Disclaimer: It's Thanksgiving in America today. I'm Canadian, so I think it's fine that I'm NOT THANKFUL TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T OWN CARMILLA.
It was so surreal seeing Ell in front of her right now. Laura had only seen her in dreams, drowning in blood and crying for help – and then once before as a misty figure in the angler fish's light. But this is the most vivid she's ever seen her. It's almost as if Laura could reach out at touch her, and she'd be there.
But that's not possible, is it?
"Careful. You'll make me think you'll be unfaithful to Carmilla, the way you're looking at me right now." Ell gives Laura a sad smile. "The last thing she needs is another love stabbing her in the back."
Anger starts to bubble up inside Laura and all questions at the front of her mind were pushed aside. Her expression fixes into a glare.
"You betrayed her." Laura seethes. "All she did was love you and try to protect you, and you gave her up. She rotted in a coffin for nearly a century."
Ell seems to grow a bit flustered. "I was young and scared. Being told this strange girl who had quite literally waltzed into my life and had… bewitched me with her demeanor and… bone structure was in fact a predatory monster, I think I acted accordingly."
"I found out she was a vampire. I may have practiced some caution but I gave her a chance, damnit. And I fell for her. I've never given up on her. And she's proven nothing less than being completely devoted to me." Laura glowers. Ell stiffens.
"You can scold me all you like. I'm aware of my mistakes, but it's not like I wasn't being manipulated. I'm sure you're aware of how… persuasive that Lilita wench could be, are you not?" Ell questions, causing Laura's resolve to fade a little.
"Yeah. I'm aware." Laura mutters. Ell takes a stoic stance.
"And thanks to you, she was not able to enter this most sacred of places." Ell gestures around them. Laura looks, still seeing nothing more interesting than rocks, save for Ell.
"The dead end of a cave? This is a sacred place?" Laura questions. "Is this all there is? Is it some place where someone can drudge up a piece of the past and talk with it like some sort of Mirror of Erised? What kind of bowtruckle is this?"
"I'm afraid we don't receive much pop culture in the afterlife, so I'm not sure what you mean." Ell eyes Laura curiously. "But I am merely a messenger."
"Why you? Why are you here? You were absorbed by the angler fish. I saw you." Laura interrogates.
"And then Lophiiformes was destroyed. When it was, centuries of souls were released into the world with nowhere to go. Are you aware what happens when there are thousands of uncounted for souls?" Ell asks.
"I know the results are apparently disastrous." Laura relays.
"That would be an understatement." Ell comments. "The universe likes a certain… organization between the living and the dead. When they aren't filed properly, the universe will do its best to compensate. Picture the power vacuum effect here shortly after you crushed Lilita's body and denied Lophiformes its sustenance. Now picture that on a global scale."
"That would be a lot of SNN updates." Laura groans, and Ell raises an eyebrow. Laura shakes off the stressful memories. "That still doesn't explain while you're here."
"With all the souls loose and on the verge of causing disaster, the Utmost High distributed us amongst themselves in order to try and keep control. This is their world as well, after all. Of course, it was a on-time deal. They couldn't replicate that again, as souls not sacrificed to them are... incompatible, for the most part." Ell explains.
"The Utmost High?" Laura inquires. That's the third time she's heard that.
"Gods. The same group Lophiiformes was a part of." Ell reveals. "Although not very well liked by the other Utmost. After all, Lophiiformes was an angry, gluttonous being that was too overcome by its own appetite to even escape from its dwelling once it was finally denied the sacrifices."
"And now you're here because…" Laura goads.
"Because I am the most familiar to you." Ell smiles. "The Utmost have the same intentions in mind – they do not wish to see the world slip into chaos. The destruction of humanity would be… unfortunate for many of them. After all, humans make the most dedicated followers."
"So they'll help?" Laura feels herself fill with hope. Ell purses her lips.
"Don't mistake the Utmost to be benevolent. They're merely concerned with their own preservation. They would have, after all, allowed Lilita in here had she succeeded." Ell warns. "She too had the goal of ending the Dark Shepard's' plot. Corvae was an organization of vampires that were dedicated to the cause."
"They were trying to stop the Reapers?" Laura gapes. "And… and I stopped them… but, no. They killed my father. I… I refuse to believe they were the good guys."
Ell cocks her head to the side. "Dear girl, have you not yet learned that there is no such thing as truly good or truly bad?" She questions, causing Laura to flush. "Do not think of Lilita or Corvae to be benevolent, either."
"I have good intentions." Laura states.
"They all do." Ell sighs, shaking her head. She takes a step forward. "Did you know what to expect, stepping in here?"
"Ultimate power?" Laura asks.
"And you truly believe you can possess such a thing and keep yourself uncorrupted?" Ell inquires. Laura freezes.
"I… Yes." She mumbles.
"So you wish to take it on?" Ell takes another step closer.
"That's it? You'll just… give it to me?" Laura questions.
