Going Home

Her returned phone call took too long to be answered, and it didn’t help Carmilla’s already frayed nerves. She knew dealing with both Laura stuff and New York stuff was a dangerous mix for someone who consumed a lot of dairy and did very little exercise.

“Nice of you to ring back.”

“What the fuck, Spielsdorf. How did you get this number?”

Betty snorted on the other end of the line. “Could you sound more Sopranos?”

“I don’t like the fact that you’re ringing.”

“I got it off the nurse you’re paying to keep Danny a secret and not give your number out to anyone who asks.”

“Then how did you get it?”

“I asked nicely.”

“You threatened her.”

“Don’t worry, I’m the only person she’ll give it to.”

“Is Danny okay?”

“Yes. I mean, she’s in a coma. But other than that she’s flying.”

Carmilla closed her eyes in frustration. “What do you want?”

“To help you.”

“I severely doubt that.”

“Look, I think it’s nice that you’ve popped your friend somewhere safe so that she can get better, and flitted off to the back of beyond to reacquaint yourself with your long lost love, but we still have work to do, Carmilla.”

“Now who’s channelling the Sopranos.”

“Theo’s putting feelers out to find you.”

“I’m going to be real nice and assume that that isn’t a threat.”

“Oh, Carmilla.” Betty put on a heavy Italian accent, “If I was threatening you, you’d know about it.”

If Betty was nearby she could appreciate the full force of Carmilla’s glare, but she wasn’t, so Carmilla had to settle for sighing down the phone.

“So you haven’t sold us out to Theo.”

“Of course not. And, as a favour, you can help me out.”

“Can I say no?”

“I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“And then me and Danny are done with this. Paid off. Out.”

“You know, we should have gone into amateur theatre.”

“You’re annoying me.”

Betty laughed. It wasn’t cruel or mocking, but it annoyed Carmilla greatly. “I’m sending JP your way.”

“Not here you’re not.”

“Relax. It’s just JP. No one knows where you are, Carmilla.” Betty’s voice changed to something softer. “Or Danny. You’re both safe.”

“Fine. But does it have to be JP?”

“Be nice.”

“Not making promises.”

//

Carmilla waited at the bus station, remembering the last time she had been here. It had been sunny, and warm, and she had been holding a suitcase and doing what felt like the only thing she could. Now it was night and cold, and Carmilla couldn’t work out if a good or bad thing was about to happen.

“This better not be what it looks like.” Lafontaine’s voice interrupted Carmilla’s thoughts.

“Do you see any luggage?”

“You seem the type to travel light.”

Laf sat down next to her on the bench.

“Laura told me you just want to be friends with her at the moment,” they said.

“Brilliant.”

“You did the right thing.”

“Really? Because I thought I made her cry.”

“It’s not your time. It might have been back then, but you screwed it up.”

“You know why I left,” sighed Carmilla.

“Over bearing mother, a reputation you can’t live up to, a pretty girl in New York,” Laf listed, “But all I know is that my friend cried for months because you fucked off.” Laf’s tone wasn’t accusatory, more like they were just stating facts. “It’s not your time,” they repeated.

Carmilla glanced at them to find them fiddling with the band on their finger. She suppressed a smile. “When was your time with Perry?”

“When I took my head from my ass and accepted I loved my best friend.”

“My invitation must have got lost in the post.”

“I’ll be sure to print you another.”

“Are you happy?”

“Extraordinarily.”

“I’m glad,” Carmilla said sincerely.

They sat in silence for a moment, Lafontaine still winding the wedding ring around their finger.

“What are you waiting for?” they asked.

“A friend. He’ll be staying with me for a few days. We have stuff.”

“Stuff?”

“Stuff.”

“Still haven’t got over that attempt at being mysterious, I see.”

The headlights of the bus caused them both to squint.

“You know, I’ve never actually got on a bus,” said Lafontaine thoughtfully.

“Has anyone in this town?”

“Only you.”

“You’re not missing much.”

“Want to tell me about this friend?”

“Not even slightly.”

The bus stopped and a case toppled over, followed by a figure stumbling after it, smiling sheepishly.

Laf nearly gasped. “He looks like…”

“Yeah.” Carmilla gripped JP’s arm before he could trip over his feet again. The lights of the bus retreated as he struggled to right himself and his case. He stuck out his hand to shake, and Carmilla did so with a roll of her eyes.

“It’s very out the way,” he commented.

