CARMILLA
"I didn't catch your name" Carmilla smirked as her houghts lingered on the brief encounter with that man. She was shivering, it had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the way his extremely blue eyes appeared to see right through her.
"Who was that anyways" She thought, a mental chuckle ringing in her head.
"And what was with that attire?" "Did he raid a noble's wardrobe or attend a funeral?"
Carmilla snickered, reliving their encounter. The way he'd 'stumbled' into her, his eyes wide with surprise, was comical.
She tucked the pouch of gold coins she swiped from him into her bag grinning. "Like that was an accident."
Carmilla walked along the street where Alya's shop was located, her thoughts gradually shifting to the increased guard presence and her face contoured into a frown.
"What's going on?" she wondered, her instincts on high alert.
To avoid drawing attention, Carmilla stuck to the shadows, her eyes scanning the crowded street.
As she turned a corner, a guard stepped out of the darkness, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Halt! What's in your bag?" he growled.
Carmilla's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. "Oh, nothing, sir," she said sweetly. "Just some silk for my grandmother. She's a seamstress, you see."
She forced a sad smile. "She may be old, but she's still got it. Her hands still sew magic."
The guard's expression remained skeptical. "Let me see."
Carmilla attempted to leave, but the guard caught her wrist, his eyes lustful.
"Ah, sir, you're hurting me," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or is that the usual greeting in your household? 'Hello dear, let me break your right hand?"
The guard's face reddened. He slapped her face, the force sending her stumbling back.
She recovered quickly, spitting at the guard's feet. "Pig."
She took off in a sprint, her feet pounding the cobblestone streets, the sounds of merchants and shoppers fading into the guard's angry shouts. The alleyways blurred together as she ran, her heart racing.
But she knew these streets like the back of her hand. She darted between market stalls, weaving through the crowded streets with ease.
The guard's curses grew fainter as Carmilla gained distance.
She turned another corner, her chest heaving with exertion, her breath visible in the chilly night air.
Suddenly, a hand grasped her arm, pulling her into a narrow alley. The smell of old bread and stagnated water filled her nostrils.
Carmilla's instincts kicked in. She dragged her hand back, fist clenched, ready to strike.
Her eyes locked onto her captor.
Ember eyes, sand-brown hair, and a mouth that seemed to be holding back a laugh.
"Silver spooned," she thought, her mental tone dripping with disdain.
"Who are you?" Carmilla demanded.
The stranger's gaze swept over her dainty figure, and he laughed. "I'm Miguel," he said.
His voice was smooth, like velvet. "And you are...?"
"What do you want?" she spat.
Miguel's expression softened. "I'm sorry that guard hit you," he said.
Carmilla's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think I need your sympathy, Miguel?"
Miguel's smile deepened. "Call it chivalry, perhaps?"
Carmilla laughed, throwing her head back. "Or maybe you're just stalking me?"
Miguel's eyes crinkled at the corners. "Perhaps a little."
Carmilla's mind whispered, "And what a beautiful smile."
She cleared her throat, regaining composure. "Well, I suppose I should feel flattered."
Miguel leaned in, "I just happened to notice... and maybe I was watching you after you 'tripped' into the silk merchant."
Carmilla's pale cheeks reddened. "Ah, you saw that, did you?" she said, attempting nonchalance.
Miguel chuckled. "Hard to miss. You're quite the actress."
Carmilla's grin returned. "And you're quite the observer."
LUCIAN
Lucian's gaze seared with anger as he watched the scene. Her white hair swinging with her face as his guard hit her. The guard's hand closing around her wrist, his eyes filled with lust.
Lucian's jaw clenched, anger simmering beneath his composed exterior. Disgust curled his lip. How dare that guard touch her?
He watched Carmilla spit at the guard's feet, feisty. Fearless.
He watched her run, the guard hot on her heels...his snowflake.
"Find me that guard," Lucian ordered, his voice low and menacing.
