"You've got to be kidding me!" Laura huffed as she found her room-mate asleep in her bed. When she'd asked Carmilla to stop stealing her pillow, she'd never imagined that she'd just go ahead and steal her whole bed. "Carmilla!" Laura snapped at the other girl. Something about letting sleeping vampires lie flashed through her mind, but she was too tired and frustrated to pay it any attention. Her afternoon classes had been cancelled. Something to do with the Alchemy Club flooding the lecture hall with vegetable soup - Laura had learned not to ask too many questions when it came to the goings on of that particular society. She'd been up half the night, studying for her make up exam, and all Laura wanted to do was fall in to bed.
"Carmilla!" She tried shaking her, but the sun was still out, and the sleeping vampire couldn't be roused. With a heavy sigh, the teenager gave up and dropped down on to Carmilla's bed. She kicked off her tennis shoes and lay down, figuring she might as well make the most of the empty bed. It had been a long couple of days. Laura felt like she had barely slept since Will had let Carmilla loose, revealing himself to be a vampire too. She was terrified he was going to come back for her, or even worse, that the dean would show up. Given what they were up against, the bat-wing charm tied around her wrist just didn't seem like adequate protection; maybe she could use it to shove down Will's throat if he tried to bite her.
Laura's fingers inadvertently moved to the marks on her neck. She still couldn't believe her room mate had actually bitten her. There had been nothing sensual, or pleasurable about Carmilla sinking her teeth in to Laura's neck. It had actually hurt like hell. Laura found herself scowling at the vampire just thinking about it, even if Carmilla was fast asleep and, effectively, dead to the world. "Stupid vampire..." She muttered; though not too loudly. The teenager let out a heavy sighed as she settled down on Carmilla's bed. She had her make up test first thing. It would make more sense to catch a few hours of sleep now, so she could stay up all night studying. It was hard to settle in someone else's bed. The silk sheets were cold against Laura's skin, and the pillows were too lumpy. It was no wonder Carmilla was always stealing hers from her. Laura tossed and turned, struggling to get comfortable in the unfamiliar bed. Eventually, her exhaustion took over and she fell flat out.
When Carmilla finally stirred, some time in the later afternoon, her thirst had grown even stronger than before. She could feel the tips of her fangs aching for release. The first few dozen times that she had fed, with her newly grown fangs ripping through her gums, it had been unpleasant, almost painful even. Now though, her fangs could practically descend without her even realising. The centuries old vampire pulled herself up out of bed and on to her feet, intending to go and procure herself some more blood from the local hospital, when she spotted the tiny figure curled up on her bed.
Laura's eyes were closed over, and for one fleeting moment of mindless panic,Carmilla thought that she was dead. That Will, or her mother, had killed the human to punishment her and left the body in Carmilla's bed for her to find. Her fears evaporated as she caught sight of the steady rise and fall of her room mate's chest. Laura was just sleeping...in Carmilla's bed. "Stupid human." The vampire shook her head. Laura had literally walked right in to the lion's den, and then decided to lie down and take a nap. The tiny human girl had no sense of self preservation whatsoever. She and LaFontaine were always running off doing stupid, crazy things. Carmilla wouldn't have been all that surprised to find the redhead with her, but Laura was all on her own. Curled up on top of the covers, her expression peaceful, she looked far younger than her nineteen years. It was incredible that someone so childlike and innocent had even made it to such an age.
Carmilla crept closer to the bed, kneeling to carefully examine the sleeping girl's features. She looked more at ease than Carmilla had seen her in days. She gently ran a finger along the strong curve of Laura's jaw, trailing it down to her neck. The vampire was torn between waking her and letting her sleep. She cast a glance at the window. The curtains were drawn over, blocking out the sun, but Carmilla could still feel the daytime prickling at her skin. It would be hours before night fell, but going out in the daylight would only expend more of the vampire's energy, making her thirst even more intense. Deciding she could wait a few more hours before eating, she moved with careful precision, climbing in to bed beside her sleeping room mate.
Laura was curled up on the far side of the single bed, pressed up against the wall. She would have to climb over Carmilla if she wanted to get back up, which would be sure to wake the sleeping vampire. She'd probably get an ear bashing from the other girl when she woke up and found Carmilla lying beside her, but it would be worth it. The human's body was soft and inviting, and Carmilla struggled to keep her hands off of it at the best of times. She lay down on her side, her hands tucked under her head as she watched Laura sleep. Lying in the small bed, their faces were only inches apart. It wouldn't take much effort on Carmilla's part to lean in and brush her lips against Laura's; the other girl might even wake up and return the kiss.
"What are you doing to me, Cupcake?" She shook her head with a soft sigh. It had been decades since she had allowed herself to grow close to a mortal. It was a long time to be alone. There had been plenty of girls of course, and not all of them had been for her mother, but Carmilla hadn't actually fallen for anyone since she'd lost Elle. It was just her luck to fall for a human with a death wish. Laura would be lucky to make it to the other side of twenty. If the dean didn't kill her by the end of term, then a rabid library book or a poisonous giant mushroom probably would. Carmilla had already made an unspoken pledge to do what she could to protect her tiny human; she just hoped her best would be good enough.
