I'm now officially up on ao3 aswell! I've uploaded all my existing works now, and put their respective links in the titles; but you'll find me here.
Check out my introduction post if you're considering a request! There are a lot of characters I'd love to write for, but haven't yet.
☆ Requests get a star ☆
Wednesday:
Larissa Weems:
Cuddles, with a hint of overthinking
Summary: Young!Larissa x Reader. Morticia wants to sneak over Gomez to snog, so Larissa goes over to your dorm. Your girlfriend needs some comfort, though.
☆ When I get home
Summary: Larissa is a workaholic. She'd give up anything for her job. Luckily, her wife won't let her.
☆ Waves of jealousy (SMUT)
Summary: It finally being summer, you decided to invite your girlfriend to the beach. Little did you know, she can't quite control herself. Imagine what'd happen if some lovely ladies were looking at you.
Isadora Capri
☆ Isadora Capri Week Masterlist
School for Good and Evil
Lady Lesso:
☆ Hard times
Summary: You're Lady Lesso's soft spot. Apparenty, you've been sick. But getting tired of your absence, she goes to investigate.
Come for a swim?
Summary: The heat during summer break is getting unbearable. Lesso decides to cool off, and her favourite colleague just-so-happens to stop by and join.
Yellowjackets
Natalie Scatorccio:
I never got to tell you
Summary: Back from rehab, before she could go confront Misty about the blackmail, Natalie finds something she almost forgot about; something that means the world to her.
Ocean's 8
Lou Miller:
Despite it all
Summary: The Met Gala, but Lou got herself a date. However, you caught her in the act.
Sweeney Todd
Mrs. Nellie Lovett:
☆ Mistakes (SMUT)
Summary: You get so caught up in admiring your boss that you just can't hear her orders, and burn a whole batch of pies as a result. Nellie won't tolerate ingredients going to waste, especially after she just got herself together financially.
By the sea
Summary: In a universe where Mrs. Lovett isn't foolishly obsessed with Sweeney, there's you instead. Finally kicking off with her business, you make her dreams come true. Down by the sea, married nice and proper.
Dark Shadows
Angelique Bouchard
The 'Happening' (SMUT)
Summary: You were invited to the party at Collinwood. You weren't expecting the family's biggest enemy to show up, especially not looking so hot.
Girl i'll send you cash asks maybe you could do some of those anon games
Uhhmmm, call me stupid but I'm really not sure what the word 'cash' has to do in this context xd
But I'd be up for anon games though, I just don't know my options yet, but I might look, especially since we don't have anything serious for the rest of the summer
Summary: The Met Gala, but Lou got herself a date. However, you caught her in the act.
Word count: 1.9k
Warnings: Happy Birthday to Cate Blanchett! model!Reader, hints of Debbie x Lou
The original plan was to get everyone a simple job at the Met Gala. Tammy an organizer, the rest around the kitchen. As a designer, only Rose was invited to sit with the guests.
However, despite Debbie planning even the tiniest details, it was all thrown off when Lou stormed into the apartment one day, full of energy unlike her usual self.
"Guys, change of course: I'm invited." She walks over to the rest of them sitting around on the couches. All the girls look up at her with different expressions of surprise.
Debbie looks almost mad that things aren't going her way. "Invited? What do you mean, invited? Invited, how?" She stands up from her seat, walking straight over to Lou and stopping in her face.
"Okay— not me specifically. A model is taking me as her date." She tries to clarify, but it doesn't quite make things better for the rest of them.
"A model? How'd you meet a model? Better yet, how'd you get her to take you as a plus one?" Tammy stands from her spot aswell, not sure on how seriously she should take this.
"Okay, chill. I was just out driving, when I came across a photoshoot someplace not far from the road, and it got my interest so I stopped by." Lou moves past the others to the kitchen and pours herself a short drink.
"And then, since I was a total stranger, the staff wanted to send me away. But then, the girl they were shooting went 'Let her stay if she wants', so I did just that."
The girls were listening intently, hanging onto her every word like this is a life-changing story. Which, it is.
Lou downs her shot before continuing. "I stayed. And once finished, she came to talk with me. Said I was really cool and hot and stuff, not gonna get into that."
She walks to the others at the couch and plops down. The excitement is practically dripping from her, but it's also obvious that she's nervous aswell.
