I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 41

Carmilla's POV

"So we all know the plan?" Laura asks, making sure everyone nods before she continues. "And what you guys have to do?" She waits for everyone to nod again. "Alright. We probably don't have much time to prepare, three days at the least. So we'll need to work quickly."

Mr. Hollis goes back outside to search for the spell in his books. LaFontaine has taken over my desk (I removed my laptop from the desk because I know they'd blow it up) and is doing experiments.

"Ginger One, don't blow up my cabin."

They turn and run a hand through their hair. "Yeah, I should probably take this outside. I'll do that."

"Try not to make another crater." I tell them as they cart their equipment outside.

"No promises, vampira." They grin as they leave.

I gesture for Laura to come with me. "Come on, cupcake. I have time to help you control your powers."

Laura and I go outside. LaFontaine is walking toward the clearing Laura and I spent the night in, so I take her in the opposite direction. We pass her dad, who's in his tent surrounded by an impressively large stack of old looking books. I guess he really has been studying the supernatural.

We take over a nearby smaller clearing.

"What do you want me to do?" Laura questions.

I try not to think about the last time she asked me that (remembering that night will do nothing good). I sit on the ground and pull a single blade of grass from the ground.

I hand it to her. "Try to set this on fire." Laura sits with a determined look on her face. She stares at the blade of grass like the fire in her eyes could set it on fire. "Don't try so hard, fire is an element that comes most easily with intense emotions. So think of something you're passionate or angry about."

Laura takes a deep breath. This isn't an easy trick, but it's useful. We might need her to know how to do this, though even as powerful she is, I doubt she'll get past the grass smoking today.

We sit for an hour when Laura's gaze shifts to me, pouting. Almost as soon as she looks at me, the grass disintegrates in her hand. We both stare at her empty hand in shock. If just looking at me causes such intense emotions, I can only hope they're positive ones.

"Impressive." I say after I snap out of my daze. "I didn't think you'd get this far yet."

"Wow." She murmurs, looking back up at me. "I did that?"

"Yeah. It seems I underestimated you again."

"Again?" Laura looks intrigued but slightly annoyed.

"I didn't expect you to be more than just a pretty and nosy roommate. I didn't think we'd defeat Mother. I didn't think we could get past you wanting me to betray Mattie. I didn't think I'd ever forgive you for telling Xena how to kill my sister. I didn't think you'd save me from Vordenberg. I didn't expect you to survive the change. And I certainly didn't expect to fall in love with you."

Oh, I said that last sentence out loud, didn't I... Shit.