Blood Feud

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

"So–– plan?" Mattie asks grumpily as they make their way through the sewers. She's changed out of her heels into more sensible footwear.

Laura nods next to Carmilla. "We go to the Lycan headquarters and... Uhm ... Uh..."

"Yeah. Great," Mattie comments dryly. " Fool- proof."

Carmilla laughs dryly. "At least we're all aware we're heading to our doom."

"And at least we're together?" Laura offers. "I don't want to be doomed with anyone but you."

Carmilla smiles at that. Mattie lets out a gag that echoes through the tunnels.

"It seems to me that the problem has remained the Dean and Vordenberg's inability to accept Lycans as their equals," Lophii says from beside Mattie. "Perhaps if other vampires could be shown that there is another path, as you two and Kirsch have seen, then the war could draw to its end?"

Carmilla scoffs. "Oh, yeah, sure," she says sarcastically. "We'll just stand at the front door and ask the Death Dealers if they want to sing kumbaya! And then we can crack open a cold one with the boys!"

Lophii frowns. "Who are 'the boys? ' Are they rebels? And a cold what?"

Laura laughs and buries her face in her hands. "Not important."

"I can't believe Lycans have been hiding in the sewers," Mattie groans. "Stereotype, much?"

Laura rolls her eyes. "They're not living in the sewers. They live in an abandoned train station that's only accessible now through the sewers."

"Potato, tomato," Mattie says dismissively.

"At least now I know where Carm got that from," Laura sighs. "As for a plan, the Lycans are already setting up defenses, so why don't we show up and figure it out from there?"

Mattie quirks an eyebrow. "Spoken like a true soldier," she remarks sarcastically.

"Unfortunately, she may be right," Carmilla says. "If we're going for peace, we're trying to work around facing off against all of our own Death Dealers, and against the Lycans."

"Danny said she spoke to the Lycans and they're willing to try peace, but not if the Death Dealers are going to attack," Laura points out. "I just hope we're not too late."

Gunfire echoes through the tunnels and they all freeze.

"Shit," Mattie curses, running ahead, her cape flapping in the wind.

Suddenly their lack of plan feels like a very awful, tangible problem.

After all, none of this would be happening if her friends hadn't given Carmilla the paper when they found out how much she means to Laura. Panic and dread settles into her chest, making bile rise in her throat. The sewers suddenly feel too small, the air too thick. The only reason the vampires are storming the Lycan stronghold is because of that piece of paper. People are dying, because I--

Laura swallows hard as the thudding of Mattie's boots fade and is only vaguely aware that someone is shaking her.

"–– a ! Laura!"

Laura manages to focus on the face before her.

"Laura," Carmilla says insistently, worriedly. "Are you still with me?"

The feeling of everything crushing her is gone and Laura takes a deep breath, grounding herself by staring into Carmilla's eyes. Laura takes a deep breath and the feeling of Carmilla's cool skin on her shoulders stops the feel ing like the world is crashing down on her. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm still with you." She lets out a long exhale. "Let's go? Together?"