Chapter 4
Laura burst through the doors of the hospital and ran to the front desk, frantically trying to explain who she was. The receptionist looked bewildered, but finally directed Laura to the ward where she was told Carmilla was. Another run brought her to another reception desk, and a male voice calling her from the hallway ceased her rambling.
“Mrs Karnstein?” Laura looked up to see a tall doctor frowning at her.
“Yes,” she said, not even bothering to correct him, “Carmilla?”
He led her down the hallway, explaining what had happened. “She was found early this morning, and when she was brought in we took to surgery. She has some broken ribs and a fractured wrist, and we were concerned about a head injury, but since theatre she’s woken up a few times and seemed okay. She asked us to call her wife.”
“Do they know who did this?” Laura asked, her voice hard.
Doctor Walker shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mrs Karnstein. Whoever did it got away. But the police are looking to talk to her. I’ve made them wait until I can say she’s up for it.”
“Is she awake now?”
“No. She’s been given morphine, so should sleep through the night. You can go home and we can call you when she wakes or…”
“No.” Laura cut him off. “I’ll wait here.”
He nodded, like that’s what he thought, and led her into Carmilla’s room. Laura chest hurt at the sight of Carmilla lying in the bed, wires attached to her arms and the steady beeping of her heart filling the room.
“Will she be okay?” Laura whispered.
She could only handle one answer right now, and her eyes filled with tears when the doctor said “Yes, we believe so.”
//
Five months and nineteen days
Carmilla woke to the sound of her own heartbeat on the monitor. When she had first woken, in the hospital bed surrounded by nurses and a doctor, she had panicked. That panic had quickly turned to relief when memories filled her, and she realised that she hadn’t died in an alley. She remembered being hit from behind, then held back as fists connected with whatever part of her body they could find. At one point high school muscle memory kicked in, and she got in a few punches of her own, but it turns out high school muscle memory stood no chance against a baseball bat, and all she could do is curl into a ball, protect her head, and hope they stopped hitting her.
She passed out before that happened.
She dragged her eyes open to find it was light, and a hand was held loosely in hers. Laura was curled up in a chair very near her bed, sleeping with a small frown, and, despite her condition, Carmilla couldn’t help but smile.
She blew air on Laura’s nose so that it crinkled, then blew again until she cracked her eyes open and took in her surroundings.
“You’re awake!” She leapt to her feet. “I’ll get someone.”
“Cupcake,” Carmilla tried, but Laura was already out the room. She returned with a nurse, who checked Carmilla’s vitals, and asked if she was in any pain.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t realise we shared pain receptors, cutie.”
“The morphine would have worn off by now. You must be in pain. You need more.”
“Yes but that would put me to sleep. Can’t look at that face when I’m asleep, can I now?”
The nurse smiled at that, and told Carmilla she would get the doctor to check on her. Laura sat back down, and seemed to hesitate before taking Carmilla’s hand.
“I’m not going to break.”
“I know that.”
“You’re here.”
“You got hurt.”
“Still mad at me?”
Laura shook her head. “I don’t think I could be right now.”
“I’m okay.”
“I was so scared.”
“Me too.” Carmilla admitted.
“You’re okay.”
“Yes.”
Carmilla shifted, trying to sit up, but pain shot through her chest. Laura grumbled and kept her lying down with gentle pressure to her shoulders, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
“Stay still.”
“What did the doctor tell you?”
“You were found in an alley.” Carmilla flinched. “The police want to talk to you.”
“I didn’t see anything.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Laura was almost crying again, threading her hand with Carmilla’s. The doctor interrupted them, checking over Carmilla and explaining she had a few busted ribs and a cast on her wrist, and needed to stay in hospital for a while, but should be free to go home in a week or so.
“And the police want to talk to you.”
“I know.”
“I can put them off, but it would be best to talk to them as soon as possible.”
“Okay. Now’s fine.”
“I’ll get them.”
“Cutie, would you wait outside while I talk to them?”
“I can stay.”
“Do you want to know details?” Laura didn’t. Seeing Carmilla bruised and hurt made her chest squeeze enough, and hearing about it wouldn’t make that better. But the thought of leaving Carmilla’s side was almost as worse. “Go on.” Carmilla could see Laura’s hesitation. “I’ll still be here.”
//
The police spoke to Laura, but, not knowing what Carmilla had told them, she said nothing. She could guess who had done this, but wanted to talk to Carmilla before.
“I told Perry you’re awake.” Laura wandered around Carmilla’s room aimlessly. “Her and Lafontaine are going to visit later.”
“Okay.”
“They’re going to tell Danny and Kirsch, so they’ll probably be by.”
“Exciting.” Carmilla watched Laura carefully as she picked up her water jug.
“You need more water.”
“I don’t”
“I’m going to get you more water.”
“Laura.” She froze, her back to Carmilla and the water jug shaking. “Come sit with me.”
Laura sat back in the chair, her hand finding Carmilla’s again.
