Looking through the glass windows, she stared at the dresses of the boutiques. One mannequin wore a sleek ivory knee-length dress cocktail dress with side ruffle featuring a high neckline, closed back and sleeveless bodice. The next was a Burgundy off shoulder bodycon dress. A single ring on the left held the two fabrics that kept the dress snug to the mannequins arms, connected to the main dress by the front corner above the heart. The last dress was in the center, a wedding gown different than a traditional one. With silky shoulders, the fabrics flowed downward to a v-neck, kept in place by a cumberbun style wrap around its waist. Beginning its color in white, it was not until the end where the gown's ends ombre as though the fabrics themselves were ablaze in deep flame. Fading from white into yellow, into orange, red, purple and finishing in blue.

Kira stared at the wedding gown, seeing her reflection as if she were wearing the dress herself. It was beautiful, unique in its own way; it blended traditionalism and youthful flare to appeal to a younger generation. The designer succeed in that regard. She never imagined herself to be the marrying type, quite frankly, there was nothing that led her to believe not only that she would find someone, but live long enough to even consider. Being the property of the Empress of humanity's immortal overlords tended to limit the dating poll; it was non-existent. Though, did not help her case that she was hell-bent on ensuring no one even had a chance. Kira did not want to make that mistake ever again.

"See something you like?" Eona asked curiously, finishing at the bakery next store, her arms full of a box of sweets and two bags from clothes shopping.

Kira shrugged, "Just window shopping." She said lazily.

"Oh, my fair lady! Does thoust wish'ith to go to the ball?" Eona sung in a goofy, romeo and juliet diction.

Hiding a giggle behind her hand, Kira was unable to keep a straight face with the vampire's antics. Hearing the woman laugh, seeing her smile again warmed Eona's heart. It had been such a long time since she heard or seen Kira laugh, her mood and temperament making it difficult to have her crack so much as a smile. Always on guard, always keeping her heart as stone, it was difficult to find a crack. Carmilla has spent years chipping away at that stone, but not Eona, she did not want to cause anymore pain, to make the woman's heart raw. She wanted Kira to open herself willingly, to melt the stone and have her remember what they once had. Eona would not give up, not to Carmilla, not until Kira herself tells her there is no chance. Seeing as Kira continued to wear the scarf Eona gifted her, she knew there was one.

"You're ridiculous." The human woman smirked, shaking her head, "So what'd you get from the bakery?"

Eona smiled widely, turning the box in her hand to face Kira. She opened the lid revealing cinnamon apple puff pastry, cut and shaped to a rose. Light coated with powdered sugar, Kira stared at the desserts in a neutral surprise.

"They're..."

The vampire rose a brow, uncertain, but hopeful.

A genuine smile came across Kira's face, "You remembered."

Eona lifted one out and offered it to the other, "I never forgot."

Kira took it and bit into the pastry, her sweet tooth as it was back then. Many years have gone by since she had these, the bakery only makes them during the fall season and Kira never went with another other than Eona. Carmilla did not have sweet tooth and Jake preferred sour treats, but she could not imagine coming here without anyone else, even Emily. This, just as the cliff and secret entrance...was one of the few things only they did together. The bakery that created these was small, an in-the-wall business not many people knew about. It was a hidden gem of the city and very LGBT friendly, it was there Kira and Eona often went on their secret dates. Back then, they decided to keep their relationship a secret, from most people, but Jake and Emily of course knew. Carmilla well...Kira had thought they had done a good enough job at not being obvious, but apparently not. That much is obvious itself given her increased and public possessiveness.

Walking down the street, they had come to the city to go clothes shopping, Kira had wanted to get more winter clothes, with the season quickly changing. She felt the chill when practicing her bow outside, but that was more an excuse, Kira wanted her individuality, wanted to have clothes of her choosing and to get out of the Palace. Carmilla had not let Kira out of her sight, especially since New York, not that she got a get-out-of-jail-free-card when eavesdropping on the Council meeting. She certainly paid for that indiscretion, or was about too: her punishment was to perform before all in attendance of the ball. One of the survival skills Kira acquired over the years was learning how to properly dance; another type of entertainment and enticement, though she could not consider it wholeheartedly useless, it increased her flexibility and dexterity significantly which adds to her overall physical capabilities. No matter, Kira could not say she was thrilled to display her skills this time: Carmilla was practically waving a steak in front of hungry lions. At least it was a Masquerade Ball.

