A/N: Trigger Warning for mentions of physical and verbal abuse.

Laura woke up and was confused as to why she wasn't super comfortable on her bed. She rolled off the bed and cried out, which caused Carmilla to open her eyes. She looked over the bed and saw Laura grumbling as she stood up.

"Good morning to you too, Sunshine."

"You slept over?"

"You fell asleep on me."

"I did no such thing!"

"Yes, yes you did."

"Why didn't you move me over or something?"

"You looked too cute sleeping."

Betty let out a loud groan, "Why are you two talking? It's too early in the morning for this!"

"We're not shouting."

Carmilla stretched and yawned.

"Laura's going to be late for class."

"What time is it?"

Carmilla looked at her watch, "It's seven, why?"

"My class starts at eight!"

Carmilla hopped off of Laura's bed, "I'll take you to class."

"Okay, but don't speed."

"No promises."

After Carmilla dropped Laura off at her class, she sped across campus as quickly as she could so she wasn't too weak from the sun. She arrived in the garage of her house that she shared with her mother. She never imagined that this place was her home. To her, a home was where love was and she felt none of it here.

Carmilla enters the house with her key and puts her helmet down on the counter. She let out a sigh of relief when she didn't hear her mother. She went upstairs to her bedroom where she could lay down and close her eyes until she had to leave for her night classes.

She was resting when the door to her bedroom opened up. She felt someone grab a fistful of her hair and drag her from the bedroom and into the hallway. She was in a lot of pain and wasn't able to fight back at her full strength like she normally would be able to.

"Carmilla dear, what did I tell you about playing with your food?"

Carmilla still tried to fight back regardless of being dragged down the stairs, one by one. She wasn't going to allow this torment to go on any longer. She grabbed onto the Dean's wrist and heard a snap, which caused the Dean to release Carmilla immediately.

"So you do have some fight left. Good. You should save it for when you bring Laura to me."

"No."

"What did you say to me?"

"I said no, I'm not bringing her to you. You've gone far enough and people have been spreading rumors already."

The Dean was standing over Carmilla and clutching onto her wrist that was broken by the vampire.

"What makes you think they'll take your word over mine? You're nothing and will never amount to anything. Why do you think I took you in? You were useless without me, going around and taking blood when you could. I saved you from yourself. Look how successful you are because of me!"

"I'm not successful, you made me into a monster just like you!"

Carmilla felt the slap hit her cheek so hard that it caused blood to come out of her mouth. She spit it onto the floor and launched herself at the Dean. She wanted to punch the woman so hard and hurt her worse than she already had, but Carmilla didn't want to become her mother.

"Don't you dare come after Laura or I will kill you."

"You don't have it in you. You're a pathetic excuse for a vampire and a daughter."

Carmilla walked away and wiped the blood from her mouth as she walked out of the house with her helmet. She hated how she would have to take this woman's abuse, but she felt like she had nowhere else to go. If Laura knew what she did or what she was, then she'd never speak to her again.

She was feeling severe pain from her scalp and being dragged down the stairs. If she was at her full strength, none of this would've happened to her. She still blamed herself for being in this situation with her mother.

She got on her motorcycle and made her way to the college campus to see Laura. All she wanted to do was see Laura and make sure that she was safe. She was knocking on Laura's bedroom, hoping to see Laura, but Betty was there instead.

"Oh hey, Laura's not here. Wow, you look like shit."

"Where is she?"

"She's in the library studying, as usual. Why she doesn't study here, I will never know. Do you need to go see the school nurse or something?"

"No, I need to find Laura."

Carmilla ran towards her motorcycle and sped as fast as she could in the direction of the library. It took her a few minutes to get there, but once she did, she kept running. The quicker she got to Laura, the better she'd feel.

She saw the blonde was sitting at a table with books surrounding her. Did she ever go outside and have fun?

"Carmilla? What are you doing here? What happened to you?"

"We can talk later and I'll tell you everything, but right now, we need to get out of here."

"Why? I'm studying and trying to get that scholarship, remember?"

"Yes, but we also made a deal. Come with me and we'll keep your scholarship."

"I'm actually about to see your mother, we have an appointment together."

"You what?"

"I said…"

"We don't have time, Laura!"

Carmilla carefully grabs her arm and leads her away from the desk. Laura is trying to resist, but for some reason, she realizes that Carmilla is much stronger than her. Laura sighs and lets Carmilla lead her out of the library.

They get on her motorcycle and Carmilla leads her straight to Laura's dorm room. Betty isn't there this time, so the vampire lays down on Betty's bed.

"Why did you drag me away like that? What are you, some kind of freak?"

"Laura, there's something you don't know about my mother."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until after my appointment."

"You're in danger."

"Danger?"

"Yes, and if you just…"

Carmilla froze when the door opened and her mother was behind it.

"So this is where you've been hiding, Laura. I hope you haven't forgotten about our appointment."

"No Ma'am, I haven't. Carmilla was about to tell me something."

"Was she?"

The Dean glanced at Carmilla and waited for her to say something.

"I was just saying good luck on your exam."

Laura had a confused look on her face, but said nothing as the Dean led Laura back to her office.

Carmilla was on pins and needles the entire time as Laura was now with her mother. It seemed that she was too late and Laura was going to be dead because of her. She wanted to chase after them, but it would look too suspicious. Maybe as long as Laura remained on campus, she'd be safe.

She remained on Laura's bed until she heard a door open. To her relief, Laura had returned unscathed.

"Laura!"

Carmilla leapt off the bed and hugged Laura close to her. She didn't think that a small blonde human like Laura would become significant to her, but it was happening.

"I can't breathe, Carmilla."

Carmilla released Laura and smiled sheepishly at her.

"About before, when your mother walked in…"

"It's nothing, Laura. I'm just glad to see you."

"You acted like I wasn't coming back. You also still look terrible. Can you sit down so I can look you over?"

"What are you going to do, undress me with your eyes first?"

"Carmilla, be serious."

"Alright."

Carmilla sat down on the bed and took her top off. Laura saw a massive bruise along her back. She gently touched Carmilla's back, who winced. It was a fresh bruise from being dragged down the stairs.

"Your back…"

Carmilla remained quiet as she put her shirt back on.

"I didn't know."

"I didn't show you to feel sorry for me. I showed you because I trust you and I want you to know how serious I am about you remaining safe. If I can't keep you safe…"

Carmilla felt tears stinging her eyes. She didn't understand why she cared so much about protecting this human, but she did. She couldn't let her mother hurt her.

"I trust you too, Carmilla."