Envy
Carmilla eyed her calendar warily. She was supposed to have her weekly tea with Rosie today, but the Cannibal Queen had demanded she bring Sera. Carmilla had yet to ask Sera.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want them to meet, she knew Rosie would treat Sera with nothing but kindness, she was just afraid of how Sera would react to them being exes.
Sera was extremely wary of Cannibal Town, she thought they were the worst batch of sinners on the Pride Ring and there was nothing Carmilla could say to dissuade her of her opinion. Carmilla couldn’t exactly excuse their behavior, but hey, she was no saint either, and neither was Sera anymore.
Carmilla glanced away from her phone and looked at Sera who was engrossed in the sweater she was knitting. Carmilla would have laughed at the irony, if she wasn’t so worried.
She nudged Sera’s foot with her own to get her attention. Sera quickly looked up and smiled at her. “What’s up?”
Carmilla waved her phone at her. “I’m heading to Rosie’s soon and I was wondering if you’d like to come with?”
Sera scrunched up her nose at the mention of Rosie. “I-”
Carmilla interrupted her. “Please. She is possibly the only friend I have in this hellhole and I’d really like for two of my favorite people to meet.” The other two being her daughters, obviously.
Sera sighed. “Fine. But she better not eat anyone in front of me.”
Carmilla grinned at her. “Promise.”
Soon they were outside Rosie’s shop and Carmilla could feel her heart beating out of her chest. She really didn't know why she cared so much. She guessed it was because it felt like the equivalent of taking your significant other to meet your parents. Rosie was the closest thing she had to family besides her daughters. And her daughters already approved of Sera.
She glanced at Sera and saw her face turn up in distaste as she looked at the happy cannibals roaming about. Carmilla grabbed her hand and dragged her inside. “C’mon.”
She prayed to Lucifer that Rosie wouldn’t do anything to embarrass her. Her prayers apparently went unanswered that day.
She led Sera towards the backdoor which opened to a cozy garden. There, sitting at the table set for three, was Rosie in her usual Victorian gown and updo. Her eyes were as hollow and dark as ever, and her mouth split into a sharp grin as she saw the couple approach.
“Carmilla, dear! Come, come! Give Rosie a hug!”
Carmilla released Sera’s hand as she embraced her long-time friend and short-time lover. “Rosie! ¿Cómo estás?”
“Good, good. How are you, dear? I hear business is booming these days?” Rosie’s attention was already on Sera as she asked the question.
Carmilla was quick to introduce them. “Yes, all is well,” she spat out quickly and then, “Rosie, this is Sera, Sera, Rosie.”
Carmilla held her breath as she waited for Sera’s reaction. The former angel extended her hand towards Rosie, and much to Carmilla’s relief, smiled genuinely at the Cannibal Queen. “A pleasure, Rosie. Carmilla has said so many good things about you.”
Rosie barked out a laugh. “All lies, I assure you.” She shook Sera’s hand and led her to her seat before returning to her own. “And the pleasure’s all mine, doll. Truly an honor to finally meet the woman who’s captured my Carmie’s heart.”
Sera turned to stare at Carmilla. My Carmie? Her eyes seemed to question. Carmilla gulped.
Sera turned back to Rosie, the picture of propriety. “Oh, well, the feeling is certainly mutual. I wouldn’t question God’s authority for just anyone.” As she said it, her wings had expanded to rest over Carmilla’s shoulder possessively.
Rosie’s eyes widened a bit. “Ahh, so that’s how you Fell. Carmie had been tight-lipped about that one.”
Sera’s lips quirked into a smile. “It seems, I fell for her figuratively and literally.”
Carmilla’s heart warmed at the comment. They were finally at the point where they could talk about it without Carmilla feeling guilty or Sera feeling sad.
Rosie beamed at the couple. “You sure did. And Carmilla deserves nothing less.”
Sera’s smile turned to Carmilla. “On that we can agree.”
The cannibal overlord’s grin turned a smidge malicious. “And just look at her. I’ve never seen her smile so much. When we were together, she would always be frowning.”
The former angel’s eye twitched as she looked at Carmilla questioningly. “When you were together?” She echoed.
Carmilla nodded weakly.
Rosie gasped. “You didn’t tell her, Carmie? Oy, such bad manners, this one.” Rosie shook her head good-naturedly. “It was decades ago, doll. Nothing for you to worry about. Just a quick, very hot, very good, whirlwind affair.” She winked at Sera. “Well, you must know all about that.”