"You decided what you're wearin'?" Kira asked with a mouth full of food.

Eona rolled her eyes frowning, "Probably a tailcoat, nothing too flashy, I don't like being the center of attention."

"Pfff." Kira sounded humored, "You're the Pureblood Princess, you don't have a choice, you were born important." She shrugged, "Perks of being human is I'm practically invisible." Sticking her tongue out, "Unless of course you're told to perform in front of hungry guests, then you're dinner on a silver platter-"

"I'd never let that happen!" Eona snapped firmly.

Kira spun around, facing Eona as she walked backwards, "Carmilla wouldn't let anyone especially you anywhere near me. She's made it very clear I'm hers and no one else's."

"I wish you wouldn't do that...considering yourself as nothing more than an object..." Eona said somberly, "You're more than that, to me-"

Kira popped a pastry in Eona's mouth, "Don't." She warned, "You...we can't..."

Leaning forward into the pastry Kira held, Eona's gaze was steady and confidant, challenging the woman's weakened resistance. Her crimson was not violent and hungry, they were warm, soft. Many believe the crimson of a vampire's eyes are all the same, but Kira knew vampires sometimes better than they knew themselves and even herself. Even if just a small amount, every vampire has a slightly different shade of red. Jake's were focused, solid, like jam. Carmilla's were powerful, hungry, and trying, as though desiring to change. Eona's...they looked deep into Kira's sky-blue eyes; warm, the same scarlet she wore around her neck; welcoming. Oh no. Kira's resolve began to falter, the warmth she felt in her chest, the comfort, the familiarity, the safety. I can't...not again, if I let my guard down again it's over for me. She averted her eyes, stepping back.

"Anything is possible, you just have to have hope." Eona softly spoke, quietly so no others would hear, "For you...I would give up everything."


The Great Hall was filled to the brim with vampires of significant class and families. Purebloods, Nobles, every Council member all gathered under a single roof, the amount of security the greatest that not even God himself could enter. The double-floor hall was second only to the Throne Room in size and magnificence, its walls decorated with hundreds of years of craftsmanship and artistry. In this hall, much had been changed since the previous Empress's reign, the wealth of the Imperial Tepes Family locked away in an attic, covered by white sheets, changed when the rulers before Eona's mother passed.

Having been reverted relatively to what was originally in this hall, what had changed was the era in which the architecture reflected. It was cleaner, simpler, but grander in this sense, as though entering the Palais Garnier in France, without incredibly intricate carvings in each pillar. Black and red curtains hung between the pillars on the second floor, the crest of the Tepes family the centerpiece of the wall above the duel staircase entrance, mirrored by the same carving above where the Empress sat in wait.

Many people took this opportunity to gossip and speak rumor, even before the Empress herself. Others would request her hand in a dance if they were worthy or simply brave enough, but it had been many years since she agreed. Often a private joke, whoever's hand she accepted be they man, woman or fluid would be her consort for the remainder of the evening. Many times she accepted only a small handful of people and even before that she would not have more than one consort at a time, moving onto the next when the previous either fell out of favor or she lost interest in. However, in these last few years she has not once accepted the hand of any, the latest rumor and gossip being the mysterious 'Empress's Pet' not a soul outside of the Palace knew of.

They were an enigma, entirely unknown to the outside world, many came here with curiosity, a thirst to know one more juicy detail. Who or what has seized and held the attention of the Red Queen? It would be difficult to know for certain, a masquerade ball is such because people can hide themselves behind the safety of a mask. A trick in reality, a mask is not to hid one's self, but to show the world who one really is.

She was in a pleasant mood tonight, looking forward to tonight's entertainment. Eona was not happy with her 'insistence' on Kira's performance, but refused to admit she was looking forward to seeing it. Dressed in a black and deep blue tailcoat, Eona donned a mask covering her eyes; half black, half silver, accent details lined around her eyes and across the mask of the opposing side's color. Carmilla, as much of her habits are had her wear an elegant mask of lacy gold. It covered much of her upper face, the mask decorated with medusa's likeness at the top and snakes lining the edges. Her dress was shorter, allowing greater range of motion than others, a tiered velvet gown with a trumpet end. She stood with her niece, away from the throne, mingling with fellow Purebloods. This was the event of the season.

