They were perfect.

Carmilla couldn't get over just how physically flawless each individual petal looked on each flower and their deep shade of violet captivated her. The stems stood erect and the flowers themselves stretched toward the sky, taking in any ray of light they could get—though at this very moment, it wasn't very much because the shade from Carmilla's body blocked them. These were the type of flowers that deserved to be on the cover of Fine Gardening or some other agricultural magazine and in all her 335 years of living, never had she seen such pristine floral beauty. It'd be a shame if anything, even something as minute as a breeze, were to disturb them.

She stared at them for one moment more before shrugging, getting down on her hands and knees, and digging—around of them, of course. Her goal was not to kill or even harm these flowers. All she wanted was to uproot them and transfer them to the grave of her late lover, Ell.

Ell wouldn't have liked what she was doing. Ell was the purest form of mankind as far as Carmilla knew. Never had she stolen anything, never had she intentionally hurt someone, and never had she told a lie—even if it were a white lie, and those didn't even really count as far as Carmilla was concerned. Ell, like these flowers, was immaculate.

Carmilla successfully dug a single flower up and went to work on a second. Such floral theft came easily to her, as she'd stolen flowers from this very garden numerous times in the past.

It wasn't like she did it every week whenever she could make it to the cemetery. She maybe did it once or twice a month. This garden always had the best flowers, that much was true, but Carmilla had an extra soft spot for violets as they had been Ell's favorite kind. The gardener would replant new ones whenever Carmilla took the previous sets and so it was a vicious, never ending cycle for the person and a steady, guaranteed rotation for Carmilla.

She—the gardener, that is—Carmilla could tell it was a she because of her handwriting—had even left a few passive aggressive notes to Carmilla, who simply stuck them to the mailbox or the underside of the lid of the garbage can when it was garbage pickup day so the person would find them later.

The first note, which had appeared after two or three occurrences, had gone something like this:

Dear Violet Stealer,

Stop stealing my violets,
THIEF!
Have a nice day. :)

And the second like this:

To the person stealing my violets:

The other flowers have informed me that they're angered by the violets' disappearances. You may not be aware that I know that flowers do not have legs and just get up and walk away, so I know you're still taking them. Here are FIVE (5) easy steps you can take to obtain your OWN violets:

1. Go to Garden Barn with some form of payment ready.
2. Locate violets—in case this is difficult, they're violet in color.
3. Pick the violets of your choice.
4. Take them to the register.
5. PAY for them.

After that, you will have successfully gotten your very own violets! Congrats!

Carmilla couldn't help but leave a reply to that, so she'd written a note saying that she'd gotten step number three down, but was having difficulties with the other four steps and stuck it to the little red flag on the girl's mailbox. She'd smiled for the entire duration of her trip to the cemetery that day just imagining the look on her face.

Today's read:

Dear Flower Thief,

I hope you're enjoying my violets.
REMINDER: Garden Barn has them too, in case you ever want to pay for them instead of STEALING them.

Carmilla ignored the note while she dug up the rest of the violets and covered the groove she'd created. She reread the note and smirked at it before scribbling a reply underneath it.

I am. Thanks.

She then stuck it to the mailbox flag, picked up the flowers, and started on her way. She must've only gotten three steps past the mailbox when she heard the door to the house bust open and a voice shout at her.

"Caught ya, thief!"

She turned to see a girl about her age with light brunette hair rushing toward her wearing an adorably annoyed expression.

"I knew if I waited long enough, I'd eventually catch you in the act," she remarked as she approached.

"And it only took you five months to think up a clearly well-thought, elaborate trap?" Carmilla snarked. "You must be a genius, cupcake…"

The girl's eyes went to the note on the mailbox and she walked over to it, ripped it off the flag and read it, much to Carmilla's amusement.

"'I AM?'" she shrilly quoted the two-sentence response. "'THANKS?'"

"Yeah. They're beautiful," Carmilla nodded as she spun on her heel and continued on her way as if it were nothing.

"Wh— Flower theft? Really? Out of all the things you could be stealing, you choose violets? From my garden?"

"Yeah. Did I not just say they were beautiful?" Carmilla asked, never looking back at her.

