"Ell, don't play with your food," her mother scolded before begging, "Darling, please eat..."

Ell glared at her before resuming to a neutral look in the split second before her dad glanced over at her.

"What's the matter, not feeling well?" he inquired with sincere concern. Ell shrugged and moved the food on her plate around with her fork again. He looked over at her mother and said, "Don't make the girl eat if she doesn't want to. Ell, perhaps you should go lie down and rest. Hopefully you will feel better and eat later or tomorrow."

Ell looked at her mother, who looked as if she might burst, but saw that she decided to keep quiet and simply nod in agreement with her husband.

"I hate to waste food..." her mother sighed.

"Nonsense. Ell, wrap it in a rag and throw it out. Some animal will gladly take it, I'm sure."

Ell obliged and took the makeshift sack of food toward the door while her parents remained seated.

She feigned tossing it out and tucked it into her dress before returning to the kitchen to announce, "I am going to bed. I will see you both in the morning."

Her father nodded and watched her walk upstairs as the mother took his hand as if she were about to tell him some sensitive information. Ell quickened her pace and closed the door behind herself. She sat down on the floor, unwrapped her meal, and began to eat with the fork she'd smuggled away from the table as well.

"That looks good," Carmilla commented as she emerged from a dark corner in the room with her arms crossed, causing Ell to jolt out of surprise. She jumped to her feet only to find she recognized the owner of the voice.

"God! You frightened me!" Ell exclaimed as relief washed over her. "How many times must I tell you not to do that? Or at the very least give me a warning?"

"You know how I love to make you gasp," Carmilla smirked, stepping closer.

"I- I thought we were meeting in the field in two days," Ell blushed.

"I couldn't wait that long," Carmilla grinned. "Although, this encounter now does not cancel that one, I hope you know."

Ell shook her head and patted the space on the floor next to her.

"That looks good," Carmilla repeated as she gestured to the food and sat down. "What is that? Pork?"

"It's my dinner," Ell answered with an adoring smile. "Would you like some?"

"No, I'm simply curious."

"I believe it is pork. It's fresh. Are you sure you don't want some?"

"Yes. You need to eat," Carmilla nodded. "But thank you."

"How do you do that, by the way?" Ell inquired as she lifted the fork to her mouth and ate. "Sneak in here."

"I have my ways," Carmilla told her mysteriously. "And my ways are secret."

Ell nodded at continued eating with Carmilla watching in silence and, unbeknownst to Ell, eavesdropping on her parents' conversation:

Darling, we need to talk...

Yes, we do. I am terribly concerned about the wellbeing of our daughter. She hasn't eaten much in a week.

Darling, you should know... She is an adolescent now. You know how difficult those years can be. I know when I was her age, I did not know much about the world or how it works. I was very confused. But I have faith that she will become right in due time. Just have a little patience.

You speak as if she has an affliction...

Silence at the table.

We all have our... afflictions. Some people's are different from other's, but still. We all have them—

If she is ill, I would like to know.

She is not ill— Well... I do not believe she is ill—

"What are you thinking about?" Ell asked, suddenly breaking the silence and Carmilla's concentration.

"Nothing," Carmilla told her quietly, knowing she'd just missed a key topic in the conversation taking place downstairs.

"Don't give me that..." Ell teased. "You had a look on your face."

"I was thinking about how much I love you," Carmilla lied. Ell stared at her for a moment with a serious look on her face before bursting out laughing.

"You are a terrible liar, you know that?"

"Only to you," Carmilla replied.

"Right, right. Only to me," Ell smiled at her. Carmilla could feel the adoration radiating from her. "Carmilla... It's getting late—"

"Oh, right. Sorry. I will be on my way," Carmilla responded as she hopped to her feet. Ell stood up next to her and grabbed her hand just as she turned to leave.

"I wasn't saying that I wanted you to leave," Ell informed Carmilla. Her voice carried a slightly assertive time as if her statement had been a command. She stepped closer to Carmilla and looked up into her eyes. "In fact, I was saying quite the opposite..."

Carmilla looked at her carefully.

"You've said it yourself in the past that it is dangerous for a girl to be outside at such a late hour..."

"Ell, I can't… I can't stay," Carmilla reluctantly told her. "I'm not supposed to be here in the first place—"

"But you already are—why not just stretch it further?"