From the stairs came the night's first entertainment. Beautiful women lined the sides of the stairwell, dressed as belly dancers, masked all in uniformity of blues and silvers. One stood separate from the rest: a single woman in the same uniform and mask, was colored in the Empress's banner. Crimson and golds decorated her body, powered golden flakes sprinkles on her forearms and neck. The makeup artist did an amazing job covering the Stigma, making it not only invisible, but also drawing attention of what was beneath to the gold atop. What distinguished her further was her additional fabrics held by rings on one finger her hand, attached to her hips. As the backstage dancers carried on their choreography, their formations meant to emphasize the moments of the single dancer, the center of their dancing lotus.

Eona passed a glance to Carmilla, who hid a pleased smile behind her wine glass, but her eyes gave away her true intentions. She wanted Kira, wanted to devour every inch of her, to savor her and Eona would be a hypocrite if similar thoughts were not swirling around her own mind. The difference: one wanted to dominate, the other wanted to deliver from this place.

"See. I am not quite the monster you paint me to be." Carmilla said quietly to Eona, "I know she is shy about performing in front of others, so I had others join her."

Eona growled lowly, "You're dangling her in front of a room full of vampires like she's a piece a meat."

"Perhaps." Carmilla chuckled some, "But when they learn of my protection of her, they will never dare lay a hand on her." She said more seriously, her smile lowering, "She cannot live shut away in the Palace forever, by making the Game aware of her place at my side-"

"It will protect her." Eona realized the length of Carmilla's genuinely thought out plan, "But, if it had been up to me, I never would have exposed her to the Game."

Eona tilted her head in confused accusation, "Then why did you?"

"I didn't." She said watching the masked dancer closely, her focus, her ignoring of those around her, "She is not the type to sit down and let the world go by. You would know that, had you remained."

"I..." Eona's expression became tormented and guilty, "I'm here now."

Carmilla grabbed another glass and passed it to Eona, "Yes, but you were not back then. Now, you have no right to complain when she moves on."

"If." The younger vampire expressed threatenly.

The immortals of the room watched at the dancers, some human, some not. Dancing among them as a forbidden fruit they could not touch, the most tempting of all was the mysterious centerpiece. The dancer dressed in crimson and gold, no doubt bidding to be favored by the Empress, or is already in favor. They craved the sweet life currency of the mortal, her youth, her beauty, but they could not have it. The troupe completed their routen, their central, lone, dancer nearly presented to the Empress for her taking. Had the room not been full of slightly respectable company, Carmilla had no objection to taking the masked woman on this very floor.

All good things come to those who wait.

Departing the Great Hall, Kira went lightspeed to the troupe's changing area, practically leaping from her outfit; she had left her jeans and a t-shirt in a bag in the corner of the room. It was gone. Alright which one of you assholes. Kira groaned in annoyance, seeing a garment bag with a sticky note above where her backpack had been. She looked at the note, surprisingly it was from Jake.

Knock them dead!

From the note she glanced at the hanging bag, crumbling the note in her hand; she unzipped it and was left wide-eyed. Oh. Wasn't expecting that. With help from the troupe, her makeup, hair, and outfit was brought together. A standing mirror allowed her to see the finished product: A deep blue formal tuxedo, the jacket's lip were a step away from tradition, flaring upward with gold accent matching the color of her dress shirt. Held together by a chain of the same, she wore black gloves. Between her hands, was held her mask. Full-face, it took the erie shape of a skeleton, though its sinister shape lessened by a beautiful blend of black, blue and gold, decorated with gold vines. That's ironic. She chuckled. A lamb to slaughter and I go as the incarnation of my fate. Put the mask to her face, she tied the bands to keep it secure, looking at the final product. It was as though she was looking at another person.

Jake waited outside the door, excited to see his mother's creation on his best friend. It was one of the perks having a fashion designer as a mother. Kira was happy to see him waiting for her, nervous about entering the Great Hall alone, she looked to Jake as her safety net, thinking that Eona nor Carmilla would be with her tonight. She had hoped Emily would be here, but she was away on business, apparently out of cell range too; she had not answered any of Kira's messages.

"I had my mom treat the suit, no one will be able to tell you're human...at least by scent." Jake bobbed his head, "Just don't cut yourself yeah?"

Kira bumped shoulders with him, "Thank you."

"Hey I'm just happy I got a say! Lady Carmilla wanted to make you eye candy in a dress, but I was able to convince her to leave you be." He explained triumphantly, "I think I'm quite the negotiator!"