"Oh, no. You do not just get to walk away without an explanation!" the girl called after her. "Get back here!"

"Mm, I don't think so," Carmilla shook her head and chuckled, only to stop abruptly as the girl bolted after her and leapt in front of her.

"Who're they for?" she demanded to know.

"Excuse me?"

"Who. Are. They. For?" she repeated slower.

"No one."

"Oh, come on… They're obviously for someone. You wouldn't steal them for yourself," she pointed out. "So who are they for?"

"A girl," Carmilla reluctantly responded. She'd hoped the answer would get this girl off her back, but if anything, it made her even more curious.

"What's her name?"

"None of your business."

"It is now because you have my flowers, which are my business," Laura reasoned. "What's her name?"

"It's not important," Carmilla blurted. She immediately felt as if she'd betrayed Ell and called her unimportant. She sighed and gave in and answered, "Ell."

"Oh, that's a pretty name. My name starts with an L. It's Laura," the girl introduced herself. Carmilla ignored her and kept walking and, much to her dismay, Laura kept up with her. "She must be beautiful."

"Yeah," was Carmilla's curt reply.

"I want to meet this Helen of Troy. Granted she's not causing a thousand-ship war, but still…" Laura trailed off before declaring without inhibition, "I'm coming with you."

Carmilla stopped abruptly and Laura continued on for a few steps without her before noticing her companion's absence.

"Um, no. You're not," Carmilla told her firmly.

"Um, yes. I am," Laura insisted. "This Ell must be the most gorgeous girl in the world to warrant petty flower theft and I want to meet her."

"Laura—no."

"Laura, yes."

"Why would you want to come with me? I'm a thief—you said it yourself. What if I murder you for your blood and leave you on the side of the road?"

"If flowers are all you're stealing, I doubt you're going to drain me of all my blood."

"You don't know anything about me—"

"You're right. I don't," Laura admitted, though it didn't seem to faze her. "So let's start with your name."

"None of your business," Carmilla muttered as she started walking again.

"Oh, you and your girlfriend have the same name?" Laura answered facetiously. "Seriously."

"If I told you my name, I wouldn't be a very good thief now would I, cupcake?"

"True…" Laura paused as she mulled it over. "Tell ya what. You give me your name and you can have the flowers."

"I already have the flowers," Carmilla growled through clenched teeth.

"That is also true," Laura nodded. "I did not think that one through."

"I can tell," Carmilla retorted. She waited a beat before saying, "If I give you my name, will you go away?"

"Mm…" Laura thought about it. "That sounds fair."

"Alright. My name's Mircalla."

Carmilla waited a few seconds, but Laura didn't turn around or even stop. She just kept on going with Carmilla.

"Why're you still following me?"

"Because I know that's not really your name."

"Yeah, it is."

"See, for some reason I don't believe you. And trust me, your status as a flower thief has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, it doesn't, huh?"

"Nope."

"You just don't know when to quit, do you, cupcake?"

"Name."

"Alright, alright. It's Carmilla."

"There! See? That wasn't so hard."

"You can go now," Carmilla reminded her.

"I could…" Laura nodded. "But I won't."

"We agreed—"

"Uh-uh. I said it sounded fair. I never said I agreed to it."

"Clever," Carmilla admitted. "But don't think it's too late for me to kill you for your blood and leave you on the side of the road."

"I think I'll be okay with running that risk."

There was a moment of silence before Carmilla sighed and replied, "Well, I can see you're not planning on going anywhere else anytime soon."

"Excellent observation."

"So can you at least walk next to me and not follow behind me like an ugly duckling?"

"Are you calling me a swan?"

Carmilla looked at her with annoyance and sarcastically answered, "Yes, Laura. I'm calling you a large, long-necked waterbird that eats various types of vegetation and insects."

"Does she like violets?" Laura inquired.

"How the hell should I know what kind of flowers swans prefer?"

"I meant Ell."

The name pierced Carmilla's heart like a dagger.

"Yeah," she managed. "She likes violets."

"Me too," Laura sighed dreamily. "You know, when I actually have and can see them in my garden."