“You travel extensively, Jeep.”

“I didn’t know how long I would be here.”

“Hopefully not too long.”

“It’s cold.”

“Welcome to Silas.”

“I don’t believe you mean that.”

“Picked up on that, huh?”

Lafontaine watched the interaction. Carmilla almost seemed at ease, and Carmilla was rarely at ease around anyone.

“This is Lafontaine.” Laf’s attention was brought by Carmilla introducing them. They also shook the hand offered. “This is JP.”

Laf nodded. “What brings you here, JP?”

He looked at Carmilla before answering. “Stuff.”

“So I heard.”

“Why don’t you head that way.” Carmilla pointed JP in the direction of her house. “I’ll catch up.”

“Bye, Lafontaine.”

“Later.” Laf waited until he was out of earshot. “That is not someone I expected you to be friends with.”

“Don’t you have a fiancée to rush home to, braniac?”

“If I didn’t know better I would say you’re trying to get rid of me.”

“You always were the smart one.”

“Carmilla.” Laf gently touched Carmilla’s arm as she went to turn away. “What exactly is going on?”

“I can’t have a friend visit?”

“On a bus at night? No.”

“We talked about my mysteriousness, right?”

“If you’re in trouble…”

“Your concern is touching,” Carmilla cut them off, a hint of steel in her voice. “But it’s fine.”

“Yeah, seems it.”

Carmilla rolled her eyes and turned away. “Go home, Laf. Go be happy.”

//

Laura ran. Away from the hospital, away from blood and screaming and the sound of her mother’s heart stopping. Tears blurred her vision, but she knew where she was running to.

She hammered on the door until her fists hurt, sobs wracking her body. When it flew open she launched herself into arms that opened automatically for her, a voice that attempted to sooth and understand. She wept into Carmilla’s neck, attempting to gasp out the words but only causing the tears to fall harder.

Carmilla held Laura, any previous residues of sleep gone. Words were lost to sobs, but Carmilla caught “car crash” and “mom” and “dead”, and held onto Laura as tight as she possible could.

Laura didn’t remember the tears stopping, but soon she was clinging to Carmilla in the hallway, the door still open and letting in a breeze. She lifted her head from her shoulder and looked into eyes that were also tracked with tears. She remembered tutor sessions and comfort and reassurance that there was nothing wrong with her, and knew that Carmilla probably loved Sarah Hollis too.

The thought caused tears again, and this time Carmilla kicked the door closed before leading them to the living room. She sat Laura down and knelt in front of her, her hands never leaving Laura, holding onto her somehow.

“Cupcake?” Laura sniffled and raised her head to look at Carmilla. Her heart hurt more than she thought was possible. “What happened?” Her voice was gentle and coaxing.

Laura chocked it out. The car crash her parents were in coming back from a meal. Getting a phone call and being taken there by Laf’s parents. Her father being taken into surgery, returning hours later with the news he may never walk. Hearing her mother’s heart stop beating.

The tears came again and Carmilla rose to the couch, pulling Laura into her. She rocked her gently, stroking her hair and telling her it will be okay, she’ll be okay, they’ll be okay. When Laura dropped off into a fitful sleep, Carmilla kept hold of her, and let herself cry.

//

“Who’s that with Carmilla?”

“A friend, apparently.”

“He looks like…”

“Yeah it’s weird.”

“Why is he here?”

“Stuff.”

Perry looked away from the café, where Carmilla sat outside with JP, and at Lafontaine with a raised eyebrow. “Stuff?”

“We still don’t know exactly what Carmilla has been up to since she’s been gone.”

They watched Carmilla as she listened to whatever JP was saying. He was talking animatedly, and it seemed like Carmilla was people watching with disinterest. But her head was tilted slightly towards him and a small smile graced her face.

“You say that like you think it’s something suspicious.”

“Phone calls that make her panic. A visitor in the dead of night.”

“It was eight o’clock.”

“In Silas that’s the dead of night.”

“I think you’re being unnecessarily suspicious.”

“I think Karnstein has always been somewhat of a mystery. She went to New York for more reasons than her mother and a pretty girl.”

Perry shrugged and turned away from Carmilla. “Whatever it is we mustn’t pry. Laura likes having her back. And I know you like having her back too.”

“Of course.”

“Then whatever it is she’s doing we leave her too it. We don’t get involved.” She looked Laf dead in the eye. “Agreed.”

“Absolutely and completely.”

