Work Text:
“While many versions of the Sleepy Beauty tale are told all throughout Europe, only one appears to have been inspired by a true story. This tale set in Styria recounts the supposed cursing of Mircalla von Karnstein, a seventeenth century Austrian countess who disappeared shortly after a ball celebrating both her eighteenth birthday, and her engagement to Baron Leon Vordenberg. According to official records, the countess was abducted by a mysterious woman who was vexed to have not received an invitation to the ball. The schloss Mircalla grew up in still stands today, and attracts paranormal investigators enthralled by the mystery. Legends claims that the countess lies hidden somewhere in the schloss, awaiting the awakening of true love’s kiss to break her curse.”- extract from Legends and Fairy Tales of Austria by Lola Perry
Splat! As Laura hissed out obscenities, she contemplated that it was just her luck to trip and fall in a massive puddle just outside the massive office building. Contrary to Canadian stereotypes, nobody moved to assist her. They all clearly had more important objectives to accomplish. It was an unusually scorching, late May morning in Toronto and the streets were bustling with a mix of commuters rushing off to work and tourists leisurely searching for the most picturesque location to take a selfie to post on Facebook. Laura was also regretting wearing the blue high heeled shoes, even though the saleslady claimed she “needed all the height she could get”.
Well, it was too late, and all she could do was get up, and hope that her brand-new blue suit wasn’t beyond being salvaged by the discount dry cleaner down the block from her apartment. The lobby was lovely with marble white flooring and handsome pine wood paneling on the walls. However, Laura possessed no time to gaze at her surroundings. She glanced at the massive directory in the center of the room and power walked down the hallway to the left of the central room to the elevators. The universe was clearly conspiring against her, since the elevator closed just as Laura arrived, and she frantically pushed the UP button to no avail.
Finally, after an eternity, the elevator doors slid open to admit her. Laura pushed the button for the twelfth floor that was really the thirteenth floor, but the numbering system catered to the old-fashioned notion that thirteen was an extremely unlucky number. She hoped that was merely an urban legend that wouldn’t have any effect on her upcoming interview. The doors slid open, and Laura emerged into a long hallway. She located her quarry two doors to the left of the elevators. Belmonde by Matska the gold-plated sign proclaimed in elegant black cursive. If somebody told Laura she’d be interviewing for a job with a small fashion company whose reputation surpassed Gucci, Dior, and Armani, she’d surreptitiously glance around to ensure it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
The waiting area was small, with several fancy chairs and a desk with a desktop that clearly functioned as the check-in. There was also a glass candy bowl filled to the bursting with Hershey’s Kisses, and Laura barely refrained from grabbing a handful to snack on. A blonde woman dressed to the nines, in a red dress and matching heels, arrogantly assessed Laura’s appearance, and clearly found her wanting.
“Excuse me,” Laura said. “I’m Laura Hollis, and I have an interview with Matska Belmonde at eleven o’clock.”
“I’ll check our schedule,” the woman replied, clearly assuming this was an elaborate prank. Whatever she saw on the schedule didn’t improve her disposition an iota. “Please wait here, while I inform Ms. Belmonde you’ve arrived.”
Laura sat in one of the chairs, surreptitiously grabbed some of the Hershey’s kisses, and stuffed them in her purse. While social etiquette deemed her gobbling them down rude, nothing prevented her from taking them back to her apartment. Even if she got a lecture from LaFontaine about needing to eat more fruits and vegetables.
A tall, elegant black woman entered clad in a floor length peach dress that made even the bitchy secretary appear underdressed. There was a locket attached to a fine chain around her neck, but Laura couldn’t discern what was inside it.
“So, you’re Laura Hollis?” Matska Belmonde inquired, disconcertingly assessing her as those she was sitting for a test. “You’re punctual at least, which is more than I can say about most young people these days.”
“Yes ma’am,” Laura said, because what else do you say to an intimidating woman who holds the keys to your future? “I applied for the job you advertised for in the University of Toronto student paper.”
It was an unusual ad since it specified that the applicant must be a woman and possess a passport, besides the usual spiel of monthly pay, and other benefits such as having a house to live in rent free with utilities included. And if said house was a remote schloss in Styria? Well, Laura had never been outside the country apart from a high school class trip to New York City that her Dad infuriatingly insisted on tagging along as one of the chaperones.
“And you have a passport?” Matska asked.
“I’m going to pick it up tomorrow,” Laura replied, surprised by her own pertness. “Since my child passport expired last year.”
Matska Belmonde clapped her hands. “That’s the spirit dear. You’re going to need that spunk if you intend to take this job. Betty, darling, would you mind terribly if you bring our newest employee whatever hot drink she desires?”
Judging from her surly expression, Betty did mind, but she merely darted off to fulfill Laura’s order of hot chocolate. Laura thanked her, figuring it wouldn’t kill her to be polite, and daintily sipped the hot liquid. The caffeine imbued Laura with enough confidence that this job would improve her future career prospects as a journalist. Having a reference from a talented businesswoman had to count for something, right?
“Now, you’ll only have to watch the house until the last day of August,” Matska explained. “The airline tickets are in this envelope. The housekeeper will be pick you up at the airport, and drive you to the schloss. Do you have any other questions?”
“When does my flight leave for Styria?” Laura asked.
“A week from today,” Matska replied. “That should give you plenty of time to settle your affairs and pack for the trip.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Are you sure you want to do this, Laura?” LaFontaine inquired, their tone empathetic, but concerned as they chewed on some broccoli.
While Laura esteemed her two roommates for sitting down to a home cooked meal instead of opting to eat in the cafeteria for students, LaFontaine’s fussing reminded her too much of her paranoid helicopter parent father. “I’ll be fine,” Laura declared, attempting to sound more confident than she actually felt. “The five thousand dollars a month I’m getting beats working another unpaid internship at the Toronto Star.”
The fact that she was mostly utilized to do Starbucks runs was disappointing, but Laura had opted to wait until after she graduated before applying for a U.S. work visa so she could volunteer and potentially work for GLAAD. The idea of ensuring that LGBT+ representation continued to improve was an enticing one.
“It’s not that we don’t think you can handle this Miss Laura,” J.P. interjected. “However, according to my research the schloss you’ve been assigned to is extremely haunted. Several paranormal investigative groups have collected unusual EMF readings.”