"You entered this sacred space. Your intentions, whether well-meaning or not, align with the Utmost. You will receive all the power you desire." Ell explains. Another step forward. Laura tenses further.
"And… it'll be enough to stop the Reapers?"
"Whatever you desire." Ell reaches out, but Laura steps back.
"What's the catch?" Laura's eyes narrow. Ell retracts her hand with a smile on her face.
"Dear girl, the power itself is the catch." Ell states. "You truly believe Lilita would stop at the Dark Shepherds when she contained this much power? Would anyone? Would you?"
Laura's fist clenches. "I'm not The Dean. I'm not just anyone." Laura mumbles.
"Of course. You're certainly special, and I don't just mean in the way you live and breathe without a heart beating beneath your bosom. After all, Carmilla chose you." Ell observes.
"Is that some sort of vain statement? She chose you, too." Laura accuses.
"But I wasn't enough to handle her." Ell sighs. "You are. And perhaps she can handle you."
Laura looks back at the barrier. It's opaque. She can't see Carmilla or her friends through it.
"So, this is one of those 'with great power comes great responsibility' moments, huh?" Laura looks back, pulling her hand through her hair in nervousness. This would change her life forever. She already thought she went through enough changes to last an eternity.
"If you wish to protect those you love…" Ell reaches out again. Laura bites her lip. This was why she was here, wasn't it?
And then she takes Ell's hand.
It's like a rush of electricity. She feels her entire being vibrate. Her muscles pulse, and she feels light – like she just ran 10km without a break. The feeling becomes indescribable. Overwhelming. She can feel herself crying. Or laughing. She doesn't know.
Even though she has been for three years, this is the first time she truly feels invincible.
Just when she feels about ready to burst, the electricity fades and she falls to the floor. She feels the power coursing through her, but the bursting feeling doesn't fade. It's like she's a bottle of Coke and Ell just placed a Mentos inside of her.
Her fingers claw at the ground and she lets out several strained grunts, desperate to keep it contained. A low rumble starts to fill the cave, pebbles skittering across the ground at the motions.
"Control it!" Ell barks out, and the instructions barely reach Laura's ears. "Do you really want to collapse this cave on all your friends? Control it!"
"I… I can't…" Laura grits her teeth. Tears spill from her eyes.
Maybe she wasn't so special after all.
The tremors become increasingly more intense. The struggle is becoming unbearable. She pictures Carmilla and what she would say right now.
C'mon, Cupcake. You can do better than that.
Laura forces her eyes open, and she sees the ground shifting beneath her. Rocks were starting to crumble from the walls. She focuses her energy – everything she has left – and pleads with the earth to stop.
She commands it.
The tremors lessen, until eventually the cave once again grows silent. Laura lays there, breathing deeply, afraid to move.
"Quite the power, isn't it?" Ell finally comments.
"Did I… do that?" Laura pants.
"You were loaded with a lot of power at once. It's not surprising you found it difficult to contain." Ell states. "But you did well."
"I'm scared." Laura admits, her voice weak. This was too much.
"As you should be." Ell announces. "I warned you. Controlling this amount of power is just half of the struggle."
"Great." Laura groans. She still feels like she could pop at any moment.
"And once you do, the world opens up in front of you." Ell continues. "Stand up."
Laura doesn't react right away. She catches her breath for a few moments, and then shakily rises to her feet. She's amazed she has any energy left at all. It feels like all her will-power is going into making sure her newfound abilities don't accidentally collapse the cave.
"Let's test this out, shall we?" Ell gestures to Laura's broken arm, still in the sling. "Focus on what you want, and then make it so."
Laura's eyes lock with Ell's a moment, an incredulous expression across her face. But, well, she's experienced crazier things.
Laura hovers her good hand over the broken arm, and pictures the bone and the skin reforming. She drives that image forward, and to her surprise, a ripple travels across her arm. Any pain radiating from it has now vanished.
Quickly, Laura rips the sling away and unravels it. Underneath is smooth skin, and the bone feels stronger than ever as she flexes her fingers. Her eyes widen.
"Holy Holyhead Harpies." Laura gapes, and almost drops her restraint on her powers from the shock.
"Congratulations, Laura Hollis." Ell smiles. "You are now a demigod."
Carmilla immediately regrets letting Laura go through the gate.
"She shouldn't have gone alone." Carmilla growls, pacing back and forth. "We could've at least tied a rope around her waist – given her a fucking pager – something!"
"Um, do keep in mind not to let your levels of emotion enter into dangerous territory." J.P. reminds her.
"Yeah. Don't go all corrupted again." LaF adds.
"I'm fine." Carmilla says through gritted teeth. "I'm just-" She looks toward the barrier.
"Worried. We all are." Danny sighs.
"Anything could be behind there." Carmilla mutters, and then storms towards Perry. "Do you have any idea?"
Perry's eyes brighten up. "Unimaginable power."
"Well that doesn't mean much. Unimaginable power to Nanny McPhee over here could mean a Swiffer Wet Jet for all I know." Carmilla scoffs.
