No Matter How Dark It May Be, There Is Redemption

Hell Hath No Fury

The rest of the day was spent with the house in a massive chaos.  Danny, Kirsh, and Richard took over the living room with drawings of battle plans and a growing collection of weapons.  In the kitchen, Lafontaine and Carmilla continued doing research with J.P. on lophiiformes, the Pommel of Azathoth, and the Blade of Hastur, with Laf working with J.P.’s interface and Carmilla ready to translate any Sumerian passages.  Perry flitted about the house, making sure everyone remained fed and that things remained organized, carrying messages between the group as needed.  The buzz continued into the evening, with Perry serving burgers for convenience.

“How are you holding up?” Lafontaine asked Carmilla, who was sipping blood from her thermos.

Carmilla sighed.  “Trying not to think about it.”

Laf nodded.  “Understandable,” they replied, letting a moment pass before continuing.  “Just know that… it’s not your fault.  No one blames you.”

Carmilla raised an eyebrow and looked towards Richard in the next room.

“He doesn’t blame you, either,” Perry said from behind them, giving Laf another burger.  “I think he did to you what I did to Laura when Lafontaine went missing.  He just needed someone to blame to feel like he had some kind of control over the situation.”  She gave Carmilla a reassuring smile and walked away.

Laf puffed out their cheeks.  “And as your friend, I can’t condone you using the Blade of Hastur and the Pommel of Azathoth.  But as Laura’s friend,” they took a deep breath, “if it’ll save her life…”

“It still sucks that you’re gonna have to… die,” Danny said, entering the room for another burger.  “I don’t like you, Dead Girl, but I can see why Laura picked you.  I don’t necessarily get why she picked you over me, but I do get that you love her and you’re good for each other.  And it sucks that it might have to end tomorrow.”  She gave Carmilla a little nudge.  “And I’m sure everyone’s been saying it to you, but no one blames you for anything that’s happened with Laura.  That’s all on your mother.”

Carmilla offered a tiny smile to Danny.  “Thanks, Xena.  It means a lot coming from you.”  She tried her best to widen her smile at the other girl.  “I also never thanked you for getting me out of that pit and for carrying me back to Laura.  You’re the bigger person for having done so.”

Danny gave a small chuckle and nudged Carmilla.  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

With that, the house continued to be filled with activity, until midnight, when Perry declared they should all go to bed because they would need their rest for tomorrow.  Perry and Laf remained in the guest bedroom, while Richard returned to his bedroom, and Danny and Kirsh were ready to make some kind of an arrangement with the couches and sleeping bags in the living room, until Carmilla intervened.  “You guys can share Laura’s bed,” she said, “it’s big enough to be comfortable enough for you two.”

“What about you?” Kirsh asked.

Carmilla looked down and muttered, “I wouldn’t be able to sleep alone in it.”  She spent the night lying awake on the couches.

The group left in the morning to head towards Silas, aiming to be there around 4pm.  The plan was relatively simple: Carmilla and Richard would enter the Lustig building with the Pommel of Azathoth and the Blade of Hastur, while Danny, Kirsh, Lafontaine, and Perry would wait outside for a signal that the battle was beginning.  Some of the hunters that worked with Richard were on standby in case the vampire army was too much to handle.  Carmilla and Richard didn’t speak much during the trip, which was fine with both of them.