizon, but the world around them was silent, asleep. Her sharp eyes scanned the driveway, packed with trucks and SUVs, each a glaring symbol of the hunters inside, their presence oppressive, like a dark cloud hanging over the house. The air was thick with tension, and the silence between the two women mirrored the weight of the mission ahead.

Carmilla's lips curled into a tight, grim smile as she surveyed the scene.

— I'll stay out here. Keep watch - she said, her voice low but firm. Her gaze flicked toward the house, the shadows moving within it. - You go in. Get her out.

Juliette, already on edge, glanced at her in surprise.

— You're not coming with me?

Carmilla sighed, frustration tugging at the corners of her mouth.

— I can't. You know that. - Her tone was matter-of-fact, but beneath it, there was a simmering impatience.

And Juliette did know. The ancient laws bound Carmilla. Vampires couldn't enter a home without an invitation, no matter how dire the situation. Even without seals or barriers, crossing that threshold would be impossible—at best excruciating, at worst, deadly. Juliette had seen what happened to those who tried to defy the rule, their bodies repelled with unbearable force.

— This isn't your first time getting inside, is it? - Carmilla asked, her eyebrow arched knowingly.

Juliette shook her head, a nervous edge to her voice.

— No. I've been here before. I can get to Calliope's room through the tree.

Carmilla nodded, her sharp features softening for just a second before her eyes hardened again.

— Good. I'll watch the perimeter. If anything goes wrong, or if any hunters show up outside, I'll let you know. But don't take any chances in there.

Juliette took a deep breath, trying to steady her pounding heart.

— Got it. I'll be fast.

— Be smart - Carmilla warned, leaning back in her seat but still alert, her gaze never leaving the house. - Don't rush in blindly. And if something feels off...

— I'll call you - Juliette finished, her voice shaky but determined.

Carmilla's eyes softened slightly, a rare moment of reassurance.

— We'll get her out. But if things go sideways...

— I won't get caught - Juliette interrupted, more to reassure herself than Carmilla. The gravity of what she was about to do settled over her like a weight she couldn't shake.

Slipping out of the van, Juliette's feet landed softly on the cool, dew-damp grass. The air was thick with tension, the silence so oppressive it felt like it might shatter at any moment. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the scent of pine and danger. Juliette cast one last glance back at Carmilla, who sat motionless in the van, her sharp eyes still scanning the driveway, ever vigilant. Carmilla couldn't enter the house, but Juliette knew if something went wrong, Carmilla would face the hunters without hesitation.

The driveway was crowded with the hunters' vehicles, each one a silent testament to the number of enemies inside. Juliette felt the pressure of time pressing down on her. She couldn't afford any mistakes. Staying close to the shadows, she crept toward the side of the house, where the large oak tree stood like an old sentinel, its sprawling branches reaching toward the second floor.