No Matter How Dark It May Be, There Is Redemption

What I Love About You

Laura isn’t sure when it happened, but she apparently fell asleep and woke up during early evening when she heard footsteps approaching.  She was relieved to see it was Carmilla.

“Twitchy, hmm, creampuff?” she teased.

Laura stood up slowly, still slightly lightheaded from the blood loss she’d suffered earlier.  Her jaw was now throbbing.  “Pfft, who among the two of us totally held her own against two vampires as a human?”  She guesses her attempt to be flippant to cover her less-than-ideal state was unsuccessful because Carmilla simply frowned at her.

“The nap didn’t do much, huh?”  She set a sack down by the fire.  “Maybe some actual dinner will help.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I went out to refill my thermos with animal blood,” she said, opening the sack, “and decided to kill two birds with one stone and get you some dinner, too.”

Laura walked over.  “You know how to cook?”

Carmilla nodded.  “My father used to take me out hunting,” she explained quietly, “which my mother –– my human mother–– absolutely hated.”  She gave a chuckle before continuing.  “But I was an only child and while my father never actually said anything to me, I know he wanted a son.  And as long as I did my part as a young woman by attending parties and behaving, she allowed me to join my father in ‘boy’ activities like hunting and sports.”  Laura smiled at the way Carmilla eyes shone while talking about her past, the way her voice sounded distant and full of warmth and wonder.  “I guess it’s good I got the best of both worlds – dancing and hunting – because both were useful in wooing you.”  She gave a wink.

“Wow,” Laura said after a moment, laughing, “I had no idea I was being ‘wooed.’”

Carmilla laughed, too.  “Guess that means I’m doing a good job.”  She reached into her pocked and handed Laura her cracked iPhone.  “I also went back into the cave and got it for you while you were sleeping.”

Laura smiled.  “Thanks, Carm.”

The girls were quiet while Carmilla cooked Laura dinner.  For once, Carmilla insisted Laura eat cookies, to keep her sugar level up, especially when she seemed too out of it to random like she usually did.  In a couple hours, Laura was eating some nice venison while Carmilla drank from her thermos.  “This is so good, Carm,” she complimented, her mouth full.  “The whole lightheadedness thing is starting to go away.”

“Glad to hear it, buttercup,” Carmilla said, grinning.  “You were starting to look more pale than me.”  They sat in silence for a bit before Carmilla spoke again.  “Laura,” she began.

“Ooh, this is totally definitely important if you’re using my actual name,” Laura teased.

Carmilla gave a humorless chuckle before continuing.  “A-Are you okay?  I don’t mean physically, I mean…” she inhaled deeply.  “I mean about killing James.”

“Oh, gosh,” Laura’s hands flew up to her mouth.  “I’m sorry!  You knew them, didn’t you?  And I just killed one and then helped you kill the other one…”

“Christ, Hollis, the one time I’m trying to be a properly concerned girlfriend, and leave it to you to turn this whole thing around and ask me if I’m okay!”  Carmilla gave a long exasperated sigh and Laura flinched.  “I’m sorry.  And I’m fine, I’ve only known them since… since the coffin,” she answered, her voice softening.  “I was asking if you’re okay because you just killed someone.”

Laura looked pensive, chewing slowly.  “Hmm.  I mean, yeah, it was weird to stick a tree branch into someone’s chest and then watch them die.  But no more weird than pushing a giant rock on top of someone?”