The first thing Laura Hollis' sleep filled eyes registered on waking, was the mass of dark curls right in front of her face. Laura wasn't the type to wake up with strangers in her bed. It was almost a relief when she sat up and realised that the girl lying beside her was no stranger; then the implication of sleeping with a vampire dawned on her. Her hands shot up to her neck as her fingers searched for any signs of a fresh bite. Carmilla stirred beside her, turning over to face the frantic human with a frown. "What time is it?"
"What the hell are you doing crawling in to bed with me?" Laura demanded, ignoring the vampire's question. Carmilla was in no rush to answer as she stretched out, like a cat lying out in the sun.
"You're in my bed, Creampuff." She eventually replied, wearing a smug grin. She sat up, propping herself up on one elbow.
"Because you were in mine!" Laura spluttered back. She scurried back to sit against the wall, bringing her knees up in front of her chest, as though terrified Carmilla might pounce on her at any moment. The last time she'd been on the other girl's bed she'd been bitten.
"And now I'm in mine..." Carmilla shrugged indifferently. She'd been expecting the other girl's reaction, so she was hardly fazed by it. Laura scowled at her, clearly annoyed by the unplanned sleepover; she really was adorable when she was mad.
"Great, now stay out of mine!" The teenager snapped. She moved to climb over Carmilla, just like she wanted. She waited until Laura had one leg in the air, before swiping the other one out from under her. She fell forward, right on top of the smirking vampire. Laura's face hovered over Carmilla's. Her eyes darted subconsciously down to the older girl's lips,and then back up again. It would take a machete to cut through the simmering tension between them. Carmilla was sure the tiny girl was about to kiss her; it was written all over her face. She sat up to accommodate her, but the moment was ruined as their door burst open.
Laura flew across to the other bed so fast that she could have passed for a vampire herself. She was red-faced and breathing pretty hard as LaF and Perry walked in. The science one was jabbering on about something or other, while the floor don glanced distastefully at the chaos and disorder that made up Carmilla's side of the room. She looked like she was itching to clean it up. Carmilla could sympathise with her; she had an itch of her own that she had been dying to scratch for weeks. With her room mate otherwise occupied, she'd have to make do with going out to feed. She slipped out, leaving Laura and the league of super freaks without a word, though they didn't seem to notice. She passed Danny on the way out. No doubt she was off to join the others. They would welcome her arrival, Laura most of her all. Her whole face would probably light up like a Christmas tree when the TA walked trough the door.
Carmilla suddenly found she'd lost her appetite. Instead of taking off for the hospital, she retreated to the sanctuary of the astronomy tower. She ignored the hunger pangs in her stomach as she tried to lose herself among the stars. Few things in existence were older than her mother, but stars were one of them. There was something strangely comforting in that fact. The heavens above had existed for aeons, and they would live on long after the likes of Carmilla and her mother had been reduced to dust.
Laura couldn't concentrate on what LaF was trying to tell her about the brain goo they'd found on the dorm room floor. She kept staring, longingly, at the pile of books on her desk. She really couldn't afford to fail her test in the morning. She should have been studying, not getting a lecture on parasites. Not even Danny showing up could improve her mood. They were gearing up to go in to full crisis mode, and Laura really couldn't deal with anymore drama. She was a freshman in college, she wasn't supposed to be worrying about vampires and parasites, and abducted coeds. Her dad had wanted her to go to school somewhere closer, but she'd insisted on going out of state. Silas had seemed idyllic on paper, just far enough from home to give her the autonomy she so desperately craved, but close enough to give her the added security of having her father nearby at the same time.
Not for the first time, Laura found herself wondering whether she should swallow her pride and call him to come get her. There was a good chance she wouldn't make it through her freshman year if things kept going the way they had been. It would be so easy for her to leave and find another school, preferably one that didn't have a haunted library. It wouldn't be so easy to leave behind the hidden world she'd been so suddenly, and violently, exposed to. Bettsy would still be missing, and Carmilla would still be at the mercy of her mother's wrath; Laura couldn't abandon either of them.
Eventually, her friends all left Laura's dorm room, leaving her to study. Danny had offered to stay and tutor her, but Laura felt bad enough about failing her English lit test, she didn't want to feel like she'd only passed because of Danny. She had to stand on her own two feet; that was the whole point of moving away to college. Carmilla didn't bother coming back to the room. Laura figured she was probably off brooding, or at some party somewhere, shamelessly flirting with doe-eyed freshman girls. Not that she would be bothered if Carmilla was hooking up. What did she care? It wasn't like she was missing the other girl's company or anything. Sure, she was sitting on Carmilla's bed, but that was just to pay her back for constantly stealing her pillow. It made total sense for her to be lying with one of Carmilla's pillows tucked under her chin while she poured over her notes for her midterm.
