Chapter Text
“Do we have ourselves a deal, Your Majesty?” The witch, or rather the Enchantress, quirked an eyebrow insolently. Laura’s father frowned, his eyes narrowing. They had been assured her charms would not work in this room, but both were ever fearful. Magic was not a power to take lightly.
“And we will have your assurance that there will be no more sacrifices?” He questioned further. Laura thought she saw a flicker of something pass through the Enchantress’s eyes but she couldn’t be sure if it was annoyance or delight.
The witch smirked, turning slightly to look back at her waiting entourage and snapped her fingers once. One of the slaves, a small, dark-haired woman, rushed forward to stand before the Enchantress, her transparent black shift doing nothing to hide her scar-covered body. The slave had barely stood before her mistress for a moment before the witch shoved her to her knees closer to Laura and her father.
“This is Carmilla.” She stated, forcing the woman’s face to the ground with a boot on her back and neck. “She is my most treasured possession. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Yes, Mistress.” The woman was clearly in distress, her voice full of pain. Laura clenched her jaw in anger as the witch pushed down harder, causing the slave to cry out.
The witch watched gleefully as she ground the slaves face into the stone floor. After a few moments Laura could take no more, standing from the seat at her Father’s right, but just as she was about to speak – to demand the Enchantress stop this torture – the witch spoke again, causing Laura to look like a fool.
“But I will gift her to you.” She looked up from the abused slave on the floor to the King. “A body slave for His Majesty.” Her eyes slid slowly over to where Laura was standing, and she smirked. “Or perhaps the Princess is in need of a . . . bed warmer.”
Laura blushed, whether from embarrassment or rage she wasn’t sure, but only managed to take a single step forward before the Enchantress’s attention turned back to the slave. She pulled the woman up roughly by a metal collar placed around her neck and thrust her closer. The woman stumbled, barely managing to stay upright as she carefully kneeled before the King and Laura. Her face was red from where it had been forced into the stone floor, and Laura could see clearly where the collar had chafed her neck.
The King stared at the woman, clearly baffled at the thought of accepting the slave as a gift. The Enchantress broke the silence with a chuckle, “I will return in three days. If she pleases you, Your Highness,” Here she glanced to Laura just long enough to insinuate impropriety; “We can make a deal – in blood.”
Here the King looked up, seemingly startled by that proposal. “And there will be a time of truce till you return?” He was standing now, moving past the slave to stand before the Enchantress. Laura felt every guard in the room shift towards their swords, the crowd grumbled.
The Enchantress grinned. “Of course, Your Highness.” She bowed low, lower than was strictly proper, and backed out of the room, leaving the King, Laura, and their kingdom with hope and trembling slave.
---
“This is foolish!” The door slammed shut behind Laura as she trailed after her father into a more private room. “The Enchantress would not stop the kidnappings on a whim. She must have a bigger plan, some sort of scheme that she’s been cooking up. If we can – “
“Laura.” The King’s tone stopped her short. “You are my daughter. I love you and appreciate your council, but I will not allow you to disrespect me in front of my subjects.” He gestured around the room, reminding Laura of the uncomfortable guards and the slave, kneeling on the ground.
Laura sighed before bowing low, “I apologize, Your Highness.” The King nodded his forgiveness. However, before Laura could say anything more, General Lawrence burst through the door.
“Your Highness,” She bowed lower than Laura had. “The Enchantress has left the castle. I have sent guards into the city to make sure she leaves.”
The King smiled at her. “Very good, Danny.” He turned back to Laura, “Now, I think I know someone who could give us more insight into this witch.” They all turned to look at the slave who seemed to have shrunken more into herself.
The King walked over to her, squatting down to her level. Laura watched the woman flinch when her father lifted her chin up, trying to meet her eyes. “You’re name is Carmilla?” The slave visibly swallowed. Her eyes shifting from Danny, to Laura, and back to the King before she nodded. The King smiled. “Very good. Now, Carmilla, do you think you could answer some of our questions about the Enchantress?”
Carmilla looked frightened by his question, her eyes flickering between the three of them again. “I – I don’t . . . I don’t think so . . . Master.”
