Laura briskly stuffed her textbooks into her backpack. She had a video date with her dad and didn't want to be late. At the front of the room, Danny wiped the chalkboard clean, and dusted off her hands. Laura zipped up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. She picked up her water bottle and started toward the door.

"Hollis! Wait!"

Laura smiled internally but kept her face carefully blank. She turned.

"What's up?"

Danny picked up her bag and jogged over to her with a wide smile on her face. Laura couldn't help but notice Danny's taut calves and sculpted thighs. Her long red hair, tied back into a long ponytail, showed off her slender neck. Butterflies fluttered in Laura's stomach as Danny slowed to a stop in front of her. Her scent engulfed her, reminding Laura of the way the earth smelled after a spring shower.

"So, are you busy later?" Danny tilted her head to the side, her clear green eyes fixed on Laura's hazel ones.

Laura forgot how to breathe for a moment. Oh my gosh, is she actually asking me out on a date? Laura forced her lungs to work, inhaling Danny's perfume. The fragrance made her giddy.

"I just need to call my dad, but after that I'm totally free!" Laura tried to not bat her eyelashes.

"Want to come to the Summer Society Open House in an hour? There's food, and I bet Perry and LaF'll be there too." Danny reached out and placed her hand on Laura's shoulder. "It'll be fun."

Laura couldn't think straight. The woman of her dreams was touching her. Dumbly, Laura nodded. Danny smiled. Laura's legs turned into jelly. If it were possible to die from too much happiness, Laura Hollis would already be a ghost.

"Great! I'll come pick you up in an hour then. You'll be in your room, right?"

Laura nodded again, not trusting herself to speak. If she opened her mouth, she might propose on the spot. Danny gave her another eye crinkling smile and let go of Laura's shoulder.

"Okay then. I'm going to work out. I'll catch you later."

She waved and walked out of the room, the door swinging shut behind her. Laura counted to ten in her head before letting out a loud whoop. She danced around on the spot. I'm going on a date! I'm going on a date with Danny Lawrence! I need to tell someone—oh gosh, I have to tell dad! Realizing just how late she was for her video call, Laura rushed out of the classroom.

She sprinted across the campus, nearly colliding with a group of dwarves that emerged from a tunnel with a cartful of diamonds. They yelled obscenities at her as their cart overturned, diamonds rolling everywhere. Laura barely had a chance to yell "sorry!" over her shoulder as she blew past. They could deal with it. She gathered herself and took a running leap over the narrowest part of the poisonous swamp. Earlier, she saw a human student accidentally step into the mud. All that remained of him was a single molar. Clearing the swamp, Laura hurtled to her dorm and ran up the stairs. She skidded to a stop outside her room.

Laura paused and listened carefully. She couldn't hear anything moving inside. Hopefully Carmilla's gone. Laura unlocked the door and walked in quietly. No such luck. Carmilla was sprawled out on her bed. Even asleep, she looked elegant. Her black hair fanned across Laura's pillow, not masking her face for once. Despite her better judgment, Laura leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of her. She hadn't really seen what Carmilla looked like. Laura carefully peered into her face. Her breath caught in her throat. Carmilla wasn't the most beautiful woman Laura's ever seen, but there was no denying she had a certain allure. Her shapely eyebrows, usually pulled into a frown, were relaxed, making her look much friendlier than in real life. Her lips were slightly parted, two pink rosebuds against the pale alabaster of her skin. She had a sharp nose, but it made her look rather fierce and charismatic. If Laura didn't have such a huge crush on Danny, she was sure she'd be salivating over Carmilla. Kind of like how she was right now. But, while Danny was a warrior goddess brought to life, Carmilla was a perfectly carved statue—a female Adonis. Beautiful, but cold and inhuman. And wholly incapable of love.

Carmilla's eyelids flickered. Perhaps she was dreaming. I wonder if she ever dreams of me, Laura thought absentmindedly. Unlike the times when they both were awake, there was no tension in between them now. The silence was relaxed, comfortable even. Carmilla looked strangely vulnerable and childlike in sleep. Laura felt an unfamiliar urge to protect her. She leaned in even closer, holding her breath. She could count her eyelashes without difficulty. Her eyes slowly traveled down to Carmilla's lips. I wonder if they're as soft as they look.

Laura's phone rang shrilly, Taylor Swift blaring from the speakers.

Carmilla sprang up, eyes wild. She leapt off the bed and crouched next to Laura's desk, teeth bared in a feral grimace. A growl slipped out as her eyes roved around the room. Laura squeaked and fell back against the door. Carmilla's head snapped up at the sound.

"Oh. It's just you," Carmilla cautiously shifted out of her crouch and stood, brushing off her clothes.

Laura unfroze, annoyed that Carmilla managed to scare her over nothing. She muted her phone and put her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, it's me. Now can you please stay out of my bed? I've told you about a thousand freaking times to stay on your side of the room!"

"That bunched up little face you make when you're angry is hilarious, buttercup," Carmilla scoffed, carelessly sauntering over to the closet. She rummaged around and pulled out her bag. "I need to go to a lecture anyway."

The door slammed behind her. Laura threw her arms in the air. I'm going to kill her one of these days! But, she had to call her dad back first before committing any murders. She pulled out her laptop from her drawer and turned on the ancient computer. Drumming her fingers on the desk, Laura patiently waited for her laptop to power up. It emitted a high-pitched whistle as it turned on. She worriedly glanced at the keyboard as steam started to pour out from the edges. I can't believe it. I just got it fixed! Thankfully, the laptop stopped whistling and she managed to open the video call application. Ten notifications popped up, all of them from her father. Yikes, I'm half an hour late! An incoming call lit up the screen. Laura answered.

"Laura! What happened? Where were you?" her dad's voice, distorted by the computer, blasted out. Laura winced and turned down the volume.

"Sorry! I got held up in class," she answered, opening a package of cookies. Snickerdoodles, her second favorite. Since someone finished off all the chocolate ones.

"Are you having trouble with your classes?" her dad's image appeared on the screen. He looked gaunt and tanned, but otherwise healthy. She leaned forward, tracing his image tenderly with her forefinger.

"No," Laura paused, "actually I just got asked out. On a date." She waited, nervously crumbling her cookie in her fist.

He opened and closed his mouth. "With who?" He made an effort to sound calm.

"Danny Lawrence. She's my Lit TA." Laura couldn't help smiling despite her thudding heart.

Her dad gustily exhaled. "Oh, yes I remember her. She seems nice. Human?"

Laura groaned. "Dad. Stop this human versus monster prejudice thing you've got going on. Monsters are perfectly nice and if I wanted to marry one, I will. But, for the record, Danny's human."

"I know Laura, I'm just joking with you," he said as he held up his hands in mock surrender. He winked. "So, where's she taking you?"

"Actually, I'm going out in a couple of minutes. She's part of the Summer Society and she wants me to go to their Open House." Laura got up from her seat and started rifling through her drawers, trying to find something nicer to wear than her ratty shorts and holey t-shirt. She picked up a pink top, considered for a moment, and put it back.

"That sounds fun. You should tell me how it goes. Are you eating anything besides cookies?"

Laura pouted. "Dad, I know there are other food groups. Like grape soda." She popped open a can and took a quick swig for effect. "How's hunting?"

"Same old, same old. No new leads so far. It looks like the best trail we have is the Austrian one. Did you find anything yet?" He wiped his brow.

"Nope. I haven't met a single vamp here. There're plenty of monsters though. I've been interviewing them, but no one's given me a lead. I guess I'll just have to talk to more of them." Laura tried to not let her disappointment show. She settled on a light blue button down and a pair of dark wash skinny jeans.

Her dad sighed, running his fingers through his short hair. "That sounds good. I'm sure she's in Austria. If she's on the move, we'd hear about it. You know, I think I'll take a look around on parent's weekend, which is next month, right?"

Before Laura could answer, three knocks sounded on her door. She suppressed a dopey smile before shouting, "just a minute!" Laura turned the screen away from her and hastily threw her clothes. She tucked in her shirt and ran a comb through her hair. Her dad chuckled.

