Laura sat in a beautiful red chair, overseeing all the dancing people in the ballroom. Her chair was placed on a high platform with a few stairs leading up to it. It gave her a great vantage point to smile down at the wealthy and important people in attendance to her coronation. To the right of her chair was Carmilla, standing at full attention and monitoring the area around them. Laura glanced up at her and couldn't help the small smile that formed on her face. She had only been Queen for a few hours, but she was already making plans in her head for things she'd like to change. Certain laws about marriage being one of them. Her father was a fair ruler, but he was very closed minded, keeping a lot of very old traditions. While tradition is good, Laura mused, there needs to be some changes. She didn't think that someone needed to be a Lord or Lady to marry royalty. People should be able to love anyone they like, not because of social standings or belonging to a certain house.
After watching people dance for a while, Laura decided she wanted to join in on the fun. "Charles," She said with a smirk on her face. Carmilla was by her side in an instant. "Yes, my Queen?" Laura ignored the shiver that went down her spine. "I want to dance."
"You want to dance.." Carmilla repeated. Laura giggled and nodded. "Yes, and I would like you, my dashing knight, to be my partner."
Carmilla furrowed her brow and thought about this for a moment. She examined the crowded room and then looked back down to Laura, not missing the way the candle-lit room made the crown on her head glimmer. "Is that a wise choice, cupcake?" She asked lowly, so no one would overhear the nickname. Laura gave the knight a glare that Carmilla could tell was fake.
"Please Charles?" She pleaded, saying the name almost too sweetly. Carmilla relented and offered Laura her hand. The Queen took it with a smile and stood up, telling one of her handmaidens that was off to the side what she was doing.
Carmilla noted that this was a whole new way of life that she would have to get used to. No longer would Laura be left to her own devices. She was Queen, and that meant that everyone would be in her space and their business. Whoa there, Carmilla thought, when did it become our business? She cursed herself in her head. She figured she could enjoy a dance or two with Laura while she still had the chance.
A man announced that the Queen was making her way to the dance floor, and much like the Red Sea, everyone parted for them. Carmilla lead Laura down the stairs of the platform and into the middle of the ballroom. Laura smirked and turned to Carmilla, "Do you even know how to dance, Sir Charles?"
It was Carmilla's turn to smirk as she pulled Laura into her chest plate gently and took her hand. Laura's left hand made its way onto the knight's shoulder, and the knight's left onto the Queen's waist. "Color me impressed. You seem to know what you're doing." That ever-present smirk on the Queen's face was going to drive Carmilla mad, she could tell. "Don't look so surprised princess, you may hurt my feelings," She said with feigned hurt as she began the steps to the waltz. Laura's smirk dropped and what replaced it was a genuinely happy smile. She threw her head back and laughed as Carmilla spun her about, and she vaguely heard clapping going on around them.
After a while, a slower song was beginning to be played by the orchestra off to the side of the dance floor. Laura leaned her head on the cool armor of Carmilla's shoulder piece and swayed with the knight. Carmilla found it within herself to not care about the looks they were getting, but rather focused on the cute little breaths that hit her neck. They were coming from Laura's slightly parted lips. Lips that Carmilla would love nothing more than to take between her own. This thought should have been alarming to the knight, but the more she danced with Laura, the more she didn't care. Then she heard faint whispering and decided to eavesdrop as they danced.
"Can you believe she's dancing with that knight?"
"God, I know. How inappropriate. Doesn't she know that she needs to find a proper husband? Not some random rogue knight her father picked up off the street." Carmilla wanted to snarl at the two gossiping women but refrained from doing so. "She's too young and naive to run this kingdom. Do you think she even understands how a kingdom should be run?"
Carmilla gritted her teeth. It took a lot of self-control to keep her from slapping the old woman and telling her Laura was perfectly capable of being Queen. Sure, she was young and naive, but she had been working hard ever since her father died. Carmilla decided it was time to stop dancing though. She pulled away from Laura. "I'm going to get some wine," She whispered to her and walked away from Laura, who seemed confused.
Finally, all of the citizens had left the castle, leaving it feeling extremely empty. Laura began to head to her room, but Perry stopped her. "My Lady, we have a new room for you." She furrowed her brow. "A new room..? But I like my old room."