Laura huffed loudly, causing the slave to flinch and bow her head again. Her father turned towards Laura, his look rebuking, before starting again. “You don’t need to be afraid, Carmilla. No one will hurt you here. We just need you to answer a few questions.”
Carmilla shook her head, slowly at first, but it soon became more frantic. “I – I can’t. She’ll – She’ll hurt – do terrible things to me. She can – “ The slave screamed as purple lightening shot out from the collar on her neck, arching into and around her whole body. It went on for ten seconds before she slumped over barely breathing and unconscious.
There was tense silence for a moment as they stared at her prone form. “What the hell was that?” Danny exclaimed.
The King sighed. “I suppose we won’t be getting any information from her.” He turned away, “Laura, will you please take care of Carmilla while I speak with the General.” Laura opened her mouth to argue that she should be included in the planning, but the King held up a hand, and gave her a pointed look. “Please, Laura.”
Laura clenched her jaw but bowed, “As you wish, Father.” She snapped her fingers and one of the guards picked up the slave and followed Laura out of the room.
---
Laura had taken the slave, Carmilla, to her chambers. She’d made the guards leave, knowing the King would be upset she’d been left alone with a potential threat; but she was a warrior – not to mention still agitated about being booted from the strategic meeting. How bad could petty revenge between family members be?
She had huffed and puffed around her quarters for a while before finally settling down with a book to read. Well, she at least sat with a book in her lap. Staring at the slave – Carmilla – quickly became much more entertaining.
First of all, she was gorgeous: the cheekbones, the hair, it was a lot for one small woman. And second – well, how was Laura supposed to react when she scrunched her face up every time a hair fell in her face, or she continued to make that adorable, soft purring sound. Carmilla had just started scratching at the pillow under her head when LaFontaine barged into the room, the door smashing against the wall and startling Carmilla awake.
“LaF!” Laura scolded, “Didn’t your mother teach you to knock?” Carmilla had curled up into a ball on the couch, shaking and mumbling something Laura couldn’t hear.
“Oops. Sorry, Princess.” They closed the door delicately and stood a few feet away as Laura moved closer to Carmilla.
“Hey,” She sat down on the couch a little ways away from Carmilla, who still leaned away from her. “Hey, it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you.” Carmilla looked up hesitantly, looking warily between Laura and LaFontaine. “They won’t either.” Carmilla curled further into herself, and Laura moved before she thought it through, grasping Carmilla’s chin and forcing their eyes to meet.
Carmilla’s eyes were pleading: vulnerable and timid. It took Laura aback, causing a sharp in take of breath. She swallowed hard, “I promise.” There was a moment longer before Carmilla nodded, straightening herself into a sitting position and casting her eyes to the ground.
“So LaF,” Laura said, turning from Carmilla, “Why are you here?” Laura felt Carmilla stiffen at her question, but she put what she hoped was a reassuring hand on her knee.
“Oh um, the King told me about what happened earlier. He wanted me to look at um . . . the uh . . . “
“The collar?” Laura supplied. LaF nodded. “Okay.” Laura turned back to Carmilla, who was staring at the floor. “Carmilla, this is LaFontaine. They’re the kingdom’s Alchemist. LaF,” She beaconed them forward, “This is Carmilla.”
LaF held out their hand expectantly, “It’s nice to meet you, Carmilla.” Carmilla nodded her head without looking up, and gently placed her hand in LaF’s. They cleared their throat. “Well, um, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a look at . . .” They trailed off, moving sit next to Carmilla, who looked like a frightened rabbit, frozen when caught. Laura grabbed her hand out of instinct, causing a flinch before she relaxed slightly.
“Wow. This is incredible.” They mumbled to themselves, pulling out a magnifying glass. There was a moment longer before they pulled back, allowing Carmilla to relax further, but Laura didn’t let go. “Well, this is clearly magical. You see these runes there,” They pointed to a set of inscriptions on one section of the collar. “Those seem to imbue the artifact itself with magic, and these,” They pointed to the section directly after, “Bind the artifact to a specific person.”
“Is it something you could undo?” Laura asked, moving closer to look at the runes, barely noticing Carmilla as she tensed again. She wasn’t a magic wielder herself, but she had convinced LaF to help her learn against her father’s direction.