“Look, I’ll call you if I need you to come and rescue me,” Laura said, and changed the subject to her roommates’ plans to continue on at the university as graduate students; J.P. in library studies, and Laf in biology. Fortunately, both of them were willing to humor Laura and inform her about their upcoming classes during the summer semester, but Laura knew they both were still worried about her summer job.
She excused herself once she’d placed her dishes in the dishwasher, and headed back to her room to pack. In spite of her suggestion, her roommates insisted that they could pay three months of rent without taking on another student as a temporary boarder. Laura reflected that she’d been fortunate to meet LaFontaine at a study group they were running to assist freshman Biology students. Once, she’d realized living in a dorm wasn’t for her, Laura moved into LaFontaine and J.P.’s two-bedroom apartment, and became fast friends with them both.
Going through her clothes hanging in the closet, Laura realized that she possessed very little in the way of professional clothing, apart from her new suit, which fortunately only needed to dry. Her outfits comprised mostly of jeans, t-shirts, a couple of University of Toronto sweatshirts, and skirts. Her one fancy dress was a turquoise floor length Victorian style ballgown, she’d last worn to her senior prom. On a whim, Laura packed it in her suitcase with her other clothes, toiletries, shower flip flops (to avoid contracting athlete’s foot), sneakers, books, a Doctor Who mug, and ballet flats (she was going to donate those stupid heels to either Goodwill or the Salvation Army the first chance she got). Her carry-on item was a computer bag containing her laptop, a Styria guidebook, her passport, and her driver’s license. Hopefully, what she packed would be enough for the next three months.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Laura was astonished that Ms. Belmonde arranged for her to travel first class from Toronto to Graz via Air Austria. She could recline her chair until it resembled a bed, and there was a small partition separating herself from her neighbor. For a small-town girl used to flying in coach this was the lap of luxury. While she enjoyed the meal of scallops and linguine soaked in a white wine sauce, it was disconcerting how many times the flight attendants handed out alcoholic drinks. One heavy set business man almost instigated a fight with the flight attendant when she curtly informed him that she wouldn’t give him anymore booze. Apart from a mimosa, Laura opted to stick with water and fruit juices, which were supposed to make jetlag easier to cope with. Moreover, she attempted to sleep as much as she could while the plane soared over the Atlantic Ocean.
In spite of these preparations, Laura was exhausted as she went through customs, and picked up her suitcase from the rotating carousel. When she finally spotted a hand-held sign with her name, Laura was flabbergasted to view who held it.
“Perry?! Is that you?!” she yelled.
“Hi Laura,” Perry said nervously. “I never expected to see you again after…you know.”
After, Perry revealed her unrequited feelings for Laf, which resulted in a shouting match, and Perry dropping out of the University of Toronto. While Laf assured Laura that Perry’s parents said she was fine, Laura had worried about her friend nonetheless. She also observed that Laf pretended they were satisfied with the lack of messages from Perry. Laura was elated to see her friend alive, and healthy. “I’m happy to see you to Perry,” Laura replied. “So, how did you end up working for Matska Belmonde?”
Perry shrugged. “Maddie needed a housekeeper and cook for the schloss and I happened to match the qualifications required for the position.”
Laura sensed that Perry wasn’t revealing the complete truth, but chose to let the matter drop. She could always utilize her journalist talents to investigate later. Perry surprised her by easily and efficiently loading Laura’s heavy suitcase into the scarlet Volkswagen Rabbit. While they initially drove down a four-lane highway, this gradually gave way to tiny two-lane roads that twisted around the Northern Styrian Alps like the coils of a snake. A snake that could strangle you and swallow you whole without a shred of remorse.
Just as Laura was about to drift off to sleep, Perry turned onto a gravel drive bordered by massive oak trees. After about two kilometers past a secondary road that according to Perry led to the stables, the drive ended in a round-about in front of the schloss. In the late afternoon sun, Laura could discern that the walls were a golden yellow stucco, and there appeared to be three stories in addition to an attic and basement that Perry helpfully explained was once utilized as a dungeon.
The foyer was massive, featuring a magnificent staircase leading all the way up to the third floor, several oil paintings of various von Karnstein family members, and some old lamp sconces nailed to the wall. In spite of the bright lights, Laura couldn’t suppress a sense of foreboding as Perry led her up the staircase to the second floor. They turned right, strode down the hall, and into a small suite of rooms. There was a cozy sitting room with an elegantly upholstered, emerald green divan; a couple of similarly colored arm chairs; a fancy cherry wood coffee table; and a roaring fireplace surrounded with ivory white marble. Double doors led to a bedroom with a gigantic four poster bed as its centerpiece. Said bed was tall enough for Laura to hide under it and contained vermillion curtains that could be closed shut for privacy There was also a fireplace in this room, a massive cherry wardrobe with metal coat hangers, and an oak writing desk with a modern swivel chair seated in front of it. The bathroom was slightly more rustic, with a bathtub standing on clawed legs and a sink that appeared to have been installed back when running water was first added to the schloss. At least, the toilet appeared to be in working order.
“Wow! These rooms are amazing Perry!” Laura declared ecstatically. “This place makes my house back in Ontario look like a hovel!”
Perry flushed as crimson as her hair. “Well, I’m pleased you adore the rooms, Laura. I’ll go down to make us some dinner and let you get settled. If you need anything just yank on the bell pull, and I’ll assist you. There’s no else in the schloss apart from us, so it should be a fairly quiet summer.”
With that declaration, Perry sauntered off to the kitchen, and Laura pulled her suitcase into the bedroom. She carefully unpacked all her clothes into the wardrobe, which unfortunately did not contain a secret passage into Narnia, and dutifully searched for an outlet to plug in her laptop. Once she’d done that and figured out the wi-fi password, she checked her email. Aside from the usual junk mail, messages urging her to donate to certain political campaigns, and potential internship offers, she had two pertinent emails. One was a rambling message from her father urging her to keep a can of bear spray with her at all times, and the other was a more coherent, but nonetheless concerned email from LaFontaine. It took Laura an hour to craft responses that would hopefully put both her father and her friends at ease.
