Carmilla: Trinity

Chapter Fifteen: Gathering

"This is where it will be." I say. "After I say the spell, a piece of the cliff will reveal a cave. You must go in and retrieve the sword, and then we will make our way back up." Carmilla and I stand at the cliffs edge looking at the crashing waves below us. I notice the vampire clenching her fists tight, knuckles white. "Are you okay?"

"Just about to be submerged in the depths of the ocean. I'm actually looking forward to it." Carmilla says sarcastically.

I place my hand on her shoulder. "You won't be alone. I'll be right next to you. We'll get the sword and rescue our friends."

Carmilla sighs. "Let's just get this over with."

I remove my hand from her shoulder and hold it out. After a moment, Carmilla takes my hand, squeezing it tight. We both take a deep breath before leaping off the cliff and into the waters below. We swim further and further down, keeping close to the cliff face. We finally come to a stop and I place a hand on the rock in front of me. I look at Carmilla and motion her to back away before shifting into my fairy form. After spending so much time in my human form, to finally be able to return to my true form and take in the elements around my is a great relief.

I place my hand on the rock and begin chanting. I feel the power begin to build within me and my chest tightens. My breathing picks up as I continue to chant. The cliff begins to shift and pull away at the sides, revealing the opening to the cave. A pathway leads to the middle of the cave where the Sword of Hastur lies in the middle, carefully wrapped in cloth. Carmilla swims towards the path, rising out of the water and walking into the cave. She carefully approaches the sword before picking it up. She looks back at me and makes her way out of the cave. I stop chanting and let the wall close. I swim back to the surface with the vampire.

"We need to get back to the school." Carmilla says, treading in the water.

I nod. "Get back to the cliff and I'll meet you there." Carmilla disappears in a puff of black smoke and I rise out of the water, flying towards the top of the cliff. I see the soaked vampire waiting for me. "Let's go."

Once we arrive back at the school, Carmilla and I race across the campus and to the Lustig building. She leads me through the basement and into a series of caves. Before we enter the room, I pulse some power into my ring and my sword appears. I grip it tightly in my hand.

Carmilla looks at me. "Ready for the violence?"

"When I thought of college, I pictured that my experience would be studying, and going to parties, do things normal humans do." I gesture to the sword in her hand with mine. "I did not think it would include me following my friends into battle."

"That's what you get for choosing Silas." Carmilla drawls. "Thinking about transferring if we live through this?"

I shake my head and my lips quirk up. "Not a chance." We enter the room and just in time to see the Summer Society and Zeta's, Laura and our friends walking towards a bright light shining from a chasm. Carmilla's eyes widen and she shifts into a large black panther. She rushes forward, grabbing Laura by the scruff of her neck and dragging her away from the edge. I spot Mia walking forward and quickly pull her back, guiding her towards wall.

"Mia." I call, looking into her glazed over eyes. "Mia!"

She blinks at me. "Trinity?"

I nod. "I'm here." Suddenly I hear a scream and turn towards the sound. The Dean looks at Carmilla, who stands in front of Laura, having shifted out of her animal form, with rage in her eyes before swarming towards her in a cloud of shadows. I look at Mia. "I need you to stay safe. Keep out of the way." I press a kiss to her lips and back away. Everyone snaps out of the trance and move out of the way as the Dean attacks. Other vampires attempt to help the Dean but I quickly begin to cut them down. I strike down another vampire and turn around only to feel a pain in my abdomen. I look down and see an iron blade. I look up and meet the Dean's eyes.

She sneers at me. "It's been a while since I've seen one of your kind." She twists the blade. "Glad to know this trick still works." She pulls the blade out and returns to fight with Carmilla.

I drop my sword and stumble backwards into a wall, sliding down as I hold my hands to my bleeding wound. Everything has slowed down. A loud ringing sounds in my ears. I vaguely feel someone's hands on my face and the sound of my name being called. I look up through my blurring vision and see Mia.

"Please stay with me." Mia cries. "Trinity, please."

I try to say something...try to comfort her but only cough, the taste of blood strong in my mouth. I weakly reach up a pale hand and cup her face. Mouthing the words I never got to say to her. 'I...love...'. My vision blackens and I can feel myself shrinking into my natural form. I didn't get to tell her. I didn't get to say goodbye to my family and friends. So many things that I'll never get to do. My body feels heavy and before I slip into oblivion I hear one last thing.

"TRINITY!"