"Laura can handle it. She's like, a BAMF and stuff." Kirsch assures her.
"Exactly. Have a little faith." LaF states. Carmilla sinks down along the cavern's wall.
"My faith in Laura is what made me allow her to go through in the first place." Carmilla sighs. "It's all that's keeping me sane right now."
"I'm sure that Miss Hollis will return momentarily." J.P. claims.
"Maybe with a dragon!" Kirsch chimes in. Everyone stares at him, and he shrinks. "Or not."
"As long as she comes back out at all, that's all I care about." Carmilla snaps.
"Just, you know, it'd be a bonus if she came back with a solution to the whole Reaper problem, too." LaF points out.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Danny sighs.
"And have faith." Carmilla mumbles, looking down at the locket.
Carmilla becomes antsier by the moment, but about fifteen minutes after Laura passed through the barrier, she senses a shift.
She switches from antsy to fearful. Danny and J.P. perk up as well, sensing the sudden growth of power. It's immeasurable.
But what worries Carmilla most of all is the locket.
"Something's wrong." Carmilla rushes out quickly, clutching the locket. The heartbeat is slowly gaining momentum. She stands up, going to the face of the barrier. The locket was practically shaking with the speed of Laura's heartbeat. "Laura?!"
"Does anyone else feel that?" Danny grimaces.
"Feel what?" Kirsch questions.
"That… power." J.P. looks nervous. Perry looks ecstatic.
"Unimaginable power." She breathes.
"Uh, Carmilla, I don't think it was a Swiffer." LaF calls out. Carmilla's focused on the locket, the heartrate far beyond what any human could handle – and yet it wasn't giving out.
At first she thinks the vibrations of the locket are so intense that she's imagining the cavern shaking, but Kirsch's cry proves otherwise.
"Earthquake!" He exclaims.
"Shit. We have to get out of here." Danny looks around them at the crumbling rocks.
"I'm not leaving Laura." Carmilla grits her teeth.
"Do you think Laura would really want you to get yourself killed waiting for her?" LaF barks out over the cracking of the cave, trying to keep their balance.
"Laura's not here!" Carmilla growls. "Which is why I'm not leaving. But you should go. No sense in all of us dying here."
Kirsch tries to keep his balance, but his leg causes him to stumble. Danny catches him and throws him over her shoulder.
"Your funeral, fangface." Danny nods. LaF helps to guide a giddy Perry away and J.P. gives Carmilla a conflicted look before following the rest.
Carmilla turns back to the gate, trying to keep her own balance as the cave crumbles and becomes further unstable. But she's not going to leave. She's not.
She jumps out of the way of a particularly large boulder and hammers her fist against the barrier.
"Laura! God damnit, Laura! Can you hear me? Get your pretty little ass out here right now!" Carmilla seethes. The barrier erupts in a red spark and it throws Carmilla back. She hits the ground hard, losing her bearings for a moment.
She lay there, groaning and resigning herself to her fate. It was a good life, she supposes. At least, the last few years of her life were pretty nice.
A cloud of rocky dust rains over her, and then after what seems like forever, the trembling stops. The cave falls silent, and Carmilla lets out an exasperated breath. She pushes herself up and carefully approaches the barrier again, looking it over.
"What trouble did you get yourself into this time, creampuff?" Carmilla questions, squinting and trying to see through the red glow. No such luck.
She stands there, waiting, tapping her foot impatiently.
Have faith
The barrier flashes a moment, and a small body falls through – right into Carmilla's arms.
"Unff, Laura…" Carmilla grunts, helping Laura up. Carmilla can't even describe her relief at having her girlfriend back in her arms. Laura slowly looks up at Carmilla, her face aghast. "Are you okay? What happened in there?"
"I…" Laura trails off. "I think I found a way to defeat the Reapers?"
Carmilla's eyebrows shoot up. "Great. How?"
"By… unleashing a demigod on them?" Laura suggests. Carmilla gives her an incredulous look. She must've lost her mind in there.
"Okay… what 'demigod' is that?" Carmilla questions.
"Um…" Laura looks down, almost seeming nervous. "Me?"
Carmilla stares at Laura, and it dawns on her that the arm she had apparently chewed on was now miraculously fine.
"Your arm…" Carmilla breathes.
"Yeah. I, uh, fixed it. I guess." Laura looks at it, twisting it around. Carmilla cups Laura's face, forcing their eyes to meet.
"You're telling me… you're a demigod now?" Carmilla gapes. Laura bites her lip.
"Here. Let me show you." Laura offers, stepping back. Carmilla flinches when she holds her hand over Carmilla's chest. Laura removes it, and Carmilla looks down.
The crack in the locket has disappeared.
"Oh god, that feels so much better." Laura groans, noticing the fuzzy feeling fading away. "I was so tired of feeling like the human equivalent of a snowy TV channel."
