Carm looks up at me through her lashes. Tears were openly spilling over down her cheeks. I thought vampires didn't cry. "I'm so s-sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
I get shakily to my feet, teetering every step. I manage to sink myself down next to her and put my arm around her shoulders.
Everything felt so new. The cloth in her shirt was amazingly soft, I could feel every stitch in the fabric. Our carpeted floors were so fluffy, I thought I could lay down here and sleep for years.
I turn my attention back to Carmilla. "Hey," I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "It's not your fault. You didn't know I was going to get hit. You were just trying to help me. . . . And Carm, this is what I wanted. I wanted you to change me."
Carmilla pulls away from me. "No, I shouldn't have. I didn't want this. I want you to grow old, and live a happy life. No, fuck this."
"Carmilla, this was never your decision. It was mine, and if you wouldn't have done it, I would've gotten your sister do to it, or something." I step forward, grabbing her hand. She doesn't fight back, but she doesn't touch me unless I touch her. I bring her hand up to my heart, laying it gently on my skin. "I belong with you, and you know it."
Carmilla sighs, her head dropping. "Why do you want this?" Her eyes meet mine, and I've never seen her so small. She seemed so lost, trying to figure out why I wanted to be with her. "Why do you want me?"
I let a small gasp escape my lips, taken aback. "Why would I be here with you after all these years if I didn't love you? As much as you think you don't deserve it, I love you. Carmilla Karnstein, I love you with everything that I am and everything that I will be."
Carmilla pulls herself into my arms, tucking her head into my neck. "I'm so sorry." She sobs, her whole body shaking as she cries.
I run my fingers through her silky hair, whispering soothing words to her.
After what seemed like a long time, she pulls away, no longer crying. "Uhm, I told your friends, and they, uh, they're downstairs."
We head downstairs, Carmilla's hand in my own. Laf, Perry, and Danny were sitting on our couches, their heads down with somber expressions. They all look up at me, but they don't smile.
I could smell them from the staircase. They had a distinct fleshy scent. Danny smelled like lavender, and Perry and LaF both smelled like apples and a little like peaches. The fire in my throat became much sharper after seeing them. I look around them all, my eyes lingering on their necks. I could even see their pulse point start to jump faster as I descended.
"H-Hi, sweety." Perry was the first to talk. "How-How do you feel?"
My first thought was thirsty, but I felt like they would be a little freaked if I said that. "I don't feel that bad. A little tipsy, but . . . other than that, I'm fine."
LaF smiles sadly and reaches her hand out. "You look great. Better than any other dead person I've seen."
I chuckle a little, despite the mood in the room. "Thanks."
Danny suddenly stands, towering over all of us. She flips around on Carmilla. "You did this to her. You went too far." Her hand closes around Carmilla's throat, pushing her back until her back hit the wall behind us.
Carmilla doesn't put up a fight, she just looks at Danny, her eyes starting to well up again.
"Danny!" I yell, running to them. I grab Danny around the middle, lifting her off of the ground, and pushing her back to the couches. I was surprised at my own strength. Danny barely even weighed anything. "This isn't her fault! None of this is her fault! I wanted this. I wanted to change!"