Then, she left her room in search of either the kitchen where Perry was probably putting the finishing touches on whatever dinner was going to be, or the dining room where they would be eating said dinner. After a couple of wrong turns, Laura realized the dining room was next door to a two-story ballroom that no doubt hosted many balls hundreds of years ago. The dining room was massive and could easily be utilized to host around thirty guests with its long mahogany table. Beautiful oil paintings featuring the forlorn Styrian landscape hung on the walls.
Perry smiled in greeting, and dished Laura a tender half of Cornish game hen and some stir fried spinach. The young journalist privately admitted to herself that she’d missed Perry’s excellent cooking these past two years as she carved up her Cornish game hen into bite size pieces.
“Do you know how old the schloss is Perry?” Laura inquired, not wanting to bring up the elephant in the room that was Perry’s unrequited feelings for LaFontaine.
“According to Ms. Belmonde, this schloss was built in the sixteenth century as the main seat of the Karnstein family. After the disappearance of the heiress Mircalla Karnstein in the late seventeenth century, the house passed through several owners before Ms. Belmonde’s family acquired it at the turn of the twentieth century.”
“What about the hauntings?” Laura queried, recalling J.P. and LaFontaine’s worry.
Perry snorted before she replied, “We’ve had several paranormal investigators tromp through here, and I have yet to view any concrete proof of the existence of a ghost.”
“Well maybe they weren’t searching in the correct places,” Laura declared, observing that Perry’s skepticism was different from the girl who was ecstatic at the prospect of encountering magical beings.
“How are J.P. and LaFontaine?” the other girl asked, clearly attempting to change the topic.
Laura humored Perry, regaling her in tales of LaFontaine’s misadventures in biology experiments and J.P.’s vehement disagreements with members of the University of Toronto’s library staff. By the time the journalist finished her last fascinating tale, the main dish had been completed and Laura was sipping on an espresso with almond flavored biscotti to dip in said espresso. When she yawned, Perry apologized for keeping her up, insisted that any further questions could wait until tomorrow morning.
After Perry insisted that she could clear away the dirty dishes without any assistance, Laura tramped back upstairs to her suite of rooms to sleep. In theory, this should have been an easily achievable goal. In reality, Laura tossed and turned, seemingly unable to get comfortable.
Eventually, the jet lag triumphed over the anxiety of sleeping in a haunted house, and Laura drifted off to sleep. She was in the middle of a beautiful dream of kissing a gorgeous blonde girl, when something woke her. In spite of the fact the room should be pitch black, Laura discerned the ghostly figure of a pale skinned, raven haired girl, whose looks easily outshone the girl who had appeared in Laura’s dream. If she wasn’t scared out of her wits, the journalist would have blushed crimson with attraction.
“Damn it! Not again,” the ghost girl cursed. “I can’t believe the gall of Mattie to continue sending strangers to stay in my room!”
Laura exhaled, and gathered her courage to speak to this intimidating specter. “Look, I don’t know who exactly you are but….”
“I’m Carmilla cupcake,” the ghost girl snarked, glaring daggers at Laura.
“You’re a ghost?” Laura inquired, attempting to delay Carmilla from launching an assault on her. The journalist wasn’t certain if ghosts could harm living people, and she wasn’t keen on finding out.
“In a manner of speaking,” Carmilla replied. “Now, get the hell out of my bedroom, and leave my schloss before I take more drastic action!”
“Wait a minute!” Laura uttered. “I’m only staying until the end of August. You only have to put up with me for two months. Then I’ll be leaving and not coming back. Is this amenable to you?”
Carmilla’s lips curled with distaste, but the ghost at last nodded. “Fine. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to make things easy for you sweetheart!”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Laura declared. With that, the ghost girl vanished in a plume of smoke. It took Laura’s heart ten minutes to slow down its rapid beating, and the journalist didn’t recall when she finally fell back asleep.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The next morning, Laura woke exhausted and wary from her nocturnal encounter. However, she refused to be driven out by an intimidating ghost, especially since she required the money. Perry wasn’t present at breakfast, which prevented the journalist from complaining about her friend’s duplicity regarding the ghost. There were a couple of cereal boxes, some tea bags, instant hot chocolate, packages of instant oatmeal, and a hot water dispenser. Laura picked the cinnamon apple oatmeal and hot chocolate. After finishing her meal, Laura opted to explore the schloss. There was the usual portrait gallery, guest rooms (albeit guest rooms that were suites), and the two-story ballroom she’d located the night before. The journalist envisioned the many glamorous soirees that occurred here centuries ago.
However, it was the library that ended up enthralling Laura, with its nine marble statues representing each of the Ancient Greek muses, and shelves upon shelves of books. Some of which, judging by their leather bindings were rare first editions of classics such as Dracula and the Blue Fairy Book.
“This is where I met Mother.” Carmilla was standing right behind Laura, looking unusually pensive.
Laura startled, and would later insist that she hadn’t attempted to hit Carmilla, only to have her hand pass harmlessly through the other girl’s apparition. “Honestly, could you give me a little warning before you sneak up on me like that? I thought you intended to snub me until I depart at the end of the summer?!”
“Well there isn’t much else to do around here, so I figured it would be pleasant to follow someone who doesn’t run screaming bloody murder the moment she sees me,” Carmilla snarked.
In spite of the other girl’s petulance, Laura felt a smidgeon of sympathy kindling inside her at Carmilla’s solitude. “What do you mean you met your mother here?” the journalist inquired.
“When I speak of Mother, I don’t mean my birth mother who died in childbirth along with a stillborn baby brother. When I was eighteen years old, my father held a ball to celebrate my engagement. I wasn’t keen on the potential groom, but I adored the fancy dress I was permitted to wear for it,” Carmilla explained. “I scuttled to the library in order to prepare myself for my impending marriage. Mother offered both to free me and allow me to travel the world. I accepted and my mortal life came to an end. I became what your folklore calls a vampire, one who sustains their existence by drinking blood from either animals or people. We visited many exotic locales together, and for two centuries I was ecstatic about the life I lived.”
“But how did you become a ghost?” Laura asked, sensing the looming, sorrowful ending to this story.
“There was only one thing Mother required of me,” Carmilla replied. “Every twenty years, I’d assist her in rounding up five girls to sacrifice to the Light. We concocted a plausible backstory to allow me to lure them to their doom. But in the late nineteenth century, I met a girl named Elle. The game was the same, but my love for her was real. We plotted to run away together to America; my mother interrupted our plot, sacrificed Elle to the Light, and cursed me to sleep until True Love’s kiss broke the spell.”