"Well, I think you'll like this one better. It is the Queen's quarters." The words "Queen's quarters" suddenly peaked her interest. She followed Perry to the opposite side of the castle and was presented a large oak door. "This will be your new room, My Queen." Laura slowly opened the door, revealing an extravagant maroon bedroom. The room was far bigger than her old one. There was a large bed in the middle of the room. It had soft, velvety maroon sheets and several small square pillows propped up against the silver, decorative bed frame. To the left was a matching fainting* couch that was lined with a metallic material. Sitting by the bed was a matching chair, and there was also a bench at the foot of the bed. Laura looked up the see a sparkling chandelier that held a few candlesticks in it. Perry giggled at the gawking Laura. "I would assume that your new quarters are to your liking?" Laura nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah.."
"Would you like help with your garments?" Laura shook her head, finally breaking her gaze from the beautiful furniture of the room. "No… Actually, could you fill up a bath for me? I'd like to bathe before I go to sleep." Perry raised an eyebrow. "At such a late time?" Laura nodded. "I could ask Charles to do it." Perry shook her head. "Nonsense! I'll be happy to." Perry went into the bathroom to retrieve the buckets for the water.
Once Perry filled up the tub, she left her and Carmilla alone in her new quarters. "Carmilla?"
"Hm?" The knight answered sleepily. She was resting in her new chair with her eyes closed "Will you help me with my dress?" She opened up one eye and looked at her new Queen.
"Cupcake… you're aware that things are different now, right?" She finally opened both her eyes and rose from her chair. "You're Queen. Everyone's eyes are on you."
"What do you mean..? Where is this coming from?"
"Laura, dancing with me was a terrible idea." She widened her eyes. "Wh-why would you say that? I thought we were having fun-"
"Yes, we were, but the people don't think you can run the kingdom. They think you should've been dancing with almost all the noblemen, picking a suitable husband to marry."
"I did dance with other people!" Laura protested. "I'm saying we can't be seen like that in public. You need to keep up your image." Laura went silent. She turned away from Carmilla and began to fiddle with the tied up lace in the back of her dress. She was having an extremely difficult time untying the ribbons this time. "Dammit!" She exclaimed as she continued to try to untie to laces of her corset. Carmilla sighed and said, "Let me he-"
"No, I've got it!" Laura snapped back. It was the first time she'd ever gotten snappy at her, and it caused her to wince. "Cupcake, I just don't want to be the reason people don't have any faith in you. I'm not trying to hurt your feeling-"
"Okay, just stop." Laura whirled around to face her. "Don't you think I knew what people would think if I danced with you? If they assume there's anything between us, let them! You're my knight, and you've been protecting me for many moons. Of course, we've grown close! The kingdom can think what they want because I don't give a damn. If me having feelings for you makes me a bad queen, then so be it!" Her words once again shocked Carmilla. "Wow, princess, you're kind of sexy when you're angry." Carmilla smirked, trying to lighten up the mood. Laura blushed a bright red and whirled back around, facing her back towards Carmilla. "That's Queen to you! Now help me with these damn ribbons!" Carmilla chuckled. "Yes, my Queen." She strode over to the small Queen and began to untie the back of her dress. Well, isn't this familiar? Carmilla thought with a small grin. Once she was done, Laura slipped the dress off of her slender figure. She was still in her undergarments. Laura turned around to face Carmilla and pressed her lips into hers. Carmilla gladly accepted the kiss and pulled the girl closer to her. The kiss quickly went from soft and sweet to passionate and lustful. Carmilla cupped her hands around Laura's face as they continued their heated kiss. Laura broke away from the kiss to catch her breath and murmured, "My water is getting cold." Reluctantly, Carmilla pulled herself away from the human and sighed. "Alright, alright. Go bathe, princess."
"It's Queen now." Carmilla chuckled, "You'll always be a princess to me."
Laura collapsed onto her bed after her long bath and moaned into one of the pillows. "Oh my god! This bed feels great!" Carmilla chuckled. "Enjoying it?"
"I'd enjoy it even more if you snuggled with me~," Laura sang. Carmilla gave a loud, fake sigh. "Alright," She answered, trying to sound annoyed. They both knew that she was quite the opposite. Carmilla loved sleeping next to the warm human. A warmth she herself did not possess.