Carmilla hesitated before spitting out an apology.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. What's done is done," Laura told her. "So tell me more about Ell. How did you guys meet? What's her favorite color? What's she like? Do you love her—"

"Laura," Carmilla cut her off sternly.

"I'm sorry. That last one was a bit out of line. But I want answers to the rest."

"Well, you're not going to get them."

"So we're just going to walk in silence?"

"Yeah. It's what I would've been doing if you hadn't so kindly invited yourself as my travel companion."

"Oh come on, Carm…" Laura nudged her playfully. The nickname in combination with the unexpected contact sent chills down Carmilla's spine. "Give me something."

"My mother set us up," Carmilla shrugged. "That's when I first saw her."

"But…?"

"But the first time I met her… Now that's a different story," Carmilla began. "I'd already been her friend for quite some time…"

•••

"Are you alone?" Carmilla called to Ell, who sat on a mossy rock with her head cradled in her hands. Her head shot up and she sprung to her feet with a wild look in her eyes before relaxing at the sight of Carmilla.

"God… You frightened me," she gasped and sat back down. "I heard rustling in the bushes—I feared you were a creature stalking me."

"I hate to disappoint," Carmilla remarked as she approached her slowly. "Did your friends leave you?"

"No… I came here on my own accord."

"Ah," Carmilla responded and sat on the damp ground beside her. "Well, you know… It's not safe in these woods with all these creatures lurking about. Creatures with far better eyesight than you…"

"I suppose you are right… We were having a bonfire and it was wonderful, until they began getting drunk and acting foolish, so I left."

"Who needs them anyway?"

"Agreed," Ell nodded and chuckled softly.

"Will you be all right out here by yourself?" Carmilla stupidly asked as she stood up. The inquiry was ironic as Carmilla was one of the things Ell had to worry about, but she knew it was customary to ask.

"Yes."

Carmilla looked at her once more and hesitantly took a few steps.

"Actually—"

Carmilla froze the moment she'd heard any sound from Ell's mouth.

"Will you stay with me?"

Carmilla nodded—though she hadn't planned to really leave Ell. She'd simply conceal herself in the nearby bushes until Ell had gotten to safety.

"Of course," Carmilla answered and rejoined her. They sat in a peaceful silence for a few moments, absorbing each other's presence and the forest's tranquil atmosphere.

"Do you want to see something?" Ell suddenly inquired and Carmilla nodded. Ell stood up and took the unsuspecting Carmilla's hand as she led her away from the rock and to a clearing. Carmilla swallowed and looked at their hands; Ell's was so soft and gentle and Carmilla felt a sense of loss when she took hers back. Ell lifted a finger to her mouth, signaling for Carmilla to be quiet and whispered, "Stay here."

Carmilla obediently stayed in place as she watched Ell walk farther away. She wondered what the girl had in mind. Ell seemed to be looking for something as she kept to staring at the ground as she walked. Finally she looked up and signaled for Carmilla to go over to her.

"I had to count my steps to get to the center of this field," Ell explained quietly. "And I couldn't concentrate with you next to me."

Carmilla's eyebrows shot up at the comment, but she didn't reply.

"W-What I mean is… I'd have started counting your steps as well as mine," Ell clarified. It was then Carmilla noticed a particularly pungent floral aroma. Ell gestured to the many violets that grew in seemingly random patches across the clearing. "Beautiful, isn't it? It is even more so in the morning…"

Carmilla stared at the flowers and wondered why Ell would bring her to them. Did she know the connotations that went with them?

Ell sat down amongst them and reached up for Carmilla's hand before pulling her down to her level and pulling her in close.

"Have you ever looked at the stars?" Ell asked.

"Yes."

"I mean really looked at them," Ell continued as she pointed to the sky above. "Haven't you ever wondered what they are?"

"I heard they might be like the sun, only farther away."

"So that's it? You're going to accept that?"

"I don't know what else they could be. That's the only thing that would make sense."

"Lie with me," Ell demanded, catching Carmilla off guard.

"Pardon?"

"Lie down," Ell instructed and Carmilla did so. Ell lay back next to her and they stared at the mysterious lights dancing before their eyes.