Laura struggled to hold back tears at Carmilla’s recounting of her story. The journalist also reproached herself for admiring Carmilla’s curves; this wasn’t the best time to flirt with the other girl. “You’re not a ghost?” She queried.
Carmilla snorted. “No. I only assume this form since I can’t wake from my cursed slumber. Once my sister Mattie uncovered the clause in my curse, she hired girls to watch over the house in the hopes that I would fall in love with one of them. Some died under mysterious circumstances, some fled the moment I manifested before them, and some departed at the end of the summer in failure. Your friend Perry was the girl chosen last summer. However, Mattie fell in love with her, and hired her to act as house keeper to this schloss.”
“Wait!” Laura uttered. “This is a lot to take in. Could I have a couple of days to reflect on what you’ve informed me?”
Carmilla pursed her ruby red lips in annoyance, but at last nodded in assent. “I suppose that’s fair. At least, you are attempting to comprehend the situation you’ve found yourself in.”
Laura observed the black-haired girl glide away through one of the library’s walls. Even as an apparition, Carmilla exuded a haughty demeanor that drew the journalist in. It was easy to realize why the other girl was skilled at hunting girls for her so-called mother. Laura yearned to free Carmilla from her curse, but realized that it might be impossible.
“Being freed by True Love’s kiss sounds romantic in fairy tales,” the journalist mused. “Unfortunately, the storytellers neglect to mention how the cursed princess falls in love with her rescuer when she’s in a coma.”
Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem in her situation. The dilemma was that while Laura could easily picture herself falling head over heels for the arrogant, but attractive Carmilla, she wasn’t certain the other girl would reciprocate. Laura opted to venture outside the schloss; it would be an excellent idea to get some fresh air and stretch her legs. Conveniently, it also entailed evading both Perry and Carmilla.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Verdammt!” Carmilla muttered in German. The arrogant countess turned libertine vampire learned to tolerate the easily frightened girls, apart from Perry, who proved a worthy mate for her sister Mattie. However, the fickle Fates opted to present her with the tiny, but resolute Laura Hollis. Carmilla cursed that her ghostly lips couldn’t press against the journalist’s. The fact she yearned to kiss Laura Hollis horrified her; for the first time since Elle, she was falling in love. Moreover, a miniscule portion of Carmilla craved for Laura to melt her icy heart. Even if she risked her heart being smashed into a million pieces.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The walk through the network of gardens behind the schloss was a balm to Laura’s soul. The portion right next to the back was laid out in a square, with a massive fountain bedecked with beautiful marble mermaids as its centerpiece. There was a white concrete path that circled around said fountain before leading to a wrought iron gate enmeshed within a hedge that was taller than the schloss.
The gate squeaked open to disclose a complicated network of gravel paths curving their way through a forest that was an overgrown hodgepodge of various different trees and bushes. It was obvious, that whoever Ms. Belmonde hired to tend the gardens tended this section superficially. Since, getting lost wasn’t on Laura’s list of things to do, she elected to fetch a copy of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and sit by the mermaid fountain. Hopefully, Bronte’s naïve governess possessed some kernels of wisdom that the journalist could employ for her own queer (in more ways than one) situation. Unfortunately, as engrossing as the novel was, there were no words of wisdom.
Laura trudged back to the schloss after a pleasant, albeit unproductive afternoon. She had a friend to confront about concealed intel regarding this place. After a couple of wrong turns, the journalist finally located the kitchens. The kitchen was surprisingly modern with a large refrigerator, several gas fire burners, a blender, an electric mixer, and a toaster oven. Perry bustled about like a busy bee in what was clearly her domain, assembling cod cakes for dinner. For a brief second, Laura regretted invading her friend’s kingdom. Then, an image of Carmilla flashed in her mind, and Laura confidently stepped forward.
“Hey Perry!” she yelled.
Perry startled, and deliberately avoided the journalist’s gaze. “Oh hi, Laura. I’m making cod cakes for dinner if you don’t mind. What kind of vegetables would you like to go with them? I’ve got broccoli, peas, and carrots.”
“Look Perry,” Laura replied. “We need to discuss Carmilla, and why you lied to me.”
Perry sighed before abandoning her cod cakes to sit down in a chair at a square wooden table. Considering this room was probably where the servants ate, Laura thought the table would have been longer. “Would you have believed you if I told you?”
“Maybe not at first, but I would have come around eventually. It would have been considerate to receive a warning before Carmilla scared the crap out of me.”
“Fair enough. Now do you have any more questions or can I go back to making these cod cakes?” Perry asked.
Laura considered this query, and decided that while Carmilla had given her the answer already, she wanted to hear why Perry took this job. “How exactly did you and Mattie meet?”
“I got the same job you have last year. Mattie showed up a few times to see how I was getting on. One thing led to another, and we fell in love.”
“That makes sense,” the journalist said. “Please email Laf. I know you parted on poor terms, but they’re really worried about you.”
“I wanted to write, but I wasn’t sure what to say,” Perry admitted sheepishly. “How exactly do you renew a correspondence with your former best friend when they don’t return your romantic feelings? I get that Laf couldn’t help not liking me in that way, but it still hurt to watch them with J.P. I’ll try to write something.”
“That will mean a lot to Laf,” Laura said, and left. Hopefully, Perry would write to LaFontaine, and the pair could reconnect. She checked her email, and was relieved to note that her father gave up on fussing at her for taking a summer job on another continent. Especially since she had her bear spray with her. J.P.’s email recommended several books she could read regarding the local history, and even provided a link to Amazon U.K.
Dinner was an awkward affair, although the cod cakes were wonderful. Laura observed that Perry would have made an excellent professional chef with her razor-sharp attention to miniscule details. Although, Perry did mention that apart from the cleaning people who came once a month, and the elderly man who tended the horses, they were the only living people for miles.
Laura quickly fell into a routine of exploring the rooms of the schloss in the mornings, and then reading a book from the library in the gardens. Carmilla seemed to have vanished into thin air. While Laura initially appreciated that the haughty ghost was giving her space to accustom herself to the unusual situation, after two weeks with no sightings, the journalist started to fret. What if Carmilla’s body had been damaged somehow? Or maybe her sadistic mother discerned that the curse was in danger of being broken and had taken steps to prevent it.