His Beta , Victor, nodded swiftly. "Immediately, my lord."
Lucian's eyes never left the alley where Carmilla vanished."Who was she?" His thoughts stilled as Viktor brought the guard to him.
Lucian's anger boiled over. "You dared touch her," he growled, his hand closing around the guard's throat.
The guard's eyes widened, terror replacing lust. "P-please, my lord," he stuttered.
Lucian's grip tightened. "You'll learn, and I'll teach you. " His fingers digging into the guard's throat like a vice.
"You dared touch her," Lucian snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "You looked at her with lust."
The guard's face turned purple, his eyes bulging in terror.
Lucian's fist connected with the guard's jaw, the crunch of bone sickening. Teeth shattered, blood spraying.
"You'll learn," Lucian spat, his anger boiling over. "You'll never touch another woman again."
With a swift motion, Lucian slammed the guard's head into the stone wall, the sound of cracking skull echoing.
The guard's body slumped, unconscious.
Lucian's chest heaved, his rage still simmering. "Leave him alive," Lucian ordered.
Victor nodded, dragging the battered guard away.
CARMILLA
Carmilla raised an eyebrow. "What brings you to this hell hole? Lost, like the other guy?"
Miguel's chuckle deepened. "The other guy?"
Carmilla's laughter echoed through the alley. "Yea one unfortunate guy. Your clothes reminded me of his." "Actually I would mistake you guys for brothers if not for your eyes."
Miguel's eyes sparkled. "Ah, great taste, I presume?"
Carmilla playfully rolled her eyes. "Let's just say I've seen better dressed corpses."
Miguel offered his arm, and Carmilla eyed him before she took it, falling into step beside him.
As they strolled, Carmilla asked, "So, where are you from?"
Miguel's smile faltered for a moment before he recovered. "My father works... at the palace."
Carmilla's eyes widened. "Oh, that explains the nice clothes."
Miguel laughed, his eyes crinkling. "You're quick."
Carmilla teased, "And you're evasive. What does your father do?"
Miguel's hesitation was almost imperceptible. "He's a... diplomat."
Carmilla's grin returned. "Diplomat, huh? Sounds impressive."
Miguel's smile relaxed. "He's just good with people."
Carmilla nodded. "I think you inherited that trait."
Miguel's gaze locked onto hers, his voice low. "I think you're just making me blush." "So, are you from around here?"
Carmilla's grin returned. "Yea, I live in the slums. Born and raised."
Miguel's expression turned thoughtful. "I wouldn't have guessed. You seem..."
Carmilla raised an eyebrow. "Different?"
Miguel nodded. "More refined."
Carmilla chuckled. "Refined?"
Miguel smiled. "I mean, what kind of werewolf has white hair?"
Carmilla laughed, trying to mask her nervousness. "A really beautiful one."
Miguel's smile persisted. "Yea, but what kind?"
Carmilla's unease grew, but she played along. "Ohh, I'm a gamma."
Miguel seemed to pause, his gaze distant.
Carmilla noticed the sudden change. "Everything okay?"
Miguel's focus returned. "Yea, sorry about that."
Lucian's voice echoed in Miguel's mind, "Where the fuck are you?"
Miguel responded through their link, "You sound angry."
"I asked where the fuck you were," Lucian continued. "Meet me at the bakery. We came here to examine the body, remember?"
Miguel's expression turned neutral. "Yea, okay. I'm on my way."
He turned to Carmilla, his smile forced. "Do you know where the bakery is?"
Carmilla stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "There are lots of bakeries."
Miguel's eyes crinkled. "Well, you should show me all of them."
Carmilla's tension grew. "I... uh... need to catch up with my friend Alya."
Miguel's gaze lingered, but he nodded. "Of course."
Their goodbye was hasty, Carmilla quickly disappearing into the crowd
Miguel watched her leave, his thoughts conflicted. Lucian's presence awaited, and he knew better than to keep him waiting.