//

“So what are you and Karnstein up to?” Lafontaine corner JP as he was leaving the grocery store. They stood in his way and his eyes darted around him. “And don’t say stuff.”

“This is something you should speak to Carmilla about.”

“See, I would love to, but she does this thing where she’s an asshole and impossible to talk to. So I’m asking you. Nicely.”

They were smaller then him, JP noticed, but was smiling in a way that indicated they could beat him and knew it.

“Leave the poor guy alone, Laf.” JP sighed in relief as Carmilla approached behind them. She seemed more amused than anything. “You’re going to give him an aneurism.”

Lafontaine shot Carmilla a look. “I know you’re up something. And Perry and I would like to know what it is.”

“She told you to stay out of it, didn’t she?”

“Explicitly. Now tell me.”

Carmilla grinned broadly. She glanced at JP over Laf’s shoulder, raising her eyebrows in question. He shrugged.

“What?” Laf bristled at the silent conversation.

“Want to help us break into a church?”

//

“This is a new low.”

“If you’re going to complain you can go home.”

“We’re three hours away from Silas.”

“You said you wanted to come.”

“I thought you were joking.”

“How is that even remotely funny?”

Lafontaine had never felt particularly close to God. But after watching Carmilla pick the church door’s lock and was told to keep watch, they felt even more out of touch with religion.

“Is this what you do in New York?” they asked.

“It’s not always churches. You’d better be focusing. How would you like to explain to Perry that you were arrested breaking into a church?”

They would not like it at all, and resolved to glare out the window with renewed vigour.

“What exactly is he doing?” JP was rooting around in the back room somewhere. He had brought cables and a hard drive with him, and Lafontaine was quickly regretting their part.

“Looking for anything dodgy on the Pastor’s computer.”

“I want you to be joking.”

“I’m not.”

Laf looked from the window and at Carmilla, who had a small smirk and was flipping through a bible, her feet on the pews.

“Why am I here again?” Laf demanded.

“So I can relax.”

“I don’t feel like this is a three man activity.”

“At least you rode a bus for the first time.”

“Why are you looking for something dodgy in a church?”

Carmilla sighed and swung her legs off the pews, throwing the bible onto the seat next to her. Laf rolled their eyes. Carmilla seemingly hadn’t lost her flare.

“Because that’s what we do. We find the things people want to keep hidden, then sell them on. Pastor James has a taste for prostitutes. That would seriously affect the whole sins of the flesh thing he preaches. We then give that information to a third party.”

“We? You have a crew?”

“I wouldn’t call it a crew.”

“Seriously?”

“Well I can hardly hack things, can I? I can barely tell the time.”

“I almost don’t believe you.” Laf turned their attention back to the window. If it wasn’t Carmilla, Lafontaine would suspect they were part of an elaborate prank. They heard Carmilla sigh deeply behind them.

“Look, leaving Silas meant leaving any claim I had to anything Karnstein. I had no money, and this was how apparently how Ell could afford a two bedroom apartment in New York.”

“So you decided to join her blackmail squad.”

“It’s a not a squad either. It was me, Ell, JP, and a couple of others. I’m not exposing government secrets here.”

“Why did you bring this to Silas?”

“I didn’t.” The anger in Carmilla’s voice made Laf turn to her. “It was never meant to.”

“Are you running away from this? Is that why you’re back?”

Carmilla sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Something happened. And I’m not going to tell you what, before you ask. We’ve shared too much already, it’s making me itchy. It’s been planned to get away for a while, me and a friend. Plans just got moved up and slightly side tracked.”

“Where’s this friend now?”

“As I’ve said, we’ve shared too much already.”

“Why did you tell me all this?”

Carmilla shrugged. “No idea. You’ve always been easy. Not so quick to judge.”

Lafontaine thought about what Perry would say if she knew about what Carmilla was doing. “I’m going to have to tell Perry,” they said, slightly guiltily, “I know it’s not my place but…”

Carmilla waved a hand. “No secrets or lies. But you’re complicit now, remember.”

Laf stared at her hard. “Is that why you invited me?” they demanded.

“Just a perk.” Carmilla had the audacity to laugh. “Relax. If we get caught I’ll keep your part to a minimum. You’ll do a few years at the most.”

“You’re not as funny as you think you are.”