"I invited her to my bar, got to know her... no we did not hook up, she said she's not the type. So anyways, we've been talking for a month or two."
She leans back in the couch and sighs, letting her muscles relax after coming home from a long and eventful day. She continues a bit quieter, willing herself to calm down.
"I didn't know how big of a model she was. I just though she was modelling for a local paper or something. But then, I took her for coffee today, and she dropped the invite like a casual date proposal."
"Did you accept?" Debbie asks, almost accusingly. She most definitely doesn't like the thought of Lou entertaining a woman.
"Well, no... I said I'll have to think it through, aka ask you guys, but she took it well, so if it's fine I'd like to say yes..." Lou turns shy at her own answer, as if what she wants is something forbidden.
"Well... it doesn't fall apart because of one person, does it?" Rose asks, looking at Debbie hopefully.
"We could adjust to a little change." Amita suggests, trying to defend the idea. She looks to the others for approval, and smiles when nobody seems against it.
With everyone agreeing, Debbie can't do anything but give in. With a reluctant sigh, she relents. "Fine. But I'll have to think of how that'll be useful for us. You didn't tell her about the heist yet, did you?"
"Of course not."
"Good. Then don't. We'll have to work around her." Debbie states with a hint of finality, then walks off, probably already going to rethink her plan.
The rest of the girls immediately surround Lou, asking questions and— surprisingly— making her blush at the attention.
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
You didn't let her show up on her bike. This is the Met Gala, there's no way you would. Instead, you told your driver to go pick her up on a certain street.
She wore a pretty sparkling suit when you pulled up to the curb in a sleek black car— though not a limo. Your driver got out to open the backseat door for her, leading her to sit next to you.
"Hey hotshot." She leaned over to give you a brief hug, as best as she can. "You look beautiful tonight. Not that you don't otherwise, but it's worth noting."
You laugh at her greeting, blushing. It's so... her, it's endearing. "So do you. I don't think I've ever seen you so elegant." That makes her smile aswell.
You spend the ride there holding hands, and telling her about what to expect from the evening. It's easy to get lost in conversation when one has a sense of humour like the one she does.
When you get there, you take your time walking up the stairs. She keeps an arm around your waist while the cameras flash. As big of a moment this is for her, she tries to ignore the attention and keep her head straight.
You bask in the attention like any other celebrity would. Lou doesn't let you get lost in it, however, as she walks slow enough to let you take it in, but never stops for long.
As you're walking down the hall, you come across Debbie, disguised as an actress, standing with a drink. Lou doesn't stop; in fact, she barely even looks at her. But the one glance they share is a meaningful one: keep her oblivious.
(Un)surprisingly, you happen to be seated at the same table as Rose Weil and Daphne Kluger. What really is a shocker though— at least, to Lou it was— that you actually knew Rose.
Not personally, but you've heard of her. And somehow, you liked her designs. So when they served dinner, you took some time to chat with her.
This gave Lou an opportunity to go to the bathroom, where Debbie was stationed, and talk to her.
"Debs, I can't. Or— I can, I won't tell her, but I just feel so guilty about all this. If she were to find out, I don't want her thinking I just used her to get in here. I don't like lying to her..."
"Then don't let her find out. Simple as that. And quit panicking, it doesn't look good on you." She teases. But then adds, just so she doesn't come off as mean. "You're doing well. You can't fuck it up if you genuinely like her, just don't spill and you're good."
Lou softens at her comment. Interestingly, despite her acting jealous, Debbie doesn't seem like she wants to ruin this for her. "Thanks. Everything good with the others?"
"All in order. Now go back before your doll starts missing you." She winks, trying to be encouraging.
Once Daphne loses her neck piece, everything goes on lockdown. They take everyone out of the main room, but don't let anyone leave the building. Admittedly, you're somewhat scared, as you've never been in a similar situation before, especially not at a place as expensive as this one.
In the big crowd, Lou manages to slip away and go to the exhibition for the jewelry she originally came for. Since you were scared to be alone while all this was going on, you made the mistake of asking someone else at your table about where she went.
You sneak off after her, and enter the exhibition room to find her slipping expensive accessories into hidden pockets of her vest.
No wonder, you freeze right in the doorway. In utter shock, you only manage a small squeak. "...Lou?"
Then, in turn, she also freezes up. "Honey— gosh, why aren't you with the others?" She rushes over to you, and is almost relieved when you don't run.