"How did you…" Carmilla gawks. It takes a lot to surprise Carmilla, and god damn she was flabbergasted.
"I don't know. I just kind of want it, and then it happens?" Laura lifts her arms. "I guess I could technically just… put my heart back in my chest. I don't know. I don't really know the extent of my new powers." She bites her lip. "But I'm fine with you looking after my heart a little longer."
"Laura… this is crazy." Carmilla blinks.
"I… yeah…" Laura mutters, tears filling her eyes. "I was just finally coming to terms with the fact that I didn't have a heart, and now I'm… a demigod? I mean I guess it's nice having a label now and I know I always wanted to be Harry Potter but – but you have no idea how much this power feels, Carm, I-"
Her words catch in her throat and Carmilla pulls her close. "Hey. You're overwhelmed. That's okay. This is… pretty overwhelming."
Just then, they hear a crack above them and the unstable cavern starts to collapse a little. Boulders and sharp rocks descend towards them and before Carmilla can pull Laura out of the way, Laura raises her arms and the rocks blast away. She holds her arms up a little longer, and the cave seems to stabilize itself. No more cracks. No more danger.
She slowly lowers her arms, starring at them with some sort of mix of awe and pride. Carmilla smirks at her.
"My girlfriend, the demigod." Carmilla nods. "Guess you don't need me to look after you anymore, huh?"
Laura looks up at her, beaming.
"Yeah, I guess not, right?" Laura grins. Carmilla feels a pang of regret.
That kind of hurt.
"Laura…" Carmilla takes her by the waist and ignores her sudden bout of inadequacy. "I suppose I owe you an 'I love you', huh?"
Laura smiles, leaning up to kiss Carmilla softly. The cavern erupts in rumbles once again and Laura rips away from her.
"Fiddlesticks." Laura curses. "Sorry, I… I don't exactly have a handle on my powers yet. I'm concentrating really hard to not utterly destroy everything around me right now and kissing you is… a really big distraction."
Carmilla's brow furrows. "That sounds… unpleasant." She mutters.
"Apparently it's part of the price I have to pay." Laura huffs.
"Of course." Carmilla rolls her eyes. "So we can't kiss right now?"
"Probably not a good idea."
"I suppose that takes sex off the table, too?"
"Carmilla." Laura smiles, rolling her eyes. She wraps her arms around Carmilla gently. "We just have to wait until I'm a bit more used to having this much power."
"Great, because I'm curious of what it'd be like to sleep with a demigod…" Carmilla purrs. Laura shakes her head, giggling.
"That'll have to wait." She grows serious. "First, I have to handle the Reapers."
"Do your powers happen to come with a GPS tracker?" Carmilla questions.
"No, but…" Laura gives Carmilla a sheepishly. "I know exactly how to contact them."
To Whom It May Concern,
Recently we were approached with an opportunity to have a business agreement between this website and another organization, but we turned it down due to conflicting views on both sides. Since then, new developments have come to our attention and we would like to renegotiate. This will include us offering up our own subject for willing participation in your studies in return for a certain participant who may be making it difficult for you. We would like to meet at your HQ. We just want this to be over.
- Inhuman Interest
That was the post Laura made as soon as they got back home to their apartment. Crypt, being as prompt as ever, sends a response within two hours.
We are pleased to hear of your change of "heart", so to speak. It has been a rather meddlesome past few days. You may receive your second chance.
An address is tied in with the short message. J.P. Googles it immediately.
"Interesting." J.P. muses. "This is the address of the largest skyscraper in the city. I can see it from my own office. This states it's a large law firm."
"I guess they need some sort of cover, right?" Laura sighs. "At least it's not a warehouse."
"Okay, but it's not like they're going to come quietly." Danny hugs herself. "Trust me. They might not look like much but they have… ways to fight back."
"I have a plan." Carmilla states. "I know some of Mattie's contacts. If she was really raising awareness about The Reapers, then there's a bunch of angry vampires out there waiting for a fight."
"Are you sure they'll listen to you? I mean, you still don't have your panther, unless you count the hellcat." Danny points out. Carmilla and Laura share a glance. They're both pretty sure Carmilla's safe from becoming corrupted again with the locket fixed, which is a relief to Carmilla. She can get angry again.
"They can either listen to me or waste away when they find their food stock running low. Their choice." Carmilla shrugs.
"Dope. Vampire army. Count me in." Kirsch nods.
"Not a chance." Danny snarls.
"Oh, come on. I can be like… a distracting… a disk track…" Kirsch rambles off.
"A distraction?" Laura questions.
"Yes!" Kirsch exclaims. "You can't stop me from helping out."
"We might actually need LaF along, so one more human can't hurt." Laura claims. Danny rolls her eyes.
"Fine, but if you have me saving your ass the entire time, I'll kill you myself." Danny sneers. Kirsch seems unperturbed, raising his hand.
"Up top!" He grins. Danny rolls her eyes again, and Kirsch slaps his own hand.