It wasn’t until Perry suggested they go horseback riding on the old trails, that Carmilla reappeared. Laura was struggling to keep up with Perry, in spite of being seated on a docile elderly gray mare. Every few feet, she struggled to dissuade her horse from taking a bite from the enticing tree leaves. Fortunately, her horse didn’t rear when Carmilla opted to materialize right in front of them.
“You’re holding the reins too tightly,” Carmilla critiqued. “And you don’t need to yank so hard to slow down Selene. Just lean back slightly.”
“Fine! If you’re so smart, teach me how to ride!” Laura yelled, terrified that she was going to fall off Selene, and break every bone in her body.
“That shouldn’t be too difficult,” Carmilla replied, and the next hour was spent with Carmilla patiently demonstrating proper techniques. This bolstered Laura’s confidence enough that she stopped worrying that Selene would buck her off. In fact, she realized that riding a horse could be an enjoyable activity, especially with a gorgeous girl at her side.
“You rode astride in the past?” Laura queried. The journalist wasn’t a history expert, but she knew that riding astride was atypical for young ladies.
“It scandalized both my parents and Mattie,” Carmilla confessed. “Only mother tolerated it since she easily rode both side saddle and astride.”
Before Laura could respond, a thundering of hooves heralded the return of Perry, who was surprisingly adept at riding side saddle. Her friend’s horse, a powerful brown gelding, might as well be an extension of Perry’s body. “Are you holding up ok, Laura?” she inquired, before blushing crimson when she noticed Carmilla’s presence. “I’m not interrupting anything am I?”
“No, you’re not,” Laura replied, before Carmilla could utter anything rude. “In fact, I was ready to head back to the stables.”
“Sure,” Perry said. “Do you want me to wait?”
“No, go ahead Perry. I can find my way back.”
Once Perry galloped out of sight, Carmilla said, “I’ll accompany you back since it’s very easy to get lost on these trails.”
“Ok,” Laura uttered, secretly ecstatic that she could spend more time with Carmilla. On the ride back, the other girl continued their horse-riding lesson. By the time the duo arrived at the stables, Laura was fairly confident at handling her horse, albeit only at a walk.
“Would it be all right if we did this again?” Laura suggested, silently praying to whatever was out there that Carmilla said yes.
It was an awkward minute or two before Carmilla simply nodded and dematerialized. Laura barely suppressed the urge to crow in victory, and focused on dismounting from Selene. Only after she’d completed the arduous task of removing the mare’s tack, cooling the horse down, and turning her out into the gated pasture to run alongside Perry’s gelding did Laura finally permit herself to yell her exultation.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Tutoring Laura in horseback riding was surprisingly enjoyable, Carmilla discovered. Witnessing this tiny, brunette woman warm to Selene, and collaborate with the gray mare was a balm to her soul. Even if she’d almost suffered a heart attack the one-time Laura accidently signaled to Selene to gallop. More than that, it disquieted Carmilla how easily she was falling in love with this compassionate, determined journalist. The vampire instinctively recognized that if she lost Laura that same way, she’d lost Elle, she would sink into a black abyss of grief that couldn’t be cured.
Flowery May faded into Fiery June before Carmilla mustered the courage to approach Lola Perry with her proposal. “I believe it’s time to break this curse,” she cajoled.
“And what if Laura fails, or worse falls victim to the curse?” Perry demanded.
“You think that hasn’t occurred to me as well?!” Carmilla yelled. “We either risk everything and succeed, or guarantee we will fail if shy away from acting. Of all the girls who’ve run this gauntlet, your friend has come closest to claiming my heart.”
Perry sighed, and stared in the distance as if she hoped an alternative scheme would materialize. “Fine, but I insist you take Laura on a date before we endeavor to break this curse.”
“How exactly do you intend for me to do that when I’m tied to the grounds of this schloss?” Carmilla retorted, fear rising up within her like a geyser. If Perry refused to assist her, Carmilla discerned that she would be incapable of freeing herself from this vexing curse.
Perry rolled her eyes in exasperation. “I can easily arrange a fancy dinner in the dining room. The rest is up to you.”
With that pronouncement, Lola Perry sauntered off to begin planning the food she would cook for this sumptuous dinner, albeit a sumptuous dinner for one person. It would be a challenge, but Perry was surprisingly determined and resourceful. It was easy to realize why Mattie had fallen in love with the curly haired girl, when her sister normally viewed humans as useful pets at best, and disposable meals at worst.
With those musings, Carmilla departed to contemplate how she’d persuade Laura to take this leap of faith.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
When Laura finally returned from her leisurely stroll through the gardens, she hadn’t anticipated that Carmilla would be waiting for her in the entrance hall, a remarkably solemn expression on her face. As if she was the key to the other girl’s happiness.
“Have dinner with me,” Carmilla said these words tentatively, as though Laura possessed the power to obliterate her from existence.
“What?” Laura queried, wondering whether she’d misheard the enchanting girl.
“Have dinner with me please,” Carmilla repeated. “While I’m unable to consume food with you, I can at least keep you company. Moreover, there is a proposition I must make, and I’d prefer to treat you to something wonderful before I make it.”
The other girl was normally confident to the point of being arrogant. Therefore, this anxiety disquieted Laura greatly. What could possibly frighten a nigh indestructible vampire, albeit one under a cursed sleep? What else could she say but yes? At least her response reassured Carmilla, and raven-haired girl dissolved before Laura could inquire about whether she should dress up for this occasion. In the end, Laura opted to thoroughly shampoo her hair before she donned the suit she’d worn to the interview for this job. Instead of the excruciating heels, Laura pulled on a pair of Mary Janes she located under the bed. As she pulled her shoulder length brown hair into a pony tail, the journalist realized that she genuinely yearned to dine with Carmilla even if the other girl couldn’t consume the food.
Laura suppressed the urge to race down the hallway, and daintily descended down the stairs as though she was wearing an elegant ball gown. For the first time, she observed that Carmilla wore an ankle length scarlet dress that emphasized the raven haired girl’s lovely curves.
“I hope this isn’t too informal,” the journalist said.
“Not at all,” Carmilla replied. “Personally, you look quite ravishing with your hair pulled up.”