They entered a side door on the second floor, less populated by the mass crowd.

"I'll go get us some drinks, be right back." Jake said, responded by an acknowledging nod from Kira.

Left alone, Kira leaned over the railing, watching the people below. Vampires all mingled together, conspiring, gossiping; drinking their expensive wins, eating their finger foods without a care in the world. She let out an exhausted sigh, her posture slouching, tired from playing prim and proper. The remainder of the night was suppose to be relaxation, suppose to be her alone time; being here was a significant risk, a danger to herself, with or without a mask. Still, Jake had gone through hoops and fire to make her as comfortable as possible, to make her as invisible as possible. The least she could do was enjoy herself, free booze was free booze no matter whose tab.

"Not for the life of the party?" A feminine voice asked, walking up from the stairs.

Kira shrugged, "Not all of us enjoy the party scene."

The woman chuckled, "Can't say I blame you, these aren't the people I tend to associate with."

"I thought you were out of the country." Kira rose a brow to Emily whose voice she recognized behind the cheap plastic mask.

Shrugging, "I was until this afternoon, quite frankly I had no intention of coming, but Eona insisted, if only to keep you company." She leaned over the railing, looking down at the floor below.

"These types of soiree are not my cup of tea, I prefer bars and clubs. Alcohol tends to loosen truth from lies; a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts." Emily said, setting an empty glass on the railing, "Expensive wine still tastes like over-priced sparkling grape juice."

From her pocket she pulled out a flask, twisting the top off, she took a sip then held the container to Kira. The human did not hesitate in taking her up on the offer, feeling a cool, wet feeling travel down her throat and into her pit. It was smooth, did not burn going down and was surprised to know it was whiskey. Most of the whiskey Eona drinks is dry and burns quite a bit; it was an acquired taste Kira tended to avoid. The mortal herself preferred rum and vodka with mixers, though she enjoyed the taste of rum more than vodka, but vodka made her drunk quicker.

"Trust me when I say I wasn't planning on being here either, but Carmilla always gets her way." Kira said with agitation, "If it wasn't for Jake, Carmilla would probably have had me in some skimpy, tight dress showing a bit too much cleavage for comfort."

Emily took back the flask, "I thought you liked wearing dresses?"

"I do, but I hate being paraded around like a piece of meat. For Carmilla it's one thing, but I'd rather be invisible to anyone else."

"Even Eona?" The vampire slipped into the conversation casually.

Kira rolled her eyes, seeing Eona in the company of two men and a woman. Obviously, the woman had an eye for Eona, whether for her position, power, or gender was irrelevant, it was bothersome to watch her friend being hung on in such a way. Eona was kind and considerate, often politely turning down people, she was a bit of a pushover when it came to beautiful women. She found it hard to be stern and say no, redirecting their advances and playing off as oblivious or coy. Carmilla was very different.

She held neither shame nor restraint in expressing her displeasure with others. Sometimes with a show of force, other times with her sharp tongue, she held no fear in shooting people down flat and did not care for the embarrassment of those people. Living a life where 'no' was not a word in her dictionary, she has almost always gotten what she wants and is never apologetic about it. Carmilla habits had indeed changed over the years, with Kira everything was more of a coercion than a demand, but even that the mortal felt was just an illusion of choice.

When they first met everything was a command, an undisputed demand of obedience. She would force compliance if necessary and it made the beginning of their relationship one strongly built on hatred and resentment. Overtime, Kira learned that resistance was futile and painful because no matter what Carmilla would win. Avoiding punishments altogether, she found herself obeying because of the uselessness of resistance, but it took a great deal of time for it too fade. Eventually the two simply ignored each other, Kira was always with Eona and Jake, out of the way, having learned the basics of edicate and chores of a servant of the Palace. She may have been brought to serve as Eona's friend, but she was a slave nevertheless.

"She's stubborn I'll give her that, she'd not giving up on me and Carmilla won't give me up." Kira quietly admitted.

Emily held the flask to Kira again, "Love triangles are often like that."

Chuckling when sipping the offered beverage, "That's a one-way street."

"Between?"

"Both of them." Kira'a humor turned sour, "I'm not making that mistake again, it almost cost me my life."

The doctor sighed, "Telling yourself a lie enough times doesn't make it true, just as two wrongs don't make a right. You still love Eona."

Frowning, Kira began to shake her head.

"And you love Carmilla." Emily said outright.