"And I'll help anyway you need me to, but what about Perry?" LaF questions. Everyone looks over to Perry, who is furiously dusting and humming It's A Small World softly.
"…She can probably stay here." Laura grimaces.
"Agreed." LaF nods. "And what if it goes bad for us? Last time kind of went south very fast."
"Then it's a good thing we have a demigod on our side this time." Carmilla shrugs.
"Yeah. Demigod. Sure." LaF raises their eyebrow, which mirrors the incredulous responses the rest of the group had when told of Laura's new status. She didn't feel like proving herself. They'd see soon enough.
"Trust me. Those Reapers have no chance." Laura looks down at her trembling hands, her voice low and menacing. Carmilla eyes her with concern, but brushes it off.
"Uh, okay." LaF nods slowly. "Just in case, I'm going to order Chinese. Last meal and all that."
They find themselves in front of the skyscraper, their army of vampires behind them. Fourteen had heeded the call. That's all they needed. They just had to buy some time.
Despite being considered an outcast without her beast, Carmilla commanded them masterfully. Laura had never been prouder.
She walks hand in hand with her girlfriend into the building.
The interior is large, marble, clean. Pretty much what they expected. It's also empty. Not what they expected.
The elevator dings on the other side, and slowly opens to reveal yet another man with white hair and violet eyes. He shares similar features to the man Carmilla had killed at the warehouse, except with seemingly aged facial features and longer hair. He also carries a cane, which Laura can swear she hears Kirsch mutter about how he wishes his looked as cool.
"Ah, welcome." He opens his arms, stepping out of the elevator. A vampire in the back snarls angrily, but Laura holds up her arm to silence them. The Reaper notices. "A human who commands vampires. You certainly are a curious one."
"We just have aligned goals." Laura mutters darkly.
"And I'm assuming these aren't all the willing participants you mentioned in that post on that website of yours?" The Reaper asks, tilting his head with that stupidly pleasant smile.
"We are here to prevent your plans, vile one!" A heavily-accented vampire shouts.
"I figured as much." The Reaper sighs. "I so hoped we could settle our differences. Oh well."
He holds out his hand, which Laura and Carmilla notice a batwing dangling from, and he snaps.
The room fills with those same iridescent purple flames. When they clear, a dozen of Reapers surround them, all with batwings that make every vampire double-over in discomfort. What's more worrying is the monsters with them – monsters made of human limbs.
"Those… monstrosities again…" Danny groans, and Kirsch has an expression of recognition.
"Yes, you there. Red-headed vampire. I know you. You've been poking around for a while. You're familiar with my pets, aren't you?" He gestures toward one of the monsters, which makes a garbled sound. Laura can barely look at any of them. "The by-product of failed experiments early on. When the bodies and souls weren't fully destroyed, this is what came of them. As I said, they make good companions despite their lack of pleasant aesthetics."
"Cool." LaF views the monsters with awe. Laura shoots them an incredulous look and they blush. "Uh, I mean, gross."
"So you see, although I admire your tenacious attitudes, there is no chance you can stop us. And this time, we will simply take Mircalla by force." The Reaper grins. Laura squeezes Carmilla's hand, who is hunched over and panting from the amount of batwings around them.
"I noticed you've got a pretty good snap there." Laura comments, raising her hand. "Want to see mine?"
Laura pictures all the batwings around her in her mind, and snaps her fingers. Yelps erupt from all the Reapers as sparks sizzle from their wrists, incinerating the bracelets within seconds. The Reaper with the long hair shakes the flames off his burnt wrist, glancing at Laura with wide eyes.
"You…!" He exclaims. All the vampires, now free from the batwings, crouch down ready for a fight.
"Dude, little nerd just got super OP." Kirsch announces. The main Reaper grits his teeth.
"Attack!" He orders, shuffling back into the elevator.
Chaos ensues as The Reapers, monsters, and vampires all lunge at each other. Carmilla pulls Laura down, ducking from the flying bodies above them. Laura looks around quickly. Danny and J.P. are already handling their own against a limb monster. Kirsch is successfully fending off a Reaper with his fists. Good.
"LaF, come with us!" Laura calls out. LaF, who had looked ready to join the fray a second ago, looks at Laura and Carmilla and nods.
They make their way to the other side of the room slowly, trying to dodge the combat. A limb monster jumps in front of them, letting out a horrifying growl. Carmilla cries out, jumping on it and trying to drag it away.
"Carmilla! Get out of the way!" Laura shouts. Carmilla looks up at her.
"What?!" Carmilla groans, trying to hold on.
"Just do it!" Laura orders. Carmilla lets out a frustrated grunt and jumps off. Laura raises her hand, and the monsters turns into a red paste on the ground.
"Jesus Christ." LaF gapes.
"Laura Hollis." Laura corrects. "Come on."
Carmilla once again looks at Laura with concern as they head to the elevator. She hadn't even hesitated. Carmilla knew Laura. She knew she'd normally be torn up about the fact that those monsters used to be pieces of humans. But she didn't bat an eye.