//

Carmilla found Laura in the small clearing near her house. After a touching funeral, where Laura’s dad had choked back tears as he made a speech and Laura had stood beside him, tears silently streaming as she stared at the coffin that held her mother, Carmilla had lost track of her. She’d guessed she would have been in same place they had been going for three years.

“Hey,” Carmilla said gently so as not to startle her, “You okay for company?”

Laura was holding onto the worn photo, looking down at it. Tears had long since dried up, but took no prompting when they wanted to come again. It seemed all she did these days was cry.

She nodded to Carmilla, who sat behind her, legs either side. Laura leant back, relishing the comfort. Carmilla’s chin rested on Laura’s shoulder.

“How old were you?” Carmilla asked. Laura flipped the photo to show her the back. “Five.” Carmilla couldn’t help but smile. “Have you grown since then?”

Laura laughed, but it felt wrong. They were still dressed in black, Laura’s dress was muddy at the bottom from where she had walked, and Carmilla’s trousers were frayed from searching.

“She was telling me about sunflowers.” Laura held the photo up so Carmilla could see better. The little five year old was looking at her mother in wonder as she held up a flower and spoke. “Apparently they face the direction of fairies. Learning they actually face the direction of the sun was quite the experience. I accused the teacher of lying.”

Carmilla smiled into Laura’s hair. “You thought fairies were more realistic?”

“I thought my mother wouldn’t lie to me. Held a separate lesson to teach everyone how sunflowers pointed into the direction of fairies.”

The tears were threatening again, but Laura leant more into Carmilla, resting her head back against her shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do now,” she confessed quietly. “I don’t know how this works.”

Carmilla had been young when her own father died, too young remember the apparently kind man who had her hair and eyes. Whose death had done something to her mother and her sister that wasn’t able to be reversed.

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Laura’s neck. “It will be okay,” she said, with more conviction than she felt. “Your mother was astounding. You’re astounding. And I promise you it will be okay.”

She opened her eyes to find that Laura’s were closed, her head slightly tilted. She gently kissed Laura’s shoulder, then leant her chin back down.

“Carmilla.” Laura’s eyes still hadn’t opened and she spoke so lightly if she wasn’t right by the ear Carmilla may not have heard. “Do that again.”

Laura’s head was leant away, exposing more of her neck. Carmilla’s arms tightened involuntarily. “Laura,” she said quietly.

“Please.” Laura cut her off before she could speak.

Carmilla brushed her lips over Laura’s shoulder, then further up her neck, placing a chaste kiss below her ear. She kissed again, a little harder, on a point just below that made Laura breathe out heavily. Laura turned her head so their noses brushed to kiss the edge of Carmilla’s mouth. Carmilla was aware, somewhere, that this wasn’t the time to kiss Laura. But soon Laura’s lips had captured her own, and Carmilla couldn’t think clearly until she felt moisture on her cheeks and realised Laura was crying again.

She broke the kiss just as the sobs started, and Laura turned so her face was buried in Carmilla’s neck and she could encircle the body of the girl in front of her. Carmilla pulled her tighter as Laura cried.

//

Perry's expression, and the iron grip she had on Carmilla’s arm as she dragged her from the counter and to the backroom indicated that Laf had confessed what they had done earlier that week.

JP had left two days ago, promising to wire her share once he received payment, and Lafontaine had looked stricken when they were told they had earned a share.

"I don't want your illegal money!"

"There's no need to shout."

Carmilla let Perry manhandle her away, relenting on breaking fingers because Perry looked angry enough to break them back.

"How dare you get my fiancée involved in blackmail."

"How about you don't poke me in the chest."

"Whatever it is you're bringing here it needs to stop."

Anger at the whole damn situation blossomed. "I didn't bring anything. It was a little bit of breaking and entering. It’s not like they needed much persuasion. I didn't come back to cause trouble, Perry, I came back because I needed to get away from it."

"So you are running away."

"I'm running away from that but I'm running to here. To Laura."

"Never take Lafontaine with you again."

"They were pretty bad at it anyway."

"And you need to tell Laura. If you two are going to start anything she needs the whole story."

"You're being awfully demanding."

"Carmilla."

"I know. I will."

Perry sighed and the angry look started to dissipate. "Are you in danger? Is that why you're running."

"You people need to stop being concerned about me."

"I get it why you left. Laf and Laura, they never did. To them anything beyond this town was just background."

"It wasn't always to Laura."

"Things changed. The accident."

"I know."

"I'd have left. If I could." Perry said it like a confession.

"There's still time."