LaF shook their head, pointing to another section of the runes. “No, this causes instant death to the wearer if something like that is attempted.” There was a pause as LaF used the magnifying glass again. “It’s interesting. This type of artifact is not unheard of, but the runes the crafter used . . . they’re exquisite. I’ve never seen a spell like this so well put together.”
Laura frowned. That wasn’t good news for Carmilla. She looked over to the woman, who was smirking slightly even though her head was bowed. That was odd. “Well, thanks LaF. I’m sure the King will want to hear your report.”
“Hum?” LaF struggled to pull away from the collar on Carmilla’s neck. “Oh yes. I suppose he would.” They got up, bowing with a slight smile. “Till next time, Princess.” They closed the door slightly harder than intended, causing Carmilla to flinch again.
Laura placed a hand on her knee again, trying to be comforting, as she looked out of the window to see the setting sun. She stood up, going to her dresser in search of clothes for them both. “It’s time for bed.”
She heard a slight sigh from Carmilla as she stared at the clothes, trying to decide what the best option was. It was a really hard choice because Laura wasn’t used to having to sleep with clothes on and –
“WHAT THE FRILLY HELL WAS THAT” Laura pushed the woman, – the naked woman – who had just been kissing her neck, away from her.
Carmilla looked alarmed, her head bowed almost as if she was cowering. “I . . . I’m sorry Mistress.” There was a short pause where Laura said and did nothing, covering her clothed body with the clothes she had in her hands, and then – then Carmilla looked up, her eyes meeting Laura’s with a spark she hadn’t seen before.
“Am I not pleasing, Mistress?” Her voice was lower than before, raspy in a way that lit Laura’s every nerve on fire. The woman took a step forward, every bit as flirtatious as it was tentative, and Laura squeaked.
“NO” She threw the clothes at Carmilla’s naked body, “NO YOU ARE NOT PLEASING” Laura’s voice was practically a squeal. She took a breath, trying to calm herself before continuing. “Put those clothes on and get in bed, please.” Carmilla nodded sheepishly and moved to comply.
Laura turned around, trying to give her privacy as she put on her own clothes. When she turned back around, Carmilla was laying near the edge of one side of the bed staring straight at the ceiling on top of the covers. It looked uncomfortable; Laura would have to fix that.
Laura slipped under the covers and turned to face Carmilla, biting her lip as she tried to think of a plan. “Um, you should get under the covers, probably.” Laura turned to lift the sheets up half way, but when she had turned back all she could feel was Carmilla. Carmilla kissing her!
She was everywhere, the smell of worn leather invading Laura’s senses. Her hair was on Laura’s face, her hand on Laura’s hip, her lips on Laura’s lips! Carmilla moved away to trail kisses down Laura’s neck and she was barely able to push her away. “Whoa, whoa. Slow down.” She held both sides of Carmilla’s face, keeping her from kissing her again. “Listen,”
At that, Carmilla flinched, pulling away to stare at the ceiling again. Laura sighed, unsure what to say. She had just about thought of something when Carmilla whispered. “I’m sorry, Mistress. I know that my body is . . . grotesque. I just thought – “
“What?!?” Laura’s exclamation caused Carmilla to flinch. Laura sat up, looking down at Carmilla. “Listen, you’re body is not grotesque, but you’re a slave, and not even really my slave, and I just can’t stand the thought of you – of us – being together, in that – well, being intimate with – you know what I mean, if you don’t actually want to.” Laura took a breath, not bothering to notice Carmilla’s startled face. “And how could you want to, because we only met this morning, and you’re a slave, and there’s no way – “
“Princess?” Carmilla cut her off, seemingly startling both herself and Laura. “Can we . . . can we just go to sleep, please?”
Laura’s eyes widened. “Yes! Yes of course!” She hopped out of the bed blowing out several candles before getting back in. She had just moved to blow out the remaining candle when Carmilla whimpered. “What’s wrong, Carm?” She asked, not even realizing she’d let the nickname slip.
Carmilla took a deep breath. “I just . . . I’m afraid of the dark.” She let out a shaky breath.
Laura frowned, but decided now wasn’t the right time to ask. “Well alright then.” She moved away from the candle to lie down. “Goodnight Carmilla.” There was a pause as Laura waited with bated breath.
“Goodnight, Princess.”