Laura’s cheeks flushed crimson with heat, and she longed to kiss Carmilla, and maybe explore some of those other things she’d read about in erotic fiction. If only Carmilla weren’t a translucent pseudo ghost! However, Laura also recognized that if Carmilla hadn’t been cursed they would have never met in the first place. “Thank you. I like your dress.”
Carmilla chuckled in amusement. “At least this torture device Mother forced me to wear is good for something. I suppose it’s time to saunter down to the dining room to eat, before Perry has a conniption about the food she prepared going to waste.”
“Yeah,” Laura said, eagerly latching onto a safer topic of conversation. “I’ve always liked Perry’s cooking.”
As they strode down the hallway and entered the dining room, Laura observed that Perry had outdone herself. The long table was covered in a snowy white cloth, and decorated with a vase of pink roses. The fine china at her place at the table was decorated with mythological creatures such as phoenixes, unicorns, mermaids, and naiads. Moreover, the water glass, and wine glass were genuine crystal.
Carmilla managed to pull Laura’s chair back, and gently pushed her closer to the table, before sauntering around the table to stand at the place directly across from the journalist. While Laura slowly ate the first course of cold cucumber soup, Carmilla gently inquired about her family. The other girl laughed when Laura sheepishly regaled her about her father’s overprotectiveness, but sent a pang of guilt through the journalist when she confided that her father resented her for not being born a boy.
“Did you have any siblings?” Laura queried, as Perry carefully removed both her empty soup bowl and soup spoon.
“Just a brother who died shortly after his second birthday of diphtheria,” Carmilla said. “To be honest, my only friend was my lady’s maid Greta, and she was dismissed shortly before my engagement was announced.”
“I’m sorry,” Laura declared, feeling her own complaints about her overprotective father seemed childish in comparison to the other girl’s trials and tribulations.
Carmilla shrugged. “That’s just the way things were back then.”
Fortunately for them both, Perry chose this moment to walk back into the dining room with the main course of fillet mignon marinated in red wine and a side of mashed potatoes. Laura thanked Perry as the redhead reverently set down the plate. The other girl smiled in gratitude before darting off to carry in a decanter filled with red wine.
“Let me know when you have enough,” Perry said as she uncorked the decanter and began to pour the wine in a surprisingly graceful arc. Perry poured until the glass was half-way full, when the journalist decided she had enough.
Normally, Laura detested dry wines, but this red’s sourness was diluted when tasted alongside the juicy steak and mashed potatoes. In between bites of food, she and Carmilla discussed their likes and dislikes. The other girl described The Epic of Gilgamesh in such vivid detail that Laura imagined that she was embarking alongside Gilgamesh on his perilous quest for immortality.
Nevertheless, Carmilla retained an air of anxiety as though she were about to embark on a perilous venture. It wasn’t until Perry brought out the mouthwatering cannoli, that Laura mustered the courage to inquire about what was troubling the pseudo ghost girl.
Unusually, it took several minutes before the normally verbose Carmilla replied, “There’s only one way to break my curse. Supposedly, true love’s kiss will allow me to awaken. However, I’m afraid of a dire fate befalling you if you fail Laura.”
“I’m willing to take the risk Carm, because I’m certain that I’m in love with you.” Laura declared, after she finished her cannoli. The task may be arduous, but Laura refused to cower in fear.
For a second, the journalist thought the other girl would refuse to permit her to undertake this dangerous assignment. Finally, Carmilla nodded in assent, and lead Laura from the dining room. They trotted down the hallway, but instead of entering the main foyer, they turned a sharp right, down a set of narrow stairs, and into the basement. In spite of her valor, Laura couldn’t suppress a shiver of disquiet, as the duo stopped in front of a door that was normally adorned with chains to bar anyone from entering it.
“Are you truly certain you wish to undertake this venture?” Carmilla asked. “I won’t despise you if you back out now.”
“I’m not going to back out, because you deserve to be free of this malicious curse,” Laura replied, as she pushed down the handle of the door. Said door opened with a loud groaning of its hinges to reveal a tiny room that contained a glass coffin flanked by elaborate candelabras. The candles burned strongly, oblivious to the drama taking place in their light. Laura barely choked back a sob, as she recognized the body of her would be girlfriend, dressed in a midnight blue dress. Carmilla’s complexion was paler than the journalist expected.
Gathering her courage, Laura sauntered up to the coffin, and gently removed the lid. Said coffin lid proved to be surprisingly cumbersome, and cracked once it had been shoved to the floor. Feeling like she’d somehow been transported into a Disney movie, Laura leaned forward and pressed her lips to Carmilla’s. A spark of magic thrummed threw, and Laura barely managed to pull back from the kiss, before darkness clouded her vision.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Laura? Laura?!” Carmilla yelled, as she futilely attempted to shake the other girl awake. At least, the curse didn’t appear to have transferred to Laura, if the steady rising and falling of the other girl’s chest was any indication.
“Perry!” the newly awakened vampire screamed, bemoaning her inability to teleport to whatever part of the schloss she desired. Carmilla had scooped up Laura by the time the ginger haired girl arrived. In spite of her penchant for consuming sweets, the tiny lesbian journalist weighed almost nothing.
“I’ll contact Maddie right away,” Perry uttered. “She might know how to fix Laura.”
Laura didn’t wake up during the long trek to her bedroom, nor did she stir at all throughout Carmilla’s night long vigil. Guilt gnawed within the black-haired vampire that she hadn’t dissuaded Laura from destroying her curse. Just as Carmilla began to contemplate going to one of the guest bedrooms and passing out, Laura’s eyelids fluttered open.
“Carm is that you?” she wanly queried.
“Laura!” Carmilla shouted in jubilation, before kissing her. She was free of her curse, with her beloved by her side. Nothing else mattered.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contrary to popular belief, Wilson Kirsch was perfectly aware that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. He wouldn’t have attained his degree in English if Laura hadn’t patiently tutor him, while politely deflecting his flirtations. In hindsight, he’d flushed crimson with shame for not connecting the dots and realizing Laura’s sexuality sooner.
Nevertheless, Kirsch observed that LaFontaine desperately pounding on the door to his crappy studio apartment was an atypical occurrence. Partly, because his room resembled a disaster area the majority of the time, and he preferred to meet his friends at their student apartment on the rare nights he wasn’t working at his retail job.