"I was scared alone in the crowd... but I'm not sure this is any better. What the hell are you doing?"
She sighs. The one thing you weren't supposed to do was find out. And you did. She has to tell you now, there's no going back once you saw.
"Okay... me and a couple of other ladies here organized a heist. I was tasked with the risky part... and you caught me. So... do whatever you want, but please, I beg you, tell no one." She has a pleading look when she meets your eyes, more desperate than you've ever seen her.
You stand there in shock, trying to process what you witnessed. But she doesn't really let you. "We have to go back, they'll surely notice we're gone." She then grabs your wrist and takes you back to where everyone else is.
By the time you get back, you don't have to wait long before you're let back to the dinner tables. There's a tense silence between the two of you, neither of you finding the right words to be said.
Eventually, once dinner's over, you manage to coax her to a secluded corner of an unused room. You stare up at her, and gather yourself for the upcoming conversation.
"...You're mad at me. I know you are, you're never this silent. And I don't blame you. It already means a lot that you haven't reported us to the police." Lou speaks as if the blooming relationship was already done for.
"I'm not... okay, I am. Because you didn't tell me. But I don't doubt that you genuinely like me. I mean, I never told you my income or anything... this is just a lot right now. The fact that I've been with a criminal all along..."
Despite your words, you trail your index finger over her chest and bite your lip, a clear sign that you're not furious. Probably just upset or disappointed.
"I do. I meant everything. You're way too kind to me. But if you could look past this..." She trails off, not daring to finish that sentence. You probably don't notice, but around you, Lou is a lot softer than with others; a lot more expressive, and it's clear she really does care.
You take only a moment to think it through. You don't want this to end. You like Lou a lot. She's been nothing but sweet to you, you love the way she cares for you. As devastated as you are, you don't think you could handle her leaving you.
So instead of a response, you grab the lapels of her jacket and kiss her. Lou gasps, her brain pretty much shutting down at the contact.
This is your first kiss.
No matter how flirty she is, she always took it slow for your sake. She once tried to kiss you around two weeks in, but you turned your head away and hid in her neck instead.
And now, you're the one initiating it.
This is a huge moment, and when she realizes that, she immediately kisses back. She slides her hands around your hips and holds you like she's afraid you'll leave, and you melt against eachother.
You pull back to rest your forehead against eachother. "I'm not leaving... but you have some serious explaining to do. And you have to make it up to me."
Lou lets out an adorable little laugh, grateful that that's your answer. This is better than any outcome she ever imagined. "Yes ma'am."
Hey guys! First fic in a longggg time. This is my bday gift to Cate Blanchett, even though she won't see it. Oh well. I realized around 1PM that it's her bday and I just kinda threw this together, but I was so deep in flow state xdd I hope it turned out good. Thank you for reading! <33
Welcome to my blog! I'm Lexie, and I write for women (with a few exceptions). My side blog is @imstilljustlexie , if anyone's interested in more personal posts. You'll find my masterlist here.
🎶✨when u get this, list 5 songs u like to listen to, publish. then, send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers (positivity is cool)🎶✨
The fact that two of my mutuals sent this to me makes me happier than anyone could ever realise (also you're getting a different 5 songs bc both of you are special <3)
Garden of Eden — Lady Gaga
I (Heart) You — KMFDM
Friesenjung — Joost
Bass Slut — S3RL (mostly the original mix but also others)
This is a story about how they prevented WW1 from happening. Credits to my friend, but I felt the need to share it here. (A "bukta" is a sweet bread bun basically.)
═══════════════════════════════
“The hero is here. Horvinus has arrived—the one who stopped the war.”
“That’s me. So you’re probably wondering how I got here… well, let’s go back. Not too far. Around 6 or 7 weeks ago.”
1914. June 28. Sarajevo, Bosnia.
“Horvinus! Horvinus! Come back here at once! This is no laughing matter! This is the third time this week—you need to pay your tab! You cannot just waltz in here whenever you feel hungry for a bukta!”
“My father will pay you! Lacinusz will cover it once he gets his wage! He’s at the shop right now—the maid café opens at noon!”
Horvinusz sprinted through the city, arms full and mouth stuffed with his freshly stolen bukta. He ducked into a narrow alley, finally shaking off his furious pursuer.
“Phew… that was close. If I’d been even 6 or 7 seconds slower, I’d be done for.”
He paused.