"No, I don't." The human huffed in annoyance, shoving the flask in Emily's hands, "Whatever fantasy you're making-"

"Dreams can come true and reality can be defined by what you believe, but to deny that truth is to lie to yourself." Countered the ex-human, "You could have killed her years ago, you could have run in New York and yet you did not, but choose not to."

Dropping her head to her arms on the railing, Kira shot back up, turning to the doctor, "I made a deal with the devil, to survive, so what? Who the fuck is gonna judge me? The ones who chose to die free than live in chains? Fuck that! Eona helped me to forget watching what vampires did to my family, what they did to me! Not my good-for-nothing father who drilled that bullshit into our heads then ran off to play rebel! And when she ran away when I almost died-Carmilla was the one who helped me; she made sure I ate, she made sure I got my school work and went to all my appointments with you. That was her, not Eona, her."

She clenched her teeth, Kira lowered her voice, looking out to Eona, "How could I look my family in the eye...if I admitted I fell in love with the ones who tore us apart?"

Kira turned on her heels and walked back where she came, running into Jake who held two glasses.

"Hey what's-"

She walked past him, muttering, fumming, to ask Emily before storming out of the Great Hall. Jake turned to the doctor who stood cross-armed, joined by the fellow vampire who offered Kira's beer to her seeing as she was no longer partaking.

"They still haven't told her." Emily sighed to herself, watching where Kira had left.

Jake tilted his head, frowning at her, "Would you want to be told?"

Emily turned to look at the party, "Humanity is unique in its ability to withstand hardship. However, the worst thing that can be done to a human, something that could break them, is taking away their choice."


Kira hid the rest of the ball in the kitchens. The Head Chief allowed her to assist in meal prep, cutting vegetables which was easily a mind-numbing task that had her pay attention enough just to ensure she did not cut herself. Hours went by, the kitchens were closed and emptied, the staff leaving for their homes, guests departed for their hotels in the city, a handful of Council Members remained, offered rooms in the Palace in place of the time to travel down. Those who enjoyed and supported the Empress more often than not took her up on the offer. Not that Kira wanted anything to do with vampires for the remainder of the night.

She removed the jacket of her tuxedo, holding it under her arm, undoing the tie and unbuttoning the dress shirt she untucked until it was fully opened. The skull mask was held in the same hand as the jacket, as she swayed back and forth in the hallway. Christ that was a long night. Kira thought blowing out a huff when going down the ill-lite hallway. I can't believe Em actually said that, she knows me better than anyone and she seriously said that. Emily has been her sole confidant, the only person to have been human to have understood the pain inflicted by the vampire. The doctor was not turned by choice, her choice was ripped by her just as Kira's nearly was...or will be, it's hard to tell anymore.

She helped Kira to preserve her humanity, her name, the name of a human was a gift from their parents. The name of a human was sacred, holy to the owner, what separated them and made them individuals. It was not common for humans gave it to their immortal overlords their real names. For giving it to them meant being bound and chained in every part of their being. Holding onto that name kept, even if an acute amount, of freedom that could not be taken. The vampire may take their mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters; freedom, but there are things that cannot be taken: faith and one's name.

This is why Kira did not understand why Emily brought up the notions of 'love'. She has been her only true ally, able to resist 'Absolute Rule' from a Pureblood; she covered for Kira on more than one occasion. Was she doubting Kira's conviction to survive? Did Emily believe Kira was beginning to lose too much of what made her 'human'? She did not understand why; to provoke her? To test her? Emily had never brought up relationships, it was a sore subject unofficially on the red list of things not to mention in conversation.

Em is out of her mind if she seriously thinks I would even consider being in a relationship anything more than physical. Kira turned the corner to the familiar hallway. Comprised of seven large bedrooms, each had a full bathroom and walk-in closet, patio access; in Kira's room, she had a queen-size bed not comfortable with anything larger when sleeping alone. The room was spacious, there were very few personal effects that made it 'hers', seeing as she owed nothing that was not given by the Empress. In her room she had a simple, platform bed, no poles or canopies. She had a small couch that fronted a flat screen tv. There were three dressers, covered mainly with different plants. The space that was filled was green, different trees and bushes, plants of advanced and even master level of care needed. It was a quiet hobby, one that required great care and detail, but also forced her to have patience. Many people had no interest in watching something grow, they cared about the end product, not the nurturing; not the time and effort.