The elevator closes around them, leaving the sound of the chaos behind. Laura hits the button for the top floor, and the elevator begins its ascent.
"Okay, so if you can just destroy everything with a single thought, why don't you just do that?" Carmilla questions. Laura shoots Carmilla a look that seems to have a hint of annoyance to it.
"Just because I can doesn't mean I should." Laura states. "Killing all the Reapers won't solve anything. There will be nothing to remove the souls from this world, and trust me, we don't want to deal with that."
Carmilla lets out a sigh. At least Laura's still thinking clearly.
"Alright. What's the plan?" Carmilla asks.
"We strike a deal with that Reaper. He seems to be the leader. Maybe I can just scare him into doing his damn job." Laura states.
"And if he doesn't listen?" LaF asks.
"He'll listen." Laura glowers, staring at her hand. LaF and Carmilla share a worried look.
"Hey, creampuff, you feeling alright?" Carmilla inquires.
"I'm fine." Laura snaps. Carmilla stares at her, raising an eyebrow, and Laura softens. "Sorry. It's just… all this effort to cap my power is really exhausting me."
"I know." Carmilla murmurs, putting an arm around Laura. Carmilla can't imagine the energy Laura must be exerting right now. Laura was even too afraid to sleep in case she wouldn't be able to control her powers, and yet she keeps pushing herself forward. Maybe demigods don't even need sleep. Carmilla didn't know.
Laura seems to let herself at least relax into Carmilla a moment before the elevator opens at the top. A large, impressive office spans out in front of them, littered with lab equipment. That catches LaF's eye, but what catches Carmilla's eye is slumped in the corner.
"Mattie!" Carmilla cries out, rushing over to her and crouching down. She examines her quickly, but Mattie coughs and her eyes flutter open.
"What took you so long, little monster?" Mattie questions weakly. Carmilla releases a breath.
"You're alive. Or, un-alive. Whatever." Carmilla breathes. Mattie lets out a chuckle that turns into a fit of weak coughs.
"Your friend is quite resilient. It's why we were so optimistic that you would indeed hand yourself over. Little did we know you'd come with a surprise." The Reaper turns around in his desk chair. "You were blessed by the Utmost High. How could they turn on us?"
"Maybe because you turned your back on your purpose." Laura growls, stepping forward. The Reaper tenses, standing up.
"Our purpose. Doomed to a life of labour and misery. Shouldn't we forge our own paths? That's what the humans do." The Reaper says calmly.
"So your path is to destroy humanity?" Laura questions.
"And is your path to destroy us to get what you want?" The Reaper throws back.
"No. I'm not like you." Laura glowers. The Reaper raises his eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh really? Then what do you intend to do?" He asks.
"To reach an agreement. An actual one. Where both parties are happy." Laura states. The Reaper slowly comes around the desk.
"A compromise." He nods slowly, coming in front of the desk.
"Yes." Laura confirms. "What would I have to do to make it so you'd all go back to doing what you're supposed to?"
The Reaper leans forward. "Make it so our job is a little less demanding. Give us some slack." He requests.
"I don't think she can just create new Reapers or something. She's a demigod. Her powers have limits." Carmilla comments. Mattie's brow furrows at this admission.
"What if we used science to fix this problem?" LaF suggests, looking through a microscope. "You can create a blast that wipes out humans. Why not use a different blast to create a black hole specifically for souls? Then it would suck up the souls on its own into the void, or wherever. It'll do your jobs for you."
"Can you do that?" Laura questions.
"I can try. It certainly seems like it. We'd need different ingredients, though. But we'd still need Lophii's blood. You know, for the soul containing features." LaF explains. Laura looks to the Reaper, who seems intrigued.
"Yes… that might work." He nods. "But we only have enough blood for one more solid blast. That's why we were so desperate for a vampire."
"Then we'll get it right the first time." Laura states. "LaF, get to work."
"Already on it, L." LaF declares, fiddling with some slides and beakers. "You know, your technology is impressive. With this you could've cured diseases. Maybe saved some lives."
"Not our jurisdiction." The Reapers drawls.
"Oh yes, because you're clearly concerned with protocol." Carmilla rolls her eyes.
"Just help LaF." Laura huffs. The Reaper grunts, heading over to the lab equipment. Laura lets out a breath, slumping down against the wall near Carmilla and Mattie and putting her head in her hands with an exhausted groan. Carmilla eyes her cautiously.
"Would you look at that?" Mattie croaks. "The pathetic human girl became a demigod. I told you, you complete the impossible."
"Just save your strength." Carmilla sighs. "What'd they do to you?"
"Mostly taking samples and giving me some sort of chemicals. Or at least trying to." Mattie flashes a smile. Carmilla shoots the Reaper a glare, who shrinks under her gaze.
"Well we're all getting out of this." Carmilla assures her. She looks back at Laura, who still seems to be struggling. She just hopes they'll all get out in one piece.