She looked around and sighed, looking down at her armor. Laura looked up from her pillow at the sound of Carmilla's sigh. "What?" She asked curiously. Carmilla looked up at her. "Well, you just got me that stand for my new armor, and it's all the way on the other side of the castle. I don't feel like walking over there, but I also don't want to leave this armor on the floor." Laura smiled and got up from the bed, making her way over to Carmilla. She went behind her and began to unstrap the straps of the shoulder pieces. "Well you can leave the pieces on the lounge if you'd like." Carmilla nodded, but stayed silent letting Laura take apart her armor. She stopped though when it came to Carmilla's leg pieces. She sat down on the lounge chair, next to the other pieces and began to unstrap them. "Is it heavy wearing all that?" Laura asked as she watched Carmilla place the last piece of armor on the lounge chair. Carmilla shook her head as she looked up, "Not for me. I can lift things twice my weight with ease." Laura smiled then moved over to Carmilla, sitting down on her lap and wrapping her arms around her neck. "So you would have no problems lifting me?" Again, Carmilla shook her head. "I have before, cupcake." Laura nodded slightly as she began to play with the ends of Carmilla's hair. Carmilla closed her eyes. Something she always found herself enjoying was when Laura played with her hair. She imagined it had something to do with her cat side. "Well since it's so easy for you, will you carry me to the bed?" Carmilla opened her eyes and nodded, before lifting Laura bridal style and carefully placing her on the bed.
Laura smiled up at her and tugged her by her linen shirt down onto the bed and into a kiss. Carmilla obliged without hesitation, kissing the Queen soundly. She pulled away from the kiss, pulled back the covers, and let Laura climb in first. Once the human was in her new comfy bed, Carmilla slipped in next to her. Laura snuggled up to the knight and ran her hand from her side up to her chest. "You can't keep doing things like that, princess," Carmilla said in a slightly deeper tone than her normal one but not quite as deep as she makes it for Charles. Laura looked up at her questioningly. "Things like what?" Carmilla blew out a breath then chuckled, "Putting your hands all over me. I want to respect your wishes, but you make it hard." Laura sat up a little, looking Carmilla in the eye. "You are the most respectful person I have ever met, even though you hardly ever refer to me by my name or proper title," She said the last part in a teasing tone. Carmilla smiled at her. "Well that's because I actually like you cupcake." Laura brought her face closer to Carmilla's, her lips only inches away from the vampires. "Oh yeah? How much?" Carmilla shook her head and whispered out, "More than I'm willing to believe, I think." Then she closed the gap between their lips.
They kissed for what seemed like hours but was only until Laura needed to pull away for air. Carmilla looked at the Queen, her pupil blown and her lips swollen. She couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face. Laura saw this and swatted her hand against the knight's shoulder before she laid her head down on it. She picked up one of Carmilla's hands, began to play with her fingers, and ran her own over the smallest of scars that were on the white skin.
She listened to the faint heartbeat that belonged to Carmilla and found herself starting to fall asleep to it until she heard something else. It was a low rumbling that came from the middle of Carmilla's chest, and before she had the chance to say anything about it, Carmilla spoke up first, "Do not hold this against me." Laura giggled slightly. "It's cute!"
That night Carmilla let herself purr.
"So… what were you saying about Kirsch yesterday?" Laura asked as she read through several letters she had received. Dukes and Duchesses were already asking her to take their sons as a husband and offering large rewards if she agreed. Bribing someone to marry their son? How cruel, She thought to herself. "Oh, he was talking about how his mother is dying," Carmilla replied. Laura lifted her eyes up from the letter and looked to the right of her throne to look at Carmilla. "What? That's terrible! I'm sure her husband is taking good care of her though."
"His father left a few years ago. She's all alone." Laura's eyes widened. "Carmilla, we have to do something!"
"Like what? A horse ride to the farmlands would take up half the day. I need to be here to protect you, and we have no doctors to send with us."
"We don't need a doctor. Doesn't vampire blood have healing properties?" Carmilla paused for a long moment. She's really going to make me travel all the way to a farm for a dying old woman, She thought, annoyed. "Yes, it does, but I've never tried curing a dying person. It could be risky."
"You have to give it a try! She's all alone and dying. Kirsch would be forever grateful!" Carmilla rolled her eyes. "I don't need Kirsch to be grateful to me."