“…Anyway. Who are you?” he asked the shadows.
“How did you see through my disguise, mere mortal?” a voice whispered.
“You see—I didn’t. But now I’ve outplayed you. You fell for my bluff. So speak.”
“Oh… I am no one to be feared. Nothing to be considered. I am… nothing but a thing.”
“No… that can’t be…”
“That’s right, Horvinusz.”
“…Ákoplosz? Please tell me it’s not you.”
“I’ll give you one small piece of advice, Horvinus… eat your bukta while it’s still warm.”
“No—what did you do? What did you do to my father?!”
“You should see it for yourself.”
As the words faded, so did he—turning to dust, vanishing into the shadows.
Horrified, Horvinus bolted through the crowded streets.
Then he saw it.
His father—Lacinusz… no—Lacinusz Ferdinand. Him being there wasn’t the problem.
The problem was the shadow behind him.
A faint glint. A gun.
In the hands of—
“…Dezsőd bá… no…”
Dezsőd screamed " You are pushing the Ukrainians cart"
Horvinusz locked in. He leapt into the air, a single bukta clenched in his hand. One chance.
He threw it.
The gun fired.
For a moment, they met in the air.
The bullet tore through the bukta effortlessly—but stopping it was never the goal.
Slowing it down was.
Because the real hero…
…was already there.
Hungry Peter leapt forward and took the bullet.
Blood burst into the air, painting the bukta a deep, terrible red.
Adult!Natalie Scatorccio x Reader - I never got to tell you
Masterlist
Summary: Back from rehab, before she could go confront Misty about the blackmail, Natalie finds something she almost forgot about; something that means the world to her.
Word count: 2k
Warnings: Nat can sing, very light angst, refrences to substance abuse
After being back from rehab for the hundredth time now, getting an ominous postcard, the first thing Natalie thought to do was to go confront her suspect. Misty.
Though before that, she had to go get her car. No way would she use public transport, or get a taxi while holding a shotgun. So, she went to open her old warehouse.
The place was full of junk. Old boxes, broken furniture, a carton of expired beer. The car was there, the gun was in the trunk. All set, right? Well, no. She couldn't find her keys. Thus, Natalie was forced to rummage through the trash.
Dust was stirring everywhere as she moved the things that haven't been touched in years. Whenever she was done looking through one box, she threw it to the side in frustration— uncaring for the contents, before moving onto the next one.
After 15 minutes of uselessly searching through everything, she threw the last box at the wall with a strained grunt. The bottom of the cardboard gave out, and things went flying everywhere. She wouldn't have cared, if something hadn't hit her leg.
Natalie bent down to pick it up out of curiosity. Though after seeing what it is, she stopped before she could reach out. A cassette.
She already went through the box of cassettes that she kept, mostly movies or her old favourite albums that she bothered to go back to her mother for. Things that would be useless to buy twice.
So what's this one?
Finally giving in to the urge, she picked it up, turning it around to check for any title. The only thing written on it was a row of carelessly drawn musical notes. "Great. When was I so high that I couldn't even bother labeling my music?"
Natalie brought it inside with no sense of hurry, and attempted to get her cassette player to work. It took a few frustrated smacks before she figured out how to open it, and put the tape inside; then she sat back on the edge of her bed.
The thing that started playing shouldn't have been surprising, yet it managed to catch her off guard. It was a simple song, a little guitar and drums, but her breath caught at hearing her own voice start to sing.
And suddenly, it's all back. It's her own songs, that she wrote back in high school, with her friends.
The first few were just about your regular teenage angst; school, shitty parents, and drugs. Okay, perhaps not very regular, but that's how it was for Nat.
But then, the tone changed. Suddenly, the guitar sounded a little more basic. The drums were harsher. The quality is worse.
And then, she utters your name.
Young Nat sounds almost broken, even through the recording. The wilderness definitely changed her voice a tone, yes, but this was different. "Fuck.. this is for you, baby."
If Natalie were standing, she'd be stumbling back in pure shock. She didn't even remember writing this. Of course, now that she's hearing it, she's transported right back to the night she ended it.
⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧ | ⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧ | ⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧
Natalie was sitting by the open window, smoking in the middle of the night. Finally being let go from the hospital, she immediately took her first chance to smoke. The ringing of her phone caught her off guard.
She picks it up, her words hoarse as she speaks. "What?"
