I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 31

Laura's POV

"Powerful?" I inquire. "What does that mean?"

"It just means that you can learn to do things that took me decades to master in just a few years at most. As in, you could learn Mattie's screech in a few decades instead of being my age and still not able to do it properly."

"And it's safe to go outside and talk to my dad?" I ask nervously.

Carmilla nods and gives me a comforting grin (that's really a smirk, but I don't mind). "It should be safe, for you and for him. Are you sure you want me to be with you when you tell him?"

I'm about to immediately respond yes when another thought occurs to me. "Well, yeah, but only if you want to come with."

Carmilla just opens the door for me in response and I know that's her way of saying that she'll be there for me. I thank her and we walk out to where my dad has set up his tent. It's a blue one big enough that my father can stand up all the way and not hit his head on the ceiling (he's the tall one in the family and always teased me wondering where I got my shortness because my mother was taller too). Dad's sitting on a stump when we walk up.

"Hey, kiddo." He grins at me before noticing my nervous expression. "Laura, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Daddy. I just have to tell you something." I shift on my feet and Carmilla reaches out and holds my hand.

"If it's about the two of you, I already know." Dad says in a reassuring voice. "I know you've had your differences in the past and I'm glad to see you're working to get passed them."

I frown for a moment, confused. My mouth drops open slightly to form an "o" when I realize what he was saying. My dad thinks Carmilla and I are dating again? "No, dad, that's not it. We're not together again."

He just smiles knowingly at us. "So you hold hands with all of your friends?"

I feel my face flush (good thing I'm a vampire, otherwise I'd be the color of a red rose instead of just slightly pink). "Uh, no but that's not the point." I take a deep breath. "Dad... I'm a vampire."

Dad just stares at me blankly like he isn't processing what I just told him. Carmilla squeezes my hand and that movement snaps him out of his head.

He scowls at Carmilla and I feel myself standing up straighter, ready to defend her.

"You turned my daughter? What possessed you to do that to her?" He's speaking in a terrifying tone I've never heard him use. "She's young and had her whole life ahead of her and you turned her?"

I open my mouth, ready to go into a rant about how amazing she is and how much she's done for me. Carmilla speaks before I have the chance to.

"Do you think I would've done this if I had ANY other choice?"