"Because," Carmilla responded, though she had no answer.

"I bet it's cold outside..." Ell thought aloud.

"I really like my sleep," Carmilla remarked, though she made no move to leave. Ell took this as an innuendo.

"We can sleep," she chuckled, unaware of the statement's true meaning.

Carmilla knew better. Ell could sleep, but Carmilla would not be able to. She would have to stay up the entire night listening for Ell's parents' footsteps in case they decided to come and check on her at some point.

"Fine..." Carmilla caved (as usual) and went to sit on Ell's bed. "But only because you're warmer than the outside air."

"See? There are a few perks to me," Ell commented victoriously.

"Two really great perks," Carmilla joked as her gaze momentarily landed on Ell's chest.

"You can see them up close and personal, if you so desire..." Ell teased as she unfastened a part of her dress.

"And I do so desire..." Carmilla hummed with a smirk as she rose to her feet and went over to Ell.

"Ell, are you talking to someone?" her mother inquired as the door swung open. "Who?"

Ell's heart sank and she braced herself for the explosive reaction her mother was guaranteed to give.

Silence.

When Ell looked up, her mother still stood in the doorway, impatiently waiting for a response.

"Aren't you going to answer me?" she asked.

"I–" Ell spun around and found Carmilla to be gone. She'd somehow managed to disappear in the split second of her mother's arrival.

"Ell, you are starting to worry me," her mother informed her. "I do not want to lock you away in a madhouse, but if that is where you belong, then so be it—"

"I was talking, no, singing. Humming. To myself," Ell recovered. Her mother's eyes narrowed skeptically, but she didn't respond.

"If you are going to bed, please say goodnight to your father at the very least," her mother sighed. "He thinks you are unwell and is deeply upset."

"Yes, Mother."

"Goodnight."

The door closed once again and Ell immediately scanned her room for Carmilla, quietly calling out for her.

"Carm?" she whispered and peeked under the bed.

No Carmilla.

"Carmilla?" she repeated and checked in her closet.

No Carmilla.

She even checked the darkest corner of her room, but still Carmilla was nowhere to be found. She sighed and turned around, almost bumping into a grinning Carmilla, and jumped.

"God!" she exclaimed. "I hate you."

"I hate you too," Carmilla smirked stretched slightly to kiss her.

"Double the secrets," Ell remarked. "You are able to sneak in here and hide yourself in impossible time."

"I am amazing, I am aware."

"Where were you?" Ell wondered aloud. "I don't see how you could be hidden yourself in here so well and so quickly..."

"I was... in your closet."

"I checked there. You were not in my closet."

"You didn't see me?"

"Carmilla, I know you're lying."

"How about under the bed. Did you check there?"

"Yes."

"Hm," Carmilla paused. "I don't know where I was. We should figure it out together. Let's start with the top of the bed, as I am sure you neglected to check there."

Ell glanced at her with a chastising look.

"Carm, I know what you're doing..."

"Is it working?" Carmilla flashed an angelic smile at her, and Ell nodded with sweet resignation.

"No," she stuck her tongue out.

"Damn it."

"I'm going to say goodnight to my father," Ell notified her. "I shall return in a moment."

Carmilla nodded and watched Ell leave before she settled on her bed and stared at the ceiling above.

Goodnight, Father.

Goodnight, Ell. I hope you feel better in the morning.

Thank you.

Ell—if there is something wrong, something you are afraid to tell me... Please... If you are struggling or upset about something, tell me.

I will, Father.

I love you, Ell.

I love you too.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Carmilla heard Ell climbing the stairs and relaxed a little.

"Carm, if you are going to try to jump out at me, think again. I am prepared this time," Ell announced as she entered the room to find Carmilla lying casually on her bed. "Oh. What a pleasant surprise."

"I work as a natural heater as well. Your sheets are warm."

"How thoughtful of you," Ell chuckled as she climbed into bed. "It's so cozy..."

"Mm, it's much more cozy now that you're here," Carmilla murmured and kissed Ell's forehead.

"How nice it would be to fall asleep like this every night," Ell sighed contentedly as she nestled into Carmilla.

"A dream," Carmilla whispered.

"And how nice it would be to just get away..." Ell breathed. Carmilla could hear the sleep setting in.

"Yeah..." Carmilla responded, barely audible.

"I love you, Carmilla."

"I love you, Ell..."