I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 29

Laura's POV

My jaw drops. "Hang on. Carm, you were a soldier?"

Carmilla glances at my dad. "I assume you know about me being in a coffin." He nods. "It was World War II that freed me from my imprisonment. I felt like I owed... something for my freedom. So I fought against the Axis Powers, more specifically the Nazis. I wasn't fighting for any nation, just went from battle to battle where I was told I was needed. I wasn't even officially in the war, let alone a soldier. I'm a woman and that intimidated the hell out of some soldiers. I killed the ones that attempted to prey on me."

"Impressive." My father says, smiling kindly. "I'm glad I have you to look after my little girl."

I feel my face heating. "Daddy, we're not-"

"I always will, sir. Though Laura can certainly take care of herself."

"That she can." Dad chuckles, glancing back and forth between us with a fond look in his eyes. We walk the rest of the way to the cabin in silence. Dad pauses for a moment when he sees it. "You two are staying in this? No offense, but it's not very big. And you're getting more company?" He frowns, worry clouding his expression.

"We got extra mattresses today for the others. I had this built as an escape for me, sir. That's why it's not big. Would you like to come in?" Carmilla offers, holding the door open for us.

"Yes, thank you. But I'll be staying outside." Carmilla frowns at Dad's words. "I bring camping equipment wherever I go just in case. That's what you're carrying." Dad gestures to her bags. "Actually, you could just drop them off out here. I'll set it up later."

"Sure." Carmilla walks out and sets the bags down near where Dad put his down.

Dad and I follow her inside. Carm and I begin putting all the food away and I learn that she has two fridges, one for blood, one for normal food.

"That's a lot of blood," Dad comments. "Are you expecting more vampires?"

"Uh, yes sir. Two, maybe three more vampires."

"Oh," I perk up. "Are we expecting JP?"

"No, cutie. Kirsch."

I slump, remembering how Danny nearly killed him. I'm so in the moment worrying about Kirsch that I don't notice that she not only called me a nickname, but actually called Kirsch by his actual name.

"I hope he's okay." Dad remarks, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I'm going to set up my stuff outside. Let me know if you need me."

He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

"Laura." My eyes snap up to Carmilla's. She just called me by name, which she never does except when there's trouble (or that night we made love until the sun came up but it can't be that). "You know you're going to have to tell him eventually, right?"

I sigh and she pulls me into her arms, rubbing my back soothingly. "I know, Carm. I just... I didn't expect to have to tell him that I'm a vampire so soon. He's my dad, you know? This will kill him. He'll hate himself for not being here to save me. But even worse, he could hate you for turning me." I groan and bury my head in her shoulder, ignoring the fact that I haven't done that since we broke up. "Why is telling my dad that I'm undead and immortal harder than it was coming out to him?"