"..Nat?" The voice crackling through has her hand freezing with the cigarette on the way to her lips. You ask all the worried questions that you couldn't before, but she doesn't hear any of it.
Natalie takes a deep drag, and sighs out a puff of smoke, taking the courage to rasp out. "Leave it, doll. Leave me. I'm no good for you."
"But Nat-"
"I cheated on you."
The confession leaves the line in an uncomfortable silence. Just as you were about to talk, she interrupts you before you could question it. "I cheated. With Travis Martinez."
Natalie slams the phone down before your sobs could reach her ears. It's easier this way, she thought. It's better for you.
⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧ | ⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧ | ⛧°.⋆༺♱༻⋆.°⛧
Nat listens intently to the tape. Not just the lyrics, but the way her voice cracks, or how she takes a whole gasp of air between certain lines.
By the end of the song, tears are welling in her eyes. She can practically hear the way her hand was shaking while her younger self went to stop the recording.
And that's the last song on it. So she reaches out to take the cassette out of the player, perhaps more gently than she's ever managed in ages, and puts it to the side.
Natalie sits there for a good few minutes, trying to gather herself. She has to, anyway; she doesn't have any substance to turn to just yet. Instead, she takes a few deep breaths. Crazy how therapy comes back to haunt you, huh?
Once the water is out of her eyes, she reaches for her phone. It's the easiest place to get answers. And so, she opens Google and types your name into the search bar.
She's not too surprised by what comes up. Links to a few of your socials, the place you work at. Much like Natalie expected. She clicks on a link, looking through your recent photos.
After a while of searching, she notices that a lot of your pictures have a very familiar view as the background.
And she recognizes that place.
Of course she does. She's lived here for her entire life... if you don't count the whole decade of time that she spent in rehabilitation facilities.
Nat shoves her phone into her pocket and stands up from the mattress, the destination clear in her mind. She walks out the door, instinctively grabbing her car keys off the dresser. She didn't even realize it was there.
She locks her door first, before going back to her storage space. Pulling the garage door up with a grunt, Natalie quickly gets into her car and starts it.
She doesn't even close the door after driving off. It's all junk in there, anyway. The homeless can have it for all she cares.
It takes around 20 minutes for her to find the house she suspects is yours. She parks at the end of your driveway, not daring to go any closer. Not yet.
Getting out, Nat slams her car door shut with a careless shove. It's a wreck, anyway. Her uncertain steps lead her up to the door, and she knocks. The face that greets her once the door opens is a familiar one.
You.
Her first *girl*friend. The high school ex she never got over. The love of her life, really.
Your reaction was very understandable. Your eyes widened and you stared at her like you were seeing a ghost. You really were, in a way. Natalie was barely a shell of her teenage self.
Her hair completely different than you remember. Her eyes darker, wearier. Her face, two decades older. And it's not even just the outside. Nat's sharp, biting snark was dulled into a more passive-aggressive one.
"..Nat?" You squeak out, tears gathering in your eyes the longer you keep staring into her eyes. All she can do is stare back, her words suddenly caught in her throat.
She manages a silent wave, which has both of you huffing in amusement. You stay examining her features for a minute; only snapping out of your haze when she asks the dreaded question. "Can I come in?"
You don't hesitate for a single moment, stepping aside and silently inviting her in with a nod of your head. Natalie steps through the doorway, admiring the room that greets her.
The house is cozy. A comfy couch, a shiny tv, a clean kitchen, and doors leading to your bedroom and bathroom. It feels like a true home. Nothing like what she has in her shitty trailer.
But there's no reason to be envious now. She's with you. Nat sits on the couch, and you join her right after you lock the door.
After an awkward confrontation of how she found you— suddenly, it's like the 90s all over again. You chat about how your lives are going, as if Natalie didn't abandon you twenty years ago.
You share the inside jokes you've gained over the years, funny stories that would've been more memorable had she been there to witness them.
While Natalie, she shares all the "bullshit" she's learned from her countless therapists. Those stories don't really make you laugh as your own did, but you have to be mindful of the fact that this is all she's got.
She has no travel tales, no relationship ruckus, no workplace worries, no fun friends. All the stories she has are the things she did while she got high— how she suffered through rehab, just to fall back into the same cycle.
Smoke, get drunk, get high, get admitted into the hospital, get sent off to get better. A sad way to live your life, if you think about it. But it's who she is. It's all she's been for the great majority of her life.