"What are we—"

"Wait," Ell simply told her. Carmilla shut up and looked at the sky. They waited for whatever Ell had spoken of for at least a half hour. Carmilla was ready to speak again when a streak of light caught her eye. "If they truly are miniature suns… Why do they sometimes run?"

"I don't… I don't know," Carmilla realized.

"Well, I have a theory."

"You do?" Carmilla mused.

"I think they're spirits. All-knowing spirits. And they can see into the future and they know what's in store for all of us."

"Sounds like black magic."

"No, I don't mean like the zodiac. I mean as a collective group. Each star or so is assigned to a person on this earth. And it, the star I mean, watches over the person until he or she dies."

"What happens to the star when the person dies?"

"Well…it gets a new friend."

"That's a nice theory," Carmilla remarked. "But it doesn't explain why they run."

"I was getting there. They run when they're excited—I think they're quite childish in essence, wouldn't you think? Only an innocent child could shine like that all the time."

"So the star we just saw…"

"Was excited about something," Ell nodded.

"I wonder what about."

"Well, I think stars are excited by pure felicity. And love," Ell answered. "And if neither of those, perhaps it does so to remind us to be happy and give us hope for our futures."

"I wonder who's falling in love tonight," Carmilla mindlessly chuckled.

"You didn't let me finish. Part of my belief is that the stars make themselves known to their subjects at one point or another…" Ell vehemently commented, causing Carmilla's laughter to subside. "So it was either yours or mine."

Carmilla turned her head to look at Ell, who mirrored her only seconds after and they stayed like that, staring at each other.

"You know…" Carmilla whispered as she lost all her inhibitions. "I think that star may have been mine…"

Ell reached over and tucked a lock of Carmilla's dark hair behind her ear and sighed contentedly as she replied, "That's funny… Because I was about to say the exact same thing…"

Ell reached over Carmilla and she heard a stem snap as Ell plucked a single violet from the ground and admired it before tucking it in Carmilla's hair.

"So, tell me about yourself, Ms. Carmilla Karnstein…" Ell breathed as she nestled into her. "I want to know everything. What was your childhood like? What was the best day of your life?"

"I grew up in… Austria," Carmilla told her, deciding to keep things vague. "With a brother and a sister, William and Matska. William was the youngest and I the middle child. Him and I never got along too well… I think he tried too hard to please Mother, but he never could compare to me in her eyes. And as for Matska… She and I had some good times. We got into trouble quite often, but it was worth it every time. We, the family, moved around a lot, but that was nothing for us. We had money and we loved the change in scenery. We made many friends along the way."

"And now you're here," Ell murmured to her.

"And now we're here," Carmilla echoed.

"Do you know if you'll be staying?"

"Mother, William, and Matska, included?" Carmilla responded and she felt Ell nod. "No, I don't know. I hope."

Ell went quiet.

"If Mother decides she wants to move again… I might just stay anyway."

"Might?"

"Well, I'd need a reason to want to stay."

"I see," Ell replied. "Doesn't moving around so much get lonely?"

Carmilla felt the stars bore holes into her as she stared up at them, trying to neutralize the sudden onset of tears prickling behind her eyes.

"Sometimes," she finally admitted and felt herself cave. She cleared her throat and began the response to the second question. "And as for the best day of my life…"

Carmilla trailed off to think for a bit. There wasn't a single day in her past she'd lived that really stuck out to her. She'd had numerous good days, but none of them more special than others. She lay there and thought about it for a good ten minutes or so before finally admitting to herself what the best day of her life was.

"I think I'm living it…" she whispered. She waited a few seconds and when she didn't get a response, she looked down at Ell and found her sleeping soundly. She boldly kissed Ell's forehead and settled back to her previous position to look at the stars again. And just as she looked up at the stars, she spotted a bright streak across the sky. "Well, would you look at that?"

Carmilla chuckled quietly to herself as she listened to Ell's steady breathing.

"I think I just found my star."

Unbeknownst to Carmilla, Ell smiled though barely awake, and Carmilla snuggled up close to her, trapping their heat and falling asleep alongside her.