"Looks like someone's burning the midnight oil." Laura's eyes snapped open as a sultry voice purred in her ear. She was still lying on the other girl's bed, she'd fallen asleep with her notebook still resting on her chest, and Carmilla had caught her red-handed. "You're making quite a habit out of climbing in to my bed, aren't you, Creampuff?"
"I uh...I..." Laura sounded flustered as she struggled to come up with a retort. The teenager was still half asleep, and Carmilla's hand seemed to have found its way on to her knee. "Um, Carm...could you maybe move your hand?"
"Sure can, Cutie." The vampire smirked as she moved her hand further up Laura's thigh. The younger girl made a noise like a startled animal as Carmilla's fingers brushed over one of her more sensitive areas.
"Wow, that wasn't quite what I meant. I'll just get back in to my own bed, I'm sure you want yours back..." Laura tried to push her hand away, but Carmilla refused to budge.
"I want a lot of things, Laura..." Carmilla's voice took on a huskier tone as she moved to straddle her tiny room mate. Laura had never heard the other girl say her name before; coming from Carmilla's lips, it almost sounded like a threat; or an invitation. It was hard to work out which. Laura couldn't exactly think straight with the vampire hovering over her.
"Do you want my pillow tonight? Because you can have it-" She started rambling, only to have Carmilla cut her off mid-sentence, crushing their lips together in a kiss that made Laura's eyes close, and her toes curl.
Her eyes were still curled over as Carmilla pulled away, leaving Laura hanging expectantly. When she finally opened them again, she found the vampire wearing a particularly smug expression. "Remember that little lecture you gave me, about the things on your side of the room belonging to you?" Carmilla started, and only continued when Laura nodded. "Well, Cupcake, you are on my side of the room. I guess that means you're all mine..." Carmilla's fangs appeared without warning, and she lurched forward, intending to sink them in to the soft, yielding flesh of her room mate's neck.
"Don't eat me!" Laura screamed at the top of her lungs. She sat bolt upright in bed, only realising she was alone as she looked around frantically, and found the room empty. It was light outside, Laura had fallen asleep some time before dawn. She'd been awake for most of the night, studying for her impending English exam. A quick glance at her watch told her she only had half an hour until she was due to sit the exam; she'd have to be quick about showering, or she'd be taking the test on an empty stomach.
The night passed by in a blur for Carmilla. She had been so lost in memories of centuries past that she'd barely even noticed the sun come up. It was only as her eyelids began to drop that she realised it was morning. There were students milling around in the quad below. The whole campus was alive with activity. It was a safe bet that Laura had probably gone to class already, so Carmilla finally dragged herself to her feet and headed back to the dorm. It had been stupid of her not to feed the previous night. It had been days since she'd fed properly. Normally it wouldn't be such a big deal, but she was still weak from her time in captivity. With the sun beating down on her, draining her of what little energy she had left, Carmilla was almost unconscious by the time she made it to the third floor.
"Carmilla? Are you okay?" She was slumped against the bannister at the top of the stairs as a familiar voice called out to her.
"Just peachy." She growled back at a worried looking LaFontaine. Carmilla could hardly blame the younger girl for being wary as she slowly approached the vampire; she probably looked like she was starving. "What are you doing?" She demanded as LaFontaine wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled one of Carmilla's over her shoulder.
"Giving you my help, even if you're too damn old and stubborn to ask for it!"
"Less of the old." Carmilla grumbled. With some careful manoeuvring, they made it back to the dorm room she shared with Laura. Just as she'd guessed, the other girl had already left for her classes.
"This will have to do." LaFontaine announced, dropping the vampire on to Laura's bed. The older girl was practically a dead weight to carry. She was already out of it before LaF threw the comforter over her. She closed the door behind her on her way out. Lying in Laura's bed, with her face buried in her room mate's pillow, and human girl's scent surrounding her, Carmilla finally succumbed to her exhaustion.
"Not again..." Laura groaned as she walked in to her dorm room and found Carmilla in her bed. She'd done somewhat better in her make up exam than in the first one, but she'd had to stay up all night to manage it. She'd left the lecture theatre with only one thing on her mind: crawling in to bed and pulling the covers up over her head. Her less than considerate room mate had thrown a spanner in the works. For the second day in a row, Laura tried to wake the sleeping vampire, without success. She eyed Carmilla's bed, but the vampire wasn't the only one with a stubborn streak. "No! I am sleeping in my bed!" She announced, determined to stand up for herself for once; at least that's how she justified kicking off her shoes and climbing under the covers, settling down next to the vampire.
It was her bed. Her territory. Laura was just claiming it back... so what if she cuddled up to her room mate a little closer than she needed to? If Carmilla had a problem with it, then she should have fallen asleep in her own damn bed.