"No, no. I haven't seen Travis since.. my last hospital visit. After he saw me on the brink of death, he decided to get his life together. Leaving me in the deep of it.."
"That's actually awful of him. I knew you had some tension, in the wilderness.. but that's just cruel." You give her such puppy eyes, it's like your heart's breaking for her. As if you were never jealous of Travis.
"We did, yes.. turns out, the love we had wasn't really all romantic. We were best friends, for a long time... I'm not mad at him. I just... miss him." She admits to you. You should feel blessed, as she never shares her emotions with a single soul.
You nod along, watching her intently like she's the only thing in the world that matters. Which, I suppose she is, right now. There's only the two of you in the house.
"So.. no love life, I'd assume?" You ask with a silly half-smile. She laughs at the question, shaking her head in answer once she's calmed down.
"No, no.. my last was Travis. Can't even get any hookups; I'm too much of a mess, even for the bar drunks." Natalie responds with a light tone, as if this isn't a serious thing at all.
"Well.. I haven't had any luck either. I mean.. been through a whole marriage and divorce. That could be called unfortunate, no?" You reply with a similar tone, though only so the conversation doesn't turn dark.
She raises an eyebrow, about to question it, but seeing your saddened expression, she decides against it.
She hums, leaning back against the cushion and manspreading— about to light a cigarette, but she thinks better of it. Not here. Not with you. "You were my best, you know."
"Yeah.. so were you." You stare off into space, not daring to look her in the eyes. "You know, I really wonder what could've been... if things never happened."
Something takes over Natalie for a moment, making her get enough confidence to reach over and hold your hand. "...I miss you, idiot."
You lace your fingers with hers, letting the silence linger. It's not uncomfortable, just tense with all the things left unsaid between the two of you.
After thinking over your words, you give her a response better than what she ever could've hoped for. "...You better be the best fucking girlfriend you can get yourself to be, if you want me back."
Natalie looks about as surprised as you are by your own words. Her friends would definitely say you're too kind for your own good, and that she doesn't deserve someone like you.
But poor, desperate Nat would never have the power to turn you down again. And she will do absolutely everything in her power to keep you. "I shall do my best."
Hi everyone! Oh my gosh, this shit has been sitting in my drafts since last August, help :,( I really didn't know how to write the ending at the time, and now is when I finally got myself to do it. Now, I don't want to say I hate it... but I definitely could've done better. No matter, it's out there now and I hope all my adult Nat enthusiasts enjoy it. Thank you for reading!
That was an awful reference not at all related to my account xD Just wanna post a quick vote that I think I know the answer to, but I'll ask anyway.
Should I post my works on AO3?
Yeah, sure
No, keep your fantasies off that site please
Voting ended onMar 26
EDIT: Alright, after listening to a tutorial and looking around, I think I know enough essentials to get started with this. You'll find my account here, and my existing works will be posted over time.
Summary: An alternate ending to Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla. It was made as an assignment for my English class, one which I was praised for and am proud of.
Word count: 1.2k
Warnings: Death, Blood, Descriptions of Violence, Slight Suggestive Tones (or would be considered such in the 19th century)
It was a day like any other. Despite his reluctance, my father had finally allowed me on a walk. Ever since Carmilla arrived, he had been even more weary than what is usual for him. I don't get it, really, I see nothing wrong with the girl.
No matter. It is his business, I suppose. For now, I'm happy to be outside. The sky is quite gloomy, so I can only pray there won't be any rain while I'm out. Perhaps it isn't wise to be walking alone in the woods, but it's hard to end up anywhere else. We are surrounded by it, afterall.
My footsteps are inaudible in the dirt. I follow a path not many have walked before, avoiding bushes and branches as I make my way deeper into the all-consuming forest. In the silence of the trees, I let my thoughts wander.
Where is Carmilla? I bid her farewell last night, and I haven't seen her since. By the time I made my way down for breakfast, my father informed me that she had already gone. But to where, I wonder? There isn't a village for miles. The carriage is still here.
My thinking ends there, however, as I come to a clearing. The sight before me leaves my blood cold, my muscles tense. I can't help but freeze up, my breath stuck in my throat. I suppose this is the answer to my question.
Before me stands Carmilla, in all of her strange glory. I find her undeniably beautiful, still, even as she stands above a dead man. Her pale skin is sprinkled with blood, staining her gown as well.
