Poultrygeist

Laura woke slowly and cuddled into the warmth in front of her. It wasn’t until she cracked her eyes open and she realized it was Carmilla’s hip, not her torso, that she had a face full of. Carmilla was sitting up against the headboard and staring forward, zoned out.

“Carm, why are you awake?” Laura asked groggily.

Laura’s voice broke her out of her trance and she glanced down at the sleepy cupcake with a smirk. “You snore” she stated simply. Laura made an offended sound at her but nuzzled closer despite the noise. She maneuvered herself to pull Carmilla down slightly and threw her leg over the taller girl possessively.

She scooched down back to a laying position so Laura could press herself impossibly closer to her side. Carmilla trailed her fingers up and down Laura’s back, humming contently with her eyes closed.

“When do I meet the rest of the bunch?” Laura mumbled into her shoulder.

Carmilla kissed the top of her head before speaking. “They probably will be arriving sometime after lunch, so we should probably get up soon.”

“Mmm can we stay like this a little longer?” Carmilla’s chest swelled at the tiny girl half on top of her. She just wrapped her arms around Laura and squeezed her tight.

“Anything you want sweetheart.”

Carmilla was relaxing in the embrace, but Laura could still feel tension rolling off of her in waves. She figured she was probably nervous about the rest of her family getting the…update on Carmilla’s preferences.

“You know you can talk to me, right?” Laura asked weakly, propping her chin on Carmilla chest and looking up at her with her eyebrows pulled together.

Carmilla looked down at the girl she was so incredibly stupid over and smiled at her gently. She leaned forward slightly and smoothed the concern off of the blonde’s face with her lips gently. She kissed between her brows, her nose, and dusted kissed over her cheeks.

Laura got impatient and turned her face, catching Carmilla’s lips and kissed her hard with an open mouth. Carmilla laughed into the kiss but reciprocated eagerly. She could finally do this and she wasn’t going to take it for granted.

Laura was the one to pull back and the brunette chased her lips with her own. She panted against Carmilla’s mouth, resting their foreheads together.

“All right Karnstein, no more making out, we have to face the day,” Laura teased even though she was the one who asked to stay in bed.

“I don’t wanna,” Carmilla whined, slumping further into the mattress.

Laura laughed at the dramatics and pecked her on the lips for her troubles before hopping out of the bed.

“Yeah well I need a shower.” Carmilla perked up and Laura rolled her eyes. “Alone, Carm.”

She slipped out of the door, giggling at the loud groan from inside.

As people trickled into the Karnstein/Morgan home, things became even more spectacularly awkward. Lilita no where to be found, leaving her three children to entertain the extended family.

Mattie’s apathetic attitude turn around and her business face came out as she greeted guests. Will was equally as charming as he made small talk with distant great aunts and uppity grandmothers. No one had yet to comment on the intimate touches or affectionate looks between the new couple yet, but many averted eyes and judging stares happened throughout the afternoon as everyone waiting for dinner.

Laura finally found her broody girlfriend against the wall scowling.

“Hey there grumpy gills,” she coos at the brunette with her arms tightly crossed, observing the chatter in the spacious sitting room.

“Where is my mother,” she signed and Laura forced her arms uncrossed and inserted herself inside them, hugging Carmilla tight. “I don’t trust her enough to not see her at all times.”

Laura chuckled and placed a quick kiss against Carmilla’s pulse point before detangling herself again. “It’s going to be fine Carm. We just have to make it through dinner and then we can go home.”

Carmilla’s heart longed at the mention of home. Their home. Together. Out of this awful place. She quickly yanked Laura back in by her forearms. The smaller girl stumbled into her but Carmilla was quick to catch and hold her against her, breathing in her familiar scent.

“I have you right?” she whispered self consciously into the honey hair.

“Always.”

After some uncomfortable introductions and names she’d never remember, Laura found herself seated next to her broody girlfriend as dinner was served. Lilita had materialized after their long embrace with a disgusted look on her face before beckoning everyone in to the formal dining area.

As plates were served, Lilita stood from her place at the head of the table and clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention, as if her entire demeanor didn’t already demand attention.

“Thank you all for making it today for this meal. I hope my children have made you feel welcome in my absence. Though the prodigal daughter seems to have shocked us all with her return and…life choices…” she trailed off. People began to look uncomfortable. “Please, enjoy your meal.”

Laura could see Carmilla’s fists clenched tight under the table as Lilita sat back down and she placed a warm hand on the one closest to her.

Everyone began to eat and small chatter was exchanged around the table but Carmilla stayed silent as she picked at her food, the texts she had forwarded herself from Laura’s phone replaying in her head as she glared a couple seats over at her mother.

“Mircalla, if you have something to say to me I would prefer you just say it instead of all this…frowning,” she waved vaguely at Carmilla’s face with a bored expression. “You’ve already shocked us once this week with your vile life choices, I’m sure nothing else can do much damage.”

Laura’s eyes darted back and forth between the two as she anticipated Carmilla’s reaction. Others at the table began tuning into the conversation subtly.

Carmilla shook her head. This wasn’t the place for this discussion. Her mind was still racing after this morning’s discovery as she put pieces together. Her mother never reaching out to her after she left, her shock at her return, the anticlimactic effects of her loving father’s death.

Lilita scoffed at her. “Always prone to dramatics. The sooner you and this wretched cub reporter are out of my home the better. I’ve had enough of the repulsive nature of your relationship for one life time just like I had enough of that little bleach blonde from those years ago.”

Carmilla stiffened at the mention of Ell. “What did you just say?” she spat coldly.

Lilita rolled her eyes. “You think I didn’t notice your little fling back with that blonde back those years ago? Please Carmilla, use your head for once. I’ll end this just like I ended that relationship back then.”

“What do you mean you ENDED that relationship?” her volume was beginning to rise as her heart beat fast and faster.

Lilita delicately set her fork down as she spoke. “Darling, do you think Ell’s father would’ve pulled those applications if I haven’t used a little leverage? I own this town, I own these town residents, and I own you.”

Laura’s eye’s widened as she searched for any way to console the distraught Carmilla next to her. She had never seen her like this.

Carmilla’s eyes were fierce and red crept up her neck as fury settled in her gut. She opened her mouth to reply but Lilita beat her to it.

“As sooner or later I’ll end this disaster,” she gestured at the two of them. “Stone cannot love flesh darling, and you will not make a mockery of this family. It’s over.” She said with confidence.