“What’s wrong Laf?” he gently asked, as he admitted them into his combination living room/bedroom/kitchen. “Is something wrong with J.P.?”
LaFontaine shook their head vigorously. “Perry called, and said that Laura required our help with something. I figured you might want to tag along.”
“Hell, yeah I want to help Laura! Just give me a minute to call my job, and get packed!”
It was simple to call and claim to his manager that he needed to take the rest of the week off for a “family emergency”. He did sort of consider Laura to be an adorable little sister, so it was technically true. Although it did help that he possessed plenty of sick leave and vacation days. Tediously, Kirsch struggled to locate clean clothes to stuff into his gym bag, along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb.
It was surreal to be casually taking the Toronto Metro to Laf and J.P.’s student apartment. His whole world may have turned upside down, but to his fellow passengers, this was merely the completion of another tedious day at work. The bizarreness of this scenario only deepened when he spotted a black stretch limo parked in front of J.P. and LaFontaine’s student apartment. Particularly, since you generally couldn’t wait in front for more than five minutes before the campus police issued you a parking fine.
A stunning black woman climbed out in an elegant dress that Kirsch suspected cost more than his monthly salary and monthly rent combined. At the same time, J.P. emerged from the apartment building with two carry-on bags slung on his shoulders. When she noticed the duo, she smiled a disconcerting grin. “Come on! We don’t have all day!”
Kirsch suppressed his own unease, and climbed into the limousine. Traveling with a scary woman seemed a miniscule price to pay if it meant assisting Laura.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
As much as Matska Belmonde, loved her sister Carmilla, the fashionista reflected that her little sister didn’t always look before she recklessly leaped. At least, her sister wisely opted to keep Lola in the loop regarding the plans to break the curse. Carmilla’s girlfriend was lucky to have avoided any lasting harm from breaking Mama’s curse.
Unfortunately, Mama was certain to descend on the schloss sometime in the near future, irate that Ms. Hollis assisted Carmilla in ending the moody vampire’s eternal slumber. Therefore, Mattie opted to formulate a plan before that occurred. Unfortunately, she wasn’t entirely certain the motley crew they assembled around the dining room table would be enough to defeat their foe. While, she’d witnessed firsthand Lola’s capabilities, Laura possessed a black belt in Krav Magna, and LaFontaine and J.P. were capable researchers, Kirsch appeared to be the type of person who would accidently annihilate a carefully constructed plan.
“So, what kind of weapons do you possess that can ward off your mother?” Laura inquired.
Mattie tapped her fingers nervously before she replied. “The first thing you must realize is that my mother is a goddess. More specifically, she’s the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna. There are four artifacts that can be utilized to contain her. The catch is devising a plan to wield artifacts against her.”
“Our best bet would probably be the sword,” Carmilla declared. “I’ll return with it before dinner time.”
“Be careful sister,” Mattie said.
Predictably, the aforementioned sister obnoxiously rolled her eyes. “When haven’t I been careful Mattie?”
“That’s what I was afraid you would say,” Mattie groaned, as Carmilla departed. At least, Mattie could ensure the rest of this motley crew were aware of the sundry powers her mother possessed.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The ex-dean of Silas University, also known as the goddess Inanna, was livid to discover her plan to keep her churlish daughter Carmilla sealed forever in an enchanted sleep had failed. While she’d been aware that her other daughter Matska was searching for a girl capable of breaking the curse, Inanna assumed that the odds of the plan succeeding were a million to one. After all, it had been child’s play to dissuade Elle from running off with Carmilla considering her daughter neglected to inform her paramour of her vampiric state.
How dare these pathetic mortals interfere with her daughter’s rightfully deserved punishment? It wasn’t fair that Carmilla found love twice while she’d been bereft of her husband for millennia. She’d vowed that her fellow gods would pay for slaying Hastur, and imprisoning her in this wretched mortal body.
Therefore, Inanna summoned her two most loyal followers, William Luce and Theodore Straka. The pair were a study in contrasts. William was pale skinned even by vampire standards, and stubbornly clung to the ‘90s grunge ascetic he’d grown up with. Theodore’s complexion was darker, and he preferred to wear designer suits in the vein of a Wall Street executive.
“I need you to take care of some uninvited guests for me,” she declared. “You may utilize whatever methods you prefer as long as you eliminate them.”
“Of course, Mother,” William replied, with a smile reminiscent of a cat relishing an upcoming hunt for prey.
“It shall be done Mistress,” Theodore said, as the pair exited her office.
It was a pity to sacrifice those two, but their deaths would buy her some time to prepare for the inevitable battle between herself and her rebellious daughters. Then she could return to unblocking the gates to the Underworld.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
After Carmilla returned with the sword, their motley crew debated about who would comprise the team that confronted Inanna. Everyone except Kirsch agreed he would be more of a hindrance then a help. Carmilla wanted Laura to stay behind. Perry felt that LaFontaine and J.P. were better suited to act as tech support. LaFontaine was skeptical about Perry’s magical talents and kept insisting that flamethrowers were the best method to defeat the war goddess. J.P. wanted to consult with the defunct Silas University Board of Governors to ascertain if they possessed any insights into Inanna’s weaknesses. Mattie tartly replied that she retained the same information as the Board and thus contacting them was not required for this endeavor.
After a two-hour debate, the group came to an accord. A group comprised of Laura, Perry, Carmilla, Mattie, and LaFontaine would confront the former Dean, while J.P. and Kirsch stayed behind to coordinate the assault via cell phone.
Before they began the assault, Laura pulled Carmilla aside for a chat. “Look I know you’re concerned about my safety, but promise me you won’t attempt to micromanage my life. My Dad’s paranoid enough that I didn’t inform him I took this job until I was already in Europe.”
Carmilla flashed a Cheshire cat-esque grin. “I’ll only insist that you retain a cell phone with a direct line to me in case anyone attacks you. Moreover, I demand you permit me to hire burly men to act as your bodyguards 24-7.” When Laura pouted at this declaration, the raven-haired vampire laughed. “I was only pulling your leg, cupcake. As long as you have a cellphone, and you continue to stay in shape, I won’t excessively monitor your movements.”
