The Red Rose

Chapter XXVIII

I was deep in thought throughout the entire trip. There were many things that made absolutely no sense to me, and I was still debating whether I should tell Carmilla everything. Specially due to the complexity of our relationship. Slowly, I started to understand why they hadn't told me everything from the beginning.

Most likely, they had no intention of telling me, at least not yet, and my relationship with Carmilla must have put them on alert. The idea that my own kind may have their eyes on me, worried me, leaving them no choice but to drop the bomb.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Carmilla asked while she continued driving, but then suddenly added: "By the way, I already overheard what your granny explained about your, exotic origins, that incense, woke me up and made me feel so fuzzy."

After there was an uncomfortable silence she finally adds: "Do not worry darling, your secret is well kept with me. Your family's offensive comments do not offend me, we knew this was not going to be easy."

After the uncomfortably silence, I tried to lighten the ambience: "Why are we driving when we'd be faster on foot?"

"Logistics really isn't your thing, dear. Do you know how many suitcases we have? And what if we drop something while running?" she replied.

"We shouldn't have brought so many clothes," I complained.

"After I had to throw away our smelly clothes, soaked with the bunker's stench? I washed them three times, and I still smelled it! Even the innkeeper commented when we got back..." She laughed and added, "We'll have to buy new backpacks because the stench was unbearable!"

While we had backpacks for our adventures, Carmilla had packed a lot of clothes and even bought extra outfits for me. She really cared about her appearance and presentation, something that really stuck from her past and original era.

I looked for any place in London to make a reservation and asked Juanpi for help, explaining our situation. After finally finding a reservation (thankfully he intervened in time), we arrived at the hostel where we were supposed to stay.

The place, although less hospitable than the one we had in Iping, was sufficient for our needs, and we were close enough to walk.

We went shopping, and I took the opportunity to buy food and try typical London dishes. The atmosphere was cold, cloudy, and foggy, but I felt more cheerful when I had to eat, especially after the agony of searching for backpacks and trying on clothes. When I saw the bill, I almost had a heart attack.

"It's so expensive!" I exclaimed.

"The price of having the best of the best. Look, people think we're runway models, dear. You buy food and spend like an ox; at least let me indulge in my pleasures," she joked.

After sightseeing for a while, we decided to sleep the next day and plan our urban exploration during the night. As she caressed and clung to me, I couldn't stop thinking about something—her behavior, the way Carmilla smelled me, touched me, kissed me, and cuddled beside me. It was a disturbing thought, and I feared the implications.

"What if she doesn't really love me? What if all she feels, all that desire and emotion she has when we're together, is just an aphrodisiac effect from my blood?"

Her behavior sometimes became strange, even erratic. At first, I thought it was typical for vampires when they love someone, but I couldn't stop thinking about my grandmother's words.

"We don't know for sure what effects it might have..." I murmured as I closed my eyes.

My dreams had become more intense and immersive. Suddenly, I found myself in a luxurious study with candelabras, decorated in a pure Victorian style with red accents. In the corner, I saw a strange painting. As I approached, I saw a portrait of a young and very good looking guy, well-dressed in typical Victorian attire. From afar, it looked like a normal portrait, but as I got closer, his face began to distort, slowly developing scars, marks, deformities, and signs of aging. When I was less than a meter away, what seemed like a normal person had become a horrific, decrepit being that filled me with revulsion. I could read something, that it seems to be the signature of the author: