Carmilla Read online

  “Thanks.”

  Her eyes lock on to mine. “Anytime,” she coos. I swear, she coos.

  “Hey, even though the town hall sucked, I’m glad I ran into you,” I say. I feel the heat on my face spreading.

  “Same here. I’m thinking we should work together on this. You know, share notes, figure things out while you document the investigation for your class project. I think we make a good team.” Her mouth turns up. My stomach does a flip or two.

  I see a bat slam against the window, then slide out of sight. The things that occur on a daily basis here can’t be happening anywhere else. Silas is a world all its own. A bat? What next?

  “Good team,” I repeat. My flirt game is truly in need of an overhaul.

  She stands up. “Okay, then. I’m going back to my room to get my notes about our missing sister. Should we grab dinner and go over what we’ve got so far?”

  “Sure.” I hope I don’t sound too eager. It’s only dinner.

  “It’s a date,” she says.

  The second the door closes, I break into a happy dance. I don’t care if it makes me nerdier than I already am. No one can see my keen dance moves but me, and I’m killin’ it. The knock on the door startles me — usually people just come in. I fling the door open, hoping Danny forgot something.

  No such luck. When I open it, two Zetas barge in. A big dopey-puppy guy who seems familiar and a quiet, intimidating giant. “Hey, little nerd hottie,” puppy squeals.

  “Um, okay, who are you?” I almost wish Carmilla were here to shut him down.

  “We are your designated Zeta Omega Mu safety companions. Escorts. Only dudes. So we’re your dudescorts. Awesome, right?” he exclaims.

  He’s kidding, right? I hope he’s kidding.

  “Right,” I mutter. “Dudescort, do you have an actual name?”

  “Kirsch. That’s Will,” he adds, pointing to the brooding guy in the corner. Kirsch moves closer to me. “I think you have a fish in your hair.”

  Of course I do. This day keeps getting worse. He flicks it and it flies across the room.

  “We were supposed to walk you back from the town hall but you got away from us. You’re zippy.” Kirsch bubbles over with enthusiasm.

  Zippy.

  “Yeah. So it’s really nice that you rather large, beefy men want to keep me safe but I’m good. See, I’m snug as a bug in a rug. Totally safe. You can go. Really.”

  “The girls aren’t safe on this campus. We were at the town hall and we’re taking action. You need us to protect you.”

  Do girls really fall for this kind of thing?

  “What if you want to go somewhere?” he questions me. He’s dripping with sincerity.

  “I can handle it.”

  Will pipes up. “You sure you want to risk it?” He sounds melodramatic and a tad menacing.

  “I’m good.”

  Kirsch keeps shaking his head. “We swore a vow as Zetas. If there’s a hottie, we’ll be on her.” I wonder if he’s as dense as he sounds.

  “So gallant.”

  He nods in excitement. “Totally.”

  I try to usher them toward the door. “I’ll tell you what. How about if I promise to call you if I decide to go wandering around in the dark?”

  “Really?” Kirsch asks so earnestly that I feel for him.

  “Sure,” I say. It won’t kill me to be nice to him. He’s harmless and sweet.

  He thinks about it. “Maybe we should stick around. Just in case. Wouldn’t want to let a little hottie down.”

  “Please stop using the word ‘hottie.’ I have a name — it’s Laura.”

  Kirsch throws his backpack on my bed. “Oh, I know. You’re in my lit class. You helped me with that book about that Baobob guy.”

  “Beowulf?” I say.

  “Yeah, him. Of all the hotties — I mean, girls — I asked to protect you specially. I thought we could hang. Since you seem to like that British stuff, I brought these.”

  He reaches into his backpack and produces a few items, one at a time. “Guinness. Tea. These biscuits, which I’m pretty sure are just cookies but the English kind. I even have a movie about Baobob. Spoiler alert, he has sex with Angelina Jolie.”

  I don’t even know where to start. Then the door bursts open, hitting the wall, and Carmilla storms in, surlier than ever. Will recoils. Kirsch launches into a karate pose ready to pounce.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” she growls.

  “We’re your dudescorts, sexy lady,” Kirsch explains.

  Will adds, “Here to keep you safe from things that go bump in the night. We’ll stick to you like glue, just in case.”

  Carmilla’s head swivels back and forth between Will and Kirsch. “Get the hell out of here before I feed you each other’s spleens.”

  Note to self. Stay out of her path of pissed off. She’s fuming.

  “Whoa,” Kirsch says. “Angry hottie.”

  Carmilla zooms in on me now. “Why did you let these morons in?”

  “They arrived and never left.”

  “Is this what you were hoping would happen once you plastered your plea on the internet?”

  I object. “Um, negative. Not like you’ve seen my videos anyway.”

  “Betty’s missing. Poor me. My new roommate is mean to me, she eats my cookies,” Carmilla whines, mocking me. “Am I close?”

  “I don’t sound like that. You’re so mean,” I retort. All right, I’m basically yelling.

  Kirsch throws his arms around the two of us. “Come on, babes. You shouldn’t fight unless there’s a bathtub full of Jell-O or something.”

  Dear God. How did he get into college? He is a walking stereotype right outta Animal House. An old-school classic.

  Carmilla shoves him. “Get away from me, you ape.”

  “He’s here to help us.” I can’t believe I’m defending Kirsch.

  “Oh, sorry, I’m so on edge. I just don’t appreciate being hauled in front of the dean because of your ridiculous project that’s going nowhere, by the way!” she roars.

  My heart is pounding. I have to put a stop to all the yelling. None of this is helping me find Betty.

  “Truce, Carmilla. I’ll put a pin in the Betty investigation until we can get these fine frat dudescorts out of our hair. How about that?”

  She agrees right away. “Deal.” I’m immediately suspicious, but she turns all her attention to Kirsch. “My poor, sweet boy,” she says, dripping insincere charm. She wraps herself around him like a python. “I have such a bad temper sometimes. Can you ever forgive me?”

  Kirsch squirms. “Yeah, sure.”

  She rubs her nose on his ear. “Hey. That tickles!” he says.

  She runs her fingers down his arms. “These arms. And your broad shoulders.” The charm is notched up to ten as she runs her lips over his cheek.

  “Well, I do work out.” Now he’s enjoying himself. Not that I blame him — she is really beautiful. Scary, but beautiful.

  “I could just eat you alive,” she purrs. She’s making me blush. She nuzzles his neck. Just as he’s getting into it, she chomps down. I mean, digs her teeth right into his neck.

  Will pulls her away from his bro dude, stepping between them. “What the hell is wrong with you? He’s bleeding.” He inches close to Carmilla with his fist cocked like he might just crack her. She not only doesn’t flinch, she grins. It’s unnerving.

  Will backs down, then tugs on Kirsch’s sleeve. “We’re outta here.”

  Carmilla sticks her lower lip out. “What’s the matter? Not going to stay to protect us vulnerable little girls?”

  She’s a master. I’ll give her that. She has a twisted way of getting there, but I do respect her tenacity.

  “You bit me. So not cool.” Kirsch acts hurt. I mean, he is literally hurt and bleeding, b
ut his pride took a hit as well. I don’t need a dudescort, but I almost feel sorry for him. At least I wasn’t on the receiving end of her wrath.

  This time.

  I’ll be sleeping with one eye open from now on.

  Carmilla lunges at the guys, sending them scurrying out, fearing for their lives, as she snickers. She’s really enjoying herself. As soon as they leave, she flings open the fridge and pops a beer. When she closes the door, I notice the magnets on our fridge spell out VAMPI. I admit I was amused at first when I randomly found half-spelled words on the refrigerator, but now all the creepy is washing over me.

  “What?” Carmilla jokes. “It was just a teeny nip.”

  “You drew blood.” I make a mental note to keep at least ten feet away from her at all times.

  “You wanted them gone and now they are,” she reasons.

  “Gone, not dripping blood.”