“Ok,” Laura replied. “So, are you my girlfriend now? I mean I’ve never really dated anyone before, because of how overprotective Dad was. Are we exclusive? Not that I need anyone else except for you……”
Carmilla silenced her comments with a deep kiss. Said kiss was better than the one Laura performed to free Carmilla from her imprisonment. The journalist always scoffed at the notion of an electric spark passing between kissing couples, but now she was experiencing this effect first hand, and it was glorious. After they broke apart the raven-haired vampire said, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re mine and I’m yours, and that’s all there is to it.”
“We should return to the others before they leave without us,” Laura said.
“If Maddie departs without us, I shall be extremely vexed with her,” Carmilla declared as they sauntered back to the group.
J.P. and Laf embraced each other tightly, murmuring comforting words to each other. While Perry and Maddie kept a certain distance between each other, they conversed enthusiastically about some esoteric topic. Kirsch on the other hand awkwardly stood to the side; an anxious third wheel.
Once Maddie spotted her sister, she abruptly broke off her conversation with Perry to query, “Do we have everything we require to defeat Mother?” When everyone either nodded or stated “yes”, she declared, “Then let us commence this battle.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Despite Perry’s assertations that she could contribute to this battle, she was anxious since her defeat of the Fairy Queen Titania was more the result of luck than actual skill. She was relieved to have both Carmilla and Maddie’s battle experience on their side just in case Inanna possessed any nasty traps to ensnare them in.
“Stay sharp as I’m certain Mother will send out our vampire brother Will to confront us,” Maddie explained to the group as they jumped out of the car, and cautiously trod their way through the thick undergrowth. Perry was thankful she opted to wear her long sleeve University of Toronto shirt with jeans; some of the briars appeared sharp enough to easily pierce her skin. Finally, the undergrowth opened to reveal a clearing containing what appeared to be a rustic hunting lodge. Albeit a rustic hunting lodge that could comfortably house eight people.
“Ok, Boss Lady, according to the schematics of this place J.P. located, there should be a front entrance and back entrance.” Despite his lack of experience, Kirsch spoke with surprising confidence.
“Should we split up sister?” Carmilla queried.
Maddie shook her head. “No. Mother won’t attempt to flee, so there’s no point. However, we should sneak in through the servants’ entrance in order to retain some element of surprise.”
Which meant more trekking through the sharp briars and God only knew what other sharp plants to reach this back door. Perry’s only consolation was that Maddie stuck close to her side. Predictably, two men guarded the back entrance like sentinels. While they were complete opposites in both demeanor and appearance, they both demonstrated a determination to not let their boss down.
“This ends here!” one of the them yelled.
“I don’t think so William,” Maddie declared before she and Carmilla pounced.
Meanwhile, Perry chanted the first spell that came to mind, knocking the other man over with a wave of her hand. Before he could stand up, Laura tackled him, and pressed hard on his neck. It was somewhat disconcerting for Perry to witness this action girl side of her friend, despite Laura’s frequent mentions of her Krav Magna training.
“Are there any further traps?” she demanded fiercely.
“No,” the man replied. “It’s just Will and me. The boss sent her corporate goon squad away for some reason.”
Once Laura released him, Maddie pounced and twisted his neck until it cracked. Apparently, she and Carmilla already took care of their brother Will, whose broken body resembled a chewed-up doll.
“Was that really necessary?” Laura asked.
“Yes, it was,” Maddie replied, checking her clothes to ensure no bloodstains were present. “The last thing we need is one of Mama’s goons ambushing us during our little chat.”
While Laura wasn’t mollified by this explanation, she opted not to complain further. Perry knew that Laura would need to accept that vampire violence was sometimes necessary if her friend desired a long-term relationship with Carmilla.
Maddie and Carmilla cautiously, pushed open the back door, and gestured for the rest of the group to join them in a small foyer. Besides a square like stairwell and wooden paneling on the walls, the room also boasted a collection of stuffed animal heads, including an auroch, several wolves of different species, an antelope, a gray marmot, and a spotted hyena.
“Wow, your mother has traveled a lot,” Laf said. They’d been so quiet that Perry momentarily forgot her friend’s presence.
“When you live for hundreds of years, it becomes easy to acquire a great number of things,” Mattie replied.
“We need to keep moving before Mother flees,” Carmilla said, leading the group up the flight of stairs and down a narrow wood paneled hallway, to a shut door at the end.
The dark-haired woman dressed in a business casual suit who sat behind a modern black metal desk didn’t match Perry’s image of a powerful goddess. “So, you’ve managed to get past my servants? No matter. I still possess all the power in this situation.”
“Lola, now!” Mattie yelled.
Perry began to chant the Ancient Sumerian spell Mattie acquired for her, and a magic circle surrounded and trapped the Dean. “What are you doing you wretched girls?! Did I not grant you life and eternal youth so long as you served me well!”
“You punished me with eternal sleep simply for falling in love!” Carmilla retorted. “And now we possess the power to stop you from hurting us any longer!”
The raven-haired vampire pierced the circle and lightly tapped the Dean, who continued to scream in pain. It took several seconds for Perry to realize that the Dean was slowly turning to stone. The Dean continued to bellow and whine about how unfairly her daughters treated her until her mouth was frozen open in stone.
After several beats of silence, Laura inquired. “So, what happens now?”
“We get our dear Mother in safe storage where no one can disturb her entombment in stone. Then we celebrate our recent liberation!” Mattie declared.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Laura might not agree with all of Mattie’s strategies, but she admitted the woman knew how to a fancy dinner party. There were fancy hors d’oeuvres, champagne, and several tuxedo clad waiters to serve them. Dressed in her turquoise ball gown that she’d last worn to senior prom; Laura focused on not tripping on her own feet while dancing with Carmilla. At least, the raven-haired vampire was both a patient teacher and a graceful dancer. Mattie, Perry, Laf, and J.P. were also on the dance floor, while Kirsch was frantically texting something on his cell phone.
“What’s wrong cupcake?” Carmilla asked, after guiding Laura through several intricate spins.
“Oh, just figuring out how I’m going to explain all this to my dad without him freaking out,” Laura replied. “He’s always been so overprotective of me.”
“I’m certain we’ll concoct some logical explanation,” Carmilla said. “For now, let’s get back to me instructing you in the finer art of dancing.”