Eventually, and surprisingly quick, LaF and the Reaper make a breakthrough.
"Okay, I think we've come up with a formula, but it's missing some variables." LaF announces. Laura perks up, slowly pushing herself off the ground.
"Like what?" She questions.
"Such as something to draw the souls to the void, specifically." The Reaper states. Laura's brow furrows.
"You were using ingredients from different supernatural creatures, right? Like how the vampire would make it seek out human life?" Laura questions.
"Precisely." The Reaper nods. Laura looks at LaF.
"So we'd need something from a creature that can guide souls." Laura says slowly. LaF's eyes widen in realization.
"Like a Reaper." LaF breathes. The Reaper glances at Laura.
He looks fear stricken, but before he can even disappear using the purple flames, Laura lunges forward, her hand clenching around his neck.
His eyes bulge, and then he dissolves into a puff of glittery, purple dust. Laura shakes some of the dust off her hand.
"There. Use that." Laura offers, monotone.
"Damn, L. That was cold." LaF gapes.
"Whatever." Laura mutters. "I did what I had to."
Carmilla tenses, leaving Mattie's side and storming towards Laura.
"What the hell, Laura?" Carmilla seethes. "You want someone dead? Fine. Leave that to me. You shouldn't have to do that."
"I don't need you to do the dirty work anymore, Carm." Laura glares. "I have all the power in the world. All I desire is at my fingertips."
"Damnit, Laura!" Carmilla shouts, grasping Laura's shoulders. "Just because you can doesn't mean you should, remember? And you shouldn't cross the lines you'd never cross. You can't let yourself become some victim of apathy and malice."
"Get off." Laura pushes Carmilla away. Carmilla hits the ground, and she looks at Laura menacingly.
"What are you going to do? Explode me with your mind?" Carmilla challenges. "Or maybe you'll just control me to agree with you. All you desire is at your fingertips, right? Why waste time on being a decent human being – or whatever you are?"
Laura seems to realize what she has done, and looks horrified.
"No, I… I would never…" Laura trembles. Carmilla stands up again, approaching Laura.
"I've seen it. Every time you use your power, it changes you. It's consuming you, Laura." Carmilla mumbles. Laura looks down at her shaky hands. She thought she was gaining more control by using the powers, not losing it. She just became more overcome with how much power she truly wielded.
This is what Ell meant by the power corrupting her. Turns out she was no different than the Dean, the gods, The Reapers, or anyone. Give her enough power, and she'll lose herself. Lose her good intentions.
"I didn't… want this…" Laura whimpers, looking at the ground. "I just wanted to fix everything."
"Saving the world would be a whole lot easier if you could just remain innocent, eh Cupcake?" Carmilla murmurs, echoing something she's said to Laura once before. "We've been through all this before. And I'm always going to be here to bring you back, just like when you brought me back when I lost control. I'm not going to let you fall into Dark Willow mode."
Laura smirks a little at that, hugging Carmilla close. "I'm so sorry." Laura sighs.
"You're going to stay you as long as I'm around. You're still a creampuff, demigod or not." Carmilla mumbles into Laura's hair.
"Uh, guys, I hate to break this up, but despite Laura's uh… violent outburst, it seems to have worked." LaF announces, gesturing to the new concoction. "I mean, it's not 100%, but it's maybe at a solid 87% effectiveness."
Laura pulls around from Carmilla reluctantly, sniffling. She's so scared she'll let this power consume her now, despite Carmilla's best efforts. She wishes she never received it.
"Um, that's great. Now we just need to, you know, set it off." Laura wipes her eyes.
"The top of the building." Mattie chokes out through some tired coughs. "I overheard. That's where they were going to detonate the last blast. A high vantage point."
"There's still a problem." LaF stops them. "We'd need something powerful enough to sustain it. Lophii's blood will attract the souls like a big beacon and the Reaper dust will carry the souls toward it, but we need something to open the void and keep it going."
"Damnit. What's powerful enough for something like that?" Carmilla ponders. Laura's brow furrows once again.
"Well, let's just go to the roof and see what happens. I can probably open the void with my powers." Laura suggests.
"Cupcake, be careful." Carmilla warns.
"I will." Laura nods.
"And then the sustaining?" LaF questions.
"I don't know. Let's just go see if I can open the void first." Laura suggests, and turns to Carmilla. "You stay here with Mattie. Make sure she doesn't die. Again."
"Laura, I don't like this. Opening a void… that's a lot of power to use at once." Carmilla points out, concerned. Laura flashes a smile.
"Good thing I have you to keep me grounded then, right?" Laura coos, pulling Carmilla in for a kiss.
"I thought kissing me was too distracting." Carmilla sighs against Laura's lips.
"Worth the risk." Laura mumbles, pulling away. "I love you."
"I'll tell you when you get back." Carmilla smirks. Laura shakes her head, giving Carmilla a final kiss on the cheek.