  She takes a swig of beer. “So much for the truce.”

  I know I can’t let my guard down, but I wouldn’t mind a little peaceful coexistence here. Time for me to step up, if only to save myself.

  My computer starts to ping. “Hey, Carmilla. I’m sorry I caused the whole town hall fiasco with the dean so pissed off. I feel bad about that. I really do. But I’m not sorry about posting the videos. And … I’m not going to stop. They’re too important.”

  The pinging continues.

  She isn’t forgiving, but at least she isn’t yelling. “They will come for you. It’s only a matter of time before they track the posts to you. The dean is ruthless. There will be no letting up once she pegs you as a troublemaker. Be afraid. Are you really gonna risk the wrath it will bring for your, like, three viewers?”

  For such a badass, Carmilla’s rattled by the dean. Her voice quavers at the mention of her.

  An onslaught of pings drives me to my computer. “Holy hell.”

  I stare at the notifications and messages flooding the screen. “Yeah, sorry, I don’t think a lack of viewers is going to be a problem.”

  • FIVE •

  I’ve tried on five shirts already, and there’s a trail of clothing across the dorm-room floor. Dates are hard. You don’t want to try too hard but you also want to be sure it looks like you’ve made an effort.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Carmilla asks.

  “Nothing. I have a date.”

  She sits up in her bed. “Danny?”

  How does she know?

  “Nothing is a secret in this dorm,” Carmilla reminds me.

  I nod.

  “What are you doing? Going on a search for Betty?” she cracks.

  “Ha. Not funny. Dinner.”

  “So original.”

  Not like she’s had any dates. She’s a hookup kinda girl. No strings, so it seems. “Jealous much?” I tease.

  She sits up, cocks her head. “Of Danny the TA? Hardly. I just think if you like a girl, you spend a little bit more time planning a date rather than going on some throwaway dinner. Be creative, you know?”

  I take a swipe at her. “Well, with the parade of girls coming and going, you must be awfully busy being creative.”

  “Oh, cupcake. Now who’s jealous?”

  She’s exasperating. I disregard that remark and return to my wardrobe quandary. Black jeans? Too dressy, trying too hard. Just jeans, I decide. I settle on my favorite pair with the winning shirt, number six, a long-sleeved garnet T-shirt.

  It’s bad enough sharing space with a stranger but even worse when that person is watching your every move. Carmilla glances over the top of her magazine, sizing me up. “Not bad.”

  I ignore her and leave, obsessing about my outfit all the way to my date.

  * * *

  •

  I meet Danny at Tobias Grill, a schnitzel-and-goulash place near campus. She waves me over, and I feel my nerves growing along with my smile as I get closer. How do I greet her? A hug, a hey? Suddenly, I’m smack in front of her and before I can even utter hello, she’s on her feet, pulling me in for the kind of hug that you never want to end.

  But it does, because we have to eat. She slides over. “Sit next to me.” I notice an order of dumplings already on the table.

  “You mentioned that you love dumplings. They have the best in town. I got an order of potato dumplings and one of pork. They’ll make you cry,” she coos as she feeds me one. I might cry all right, but not because of the dumplings. Though they’re amazing, too.

  How can I be sitting in here crushing on someone when my roommate is missing?

  “Together we’ll find Betty. We have to eat.” It’s like she’s reading my mind. Concentrating is going to be a challenge. I catch her eye. Both of them, actually. Deep blue.

  The challenge is real.

  “These are bites of heaven,” I gush.

  “It’s my one cheat food. I try to stay away from anything carb, but these don’t count.” Danny throws her head back, giggling.

  I nervous-eat dumpling after dumpling.

  “Besides the kidnapping thing, how are you liking Silas?” She keeps the conversation going.

  Between bites I say, “It’s quirky but I’m enjoying being out from under my dad’s nose. Experiencing new things. He’s really strict. Only-child thing.”

  “I have two brothers and a sister. Sometimes I wish I was an only child. I’ve had to share a bathroom my entire life.”