The man lays lifeless in the grass, his blood mixing with the earth beneath him. He is bleeding from two puncture wounds on his neck, the poor thing. It is quite a strange coincidence indeed, that Carmilla's mouth is stained with the exact shade of crimson that's spilling from the man.
"Oh! Laura, my dear I... do not think you should be out here." Carmilla speaks as if she is truly caught off-guard by my arrival. She steps forward, stepping over the body. Her foot catches on the man, and she kicks him as if he is nothing more than waste to be tossed aside.
"I could say this isn't what it looks like. But I would feel most guilty if I lied to you. All I ask of you, is that you do not run now." Carmilla comes to stand before my frozen form. Her eyes hold a certain darkness, one I've never seen before. How can she expect me to stay calm? Seeing a dead body is certainly not a common occurrence!
I do nothing but stand still and silent and terrified. One would be foolish to blame me; this is the young lady who's been staying at our home for over a week. My only proper friend in years. And just as I've grown to trust her and her strange nature, I catch her with a deceased man.
Since I couldn't bring myself to act, Carmilla takes it upon herself to do it for me. She takes hold of my arms, perhaps to truly make sure I won't flee. Her hands are soft as silk, despite the fallen life they hold.
"Dearest, please. You need not be afraid. I would never hurt you, not intentionally. Do not assume such cruel things. You wound me, dear." Carmilla's voice is that of an angel, luring me into a sense of safety that is hard to resist. The way her eyes gaze into mine makes it hard to deny the fact that I put my trust into the pretty lady before me.
For a reason I cannot explain, tears gather in my eyes. It is all overwhelming, is most likely why. Even with my conflicting emotions, the first thing I do is collapse into her arms. I hold onto the woman in hopes of safety and protection. I turn to a murderer for reassurance.
My tears flow faster than I expected. I'm left sobbing in her arms while she holds me on her breast. Her gown sticks to her skin, soaked with my sorrow.
She hushes me like a mother would. "Oh, my Laura, don't you cry now. Stop, now. It pains me to see you hurt. I shall take your worries, darling, I promise you that." Carmilla does everything in her power to soothe me. She caresses my hair like precious fabrics, and leaves kisses upon my face, and holds my body like I have no escape from her embrace. Her kisses shift lower, from my face to my neck. I don't question it. She's always been.. strangely affectionate, and it feels quite comforting at the moment.
She leans closer and closer. I feel her teeth graze my sensitive skin as the lady tries to get even closer, even when there's no closer to be.
Instead of a kiss, the next press of her lips leaves a sharp pain. A familiar pain. A pain I've felt every night since her arrival. And still, I gasp.
I feel weaker with every second that passes, as if Carmilla's draining my soul out of my veins. I try to push her, to shove her, anything to get her off of me, but it's no use. Within mere seconds, I'm already too frail to do a thing against her.
Perhaps I should've listened to my father. Perhaps I should've never trusted her. Perhaps we would've been better off, had we never taken her in. Perhaps vampires are real, and I should've believed.
But it's all meaningless, now that I've been trapped in her never-ending embrace. As betrayed as I feel, I cannot deny that she is a merciful lady. To kill me in her steady embrace; to end my being while I'm safe in her arms... It is an act most endearing.
The longer she stays emptying my veins, the stranger I feel. I feel warm while my body gets colder. I feel content as I leave this life and pass into whatever comes after. It is truly bewildering, how such contrasting feelings can blend, and mix, and form another.
But, there is no more time left for me to think. There are no more thoughts left for me to wonder. Everything feels faint, while my eyesight goes blurry at the edges. Only the edges at first, and then everything. I feel less and less of the wind on my hairs, and sadly also less of her warmth.
My senses fade. My eyesight turns from blurry to black within just a minute. A single minute, one that feels longer than the millions of them that I've already lived through.
My heart aches while it still beats, but the pain fades along with everything else. I hold no fear of passing in Camilla's arms. The last emotion my brain provides me with is one of security, before the cold emptiness of death consumes me.
Carmilla, once satisfied, pulls her teeth from Laura's flesh, taking a scarce moment to admire the peaceful features of her face. She cannot stay long and she knows it. She waits for nightfall and sneaks back into the estate of her late friend. She takes lifeless Laura to her bedchamber and lays her back in her bed, left to succumb to the safety of endless slumber.