“Was it him?” Laura asked in a whisper.
“Would be a coincidence if it wasn’t.”
“Did you tell the police?”
Carmilla shook her head. “You have to trust me.”
“Okay.” Laura said quietly.
“So you’ll wait on the article?”
“Yes. But only if you promise to not lie to me. For whatever reasons.”
“I could ask you anything right now and you’d do it, right?”
“Probably.”
“Don’t divorce me in five months and nineteen days.”
“You’ll be out of hospital by then. I won’t feel so bad.”
“I thought I was going to die.” Carmilla said it quietly, and weakly, and full of so much vulnerability that Laura felt she was going to cry again. She moved so she was sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, and pulled Carmilla to her as much as she could without jostling the wires or causing her pain. Carmilla leant her head against Laura’s hip and closed her eyes.
//
“Looking good, Karnstein.”
“Suck it, Lawrence.”
“Perry brought a vineyard.”
“I can see that. Didn’t feel like leaving any grapes for the rest of the city, Perr?”
“I wanted you to have enough. I was so worried.”
“About my grape intake?”
“So did you manage to get any hits in yourself?”
“Danny!”
“I think I broke one of their noses.”
“Nice one, dude.”
“Kirsch, don’t try and high five her.”
“She’s got a broken wrist, man.”
“Can someone take Laura home later so she can sleep in an actual bed and eat something not from a vending machine?”
“I’m right here!”
//
Five months and sixteen days
Lafontaine sat down on the plastic waiting chairs next to Laura outside Carmilla’s room.
“They still talking about law?” Laura asked.
“Yup. Guess that’s we get for being with lawyers.”
Laura looked to see Laf grinning. “You’re as bad as Carmilla sometimes,” she huffed.
Laf laughed gently, and the pressure on Laura’s chest that had been slowly lessening over the last few days got a bit lighter.
“Everyone seems to be in agreement this was Vordenburg’s doing,” Lafontaine commented, keeping their voice light.
“Carm says to trust her.”
“Are you going to?”
“I probably should have earlier.”
“Don’t go blaming yourself, Laura. It’s no ones fault but his.”
“Do you know what they’re doing?”
Laf shook their head. “Perry’s big on the confidentiality thing.”
“Urg, lawyers.”
“I’m going to take you back for a bit.”
“I’m fine.”
“You haven’t been home in three days. You’re smelling pretty ripe.”
“Thanks.”
“And you need to sleep.”
“Carm says that it was a warning. That nothing else will happen.”
“Nothing will. Perry will be staying here tonight. They have more law to talk about.”
“This should never have happened.”
“I’m sensing blame in your future.”
“I’m tired.” Laura admitted quietly.
“Go say goodbye and I’ll take you home.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll bring you back first thing.”
“Nothing will happen to her, right?”
Lafontaine threw their arm around her shoulder. “I promise.”
//
Five months and fifteen days
Laura dreamt of Carmilla dying, and when she woke promptly decided not to go to sleep again without Carmilla either out of the hospital or a foot away from her. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to settle the stirring in her chest. She’d never understood the thought of not being able to live without anyone, she thought she would never survive losing a parent but had, but a world without Carmilla was not one she was interested in.
Her door knocked, and Laura wiped her eyes as she dragged herself away from the bed. Carmilla’s mother waited for her when she opened the door, and Laura staggered back as she pushed herself inside.
“What the hell?”
“Miss Hollis.” The greeting was cold and filled with distain.
“You can’t just barge in here.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Carmilla’s in the hospital.”
“I know,” she said, like Laura had just recounted a boring fact. “I won’t have time to visit her.”
“I wasn’t asking you to.”
Lilita sneered at her. “I have gotten word of a little article you intend to write. I advise that you don’t.”
“What?”
“You’re getting yourself involved with the big players. It was cute before, but now you’ve roped my daughter and that friend of hers into it. So when I say advise, I mean I’m telling you to do it. Drop everything.”
“Why do you care what happens to Vordenburg?”
“Our interests are tied.”
“You mean you’re in league with him.”
Lilita laughed, a cruel, mocking laugh that just incensed Laura further. “We aren’t supervillains, Miss Hollis. The problems you cause for him cause problems for me. So I’m telling you. Drop it now.”
“You’re going to let the man who put Carmilla in the hospital get away.”
“And you’re going to break her heart.” Laura’s breath caught at that. “I guess we’re both going to hurt my daughter somehow.” She moved to brush past Laura. “I’m telling you, but I’ll gladly go to Carmilla. And this is me being polite.”
“She’d never drop it.”
There was that laugh again. “You don’t know my daughter that well, do you? This won’t be the first person she’s let off by my request.”
“You’re lying.”
It seemed that, if Lilita were the type to shrug, she would have. “I’m not. Give her my best. Tell her I’ll cover her hospital bills.”
“Get out.”