"Lafontaine's happy here. Our life is here."

"Your life can be anywhere. And as for Laf, get them on a bus. They loved it."

//

"So you blackmail people?"

"No. I sell stuff to the people who do the blackmailing."

"You say that like it's better."

"Isn't it?"

Laura frowned, fiddling with her mug. The cafe was closed and empty and Carmilla had invited Laura to talk. Things had been bordering on awkward between them, and Carmilla couldn't see how her confession was going to make things better. But Perry was right. If she wanted anything with Laura she couldn't keep secrets.

"And you took Laf with you to break into a church?"

"I would have invited you but I know you work late on Tuesdays."

"I know you think you're funny."

Carmilla felt barely any guilt for what she did. She never had. But Laura had always had a more obvious moral compass than her, not one to look too hard for the grey.

"And Ell did this?"

"Yes."

"Did you know that before you left?"

"Which answer will make you feel better?"

"I'm not sure," Laura confessed quietly.

"I did know."

Laura nodded, gauging how this made her feel. "I think that's better."

"It is?"

"At least you had some sort of plan. It was a terrible one. But you weren't leaving blind." She nodded again. "You had some idea where you were going."

"Okay."

Carmilla watched Laura carefully for any sign she was going to explode or run.

"You were expecting me to judge, weren't you?"

"A little," Carmilla confessed.

"I'm not.”

"You would have," she said with a fond smoke, remembering how often Laura tried to be Carmilla's moral compass.

"Maybe I've change."

"Maybe."

"I'm judging a little."

"Anyone would."

“And the phone calls?”

Carmilla hesitated, taking a sip of her coffee to delay answering. “My friend got hurt. We messed with the wrong people, went back on a deal when we realised the guy we were selling to didn’t have the best motives.”

“The best motives for blackmail?”

“That sounded judgey.”

“Sorry.”

“He was going to hurt people. I don’t care that some rich guys have to pay out for having affairs, but I do draw the line somewhere.”

“I wasn’t being judgey.”

“My friends currently in a coma. I’m paying off a nurse to keep it quiet if anyone comes asking. She’s to phone is anything happens.”

“People are after you?”

“You make it sound so dramatic.”

“Carm.”

Carmilla sighed. Her coffee was now finished so she distracted herself with cleaning the ring off the table. “Someone’s handling it. It’s fine.”

“Is that why you came back?” Laura asked timidly. She’d known there had to be more of a reason for Carmilla’s return.

“Partly.” Carmilla confessed. “It’s a good place to lay low. I don’t think people even believe this place exists. But there are other reasons.” She didn’t expand. She didn’t really need to. She felt drained from confessions.

“Your friend,” Laura said, thankfully diverting the conversation, “Is she going to be okay?”

Carmilla shrugged. “I hope so. She has a bad head injury but…” Another shrug as she drifted off.

They were left in silence, Laura nodding slowly like she was thinking of more questions to ask.

“Thank you for telling me,” she said finally.

“No more secrets. Now that we’re friends and everything.”

Laura looked up to find Carmilla smiling, but the familiar heaviness in her eyes. “Right. Friends.”

//

The phone woke Carmilla, who threw herself across the bed with the sole goal of shutting it up.

“It’s Sunday morning. What?” she snapped into the offending cell.

“You know,” said a voice casually on the other end, “When I got violently attacked, I didn’t expect my friend to flit off to some backward town to reunite with their long lost love.”

Carmilla sat up quickly. “Lawrence?”

“You’re an idiot, Karnstein.”

Carmilla, knowing that Danny couldn’t see her and tease her for caring, let a grin develop.

“Finally woke up then.”

“Was the best nap I’ve had.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“Apart from the constant headache and broken bones, just dandy.”

“Danny.”

There was a pause on the other end. “I’m okay. Glad to be alive. What exactly happened?”

“Found you after Theo’s goons got you. Took you to the hospital.” She didn’t mention dragging Danny into her car, covered in blood and not moving, only to drop her off at the doorstep and speed away at the hope of not being noticed or questioned. “Paid off a nurse to keep quiet and keep me informed.”

“Nurse Tyler. Lovely woman.” It was said sarcastically, and Carmilla grinned more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever once been happy to hear from you,” she said casually.

“Please. You’re using your hard earned hereditary fortune on me. Don’t play coy.”

“When did you wake up?”

“A few days ago.”

“Glad to see my fortune is paying off the right nurse.”