This was Kira's second room, having 'graduated' from the first which was more of a broom closet. Eona's room was the second on the right, Kira's was the first on the left; Carmilla's, the master suite was the last at the end of the hall. Turning the corner, Kira was now in her hallway; her phone buzzed with a message from a friend of Jake's in a group chat of theirs. Pictures from the Ball of their gowns and masks. It made Kira's smile, but not enough to distract her fully. She sighed, flipping through her phone to her messages with Emily. I Should just ask her outright- A noise in another room, that room; the door open, she had not entered in years. On the way to Eona's room, who had a secret passage to the kitchens was the room where she almost died.

She stopped, having reached for her own doorknob, but her hand hovered over. Don't. Her breathing staggered, her heart pulsed throughout her whole body as her hands shook. Don't go. She grabbed the doorknob.

A voice. A familiar voice, it silenced any and all rationality, any sense of self-preservation. Her body moved on its own, turning around Kira walked to the partly opened door; she did not think, only acted. The door was pushed open, Kira's first step was a stumble, she almost fell in; the door seemed lighter, it felt like it was going to fly off its hinges. She looked up seeing the owner of that voice; their crimson eyes close. Carmilla was sitting on the couch, the other, unknown woman was a curly blonde, a model wearing a dress that bordered lingerie and an appropriate ball gown. The woman was kissing Carmilla, only pulling away and casting a disapproving eye to the rude interrupter.

"Oh? A mouse seems to have wandered into our nest." Said the immortal woman, smiling with a hunger to not devour in lust, but to consume, to quench her thirst.

Carmilla looked past the woman, seeing Kira, caught off guard by the human's presence.

Kira looked at the Empress...and then she bowed, her head low, breaking eye contact. She rose, shutting her eyes and giving the two immortals a small smile.

"My apologizes your majesty." She recited lightly and formally, grabbing the doorknob and pulling it, "Forgive the interruption."

The door shut. Kira stood there for a moment; motionless, neutral in her face, empty in her thoughts. She walked away, down the hall, passed her room, passed her room. The Palace was silent, all, but security was in their rooms either sleeping or otherwise. Her walk step by step increased, what stalked as a walk became faster, a jog turned into sprinting. Through the palace, past the throne room, the kitchen, the courtyard, the Great Hall. Kira ran as fast as she could, entering the garden, finding the secret passage and climbing dozens of stairs until breaching the surface overlooking the valley below.

Panting heavily, Kira's breath created clouds in front of her face, quickly dissipating and renewed again with the next. She looked up into the blackened sky, the late fall chill creeping into her heated body. Each breath brought cold air in, stabbing at her burning lungs, each exhale melted the icicles. Though she tried to calm her breathing, that sight could not escape her thoughts: Carmilla was kissing that woman.

Who was she to feel this way? Who was she to think this way? There was no obligation between them, no vow; they were sex friends...if friend is if you would call them. Then why does it hurt like this? Why does this tight pain in her chest persist? This insecurity towards Carmilla; fear. It was not her safety, her sense of self-preservation of her life was not what was at stake; her heart, hardened to stone, now found a fracture in its surface. What is this? She was only human, insignificant, mortal, she would grow old and die, but given her life she would never make it that far. To them she was livestock, food for the taking; these were monsters in human form. How could she feel this way?

Eona ran from the passage entrance, her head snapping left than right before seeing her, "Kira." Whispered the immortal quietly, keeping still as she stared at the other woman's back as she sat on the edge.

Kira glanced over her shoulder, her eyes betraying her inner most thoughts to Eona. Cautiously, the immortal walked to Kira's side, sitting down beside her. She held a hand to Kira, cautious not to touch her, not yet, not when she did not know what was happening. Her eyes reflected a strange emotion she had never seen Kira express before. Was this caused by her symptoms or...Eona had come out of her room as Kira had turned the corner from their hallway, sensing Kira and seeing Carmilla leave the room; another woman in her company. It did not take much to draw a conclusion.

"I'm here." Eona reassured soothingly.

Kira tried to hold back, but it was impossible, the emotion spilled out in front of Eona who then pulled her into a hug, holding her against her immortal body. A selfish thought passed through the immortals mind: this was her chance, to discredit her aunt's affections for her, to convince her that they should be together. But that was not for her to decided, it was not right to take advantage and right now Kira did not need a lover, she needed a friend.

The human woman finally put a name to the emotion that could no longer be hidden: Jealousy.