Lilita smiled over her shoulder as the door closed, leaving Laura to fall onto the couch and think. Then she opened her laptop and started writing until Laf came to take her back to the hospital.
//
Four months and twenty seven days
“You’re buzzing.”
“Am not.”
“You’ve got something on your mind. Just tell me, cupcake.”
Laura stepped back from where she got Carmilla situated on her couch. Carmilla could have probably handled it herself, but didn’t want to tell Laura that. Her wrist was in a cast and she had medication to take, and whenever she moved too suddenly her ribs screamed at her, but she was alive. And Laura was looking at her softly and in the past two weeks had only gone home to shower.
“Your mother visited me.”
“What? When?”
“About a week okay.”
“Why?”
“Stop moving.”
“I’ll move all I want.”
“You seem angry.”
“Laura, why?”
“She wanted me to drop the Vordenburg story.”
Carmilla closed her eyes. “Do you ever get the feeling the universe hates you?”
“I ended up married to you, didn’t I.”
“Not now, Laura.”
“Sorry.”
“Tell me what she said.”
“Just that I was in over my head. And that if I didn’t drop it she’d go to you.”
“Did you listen?”
“Take a wild guess.”
“Jesus, Hollis.” Carmilla rubbed her eyes.
“I haven’t published anything or even told my editor. You said to trust you and I do. But I won’t be threatened by her, Carm.”
She sat on the coffee table so she was facing Carmilla. Her cast had drawings on, curtesy of Kirsch and Lafontaine. She focused on the little cupcake Carmilla had insisted they add.
“I’m not expecting you to stop because she said so,” Carmilla said quietly.
“Good.”
“What else did she say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? No parting words that are making you avoid making eye contact with me.”
“Oh.”
Carmilla hummed. “She does that a lot.”
“She said you’ve dropped cases for her before.”
“It’s a little more complicated than that.”
“She makes you sound corrupt.”
“You believe her?”
“That you’re corrupt? No.” Laura looked Carmilla in the eye. It was important for her to understand this. “But what do you mean by more complicated?”
“She threatens people. Not me, because if I lost my job then she wouldn’t have anyone to do what she demands.”
“She threatens your friends.”
Carmilla nodded. This time it was her who avoided eye contact. “She could get Perry fired in an instant. Danny and Kirsch have almost lost the bar twice. She sends harsh inspectors their way and won’t call them off until I do what she asks.”
“So you drop cases?”
“Not exactly.” She ran her hand through her hair, and Laura waited patiently for her to continue. “I send them to Ell.”
“Ell?”
“She takes over the investigations. She’s in Chicago, but can find ways press charges in other states if she needs, or at least get people talking about it. I can’t do it for all of them, some I have to drop. And I know it’s bad and these people are breaking the law and all that bullshit, but I’d rather some rich prick gets off embezzling his company than my friends end up homeless.”
She risked a glance at Laura and saw no judgement in her eyes. “I understand.”
“You do?”
“I had a front seat to your mother.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Did you send Vordenburg’s case to Ell?”
Carmilla nodded. “She asked me not to tell you. Could jeopardise the case.”
“You’re telling me now.”
“I don’t want you thinking badly of me.”
“I never could.”
Laura sat next to her, Carmilla resting her head on her shoulders and closing her eyes.
“If we expose Vordenburg your mother said it would damage her too.”
“The reasons to do this are just piling up.”
“Would that get you in trouble?”
Carmilla couldn’t help but smile. “I can handle my mother.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“Hands we’re given, and all that.”
“If you need me to drop it I will.”
Carmilla lifted her head from her shoulder to look at her. “Seriously?”
Laura nodded. “If it’s between loosing you or the story.”
A small smile developed on Carmilla’s face at that. “Thanks, cutie. But I think it’s gone too far now.” She leant back against Laura.
“I’m going to stop anyone from ever hurting you again.” Laura promised.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“If this were a couple this is when we’d kiss,” Carmilla grinned.
“Love is shown in strange ways.”
“It’s a good job we’re not in love then.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“You’ve said that already.”
“I just need you to know.”
“I do.”
//
“I can’t even believe I’m going to say this, but you need to get Laura to back off a bit.”
“Are you serious? You’ve spent the last seven months trying to get her, and now you’re complaining when she’s around?”
“It’s too much, Laf. And I don’t just mean for me. It’s not good for her.”
“She’s worried.”
“I picked up on that. But I’m not going to be murdered in my bed.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know. Take her out somewhere. Get her to talk to you about her feelings.”
“Can’t you talk about her feelings?”
“Gross. We don’t do that.”
“Great basis for a relationship.”
“Laf, please.”
“She was terrified when you were hurt. I think she’s terrified it’s going to happen again.”
“Is she sleeping?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I don’t either. I’ve offered letting her stay round, but she refuses. Then she goes home and doesn’t sleep, then comes back early in the morning, seemingly terrified I’ve gone somewhere.”
“Fear of abandonment.”
“I picked up on that too.”
“I’ll talk to her.”