"LaF, come with me. You'll be helping with the detonating, so you need to see what we're dealing with. Maybe you'll come up with the idea of a final ingredient while we're there." Laura states.
"Right behind you, L." LaF pockets the test tube of the black-hole potion, following Laura up a side door and up the stairs.
The city expands before them, and despite being so high up, there's only a pleasant light breeze. You wouldn't even know there's a fierce battle taking place far below them.
Laura hopes her friends are okay.
"So, you gonna do this? Open a rift in time and space, or whatever?" LaF questions.
"Uh, I guess so." Laura looks a final time over the city, taking a breath. Here goes everything.
She reaches out her hands and firmly claws apart at the horizon, trying to force the void open. For a moment it's like her fingers snag on something, and then with a crack, the sky splits apart. Laura falls back from the force, and suddenly there's a small crack in reality sitting in front of them. Blue lights swirl around inside.
"Uh, holy crap." LaF points, staring. "I don't know what I expected."
"Honestly… that is what I expected." Laura sighs, turning to LaF. "Now we know I can do it, at least."
"Yep. Now we just need to find the last ingredient, and then we can detonate it inside. Then bam, we have our own personal soul lamp." LaF explains. Laura cocks her head slightly.
"How do you detonate it, anyway?" Laura questions.
"By my calculations, the serum becomes combustible with sudden, extreme heat. So like, setting it on fire." LaF states. "But until we have a way to sustain the beacon, we can't do that."
Laura nods slowly.
"Thanks, LaF." She whispers, raising her arm toward LaF. LaF gives Laura an incredulous look.
"L, what are you…" LaF trails off. "Don't do this."
"I'm sorry." Laura bites her lip. "Just… go to sleep."
LaF crumples to the ground immediately and Laura quickly rushes to their side, checking their pulse. Laura sighs with relief. LaF was just sleeping, like she intended.
She fishes the test tube out of LaF's pocket, and stands up facing the void.
Something powerful enough to sustain the beacon.
What about the body of a demigod?
"I'm surprised you let her leave like that, darling." Mattie says after a long stretch of silence. Carmilla looks over at her.
"I have faith in her." Carmilla shrugs, and Mattie chuckles.
"Faith that she's going to liquidate her body on purpose for the 'greater good'?" Mattie questions. Carmilla stares at her.
"…What?" She gapes.
"Oh, come now, darling. You can't tell me you didn't see the little gears ticking away in her head once the final ingredient was brought up. It was as obvious to me as it was to her that she'd need to sacrifice herself to create the soul beacon." Mattie scoffs. Carmilla jumps up, looking horrified.
"She wouldn't." Carmilla quivers.
"Wouldn't she?" Mattie questions. Carmilla's eyes widen, and then she shoots up the stairs in a blur.
Laura feels the energy being drained out of her, the void sucking her in like a vacuum. She had ignited the concoction inside the void, and then she fed the contained blast with all the power she could muster. Spent and unable to fight the suction, the void swallows her up, and she's slowly being pulled toward the black hole for souls they created.
The inside of the void was terrifying. There were screams of anguish and flashing lights, the discombobulation of a warped reality – or a lack of reality. Yet there was a certain air of contentment that surrounded her. It was neither heaven nor hell.
This is good. This is how it should be. No being should have as much power as she had. If this was her purpose, then so be it. She wouldn't turn her back on it. Not like The Reapers.
"I'm sorry, Carmilla." Laura breathes, wanting Carmilla's name to be the last thing on her lips. She accepts that she'll never be in her arms again. She'll just have to be content with her memories. She only hopes that Carmilla could move on without her – that Carmilla would understand.
She starts to feel her body being torn apart, almost as if she's starting to unravel. What would it be like to exist as a collection of particles that hold a beacon together? Would it be limbo? She hopes Carmilla would hold up her end of the bargain and destroy the locket. Then her own soul could join the masses of the future souls guided to this light.
Just as her consciousness starts to fade, she feels a pair of strong arms around her waist.
Her body starts to piece back together as she's dragged away. Everything feels in slow motion as reality comes back into view. The inside of the void – and then then expanse of the city. For a moment, she feels like she's floating. Then she hits the ground with a crack, cushioned only by a soft body behind her that still had its arms firmly locked around her.
"Stupid… self-sacrificing… asshole!" Carmilla growls into Laura's ear.
"Says the person who literally just jumped into the void to save me." Laura snickers weakly, head falling back and being cradled by Carmilla. They both look into the void to see the beacon, perfectly sustained and functional, before the void snaps shut.
They're left with an eerie silence on top of the building, and Carmilla notes that Laura's heart rate in the locket has finally returned to normal.
"I can't believe you were about to leave me like that without saying goodbye." Carmilla mutters.
"You wouldn't have let me." Laura sighs, turning her body to wrap her arms around Carmilla. "Maybe deep down, I knew you'd still save me anyway."
Carmilla lets out a groan.
"God damnit, this hero thing is still so tiresome."
Author's Note: One more to go!