“How’s the town?”

“Still shitty.”

“And the girl.”

“Still wonderful.” Danny snorted. “You should come visit.”

“I’d love to, but there’s the small matter of the head injury I told you about.”

“You remember the year is 2030 right?”

“Who was it that told you you were funny, exactly?”

“I’ll come get you. Silas is perky. You’re going to hate it.”

“Stay where you are.”

Carmilla held the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she began to throw stuff into a bag. “The only decent place to eat has had more health scares than is strictly acceptable, so I hope you like salmonella.”

“Karnstein.” Danny’s voice held a warning.

“Look.” Carmilla paused, switching ears. “Betty got in touch. Theo’s still after us. He knows you’re going to have to be at a hospital somewhere, and while you were some anonymous coma patient it was fine. But not you’re awake and coherent. Tyler can’t keep you hidden forever.”

“What did Betty want?”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re nearly out. Now it’s just a matter of keeping us both alive until we are.”

“And you think your town is the place to do that?”

“It’s a good place to hide.”

“To hide, or win back girls.” Danny had a smile in her voice.

“Places can be two things.”

“I still think it’s safer to stay put where we are.”

“And I’m paying your hospital bills and, out of the two of us, am the only one without a severe head injury.”

Danny was silent for a while. “How shitty are we talking?”

“There are three bars.”

“What do you do with your time?”

//

Carmilla walked into the bookstore with a bag over her shoulder, and Laura’s stomach plummeted. It evidently showed on her face, as Carmilla grimaced then steeled herself, gesturing for Laura to come round the counter to her.

Laura resolved to let Carmilla talk or explain and not jump to any conclusions that would jeopardise what they had.

It was hard when Carmilla struggled to throw the bag on a chair and turn to face Laura.

“Going somewhere?” Laura said, trying to keep it light.

“My friend woke up.”

“What?”

“Danny. She woke up.”

Laura didn’t expect the conversation to head that way. “Okay. Good.” It occurred to Laura that Carmilla had just been waiting in Silas until her friend was awake and she could return.

“I’m going to New York to get her,” Carmilla continued, seeing Laura’s line of thought playing out across her face, “But I’m coming back.” Laura still didn’t say anything. “I mean it.”

“I believe you.” Laura said. And she did. Carmilla looked earnest and sincere and Laura believed she would come back.

“You do?”

“You sound surprised.”

“I’m happy.”

“You’re going to bring your friend back with you?”

Carmilla nodded. “She’s going to hate it but doesn’t really have a say in a lot of things, what with the head injury and all.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Will you phone this time?”

“Every day.”

“That’s a lot. We don’t want to run out of things to talk about,” Laura grinned at making Carmilla laugh. “When you get back,” she said, tapping a rhythm with her fingers, “Maybe we can try something.”

“Zumba?”

“Be serious.”

“I learnt how to cook.”

“How?”

“Practice.”

“Were there enough hours in the day?”

“I’ll cook you something,” Carmilla grinned, not put off by Laura’s disbelief. “And maybe we can see if this something works.”

“I trust you now.”

“That’s why I’m happy.”

“When’s your bus?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll walk you there.”

//

Carmilla kept her promise and rang every day. She got a hotel under a fake name and spent all her time either at the hospital or on the phone to Laura. They had time to talk now, and eight years is a long time.

Danny looked terrible, a fact Carmilla had no problem pointing out frequently, but the doctors were impressed by her progress. There were a lot of tests, and Carmilla was starting to get antsy the longer they stayed there. Danny told her to go home, but Carmilla was adamant. Leaving Danny alone had got her beaten in the first place, this time she resolved that they both would make it out.

Finally the doctor came round to say that Danny could be discharged. Carmilla lingered in the hallway while papers were signed, rolling her eyes when she saw Nurse Tyler approach her.

“Thanks for letting me know she woke up,” Carmilla muttered once the nurse was close enough.

“It was touch and go for a while. Didn’t want to give you false hope.” Carmilla frowned. Danny hadn’t mentioned anything about touch and go. “Anyway, I’m still owed one last payment.”

“You’ll get it.”

“Will I get in trouble for this?”

“From the hospital? Probably.”

“From whoever you’re hiding from.”

“Should have asked that five months ago.”

Danny appeared then, stubbornly glaring at the attendant who held a wheelchair. Carmilla smirked.

“I’m not getting in that.”

“Maybe we can have a race.”