Sera grew serious, reminding Carmilla of the ‘Angel of Death’ incident. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
“That’s none of your business.” She snapped back at the cannibal.
Rosie’s grinned, bearing all her teeth. “Didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers, doll.”
“You didn’t. It’s simply private.”
“Oh, what’s a little sex talk amongst friends? Carmilla and I talk about sex all the time. Well, not recently,” she eyed Sera, “Not since you came into the picture, dear. You’ve turned her into a prude.”
Carmilla glared at her friend. She knew what she was trying to do. “Rosie, stop.”
Rosie ignored her. “Tell me, Sera, does Carmilla still like her hair being pulled? That used to drive her mad. Or when you rake your nails-”
Sera stood up, her wings expanding to her full width, her eyes glowing red. “Stop!”
Carajo, Carmilla thought.
Rosie sat back in her chair, satisfied. “Or what, dearie?”
Sera’s eyes narrowed. “Or you’ll regret it.”
Rosie scoffed. “We’re just having fun, doll.”
Sera remained standing, flames began to lick up her arms. “No! You’re talking about Carmilla as if she wasn’t here, you’re exposing things about her that are private and up to her if she wants to share them or not. If you’re truly her friend, then you will stop this instant and apologize before I. Make. You. And furthermore, Carmilla is no longer with you, she’s with me.”
Carmilla crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her friend. “Well?”
Rosie smirked. “I like her.”
Sera’s eyes returned to normal and the flames dissipated. “What?”
The cannibal laughed. “Sit down, dearie. Have some tea.”
Sera looked at Carmilla as she sat down. “I don’t understand.”
Carmilla face-palmed her face. “My friend decided she would-” She was cut off by said friend.
“I wanted to make sure you were good enough for my Carmie.” She winked. “And you are.”
Sera was speechless. Carmilla took pity on her girlfriend and interlaced their fingers together. “I’m sorry. I tried to talk her out of it, but there was no convincing her out of it. If it makes you feel any better, I thought you looked very hot defending my honor like that. I’m really flattered.”
Sera flushed. “Oh, God.”
Rosie cackled. “Don’t feel bad, doll. I was loving the theatrics. And like I said, our Carmie deserves nothing less.”
The former angel took a sip of her tea before setting it down. “So, none of that was real?”
Rosie snorted. “Oh, it was real. We fucked. But hey! I never had a grand love confession like literally getting kicked out of Heaven for her, so kudos to you, dearie.”
Sera’s eye twitched again.
Carmilla groaned. “Rosie, I need you to stop talking or I’m never bringing her back.”
Rosie mimed zipping her lips shut and grabbed her tea.
Carmilla turned to look back at Sera. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Her girlfriend gave her a weak smile. “Quite all right.” She tried to joke, “At least you won’t have to worry about any of my exes. Because I don’t have any. And if I did we wouldn’t be able to see them. In Heaven.”
Carmilla grimaced and Rosie scoffed. “Oh dear.”
Sera laughed awkwardly before clearing her throat. “I should apologize for my outburst earlier.”
Carmilla caressed Sera’s knee tenderly. “It’s okay, mi cielo, I like it when you get jealous. It’s sexy.”
Sera blushed, she was back to her normal shy self, which Carmilla also loved.
Rosie pretended to fan herself. “Incredibly sexy. Those wings are really doin’ it for me.”
Carmilla turned to glare at her friend, her eyes glowing. “Trust me, you don’t want to see what happens when I get jealous.”
Rosie raised her hands in surrender. “Just kidding, Carmie. I know you don’t like to share.”
Sera looked at her with wide eyes, desire clear in her gaze. Carmilla pursed her lips and stood quickly. “So sorry, Rosie, we’re going to have to cut this short, Sera and I have other matters to attend to.”
Carmilla pulled Sera up from her chair as Rosie sipped some more of her tea. “Sure you do, dear. See you next week. Hope Sera can come too. Whoops, no pun intended. I mean, I do hope–”
“Nos vemos, Rosie!”
Sera stepped behind Carmilla and let her wings close around her. “Bye, Rosie. Nice meeting you.”
Rosie waved goodbye. “I’m sure it wasn’t, but don’t forget what I said.” She mimed pulling some hair and raking her nails across the air.
Carmilla rolled her eyes. “Bitch!”
“Love you too, bestie!”
And they were gone!