Chapter Text
Existence had always been a mystery. For what purpose do we exist? She only remembered opening her eyes one day and she existed. One day she wasn’t and then another she was. She was born under sheets of black ice encased around her like a tomb...ironic really. Her birth had involved her waking up in that icy prison and summoning every ounce of her strength, willing every last bit of energy she could muster, drawing power from the raw cold and pushing it outwards, feeling, more than hearing the loud crack as the ice gave way around her and split. She kicked up forcefully as frigid water filled in the cracks and opened her eyes, finally being able to see something other than inky blackness.
Everything was light.
It shone through the cracks of the clear ice, chasing the blackness away, instead giving way to greens and blues and white and the brightness of it stung her uninitiated eyes but she could not look away. The rushing water filled every crack and crevice forcing her up and up and the light got brighter and brighter until her eyes could take no more of it and she forced them closed, shielding them with her arms. The water finally forced her up out of the ice, into the sky, before unceremoniously dumping her onto the ground, retreating as quickly as it came.
The residents of earth were not too happy with her emergence from the ice, and the large cracks left in her wake did not go unnoticed. She learned later that the ripple effect had caused various earthquakes and tsunamis worldwide. Within a few days A team of people showed up donned in heavy protective gear, thick coats, goggles and a plethora of beeping machines. Their appearance put her off, so she followed her instincts and stayed hidden until she could leave without them noticing.
While wandering the icy expanses some days later, she came across a village. Some of the villagers were welcoming enough, thinking she was a lost explorer of sorts, but most cast her weary, curious glances that let her know that she was less than welcomed there. They communicated using an unfamiliar tongue and she couldn’t understand them except for the gestures they made to clue her in on what they were saying.
After being under scrutiny from most of the older people in the village, She was approached by a tall, built, platinum blonde man with soft, warm brown eyes who was followed closely by a shorter brunette woman. He gave her a reassuring smile before turning to address the crowd of people that had formed around her since her arrival. One of the older men huffed and seemed to disagree with what he was saying and they argued back and forth for a bit before she noticed the brunette eying her curiously.
She met the young woman's eyes as she pulled a thick wool blanket from off her shoulder and wrapped it around her shoulders. The crowd around her fell to a hush and she looked around, eyes finally falling on the man from earlier. She met his steady gaze until he finally turned back to the man he was arguing with.
He spoke again. His voice was firm holding a finality in it and authority seemed to roll off him in waves as he finally turned away and walked back towards the two women, the crowd starting to slowly disperse around them. He wrapped his arm lovingly around the shorter woman and tucked her into his side as they regarded the newcomer and gestured for her to follow them.
She instinctively pulled the blanket around her as she followed them feeling the eyes of the other people still boring into her skin as she walked through the village wondering just exactly what she was getting herself into.
//
Taking one step inside the couple’s quaint little cottage, the flame in the hearth was immediately snuffed out and the man quickly ran over to tend to it while the woman showed her to a room and got her some clothes before leaving her to get dressed.
After getting dressed in thick wooly clothes which was uncomfortably warm, she emerged from the room and into the living area where the couple had gotten the fire going once more. The doors and windows were now shut and the light of the fire cast eerie elongated shadows against the far wall of everything in its path. Slowly opening the door she allowed herself to take in the cottage. It was small and cosy and seemed to suit the couple well. There were 2 separate rooms off from the living area where the hearth was and there were 2 chairs right next to the fire, which was now growing steadily under the administrations of the man tending to it.
The couple didn’t seem to notice when she exited her room, because they were now standing closely to each other and holding their hands above the fire absorbing its heat, which was growing far too warm for her liking. She looked down at her hands noting her translucent skin which was vaguely blue underneath and looked back at the couple who were now smiling at each other with a rosey pink glow in their cheeks. It became all too apparent then that they weren’t the same at all.
//
Later on when the three of them were eating a warm broth with small cubes of meat and potatoes conjured up by the lady of the house, the couple sitting directly in front of the fire and she sitting the furthest away from it that she could, The man cleared his throat to get her attention. Looking up to the now nervous couple, she eyed them wearily as he looked to his wife as if unsure. Finally he put his bowl down on the table next to him and turning his attention towards the frigid girl, gently rested his open palm against his chest “Kurt” he said
At her confused glance, he re-emphasised jabbing his index finger into his chest and speaking again “Kurt”
She cleared her throat before speaking, repeating the same words back to him “Kurt” he smiled and nodded eagerly looking at his wife who was regarding them with slight amusement in her eyes. She made the same gesture "Anna"
She nodded noncommittally and looked down at the bowl in her hands before feeling the stares of the couple across from her. Meeting their expectant gaze, she hesitantly gestured to herself and spoke, her voice low and uncertain
“Carmilla”