She glared at Carmilla, then at Nurse Tyler over her shoulder who started to step away.

“Been a pleasure,” Carmilla called to her as she left. She turned to Danny. “Touch and go?”

“She’s exaggerating. Don’t make a big deal of this.”

//

Ell sat behind Carmilla, legs either side, as she struggled with her math homework.

“I must say.” Ell leant her chin on her shoulder. “I don’t miss homework.”

Carmilla hummed in response, focused on the question.

“And apparently college homework is even worse, so glad I missed out on that too.”

“Ell,” Carmilla said carefully. “I know you’ve only got the weekend, but I really need to get this done.”

Carmilla had been staring and scribbling at the same questions for almost half an hour. “Maybe I can help.” Ell focused on the questions, and Carmilla stiffened in front of her. “This seems…”

“Easy?” Carmilla untangled herself and stood up, throwing her book to the side. “Like eight grade math? Because it is.”

“I wasn’t going to say that.” Ell shifted to the edge of the bed, watching Carmilla carefully. “But I can help if you wanted to get it done quicker.”

“I have to get it done on my own.”

“Says who?”

The answer was Laura, but Carmilla wasn’t going to say that. “I’m going to be while. You can go and see your aunt if you want.”

“I came to see you.” Ell picked up the book. “You want to know the first answer?”

Carmilla tried not to get prickly about how quick Ell figured it out. “No.”

“Okay.”

“Is it seven?”

“Not even close.”

“I’m not good at math.”

Ell smiled. She was pretty and nice and had been visiting Carmilla regularly for the past six months. “How exactly did you get seven?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Carmilla took the book from her hands and pushed her back onto the bed, hovering over her. “You’re nicer to look at anyway.”

Still smiling, Ell leaned up to kiss her. Her shirt was halfway off when Carmilla’s phone started ringing.

Carmilla sat up, recognising the ring, and felt guilty. Ell tilted her head from below her.

“Hollis?”

“Yeah.”

“She has her own ringtone?”

Carmilla coloured. “She set it up.”

Ell laughed lightly. “You got it bad, Karnstein.”

Carmilla didn’t answer, standing and going to the dresser to get her phone. It stopped ringing as she reached it, and a moment later a text from Laura appeared.

“She wants to see how my homework is going.” Carmilla couldn’t help the disappointment.

“I think that might be an excuse to talk to you.”

Carmilla shrugged and sent back it was fine. She put the phone back and went to Ell, sitting so she straddled her lap. She kissed her.

“You should ring her back.”

“Does talking about my math tutor turn you on?”

“We both know she’s more than that.”

“Ell.”

“Look, Carm, we’re not falling in love here. It’s fine. It’s sex. But you’ve got it for that girl.”

“We kissed.”

Ell leant back onto her hands, grinning. “When?”

“After her mom’s funeral.”

“Oh.”

“It was bad.”

“This kiss?”

“The timing.”

“Yeah.” Ell moved her hands to Carmilla’s thighs and ran her nails along them. “Could have been better.”

Carmilla closed her eyes as Ell’s hands moved under her shirt and along her ribs. “You tell me to get the girl, and then touch me like that?”

“What can I say, I’m a complicated person. Have you kissed since?”

“No.”

“Have you talked about it?”

“I’ve tried to. She’s ignoring it.”

Ell moved so Carmilla was on the bed and she was hovering over her. “Do you want me to stop visiting?”

“Do you plan on falling in love with me?” Carmilla asked with a smile.

Ell grinned back and leant forward to kiss her. This time her shirt was removed without interruption, and Carmilla’s soon followed.

“Is she the only thing that’s keeping you here?”

Carmilla pulled back. “What?”

“I know you hate it. Your mother. The pressure. You tell me regularly. If it wasn’t for Laura would you leave?”

“Why are you asking me this?”

Ell shrugged and leant down for a kiss again. “I have a proposal.”

“I thought we weren’t in love?”

Ell rolled her eyes. “Behave. I can get you work in New York, if you want to come back with me sometime.”

“What?”

“Leave it behind. Whatever is in this town that causes whatever darkness you have in you, leave it behind.”

“Work?”

“With me.”

“And the shady stuff you do?”

“Who said it was shady?”

“You. Every time I ask.”

Another shrug and another kiss, before Ell pulled back. “It’s just an offer. I won’t mention it again. But it’s there.”

Carmilla just nodded and pulled Ell down on top of her.