"I'd be grateful," Laura chirped. "Saddle up some horses and take Kirsch with you. I'm sure he'd like to know his mother's doing well." Carmilla furrowed her brow. "What am I suppose to do? Shove my wrist in her mouth, tell Kirsch that I'm not forcing his mother to drink my blood? I'm sure that'll go splendidly." Laura glared at Carmilla for a moment. "There are some bottles in the kitchen. Now go, I have people to interview." Carmilla nodded and headed out of the throne room.
"Why would the Queen want to help my mother?" Kirsch asked as he strapped the saddle around the bay's belly. "She's a softy. She wants to take care of everyone." Carmilla pulled a small bottle out of her saddle pouch and examined the red liquid within. "What is that again?"
"Some kind of elixir that one of the doctors mixed up. He said it should fix up your mother." She slipped it back into the pouch and mounted the horse. "We better hurry so we can get there before sundown." She moved her black horse to the side. "Lead the way. You know where it is," Carmilla ordered. Kirsch gave the knight a nod and kicked the horse's sides, sending it into a gallop. Carmilla followed closely behind.
The ride was tiring, but the two managed to make it to the rural little village before nightfall. They walked their horses down the dirt path, looking at each little village home. "God, it's been so long since I've been back.." Kirsch said to himself. He looked to his right and pulled back on the reins, slowing his bay down. "Here it is: my home," He said as he slid off the horse's saddle and grabbed its bridle strap. Carmilla also dismounted her horse and led him over to a fence post. She tied the strap to the post and patted the horse's face. "Stay put."
They headed inside the home and were immediately introduced to a foul odor. The first thought that came to Carmilla's mind was that the mother was already dead, and it was the smell of her decomposing corpse. Then she noticed the small, rotting bodies of two fat rats in the corner. She grimaced at the sight of their mangled bodies. A cat must've gotten a hold of them and left them in the corner. "Kirsch..?" A hoarse voice was heard from one of the rooms. Kirsch rushed into the room. "Mother! You're alright!" Carmilla followed him into the room. She didn't really think the word "alright" was a good word to use to describe the woman. She looked like a skeleton. Her cheekbones were poking out, and her shaky arms looked like twigs that could snap at any moment. Kirsch took her hands into his and smiled. "Don't worry! We brought you medicine."
"Oh… that's…" The woman closed her eyes and dozed off. Carmilla popped the cork off of the bottle and approached the side of the bed. She lifted the old woman's head up and carefully poured the blood into her mouth. "There. She should get better soon now." Kirsch nodded. But for several moments, she laid there. Her eyes remained closed, and she didn't move a single muscle the whole time. Carmilla decided to listen for a heartbeat. One… two… Wait, I only hear two-
"Kirsch, get out now." He furrowed his brow. "What? Why-" Suddenly, the woman sprung up from her slumber and flew at Kirsch. She managed to knock down the muscular man despite her small frame. "Whoa! What are you doing Mother?!" He exclaimed. Fuck, she's a vampire now! Carmilla realized. She frantically looked around the room and grabbed a broom. She tried to smack the wild monster off of Kirsch but to no avail. She stayed latched onto him, trying to claw at his face. Kirsch had put his arms up to block the blows. Her nails sliced at the steel armor, creating fresh claw marks on it. "Charles!" He yelled out. "I'm trying!" Carmilla spat back. The woman bit down on his arm, her fangs even piercing through the tough material and into his arm. He let out a scream of pain. Carmilla knew that she now had no choice. She removed her sword from her sheath and swiftly sliced through the woman's neck. Blood splattered all over the wooden wall and Kirsch. His eyes widened in horror when he realized he had a head attached to his arm. He screamed again. "Stop screaming! She's dead."
"Get it off of me!" He shouted. God, he's a baby, Carmilla thought as she pried the head off his arm. He sat up and leaned back against the wall, eyes still wide.
"What… what just happened?"
"I have no idea…"
A/n
**Fainting couch: A long lounge chair that got its name for being used for woman who fainted due to how tight their corsets were.
Synucian: Man, I am an evil writer. P:
CarmillaIsLifee: I was actually okay with this angst. I am adapting to Syn's evil ways.. HALP!