"Why do you look so nervous?" he teased.

Laura grimaced. "I'm not nervous. I'm just trying to make a good impression."

Danny knocked louder, and opened the door. Apparently, waiting wasn't her strong suit. She was still in her gym clothes but man, did she look hot. Her tank top revealed her toned shoulders while her gym shorts showed every single muscle in her legs.

"You ready?" Danny asked, stepping into the room.

"Oh! Danny, this's my dad. Dad, Danny." Laura vaguely gestured at Danny and the computer.

Danny's face lit up. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Hollis. How are you doing?"

"Just fine Danny. You take care of my baby girl, you hear?"

Danny looked at Laura, arching an eyebrow. Laura blushed.

"Uh, dad I have to go now. I'll text you when someone gives me a lead. Bye!" She slammed the laptop shut before he could say anything else embarrassing.

"Sorry, my dad's just really overprotective. We aren't going on a date or anything. We're just going on a friend date. But, like, not a date-date," Laura stammered, trying to fix the situation.

Danny laughed and shrugged.

"Don't worry about it. I like your dad. He seems cool." Danny led Laura out of her room and down the stairs. She swung her arms with carefree abandon as they walked through the main courtyard.

"He is cool. He's, like, the best dad ever," Laura stated, walking more quickly to match Danny's pace. They strode through the ivy-covered archway guarding the road to the Society House.

"Nice. What about your mom?"

There it was. It didn't hurt any less, no matter how many times people asked her. Laura could never anticipate when that question would come up. When it would rip out the stitches that closed the hole in her chest, stitches she carefully sewed over a decade and a half. The wound bled, choking Laura, making her dizzy.

"She's—she's dead," Laura managed to whisper.

Danny stopped, looking horrorstruck. "Oh my god, Laura, I'm so sorry! I had no idea," She bent down and gazed at Laura's face. When Laura wouldn't make eye contact, she gently wrapped her arms around her and laid her cheek on top of her head. Laura closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. The dam broke. Tears overflowed her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. The aching hole threatened to suck everything into its blackness. She felt herself crumbling, fragmenting into a thousand pieces. No, she was still whole. Danny held her together. Danny, with her strong arms, didn't let her break.

Laura took a shuddering breath. She had to tell someone how it felt. Having nightmares that always ended the same way—her mother dead and the vampire gone. Trying to look for the killer. But searching in vain for so many years. Laura didn't know any other life. She had nothing to show for all her work. From the looks of it, she would never ever find that mysterious girl. She would never fulfill that promise she made all those years back. That she would avenge her mother.

"A vampire killed her." Laura felt Danny stiffen.

"Did you find—" Danny left the statement hanging.

"No. But my dad thinks she's somewhere in Austria. That's why I came to Silas. I thought the monsters would've heard something." Laura tried pulling herself together, and released Danny. I hope she doesn't think I'm a crazy crybaby.

"Is that the lead you were talking about earlier?"

Laura nodded. "I've been searching my whole life. But I've never found anything. It's hopeless." Her voice sounded hollow. "I'm a failure."

They stood there for a moment, letting silence fill the space between them. Danny stepped forward.

"I'll help you."

Laura looked at her, confused. "What?"

"I'll help you. I'll ask around. Someone's got to know something. We can start with the Summer Society girls." Danny hesitated, taking in Laura's tear stained face. "If you don't want to come to the Open House, it's okay, I get it."

"No!" Laura hastily wiped her nose with the cuff of her shirtsleeve. "I want to come! It's just, no one's ever—I mean, I've never told anyone this besides my dad. I'm just so—shocked that you want to help. You're the best!" Laura tried to smile and found that she could. She stepped forward and gave Danny another hug.

Danny patted her back awkwardly. "Glad to see you're talking sense. Okay, let's do this."

She held out her hand and Laura took it. The dormant butterflies in Laura's stomach fluttered again. Together, they walked toward the Society House. Danny's hand was large and solid, like her father's. Rough and extremely warm, it anchored Laura. She wasn't alone anymore. She felt safe.