  “The worst! Sharing a bathroom with Carmilla is pretty bad,” I say. “She’s a total slob, unlike Betty. The sooner we solve this and get Betty home, the better. I’m tired of cleaning up Carmilla’s mess.”

  By the time we walk across campus again, it feels natural to be hand in hand. “I have all my notes ready to go. We just have to pick them up on the way to your room.” We’re going to take the next step in the search, though my interest in the project is wavering a little right now. I’m only interested in one person, and she’s right here.

  “This was a good idea. Strength in numbers,” I announce. Anything to make this date last.

  She stops walking, places her smooth hand on my face. Please stop the world right this second and make her put her lips on mine. Instead, she flashes a smile that makes me blush.

  I’m fairly certain the grin plastered across my face doesn’t move an inch the entire walk back.

  * * *

  •

  Danny and I have command central set up in my dorm room. She brought down a bulletin board, and now we have clippings pinned up everywhere with color-coded Post-its. All these clues are from students who watched the videos of me asking for their help. I asked for information, and they answered. They’re reporting what they saw at the parties or around campus — so many messages and comments to sift through.

  “Can you believe this?” I ask Danny. I just know the answer has to be here somewhere.

  She grabs my hand. “We’re getting closer. I think we may have a breakthrough soon. We’re geniuses,” she brags. Her touch feels like fire in all the good ways.

  Carmilla is in bed with her nose in a volume of Kierkegaard. It’s as if the only thing she reads is gloom and doom. The darkest philosophers possible. Not a single mention of Buddha from her lips.

  She makes a choking sound, like a gagging cat. “Sorry, I suddenly feel nauseated.”

  Danny turns and gives her a taste of her own medicine. “Oh. I’m sorry. Maybe you should go to campus urgent care.”

  That makes me snort. Carmilla shoots a death glare at the two of us, then yanks the blanket around her to shut us out. It’s okay with me — we have work to do and don’t need her bad energy.

  “Damn, she’s extreme,” says Danny.

  “You have no idea. But let’s not waste time on her. We have a video to make for today’s vlog update.” So much to do. So many viewers waiting.

  Danny moves her chair up to the webcam, adjusting it
. I lean over her shoulder and turn it on. My cheek brushes hers, and I’d like to ask her about her soft skin, but I stick to the game plan. Operation Find the Students.

  “First of all, thank you all for your messages reporting all the unusual things you’ve seen on campus. They’ve been incredibly helpful,” I begin.

  Danny picks it up from there. “Here’s where we are. We know of four girls that have disappeared on campus. All from parties. Two of them have returned. Neither has a memory of what happened. Zippo. Your input is critical.”

  Without the help of strangers, we may never find the answers. The women of Silas aren’t safe right now. Their lives may depend on us.

  My turn. “Sarah Jane and Natalie were both having super-creepy dreams before they disappeared. We don’t know whether Betty or Elsie were having the same nightmares since they have yet to reappear, but maybe there’s a pattern. And no one else got a cryptic note from some apparent authority but me. So if any of you can think of what these four had in common, we’re all ears. Signing off.”

  We turn toward each other, and seriously … the electricity. I wish I was the girl who grabbed the girl boldly and gave her the best kiss of her life, but I have never been that girl, nor do I show any signs of becoming her … yet. Here at Silas, I could become a completely different person, but I’m still new enough. For now, I’ll just be over here with my heart pounding and stomach jumping all over the place hoping Danny will make a move.

  I post the video.

  “We’re a great team,” she says, gently resting her head on my shoulder. I might die right now. I see Carmilla remove the blanket covering her face, revealing her upper lip rising on one side. What’s her problem? Is she snarling?

  Our little moment — I think it was a moment? — is interrupted when messages start pinging at breakneck speed. Danny and I are not the only ones who want to solve this mystery. I’m not even the only girl with a missing roommate … though I’m the only one unlucky enough to get Carmilla as a substitute. Trapped like a lab rat with a blood-drinking slob.